The Young Lady's Fury

“Again you?”

Before the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts, when Elder Cangxing laid eyes on Wen Renmo once more, a flash of anger immediately surfaced in his gaze.

Xu Hongqiu had instructed earlier that if this man continued to pester them, harsher measures were to be taken. Last time, he had been struck hard enough, yet he hadn’t been driven away.

“Senior!” Wen Renmo immediately raised both hands and called out, “I have crucial evidence that can help you resolve the case concerning the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts!”

“What evidence?” Elder Cangxing gathered his palm power, ready to strike with full force should Wen Renmo utter a single falsehood.

He was not as kind-hearted to everyone as he was with Princess Di Nüfeng.

“It is definitely important physical evidence. I wish to present it personally to Miss Xu,” Wen Renmo smiled. “Please inform her.”

After a moment’s consideration, Elder Cangxing ordered his subordinates to notify Xu Hongqiu. Soon after, a message came back, inviting Wen Renmo upstairs.

At last, Wen Renmo got his wish—to sit face to face with Xu Hongqiu.

Xu Hongqiu found his persistence exasperating. As the eldest daughter of the Whale Gang, she held a high status, was beautiful, and possessed formidable cultivation. There were at least eighty or ninety people like him who wanted to get close.

At first, she had politely declined, but soon realized it was futile. Those men only interpreted her kindness as a weakness and intensified their pursuit. Later, when she tried to be stern and drive them away, they grew even more fond of her—some even begged, “Sister, please hit me…”

Xu Hongqiu, of course, granted such requests, but never personally. Instead, the furious Elder Cangxing would deal with them.

She fixed her icy gaze on Wen Renmo. “I heard you have important evidence regarding the inner workings of the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts?”

“Yes.”

In her presence, Wen Renmo showed little emotion, simply nodding softly before casually placing the ledger he had exchanged for the treasure on the table.

Xu Hongqiu flipped through it, her pupils flickering slightly. The contents indeed could resolve the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts’ case completely—it was no empty boast.

After a long moment, she looked up at Wen Renmo. “Where did you obtain this?”

Wen Renmo smiled. “I have a rather extensive network. A friend, knowing my feelings for Miss Xu, sought this out for me.”

“Which friend? And how exactly did they acquire it? Please be specific,” Xu Hongqiu pressed.

“My friend didn’t divulge many details. All I know is that he belongs to the Shushan Sect. I suspect he came across it by chance...” Wen Renmo’s words trailed off abruptly as he noticed the sudden change in Xu Hongqiu’s expression.

“Chu Liang?” she asked hesitantly.

Since there were probably few from the Shushan Sect in Taotie City, her mind naturally went to that pair of master and disciple.

“Miss Xu knows him as well?” Wen Renmo asked, sensing something about Xu Hongqiu’s reaction that hinted at a story he was unaware of.

“It really is him.” Xu Hongqiu mused, her brow furrowing sharply.

Just moments ago, she had been pondering why Chu Liang would send this through Wen Renmo instead of producing it when he first came to confront her.

This evidence could instantly doom Xu Nanling!

But soon, she figured it out.

Chu Liang had done it deliberately.

If he had presented this evidence during the initial confrontation, Xu Nanling’s crimes would have been immediately exposed—and then Xu Hongqiu would have no reason to protect him.

She would likely have executed Xu Nanling outright, giving the pair justice and cleansing the Whale Gang’s ranks at once.

But in that scenario, they wouldn’t be able to extort anything...

A guilty Xu Nanling was worthless.

An innocent Xu Nanling, however, needed her protection, enabling them to extort a fifth-tier demon beast.

Then, once the matter seemed settled, they could reveal the evidence again—just a glance from her, and Xu Nanling would still perish.

Chu Liang’s revenge would be complete.

Through this back and forth, they had effectively swindled a fifth-tier demon beast from the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts.

“Chu Liang...” she murmured the name with complex emotions. Although he had helped her root out the mole and resolve the Hall’s case, she simply could not feel happy.

Hearing Xu Hongqiu say Chu Liang’s name twice before her, Wen Renmo blinked and sought credit. “Regardless of how Brother Chu obtained it, I didn’t acquire this ledger without effort. The treasure I gave him in exchange...”

“What?” Xu Hongqiu was surprised again. “You really traded a treasure for this ledger?”

“Yes. No one gives me something for nothing,” Wen Renmo replied.

Xu Hongqiu had thought Chu Liang had simply sent the evidence after extorting the Hall, but it turned out he had exchanged a treasure for it as well?

He bore a grudge against Xu Nanling and was determined to get this evidence into her hands, profiting even from this transaction.

Truly...

Recalling the departing figures of the master and disciple earlier, she now saw them not as a mere pair, but the silhouette of a little fox and a great tiger.

The Whale Gang heiress clenched her fist, bit her silver teeth, and snorted the name once more: “Chu Liang...”

...

“Achoo... achoo... achoo!”

Chu Liang sneezed three times, rubbing his nose with a puzzled look toward the distance before turning to enter the door of the First-Grade Sword Cottage.

Returning without seeing Princess Di Nüfeng, he sought out Xu Sui in the front hall. “Brother Xu, where is my master?”

“Senior Princess Di Nüfeng...” Xu Sui’s expression was subtle. “She’s in the back mountain, dueling the Golden-haired Hou.”

“Huh?”

Dueling the Hou?

What on earth was going on now?

Chu Liang hurried to the back mountain, but missed the battle itself. Instead, he witnessed a touching scene between master and beast.

Princess Di Nüfeng was raising her hand, her eyes smiling warmly as she called out, “Shake hands, yes, left hand! Come... sit! Roll over!”

Before her, a towering figure over ten feet tall, covered in golden fur, rolled over obediently, following every command. The Golden-haired Hou sported a massive bump on its head and wore a fawning grin.

Truth be told, that big head looked oddly endearing when smiling.

“Master, what are you doing?” Chu Liang asked as he approached.

“I’m bonding with it,” Princess Di Nüfeng said with a smile. “The Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts wasn’t lying. This little creature is surprisingly docile.”

“...” Chu Liang grimaced.

Recalling the beast’s earlier habit of chewing on iron chains, he felt utterly disillusioned.

In truth, the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts had not deceived them.

The Hou spirit beast was naturally close to its master and family, and not fierce toward strangers. It only unleashed intense fighting spirit against malicious enemies, driven by a desire to protect its master fearlessly.

Princess Di Nüfeng’s earlier imposing aura had made the Golden-haired Hou mistake her for an enemy, causing its hostility.

But now, after her patient “bonding,” the beast recognized the truth. No enemies here—this is my beloved master!

If the master wants me to spin around, then spin I shall!

Roar, roar, roar!

While Chu Liang and the two formidable beasts were enjoying their time in the back mountain, suddenly, a sharp, sky-rending explosion echoed from the grass cottage.

Boom—

A pillar of energy shot straight up, piercing the azure clouds and reaching the heavens, shaking the four corners of the earth with an overwhelming presence visible to all.

Sword Qi pierced the sky!

Chu Liang knew exactly what this meant.

“The sword is complete?!”

Good morning.