Three punches shattered the demonic soul, young hero, I'm an honest man!

Chapter 81: Though the clues have gone cold, the oriole is still lurking in the shadows.

Inside the embroidery workshop, there was a deathly silence.

Sun Hong, who had been arrogant and domineering just moments before, was now ashen-faced and sweating profusely.

He looked as if he had been pulled out of the water.

His legs were trembling so badly that he almost collapsed to the ground.

Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

The commander of the Shence Prefecture personally visited to deliver gifts, displaying a respectful attitude!

Either of these identities would be enough to bring him to his doom.

He even dared to speak rudely, try to force a sale, and even threaten others?

Sun Hong felt his vision blurring.

"I—I—"

Sun Hong's lips trembled as he tried to beg for mercy, but he couldn't utter a single complete sentence.

Pei Yun never looked at him directly from beginning to end.

It was as if Sun Hong didn't exist in this embroidery workshop at all.

Whether Sun Hong was afraid or angry, Pei Yun didn't care in the slightest.

If you really put your mind to such clowns, you'll only be lowering your own standards.

Pei Yun's gaze fell on Zhou Yusheng.

Seeing that Pei Yun's attention was completely elsewhere, Sun Hong felt as if the taut string in his heart had suddenly snapped.

He dared not linger for another moment, and disregarding all pride, he led his men and scrambled out of the embroidery workshop.

His disheveled appearance was completely different from before, attracting the attention of passersby on the street.

Zhou Yusheng watched Sun Hong's retreating figure and felt a wave of fear wash over him.

Fortunately, I didn't offend this Commander Pei too much.

Otherwise, his fate would probably be no better than Sun Hong's.

"Young Master Zhou."

Pei Yun's voice was gentle, showing no trace of the indifference he had shown in front of Sun Hong earlier.

Zhou Yusheng was startled and quickly bowed.

"Lord Pei—what are your orders?"

Su Qiao'er also curtsied, her beautiful face showing a hint of worry.

Knowing the formidable reputation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, she feared that Pei Yun had come to investigate some major case that might implicate Zhou Yusheng.

Pei Yun smiled and said, "Miss Su, there's no need to be nervous."

"What happened today is none of your business."

"I simply have some matters I would like to consult with Young Master Zhou."

He turned to Zhou Yusheng: "This is not the place to talk. Would you do me the honor of sitting for a while at the teahouse across the street, Mr. Zhou?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yusheng's heart skipped a beat.

He vaguely sensed that this Commander Pei was probably up to no good.

If it were just a routine question, would it have prompted a Jinyiwei centurion to come in person?

Even he himself doesn't believe it!

"Lord Pei—this—"

Zhou Yusheng chuckled awkwardly, trying to decline.

"There are still matters of mourning to be dealt with at home, I'm afraid—"

Pei Yun's smile remained unchanged, but his tone left no room for argument.

"Don't worry, Young Master Zhou, it won't take much time."

"It's better to ask about some things sooner rather than later."

The seemingly casual invitation carried an invisible pressure that made Zhou Yusheng almost unable to breathe.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Zhou Yusheng's forehead. He dared not say "no," knowing that he had no room to refuse.

"Yes, Lord Pei."

Zhou Yusheng nodded with difficulty.

Su Qiao'er hesitated for a moment, but finally let out a soft sigh.

He watched the two leave the embroidery shop and head towards the teahouse across the street.

A private room in a teahouse.

The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and the aroma of tea.

Zhou Yusheng sat awkwardly opposite Pei Yun.

He was slightly taken aback when he saw a Taoist priest in a green robe sitting in the private room.

The Taoist priest possessed an otherworldly air, with a peaceful and gentle demeanor between his brows.

It was Li Xuanping.

Zhou Yusheng felt even more uneasy.

Besides this Imperial Guard Master Pei, were there other people?

"This person—could he also be a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" Zhou Yusheng asked cautiously.

Li Xuanping chuckled and shook his head.

"Young Master Zhou, you misunderstand. I am Li Xuanping of the Xuan Shu Sect, and I just happened to be traveling with Commander Pei."

Zhou Yusheng felt somewhat relieved, but also had some doubts.

It's rather strange that a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was traveling with a Taoist master.

Pei Yun gestured, "Young Master Zhou, please sit."

Zhou Yusheng sat down opposite Pei Yun with trepidation, feeling extremely uncomfortable and unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

Pei Yun couldn't help but laugh when she saw his expression.

"Young Master Zhou, there's no need to be nervous."

"I have invited you here today only to ask you some ordinary questions."

Hearing Pei Yun say this, Zhou Yusheng's tense nerves relaxed a little, but he still didn't dare to be careless and could only force a smile.

"Lord Pei, please ask. I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

Pei Yun nodded and got straight to the point.

Most of his questions concerned the relationship between Zhou Yusheng and his master, Li Qingzhu, a guest master of the Zhou family.

For example, Li Qingzhu's daily habits, whether she has any unusual behavior, and who she has been in contact with recently.

The question seemed ordinary, but the more Zhou Yusheng listened, the heavier his heart became.

Although he was a playboy, he wasn't stupid.

These questions are clearly a thorough investigation of Mr. Li Qingzhu!

Although he had countless doubts in his heart, he dared not reveal them at all and could only answer honestly.

His words still betrayed his usual disdain for Li Qingzhu's death, behaving as a spoiled playboy.

"Old Li is so rigid, always spouting classical Chinese phrases, it's so annoying."

"That's because my dad still treats him like a treasure, feeding and caring for him the best."

"Aside from teaching, he usually just drinks; there's nothing particularly special about him."

"To be honest, there's nothing unusual about it."

"Just a few days ago, he seemed to be in a bad mood, he was always sighing, but he wouldn't say anything when asked."

Zhou Yusheng's tone was flippant, as if Li Qingzhu's death held no sorrow for him whatsoever.

Li Xuanping listened quietly to the sound of his voice, remaining calm and composed, occasionally picking up his teacup and taking a sip.

But Zhou Yusheng could sense that the Taoist's gaze was always subtly fixed on him.

The questioning lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Pei Yun's problem gradually came to an end.

Just when Zhou Yusheng thought he could finally breathe a sigh of relief, Pei Yun suddenly changed the subject.

"Young Master Zhou, just now in the embroidery workshop, I noticed that you and Miss Su Qiao'er seemed quite familiar with each other. May I ask what your relationship is?"

Zhou Yusheng was taken aback upon hearing this and subconsciously looked at Pei Yun.

Thoughts raced through my mind.

Could it be that this Commander Pei has also taken a fancy to Qiao'er?

Indeed, with Qiao'er's beauty and talent, which man wouldn't be moved?

He previously spent five times the price on the screen, could it be that—

Zhou Yusheng felt a pang of bitterness and resentment.

If this commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is truly interested in something, and I try to stop him, I'm afraid I won't get away with it.

But if we just give up now—

He glanced at Pei Yun furtively and saw that Pei Yun's expression was calm, revealing no emotion.

Zhou Yusheng gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind.

She raised her head and met Pei Yun's gaze.

"Lord Pei, I admire Miss Qiao'er!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a hint of recklessness.

"Although Qiao'er is usually quite cold to me, I still like her!"

"I fell in love with her the first time I saw her."

"She is skillful and kind."

By the end, Zhou Yusheng's cheeks had turned slightly red.

His eyes held a hint of the stubbornness and expectation unique to young people.

After saying this, Zhou Yusheng deflated like a punctured balloon, looking at Pei Yun with some trepidation.

They were afraid that this powerful Jinyiwei commander would be angered by this.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yun's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

He neither confirmed nor denied Zhou Yusheng's "misunderstanding" nor his claim that Su Qiao'er was "cold towards him".

He picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

"Alright, I have asked all the questions I wanted to ask."

2

"Young Master Zhou can go back now."

Zhou Yusheng felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly got up to take his leave.

"Thank you, Lord Pei. Thank you, Daoist Li. I'll take my leave now!"

After saying that, he fled the private room as if he were escaping.

After Zhou Yusheng left, the private room returned to tranquility.

Pei Yun looked at Li Xuanping and asked calmly, "How is it?"

The faint glint of inspiration in Li Xuanping's eyes vanished, and he nodded slightly.

"What this person just said does not seem to be false."

Pei Yun nodded, lightly tapping the table with his fingertips.

"It seems the trail has gone cold."

It seems that Li Qingzhu's storyline has also come to an end.

Li Xuanping picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said nothing more.

Su Wenruo's past is deeply entangled, and it was expected that the clues would be cut off.

However, he could not give up on what his master had entrusted to him.

Neither of them got up to leave, and the atmosphere in the private room was subtly quiet.

Until a short while later.

Li Xuanping put down his teacup and spoke calmly.

"That person has left."

"As you said, there really are other people watching that young master Zhou."

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