Wind und Rauch

Kapitel 44

"Third brother?!"

Hearing the familiar voice, the two Ouyang brothers turned around abruptly, staring at the newcomer in disbelief. Wasn't he already poisoned? How could he be here...? They saw Ouyang Tianyu leaning leisurely against the porch, a playful smile still on his lips. He watched with satisfaction as everyone's astonished expressions, especially Lei Jun and Lei Shuangxue, whose faces looked as if they had seen a ghost...

"You... how come you're still alive?" Lei Jun's eyes widened, and he stammered. Was he a human or a ghost?

"Can a dead person still stand here and talk to you?" Ouyang Tianyu remained motionless, his gaze towards Lei Jun deepening with a hint of unease. A ghost? Did he have the ability to see ghosts? "I regret to inform you that not only am I still alive, but all of the more than one hundred members of the Ouyang family are still alive. How about that? Are you shocked by this news?"

"What?" Lei Jun was thrown into disarray by Ouyang Tianyu's words. How could this be? He had personally witnessed Li Lian'er poisoning the food, tea, and snacks in the kitchen, and he had also visited the "dead bodies." They had indeed died from the poison he had given them, so how could they not have died? Unless... this woman in his hands was behind it all. "It must be you, you bitch! What did Ouyang Tianyu give you to make you work so hard for him?" Lei Jun roared, his grip tightening with his anger.

Benefits? What benefits? Besides the free wound on her neck, what did "she" get? Being held hostage? Does that count as a benefit? If people in the martial arts world knew that "she" couldn't even handle Lei Jun and was even held hostage by him, how would "she" ever face the martial arts world again?

Look, "she" is suffering here, while the protagonist of this whole affair, Ouyang Tianyu, is just sitting there laughing nonchalantly?! "Tianyu, come save me! He's grabbing me so hard it's killing me!" "Shen Jie" cried out, feigning helplessness, trying to gain Ouyang Tianyu's sympathy. What's so funny? "She" really wanted to rush over and tear that hateful smiling face apart.

Although Ouyang Tianyun was still unclear about what was going on, he was heartbroken to see the woman he loved helplessly pleading for help. However, she was still in Lei Jun's hands, and besides, a gleaming sword was pressed against "Shen Jie's" neck. Even though he could tell at a glance that the sword was fake, it was still incredibly sharp. He dared not make any rash moves and could only stand helplessly to the side.

Ouyang Tianyu remained unmoved by "Shen Jie's" desperate pleas for help. He gave "her" a cold, sidelong glance. What kind of work was this woman doing? Being taken hostage like this—wouldn't people laugh at her if word got out? "Didn't you say you could take care of these two guys in the secret room? How come when we came out, not only did you fail to subdue them, but you let them hold you hostage? And now you have the nerve to ask me to rescue you?"

"If those two hadn't barged in, I would have succeeded long ago," Shen Jie accused bluntly. She hated these two scoundrels to death for ruining her reputation. How could she face anyone after this?

"Excuse me, what exactly is going on?" Ouyang Tianji looked at his third brother, puzzled. Although he still didn't understand what had happened, he was certain that everything before him was fake, and that he and his eldest brother had seemingly ruined someone's plans...

"Second brother, be patient, the best is yet to come!" Ouyang Tianyu winked playfully at his two elder brothers, signaling them not to rush.

“Ouyang Tianyu, I’m warning you, if you don’t move aside, this woman will be beheaded right now…” Lei Jun threatened angrily. He finally realized that Ouyang Tianyu was not someone to be trifled with, and was even more troublesome than his two older brothers.

"You want 'her' head? If you have that ability, then go ahead." Ouyang Tianyu made a "please" gesture; he didn't believe that Lei Jun's martial arts skills were enough to take "her" head.

"You..." Lei Jun was speechless with anger. Seeing that his threats were ineffective, he became enraged and wanted to end the woman in his hand with a single stroke.

Unexpectedly, just as he made a move, a small piece of silver flew towards him, striking his wrist. Lei Jun cried out in pain and released his grip, the sword falling to the ground. "Shen Jie" seized the opportunity to break free from his hold and swiftly sealed his pressure points. The entire action was swift and seamless, leaving no time for reaction. By the time he came to his senses, the sword was gone, the person was gone, and she had even sealed his pressure points. "You're not Li Lian'er?" Lei Jun stared desperately at "Shen Jie," now only able to move his mouth and eyes.

"You only realize this now? Don't you think it's too late?" What an idiot, it took you so long to see the light. "Shen Jie" maintained her soft voice, "She's the Third Young Master's fiancée, how could she bear to let her suffer your abuse? So she had to let me, this unwanted guy, take the knife for her." She added in her mind, "I'll definitely get my revenge on you."

The phrase "Third Young Master's fiancée" surprised everyone present, especially Ouyang Tianyun. He looked as if he had been punched hard, his face pale. He stared at Ouyang Tianyu in disbelief. So the person she liked was the Third Young Master? Why? Why would someone as perfectionist as her choose the dissolute Third Young Master? Had the Third Young Master's sweet words bewitched her? Or had the Third Young Master forcibly kept her by his side against her will?

"Li Lian'er is his fiancée?" Lei Jun sneered. No wonder they fell into Ouyang Tianyu's trap; it turned out that the bitch betrayed him.

"No," Ouyang Tianyu quickly denied. Why was his older brother looking at him like that, as if he was ruining Shen Jie by being with her? "My fiancée is Shen Jie."

"My third young master, is there any difference between the two?" "Shen Jie" rolled her eyes. Why make such a distinction? They're both the same person, after all. "Shen Jie, she..."

Before "she" could finish speaking, a set of men's clothes flew onto "her" head. "Why are you yelling so loudly? Are you saying something bad about me?" A light and melodious voice rang out at the door, and a graceful figure appeared in the study.

"No, no." Shen Jie caught the clothes, shaking her head like a beating drum. Even if she had said it, she wouldn't dare admit it now. She would rather offend a petty person than a woman, especially a powerful woman like Shen Jie. She absolutely could not offend her, otherwise, she might be torn to pieces. "This humble servant dares not speak ill of Miss."

"Alright, go change your clothes." Shen Jie looked at "her" exaggerated behavior with amusement, thinking that if she didn't come out soon, her perfect image would be completely ruined by this girl.

"Yes, Miss." He raised his hand and removed the human skin mask from his face, revealing a handsome face. He smiled slightly at everyone and, under their astonished gazes, darted out of the study like a gust of wind and disappeared into the night.

"Who is he?" Ouyang Tianji asked. Why does he look so familiar? Where have I seen him before?

"Leng Yixuan." Shen Jie said his name softly, knowing that the two Ouyang brothers would not want to hear it.

really……

Chapter Thirty-Four

Upon hearing the name, the two Ouyang brothers' expressions immediately changed drastically. "How could he be here? And who are you? Why does Leng Yixuan call you 'Miss'?" Ouyang Tianji remembered that this guy had a deep-seated grudge against his third brother. Although his third brother's behavior wasn't much better, they just couldn't stand Leng Yixuan's domineering manner. Judging from the situation just now, he and Shen Jie had a close relationship, and Tianyu had said that Shen Jie was his fiancée. How could he not suspect Shen Jie?

Huh? Huh? Huh? Why are they suspecting her? She knows they don't like Leng Yixuan, but how could that be related to her? Besides, shouldn't Lei Jun and Lei Shuangxue be the ones being interrogated, not her? Completely confused, Shen Jie looked at Ouyang Tianyu, conveying her dissatisfaction to him with her eyes.

"Second Brother, let's talk about this later!" Ouyang Tianyu immediately spoke up to help Shen Jie out after receiving her reproachful look. His eldest and second brothers were really something, why did they have to interfere? Otherwise, this matter would have been resolved long ago, why waste so much time with them? "What should we do with those two now? Send them to the authorities?" he asked, pointing at Lei Jun and Lei Shuangxue, diverting his brothers' attention from Shen Jie.

“This…” Ouyang Tianji hesitated and looked at his elder brother. One of them was his elder brother’s lawfully wedded wife, and the other was his elder brother’s brother-in-law. How to judge their crimes was entirely up to his elder brother. He did not know how his elder brother would decide.

Lei Shuangxue seemed to have reached her limit. Send her to the authorities? She didn't want to go to such a place again. The death row was dark and damp, with rats and cockroaches scurrying around. She couldn't bear to imagine it... "I didn't do anything, husband, you have to believe me. He did everything." She looked pitifully at Ouyang Tianyun, hoping that her face could evoke his sympathy.

Ouyang Tianyun didn't even bother to glance at her. His eyes were fixed on Shen Jie with deep affection. So her name was Shen Jie. He hadn't known that. He really couldn't understand why she would fall for his useless third brother. Did she think he was so worthless?

"You..." Lei Jun was genuinely surprised that Lei Shuangxue would pin all the blame on him at this moment, and he was so angry that he couldn't speak. Women are like that; they lack courage and the guts to take responsibility. After being threatened a few times, they reveal everything. However, it no longer mattered who did this. He wasn't foolish enough to think that Ouyang Tianyu would let them off the hook. "Shuangxue, you can't be that forgetful, can you? My godfather only asked me to assist you from the sidelines." It's just that this woman is too stupid.

"Anyway, those ideas were all yours. I... I didn't participate in anything." Lei Shuangxue hurriedly tried to deny it, trying to avoid being dragged into it. She claimed that Lei Jun planned and did everything, and she was just a messenger.

Shen Jie and Ouyang Tianyu exchanged a knowing glance, finding their mutual revelation amusing, which only reinforced their belief in one thing—

"Lei Jun, speak! Who is behind you?" Ouyang Tianyu's previous carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by a deep, serious gaze. Though his tone was calm, an invisible pressure emanated from him. Lei Jun's backer was definitely not Lei Batian; it must be someone else entirely. And he was certain that Lei Jun had been sent to Lei Family Fortress by his master.

"Isn't it clear? My godfather sent me to help Shuangxue obtain the Void Dragon Sword. There is no so-called mastermind behind it all. If you insist on saying there is, then it can only be my godfather." Useless woman, the father and daughter are the same, Lei Jun thought disdainfully.

"Your godfather?" Ouyang Tianyu was clearly dissatisfied with this answer. He sneered, "Do you take me for a three-year-old? You probably don't even believe such a statement yourself." Just by looking at his current manner, it was enough to tell that things were not as simple as he claimed.

"Hahaha..." Lei Jun suddenly burst into maniacal laughter. "Ouyang Tianyu, you're right. Such words may not convince you, but others do. Not just Lei Shuangxue, even Lei Batian thinks I would never betray him." He stopped laughing, his bloodshot eyes filled with deep hatred, making his face even more ferocious and terrifying. "That old bastard Lei Batian is no good either. He killed my parents, and didn't even spare a two-year-old child. It's only thanks to the Palace Master's rescue that I'm still alive. I've tried every means to get close to him, to stay by his side, all so that one day I can kill him with my own hands and avenge my parents!"

"Palace Master? Is it Hei Jue Ming from the Demon Palace?" Ouyang Tianyu asked. It seemed that the information they had received was true; Lei Jun was indeed a member of the Demon Palace.

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Lei Jun was stunned for a moment. Everyone in the martial world only knew him as Lei Batian's adopted son; aside from him and the Palace Master, almost no one knew about his relationship with the Demon Palace. How could Ouyang Tianyu know? But then he laughed again, "Ouyang Tianyu, you are indeed very clever, but you won't get any information from me. You'll never get it, ha..."

Seeing Lei Jun's calm and composed smile, a thought flashed through Shen Jie's mind. "Stop—" Shen Jie shouted loudly, rushing forward to try to stop what was about to happen, but she was a step too late. She saw black blood flowing from Lei Jun's mouth, and the next second he fell straight down...

Lei Jun's suicide shocked everyone present. Ouyang Tianyu walked to Lei Jun's body. How could he not have imagined that this was a common trick used by the people of the Demon Palace? After being captured, they were unwilling to reveal the inside story they knew, so they would bite into poison that had been placed in their mouths beforehand and commit suicide to show their loyalty to the Palace Master. This time was no exception.

"He's from the Demon Palace?!" Shen Jie recalled what she had heard at Lei Family Fort. "Could it be that the missing government silver is related to him?" She easily connected the two events, but there was one thing she couldn't understand: why did Lei Jun tell Lei Batian that the 'missing government silver' was a frame-up by the Demon Palace against Lei Family Fort? Could he have had another purpose?