Chapter 93

A few days later, the body of Captain's daughter was discovered; she had been brutally violated before death, a sight too tragic to behold.

The Flower-Plucking Thief is insane; this act is a blatant provocation, no different from a beast.

The entire city is shocked, residents are all in fear for their own safety, and the markets have become much quieter.

The Flower-Plucking Thief has become a malignant tumor that must be excised without delay.

All the victims have joined together to offer a reward for the Flower-Plucking Thief, each contributing treasures and heavy gold, accumulating into a sky-high bounty.

Gold and silver, jewelry, grain, real estate, divine weapons...

It is estimated that the total value is as much as 50,000 to 60,000 taels; it is no exaggeration to say that anyone who obtains this bounty could save themselves ten lifetimes of struggle.

The martial artists in the city, whether local or from out of town, are all green with envy over this generous reward.

But the Flower-Plucking Thief acts alone and has left no traces; though many covet the reward, they cannot capture a single clue.

After finishing the wedding feast, Zhou You returned to the martial arts hall with medicinal herbs the next day.

"Have you heard? After Yang Xi died, the Captain vented his anger over his poor performance and ordered that he not be buried, leaving his corpse to rot at home."

"Sigh, the Flower-Plucking Thief is a Blood-Qi martial artist; even if he fought for his life, he couldn't have stopped him!"

"That's the fate of working for the powerful; why do we even practice martial arts and boxing?"

The atmosphere inside and outside the martial arts hall is tense, and the Apprentices are all whispering among themselves.

As a Force-Refining martial artist, Yang Xi had already cultivated his force to maturity, ranking at the very top among many Outer Court Apprentices.

He found a good job and everyone envied him, yet once he failed to perform, he wasn't even allowed a burial after death, his body exposed and humiliated.

The impact of the Flower-Plucking Thief is immense; there are undercurrents surging in the city, spreading to all the major martial arts halls.

Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall is also implicated; one must know the Hall Master has a beautiful, flower-like beloved daughter who is also a potential target for the Flower-Plucking Thief!

The Hall Master issued a strict order: all Apprentices must patrol inside and outside the hall day and night, and not even a flying insect is allowed to get in.

Zhou You returned to the workshop as usual; he brought the remaining medicinal herbs from home and focused on processing them.

"Zhou You, stop for a moment, I have something to tell you."

Xu Ying sat in front of him, speaking with a serious expression.

"Huh!"

Zhou You wondered if his private work had been discovered? He immediately steeled his heart, a flash of malice rising to his side—Senior Brother Xu, I'm sorry...

"Zhou You, logically speaking, your work in the workshop ended long ago, yet you still remain to do tasks."

Xu Ying analyzed while pinching his chin, "Also, after you went to Xingren Tang with me last time, you went privately three or five more times, each time looking for the Hua Family's eldest daughter to buy medicine and consult on medical knowledge."

"Hmm, are you..."

Zhou You sighed that despite being careful enough, he had still shown his tail; now he would have to silence him!

Only to hear Xu Ying say with certainty, "... taken a fancy to the eldest Miss Hua, and are using refining medicine as an excuse to intentionally get close to her?"

What? Zhou You blinked, let out a sigh of relief, and subconsciously defended himself, "Senior Brother Xu, you've wronged me, a massive injustice!"

I am devoted to martial arts and have no time for affairs between men and women; why would I waste time on that? Heaven and earth are my witness, he really only went to ask Hua Youxing questions for the sake of refining medicine.

Xingren Tang is a long-established medicine shop; although they hide secret recipes that are not passed on, the detailed techniques for processing medicine are tempered through time, which has benefited Zhou You greatly.

"Skill: Medicine Refining Lv9."

The text on the panel flashed by; this was Zhou You's harvest over these past days.

Zhou You did not expect that his actions, in Xu Ying's eyes, would be misunderstood as pursuing Hua Youxing.

Come to think of it, Hua Youxing's conditions are indeed the object of a young man's admiration.

"Zhou You, you good lad, you really know how to use your brain, knowing how to cater to her interests."

Xu Ying exclaimed in admiration, "Hua Youxing comes from a medical family, so you study medicine, using it as an excuse to spend time together and win her heart."

"Unlike other suitors who stupidly hit a wall and end up battered and bloody." Zhou You struggled to explain, "Actually, learning to refine medicine is also quite interesting."

"What's interesting about refining medicine? It's boring as hell."

"I get it, I get it, this is your strategy!"

Xu Ying waved his hand, "Don't worry, my lips are sealed tight, I won't tell anyone."

Then he frowned again, "But you won't be able to stay in the workshop much longer; the eldest Miss is short of people by her side and has specifically requested you."

Zhou You really had a headache; he had no interest in being a protector of flowers, he still had a pile of things to finish! "Senior Brother Xu, is there any way to change the person? I can spend money to pull strings."

Zhou You is not short of money, at least he is still quite well-off.

"No room for negotiation; the Flower-Plucking Thief is causing trouble lately, and the eldest Miss is the apple of the Hall Master's eye, it's the top priority right now."

Xu Ying mentioned another matter, "By the way, Li Hao is injured and recuperating, go see him and ask him about it while you're at it."

Li Hao is injured? Zhou You thought he couldn't go empty-handed, so he picked up ten catties of beef to visit the patient.

"How did you get injured?"

Li Hao was lying on his side on the bed, struggling to turn the pages of a book with his arm wrapped in white cloth.

Zhou You glanced at the book; it was the popular novel *Er Gou Seeking the Cauldron*, used to pass the time.

"Sigh, don't mention it, I didn't even meet the Flower-Plucking Thief, but instead had the worst luck!"

As it turned out, during his time serving as Wang Yan's guard, he had been diligent and conscientious, fearing any slip-up.

Everyone has seen Yang Xi's fate; if the Flower-Plucking Thief isn't caught, the victims will vent their anger on you for poor performance, making your life a living hell.

The guards of every household are walking on thin ice, trembling with fear, cursing the Flower-Plucking Thief ten thousand times.

Originally, the martial arts hall, with its many people and great influence, was the safest place.

If Wang Yan would just obediently stay in the martial arts hall, with the Hall Master—a martial master—sitting in command, it would be guaranteed that nothing would happen.

"She's too spoiled, she won't listen to anything."

Speaking of this eldest Miss, Li Hao ignored his injured arm and slapped the edge of the bed hard.

Wang Yan ignores the danger and goes out daily to visit her close friends, bringing immense pressure to Li Hao and the other Apprentices.

(Hearts in a Panic, A Massive Bounty)

It was dark by the time they returned to the martial arts hall, and everyone there was trembling with fear, terrified that something might go wrong.

At the beginning, Li Hao had been infatuated by her beauty and was smitten with this young lady, but as their contact deepened, he discovered that Wang Yan had a terrible temper, was picky, and was self-centered without regard for others' feelings.

According to Zhou You's understanding, it was simply... princess syndrome.

Well, she is the apple of the hall master's eye, the little princess of the martial arts hall, so it's normal!

"What's the use of being pretty? I'd like to see who would dare to marry her in the future."

Li Hao complained with deep sorrow, grabbing Zhou You's hand, "Seriously, even if you beat me to death, don't find a wife like that."

"Then how did you get injured?"

Zhou You had listened to Li Hao's nagging for a long time and couldn't help but urge him to get to the point.

Li Hao couldn't help but wipe the corner of his eye, "This matter has already become a laughingstock; I have no face to see anyone."

It turned out that one day, Wang Yan went out and ran into Bao Tiefeng's daughter, who was also out.

"The one from the Ao Fist Martial Arts Hall whose hall master married a local down-and-out?"

"That's right, she was a married woman, just out on the street buying groceries, and she hadn't provoked her at all, yet she was sharp-tongued and mean, mocking the other woman for being a refugee who tried every possible way to marry up to a local, thinking she'd found a treasure by marrying a spendthrift and a down-and-out!"

Wow, that mouth is too venomous.

Zhou You hadn't expected that Wang Yan, who could be considered a little beauty, could say such things! Moreover, the two had been complete strangers before, and it didn't seem like there was any grudge!

Could it be that women are as prone to belittling each other as scholars? (End of chapter)