As Wang Sandong killed more and more people, each time he acquired new memories, the process became smoother and smoother compared to the initial agony.
The long, winding past within the river of time felt like a dream, both real and illusory.
From the arduous childhood study of the Liu family’s secret technique, the Willow Leaf Blade, to the first stirrings of love and mutual affection, then to the newlywed bliss and tasting the forbidden fruit for the first time…
Wang Sandong, with his eyes closed, frowned and gave an involuntary shake of his head, trying to cast aside those memories he didn’t want to recall.
Finally, when he was on the verge of collapse from physical and mental exhaustion, Wang Sandong finally noticed something abnormal.
Just as Seventh Miss Liu was leaving Madam Wang and preparing to depart from the Wang Family, she encountered a servant of the Wang Mansion—A-Gui, the new servant responsible for pruning the flowerbeds.
“Miss of the Liu Family, you dropped something,” A-Gui said, offering up a brocade handkerchief.
Seventh Miss Liu subconsciously took the handkerchief, glanced at it, then handed it back to A-Gui, saying, “It’s not mine.”
She then left.
After walking a few steps, she paused, suddenly deciding on the spot to go to Anzhi Courtyard to talk with Wang Sandong.
Wang Sandong opened his eyes, a frown of worry creasing his brow.
Could it be that this A-Gui was the Disciple of the Demon Emperor?
He wanted to recall Cui San’er’s memories again to see if there had been any contact with A-Gui.
Unfortunately, that day, Cui San’er’s mind had been entirely on the girls in the painted pleasure boat.
Details that Cui San’er hadn’t noticed wouldn’t become memories, so Wang Sandong naturally couldn’t possess them either.
Regardless, that A-Gui was very likely the Disciple of the Demon Emperor.
Should he take advantage of Yuan Di being here and let her and the Disciple of the Demon Emperor “fight like dogs”?
That seemed a bit tricky to pull off.
After thinking for a while, drowsiness set in.
His body was already weak, he was injured, and he had used “Soul Snatching,” which had taken a severe toll.
Wang Sandong simply couldn’t hold on any longer. He quickly used the “Corpse Driving” method to “send out” Seventh Miss Liu’s corpse, then lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
By the next day, nearing noon, Wang Sandong finally had his fill of sleep.
He stretched his arms and legs, then turned on his side, lifting an arm to hug the space beside him.
There was nothing to hug.
Wang Sandong’s brow furrowed slightly.
He opened his eyes, stared at the empty space beside him, paused for a moment, then closed his eyes again and let out a silent sigh.
I’m a good person.
I’m kind by nature.
I never wanted to hurt anyone.
I never intended to kill anyone either.
It’s a pity…
The tree may crave calm, but the wind will not cease.
After lying there a little longer, Wang Sandong got out of bed.
He sat dazedly on the edge of the bed for a moment, then his gaze fell on the nearby bucket filled with bloody water.
This…
His heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly searched for the sanitary belt he had washed last night.
He finally found it under the bed.
I wonder if Yuan Di noticed it?
If she did, did she become suspicious?
Wang Sandong felt agitated.
He raised a hand to pinch the corner of his eye, put away the sanitary belt in his hand, and then called for Wang Tong.
“Where’s Yuan Yuan? Is she still here?”
“Miss Yuan Yuan has returned to Fengyue Tower.”
“Did she say anything?”
“No, she didn’t.”
“Oh.”
Wang Sandong pondered: Did Yuan Di not notice the sanitary belt and the bloody water?
Or did she notice but not become suspicious?
Or perhaps Wang Tong didn’t notice anything amiss?
Glancing again at the bucket of bloody water, Wang Sandong instructed, “Pour that water out. Don’t let anyone see it.”
He then looked at the wall he had damaged and thought for a moment.
“As for this, just dig a hole right through it. Say that this young master felt stifled and wanted more light.”
Wang Tong was speechless.
He looked at the deformed wall, then at Wang Sandong, and said with difficulty, “Young Master, this… this explanation… isn’t it too… too strange?”
He wanted to say “absurd” but didn’t dare.
Wang Sandong rolled his eyes.
“This young master has been pampered since childhood, with a capricious temperament. Isn’t it normal to have some odd ideas?”
“Uh… well… alright.”
Wang Sandong just wanted to dig a hole in the wall, which wasn’t too outrageous.
Idle rich young masters, with too much free time on their hands, often came up with strange ideas on a whim and acted on them.
For example, that “missing” Third Young Master Cui once, on a sudden impulse, forced girls from a pleasure boat to “play” with him in the river in the dead of winter.
For example, there was a wastrel from the Liu family who threw bits of silver at beggars and laughed heartily as they fought and bled over it.
And then there was Wang Sandong’s third uncle, Wang Zhongxin, who suddenly developed a liking for Tianjue Flowers a couple of years ago and nearly lost his life because of it.
Growing Tianjue Flowers wasn’t easy.
In this world, there weren’t many skilled at cultivating Tianjue Flowers.
Chen Youde was one of them.
Watching Chen Youde directing the craftsmen, Wang Sandong was intensely curious.
Why would the renowned Ghost Axe be serving as a steward in the Wang Family?
It seems many people don’t know his identity as ‘Ghost Axe.’
When does the Ghost Axe, skilled in artifact forging, plan to make his move against me?
Chen Youde walked over with a smile, addressing Wang Sandong, who was lying on a soft couch sunbathing.
“Third Young Master, the craftsmen have finished the hole you wanted. There’s just a small detail to ask you about: should we leave a threshold at the bottom of the hole? Or should it be flush with the floor?”
Wang Sandong raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glaring light, peering at Chen Youde through his fingers.
“Hmm… forget it. Seal the hole back up.”
Chen Youde gave a dry laugh.
“Then… seal it up?”
“Seal it up.”
Having said that, Wang Sandong lowered his hand, closed his eyes, and yawned.
As the young master, even if he messed with the servants like this, he didn’t need to offer any explanation.
Chen Youde smiled and acknowledged, “Then we’ll seal it up.”
With that, he turned and left to instruct the craftsmen.
Wang Sandong cracked his eyes open a slit, watching Chen Youde’s retreating back, when a sudden malicious thought arose: If I used ‘Soul Snatching’ to kill Chen Youde, wouldn’t I directly become a master artifact forger?
At least a theoretical master.
Chen Youde came running back over.
“Third Young Master, the hole is sealed. What about the flowers and plants you wanted planted on either side of it? Should we keep them?”
“No.”
“Alrighty.”
Chen Youde left again, then shouted at the new servant, “Hey, you! A-Gui, right? Go, move those plants. Hurry up, stop dawdling!”
Wang Sandong watched as A-Gui, the suspected Disciple of the Demon Emperor, was being ordered around by Chen Youde because of his own whims, and felt inexplicably pleased.
An idea struck him, and he called out, “Uncle De, those plants are my beloved possessions. If they get damaged, break his dog legs.”
Even though he called out, his voice wasn’t loud due to his weak constitution.
However, Chen Youde heard it clearly.
He quickly turned and called back, “Rest assured, Third Young Master.”
Then, turning back, he gave A-Gui another round of scolding.
Wang Sandong couldn’t help but chuckle, imagining the scene of A-Gui’s dog legs being broken.
He crossed his legs and swung them a couple of times, noticing his toenails had grown long.
“Wang Tong, trim my toenails.”
Cui Jinnian arrived just in time to see Wang Tong holding Wang Sandong’s foot, clipping his toenails.
“Hey, Little Wang, you sure know how to live the good life,” Cui Jinnian said with a laugh, walking over and sitting down unceremoniously on the edge of the soft couch near Wang Sandong’s feet.
“Ah, I’m parched. Go, get me a cup of tea.”
Wang Tong looked at Wang Sandong.
Only after Wang Sandong waved his hand in assent did he get up to fetch water.
“What brings you here?”
Wang Sandong asked.
Cui Jinnian let out a breath, his smile fading.
“Your cousin is dead.”
Wang Sandong feigned surprise.
“Huh? Which cousin?”
“Liu Ruyan.”
Liu Ruyan was Seventh Miss Liu.
Wang Sandong widened his eyes, staring at Cui Jinnian.
“Are you kidding me?”
“Can I joke about something like this?”
Cui Jinnian said, then glanced at Wang Sandong’s foot, which was brushing against his clothes, and moved away with a look of distaste.
He continued, “This morning, someone found her body on the Junlin River.”
“This… this… ah!”
Wang Sandong expressed regret.
“Even though she always looked down on me, she was still my cousin after all. To think she died just like that, it’s really… Who did it? Any leads?”
Cui Jinnian shook his head, took the tea Wang Tong offered, and gulped it down in one go before speaking.
“Liu Ruyan had Fourth Grade cultivation. Her Willow Leaf Blade technique was personally taught by the Liu Family Head. She was quite capable. It’s said the corpse had no external or internal injuries. She was likely killed by a powerful spiritual force directly extinguishing her primordial spirit. There are no other leads.”
Wang Sandong felt slightly relieved inside and focused even more on his performance.
He wore a troubled frown, his face couldn’t hide his grief, and he sighed repeatedly.
Suddenly, he added, “Right, aren’t you close with my cousin’s husband? Did you ask him? Does he really not know who the killer is?”
“I asked. Your cousin’s husband suspects it was done by a Demonic Cultivator.”
Cui Jinnian’s brow furrowed tightly.
“My third brother might also have fallen victim to that Demonic Cultivator.”
He sighed and added, “Unfortunately, it’s right during the Celebration Grand Ceremony. There are too many people in the Old Capital; it’s hard to investigate. Even if some clues were left behind, they’re surely long gone by now.”
The Celebration Grand Ceremony would last for seven consecutive days.
Many people considered these days the most auspicious, so they also chose to hold weddings during this period.
—Even though, on these most auspicious days, the Zheng Clan had nearly been wiped out.
“Indeed,” Wang Sandong softly agreed, feeling even more relaxed inside.
“If it really was a Demonic Cultivator… what a bold and reckless beast.”
Cui Jinnian cursed angrily.
“The Human Sovereign just left, the Zither Emperor is still here, and yet they dared to kill.”
Wang Sandong looked at Cui Jinnian and cursed back in his heart: You’re the beast.
Out loud, he asked, “Will the Zither Emperor help investigate?”
“Definitely,” Cui Jinnian said.
“Killing right under the Zither Emperor’s nose shows no respect for her. Both emotionally and logically, she won’t just ignore it.”
“That’s wonderful,” Wang Sandong exclaimed with joy, even to the point of tears.
He sat up straight, his eyes moist.
“With the Zither Emperor here, my cousin’s vengeance will surely be achieved.”
“I hope so,” Cui Jinnian said with a sigh.
Wang Sandong inwardly groaned.
One of the Five Emperors, their power was no joke.
What if the Zither Emperor discovers a clue…
Wang Sandong urgently wanted to go to Fengyue Tower to talk to Yuan Di, to ask if she should take precautions early.
But judging by Cui Jinnian’s demeanor, he didn’t seem ready to leave immediately.
“You… came here just to tell me this, right?”
Wang Sandong prepared to usher him out so he could go find Yuan帝 immediately.
“No.”
Cui Jinnian had Wang Tong refill his tea, then looked at Wang Sandong, his gaze unexpectedly softening a great deal.
He let out a mysterious laugh before saying, “I’m getting married.”
Wang Sandong smiled.
“Is that so? Congratulations.”
Thinking of his own failed marriage arrangement, he sighed.
“I originally thought I’d get married before you.”
Cui Jinnian laughed again.
“After getting married, I’ll be going to the New Capital.”
Wang Sandong smiled.
“That’s great. The New Capital is much better than the Old Capital. My eldest brother is there too. For my sake, you two can look out for each other.”
Cui Jinnian teased, “What ‘sake’ do you have?”
“Tch, you think I can’t get my eldest brother to beat you up? Believe it or not?”
“I believe you, I believe you.”
Cui Jinnian laughed.
“Your eldest brother has always doted on you the most.”
He pursed his lips and asked, “Haven’t you always wanted to go see the New Capital?”
“Ah, we’ll see,” Wang Sandong said with a bitter smile.
“With this body of mine, a long journey would probably kill me halfway there.”
Cui Jinnian sighed.
“That’s true. Then stay put in the Old Capital. It’s fine. If you went to the New Capital, you’d probably stir up a lot of trouble. I hear male fashion is all the rage in the New Capital lately. With your pretty little face, you’d attract too much attention.”
“Go die,” Wang Sandong said, lifting his foot to kick.
“Haha.”
Cui Jinnian laughed, dodging nimbly, then stepped back a couple of paces, looking at Wang Sandong.
“The ninth day of the month. Remember to send me a wedding gift.”
Without waiting for Wang Sandong’s reply, he turned and left.
Watching Cui Jinnian’s retreating figure, Wang Sandong frowned.
He distinctly felt that Cui Jinnian was forcing his cheerfulness.
To be so troubled about getting married…
How much must he dislike his fiancée?
Ah, that’s just how marriages are for children of great families.
Whether you like it or not, you don’t have a choice.
Wang Sandong sighed inwardly again, then said to Wang Tong, “Prepare the carriage. Fengyue Tower.”
The journey was silent. Upon entering Fengyue Tower, Yueniang led Wang Sandong towards the rear courtyard.
Wang Sandong found it strange and asked, “Did Yuan Yuan move her residence?”
Yueniang gave Wang Sandong a sidelong glance.
“Thanks to Third Young Master’s ‘favor,’ she had to move to the rear courtyard.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Today, many people suddenly came specifically looking for Miss Yuan Yuan, saying that since she could attract the admiration of Third Young Master Wang, they must see her for themselves.”
Yueniang spoke with a sarcastic tone, swaying her hips as she led the way.
“However, Third Young Master, rest assured. Miss Yuan Yuan said she has already fallen for Third Young Master and finds it inconvenient to receive other guests now.”
Even though it was Yueniang relaying Yuan Yuan’s “devotion,” it still sent a chill down Wang Sandong’s spine.
He glanced sideways at Yueniang, feeling uneasy.
When they were alone, Wang Sandong asked in a low voice, “Is Yuan Yuan angry?”
Yueniang pursed her lips in a smile, not answering directly. Instead, she said, “This humble one thinks, the more beautiful a person is, the stranger their temperament tends to be. If you anger them, they’re definitely hard to appease. What does Third Young Master think?”
Wang Sandong gave a dry laugh and actually stopped walking.
He was thinking, maybe he should just go home.
His cousin just died; it really isn’t proper for him to be visiting a brothel for entertainment.
But…
If the Zither Emperor gets involved, wouldn’t that be troublesome?
Sigh!
He still had to grit his teeth and go in.
After all, if Yuan Yuan is furious and wants to make trouble for him, he couldn’t escape anyway.
Since he couldn’t escape, he might as well face it head-on.
—At least it would make him seem a bit more courageous.