Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 237 Who is the Island Owner?
Seeing that Zhou Zhao's expression was somewhat unpleasant, Su Changying sheathed her longsword.

"Zhaozhao, I'm sorry. I..."

Zhou Zhao looked at Su Changying with surprise, interrupting him before he could finish speaking.

You don't need to apologize.

Chen Jiyuan tried to kill me twice, and he never intended to answer any of my questions.

I stood here too, but I still couldn't stop him from taking his own life.

Zhou Zhao suddenly chuckled as he spoke.

"Does General Su think I'm some kind of good person?"

I have no bad habit of showing mercy to those who kill me; I will only kill ruthlessly to take back my life.

So when Chen Jiyuan swung his knife at her, she didn't hesitate to shoot out three coffin nails that aimed straight for vital points.

“He is a candidate,” Zhou Zhao said earnestly, meeting Su Changying’s eyes.

She knew that the "he" in Chen Jiyuan's last sentence, "Don't trust him," referred to Su Changying.

Her "godfather's" desire to kill her was now plain to see.

If she were to become this "godfather," she would definitely give both Su Changying and Chen Jiyuan the task of killing her.

Firstly, it was to test Su Changying's loyalty. If Su Changying killed her, even if she regained her memories and learned her true identity later, there would be no turning back.

Secondly, he arranged for Chen Jiyuan to seize the opportunity to kill her directly in the Lost City, so that she could never return to the Court of Justice.

Chen Jiyuan chose to kill her, but Su Changying would never kill her.

As Zhou Zhao was thinking, he suddenly walked up to Su Changying and gently hugged him. Su Changying was startled and immediately hugged him back tightly.

He reached out and touched Zhou Zhao's hair. "Don't worry, I can handle it."

Zhou Zhao gave a soft "hmm".

She did not die in the Lost City.

So many people saw it. Not only did Su Changying save her, but he also went up against Chen Jiyuan. His mission failed, and he'll probably have a hard time explaining it to his "godfather".

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he gently pushed Su Changying away, "Let's go, let's leave this place and go back to the Lost City."

When Zhou Zhao and Su Changying returned to their original spot, Han Ze was busy directing everyone with his hands on his hips.

"Brothers, tie them up tight! If the boat can't fit them all, let's stack them up! Stack them high! These are all people who were rewarded with copper coins by my Sister Zhao! They definitely won't wake up anytime soon!"

Su Changying coughed softly upon hearing this.

Han Ze turned around abruptly, and rushed over, bowing and scraping, "Brother Changying, Sister Zhao! Something terrible has happened!"

He lowered his voice as he spoke, "I saw quite a few familiar faces, including the Duchess of Chen! She's a widow who has never married and despises philanderers. Which纨绔 (playboy/spoiled brat) in Chang'an hasn't been scolded by her!"

So this is where they came to find male prostitutes! Really, what kind of flaw is being lustful?

It's just keeping male concubines; which noblewoman doesn't have a few lovers? Like Sister Zhao..."

As Han Ze spoke, his body trembled, and he covered his mouth, "There aren't many people as pure and gentle as Sister Zhao anymore."

Zhou Zhao suddenly thought of the noblewoman she had seen in the room earlier, the one Su Changying had knocked unconscious. Her lips twitched. No matter what she said, it always sounded a bit cheeky coming from Han Ze's mouth. Han Ze realized he had said the wrong thing and gave Su Changying a fawning smile.

"Brother Changying, there are so many beauties on this island, each one is truly stunning..."

Han Ze felt Su Changying's increasingly cold gaze, shrank back, and wished he could slap himself!
What a foul mouth! What is he even saying?!

"What I mean is, many of the people on the island are familiar faces from the imperial court. Our Northern Army has done a great service this time!"

As he spoke, he took off running, no longer shaking his leg with his hands on his hips, and helped a group of Northern Army soldiers escort the people on the island ashore.

Zhou Zhao glanced at Han Ze speechlessly, then walked over to Sun Zhi, who was kneeling to the side.

When Sun Zhi saw someone approaching, he immediately looked up. His mouth was swollen from being hit, making him look somewhat comical. Upon seeing Zhou Zhao, he immediately became excited, "Young Master Zhou! That Chen Jiyuan is actually a bad guy! Not long after you left, he kicked me down from the tree!"
Before I could even draw my sword, I was dragged back to the dungeon! And I was slapped across the face with the sole of a shoe!

Sun Zhi spoke with righteous indignation.

Zhou Zhao glanced at him. "Aren't you skilled in sword dancing?"

Zhou Zhao guessed that he was all show and no substance, but he didn't expect him to be so good at it.

Sun Zhi cleared her throat. "That was dance, it was dance..."

Zhou Zhao stopped joking around with him and walked up to the eunuch Gongsun Yi. "Did you kill Li Youzhi?"

Gongsun Yi snorted coldly and glanced at Zhou Zhao. "Li Youzhi? You mean that minor official from the Court of Justice? I killed him. No customers paid him, he worked for nothing, what bad luck. He blocked people's path to wealth, he deserved to die."

As he spoke, he glanced around at the chaotic scene.

"Let me give you two a piece of advice. Although it is said that a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger, you two should consider whether you have the ability to arrest so many guests. You two come from the capital and know better than I do who they are."

"It's just seeking pleasure with prostitutes, what's wrong with that?"

As he was speaking, he suddenly heard Zhou Zhao chuckle.

"I think you're the one who should be reflecting on yourself. You're missing two ounces of flesh, not two ounces of brains. Did you make a mistake during castration?"

It's not that I, Zhou Zhao, look down on you, but you simply can't handle this island.

Gongsun Yi's mind went blank. He struggled to charge at Zhou Zhao, but was kicked to the ground by Su Changying.

Zhou Zhao looked at Gongsun Yi and said, "You think that if you protect these noble people, they will definitely protect you, because they all have the Gu worms you planted on them. They dare not gamble. If the mother worm on your body dies, they are worried that the person who planted the offspring Gu will not have a good life either."

Gongsun Yi's hand, which was holding the dust, froze. He looked at Zhou Zhao in disbelief. He had originally wanted to throw the dust into Zhou Zhao's eyes to vent his anger.

How can someone in this world insult someone more painful than being stabbed in the back?
"I do not know what you're talking about."

How did Zhou Zhao find out about the Gu worms?
Zhou Zhao looked at Gongsun Yi and said, "You yourself said they are all important people. You know best what they did by using the Gu worms. Can you bear the responsibility for that?"
Actually, you don't need to worry at all, because they were involved in kidnapping. This isn't like casual sex; every single one of them is involved, and none of them can escape.

"Do you think that when they're at their wits' end, someone can cure them of the poison, they'll rush to name the island's master..."

Gongsun Yi suddenly remembered the powder that the guy in the straw hat had sprinkled, and he was speechless.

That strange man might actually be able to cure his poison.

Zhou Zhao looked quietly at Gongsun Yi.

Gongsun Yi, a eunuch who plays with Gu worms, is considered a semi-martial arts figure. Why would he create such an island and control those people?
He had no reason to do this; he was just a puppet.

"Who is the island lord? Who is the one who can protect you and keep you safe in the Lost City?"