She gripped the window frame tightly and stood there for a full half-incense stick's time before gently opening the back door and walking out.
The road was eerily quiet, the moonlight dim and indistinct, making the path even more difficult to traverse. She had to stop several times before she could walk any further, her breathing becoming increasingly erratic. Finally, unable to continue, she sat down by the roadside. Beside her stretched a vast expanse of rice paddies, seemingly endless.
With a flick of her fingers, a wonderful fragrance immediately filled the air. Feng Qiansu smelled this unique scent and vaguely thought about what had happened along the way. The journey had started so gloriously, but it had ended up like this. A sense of powerlessness and frustration arose spontaneously.
Just as she was becoming increasingly agitated, a dark shadow suddenly covered hers, followed by a pair of hands placed on her shoulders, and a familiar, gentle voice sounded: "You are badly injured. My skills are not as good as the little devil's, and I can only keep you going. In a few days, when you are more comfortable, he will heal you."
Feng Qiansu didn't move, but those hands continuously channeled internal energy into her body, which dispelled the chill in her chest like a warm current, making her feel much more comfortable.
“He did it on purpose. Of everyone, I’m the only one who doesn’t know martial arts, so he injured me the most,” she said through gritted teeth.
After a moment of silence, the other person said, "As long as he lives, he will always be a menace."
Feng Qiansu raised her hand in a prohibition gesture: "We are no longer able to deal with him. I called you here to tell you that this trip is over, and I will find another opportunity to set up another scheme. We have waited so long, we don't care about waiting a few more years." Saying this, she smiled slightly, "This trip was not without its gains. After such a commotion, Gong Feicui is probably not interested in getting married in the short term."
"That's right. As long as she doesn't marry, the power of the Gong family will remain in your hands."
Feng Qiansu said coldly, "It's a pity she'll have to get married sooner or later—once the son-in-law enters the family, it will be difficult for me, the head steward, to maintain power!"
"Then we..."
"Go back to southern Henan and continue doing what you were doing until I give you orders."
The person behind him chuckled softly and whispered, "The Dragon King must be very frustrated. He thought he knew a lot about the hundred ghosts, but he still doesn't know the Ghost King's background. Even that Young Master Xiao is completely confused by us."
“Two years ago, during the battle with the Dragon King, I deliberately didn’t show myself. Now it’s finally proving useful.” Feng Qiansu smiled faintly. “It’s always better to keep something in reserve when doing things.”
"You're more than capable with just one trick up your sleeve," the other person said with a soft laugh. "Li Qing's plan was truly ingenious!"
Feng Qiansu sneered, "That's what the Dragon King brought on himself! Our expenses have always been huge, but he wouldn't let us do business on the Yellow River. I had no choice but to have someone find Li Qing and pretend to be a Dragon Gate disciple who revealed the Dragon King's whereabouts to her while drunk... I knew she was a jinx the moment I saw her. If the Dragon King got involved with her, of course he'd be doomed!"
"Oh, really?" The person behind her suddenly slowed down their voice and increased the pressure on their hand. Just as Feng Qiansu sensed something was wrong, she heard the person say in a deep voice, "Then what about Baili Chenfeng? Did he also die because he got involved with you, this troublemaker?"
Feng Qiansu immediately jumped up. Due to the sudden interruption of her inner energy, her chest felt as if it had been hit hard by a sledgehammer, and tears immediately streamed down her face in pain. However, all of this paled in comparison to the shock she felt when she turned around and saw the person's face. A mixture of fear, fervor, and other emotions overwhelmed her, and her whole being felt as if it were burning alive.
The sky gradually turned blue, and a faint light began to appear. The dim morning light illuminated the man behind her, revealing his brows, his lips, and his long hair. He was exceptionally handsome, but to Feng Qiansu, he was nothing short of a death knell, a demon from hell, terrifying beyond measure!
—Xiao Zuo!
How could it be him? How could it be him!
“Chief Wind,” Xiao Zuo smiled at her, just as smugly as when they first met, as if all the moonlight were falling into his eyes, “who do you think sounds better, my voice or the Ghost King's, or rather, that puppet’s?”
Feng Qiansu bit her lip, remaining silent.
“Chief Feng, you’re right. You always have to have a backup plan.” Xiao Zuo laughed even more heartily. “The backup plan I have is my ventriloquism.”
Without him saying a word, Feng Qiansu already understood, but her mind was in turmoil, and she was powerless to refute anything. The only thought in her mind was: how could she salvage this mistake? She never imagined that someone as cautious as herself could be so careless in a moment. It was truly a case of one wrong step leading to eternal regret!
Xiao Zuo's expression turned serious as he said, "People in the martial world say that my godfather, Baili Wenming, is the most mysterious, but in my opinion, he is not as mysterious as the Ghost King. Tonight, I broke into his sedan chair, and although I was prevented from fighting him by the traps, I saw the panic on his face. Later, when I was injured by the traps, he showed a smug look. Based on those two expressions, I concluded that he is not the Ghost King. A person who wears his heart on his sleeve and cannot keep his composure is not qualified to lead a hundred ghosts. His greatest advantage is his beautiful voice, which is indeed very beautiful. I imitated it for a long time before I came here."
Feng Xiansu straightened her back and remained silent.
"So I thought, if he's not the Ghost King, then who is the real Ghost King?" Xiao Zuo tilted his head and pondered. "Then I discovered something—the little ghosts often look at you intentionally or unintentionally. Later, it was because you coughed that the Ghost King decided to leave. All signs indicate that they obey you, so I just impersonated the Ghost King to test you, and it worked on the first try. Feng Qiansu, what do you have to say now?"
Now that things have come to this, Feng Qiansu calmed down and said indifferently, "If the number one spendthrift in the world can be the new city lord of Baili City, then why can't Feng Qiansu be the Ghost King?"
“Indeed, it is possible…” Xiao Zuo’s expression darkened, and he said sharply, “But why?”
Feng Qiansu glanced at the angle of her reflection on the ground; it must be around 3:45 AM. Xiao Zuo was immune to all poisons, so she posed no threat to him. Therefore, she could only try to buy time, hoping the hundred ghosts could arrive in time to save her.
So she slowed down her speech as much as possible and asked gently, "What exactly is Young Master Xiao asking?"
Don't you understand in your heart?
"Feng Qiansu doesn't understand, and hopes that Young Master Xiao will explain."
Xiao Zuo's eyes flickered for a moment, then he suddenly said, "Are you deliberately stalling for time? Do you think the Hundred Ghosts will come to save you?"
Feng Qiansu was startled, and heard him slowly say, "Too late, Steward Feng. The disciples of Baili City have already found the hiding place of the Hundred Ghosts and have probably annihilated them all by now."
“No, this is impossible…” Feng Qiansu murmured, “You can’t possibly find them…”
“Why not?” Xiao Zuo laughed. “For decades, people in the martial arts world have been tracking and monitoring my disciples to find out the exact location of Baili City, but they have always returned empty-handed. Do you know why?”
Feng Qiansu hesitated for a moment, then continued, "That's because my disciples are experts in this field. Only those skilled in tracking and reconnaissance can successfully counter-track. Steward Feng, don't you agree?"
Feng Qiansu felt her heart suddenly ignite, sparks flying and smoke billowing.
It's over! Everything is over! The outcome is decided; the hundred demons have been wiped out, and she has no chance of turning things around.
Xiao Zuo took in her expression and smiled, "Now, is Steward Feng willing to answer my question properly?"
Volume 1, Chapter 10: The Smoke and Fire Have Cleared (2)
Section Two: The Truth Comes Out
Feng Qiansu stood there dumbfounded for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Ask whatever you want! Am I, Feng Qiansu, someone who can't accept defeat?"