Chapter 19

Chapter 19

After hearing what Li Qingying said, I decided it was best not to touch that cursed artifact for the time being.

There would be plenty of time for that later.

Following the events of that night, Li Qingying’s attitude toward me had noticeably improved, and we had grown much closer.

While we were eating breakfast, I took the opportunity to ask her, “Sister Qingying, Liu Junyan’s true form… it doesn’t seem to be a snake, does it?”

Liu Junyan’s White Tail was far too long and thick, and the scales on it were unlike anything a common python could possess.

Ever since I saw it that night, the question had been lingering in my mind.

Li Qingying’s chopsticks paused. “Who told you the Seventh Master’s true form was a snake?”

“Huh? It’s not?” I asked in surprise. “Everyone calls him Seventh Master, Seventh Master Liu.”

Li Qingying’s gaze became even stranger. “He isn’t Seventh Master Liu. He is Dragon Seventh Master.”

*Clack.*

This time, it was my chopsticks that hit the table in shock.

Li Qingying lowered her head and continued sipping her porridge, clearly not wanting to pursue the topic further.

But there was no way I was letting her off the hook. I pulled my stool closer to her and grabbed her arm, coaxing her. “Sister Qingying, tell me more about your Seventh Master. I know so little about him.”

Li Qingying thought for a moment and sighed. “Regarding the Seventh Master’s background, I shouldn’t be gossiping behind his back. But you’re different, Xiao Jiu. You’re the Seventh Master’s Person of the Chamber.”

Ugh. My face instantly flushed red all the way to my neck.

Li Qingying pointed toward the west. “The Zhu Pan River to the west of Wufu Town is a tributary of Linghai. Our Seventh Master is the only son of the Dragon King of Linghai’s younger sister. His biological father is unknown.”

I sat up straight, listening intently.

“The Dragon King of Linghai has two younger brothers and one younger sister. This sister was very pampered and possessed great talent for cultivation. However, she was seriously injured during a tribulation and vanished for ten years. When she returned a decade later, she brought the Seventh Master back with her.

‘Seven’ is his rank among the many descendants of the Linghai Dragon Clan, so he should rightfully be addressed as Dragon Seventh Master. But because his father is unknown, he has always been ostracized by the Linghai Dragon Clan, so…”

So, very few people knew he was Dragon Seventh Master. Because he went by the surname Liu, everyone called him Seventh Master Liu.

I quickly asked, “Then what is the surname of the Linghai Dragon Clan?”

Li Qingying replied, “Ao.”

“Then why is Liu Junyan’s surname Liu?”

Li Qingying shook her head. “I’m not sure about that either. Perhaps it’s his father’s surname. There are far too many people named Liu in this world.”

I pressed further, “Sister Qingying, do you know a Second Master Liu?”

Li Qingying shook her head. “Who is that?”

I watched her closely while she spoke. Judging by her micro-expressions, she truly didn’t know.

I had originally thought this Second Master Liu was Liu Junyan’s second brother or something similar, but it seemed I was mistaken.

Doubts swirled in my mind.

On the night of the First Day of the Eighth Month, five bridal sedans had come to collect me.

Aside from Liu Junyan, the other four sedans represented the Fox, Weasel, Hedgehog, and Rat-four of the animal immortals. Naturally, I had assumed Liu Junyan belonged to the Snake Immortal branch of the Five Immortals.

As things progressed, it became clear that Liu Junyan was different from those families. Then, when I heard about Second Master Liu from Dou Jinsuo, I naturally placed Second Master Liu in the position of the Snake Immortal among the Five Immortals.

Liu Junyan’s identity had become a mystery.

It wasn’t until today that I finally understood he came from the Linghai Dragon Clan.

Thinking of this, I continued, “Sister Qingying, then how did Liu Junyan come to Wufu Town, and how did he end up trapped in this Pawnshop?”

“He was framed,” Li Qingying said, gritting her teeth. “At the time, he was just about to enter his Dragon Ascension Period. His ascension was a certainty, yet just like his mother, he suddenly vanished. There were even rumors within the Linghai Dragon Clan that he had gone to find his father…”
I sighed inwardly. “Then someone might have framed him. Do you know who it could be?”

“For someone like Seventh Master, ascending through a tribulation is a monumental event. Many people knew about it, but the location and the exact time were secrets,” Li Qingying said. “As far as I know, Seventh Master only told one person that secret. Aside from him, I can’t think of anyone else who would have harmed Seventh Master.”

I immediately clenched my fists. “Who was it?”

Li Qingying grew emotional, her eyes rimmed with red. She said hatefully, “You know him, too.”

I knew him?

One person immediately came to mind. “The Fox Lord?”

Li Qingying didn’t speak, but her lack of denial confirmed it was indeed the Fox Lord.

No wonder Li Qingying held such deep hostility toward him.

But Liu Junyan had said that Li Qingying was mistaken about the Fox Lord.

What really happened back then?

Was Li Qingying truly misunderstanding the Fox Lord, or had the Fox Lord hidden his tracks so well that even Liu Junyan hadn’t discovered the truth yet?

I had hoped to get some useful information about Wufu Town from Li Qingying, but it seemed she didn’t know much more than I did.

Instead, her words only made my heart ache more for Liu Junyan.

“Xiao Jiu,” Li Qingying suddenly grabbed my hand, her expression solemn. “Seventh Master may seem like he’s in a position of glory, but he has suffered a great deal. He has always lost far more than he has gained. Do not betray him, or else… I will kill you with my own hands!”

Li Qingying stared at me intently, her gaze complex and sharp.

She wasn’t joking.

I nodded. “Sister Qingying, I won’t.”

No matter who I might betray, I could never betray Liu Junyan.

I was only alive today because I relied on him!

After breakfast, I sat at the entrance of the Pawnshop, staring at the Zhu Pan River to the west.

I was being too passive, too suppressed.

A person lives for their pride; there was no reason to keep taking hits without fighting back.

I went back into the Pawnshop to get a bag and stuffed the remains of the Broken Mailbox I had smashed into it. Leaving a note for Li Qingying, I headed straight for the Town Head’s Residence.

When I entered the courtyard, the Town Head was just about to leave. Seeing me, he paused and asked with a smile, “Xiao Jiu, do you need something?”

With a loud clatter, I dumped the contents of the bag onto the ground.

The wreckage of the Broken Mailbox piled up in the middle of the Town Head’s courtyard.

The Town Head’s expression changed instantly.

Hearing the noise, the Town Head’s Son ran out from the Main Hall. The Town Head gave him a look, and he retreated back inside.

I held up two fingers toward the Town Head. “Grandpa Town Head, I’m only here to ask two questions today. One: the story behind the Broken Mailbox. Two: those eight Red Coffins in the Zhu Pan River…”

Since Li Qingying wasn’t clear on the affairs of Wufu Town, I had to ask someone who was in the know.

However, prying anything out of their mouths would be difficult.

They were all in this together, and in their eyes, I should have died on the night of the First Day of the Eighth Month!

If I wanted to rip this situation open and let the truth slowly come to light, I had to be willing to risk everything.

The Town Head stared at me fixedly. After a long moment, he suddenly laughed. “Xiao Jiu, you’re too naive. I was going to wait a bit longer to let you go peacefully, but it seems I can’t wait anymore.”

As soon as he finished speaking, several men rushed in from outside the courtyard gate, surrounding me instantly.

The Town Head’s Son emerged from the house again. He stood at the threshold of the Main Hall, a hammer in one hand and… a long Coffin Nail in the other.