Chapter 179: Things You Can’t Help With
Sang Zhe knew he couldn’t explain the system to Shi Qingyan.
So this truth and the thrilling deduction had to be swallowed silently.
However, solving one question only brought up more.
First, why did the Fierce Tiger Sect want to resurrect the Yu family’s thirteen members?
Secondly, what does this have to do with Hua Jianglian?
Why is Hua Jianglian investigating this matter?
And the Evil Old Demon poisoning her own disciple to keep her quiet—who was she guarding against?
The sect leader? Or Hua Jianglian?
Did Ke Qinhux, the Fierce Tiger Sect Leader, know about this?
A bunch of questions surged back, and Sang Zhe’s head started to hurt again.
Although he still wanted to rely on Nian Nian to solve everything, considering her tendency to make outrageous demands, he wondered how many of his points would be left after clarifying these few questions.
But it wasn’t all in vain.
At least the key clues given by Nian Nian inspired him.
Sang Zhe took out the Communication Device and immediately called Si Jingzhu.
As soon as it connected, he immediately heard Si Jingzhu’s characteristic snort.
“Hmph, finally thought of calling me? I knew you’d miss me after leaving me for a bit! I tell you, if you take too long to contact me next time, I will—”
“Si Jingzhu, you’re at the tavern, right?”
“Huh? Oh… What’s up?”
“Listen carefully, I need you to go to a place.”
Sang Zhe whispered, “The murderer of that family massacre should still be in West Spring City, hasn’t left yet.”
“But that murderer isn’t a woman; he’s a male cultivator named Yu Zijian, probably not high-ranked, at most a Nascent Soul.”
“I need you to figure out his whereabouts without disturbing him; just keep an eye on his movements.”
“Contact me immediately if you find anything.”
Upon hearing this, the already aggrieved Si Jingzhu instantly pouted angrily, “Hey! You’re going too far!”
“I—I’ve been left behind alone, how pitiful is that? You actually want me to work late into the night?!”
“Please, my good sister~” Sang Zhe could only plead softly, “We can’t get out right now; we’re counting on you.”
“You are the smartest, most beautiful, and capable Miss Si Jingzhu. Even Shi Qingyan can’t do it; only you can handle such a difficult task!”
Si Jingzhu’s ears softened, and hearing Sang Zhe praise her like this made her huff in delight.
“Hmph. Looks like you finally recognized my skills. Not bad, you have good taste!”
“Then, reluctantly, this Miss will help you, just this once.”
Having appeased Si Jingzhu, Sang Zhe finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But the next moment, Si Jingzhu’s voice came over the Communication Device, sounding a bit shy.
“B-but…”
“If I do a great job this time,” her voice softened, lacking confidence, “you have to promise me one request.”
“Not a problem, anything you want!”
Sang Zhe readily agreed.
Can’t deny it.
To adapt to the upcoming position as the Punishment Department head.
He had already entered a leader-like mindset.
He was so good at sweet-talking his subordinates that it was effortless, and he felt no psychological burden whatsoever.
Sigh. The dragon slayer will ultimately turn into an evil dragon.
“Alright, it’s a promise!”
Si Jingzhu cheerfully hung up the phone, and a moment later, suddenly threw herself on the bed, hugging the blanket and rolling around with a shy expression.
“Yay~ Sang Zhe finally needs me~”
“Hehe, I wonder what request I should make~”
She peeked out from the blanket with glistening eyes, suddenly filled with images and sounds of Sang Zhe with his beautiful companions on those nights.
“…Oops!”
But just recalling a few scenes made her roll around on the bed again.
“So embarrassing!”
“That kind of thing is too shameful~”
“It can’t be so straightforward; first, he should wear a handsome outfit, hold my waist gently with a loving expression, and whisper in my ear: oh, my princess… Ah!~”
After imagining a stream of red-faced, shy fantasies, Si Jingzhu suddenly lifted her head, fired up and cheered herself on.
“Alright, Si Jingzhu! You can do this!”
“This chance, I must seize it! Make Sang Zhe see me in a whole new light!”
With that, she jumped off the bed, flipped out the window, and leaped across the rooftops of West Spring City at lightning speed.
At the same time, she focused on sensing the spiritual energies of cultivators throughout the city.
Si Jingzhu’s true form was the Original Immortal.
Though after taking shape, she was almost indistinguishable from regular cultivators, the vast and pure spiritual power hidden in her true form still gave her spiritual reserves far exceeding those of ordinary cultivators.
In terms of internal spiritual power, even crossing tribulation major cultivators might not measure up to Si Jingzhu.
Boasting abundant spiritual power, Si Jingzhu almost generously released her perception. Aside from consciously avoiding some Fierce Tiger Sect cultivators, she nearly scoured all of West Spring City.
Finally, in a secluded house in the Eastern Market, Si Jingzhu spotted a male cultivator at the Nascent Soul level, alone in a shabby room.
Though this male cultivator was sturdy, he didn’t have the exaggerated muscles of the Fierce Tiger Sect disciples; instead, there was a sinister aura about him.
The moment Si Jingzhu saw him, she knew she had found the right person.
Great.
Next, she just needed to message Sang Zhe, then quietly await his return to reward her, and they could go on a trip together, followed by a romantic night in a special room where he could whip her with tons of toys…
Eh heh.
Just imagining that scene made Si Jingzhu’s mouth nearly water.
Yet, just as she was about to message Sang Zhe,
Suddenly, she sensed something, quickly curling up on the rooftop and desperately containing her aura.
She dared only to peek with a pair of vigilant eyes at the street below.
A black-cloaked figure was slowly approaching the modest residence.
Although the cloak concealed the figure’s shape and face, Si Jingzhu was keenly aware.
This person’s aura was extremely powerful.
Not someone she could take on.
Right now, she could only pray that the stranger wasn’t too vigilant and hadn’t detected her presence.
But as everyone knows, what you fear will always show up.
In the quiet night alley, the black-cloaked figure walked halfway then suddenly stopped.
Then, slowly turned toward Si Jingzhu’s direction.
Si Jingzhu’s heart started racing.
Thinking of escaping felt too late; what to do now?
Should she fight this person?
No way… she couldn’t win.
Would shouting for Sang Zhe be too late for him to save her?
No, he couldn’t win either.
What now…
Just when Si Jingzhu was in a frenzy, feeling her heart racing, the figure in black suddenly vanished.
A wave of overwhelming fear enveloped Si Jingzhu, leaving her too frightened to turn, only able to swallow hard.
The aura behind her made her body tremble in fear.
There was no time left…
Forget it!
She would fight this person!
If this Miss dies today and you, Sang Zhe, don’t eat me up after picking me up, I’ll curse you to be impotent for a lifetime!
With that thought, Si Jingzhu steeled herself, turning with a fierce shout, ready to charge at the figure.
Only to have a hand slap across her face, leaving her limbs flailing helplessly.
“…Hey, what are you doing here?”
Unexpectedly, it was a familiar voice.
After shouting for a long time, Si Jingzhu gradually calmed down and turned to see a familiar yet youthful face.
“Leader?!”
Under the black cloak, Hua Jianglian looked somewhat speechless at the silly girl in front of her, silently saying:
“Si Jingzhu, weren’t you at Sang Zhe’s place? How did you end up in this remote area?”
At the sight of Hua Jianglian’s face.
In that instant, all the fatigue from the travels, hard work, and late nights overwhelmed her.
Si Jingzhu’s eyes became misty, shimmering with tears.
Finally, she couldn’t help but leap into Hua Jianglian’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Waaah! Leader!”
“We finally found you!”
Hua Jianglian: “?”
——
——
“Huh? They said I went missing?”
After listening to Si Jingzhu recount the events, Hua Jianglian couldn’t help but huff angrily: “A bunch of fools! This Leader isn’t wandering aimlessly every day? I’ve just been away a few days, and you’re all spreading rumors about me going missing?”
“Do you think if I stayed away a few more days, you would say I died outside and needed a new leader?”
“And Sang Zhe!” she scolded, “Not doing his own job properly, always trying to butter me up, getting involved in my business.”
“I never asked him to come after me; why bother with that?”
Si Jingzhu, already feeling wronged, heard Hua Jianglian say this and couldn’t help but turn red, angrily responding:
“That’s not true!”
“If Sang Zhe wasn’t worried about you, why would he travel all this way in a rush to find you?!”
“He’s just concerned about your safety!”
Hua Jianglian was briefly taken aback.
Then her gaze slightly shifted to the side.
“I-I never asked him to worry about me…” her voice dropped, sounding weak.
“After coming all this way to find you, we may not have done anything, but we suffered too, right?”
“You are the Demon Cultivators Sect Leader; you can’t just discourage your subordinates like this!” Si Jingzhu lectured earnestly.
“…I got it.”
Hua Jianglian mumbled, her eyes dimming as she looked up, “Wait, why am I listening to your lecture?”
“I’m the leader, you should listen to me.”
“But we’re all just Demon Cult employees.” Si Jingzhu pressed on, “You can rely on us for anything. Why go off alone and not say a word?”
Hua Jianglian remained silent.
A glimmer of darkness flashed in her beautiful eyes; it took her a long while to squeeze out a few words.
“…I don’t need your help.”
“Huh?” Si Jingzhu was perplexed.
“The things I need to do don’t require your help. You can’t help either.”
Slowly rising, the night wind billowed Hua Jianglian’s cloak.
In the moonlight, her delicate and radiant face looked like a cold snow lotus.
“What things can we not help with?”
Si Jingzhu was about to ask more when Hua Jianglian slowly raised a hand.
As Si Jingzhu’s pupils constricted, a bloody head of a cultivator flew straight into Hua Jianglian’s hand from the house below.
Under the cold moonlight, Hua Jianglian’s face appeared enchanting and sinister.
“…Murder,” she said softly.
(It’s currently six o’clock and two minutes in the morning)
(I finally finished all the overdue updates this month.)
(It’s been tough. Let’s give myself a round of applause.)
(I’m going out tonight to relax with friends, so you don’t need to wait up for the update. It will be updated tomorrow.)
(This month has been two hundred and one votes, reaching twenty-one updates; there will be more next month.)
(Next month’s votes would also be much appreciated~ Love you all.)
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
