roccoschili Chapter 100 Xu Fenghua's Shock!
Chapter 100 Xu Fenghua's Shock!
"puff--"
A soft sound.
The dark green cyclone, powerful enough to freeze a thousand miles away, shattered like a bubble three inches from Qin Mu's palm.
There was no earth-shattering roar, no explosive surge of air.
It shattered with just a gentle squeeze.
The man in gray stared wide-eyed!
He couldn't believe what he was seeing!
His Frost Poison Palm, a technique he cultivated diligently for thirty years, is a unique skill powerful enough to freeze the meridians of a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert...
That's it...gone?
Do not!
It's not gone!
He couldn't even touch the other person's hand!
The vortex of air was crushed by an invisible force just three inches from Qin Mu's palm!
What level of cultivation is this?!
An unprecedented fear surged through the gray-clad man's heart!
He wanted to escape!
but--
It's too late.
Qin Mu slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on the gray-clad man's face.
Those deep, star-like eyes held no emotion, only a serene emptiness.
"You," Qin Mu said softly, "damn it."
The moment the words fell—
The man in gray felt a blur before his eyes!
He didn't even see how Qin Mu moved; he only felt a cold hand press down on his head.
The hand was very light and gentle, like a lover's caress.
But the man in gray felt his very soul trembling!
He wanted to struggle, to resist, to fight desperately—
But he found that his body was completely out of his control!
He could only watch helplessly as Qin Mu's fair and slender hand gently pressed against the top of his head.
Then--
"Click."
A very faint, crisp sound.
The look in the gray-clad man's eyes froze instantly.
His body remained standing there, motionless, as if he were simply stunned.
But Cao Wei could see it—
Blood was slowly seeping from the seven orifices of the gray-clad man.
One drop, two drops...
Fresh blood dripped onto the bluestone slab, spreading out a small patch of dark red.
Then, the gray-clad man's body, like a snake whose bones had been removed, slumped down.
"Thump."
The body fell to the ground, raising a little dust.
The alleyway fell silent once more.
The only sounds were the wind blowing through the alleyway and the faint sounds of carriages and horses in the distance.
The sunlight was still bright, shining on the gray-clad man's face, which was frozen in terror, making him look particularly eerie.
Cao Wei stood still, motionless.
He stared intently at the corpse on the ground, then slowly raised his head to look at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu had withdrawn his hand and was gently wiping his fingers with a plain white handkerchief.
His movements were elegant and composed, as if he had not just killed a Celestial Realm expert, but had simply gotten a speck of dust on his face.
"Sir," Qin Mu put away the handkerchief, looked at Cao Wei, and smiled slightly, "you can leave now with peace of mind."
Cao Wei opened his mouth, only to find his throat terribly dry.
He swallowed hard, his voice hoarse:
"Your Majesty... His Majesty... he..."
Qin Mu glanced at the corpse on the ground and said calmly, "Sir, there's no need to worry. I said there won't be any corpses."
After saying that, he slowly raised his right hand, palm facing the corpse on the ground.
There was no fluctuation of true energy, and no flash of light.
But Cao Wei could see it—
The corpse was disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
It's not burning, it's not melting.
Instead... it was as if it had been completely wiped out of this world by an invisible hand.
Flesh and blood, bones, clothing, even the small pool of blood on the ground...
Everything, silently, turned into the finest dust, and then... dispersed with the wind.
In just three breaths.
The ground was completely empty.
Not even a trace was left.
It was as if that gray-clad man had never existed in this world.
Cao Wei stared blankly at the scene, his mind completely blank.
He has lived for over sixty years and has seen countless masters and extraordinary skills.
But I've never seen such a... bizarre and terrifying method before!
This is no longer within the scope of martial arts.
This is simply... a miracle!
An unbelievable thought struck his mind like a thunderbolt—
Is it...
Qin Mu is truly already...
A terrestrial immortal?!
Cao Wei suddenly looked up at Qin Mu.
Sunlight streamed in from the alley entrance, falling on Qin Muyue's white robe and giving him a faint golden edge.
He stood there, his face calm, his eyes deep.
It was as if everything I had just done was nothing more than brushing a fallen leaf off my shoulder.
But Cao Wei could sense it—
Beneath that calm lies an unfathomable terror.
It is a power powerful enough to make the world lose its color and turn mountains and rivers upside down!
"gentlemen?"
Qin Mu's voice pulled Cao Wei back to reality from his shock.
Cao Wei trembled and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty..."
His voice was still trembling slightly.
Qin Mu waved his hand: "Sir, there's no need for such formality. It's getting late, you should be on your way."
Cao Wei took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He looked at Qin Mu deeply, and the last trace of doubt and hesitation in his eyes completely vanished at that moment.
He was initially worried that choosing to trust Qin Mu might be too risky.
but now……
He got it.
In the face of absolute power, all conspiracies, schemes, and plans are nothing but a joke.
No matter how shrewd Xu Fenghua is, or how resourceful Xu Longxiang is, they are no match for someone like Qin Mu...
What does it even matter?
"I... understand."
Cao Wei slowly straightened up, his voice regaining its usual composure:
"I will depart for the capital immediately. Your Majesty... take care."
Qin Mu nodded: "Have a safe journey, sir. I have made all the arrangements in the capital; someone will be there to meet you when you arrive."
Cao Wei said no more, picked up his bag, and turned to walk towards the alley entrance.
His steps were steady, his back straight, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.
The sunlight shone on his aged yet upright back, casting a long shadow on the ground.
Qin Mu stood there, watching Cao Wei's figure disappear into the alleyway.
Then, he slowly turned around and looked towards the depths of Tingyu Manor, at the exquisite little building called "Hongxiu Pavilion".
That was Xu Fenghua's residence.
A cold smile curled at the corners of Qin Mu's lips.
"Miss Xu," he murmured to himself, his voice so soft that only he could hear it, "next... it's your turn."
The moon-white robe fluttered slightly in the wind, and the cloud patterns embroidered with silver thread shimmered softly in the sunlight.
Qin Mu strode forward, heading deeper into Tingyu Manor.
His pace was unhurried, his posture relaxed and casual, as if he were simply going to an ordinary tea party.
But the lingering chill in the alleyway, not yet completely dissipated, silently spoke volumes—
What just happened was anything but ordinary.
........
Listening to the Rain Manor, Red Sleeve Pavilion.
This is a three-story exquisite building with upturned eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, exuding the gentleness and beauty of a Jiangnan garden.
There is a small courtyard in front of the building, with several crabapple trees planted in it. Although it is not the flowering season, the green leaves are lush and cast dappled shadows in the afternoon sun.
Xu Fenghua sat on a soft couch by the window on the second floor, holding an account book in her hand, and was looking down as she flipped through it.
Today she changed into a light purple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a matching light gauze jacket over it. Her long hair was loosely tied up, with only a white jade hairpin in her hair. Her makeup was light and elegant, less sharp than usual, and more gentle and graceful like a woman from Jiangnan.
But deep within those amber eyes, a sharp and calm light still shone.
Sunlight streamed through the carved window, bathing her in a soft glow.
Her fingers slowly traced across the ledger, her brows furrowing slightly.
The accounts are not correct.
The Zhao family's silk business this month is down 30% compared to last month.
Although on the surface it was because the continuous rain in Jiangnan affected the silk production, Xu Fenghua always felt... something was wrong.
What a coincidence!
It was so coincidental that it seemed like someone was deliberately sabotaging them from the shadows.
Who is it?
Other silk merchants in Jiangnan?
Or perhaps it's someone in the court who dislikes the Zhao family, or rather, dislikes the Xu family?
Xu Fenghua put down the account book, picked up the celadon teacup beside her, and took a sip of the warm Longjing tea.
The tea's aroma was refreshing, but it couldn't dispel the doubts in her heart.
Just then—
"Miss."
A deep voice sounded from outside the door.
Xu Fenghua looked up: "Come in."
The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man with a thin face, wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt, strode in and knelt on one knee.
This man, named Zhao Si, was a trusted confidant brought by Xu Fenghua from the northern border, specifically responsible for intelligence gathering and transmission.
"How is it?" Xu Fenghua asked calmly.
Zhao Si raised his head, his expression somewhat grave: "Miss, Mr. Cao... has left."
Xu Fenghua paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.
"When did this happen?"
About half an hour ago.
Zhao Si whispered, "After Mr. Cao left 'Bamboo Retreat,' he went back to the side courtyard to pack his belongings and then left through the side gate. As Miss instructed, I had 'Shadow Seven' follow him secretly."
"Shadow Seven" is the gray-clad man, one of Xu Fenghua's most skilled Celestial Realm experts in tracking and assassination.
Xu Fenghua nodded, then asked, "Which direction did Cao Wei go?"
Zhao Si hesitated for a moment before saying, "This subordinate...does not know."
Xu Fenghua frowned: "I don't know?"
"Yes." Zhao Si's voice was even lower. "Shortly after Ying Qi left through the side gate with Mr. Cao... he lost contact with us."
Xu Fenghua's hand, which was holding the teacup, stopped completely.
She slowly set down her teacup, her gaze settling squarely on Zhao Si's face:
"Lost contact? What does that mean?"
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Zhao Si's forehead:
"As agreed, I contacted Shadow Seven using a secret method every half incense stick's time. But just a quarter of an hour ago, Shadow Seven suddenly stopped responding. I tried three times, but all my attempts were in vain."
Xu Fenghua's face instantly darkened.
Shadow Seven is a highly skilled individual personally selected and trained by her. With a cultivation level at the mid-stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, she excels in concealment, tracking, and assassination, and has carried out countless missions without ever failing.
More importantly, Shadow Seven is cautious and meticulous in his actions, and would never disappear without a reason.
unless……
A cold glint flashed in Xu Fenghua's eyes:
"Have you sent someone to investigate?"
"We've already sent people," Zhao Si said hurriedly, "but... we haven't received any news yet."
Xu Fenghua slowly stood up and walked to the window.
The sun shines brightly outside the window, and the green leaves of the crabapple tree in the courtyard sway gently in the breeze; everything seems so peaceful and serene.
But a strong sense of unease welled up in Xu Fenghua's heart.
Cao Wei suddenly left.
Shadow Seven suddenly went missing.
These two things are definitely not a coincidence.
"Cao Wei..." Xu Fenghua murmured the name, her eyes shifting with uncertainty.
She recalled her conversation with Cao Wei in the waterside pavilion that morning.
I recall the cold anger in Cao Wei's eyes, and his last words, "I will leave Tingyu Manor within three days."
At the time, she thought Cao Wei was just saying it casually.
After all, he had lived in seclusion at Tingyu Villa for six years and had long been accustomed to life there.
Moreover, given his special status, he would be easily discovered by the imperial court once he left the protection of the Xu family.
But now it seems...
Cao Wei was serious.
He really left.
Moreover... they even managed to shake off Shadow Seven's trail.
No.
Xu Fenghua's eyes sharpened.
It's not about getting rid of them.
Shadow Seven wasn't abandoned.
With Shadow Seven's tracking skills, even if Cao Wei wanted to shake him off, it would be no easy task.
Moreover, Shadow Seven is at the mid-stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm. Although Cao Wei is strong, it's impossible for him to silently and quickly eliminate Shadow Seven...
almost impossible.
unless……
Someone helped him.