Chapter 340: Despicable Woman (4/10, for 'Feng Lan')

How could Qiu Dugu have found out??

Ma Shaoku's heart skipped a beat as he stared at Qiu Dugu, uncertain and alarmed.

"You—you mean what? Of course we submitted it together; the Document proves it, both our seals are on it."

"Is that so? But what I heard from my informant is a different version."

Qiu Dugu summarized Fang Yue's group's account in his own words, watching Ma Shaoku's expression change, his heart sinking.

Because from Ma Shaoku's panicked reaction, this was most likely his doing.

Most importantly, if the headquarters investigates, there's no way to hide it here.

Grinding his teeth, Ma Shaoku said: "Nonsense! How could I embezzle a Guilty Artifact from the headquarters? Even if you gave me ten sets of guts, I wouldn't dare!"

Fang Yue raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Then how do you explain contacting your subordinate Chen Yang and ordering the Bounty Company to search for the sheepskin paper? Do you want me to call Chen Yang right now?"

Ma Shaoku immediately glared at Fang Yue: "Who are you? I'm talking to Old Qiu—what's it to you?!"

"I'm just an ordinary homebody passerby."

Fang Yue shrugged, while beside him, Qiu Dugu said: "I've already confirmed the situation with headquarters. Ma Shaoku, think carefully—confess now, and you'll get leniency. If you keep your mouth shut like a dead duck, no one can save you!"

Ma Shaoku clenched his fists. His mistakes were too obvious; if an ordinary person investigated, they'd find no trace—but if the United Association headquarters got involved, the light would be blinding, revealing everything!

Looking at Qiu Dugu, who had just survived a fierce battle, Ma Shaoku's eyes darted, then he suddenly shoved forward and bolted out the door.

This left Fang Yue stunned.

This guy confessed too quickly—he clearly had no connection to Chen Fu, and no idea how he even got into the United Association. His quality doesn't even match mine.

Fang Yue didn't chase after him; instead, he watched Qiu Dugu perform.

Sure enough, the heavily injured Ma Shaoku was quickly caught back by Qiu Dugu's Change Hair.

"You can touch his physical form?!"

A Ming exclaimed in surprise, while Bai Xiaoya marched toward him with her bone spear, her aura fierce—making Ma Shaoku shudder violently and shout surrender.

"Surrender! Surrender! I confess! I confess everything! It was the Shadow Society—they offered me a high price to betray me! They wanted the sheepskin paper, and I didn't realize it was such a hot potato—I took it!"

"Later, according to plan, the sheepskin paper was lost outside, and I replaced it with a forgery."

"But the problem was, I couldn't find the lost sheepskin paper, and I dared not go look for it myself."

"So I deceived the United Association on one side, and the Shadow Society on the other—I lied to both, claiming I already had it, buying time while sending people frantically to track down the sheepskin paper."

"Do you know how miserable I've been these past days? Haven't you been asking why I've been smoking so much more lately?"

"I'm anxious—I'm losing clumps of hair!"

"During that time, I had to watch out not just for the United Association, but also for the Shadow Society agents monitoring me."

"Because I didn't even know where the sheepskin paper was now! I didn't want this—I tried to confess several times, really I did—but the Shadow Society gave me no chance. They forced me to serve them. It's all their doing!"

Ma Shaoku knelt, begging for mercy, pleading earnestly.

Qiu Dugu looked at his former partner, now reduced to this, and clenched his fists.

"How did you become like this? Ma Shaoku, have you forgotten our ideals when we first met?!"

Qiu Dugu shouted angrily. The once-begging Ma Shaoku suddenly sprang up like a cat with its tail stepped on, shrieking: "Fine! You're lofty and pure, untouched by earthly needs—you can die for your ideals. But big brother, I need to eat! I need to survive!"

"Is the United Association's pay not enough for you? How greedy are you?!"

"I used to think it was enough. Now I think it's not. So many people worse than me are feasting in the Shadow Society, enjoying luxury in the United Association's upper ranks—no need to fix leaks, no need to handle the Guilty Degree lines, just open their mouths and their work is done."

"Why can they be comfortable while I can't? Am I worse than them? I'm only missing a powerful Guilty Artifact! The United Association won't give me what the Shadow Society will! The Shadow Society has already promised me a position among the Thirteen Daoists."

"I didn't know who would step down—but now it's clear: they're giving me Bai Daoren's spot. Too bad… you've all ruined it!"

Ma Shaoku felt no guilt whatsoever—he believed Fang Yue and the others had destroyed his future.

Watching his former comrade, his mind twisted beyond recognition, Qiu Dugu closed his eyes in pain.

"United Association Rules, First Rule, First Clause: Those who betray the United Association shall die!"

When he opened his eyes, they were resolute. Fang Yue thought he would kill Ma Shaoku.

But in fact, he merely bound the intangible Ma Shaoku with his hair.

Then he made several more calls. About half an hour later, a helicopter flew in from the horizon and landed nearby.

Fang Yue and the other three prepared to welcome them—but when the passengers stepped out, Qiu Dugu's face turned drastically pale.

"Luo Shuang?! How could it be you?!"

"Why not me?" Luo Shuang jiggled her ample bosom, stepping with a seductive gait toward Fang Yue and the others.

"I didn't want to come, but the higher-ups insisted I, the closest Thirteen Daoist, handle it—so I had no choice but to make the trip."

Luo Shuang advanced step by step; Qiu Dugu's nerves tightened—he clearly feared this woman with her large chest.

"Are you going to attack us? I've already contacted the United Association—they're on their way. Think carefully: you won't take us down quickly, and you'll be trapped here yourself!"

Qiu Dugu spoke with an implied threat. Fang Yue felt no sense of danger.

After all, it was night—the Night God of War didn't need to waste words!

His lifespan was about to ignite.

Ahead, Luo Shuang suddenly stopped, sharply turned her head toward the distance, hesitated, then abruptly retreated back into the helicopter.

"Retreat! He's coming!"

"Understood!"

Someone inside the helicopter immediately started it up. Fang Yue frowned and asked: "Should we leave her behind?"

"Can we?"

"Of course…"

BOOM!!

Before Fang Yue finished speaking, the helicopter, barely off the ground, exploded violently.

Rotors flew everywhere; the helicopter's body shattered and scattered far away; Luo Shuang vanished somewhere, unaccounted for.

Seeing this, Fang Yue and the others all froze in shock.

What… is going on?

(End of Chapter)