Chapter 45: Speculation

When Ji Huo arrived at the rear courtyard of the Tang Family Escort Agency, he finally saw something different.

Standing before the corpse of the Assassin Hall’s master, he noticed that the body had been searched—presumably by Qian Wu.

“Qian Wu searched the corpse, and then…”

Ji Huo lowered his gaze to the marks on the ground. The area had already witnessed a fierce battle, and now the scene was in utter disarray, making any further identification difficult.

“Someone hid here all along… only launching a sudden attack on Qian Wu when he arrived…”

He moved to a nearby pillar, reaching out to feel its surface, muttering to himself,

“The attacker struck with ferocity, a forceful aggression—the inner energy bit deep into the wood, leaving a corrosive power behind…”

At that moment, he heard a voice, half-surprised, half-doubtful:

“Your comrade seems not to have died.”

Ji Huo turned to see Xia Ningshang pointing at several marks nearby, speaking offhandedly:

“Look here, and here… and here. The two fought for a while. Your comrade focused on escaping, evading most of the attacks.”

She spoke as she walked, making her way to the rear courtyard where there were fewer corpses.

“When they reached here, the struggle continued for a while, a spear’s force shattered this stone table. But with demonic energy invading his body, your comrade’s condition worsened. The attacker didn’t fare much better—his movements became sluggish. In the end, a burst of energy struck your comrade, tearing his clothes—he must have been wounded…”

She picked up a scrap of cloth from the ground, her face uncertain. Glancing around, she hesitated:

“Then, the attacker ceased the assault. Why are you looking at me like that?”

Ji Huo parted his lips slightly, his gaze peculiar as he regarded the woman before him. He laughed,

“I never would’ve guessed that beneath Miss Xia’s seemingly dazed demeanor, you’re so skilled at investigating.”

Xia Ningshang shot him a glare, her charm only heightened by the look.

“If you’d left off the first half, I might’ve believed you were praising me.”

Ji Huo chuckled, his eyes sweeping the surroundings. The chaotic scene suddenly became much clearer after Xia Ningshang’s analysis.

Indeed, it seemed the attacker had stopped once they reached this point.

“In my view, the attacker must have retained some measure of sanity—regaining his wits and thus halting the assault,” Xia Ningshang mused.

“Exactly.” Ji Huo nodded. “The attacker headed south with clear intention. That suggests he was lucid again.”

Xia Ningshang continued, “From my perspective, this person must have had a grudge against the Tang Family Escort Agency. Perhaps we could start from there to uncover his identity.”

That would be difficult. In truth, the Tang Family Escort Agency was the headquarters of the Assassin Hall, whose business was all blood and betrayal. Unlike Ji Huo’s own approach—targeting only the wicked—the Assassin Hall would take any job for the right price.

Over the years, they’d surely made more enemies than there were people in Hongzhou; investigating would be futile.

Nevertheless, judging from the scene, Qian Wu was indeed alive, spared by the attacker in the end.

But then… why had Qian Wu sent no further messages? Had he been captured?

“Could it be,” Xia Ningshang teased, seeing Ji Huo relax upon learning Qian Wu was alive, “that your comrade is a hopeless romantic, and the attacker happened to be a captivating woman? He fell in love at first sight and now hopes to redeem her with love?”

“Impossible,” Ji Huo replied flatly, shaking his head. “My comrade is a straightforward man—completely clueless when it comes to women!”

Xia Ningshang eyed him sidelong. “I don’t see you as particularly adept with women, either.”

Ji Huo retorted, “That’s only because you haven’t noticed. I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve.”

“I’m just not convinced,” Xia Ningshang replied with a playful laugh, her gaze shimmering with mirth and mystery.

After leaving Hongzhou, the two tracked the path of the slaughterer through the villages. When they reached one ravaged village, they found many government officials already cleaning up the aftermath.

“There seem to be more martial artists on the road,” Ji Huo remarked with a frown.

“Yes. We ran into quite a few in Hongzhou, but I thought they were just passing through. Judging by their route, however, it seems they’re after the same culprit as us,” Xia Ningshang whispered.

Ji Huo examined the bodies in the village, his voice grave.

“It’s just like Hongzhou. The difference is that this time, the attacker lost control and struck suddenly—likely unable to suppress the demonic urge, which led to this massacre.”

At the next village, the situation was similar, but more survivors remained.

“The culprit was a woman wielding a smoking spear. She destroyed the village in one sweep, then killed anyone she saw—terrifying!”

“Later, a young man in black arrived. I don’t know what he said to her, but the woman calmed down, and eventually the young man carried her away to the south.”

After offering some silver, Ji Huo received this information from an elderly survivor, who grinned and hurried off to sell his tale to other martial artists.

Ji Huo’s expression turned strange. The demon was really a woman? And, by the witness’s account, Qian Wu was indeed at her side?

What madness was this?

Could it really be as Xia Ningshang had joked—Qian Wu, the most unmoving of men, had tamed a demon with love?

Xia Ningshang covered her mouth, laughing. “And you said he was hopeless with women. Seems his skills at charming girls surpass yours by far.”

“This must be a fluke. Maybe girls these days like his type,” Ji Huo replied, a swirl of complicated emotions in his chest. Could it be that this perpetual icicle had really won a girl’s heart? It was as miraculous as a withered tree blossoming.

“And what kind of type is that?” Xia Ningshang asked with interest.

“The ascetic type,” Ji Huo replied offhandedly.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He crouched by the wall, carefully examining its markings.

It was a secret code unique to the Qiankun Sect—there could be no mistake. Most likely, it was left by Qian Wu.

Deciphering the code, the message read: “Swordpoint Manor.”

Could the demon’s next target be Swordpoint Manor?

Ji Huo narrowed his eyes. Judging by the direction, Swordpoint Manor was in Jiangnan, and heading south from here would indeed lead there.

Swordpoint Manor was well-known in Jiangnan, boasting a solid reputation among the righteous. Though its strength was comparable to the Assassin Hall, its master was a formidable hero. Any attack on Swordpoint Manor would surely provoke widespread outrage in the martial world.

“Have you discovered something?” Xia Ningshang asked, seeing Ji Huo deep in thought.

“Mm. Let’s go,” Ji Huo replied, nodding.

They had just left the village when the woods ahead rustled and several martial artists blocked their path, weapons in hand.

The burly leader, wielding a broadsword, cupped his fists and said,

“I am Liu Three-Blades. May I ask your names?”

Xia Ningshang whispered, “We saw them at the first village and again at the second. They must think we’ve discovered something, and are here to test us.”

Ji Huo nodded, retrieved his folding fan from his robe, snapped it open, and fanned himself with a smile.

“My name is You Zhuo,” he replied.

Xia Ningshang’s lips parted in surprise, her gaze at Ji Huo turning oddly amused.