Chapter 20: Miss Shi, what do you mean by this?

The fully armed Imperial Guards blinked.

What to do?

They looked at each other, then finally looked back at their leader, who had a constipated expression on his face.

Oh—

One by one, they caught on, and with perfect tacit understanding, they silently lowered their heads.

This is the leader's family business; it is not convenient to interfere.

Ignore it, ignore it, just eat, just eat.

Enduring her embarrassment, Shi Xue walked quickly to the table where the two were sitting and spoke first:

"Second Uncle, did you tell Auntie that you were coming here?"

"Ahem."

Shi Anqi cleared his throat and signaled with his eyes to his niece to give him some face in front of outsiders.

But unfortunately, it is impossible for Shi Xue to understand his gaze right now.

When a person feels embarrassed, as long as someone is more embarrassed than them, then they are no longer embarrassed.

As the saying goes, better a dead fellow Daoist than a dead poor Daoist.

Seeing that his niece would not leave him any face at all, Shi Anqi could only smile awkwardly and then say:

"Isn't this me coming out for a drink with a good friend?"

"A drink? You've booked out the entire Zuixian Small Pavilion; what a grand display you're putting on! Where did you get the money?"

If asked about other things, Shi Anqi might have hesitated, but when asked about this, he was not panicked at all.

"Xiaoxue, aren't you just squeezing your Second Uncle? How can this be considered a grand display? Besides, this isn't my own money being spent."

But looking at Shi Xue's gradually dangerous gaze, Shi Anqi, realizing the problem, hurriedly added a sentence:

"Of course, it's not military pay either! I won't do that a second time!"

"It was Brother Ren who volunteered to reward the soldiers."

Patting Ren Yidao on the shoulder, Shi Anqi laughed:

"Brother Ren, wouldn't you say so? Hahahaha."

"……"

But Ren Yidao, having received Shi Anqi's hint, remained silent, keeping his head down without taking up the conversation.

Shi Xue: Hmm?

Shi Anqi: Hmm???

He turned his head anxiously and nudged him with his shoulder; he was just short of speaking directly.

Say something!

Brother Ren, say something!

Just as Shi Anqi was about to collapse, Ren Yidao raised his head and revealed a brilliant smile toward the uncle and niece.

Joy.

It's a pity, Shi Anqi is likely unable to cry.

However, even if he did cry, it wouldn't mean much.

"No more joking, this matter was indeed proposed by me; after all, the soldiers have also worked very hard."

"This young lady, may I ask how to address you?"

Looking up and down at the young cultivator before her, Shi Xue said indifferently:

"Shi Xue, Constable."

Shi Xue did not look down on Ren Yidao because of his youth.

In many situations, a cultivator's appearance cannot represent anything.

Many experts like to keep their appearance in the prime of life, which is suitable for exerting their strength, and some even keep it in the state of a young child.

Shi Xue straightened her back, looked directly into Ren Yidao's eyes, and asked sternly:

"Are you the witness who provided the clues?"

Ren Yidao turned his head to exchange a look with Shi Anqi, and after receiving an affirmative reply, he smiled and answered:

"That is correct."

"Did you kill that Fox Demon?"

"It was not done by me."

"Then who killed it?"

"I do not know."

Her heroic eyes narrowed, and a cold aura radiated from Shi Xue as she asked slowly:

"……Then, how did you know in advance that the Fox Demon was there?"

"Sect Secret Technique."

Clang!

Cling!

In a flash of lightning, Shi Xue stepped onto the wine table and drew the long blade at her waist, placing it directly against Ren Yidao's neck.

At this moment, Shi Anqi also came back to his senses and shouted:

"Hey! Xiaoxue! Put the blade down! What kind of behavior is this!"

Shi Xue said nothing, staring tightly at Ren Yidao.

Feeling the cold air radiating from the blade, Ren Yidao smiled instead and asked:

"Miss Shi, what is the meaning of this?"

Ren Yidao pressed his left hand onto the arm of Shi Anqi, signaling him not to intervene, while his right hand toyed with a gorgeously decorated glazed cup.

Looking down from a height at the composed Ren Yidao, Shi Xue spoke in a grim tone:

"Do not underestimate me."

"Do you think I dare not kill you?"

As she spoke, she applied a slight force to the hand holding the blade.

But no blood sprayed out, because the blade was blocked directly.

By that incredibly fragile glazed cup!

"What!"

Pressing the side of the cup against the sharp edge, a flash of red light flickered in Ren Yidao's eyes as he slowly repeated:

"Miss Shi... what is the meaning of this?"

His voice was soft and calm, but it transformed into something else when it reached Shi Xue's ears.

Gloomy and ferocious.

!!?

"You..."

She wanted to speak, but met Ren Yidao's gaze.

Pitch-black like an abyss.

Looking into those deep eyes, Shi Xue experienced a moment of confusion, followed by fear like a tidal wave crashing into her!

She felt as if she were not being stared at by a human, but had been glanced at by a ferocious beast from the primordial era!

Thump-thump!

Her heart beat violently, as if it were about to jump out of her chest.

Clatter.

Falling backward uncontrollably, Shi Xue regained her senses before she hit the ground, barely maintaining her balance.

"Haa, ha... you!"

Gasping for air, Shi Xue pressed her left hand hard against her chest, a fine layer of sweat breaking out on her forehead.

This isn't right...

This man is no simple person!

Shi Xue was about to draw her blade again, but this time her arm was held down by a large hand.

"Did you not hear what I said?"

"I told you to put the blade down."

Shi Anqi's tone was not heavy, but it carried an indescribable majesty that made Shi Xue's hand loosen uncontrollably.

Clang.

Shi Xue was helplessly helped back to her seat by Shi Anqi, once again meeting those smiling eyes.

Pouring a cup of wine for the dazed and confused Constable, Ren Yidao clinked his cup against hers and asked:

"Let us continue; is there anything else you wish to ask?"

"..."

Shi Xue hung her head, silently watching her own reflection in the wine cup, then suddenly her expression changed, and she tilted her head back to drain the wine in one gulp.

That was not the end of it; after finishing, she poured herself more wine, drinking it cup after cup.

Thump!

Shi Xue downed five cups in a row before putting the cup down, puffing out her cheeks and staring blurrily at Ren Yidao.

"Uh... if you can't drink it, then don't."

Ren Yidao had figured it out; this seemed to be some sort of apology from Shi Xue.

A penalty drink?

Punishing herself with five cups?

"Hoo..."

Within just a few breaths, Shi Xue's cheeks turned bright red, and even her neck did not escape the flush.

"You, why, did you not report this to the authorities?"

Struggling to keep her eyes open, she said intermittently:

"Matters like this should be reported to the authorities immediately, otherwise, the common people will be in danger..."

Where do you place the common people of Chongzhou City?

Her consciousness was gradually drifting away, but Shi Xue still forced herself to stay alert.

She wanted the other party to give her an answer.

To this, Ren Yidao's answer was also very simple.

"What does that have to do with me?"

!!!

This person, as expected, is...

Without giving Shi Xue time to think, Ren Yidao continued:

"I should instead ask you, why do you think this is my fault?"

"Miss Shi, do you know how long that Daoist Temple has existed here?"

He smiled, but the words from his mouth made Shi Xue's body feel cold.

She knew.

That was why she could not refute it.

"More than sixty years of time."

"For such a long time, no one has ever cared, letting it remain at large."

"And now, instead of dealing with the derelict sinner, you choose to blame an innocent passerby?"

"Isn't that a bit unreasonable?"

Ren Yidao slowed his pace of speech:

"If someone dies because of it, who would be the one responsible for that death?"

He pushed the cup toward Shi Xue, who had forgotten to breathe.

He gently yet cruelly tore open the truth.

"It is you."