Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Zi Nu glanced at him but did not refuse.

As Xu Qing spoke, he gently placed the money on the table.

Unlike some "friends" who are used to "eating and drinking for free" or even "listening to" music for free, Xu Qing is very sensible. Even though they call each other friends, he always pays for his services and never defaults. Zi Nu greatly appreciates this.

In comparison, that young master Han Fei has recently seemed... less kind.

Although they co-founded Liusha, Zilan Pavilion was not his free base. Every time he came to drink and make merry, he should at least pay some money.

She led the girls to earn money, but it was very hard work.

The store has been closed for the past few days, and we don't know how much money we've lost.

The front courtyard of Zilan Pavilion was a bustling place of singing and dancing, while the back garden was a quiet place for young ladies to rest.

Zi Nu led Xu Qing through the corridor and arranged a quiet guest room for him there.

As night fell, Xu Qing had dinner with everyone from Zilanxuan.

During the banquet, he met Nongyu again.

Xu Qing didn't say much to Nongyu, but when Nongyu saw Xu Qing, a hint of undisguised surprise flashed in her eyes.

The story that Xu Qing and Li Kai told her back then was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples in the fog surrounding her background.

After that, fragments of the story often lingered in her mind.

Liu Yi's death, seemingly her own affair, was in fact also her own doing, or rather, closely related to the fire-rain agate she wore close to her body.

At this moment, Han Fei and the others were still sorting through the chaotic clues and had not yet completely unraveled the mystery. They only vaguely knew that the Fire Rain Agate that had been with her since childhood seemed to be involved in a secret past that no one knew.

Chapter 70 Why aren't you sleeping at night? What's going on?!

After a moment's thought, Nongyu moved gracefully to Xu Qing's side.

"Nongyu greets you, sir." Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of barely perceptible weariness.

Seeing that Nongyu had taken the initiative to greet him, Xu Qing naturally wouldn't be negligent and replied with a smile, "Miss Nongyu, how have you been? However, you seem a little tired and thinner."

Nongyu did not hide her feelings and said in a low voice, "A close sister of mine has unfortunately died, and I am truly heartbroken."

"I see." Xu Qing nodded slightly and gently comforted her, "Please take care of yourself and accept my condolences."

Nongyu nodded gently, then a faint smile appeared on her lips, as if to change the subject: "I never expected that you and Sister Zinu would be so familiar with each other."

“Of course we know each other!” Xu Qing said casually, but with a hint of matter-of-factness. “Otherwise, do you think I could have easily heard your music last time? The top courtesan of Zilan Pavilion, so many people would spend a fortune to get a single piece of music from you. Money alone might not be enough to get you to play.”

Upon hearing this, Nongyu blushed slightly.

She said softly, "If you would like to hear the zither again, please come to Zilan Pavilion in the future. Whenever you have time, Nongyu is willing to play the zither for you, without taking a penny."

"That won't do!"

Zi Nu's voice suddenly rang out, carrying an unquestionable tone.

She didn't look at Nongyu, but instead focused her gaze on Xu Qing. Although there was a smile on her lips, her eyes revealed a shrewd calculation: "Nongyu is the top courtesan here. Her music is the hallmark of Zilan Pavilion. If you want to hear her play, sir, just come. But the fee you are owed will not be reduced by a single coin."

“Sister Zi Nu…” Nong Yu became increasingly embarrassed.

Surprisingly, Xu Qing nodded readily: "That's how it should be."

After dinner, Xu Qing settled down to rest at Zilan Pavilion.

Although Nongyu intended to play a piece of music for him, she was in a low mood at the moment, immersed in the grief of losing her sister and the guilt of Hongyu dying in her place. Xu Qing naturally would not ask her to play the zither at this time.

The once bustling Zilanxuan has fallen into silence due to its closure.

Outside the window, the night rain pattered down, and the wind howled as it swept across the eaves.

Xu Qing was alone in his guest room, sleeping soundly with his eyes closed, unaffected by the wind and rain outside.

However, the atmosphere was completely different in Nongyu's boudoir not far away.

Nongyu was removing her makeup in front of the mirror, preparing to take a bath and go to bed.

In the past few days, whenever the night is quiet, the image of Hongyu's tragic death follows her like a shadow, haunting her mind. If it weren't for that twist of fate that night, it would have been she who was lying in a pool of blood.

She slowly removed her earrings, her fingertips feeling slightly cool.

Just then, a very light footstep came from behind her, followed by a fragrance she knew all too well.

"Still thinking about Hongyu?" Zi Nu's gentle voice rang out.

"Mmm," Nongyu responded softly.

"Don't worry," Zi Nu approached and gently placed her hand on her shoulder, her tone soothing, "Young Master Han Fei and the others are already investigating, the truth is not far off, and then we will definitely seek justice for Hong Yu."

She gave a few more gentle instructions, and seeing that Nongyu's expression had softened, she quietly withdrew.

Everything seemed calm and uneventful.

At least, that's how it appears to be from the eyes that are watching in the darkness.

After Nongyu's figure disappeared behind the screen, the sound of water was heard softly, and a dark figure finally slipped into the room like a ghost.

His purpose in coming here was not to kill, but to find something.

Previously, blinded by hatred, I mistakenly killed someone. Now that I've calmed down, I'm shocked to realize that this thing is the key to unraveling everything.

We must seize this opportunity to find it.

He held his breath and carefully searched the dressing table and desk, using the screen as cover.

Just then, the figure bathing behind the screen seemed to sense something amiss, her movements faltered slightly, and her graceful silhouette swayed.

A fierce glint flashed in the shadowy figure's eyes; he couldn't let the witness ruin things.

A sword, carried at all times, silently slipped into his palm. The blade rose, and killing intent instantly locked onto the figure behind the screen.

The cold, sharp blade cast distorted shadows on the thin silk screen in the candlelight.

Splash...

The sound of water suddenly rose from the bathtub, and the dark figure did not hesitate any longer. The sword, which had been poised for a long time, was thrust out like a venomous snake striking.

scoff!

The sharp sword energy instantly tore through the fragile screen, sending shredded fabric flying everywhere.

However, the expected screams did not come.

Amidst the pervasive moisture, a crimson, serpentine shadow, accompanied by a piercing whistle, lunged straight at them.

"Clang!"

The dark figure hastily parried with his sword, but a tremendous force emanated from the blade, causing his hands to go numb and forcing him to retreat more than ten feet before he slammed into the wall to regain his balance.

He was shocked and looked up.

As the mist slowly dissipated, a figure emerged gracefully from the haze. Her purple hair cascaded down her shoulders, wet and glistening. She wore only a pale purple bathrobe that accentuated her breathtaking curves. It was none other than the owner of Zilan Pavilion.

She held a strange, blood-red soft sword, its blade still undulating and trembling, emitting a low hum.

"It's you?!" The shadowy figure's pupils constricted in disbelief.

He had been lying in wait for a long time and clearly saw Zi Nu leave and Nong Yu take a bath... When did they switch places?

"Surprised?" Zi Nu's lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes filled with a chilling frost. "I've been waiting for you for a long time. Hong Yu's blood debt should be settled tonight."

In the brief exchange of blows, the opponent's incredibly swift sword strikes had already convinced her that the person before her was the murderer who killed Hongyu.

The shadowy figure knew he had fallen into a trap, but with his escape route cut off, he had no choice but to fight to the death.

He let out a low roar, and the longsword in his hand transformed into a flurry of cold stars, launching another fierce attack.

The flickering candlelight illuminated two figures swiftly crossing paths.

The Black Shadow Sword Technique was ruthless and cunning, each move deadly. Zi Nu's Chain Serpent Soft Sword, however, was even more unpredictable and elusive. Its blade would sometimes be taut like a spear, and sometimes meander like a whip, its angles unpredictable and elusive. It wove a deadly net of swords in the confined space, with the sounds of metal clashing constantly and sparks flying everywhere.

Within moments, the shadowy figure was forced to defend itself against the strange soft sword, facing imminent danger.

A chilling sense of despair began to spread.

"Hmph!" A savage glint flashed in the shadowy figure's eyes. He abruptly parried the soft sword and said sharply, "Do you think I dared to come alone without preparation?"

Before he could finish speaking, something unexpected happened.

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!

Suddenly, a piercing sound of something cutting through the air rang out outside the window. Countless powerful crossbow bolts, like a sudden storm, pierced through the window frame and shot densely towards Zi Nu.

Zi Nu's expression changed slightly, and she tried to block the arrows with her soft sword, but the arrows were too dense.

At the critical moment.

"Bang!!!"

The door shattered with a loud crash, and a heavy door panel flew in like a giant shield, blocking Zi Nu's path with perfect precision.

Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!

The arrows, as dense as rain, all struck the door panel, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

At the doorway, Xu Qing leaned lazily against the doorframe, looking at the mess inside and the two people facing off with swords drawn. He raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with amusement and surprise.

"Oh? What's going on here? In the middle of the night..." His gaze swept over Zi Nu's wet purple hair and bathrobe, then glanced at the murderous black figure, before finally settling back on Zi Nu. He drawled, "Shouldn't this be Nong Yu's room?"

Chapter 71 The Person Xu Qing Was Waiting For!

After the door disappeared.

The dim light from outside rushed in, instantly revealing the figure hidden in the darkness clearly to Xu Qing.

It was a man dressed in black, with a strange mask covering the left half of his face. The mask's nose protruded sharply upwards, resembling the beak of a raptor. The other half of his face, which the mask could not cover, had twisted and pitted skin, extremely ferocious, as if it had been ravaged by fire or poison, and it vaguely resembled Li Kai from before.

Such a chilling person is named after a bird.

Vulture!

This is a raptor that feeds on carrion.

The name falls upon this person; whether "fierce" or not is unknown, but a sinister and ruthless "lust for decay" seems to be etched into his bones. In short, he is the kind of person who is repulsive.

When Xu Qing's sharp gaze locked onto him, the vulture's heart skipped a beat.