Fu Jiuxin shook his head and slowly said, "It wasn't him. He's not skilled with a knife. Chan Tui has been keeping an eye on him for me recently, but he hasn't made any moves."
Since Fu Jiuxin said it wasn't Uncle Chen, then it definitely wasn't him. Dou Akou nodded in understanding, but the others didn't. The more they thought about it, the more they felt it was that mysterious person from Siyou Kingdom from last time. They couldn't help but curse loudly. Some shouted to the sky, saying that if they had the guts, they should show themselves and have a fair and square competition. Others said that they wouldn't be scared off by mere tricks, and that they were determined to get the treasure of Siyou Kingdom.
The Li family lost several members, and their little scheme was exposed by others. They lost face and left in a hurry after saying goodbye.
Gu Huaibi emphasized again that no one should break into the tower at night, and then everyone dispersed.
Because the Li family patriarch and Li San were missing from their group of thirteen, and Yin Yan, who always accompanied Li San, was also absent, the people from the Twelve Waterways were sent to fill in. The Third Miss was among them. As soon as she entered, her eyes lit up, and she scrutinized Fu Jiuxin thoroughly. Dou Akou was extremely unhappy and thought that when they were divided into groups later, she would definitely ask her senior brother to put the Third Miss in another group. However, Gu Huaibi was unaware of her daughter's thoughts and said, "Third Young Master, yesterday we split into two groups. The tunnel on our side also ends at a wall, but the Third Young Master didn't go to check it. Today, we might as well act together. The Third Young Master can go and take a look over there. Besides, with everyone together, there will be more people, which can also help guard against the person who killed last night."
Everyone agreed with this, so Dou Akou could only sullenly follow the group forward.
The three members of the Li family who were investigated last night died in this tunnel. The bloodstains were still wet, and there were still some pieces of flesh and internal organs. It was truly disgusting.
They stepped over the bloodstains, and after walking for a short while, the wall appeared faintly in the candlelight.
The wall still looked like the same wall; no door had miraculously opened. The Third Young Master handed the candle he was holding to Gu Huaibi and went forward to investigate.
He fiddled with it for a while, then shook his head and sighed, "It seems there's no mechanism."
Pi Xiaoli grew impatient, grabbed a handful of dry, yellow fur, and said, "Then blow it up! With our Pangbo Hall's flint and explosives, this wall is nothing!"
The Third Young Master said solemnly, “Miss Pi, you mustn’t. I am not knowledgeable about the mechanisms here, but that doesn’t mean this wall doesn’t have them. If there were mechanisms, but they were destroyed by the flint, they might trigger other mechanisms. Moreover, destroying this door also carries the risk of collapse. It’s better to proceed with caution.”
Pi Xiaoli paced irritably against the wall: "Then what do you suggest we do?"
She spun around several times, then suddenly twisted her ankle, stepping on something and crying out in pain. As soon as she finished speaking, the wall behind her began to rumble and shake violently. "Whoa!" Pi Xiaoli screamed, leaping up from the ground and staring at the wall in terror.
After the smoke and dust settled, the wall slowly rose, revealing a surprisingly spacious cave at the end of this dead-end tunnel. The area illuminated by the candlelight was shrouded in darkness.
Dou Akou's mouth dropped open: "Ah! The mechanism is activated!"
It was like finding a needle in a haystack; after searching for so long, they were surprised to find that Pi Xiaoli had stepped on it.
The Third Young Master squatted down where Pi Xiaoli had jumped up earlier, examined it closely, and said, "So the mechanism here is operated by foot. We really have to thank Miss Pi for that."
Pi Xiaoli chuckled, scratched his head sheepishly, and secretly glanced at Fu Jiuxin, who was looking at Dou Akou.
Ding Zisu said impatiently, "Now that the door is open, why don't you hurry up and go in? What are you dawdling for!"
She was growing increasingly impatient. She had been in Siyou Kingdom for so long, yet she had no clue as to the whereabouts of the medical book. Even if she still had patience, given Xu Liren's temperament, she probably wouldn't be able to wait much longer.
She was about to step inside when the third young lady grabbed her arm: "Wait! Can't you smell anything?"
Her words caused everyone to sniff, and sure enough, amidst the lingering smell of blood from the previous night, there was also an indescribable, strange stench. Tang Xunzhen followed the smell for a few steps, then pointed to the dark cave and exclaimed, "It's coming from inside!"
The group exchanged bewildered glances, none daring to venture in and investigate. Ding Zisu paused, hesitating and unsure whether to go any further.
Fu Jiuxin pondered for a moment, then said, "It's not poison gas inside, it should be—"
Before he could finish speaking, he was abruptly cut off by the commotion outside the tunnel. Someone rushed into the tunnel and shouted to Gu Huaibi, "Young Master, the murderer has appeared!"
Everyone was shocked. For a moment, no one cared about looking at the cave. They all rushed to the ground and saw people huddled together in a chaotic mess, shouting, "Where is everyone? Where is that person?"
A servant of Xilie Fort reported to Gu Huaibi: "Young Master, a quarter of an hour ago, some brothers on patrol spotted a suspicious figure acting furtively in the woods. He was also carrying a knife. We chased after him to question him, but he ran away when he saw us. We are chasing him now."
While they were still trying to find out more details, Fu Jiuxin didn't listen at all. He quickly scanned the surroundings, then suddenly paused, and then put his arm around Dou Akou's waist: "Let's go!"
As soon as they finished speaking, they took to the air and headed towards the woods.
Dou Akou's lightness skill was lacking, and she almost fell halfway down, but fortunately Fu Jiuxin caught her waist, allowing her to continue.
Fu Jiuxin's eyes were sharp; he had spotted the figure in the woods early on. He placed Dou Akou on a treetop, saying, "Wait for me," before leaping down. He drew his sword, completing a series of movements in an instant, as natural and skillful as flowing water, without a single superfluous motion or uttering a single unnecessary word. His swordsmanship was refined and ruthless, practically created for killing.
The person under the tree reacted quickly. Under Fu Jiuxin's sudden and silent attack, he only raised his head because he heard the chilling wind. Almost at the same time, his body moved in time, twisting and avoiding Fu Jiuxin's sword.
As he looked up, Dou Akou, who was perched on a tree branch, got a clear look at his face. Dou Akou's eyes widened: "Xu Liren?!"
Fu Jiuxin, having failed to land a single blow, did not hesitate for a moment. He smoothly twirled his sword and launched a thunderous attack, giving Xu Liren no chance to catch his breath.
Although Xu Liren also practiced martial arts, it was only for self-defense. Later, Dou Akou taught him a few moves of Qingyong City's unique skills. Although he was already considered above average among ordinary martial artists, he was still slightly inferior to Fu Jiuxin, who inherited the swordsmanship of Haohui City.
He was struggling to dodge, and soon he was panting heavily. To make matters worse, his old ailment flared up at this moment, causing him to break out in a cold sweat from the pain. He struggled to squeeze out two words through his teeth: "Chen Sihai!"
That was probably the name of his guard, but no one answered. Meanwhile, Fu Jiuxin's sword was already pointed directly at him.
protector
Fu Jiuxin's sword was already pointing straight at him.
Xu Li hurriedly retreated, but accidentally fell on the muddy ground, looking extremely disheveled.
He somewhat regretted that he had personally gone on an incognito journey to Haohui City to find the medical book because he was worried about Ding Zisu's efficiency, but he had only taken one guard, Chen Sihai, with him. Xu Liren had carefully selected Chen Sihai from among the three thousand imperial guards because he was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also as loyal as a dog. Along the way, Chen Sihai had indeed been reliable in his work, efficiently resolving many matters for Xu Liren, always available and without any delays.
The three members of the Li family who died inside the tower were also killed by Chen Sihai at Xu Li's behest. He had just arrived when he learned that the entrance to the labyrinth beneath Haohui City had been found, but the mechanism hadn't been activated yet. He knew the nature of martial artists; once the mechanism was activated, the numerous demons and monsters gathered here would surely unleash a bloodbath, swarming in and causing a fierce battle. To prevent these martial artists from approaching the labyrinth at the bottom of the tower, he specifically assigned Chen Sihai to guard the base, ordering that anyone entering be killed without mercy.
Chen Sihai's method of killing was indeed brilliant. The tragic deaths of the three disciples certainly deterred those petty thieves who still dared to sneak into the bottom of the tower. He had praised Chen Sihai just a quarter of an hour ago, but at this crucial moment, he had disappeared.
Xu Liren was momentarily lost. He expected to feel fear and struggle at the prospect of death, perhaps even unleashing a survival instinct. After all, he had endured nineteen years to finally ascend the throne and possess the entire world's magnificent landscape. How could he willingly die like this? He did indeed want to live; otherwise, why would he have been so eager to come here to find the legendary medical book that could cure all poisons and diseases? Even though the chances of finding it might be as slim as finding a needle in a haystack, and even if he did find it, he couldn't be certain if the book could truly cure his poison, he would never give up as long as there was even a sliver of hope.
But when Fu Jiuxin's sword was three inches from his throat, he suddenly realized a faint but undeniable voice in his heart: it wouldn't be so bad to die like this.
The sword wasn't anything special; it was just the kind you could buy anywhere in a weapon shop. But in Fu Jiuxin's hands, it possessed an overwhelming aura, carrying the force of a thunderbolt, exuding a killing intent and chilling aura that could be felt to the very bone. Xu Liren was momentarily blinded by the bright sunlight reflected off the sword and tilted his head to the side.
Perhaps time suddenly seemed to thicken and stand still at this moment, or perhaps the fleeting fragments that flashed through his mind were too fast; in any case, at this critical moment, Xu Liren suddenly thought of many things.
He tried hard to recall any warmth he had experienced in the past nineteen years. His life was built on hatred and darkness. He had reached his current position, and although his heart seemed vast and magnificent, it was empty inside, ready to crumble at the slightest touch. Yet, it seemed that there had once been someone who genuinely cared for him. Xu Liren recalled the bone-chillingly cold water of Qingyong City during the dead of winter. He had washed dishes in that water, his hands red, swollen, and cracked from the cold, when a cheerful voice beside him said, "Let me help you wash them."
Who is that? Yes, it's Dou Akou.
Only she would have searched all over Qingyong City on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month to find him, extend her hands to him, and timidly ask, "Will you come back with me for the New Year?"
He had never had a proper New Year. The dazzling lights and clinking glasses in the palace were never his. He always drank a bowl of cold medicine in a dimly lit palace, worrying about whether he would live to see the next day. But that year, at the Dou family's house, he still vaguely smelled a trace of the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
Dou Akou's eyes... Xu Liren thought, it was as if looking into her eyes would allow him to see all the good things in the world.
Xu Liren tilted his head back. Under the azure sky, dappled shadows of trees stretched out. He seemed to see Dou Akou's eyes among the verdant, blossoming branches—perhaps a phantom from before his death.
Xu Liren gave up the idea of survival. He stared at those eyes without blinking, only to find that the eyes stared at him for a while, then suddenly blinked. Then there was a sound in the treetops, and something suddenly fell from the tree towards Xu Liren. Xu Liren felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and then he was hit hard on the back of the head. He grimaced in pain and saw stars.
"Hiss." Xu Li gasped, looking angrily at what had fallen from the tree—it was Dou Akou, which had hit him squarely, only inches away from Fu Jiuxin's sword.
"Akou!" Fu Jiuxin reacted quickly, sheathing her sword, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and anger.
"Sir," Dou Akou said, getting up from Xu Liren and scratching her head. She wondered if he would believe her if she said she had accidentally, just happened, and coincidentally fallen on him.
Dou Akou slowly stood up from the ground, but still stood in front of Xu Liren without moving an inch.
She was still trying to figure out what excuse to use to persuade Fu Jiuxin. Her lies were too clumsy, and someone like Mr. Fu would definitely be able to see through them at a glance. But she really didn't want Fu Jiuxin to kill Xu Liren, so she stood there blankly, biting her lower lip and racking her brains for an excuse.
In Fu Jiuxin's eyes, her appearance was that of someone standing in front of Xu Liren, as if she were going to kill him first.
Fu Jiuxin's eyes darkened, and ice and snow seemed to rise from his brows. With a clang, he sheathed his sword and turned to leave.
Dou Akou was dumbfounded. She hadn't even revealed her intention to ask Fu Jiuxin to let Xu Liren go, and her "understanding" master had actually taken the initiative to sheathe his sword and leave? But even if she was stupid, she knew that her master was angry, which was why he left without saying a word or even looking at her.
“Sir!” she called to him from behind.
Fu Jiuxin ignored him completely, not even pausing for a moment, and continued walking.
"Ah Xin!" Dou Akou called again.
This time, the man walking quickly ahead reacted. Fu Jiuxin suddenly turned around and walked back towards Dou Akou.
Dou Akou was overjoyed and was about to pounce when she saw Fu Jiuxin take something off his waist and throw it in front of Xu Liren with a clatter: "Your thing."
Dou Akou and Xu Liren both stared intently, and it turned out to be the imperial sword that Xu Liren had given to Dou Akou, the one that Fu Jiuxin had lied to her about throwing away.
After throwing away the knife, Fu Jiuxin turned and walked away expressionlessly, his face indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.
Dou Akou stamped her foot, turned around and said to Xu Liren, "You are the emperor, so don't come out so casually in the future. I will only save you this time!"
She felt that Xu Liren owed her too much, and because of Xu Liren, she had offended Fu Jiuxin.
After she finished speaking, she stopped looking at Xu Liren and hurriedly caught up with Fu Jiuxin.
She glanced at Fu Jiuxin's expression, dared not act coquettishly anymore, and could only follow behind him. She kept an arm's length distance from him, sticking to him like a shadow.
Fu Jiuxin heard Dou Akou's footsteps, but he didn't want to pay attention to her right now. He could clearly feel that his emotions were unstable and he was not calm. Before he had Dou Akou, although he had always looked at her with concern, he was not as easily angered as he was now, his heart easily stirred by this little girl. After marrying Dou Akou, however, he found that he had a stronger sense of ownership over her.
Fu Jiuxin is a domineering person at heart, and he will not tolerate anyone touching Dou Akou's hair, let alone now that Dou Akou has taken the initiative to die for another man.
They returned silently to their residence near Haohui City. As soon as they entered the hall, they saw Tang Xunzhen and Gu Huaibi, as well as the third young lady from the twelfth row.
Tang Xunzhen, oblivious to the danger, greeted them: "Hey, Akou, you and your husband went out to have some fun? Tsk tsk, I heard it's quite an adventure out there."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Dou Akou frantically trying to wink at her; while Fu Jiuxin gave her a cold look, and Tang Xunzhen immediately shivered.
Anyone with eyes could see that the couple was having a tiff. Dou Akou, like a timid young wife, followed Fu Jiuxin upstairs.
They walked all the way to their room. Fu Jiuxin went in first, followed by Dou Akou. The master paced back and forth in front of her several times, looking at Dou Akou as if he wanted to say something, but remained silent. Suddenly, he reached out a hand to touch Dou Akou's cheek, but then his hand changed direction halfway, grabbing her arm and pulling her behind his waist, dragging her out the door.
Fu Jiuxin used a very skillful force, pushing her just outside the threshold until she was standing right against it. Then, with a loud bang, the door slammed shut just an inch from Dou Akou's nose.
The dust kicked up when the door closed made Dou Akou cough for a while. She coughed for quite a while before she suddenly realized that her husband had locked her out.
She stood blankly outside the door for a while, feeling a surge of grievance slowly welling up in her heart, making her nose sting.
Aside from that time at the palace, her master, who had always cherished her and held her dear, had never treated her like this before. Dou Akou, enraged, pounded on the door, her courage growing, and called out Fu Jiuxin's name: "Fu Jiuxin! Open the door!"
Fu Jiuxin calmed down a bit when he could no longer see Dou Akou inside the house. He was afraid that he might do something to hurt Dou Akou if he wasn't careful, so he had just locked her outside when he heard Dou Akou shouting.
He recalled how Dou Akou had protected Xu Liren earlier, and his anger flared up again. He flung open the door with a whoosh, but his tone and expression remained calm as he looked at Dou Akou outside the door: "What did you call me just now?"
Dou Akou had been bullied by Fu Jiuxin since childhood. The arrogance that had just sprung up, fueled by some unknown audacity, was instantly deflated by Fu Jiuxin's calm question. Looking into Fu Jiuxin's eyes, she quickly came up with a plan, lowered her voice, smiled, and called him in the softest, most trembling voice she had ever used: "Brother."
This voice is comparable to Liu Qingdai's.
What awaited her was the sound of Fu Jiuxin slamming the door shut once again, without any mercy.
vinegar sea overturn
Even a clay figure has a temper, let alone Dou Akou, who has been pampered and spoiled by Fu Jiuxin these past few days. Now that her temper has flared up, she is so angry that she ignores Fu Jiuxin. She makes a face at the closed door, bares her teeth, and then goes downstairs with great pride.
Tang Xunzhen and Gu Huaibi were both martial artists with keen hearing. In addition, Fu Jiuxin slammed the door shut in a fit of anger, making it loud and clear. The two of them heard everything they were doing while they were downstairs. Now, seeing Dou Akou dawdling downstairs with her head down, they looked at her with more sympathy.
"Akou, come here," Tang Xunzhen greeted Dou Akou warmly. "Have some tea."
Gu Huaibi gloated: "Junior Sister, you are the most capable person to make Brother Fu so angry."
Tang Xunzhen glared at him, signaling him to shut up, then turned to comfort Dou Akou: "Akou, don't listen to your senior brother's foul mouth. Tell me first, how did you offend the Master?"