Chapter 544

"Even if grandpa got poisoned badly, can't you guys use your brains a bit, think of a better way? Tell me, who came up with this stupid idea, and threw grandpa into the cesspool?" Han Duo gritted her teeth, her face dark as she threatened me and Pangzi: "If you don't tell, I'll whip you all the way to the Pacific, then fly back and tie you up to send you to the African cannibals..."

"I'll come clean, it's not my fault, it's him… he came up with the idea to throw you into the cesspool broth." Pangzi raised both hands, quietly pointing at QingSongShu; even though he was betraying his own father, Pangzi did it so naturally, as if it were the most obvious thing.

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

"This is Pangzi's father, QingSongShu, and this is Pangzi's master, Yang Qiye." When Han Duo froze, 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 statue.

"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 statue 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 statue in Chan Yi Hall had been receiving incense for decades, and its spirituality could not be measured by money.

What made me feel even more bizarre was that QingSongShu didn't get angry; instead, he smiled and stared 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 form."

QingSongShu's attitude made me feel very strange. I remember when Pangzi was twelve, he once threw an eraser at the ancestral master's statue, and back then QingSongShu flew into a rage, beating Pangzi badly and warning him not to desecrate the ancestral master. So why is QingSongShu acting so weird this time? Not only is his attitude strange, but even his gaze carries a weird vibe.

Following QingSongShu's squinting smile, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Han Duo had somehow slipped behind me, clutching my sleeves with both hands, as if hiding behind me made her feel safe.

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

"Not bad, little lady, your looks are fine, thick brows and big eyes full of spirit, straightforward personality, you've got that jianghu vibe." I was speechless, but Yang Qiye slammed the table, eyes shining as he stared at Han Duo and said: "Little lady, do you like spicy food? Does hot pot suit your appetite?"

"Of course, when it comes to spicy, I dare say I'm number one, no one dares claim second; hot pot 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 mouthwash, tasteless."

"Sounds good, suits my taste. Come on, I'll treat you to drinks; we'll sip five-grain liquor while eating hot pot." Yang Qiye rubbed his hands, feeling like he'd found a kindred spirit.

Han Duo raised a finger, shook her head contemptuously, and said: "For a spicy hot pot, five‑grain liquor won't do; you need pure 58‑degree second‑distilled liquor to really hit the spot."

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

Pangzi and I stared in shock at Han Duo and Yang Qiye; in just a moment, their eyes met. Frankly, Han Duo and Yang Qiye really do have similar temperaments—both fiery and straightforward. I furtively glanced at Pangzi, who quietly pointed at Han Duo and Yang Qiye, making a weird big‑and‑small gesture with his face.

When I came to again, I saw that Han Duo and Yang Qiye really were alike—not just their clothes, their aura, even their eyebrows seemed similar; I almost couldn't help but, like Pangzi, dazedly mistake 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—future generations are to be feared!" The first to speak was QingSongShu; his eyesight was extraordinary, and although Han Duo was injured, he could still tell her original cultivation was higher than mine and Pangzi's.

A blush crept quietly onto Han Duo's face—she could be shy too, which is indeed rare. Her head lowered almost to her chest, she stammered, unable to speak.

"Little lady, hear me out: don't get involved in this matter. I and this old tree will get to the bottom of the truth." Yang Qiye took a sip of wine and advised Han Duo,

Han Duo shook her head, resolute: "No way—I can't let this go. All three of my younger brothers and sisters died horribly; no matter what, I will get to the bottom of this."

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

Just then, a loud knocking sounded at the door. I ran to open it, and a plain‑clothed, thick‑eyebrowed man walked into Chan Yi Hall. As soon as he entered, he respectfully called Yang Qiye "Master." Pangzi also addressed this man as Senior Brother Jiangming.

Senior Brother Jiangming looked travel‑worn; upon seeing Yang Qiye, he respectfully handed over a document bag. From Pangzi's quiet introduction, it seemed Jiangming had connections and influence. What exactly was inside the bag he gave Yang Qiye?

It seemed to be a thick file… Yang Qiye stared at it, his expression growing darker. QingSongShu sensed something odd and asked Yang Qiye, "Old Seven, what exactly is this?"

"Have a look yourself," Yang Qiye said, directly pushing the item toward QingSongShu. But QingSongShu only glanced at it twice, his brows knitting tightly, his face showing deep shock and puzzlement.

Finally the document landed 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 be, how is this possible…"

"What is it? Do we really need to make such a fuss?" I muttered, taking the file, but after just two glances I sucked in a cold breath and widened my eyes.

This was the file Yang Qiye had commissioned his disciple to gather, concerning the whereabouts of that senior brother from years ago; yet in it I saw the presence of Yuan Qiu.

Exactly, it's Yuan Qiu—and even more unbelievably, that senior brother who vanished years ago turns out to be Yuan Qiu's father, Yuan Yang…

"How could this be?" I frowned at the document; this file, which already made a murky situation even more confusing, added another layer of mystery.

"Jiangming, you go back first, Old Tree, we'll head to the Yuan residence to visit that senior brother from back then," Yang Qiye said, his face grim as he rose from his chair.

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

Pangzi and I were both shocked and doubtful, while Han Duo was agitated upon seeing the shadow of her enemy.

It seemed our stubbornness left Yang Qiye and QingSongShu no choice but to let us go together. However, as we were just stepping out the door, Han Duo stumbled, nearly falling on the threshold.

"She was injured by my divine eye technique; her soul 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 effect of the fecal broth should be to dispel yin cold and replenish 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 uncomfortable.

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

"Listen to my uncle, we'll talk later." I resolutely picked her up without another word; given her condition, bed rest is best. That earlier vigor was just the temporary effect of the medicinal broth. Given her repeated injuries, it seems she needs to soak in the fecal broth several more times.

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

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

"Behave, no going." I snapped, feigning anger: "If you don't obey, believe me—I'll spank your butt."

"You dare…" Han Duo stood with hands on hips, fearlessly meeting my gaze.

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

"I'll go with Pangzi and my uncle; if Yuan Yang is the culprit, we'll definitely bring him back. I won't forget the children's grudge." I grasped Han Duo's hand, my 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 rely on you."

Han Duo frowned, her mind struggling 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, lowering Han Duo's head onto the pillow.