Chapter 272

Even if I'm deeply poisoned, can't you guys use your brains a bit and think of a better way? Tell me, who came up with that filthy idea and threw me into the cesspool?" Han Duo gritted her teeth, her face dark as she threatened me and Pangzi: "If you don't talk, I'll lash you clear to the Pacific, then fly back and tie you up to hand you over to African cannibals..."

I confess, it's not my fault, it's him… he came up with the idea to throw you into the filthy soup." Pangzi raised both hands, quietly pointing at QingSongShu; even though he was betraying his own father, Pangzi did it as if it were completely natural and inevitable.

After Pangzi pointed that out, Han Duo finally noticed that besides me and Pangzi, there were also Seventh Lord and QingSongShu in the hall; I don't know what she was thinking with that look.

"This is Pangzi's father, QingSongShu, and this is Pangzi's master, Seventh Lord." While Han Duo was dazed, I hurried over and tugged at her sleeve, my palm even breaking out in a cold sweat.

I've already explained Han Duo's background to QingSongShu. Although she had once been our enemy, it was out of necessity, and QingSongShu forgave her after learning the full story. But I never expected this little girl to cause so much trouble. As soon as she woke up, she knocked over the hall's Huaguang idol.

"Ah… sorry, I didn't mean to, Uncle. I'll pay, I'll pay to buy you a new one. No, no, I'll have a new idol made for you!" Han Duo stared blankly for a moment, then finally came to her senses. But her words made me feel like fainting; the Huaguang Ancestral Master idol in Chan Yi Hall had been receiving incense for decades, and its spirituality could hardly be measured by money.

What's even more astonishing is that QingSongShu didn't get angry; instead he smiled and looked at Han Duo, saying: "It's fine, you didn't mean it; the Ancestral Master won't blame you. Besides, the Ancestral Master has always been in our hearts—a clay statue is just an outward shell."

QingSongShu's attitude made me feel very strange; I remember when Pangzi was twelve, he once threw an eraser at the Ancestral Master's idol, and QingSongShu flew into a rage, beating Pangzi severely and warning him not to desecrate the Ancestral Master. But this time, why is QingSongShu's attitude so weird? Not only his demeanor is odd, even his gaze carries a strange vibe.

Following QingSongShu's squinting smile, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Han Duo had somehow slipped behind me, both hands clutching my sleeve, as if hiding behind me gave her a sense of safety.

And QingSongShu's gaze was even stranger, making me feel as if ants were crawling all over me; clearly he had misunderstood my relationship with Han Duo.

"Not bad, little lady—good looks, thick brows and big eyes full of spirit, a straightforward personality, with that martial‑arts vibe." I was speechless, but Seventh Lord slammed the table, eyes shining as he fixed his gaze on Han Duo and said: "Little lady, do you like spicy food? Does hotpot suit your appetite?"

"Of course—when it comes to spicy, I dare claim I'm number one, no one dares claim second; hotpot is nothing, I'd even eat raw sky‑pointing chilies!" Han Duo thumped her chest and replied.

Drink alcohol?

I drink, but I only drink baijiu; beer is just a mouth‑wash, tasteless.

Good, it suits my taste—come on, I'll treat you to drinks; we'll guzzle five‑grain liquor while eating hotpot." Seventh Lord rubbed his hands, feeling like he'd met a kindred spirit.

Han Duo flicked a finger, shook her head in disdain, and said: "Eating spicy hotpot, five‑grain liquor won't cut it; you need pure 58‑degree second‑distilled liquor to really pack a punch."

Fine, if you say second‑distilled liquor, then second‑distilled liquor it is—let's go now." Seventh Lord could hardly wait to drink and chat with Han Duo.

Pangzi and I stared in astonishment at Han Duo and Seventh Lord; in just a moment their eyes met. Frankly, Han Duo and Seventh Lord really are alike—both hot‑headed and straightforward. I furtively glanced at Pangzi, who quietly pointed at Han Duo and Seventh Lord, his face odd as he made a big‑and‑small gesture.

When I came to again, I saw that Han Duo and Seventh Lord really are similar—not just their clothes, their bearing, even their eyebrows match; I almost couldn't help, like Pangzi, mistaking them for father and daughter.

After that divine‑like twist, we chatted for a while, and Han Duo sat down beside me.

"I never expected a young lady like you to have cultivated to this level—you put my good‑for‑nothing son to shame; the younger generation is formidable!" QingSongShu spoke first; his perception was extraordinary, and although Han Duo was injured, he could still see that her original cultivation surpassed mine and Pangzi's.

A blush crept quietly onto Han Duo's face—she could be shy too, which is rare. Her head drooped almost to her chest, she stammered and couldn't get a word out.

"Little lady, hear me out: don't meddle in this affair. I and this old rotten tree will get to the bottom of the truth." Seventh Lord took a sip of wine and advised Han Duo.

Han Duo shook her head, resolute: "No way—I have to get to the bottom of this; all three of my younger brothers and sisters died a violent death, and no matter what, I will uncover the truth."

"Hey, don't be so stubborn; I'll explain this to you slowly later. For now, just listen to Seventh Lord." I lightly tugged at Han Duo's sleeve, signalling her to agree with Seventh Lord.

Just then, a loud knocking sounded at the door; I ran to open it and a plain‑clothed, thick‑eyed man walked into Chan Yi Hall. Upon entering, he respectfully called Seventh Lord "Master." Pangzi also addressed him as Senior Brother Jiangming.

Senior Brother Jiangming looked travel‑worn; as soon as he saw Seventh Lord, he respectfully handed over a document bag. From Pangzi's quiet introduction, Jiangming seemed well‑connected. What could be inside the bag he gave Seventh Lord?

It seemed to be a thick dossier… Seventh Lord's expression grew grimmer as he looked at it. QingSongShu sensed something odd and asked Seventh Lord: "Old Seven, what exactly is this?"

"Have a look yourself," Seventh Lord said, passing the item to QingSongShu. But QingSongShu only glanced at it twice, his brows knitting tightly, his face showing deep shock and puzzlement.

Finally the dossier ended up in Pangzi's hands; staring at it, he couldn't help but widen his eyes and blurt out a curse.

Holy shit, how could this happen, how is this possible…

What is it? Do we really need to make such a fuss?" I muttered, taking the dossier, but after just two glances I sucked in a cold breath and stared wide‑eyed.

This was the dossier Seventh Lord had entrusted his disciple to compile, investigating where that senior brother from years ago had gone; yet in it I saw the presence of Yuan Qiu.

Yes, that's right—it's Yuan Qiu, and even more unbelievable, that missing senior brother from back then turns out to be Yuan Qiu's grandfather, Yuan Yang.

"How could this be?" I frowned at the document; this file, which already made the matter murky, added another layer of obscurity.

"Jiangming, you go back first, Old Rotten Tree; we'll head to the Yuan residence to visit that former senior brother," Seventh Lord said, his face grim as he rose from his chair.

"I'll go too," I, Pangzi, and Han Duo said almost simultaneously, in unison.

Pangzi and I were both shocked and doubtful, while Han Duo was agitated because she saw the shadow of her enemy.

Apparently because we were too insistent, Seventh Lord and QingSongShu didn't stop us, letting us follow along. But just as we stepped out the door, Han Duo staggered, nearly falling on the threshold.

She was injured earlier by my Heavenly Eye ability; her spirit is very weak, the medicine's effect has worn off, and she now needs proper rest to recover her vitality. Hai Sheng, quickly help Han Duo back to rest." QingSongShu took her pulse, frowned, and said.

The function of the filthy soup should be to dispel yin cold and bolster the body's yang energy. Although both Pangzi and Han Duo were wounded by frost, Pangzi practices the Huaguang method, unlike Han Duo, who still harbors hidden injuries. When Han Duo first woke up, the medicine's potency lingered in her body, but now, having just stepped outside and been hit by the winter wind, she immediately felt unwell.

"No… I must go!" Han Duo shook her groggy head, gritting her teeth in stubborn determination.

"Listen to my uncle, we'll talk later." I resolutely scooped her up; given her condition, bed rest is best. That earlier vigor was just the temporary effect of the medicinal broth. After her multiple injuries, it seems she needs to soak in the filthy soup a few more times.

"Chen Hai Sheng, let go of me!" Han Duo struggled unwillingly; when I tossed her onto the bed, she even kicked my abdomen as an afterthought.

"Let me go, I have to go!" Han Duo stubbornly climbed back out of bed.

"Behave, you're not going." I snapped, feigning anger: "If you don't obey, believe me I'll spank your butt."

"You dare…" Han Duo placed her hands on her hips on the bed, staring at me without fear.

I "……" hesitated a moment, wrestled with it in my mind for a few minutes, and had to admit a fact: her butt—this girl really seems hard to spank.

I'll go with Pangzi and my uncle; if Yuan Yang is the killer, we'll definitely drag him back. I won't forget the children's grudge." I grasped Han Duo's hand, eyes complex, and said: "If you want revenge, you also need to look after yourself—think about it, there are still many younger brothers and sisters in Tongyuan Bay who depend on you."

Han Duo's brows knotted tight, her mind struggled for a long time, and her tone finally eased a little.

"Promise me, if you really find the culprit, you must not let him go."

"Mm… I promise you!" I said, laying Han Duo's head onto the pillow.