"Speaking of the chubby child, his original surna is Lei. His mother left ho and disappeared right after giving birth to him. His father was killed by a passing carriage on the road years ago, leaving him with no relatives other than a grandmother."
The man buying clothes sighed, "The two of them have been selling deep-fried cakes in the alley for two or three years now. Recently, I noticed that the old lady seed to be in poor health, getting thinner and thinner... I didn’t expect... Alas..."
"Uncle Wang..." The chubby child, being hugged by him, cried his eyes out.
Uncle Wang quickly bought a string of candy figurines from the side to give to him, but still couldn’t stop the child’s crying.
"Here’s a little token of sympathy, please take good care of him..." Lin Xin didn’t know what else to say, after a mont of silence, he just pulled out so silver fragnts, about ten or so taels, and forcibly stuffed them into his hand.
"It wouldn’t be right, it wouldn’t be right, if I took your money, what kind of person would I be!" Uncle Wang was very emotional, but he did not have the strength to resist Lin Xin, who stuffed the money into his hand.
"Leave it for the chubby child in the future. He will have many more expenses to co across. eting is destiny." Lin Xin strode away, not looking back.
Without any delay, he went directly to the headquarters of the Peacock Sect where Kong Yuhui was. He planned to ask carefully about the epidemic, what exactly those six-winged bees were.
*****************
Beside the six-layered pavilion with its yellow-tiled red bricks, was a vast expanse of dark green woods, from where bursts of shouts from martial arts practice could be heard.
On the fifth layer of the pavilion, the windows were open. Inside, there was a table set with drinks and food, three plates of appetizers, and a pot of wine.
Kong Yuhui and Lin Xin sat opposite each other, attended by two shy maids. A gentle breeze blew, carrying with it a hint of chill.
"Brother Lin, you have returned after a departure, looking quite burdened. I take it you have so matters to ask of ?" Kong Yuhui was always astute and naturally sensed that Lin Xin had co with an issue. In Peacock City, it wasn’t that he knew everything, but anything he wanted to know, there wouldn’t be anything he couldn’t find out.
Lin Xin picked up the chopsticks in front of him and took a slice of marinated rabbit at to his mouth.
"I have co to consult Brother Kong in detail: what exactly is this plague in the city?" He furrowed his brow and lowered his voice.
"Why the sudden interest in this matter? The epidemic is already being handled by the physicians at Shengji Hall; there won’t be any problems and it should be resolved soon," Kong Yuhui said nonchalantly, "to be honest, the outbreak happens every year around the end of autumn, it’s quite common in Peacock City."
"Today I personally witnessed soone dying in front of from this disease," Lin Xin said softly, turning to glance at the maids on either side of him.
Imdiately recognizing his cue, Kong Yuhui waved his hand.
"You may leave for now."
"Yes."
The two maids obediently retreated, closing the door behind them.
Lin Xin waited until the maids’ footsteps faded downstairs, paused for a mont, then turned his face to look at the bright autumn sun outside.
"Brother Kong, have you ever heard of a bee with six wings and only two legs?"
He set down his chopsticks, looking at Kong Yuhui across the table.
Kong Yuhui’s expression remained solemn, as if completely unruffled by Lin Xin’s question.
He picked up a cucumber salad with his chopsticks, chewed, and swallowed.
"Six-winged bees... Brother Lin, how could there possibly be such bizarre bees in this world? You must be joking."
"Joking is hardly the case." Lin Xin replied indifferently, "Today I saw a six-winged bee crawl out from an old man’s ear canal after he passed away. It even stared at before I sliced it in half with my sword."
Kong Yuhui’s expression did not change as if he hadn’t heard Lin Xin’s words at all.
The two fell silent and the atmosphere beca sowhat oppressive.
After a silence of about half a minute, Kong Yuhui put down his chopsticks.
"I advise you to not get involved in this matter, brother. It’s not sothing you or I can handle."
"What do you an?" Lin Xin’s brows furrowed slightly.
Kong Yuhui pondered for a mont.
"To tell you the truth, you could see the six-winged bee because of the Resentnt Talisman. Those without the talisman could never see such a thing. The presence of six-winged bees in Peacock City isn’t rare; in fact, many of the high-ranking nobles are aware of it. We’ve always maintained a policy of non-interference with each other."
"You an, soone is controlling these creatures?" Lin Xin heard the implication.
"At this point, it’s best for you, brother, to refrain from ddling further. Otherwise, neither you nor I would want to bear the consequences," Kong Yuhui said with a hint of significance.
Lin Xin fell silent, carefully mulling over his words.
"Let’s not talk about this anymore. Take my advice, don’t concern yourself with it. It will dissipate on its own soon enough," grinned Kong Yuhui, "I have so good news for you. I was planning to send soone specially to inform you, but it seems you’ve co on your own initiative."
"What good news?"
"The letter you entrusted to send has been delivered, and the person you wanted to find has been located. Would you like to go and see?" Kong Yuhui offered with a smile.
"Oh, that was fast?"
Lin Xin slightly raised his eyebrows upon hearing this. He no longer intended to delve into the matter of the Six-winged Bees, given that Kong Yuhui had put it in such a way, implying there were deep waters and behind-the-scenes machinations even he couldn’t afford to provoke. After all, he wasn’t so hot-blooded youth adhering to an absolute sense of justice. He would do what was within his capability, but he wouldn’t rigidly insist if his own interests were at stake.
"I have found the person already, just haven’t made contact in person. Let’s go together,"
Kong Yuhui invited.
Lin Xin temporarily set aside the matter of the pudgy child and gladly rose to his feet.
**********************
The place Lin Xin and Kong Yuhui arrived at was a garishly decorated drinking establishnt, bright with lanterns and bursting with song.
In front of the building, the hostesses were dressed in tantalizingly revealing clothes, continuously using their sweet, lodious voices to pull in guests. Luxuriously decorated carriages were parked on the open ground before the establishnt, watched over by dedicated servants.
The two didn’t alert anybody else but instead brought over a dozen Peacock Sect guards to secretly accompany them.
"The informant said it’s inside here," Kong Yuhui said with a smile.
"Let’s go in and take a look," Lin Xin nodded.
The two headed towards the building, one after another. Hanging above them was a large signboard: Erald Cloud Building.
"Are you gentlen looking to have so fun or just for a little drink and a listen to so music?" a heavily made-up woman ca up to them giggling.
"I wonder if you gentlen have any acquaintances here... Ah!"
Before she could finish speaking, she was suddenly pushed aside by one of Kong Yuhui’s followers.
Without so much as a glance at her, Kong Yuhui and Lin Xin walked straight in, with all those who stood in their way being rudely shoved aside by their subordinates. Instantly, exclamations and curses ca from all around them.
"Gentlen...!" A few madams quickly ca forward, apparently ready to speak so kind words, but when they saw that Kong Yuhui and his n didn’t go upstairs but went straight toward a private room corridor to the back on the first floor, their expressions instantly changed.
Before the two could speak, they saw two guards stationed at the corridor entrance confronting them with stern faces.
"This area is closed off by Deputy Commander Yu! Without a general’s order, nobody is allowed inside!" The doorkeepers turned out to be two fully armored soldiers.
"Closed off?" Kong Yuhui was stopped and let out a cold laugh, "There’s no place in Peacock City I want to go where anyone dares to tell it’s closed off!"
Without another word, Kong Yuhui’s two guards stepped forward and quickly subdued the two soldiers, twisting their arms behind their backs and tossing them aside like shrimps.
"Who are these people!" It was like kicking a hornet’s nest. Over a dozen soldiers clad in armor and brandishing scimitars burst out of the corridor, the sounds of drawn blades echoing endlessly.
Kong Yuhui didn’t even bother to look, marching straight into the corridor.
Lin Xin followed closely behind.
Their accompanying guards crowded forward, blocking the onslaught of swordsn. These dozen guards were formidable, each one had actually perfected their horizontal kung fu, and cuts from the scimitars barely made a dull thud on their bodies, as if striking wood, unable to inflict any wound.
The two entered the corridor, where only the penultimate room at the far end stood wide open.
"Who dares to lay a hand on my Yu household! Looking for death, are we!?" Suddenly, two people rushed out of the room. It was Yu Chang and Shu Luoyi.
Yu Chang was dressed in a yellow short garnt, with a blue longsword at his waist. Shu Luoyi had changed into a white dress, hemd at the knee. Seeing the commotion outside the corridor, both wore frosty expressions.
"This is the first ti in Peacock City that I’ve encountered soone who dares to speak to like that..." Kong Yuhui sneered. Since he had broken through to the Innate realm, he had beco a very influential figure in the Peacock Sect, commanding much greater power. It was a ti of high spirits for him, and he was even less willing to lose face in front of his good friend.
"Kong Yuhui...!" As soon as Yu Chang saw the first person to enter, his heart instantly felt cold. Apart from ordinary people, who in Peacock City did not recognize Kong Yuhui, the notorious Young Master Kong, who was ruthless to the bone. Now that he had returned even stronger, breaking through to the Innate level, he was hailed as the Junior Sect Master most likely to take over the Sect Leader position in Peacock Sect!
It wouldn’t matter if it was his father, Deputy Commander Yu, or even the City Lord of Peacock City, they would all have to respectfully accommodate him.
"So it’s Junior Sect Master Kong..." Thinking of Shu Luoyi standing beside him, Yu Chang felt a bit reassured, as Shu Luoyi ca from a family of real Qi Cultivators, soone who would not fear Kong Yuhui’s background. If he lost face in front of Shu Luoyi now, pursuing and maintaining a good relationship with her afterwards would be almost impossible.
Just as he steeled himself to stand firm, a familiar face suddenly appeared from behind Kong Yuhui.
"Brother Yu, Sister Shu, I didn’t expect to et again here just a few days after we parted," Lin Xin stepped forward with a smile spreading on his face.
"Brother Lin?"
Shu Luoyi, who was about to lash out, also paused, montarily dropping the idea of starting a fight.
"What? You know each other?" Kong Yuhui asked, surprised.
"Of course, we don’t just know each other, we are teammates on the sa mission," Lin Xin explained. "Are you here looking for the mission target as well?"
Yu Chang breathed a sigh of relief, grateful not to be caught between a rock and a hard place.
"That’s right, that’s right, it’s a small world. It turns out that Junior Sect Master Kong and Brother Lin are friends. Since we’re all friends, no need for hard feelings. Please, co in," Yu Chang hurriedly said, then, feeling he was a bit too eager, he quickly composed himself and changed the subject.
"We also just discovered the mission target, but... sothing isn’t right," he added.
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