Chapter 1695: Chapter 1688: Taking In Again
Based on the little girl’s description, roughly three or four years ago, a mysterious figure appeared in the city, specializing in killing those cultivators who committed heinous cris.
These killed cultivators t surprisingly consistent and morbid ends—they were all first shattered like stars, then murdered. So were hanged, others were decapitated, and so even had their hearts gouged out and stomachs eviscerated, dying in horrific ways.
The little girl had a deep impression of one particular cultivator’s death. He was a lustful man who had ruined many won in the West Market—not just commoners but even slaves. He could be described as a walking disaster.
When all the won were drowning in fear, one early morning, they discovered the cultivator’s body, dead in the most horrific way.
He was impaled on a flagpole, which entered through his rear and ca out through his mouth. Blood was pooled around the base of the pole, indicating that he was still alive when he was impaled and bled to death.
The girl’s vivid account painted an image in Tangmo’s mind—a cultivator with substantial skills, capable of star-shattering, and soone who adhered to the principle of using violence to counter violence.
After a mont of contemplation, Tangmo looked at her seriously and asked, “Then, has this person ever hard any innocent commoners or slaves here?”
“No,” the little girl shook her head and replied firmly.
But after blinking, she seed to recall sothing. She cautiously added, “Well, there were a few beggars who bullied other beggars—and they ended up dead, killed by him. I saw it myself.”
“You saw it?” Tangmo asked in delight.
“Yes,” the little girl nodded earnestly, “but I only saw his back. He was wearing black clothes and a mask, so I couldn’t see his face.”
“Are you certain all these acts were done by him alone, without any accomplices?” Tangmo pursued.
“No…” The little girl shook her head, tilted her head in thought, and then blinked, saying, “A lot of martial artists can shatter stars, but only he is that ruthless.”
“You think he’s ruthless?” Tangmo paused and asked.
“Yes!” The little girl nodded resolutely.
“I agree,” Tangmo nodded in affirmation.
Tangmo bowed his head for a mont in thought, then asked, “Do you know how tall he is?”
“Hmm…” The little girl bit her finger as she thought, then pointed to Cheng Ziang. “Shorter than him.”
“That’s still not short,” Cheng Ziang said, slightly surprised.
“I think I’ve grown fond of her,” Tangmo turned back and said to him.
“Don’t start acting like Luo’er—getting all spousal solidarity now?” Cheng Ziang said, looking a bit exasperated.
“Since Luo’er doesn’t want to have anything to do with , I might as well adopt a daughter to provoke him,” Tangmo said after a mont’s thought.
“You already have Yaning; don’t start stirring things up…” Cheng Ziang responded with a helpless expression.
Ignoring him, Tangmo turned to the little girl and asked, “Where are your parents?”
“I don’t have any!” the little girl shook her head.
“Do you have any family then?”
“Nope!”
“What’s your na?”
“I don’t have one!”
“Alright,” Tangmo nodded, sighed lightly, and continued to ask, “Then, would you like to co with us?”
“Co with you?” The little girl tilted her head, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
“Yes, we’ll take care of you!” Tangmo nodded and said.
“Can I get enough to eat?” The little girl asked the question that mattered most to her.
“No problem at all.” Tangmo nodded confidently and said.
“Then I’ll go!” The little girl threw caution to the wind and began jumping for joy.
“You two pretending married folk are just…” Cheng Ziang said helplessly, rubbing his forehead.
“But,” Tangmo continued, “I still have lots of questions to ask you—and those people. Could you help ?”
“Yes, yes, I can help!” The little girl hopped about excitedly.
“You just think she’s cute; that’s why you’re adopting her, isn’t it?” Cheng Ziang asked from behind.
“She’s lively, intelligent, and seems quite promising—don’t you agree? Or is it that you only notice her cuteness?” Tangmo turned back and teased.
“Uh, well, of course I see more than just that—but cuteness is the most direct impression…”
Embarrassed for once, Cheng Ziang fumbled for words. He was grateful for his mask, which concealed his reddening face.
Tangmo turned back to the little girl, smiled, and said, “She’s still young—a blank canvas. We need to instill the correct values in her and teach her to be righteous, letting her take on our colors.”
“Why does that sound so weird?” Cheng Ziang said, scratching his head.
“When the wise hear of the Way, they diligently pursue it. When the average hear of the Way, they might forget it. When the lecherous hear of the Way, they simply smirk.” Tangmo squinted, grinning slyly as he deliberately targeted Cheng Ziang with his teasing.
“I’m not lecherous—don’t compare to Old Hu!” Cheng Ziang protested righteously.
“Ah, what are you two talking about?” Hu Daoke overheard his na and quickly turned around to ask.
“We were saying how you’ve made progress lately—the wise hear the Way, diligently pursue it—that’s clearly about you.” Cheng Ziang shalessly praised him without skipping a beat.
“I’m not that good—haha…” Hearing Cheng Ziang’s complint, Hu Daoke scratched his head bashfully.
“Keep teasing him all you like; when he figures it out, you’ll get a beating. When it happens, don’t co crying to Luo’er.” Tangmo shook his head, scolding him lightly, while holding the little girl’s hand and standing up.
Then, Tangmo used the little girl’s connections with other beggars to investigate the victims’ details thoroughly. Her ticulous nature even led her to compile a list detailing the cris and causes of death for these victims, perfectly matching the officials’ recorded data.
However, there was a discrepancy—the beggars reported significantly more victims.
The governnt records listed thirty to forty deaths, Hun Jiansi’s intelligence indicated fifty to sixty, but according to the beggars, the number exceeded one hundred. All the beggars and commoners questioned firmly believed this figure.
Among these victims, a considerable portion weren’t cultivators but regular people. Even when common folk committed cris, they couldn’t escape punishnt. Their grueso deaths mirrored those of the cultivators, showing that this figure didn’t show any leniency simply because soone wasn’t a cultivator.
From this, it was evident that his target was criminal behavior, not cultivators themselves. As long as soone committed cris, whether or not they were a cultivator, this person would ruthlessly kill them.
With the crucial intelligence gathered, the three finished their last bit of food and led the little girl away from the West Market, headed towards the courier station.
On the way, the little girl seed exceptionally cheerful. Even while holding Tangmo’s hand, she couldn’t stop bouncing around. Her bare little feet slapped against the stone-paved road, producing a rhythmic noise that shook all three of them emotionally.
“Hmm, since you don’t have a na, from now on you’ll be called Tang Guo, nickna Sugar, alright?” Tangmo asked with anticipation.
“Yes!” The little girl agreed without hesitation.
“You’re unbelievable—if soone didn’t know better, they’d think you already have kids.” Cheng Ziang said sowhat helplessly.
“You like Luo’er so much—why not give her his surna?” Cheng Ziang asked.
“Only his own child can have his surna.” Tangmo closed her eyes and smiled.
“Why does that sound weird?” Cheng Ziang scratched his head.
“Uh, I feel the sa…” Hu Daoke also scratched his head.
“What’s weird about it?” Tangmo asked the two of them.
“Uh…” The two exchanged glances before Cheng Ziang spread his hands and said, “It’s like you’re saying you’ll have children with many people in the future, and only Luo’er’s kids can take his surna—but not anyone else’s.”
“That’s not what I ant!” Tangmo’s face instantly turned red, and she stamred in embarrassnt.
“I know that’s not what you ant,” Cheng Ziang replied awkwardly, scratching his head and exchanging another uneasy glance with Hu Daoke before laughing awkwardly. “A lecher hears the Way and spouts nonsense—Sister Moumou, don’t take us seriously.”
“You two!” Tangmo glared at them fiercely.
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