Geschichte über einen Ehemanndiebstahl

Kapitel 67

Duan Chen remained silent for a while, pondering the matter several times, before finally giving a soft reply. Zhao Ting was immediately overjoyed, glancing at Zhan Yun before smiling at Zhou Yufei in gratitude. Zhou Yufei raised his chin slightly, returning a knowing smile, "Good brother, don't be so polite!"

The four returned to the inn. Zuo Xin and Xiao Changqing had already packed their belongings, and Supervisor Ding had finished negotiating with the people brought by Zhou Yufei. The members of the Qisheng Sect were locked in the prison cart, waiting for Zhou Yufei's order to set off.

Duan Chen and the others went upstairs to retrieve their bundles. Upon entering the room, they saw a tightly wrapped cloth bundle on the table with a note attached: "To be opened by Young Master Duan."

Duan Chen's brow twitched; he could already smell a hint of blood. He tucked the note into his sleeve, reached down to untie the knot, and slowly opened the cloth bundle. Peeling back the outermost layer of black cloth revealed a vibrant crimson underneath. Looking at the shape of the bundle, Duan Chen had a vague idea of what was going on. Untying the red layer further revealed a white cotton cloth stained with deep blood.

Several knocks sounded at the door, accompanied by Zhan Yun's clear voice. Duan Chen paused, then said in a deep voice, "The door isn't latched."

Zhan Yun and Zhao Ting exchanged a glance outside the door, then pushed it open and went inside. They saw Duan Chen standing by the table. As she turned to the side, they caught a glimpse of the blood on her hands, and, among the layers of cotton cloth scattered on the table, a bloodied heart was clearly visible!

Zhou Yufei waited downstairs for a while. Seeing that the three of them still hadn't come down, he threw his bundle on the table, gave his subordinates a wink, and then lifted his robes and strode up the stairs.

Walking into a room further inside, they saw the door wide open, with Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun standing motionless by it. Zhou Yufei raised an eyebrow, patted Zhao Ting's shoulder, and leaned in to peek inside: "What's going on?"

Zhao Ting frowned and remained silent, while Zhan Yun beside him said in a low voice with a slightly somber expression, "It seems we won't be able to leave anytime soon."

The three were about the same height, and the inn's doorway was narrow. With Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun blocking the way, Zhou Yufei could only manage a peek through the gap between them. Just as he was about to ask them to make way, Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun had already moved to the table. When Zhou Yufei saw the scene before him, he gasped. His handsome brows furrowed tightly, and he looked at Duan Chen with a questioning gaze: "This...it's not a human heart, is it?"

Author's Note: The next update will be this Saturday at 9 AM, and I'll be updating for several days in a row! ~~\(≧▽≦)/~~

After this matter is resolved, the next two cases will both be in Bianjing. During this time, Duan Chen's true identity will gradually be revealed.

So, fellow countrymen who are looking forward to Zhou Gongzi being tortured, and those who are hoping to see Chenchen, Tingting, and Zhanzhan's romantic relationship...

And to all those who once missed and resented Li Lingke, a magnificent scene is about to unfold before you!

P.S.: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone! Thank you for your company; it made me feel so happy~

I blush and cover my face, I'm so embarrassed to say something like that~ ~~~~(>_<)~~~~

64

Chapter Eleven: Seven Sheng Sect • Seven Victory Blade...

Zhan Yun took a kettle from the corner of the wall, poured some water into the wooden basin, added some cold water, tested the water temperature, and then placed the basin on the wooden stool next to the table: "Wash your hands first."

Zhao Ting strolled to the window, glanced at the slightly ajar window, then turned to look at the group and sneered, "This murderer is quite meticulous."

Zhou Yufei had just arrived early in the morning and was unaware of the case's background and many details, unlike Zhao Ting who had arrived a day earlier and done his homework. Upon seeing the bloodied heart on the table and hearing Zhao Ting's sarcastic remarks, he was momentarily stunned and exclaimed in disbelief, "There are still people from the Seven Sheng Cult who haven't been arrested?"

Duan Chen took the cloth from Zhan Yun, thanked him softly, glanced at Zhou Yufei, but didn't say anything. Zhan Yun's smile faded, and a faint gloom appeared in his crescent-shaped eyes: "Whether it was done by the Seven Sheng Sect or not, it's obvious that this person doesn't want us to leave."

Zhou Yufei walked around the house twice, getting more and more confused. Finally, he gave up and turned to leave, saying, "Tell me more details when I get back. There's a bunch of people waiting downstairs. Let's get rid of them first."

Having talked with Zhan Yun until late the night before, Zhao Ting was fairly clear about the Seven Sheng Cult. After considering everything, a thought flashed through his mind, and he quickly glanced at Zhan Yun—could it be that the scourge had someone do it?

Zhan Yun also considered this point and gently shook his head to indicate that he was not sure either. The two exchanged a glance, told Duan Chen, and followed Zhou Yufei downstairs.

Outside the inn.

The group, some on horseback and others in carriages, waited for Zhou Yufei's command, but the few people who had been waiting didn't dismount. Xiao Changqing sat outside the carriage, chin in hand, his dark eyes darting around. The knife wound on his side wasn't deep; after the toxicity subsided, it scabbed over in a couple of days, but it was currently very itchy. Just as Xiao Changqing raised one hand, Zuo Xin, who had walked over, slapped it aside with a "smack."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Xiao Changqing didn't try to argue as usual. He chuckled twice and tilted his head to look at Zuo Xin: "If you're in a hurry, you can go first. The business deal is done, right? There's still a lot of things waiting for you to deal with back in Jiangling, Master Zuo!"

The reason he was able to make the round trip in a single day and bring over the Thunderbolt Hall members was because he had maintained contact with Zuo Xin. Duan Chen and his group traveled from Huainan to Bianjing, while Zuo Xin set off from Jinghu early in the morning to discuss firearms business in the north. At that time, they happened to be not far from Suzhou Prefecture, so upon receiving Xiao Changqing's secret message, he immediately led a dozen or so men towards Kushui Town, and the two met up halfway.

Zuo Xin was furious at his expression. It was like he was criticizing the cook after he had eaten his fill, using him and then throwing him over the wall! He immediately narrowed his eyes, raised one corner of his mouth and smiled gently: "No rush. The Jiangling headquarters has the second-in-command in charge, and there is a business deal in Bianjing that I need to discuss. We can travel together."

Xiao Changqing's face immediately fell, and he dragged out the "ah" sound for a long time. Just then, Zhan Yun walked up to the two of them, waving his fan, and coughed twice. His clear voice contained a hint of laughter: "Gentlemen, you can't leave today."

Mr. Xiao's face immediately lit up with a radiant smile as he looked at Zuo Xin: "I wouldn't dare delay Master Zuo's business discussion." He patted Zuo's shoulder, reminding him that a man should prioritize his career.

Zuo Xin waved to the back, signaling everyone to dismount, and smiled, "No rush. It'll be ten days from now."

Lü Miao also rushed over to see everyone off. Watching Zhou Yufei give instructions for a long time before waving his hand to signal everyone to set off with the prison cart, Ding Dujian also left with his men. The remaining few remained silent, so they walked to Zhan Yun's side and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Zhan Yun smiled slightly, gently waving his folding fan: "It's nothing. I stayed to investigate more thoroughly, to see if there are any clues left behind in that temple and old house. Don't worry."

Lu Miao looked at Zhan Yun with suspicion, then looked around and asked, "Where's Duan Chen? Why isn't she here?"

Zhan Yun remained calm and composed: "I felt a little unwell after breakfast, so I'm resting in my room."

Lu Miao nodded and softly replied, "She'll be a little tired these next few days." Then, she gave Zhan Yun a meaningful look, a hint of ruthlessness in her eyes: "Take good care of her, and don't you dare bully her!"

Zhan Yun was taken aback by her incoherent words, and under the threatening gaze of Lü Miao, he could only nod in confusion. Only then did Lü Miao nod in satisfaction and turn to leave.

Everyone returned upstairs, and Xiao Changqing was the first to rush into the room. She first glanced at the heart on the table with great interest, and then looked at Duan Chen. She saw her sitting against the bedpost, her eyes half-closed, her face slightly pale, and her expression revealing a hint of exhaustion.

Xiao Changqing frowned, tiptoed over, and asked in a low voice, "Xiao Duan, what's wrong?"

Duan Chen quickly opened his eyes, gently shaking his head: "It's nothing. I didn't sleep well last night."

Zuo Xin also entered the room and walked to the table, staring at the object for a long time. Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun both noticed that Duan Chen's expression was not good. Zhao Ting frowned, somewhat puzzled. Was he frightened? That shouldn't be the case. The scene of those seven people having their heads chopped off inside the house at Wanliu Manor was far more horrifying than this.

Zhan Yun received Zhao Ting's questioning gaze and shook his head, indicating he didn't know. Remembering Lü Miao's instructions earlier, he was even more puzzled. Had he caught a chill sleeping the night before? But that didn't make sense either; if that were the case, how could Lü Miao know without even seeing Duan Chen's face?

Duan Chen had already stood up, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and held it in his hands. He said softly, "I just called the waiter over. He said he didn't notice anyone coming in or out of this room. Judging from his expression when he saw this thing, he was really scared. He didn't seem to be faking it."

Zhou Yufei frowned, resting his chin on his hand: "The people staying in this inn are all our people. When we went out for breakfast just now, the people I brought, along with Ding Dujian's men, were all guarding the door. That person couldn't have come in through the main entrance."

"Wait a minute." Zhou Yufei said, looking up at Duan Chen and the others: "Don't talk about how this person got in yet. Tell me what happened before. Why don't you all think that Qi Sheng's people did this? I'm completely confused, my brain is a complete mess."

Zhao Ting gave him a cold glance. Who told you not to come sooner! "I'll tell you about those things when I have time." Anyway, everyone except him knows what's going on.

Duan Chen took a sip of tea, glanced at Zhan Yun indifferently, walked to the table and looked at the thing, saying, "This is obviously not made by the Qi Sheng Cult."

"Why?" Young Master Zhou was unusually stunned, still looking completely out of it.

Duan Chen raised his phoenix eyes and coldly uttered four words: "There's no need."