Chapter 124: The Zhou Family's Unexpected Incident

"Mr. Jiang, what do you think?"

Xia Yurou looked at Jiangnan, seeking his opinion.

Jiangnan pondered for a moment, then spoke.

"Perhaps we could go see the Southern Frontier Gu Tribe."

"But Nanjiang is so vast; how shall we find them?"

Xia Yurou asked.

"There will always be a way."

Jiangnan said, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.

"Zhou Laoyezi, thank you for informing us of this news."

Xia Yurou thanked Zhou Laoyezi.

"No need to be formal."

Zhou Laoyezi waved his hand.

"Girl, I accept this gift," the old man said.

The old man looked at the Brocade Box in his hand and suddenly laughed.

"This gift is indeed hard to receive; you, girl, are still as unwilling to take a loss as when you were a child," the old man remarked.

Xia Yurou heard this, her pretty face flushing slightly.

She knew Zhou Laoyezi was teasing her.

"Zhou Laoyezi, please stop mocking me."

She said coquettishly.

Hahaha……

Zhou Laoyezi laughed heartily.

"Alright, you have matters to attend to; I won't keep you any longer," the old man said.

"Zhou Laoyezi, then we shall take our leave,"

Xia Yurou said.

"Hmm."

Zhou Laoyezi nodded.

"Old servant, see the guests out."

"Yes, Old Master."

The old servant responded and stepped forward, escorting the two out of the living room.

Through the long corridor, the two arrived outside the gate of Zhou Mansion.

"Mr. Jiang, where are we going now?"

Xia Yurou asked.

"To Nanjiang."

Jiangnan said, a flash of resolve in his eyes.

Xia Yurou nodded, no longer hesitating, stepped forward a pace and fell beside Jiangnan.

Just as the two were about to leave, a heart‑rending scream erupted from inside Zhou Mansion behind them!

The chilling scream tore through the quiet afternoon of Zhou Mansion.

The sound surged from deep within the inner courtyard, sharp enough to tear a person's eardrum.

Xia Yurou's heart trembled, and she instinctively clutched Jiangnan's arm.

"Zhou Laoyezi!"

She cried out, her voice burning with anxiety.

Jiangnan furrowed his brows and, turning his hand, grasped Xia Yurou's hand.

That delicate, boneless little hand was now icy and trembling slightly.

"Let's go in and see."

He spoke in a deep voice, his tone carrying unquestionable resolve.

The two turned and rushed toward the source of the sound.

Zhou Mansion, this century‑old Lao Zhai, was now shrouded in a strange atmosphere.

Its ancient architecture, with carved beams and painted rafters, usually exuded solemn elegance.

Now, however, it resembled a coiled giant beast, its gaping maw ready to devour anyone.

The corridors twisted, and the courtyard lay deep.

They passed through one Moon Gate after another; the deeper they went, the more stagnant the air became.

It felt as if an invisible hand clutched their throats, making it hard to breathe.

The servants ran in terror, their faces etched with fear.

They flailed about like headless flies, letting out startled cries.

"Old Master is in trouble!"

"Quick, fetch the doctor!"

"It's bad! It's bad!"

Chaos and panic spread through Zhou Mansion like a plague.

Xia Yurou's heart burned with urgency, and her steps quickened.

Jiangnan followed closely, his eyes sharp as an eagle, scanning the surroundings.

He felt a chilling aura surging in from all directions.

The aura carried the scent of blood and the smell of death.

Finally, the two arrived at the inner courtyard.

There, under the Wisteria Trellis that Zhou Laoyezi usually favored, a crowd had gathered.

In the center of the crowd, a shocking pool of fresh blood bloomed on the stone slabs like a seductive mandala flower.

Zhou Laoyezi lay in the pool of blood.

His eyes were wide open, and a terrified expression still lingered on his face.

Across his chest was a bowl‑sized wound, gushing blood.

"Old Master!"

Xia Yurou let out a mournful cry and lunged forward.

She fell to her knees, her trembling hands reaching to help Zhou Laoyezi.

But the blood coating her hands made her dizzy.

"Zhou Laoyezi! What's wrong with you? Wake up!"

She shouted through tears, her voice hoarse.

Jiangnan crouched down and felt Zhou Laoyezi's pulse.

There was no breath left.

He rose slowly, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.

Among the crowd, a middle‑aged man in a black robe caught his attention.

The man's face was sullen, his eyes flickering.

A barely perceptible cold smile lingered at the corner of his mouth.

"Who are you?"

Jiangnan spoke, his voice icy.

The man was startled for a moment, then regained his composure.

"I am the steward of the Zhou Family, Zhou Fu."

He replied, his voice low.

"How did the Old Master die?"

Jiangnan pressed, his eyes blazing.

A flash of panic crossed Zhou Fu's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"I… I don't know either."

He stammered, "When I rushed here after hearing the screams, the Old Master was already…"

"You're lying!"

Xia Yurou suddenly spoke, lifting her head, tears blurring her eyes.

"I clearly saw you standing beside the Old Master, a Dagger in your hand!"

She pointed at Zhou Fu, her voice trembling.

"You… you're spouting nonsense!"

Zhou Fu's complexion changed drastically, he flatly denied it.

"I didn't! How could I kill the Old Master? Stop slandering me!"

"I saw it with my own eyes, and you still dare to argue!"

Xia Yurou, agitated, struggled to rise.

Jiangnan held her down, signaling her to calm down.

"Zhou Fu, you'd better confess honestly."

Jiangnan said coldly, "Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."

"I truly didn't kill the Old Master!"

Zhou Fu kept arguing, but cold sweat already beaded on his forehead.

"Is that so?"

A cold smile curled at Jiangnan's mouth.

He suddenly struck, grabbing Zhou Fu's wrist.

A 'Snap!' rang out, and Zhou Fu's wrist was brutally broken.

"Ah!"

Zhou Fu let out a pig‑like scream, rolling on the ground in pain.

"Speak! Who ordered you to do this?"

Jiangnan thundered, his voice like a sudden thunderclap.

"I… I…"

Zhou Fu was too painful to speak, his eyes filled with terror.

"Refuse to speak? Then don't blame me."

A cold glint flashed in Jiangnan's eyes as he lifted his foot onto Zhou Fu's other wrist.

"Snap!"

Another crisp crack sounded, and Zhou Fu's other wrist was also snapped.

"Ah! I'll tell! I'll tell!"

Zhou Fu finally broke down, screaming for mercy.

"It… it was Second Master! It was Second Master who made me do it!"

He cried out, his voice hoarse.

"Second Master?"

Xia Yurou was startled, "Second Master of the Zhou Family, Zhou Hexuan?"

"It's him, it's him!"

Zhou Fu nodded repeatedly, "He… he has been coveting Old Master's estate, so… so that's why…"

"Where is Zhou Hexuan?"

Jiangnan cut Zhou Fu off and asked coldly.

"He… he's right in the mansion…"

Before Zhou Fu could finish speaking, a cold voice suddenly came from outside the crowd.

"Zhou Fu, you backstabbing scoundrel, how dare you frame me!"

The crowd split, and a middle‑aged man wearing a Brocade Robe walked in.

His face was grim and fierce, his eyes vicious; he was indeed Second Master of the Zhou Family, Zhou Hexuan.

"Second Master, I didn't frame you!"

Zhou Fu, seeing Zhou Hexuan, rushed toward him as if seeing a savior, rolling and crawling.

"It was really you who ordered me to do it! You can't burn the bridge after crossing the river!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Zhou Hexuan kicked Zhou Fu away with a foot, his angry eyes wide open.

"When did I ever order you to kill my elder brother? This is slander! It's a false accusation!"

"I didn't! Everything I said was the truth!"

Zhou Fu cried out, his voice mournful.