Chapter 164: You Cannot Catch a Tiger Cub Without Entering the Tiger

"Li Tou'er, leaving already?"

Tan Hu lowered his voice.

Li Rui turned to look at Tan Hu at the words.

This company commander of the Running Tiger Cavalry was certainly not as simple-minded and brute as he appeared.

"Of course not."

"But continuing to investigate at Chunyan Pavilion won't yield any results."

Tan Hu nodded; seeing Li Rui's confident demeanor, he relaxed and put his worries aside.

From Li Rui's attitude, it was clear he didn't need Tan Hu's interference.

The group arrived at Chunyan Pavilion in a flurry and returned to the barracks just as swiftly.

Li Rui had just stepped out of the autopsy room.

He saw Jiang Lin and Ning Zhongtian already waiting outside.

He wasn't surprised.

Given the matter involved the Wenxian Pavilion, the old Daoist's disciple, and the fact it happened in Qinghe, Jiang Lin would certainly intervene.

"What exactly happened?"

"How did Qu Chengfeng die?"

A faint sword intent flickered in Jiang Lin's eyes; Qu Chengfeng's death in Qinghe was a direct slap to his face.

Li Rui had notified Jiang Lin while simultaneously leading his men to Chunyan Pavilion.

That was precisely why he did it.

After such a major incident, even if it wasn't his fault, Qu Chengfeng was supposed to be staying at his residence—if the man died and Jiang Lin asked and he knew nothing,

That would be a matter of attitude.

A serious problem!

Li Rui was too shrewd to make such a mistake.

He immediately gave Jiang Lin a detailed account of everything he'd learned from Chunyan Pavilion.

Upon hearing Qu Chengfeng had gone to a brothel and died in a woman's chamber, Jiang Lin's expression remained stern, but his tone noticeably softened:

"You've done well enough. Keep investigating."

He first acknowledged Li Rui's swift action; since the incident hadn't occurred within the Anning Guard, at least he could give Zhang the Daoist a reasonable explanation when he returned.

Moreover, Qu Chengfeng had died in a brothel.

He brought it upon himself.

Zhang the Daoist could never blame the Anning Guard.

He then turned to Yao Xue, still lost in grief: "Yao Shixie, control your sorrow—I will give your master a full account of this matter!"

Yao Xue rallied her spirits: "Thank you, Elder Jiang."

Jiang Lin then addressed Ning Zhongtian beside him: "Ning my lord, I entrust this case to you. Find the killer—within seven days!"

"Yes."

Ning Zhongtian replied in a low voice.

Jiang Lin offered Yao Xue a few perfunctory words of comfort before leaving.

Ning Zhongtian looked helplessly at Li Rui: "Brother Li, Elder Jiang demands I find the killer within seven days—you've got to help me."

As for fighting and killing, he was confident he wasn't inferior to anyone.

But when it came to investigations, he was clueless—like a blind man crossing a river.

Li Rui remembered Ning Zhongtian's efforts to promote him; he ought to help, and he himself wanted to uncover the truth.

Though he'd already neutralized the personal risk to himself, the case was still tied to him—if the killer was targeting him deliberately, it was better to find him now while Jiang Lin and Ning Zhongtian were backing him.

He was only assisting the investigation; the actual killing wouldn't fall to him, and the danger was manageable.

Li Rui: "Ning Tou'er, don't be silly—we're comrades. Just give the order."

Ning Zhongtian was overjoyed.

With a capable, willing subordinate like this, how could the case fail?

He would handle it himself, of course.

But he still needed someone reliable to do the legwork.

Li Rui was the perfect choice.

Hai Shi.

Deep night.

"Elder, are you going out?"

Li Rui had just pulled on his coat and stepped into the courtyard when he saw Yao Xue standing by the door.

Yao Xue stepped forward two paces and said:

"If you're going to investigate, please take me along—I must capture the killer of Brother Qu myself."

Determination filled Yao Xue's small face.

Li Rui fell silent.

He'd thought it coincidence, but Yao Xue had clearly been waiting for him in the courtyard for a long time.

Li Rui smiled faintly: "Miss Yao, tonight I'm going to a brothel. A woman accompanying me would draw too much attention."

Brothel

Yao Xue bit her lower lip: "I can dress as a man."

"."

Li Rui was speechless—had this woman read too many martial arts novels? She still believed in cross-dressing disguises? Women who could pass as men did exist, but one thing was certain: they couldn't be too beautiful, or they'd be recognized at a glance.

Unless the Nine Demons Matriarch herself restored her face, Yao Xue would be exposed immediately.

Li Rui had no intention of staging some clichéd scene of bringing a beautiful woman to a brothel.

He said nothing, simply gazing silently.

Soon.

Yao Xue couldn't hold out any longer; she realized her suggestion had been absurd.

"Elder, if anything happens, please inform me immediately."

"Mm. Miss Yao, don't worry—I'll notify you if I find any leads. I'm leaving now."

Li Rui nodded to Yao Xue, stepped past her, and pushed open the door.

Only Yao Xue remained in the courtyard.

Her gaze grew more complex.

"Master Li?"

"What are you doing here again? What do you want?"

The madam had been about to smile and welcome him, but seeing it was Li Rui, her expression instantly turned sour.

Li Rui smirked: "Can't I come to Chunyan Pavilion if I have no business?"

Hearing this,

the madam's face changed instantly, breaking into a wide smile.

"These officials and nobles—always changing faces. In the morning, stern and upright; by night, spending a thousand gold pieces on a single night of pleasure." Thinking this, her voice turned soft and sweet:

"Master Li, don't say that. Please come in—still the Di Zi room?"

No one knew if Chunyan Pavilion's owner had once run an inn, but he'd clearly copied the system of grading rooms by Tian, Di, and Ren.

Ren was the lowest, Tian the highest.

The rank meant the price followed suit.

In the past, when Li Rui came along, he'd always settled for the Di Zi room.

"Tonight, I'll take the Tian Zi room."

The madam's eyes lit up instantly; Ren and Di rooms were for volume, meant to attract customers, while Tian Zi rooms were Chunyan Pavilion's most profitable.

She hadn't expected this Master Li to be so generous tonight.

"Master Li, please come right in."

The madam bowed with obsequious cheer, leading Li Rui up to the third floor.

As they walked, she asked: "Is there a girl you fancy, Master? I'll send a maid to fetch her—women need time to prepare, so you won't have to wait long."

=9+shu_ba

Li Rui chuckled:

"I'll take Baozhu."

At the name Baozhu, the madam's smile froze: "Master Li, Baozhu just went through that incident this morning—she's not fit to serve you now."

Li Rui's smile vanished instantly; he coldly said: "So the little pretty boy Qu could have her, but I can't?"

"No, no!"

The madam hurried to smile apologetically.

Her mind raced, and she quickly understood.

This Master Li must hold a grudge against the dead Qu Young Master —this was revenge, a matter of pride.

Men's stupid need to prove themselves.

She sighed inwardly, knowing that if she refused Li Rui tonight, Chunyan Pavilion would face unrest tomorrow.

The Chunyan Building is large, and its behind-the-scenes proprietor certainly has considerable influence.

But Li Rui is from the Anning Guard, and someone died inside the building—making it effortless to take control of Chunyan Building.

A simple order to seal the building for seven days during an investigation would be enough to break her.

"I'll go call Baozhu right away."

As she spoke, she gave a glance to a maid beside her, whispering softly the three characters "Baozhu."

The maid hesitated, but under the madam's predatory gaze, she finally nodded and left.

Li Rui entered the room first.

Baozhu had not yet arrived; the tall, slender maid in green attire stepped in to serve, pressing her body against Li Rui to massage his shoulders and back.

About the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

Baozhu finally glided in with delicate steps, entering the room gracefully.

Li Rui froze.

Baozhu wore a plain white gown; had one not known, one might have mistaken her for a widow from some respectable household.

The madam rushed in at that moment:

"Master Li, this stubborn girl insists on dressing like this—why not pick another girl? It's ruining your mood."

She turned and shot Baozhu a furious glare.

This little vixen keeps causing trouble!

Marrying a man surnamed Qu was one thing—but did she really intend to mourn him as if he were her true husband?!

She was about to drag Baozhu out and scold her severely, but Li Rui waved his hand with interest: "Leave her as she is—I like this look."

"????"

The madam's face was full of confusion.

All white? In a brothel? Good?

She muttered to herself.

Probably some official's peculiar taste—she gritted her teeth and kept Baozhu, warning her sharply at the door not to cause any more trouble.

Creak.

The door shut.

Only Li Rui and Baozhu remained in the room.

Li Rui patted the soft couch beside him: "Come here. Let me take a good look."

Baozhu rested her right hand on her left shoulder, curled up like a timid forest deer, forcing out a faint, miserable smile: "Master, I'm coming."

She sat obediently beside Li Rui.

Leaving a foot's distance between them.

Li Rui yanked her into his arms; Baozhu let out a soft cry, struggled—but found herself powerless, finally collapsing limply against his chest.

"Master—"

She was about to speak.

The next instant.

Her pupils dilated wildly; pain twisted her face as blue veins spread upward from her neck across her beautiful features.

Li Rui narrowed his eyes, his five fingers gripping her waist like iron clamps, sinking deep into her flesh.

Sudden transformation.

"Ahh!"

A wailing shriek, like a vengeful ghost, tore from Baozhu's mouth.

Her beautiful face turned instantly black and blue.

Where was the lovely courtesan? Now she was a demon from hell.

"You deserve to die!"

A voice of hatred issued from Baozhu's lips.

Excitement glinted in Li Rui's eyes; his lips curled slightly.

Exactly like this!

Xuanqing Qi surged from his dantian, flooding wildly into Baozhu's body.

Baozhu's expression of pain deepened, but in terror she realized she could not break free from Li Rui's arms no matter how hard she struggled.

Three breaths.

Only three breaths—Baozhu could no longer hold on.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Muffled impacts echoed inside her body.

Every meridian had been ruptured by Li Rui's Xuanqing Qi.

Only then did Li Rui release his grip.

He had controlled his force perfectly—Baozhu still had one last breath left; the rest could be dealt with by the Anning Guard's Punishment Hall.

Li Rui narrowed his eyes, gazing at Baozhu—three parts human, seven parts demon.

He murmured:

"Demon spirit."

(End of Chapter)