https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-620-Three-Times-Red-Marks-the-Spot/12587593/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-622-A-Chance-Encounter-with-the-Black-Pearl/12590095/
Chapter 621: Finally Meeting Chu Liuxiang
Chapter 621: Finally Meeting Chu Liuxiang
By the time Jin Banffua reached the Heavenly Star Gang's base, it was already noon.
Several burly men in blue shirts and a young woman in purple had just finished their lunch at the inn and were now leading their horses out from the back courtyard, preparing to leave Jinan.
The mood among the group was somber.
The Seven Stars Gang was a well-known faction in the Han Huai region, and now they were leaving Jinan due to Song Gang's promise to Zhu Sha Gate. It felt like they were being driven out, and naturally, everyone was displeased.
"Miss Shen!" Jin Banffua called out to Shen Shancgu from a distance.
The members of the Heavenly Star Gang recognized the young master who had been at Kuaiyitang the previous night, and although they didn't know his identity, they glared at him angrily.
However, when Cold Autumn Soul released Shen Shancgu, he had revealed Jin Banffua's identity to her.
"Young Master Jin," Shen Shancgu smiled sweetly and deliberately swayed her hips, showcasing her alluring curves. "What brings Young Master Jin to seek out this humble woman?"
Left Youzheng had been missing for a long time, and Song Gang had died the day before. With internal and external troubles plaguing the Heavenly Star Gang, if she could captivate a wealthy young master from the capital and have his financial support, it might stabilize the gang.
So, she was naturally willing to showcase her charms to Jin Banffua.
Jin Banffua smiled and said, "Cold Brother kept his promise, and I'm glad for Miss Shen."
Shen Shancgu forced a smile, feeling both embarrassed and angry about the previous night's events, but she couldn't avoid the topic. "This is because we want to find clues about the disappearance of our Big Brother."
Jin Banffua nodded. "I heard that Brother Ling gave a letter to Second Master Song. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Shen Shancgu replied, her eyes flashing with a mix of hatred and fear. "But unfortunately, no one will ever know the contents of that letter again."
"Are there no other clues besides that?" Jin Banffua asked.
Shen Shancgu looked at him with caution. "What does Young Master Jin mean?"
Jin Banffua turned to face Shen Shancgu and laughed heartily. "Because I want to help you."
Shen Shancgu's heart skipped a beat at his sunny and cheerful laugh. Thinking carefully, this young master, who had just left the southern capital, obviously had nothing to do with Left Youzheng's disappearance.
His actions might be driven by a rich young master's idle curiosity, or perhaps it was a way to gain her favor.
Unable to resist, she said, "There actually is another clue..."
"Can I be of assistance?" Jin Banffua asked.
Shen Shancgu smiled mysteriously. "I don't know either. Why don't you come with me to find someone called Sun Xuepu? Maybe we can find some clues about my Big Brother's disappearance."
Jin Banffua laughed. "Sure!"
So, Jin Banffua, along with his two companions, accompanied the members of the Heavenly Star Gang. They stopped under a willow tree on the street to discuss their plans, after which the rest of the gang headed east out of the city, while Shen Shancgu and Jin Banffua's group of three headed west.
She walked beside Jin Banffua, her slender waist accentuating her voluptuous figure, moving in a way that made one's heart skip a beat.
Jin Banffua couldn't help but appreciate the sight.
However, Sun Xuepu proved to be difficult to find. They started their search on the main street, then moved to the side streets, and from there to narrow alleys, and eventually to hidden lanes.
The paths became narrower and dirtier, and vagrants started appearing on both sides of the road.
However, Liao Gang and Ye Jin were both sturdy and powerful men. Their sharp auras and eagle-like gazes were enough to make the loitering thugs disappear without a trace.
Jin Banffua casually glanced back but didn't notice anything.
A moment later, they found Sun Xuepu on a small hill in the slum area.
Jin Banffua looked at Sun Xuepu, a beautiful portrait of a woman in his hand, painted by the talented Sun Xiucai, whose fame spread far and wide, twenty years ago.
However, the once graceful and peerless painter had now become a hunchbacked, white-haired old blind man.
The events that followed were identical to the original story.
Shen Shancgu took out another portrait of a beautiful woman and asked Sun Xuepu about it, and he recounted the events of twenty years ago.
Twenty years ago, a woman of such breathtaking beauty that she could drive a man to madness, approached Sun Xuepu and requested that he paint four portraits of her.
Enamored by her, Sun Xuepu spent three whole months painting the four portraits. But after he finished, the woman got him drunk and gouged out his eyes.
Shen Shancgu revealed that the portrait belonged to her senior brother, Zuo Youzheng. For this woman, he had remained unmarried for twenty years. After receiving a letter and gazing at this very portrait all night, he had disappeared.
Shen Shancgu was determined to find Zuo Youzheng, and this portrait was her only remaining clue.
"So..." Shen Shancgu asked through gritted teeth, "Who is she? What is her identity? How can I find her?"
Sun Xuepu remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "I don't know her identity, nor do I know where she is. I only know her name."
"What is her name?" Shen Shancgu asked.
"Her name is Qiu Lingsu," Sun Xuepu replied.
The next moment, another person appeared in the room.
Liao Gang and Ye Jin were startled and instinctively stood in front of Jin Banffua to protect him.
Shen Shancgu also jumped back, pressing herself against the wall, and demanded, "Who are you?"
Jin Banffua peeked out from behind Liao Gang's shoulder and finally saw the person before them.
The man had a tall and straight posture, fair skin, thick and long eyebrows, thin and uplifted lips, clear eyes, a straight nose, neatly combed hair, and a gentle smile on his face.
Just seeing that smile made Shen Shancgu relax her guard completely.
"Please don't be alarmed, my purpose for coming here is the same as yours—to seek information about Madam Qiu Lingsu."
The newcomer was, of course, Chu Liuxiang. But when he finished speaking and saw the portrait on the table, he was still taken aback.
Because he had seen this person last night in Ximen Qian's house.
"Do you know her?" Shen Shancgu asked.
Chu Liuxiang smiled bitterly, "I don't know her, and it's fortunate that I don't."
"I've told you everything I know. Now you may leave," Sun Xuepu said.
Jin Banffua sized up Chu Liuxiang, "Have we met before?"
Chu Liuxiang's eyes widened in surprise, and he laughed, "Brother Jin has a good eye! I never expected you to recognize me even with this disguise!"
Jin Banffua asked with a smile, "Who are you?"
Chu Liuxiang turned to Shen Shancgu, his smile full of meaning, "I am Zhang Xiaolin!"
Shen Shancgu, who had been about to bat her eyelashes at Chu Liuxiang, suddenly froze, her whole body trembling. She remembered that it was because of this Zhang Xiaolin that she had endured so much torture!
"It's you... it's you... You evil ghost!"
Shaken to her core, Shen Shancgu forgot about Jin Banffua and fled the room, leaving the portrait on the table behind.
(End of Chapter)
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