https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-621-Finally-Meeting-Chu-Liuxiang/12587594/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-623-Black-Pearl-Pierces-Through-the-Hall-of-Cheerful-Bliss/12590096/
Chapter 622: A Chance Encounter with the Black Pearl
Chapter 622: A Chance Encounter with the Black Pearl
Chu Liuxiang glanced at the fleeing Shen Shangu, then turned to Jin Banhua. "Brother Jin, aren't you going to chase after her?"
"This is the moment when Miss Shen's heart and mind are most vulnerable," Chu Liuxiang said with a smile. "If Brother Jin could offer her some comforting words, who knows, you might get lucky."
Jin Banhua shook his head. "I'm no longer interested in Miss Shen."
Chu Liuxiang raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Jin Banhua looked at the scroll on the table. "I'm only interested in this painting now."
Chu Liuxiang sighed. "But this painting is already twenty years old. Even if Madam Qiu was as beautiful as a celestial fairy back then, she's probably a middle-aged woman in her forties now."
Jin Banhua pointed at Chu Liuxiang, who had picked up the scroll. "But I won't be at peace until I see her in person. Isn't that the same for Brother Zhang?"
Liao Gang and Ye Jin listened with growing alarm.
Prince, didn't you hear what Sun Xuepu said earlier?
She's not a simple woman. She's called a witch, and it's clear she's involved in some mysterious and terrifying business. This is not something we should meddle with!
Chu Liuxiang couldn't help but rub his nose. "I'm looking for her because of another matter."
Jin Banhua nodded. "Then that's even better. We won't have a conflict of interest."
Chu Liuxiang: "..."
Chu Liuxiang sighed. "Brother Jin, four well-known masters in the martial arts world have already lost their lives because of this woman. Moreover, the killer possesses extraordinary martial arts skills. Getting involved in this matter is extremely dangerous."
Upon hearing this, Sun Xuepu was taken aback before Jin Banhua could respond. "Four?"
"Yes, four," Chu Liuxiang said, looking at Sun Xuepu. "Four men who had once been romantically involved with Madam Qiu and received her portrait, four men who came out of retirement after receiving her plea for help, are all dead."
Sun Xuepu's expression changed drastically.
"Not only have these four men died, but several others who knew the content of the letter have also perished," Chu Liuxiang continued. "This is because the killer doesn't want me to know about their connection to her. It seems that Madam Qiu's troubles are far from over."
Chu Liuxiang said indifferently, "So... I know that you're still hiding something, perhaps because you want to protect her. But if you refuse to divulge what you know, she might truly be in danger."
After a moment of silence, Sun Xuepu finally spoke. "You forgot to ask me something earlier."
"What is it?"
"You forgot to ask where I painted her portrait."
"Where?"
"There's a Black Cloister five miles outside the city where I painted her portrait. The abbot of the cloister, Master Suxin, is her close friend. She should know Madam Qiu's whereabouts." Sun Xuepu explained.
Chu Liuxiang's eyes lit up as he reached for the scroll and left the house. His voice drifted from a distance, "Even though the eyes are blind, the heart is not. Painting with the heart's eye... Brother Sun, think carefully and take care."
Sun Xuepu's body trembled as he asked in a loud voice, "Thank you for your guidance. May I ask your esteemed surname?"
Unfortunately, he didn't know internal skills, so his voice didn't carry. By then, Chu Liuxiang was already far away.
However, Jin Banhua was still in the same spot. After waiting for a moment, he didn't see Wuhua, who was supposed to appear outside the house. Instead, he heard the faint sound of fluttering sleeves in the distance, quickly fading away.
Jin Banhua narrowed his eyes, understanding.
Although Wuhua was ruthless, he never killed unnecessarily.
Whether it was killing Zuo Youzheng, Ximen Qian, Lingjiuzi, or Zamuhe, or killing Yang Song, Song Gang, Tianyingzi, or even Nangong Ling, there was always a purpose.
It was obvious that he was an innocent bystander, and Wuhua had no intention of killing him, so he hadn't shown himself. Likewise, he had spared Sun Xuepu, who had already said what he needed to say.
Ignoring himself, just as he had forgiven Leng Qiuhun and Shen Shangu.
"Damn, I'm being ignored," Jin Banhua muttered to himself, patting Sun Xuepu on the arm and leaving a silver ingot before waving to Liao Gang and Ye Jin. "Let's go."
Ye Jin asked, "Are we going to the Black Cloister?"
Jin Banhua shook his head. Master Suxin was already dead, and the Black Cloister had become a house of horrors. Why go there? "The day is growing late. Let's get something to eat first, then head back to the Hall of Cheerful Hearts!" Jin Banhua suggested casually. "We won quite a bit yesterday—over a hundred thousand taels. Today, we should strike while the iron is hot, shouldn't we?"
Liao Gang and Ye Jin: ???
...
Upon returning to the city, they had their dinner and were making their way back to the main street, intending to go to the Hall of Cheerful Hearts, when they heard the sound of hoofbeats. A black horse came galloping towards them, carrying a black-clad youth.
Adorned in a black cloak, black shirt, black belt, and black leather boots, the youth also had a pale face.
At that moment, four or five beggars, young and old, suddenly jumped out from the alley beside the road. Some were empty-handed, while others held sticks as they rushed towards the black-clad youth.
"You little thief, you hurt our Beggar Sect Elder! Come with us to apologize and kowtow!"
"The Sect Leader and the Four Protectors are already on their way; you can't escape!"
Before they could get close, a long, black whip lashed out from the black-clad youth's hand like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, splitting into several afterimages.
The beggars were struck by the whip before they could even get close, and they fell back, crying out in pain.
"Hmph, the Beggar Sect is full of useless people. All you do is put on a righteous front and rely on numbers." The black-clad youth sneered, "You're nothing but a bunch of stinky beggars. I'll beat you up every time I see you from now on!"
The surrounding crowd quickly scattered in fear, except for Jin Banhua, who stood at a distance, watching with great interest.
Paying no heed to the Beggar Sect disciples' wails, the black-clad youth rode his horse over to Jin Banhua's side and glanced at him sideways. "Do you know where the Hall of Cheerful Hearts is?"
"Of course I do. I'm on my way there now!" Jin Banhua smiled. "Want to come along?"
The black-clad youth nodded. "Lead the way."
"Sure!" Jin Banhua nodded and turned to Liao Gang. "You lead the way!"
Liao Gang was terrified. He wanted to pull Jin Banhua away, but under the icy gaze of the black-clad youth, he dared not speak and could only walk ahead to show the way.
Naturally, Jin Banhua walked beside the black-clad youth.
The black-clad youth was none other than Black Pearl, the daughter of the Desert King, Zamuhe. She was disguised as a man, and with her sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, her demeanor was valiant and refreshing. Even Chu Liuxiang hadn't seen through her disguise, which spoke volumes about her handsome features.
"Are you also going to the Hall of Cheerful Hearts for a gamble?" Jin Banhua asked. "It's indeed the biggest casino in Jinan, but the stakes are high. Do you have enough funds, brother? Do you need some support from me?"
Black Pearl turned to Jin Banhua and let out a mocking laugh. "Are you rich?"
"Yes, I am." Jin Banhua smiled.
A trace of disdain curled the corners of Black Pearl's lips, and she deliberately said, "In that case, lend me a hundred thousand taels to play with."
"No problem!" Jin Banhua nodded and promptly took out silver notes from his bosom, counting out a hundred thousand taels worth and handing them over.
Black Pearl stared at the silver notes placed before her, then looked up at Jin Banhua.
To the daughter of the Desert King, a hundred thousand taels was not a significant sum. However, the fact that someone she had just met would casually give her a hundred thousand tael notes exceeded her expectations.
(End of Chapter)
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