Chapter 26: Tragedy
The moment that voice reached his ear, Baiqi's pupils contracted sharply.
What had been unclear at once became plain.
He gave a bitter laugh. "Azure Void Palm… so you are the Chu family's Third Young Master. You deceived me bitterly…"
"Likewise," Chu Qing replied as he pressed Baiqi's acupoints.
He tapped Baiqi's cheek, then applied force; there was a crisp crack, and Chu Qing seized the moment to slap the back of Baiqi's skull.
A white object, like a tooth, was spat out.
Chu Qing then twisted his sword at Baiqi's right wrist, snapping the hand tendons.
Only then did Chu Qing move to stand before him. "All your little tricks are useless now, aren't they? Now, shall we talk?"
Baiqi, unconcerned about his condition, smiled. "What to discuss? You know me—nothing you ask of my mouth will be answered. Besides…the Mirror of Retribution will not spare you."
"You escaped death once, but will you be that lucky twice? The martial artists ranked above you on the Blood Spear list far outmatch you; surviving a counterkill was heaven-sent luck," Baiqi continued.
"But know this: he is not listed on the Extermination Roster. Yet as long as you live, sooner or later an Extermination Roster master will come to finish you!"
"I didn't mean to ask you about that," Chu Qing said softly. "I'm curious—if I were to kill Zhou Changtai, what then?"
Baiqi glanced at him and laughed. "That would prove your so-called grand ambitions are nonsense. You're merely a paid killer, cold-blooded and mercenary."
"Only such a man truly qualifies for the Mirror of Retribution—only then might they cultivate you. One day you might even rise on the Extermination Roster," Baiqi said.
Chu Qing sighed lightly. "So it is. This was a test and a scheme. Kill your conscience and you pass; become the Mirror of Retribution's true blade. Otherwise… there is only the road to death."
Baiqi looked surprised. "You're getting smarter?"
"Those who have died once tend to improve," Chu Qing replied, shaking his head.
"Last question: is it Ten Thousand Nights that wants Chu Yunfei dead?" Chu Qing asked.
At that Baiqi looked at him and suddenly smiled. "Yes. It was Ten Thousand Nights. They intend to declare war on Tianwu City, but with Chu Yunfei and Wu Ganchi aligned, they cannot win. So they want Chu Yunfei dead."
Chu Qing nodded. "As I thought. But you telling me so willingly—surely you mean no good. You expect me to die by Ten Thousand Nights' hand, or at least leave traces so the Mirror of Retribution can re-lock onto me?"
"Are you really the Sword Demon? Or were you switched with someone else?" Baiqi's astonishment was genuine.
Chu Qing smiled.
"All right, our reunion ends here… any last words to leave behind?"
Baiqi's lips moved as if to speak, but the long sword swept across his throat.
All remaining words were swallowed back.
"Never mind. I can't fulfill your wish anyway; no need to hear a final statement."
He sheathed the sword, watching Baiqi's pupils glaze and the blood roll down his neck.
Only after the other was completely dead did he relax.
Killing this man would not stop the Mirror of Retribution from hunting him, but it could prevent many unexpected complications.
"The assassination against Chu Yunfei isn't over.
"One failure won't deter the Mirror of Retribution… more attempts will surely follow.
"However, this involves a contest between two powers, beyond what a lone assassin like me can influence.
"Fortunately, Chu Yunfei lives, and after this he will be more guarded.
"In the short term, he should be safe."
For a moment, Chu Qing hesitated over whether to leave Tianwu City immediately.
As for the appointment with Wu Qianhuan, he could keep it or not; losing the Night Emperor alias was no great loss.
But breaking a promise might trigger Wu Qianhuan's suspicions… and she might inadvertently reveal the matter, allowing the Mirror of Retribution to trace the very thread Chu Qing had so painstakingly severed.
There was also that junior disciple Wen…
Thinking of the figure who had followed him since leaving the Chu residence, he sighed.
"Still troublesome…"
After disposing of the body, Chu Qing changed into another set of clothes from a nearby farmhouse, of course leaving behind two taels of silver.
Once tidied up, he returned to Tianwu City.
There was still a treasure chest waiting in the system.
He wondered what reward it might yield for killing Xin Youhen—hopefully an internal cultivation art.
Thinking so, Chu Qing could barely contain his anticipation. He was about to head straight for the inn when a commotion broke out ahead.
It sounded as if something had happened.
Chu Qing hadn't planned to involve himself, but when he glanced over, he spotted a familiar face.
"Tang Xi?"
At the entrance of a medical hall, Tang Xi stood facing a ragged, emaciated young man restrained by several disciples of the Falling Rain Hall.
The youth clutched a knife, shouting furiously, struggling to rush at Tang Xi.
Curious, Chu Qing listened to the murmurs around him.
"It's happened again… how many times is this now?"
"Not sure. At least the third."
"I'd say it's only thanks to the young hall master's kindness. Anyone else would've killed Er Gou already."
"Ah, don't say that. The poor man's had it rough…"
Hearing that, Chu Qing grew more intrigued. So this wasn't the first time?
He approached a middle-aged man nearby and asked quietly, "Uncle, what's going on? Why's there someone waving a knife in the street?"
The man gave him a glance, noting his simple farmer's garb and honest face, then replied, "You're new to Tianwu City, eh?"
Chu Qing grinned sheepishly. "You've got a good eye. Just came to earn a living. Folks say Tianwu's a big city with a lord who keeps the peace—how come there's still knife fights on the streets?"
"You don't know the story," the man said in a low voice.
"That young fellow's name is Er Gou. He's from Shili Town and once had a fiancée. The two were close since childhood.
"Their wedding was near… but the girl died.
"When they found her—ah, it was horrific.
"Her arms and legs were all cut off, not a piece of whole flesh left on her body. She died with her eyes open."
(End of Chapter)
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