Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Chapter 267 Li Fu: "You want me to give you an explanation?" (4k2)

Xinghua shook her head blankly and said, "This servant does not know."

"Miss has never told me who she is wary of; she has only repeatedly said that she can no longer stay in the Tang family."

"I asked her once, and she just smiled sadly and said that the less you know, the safer you are."

"The servant dared not ask any further."

After a moment's thought, Li Fu changed the subject: "After I joined the Tang Clan, I noticed that the manor seemed to have lost many of its old servants, and instead had been replaced by some new servants who were still not very skilled."

"Where have all those old servants gone?"

Upon hearing this, Xinghua remained expressionless, but her body involuntarily trembled slightly.

"This servant...this servant does not know."

"The Tang family has strict rules. Servants are not allowed to discuss the affairs of their masters in private. Those who talk too much will be punished, and in serious cases, they will be beaten to death."

"We servants dare not ask, nor dare we inquire."

She swallowed hard, her Adam's apple bobbing, and continued, "But—but I only heard someone mention it once."

"Some say that the old servants were dismissed and sent home with money."

"But some people say—some people say it's them—they—"

As Xinghua spoke, a deep look of fear suddenly appeared on her face, and even her usually calm tone, which had been controlled by the Soul Transfer Technique, began to tremble.

Song Zhaoxue's heart tightened. She took half a step forward and asked, "What happened to them? Please explain."

Xinghua opened her mouth, about to speak.

Just then, a sharp hissing sound was heard, and a cold star came flying from the shadows outside the courtyard wall, as fast as a shooting star, heading straight for Xinghua's neck.

The speed and force of the attack were clearly intended to kill in one blow, leaving no room for retreat.

Did you want to kill him in front of him to silence him?

Li Fu was extremely perceptive; he noticed the hidden weapon the moment it was launched.

He snorted coldly, neither dodging nor avoiding, but simply raised his hand and waved it casually.

With a flick of his palm, Bai Hong sent the dark, poisoned dart flying through the air.

With a clang, it embedded itself deeply into the trunk of a distant osmanthus tree, its tail fin still humming and vibrating incessantly.

Li Fu didn't even glance at the iron dart; his gaze, sharp as lightning, shot directly towards the direction from which the hidden weapon had come.

"Who?"

A figure flashed on the courtyard wall, and then a person slowly walked out of the shadows.

The man stood with his hands behind his back, his face clearly discernible in the moonlight. He was none other than Tang Fengzhi, the eldest son of the Tang Clan, who had been so eager to guide them during the day.

Seven or eight people followed him in the shadows. They were all disciples of the Tang Clan on patrol, dressed in tight-fitting clothes, with hidden weapon pouches hanging from their waists. They each occupied a position, subtly surrounding the small courtyard.

Under the moonlight, their gazes were as cold as knives, all falling on Li Fu and Song Zhaoxue in the courtyard.

"Officer Li, you were loitering within the Tang family's premises late at night, and you used evil arts on our maids. What are you planning to do?"

Tang Fengzhi wore a smile, but there was only coldness in his smile.

He walked into the courtyard step by step.

The flowers and trees in the garden swayed gently in the night breeze, and the once tranquil and beautiful courtyard was now shrouded in a chilling murderous intent.

Xinghua stood there, tears still wet on her face, her expression blank and dazed, completely unaware of the dart that had nearly killed her.

Li Fu didn't answer his question, but coldly asked, "And you? What do you intend to do to your household's maids?"

Song Zhaoxue stared warily at Tang Fengzhi, her gaze unwavering.

Upon hearing this, Tang Fengzhi's smile did not diminish at all; on the contrary, it deepened even further.

He stood with his hands behind his back and said slowly, "Officer Li, you are mistaken."

"My Tang family has stood for a century, during which time we have kept countless secrets, including the formula for a deadly poison, the techniques for making hidden weapons, and the accounts of our businesses."

The intricate details of the relationships involved, every single one, are of paramount importance and cannot be leaked.

Tang Fengzhi paused, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes as he spoke.

"As a divine constable of the imperial court, Constable Li was to investigate the whereabouts of my Ninth Sister in no time. However, in the dead of night, he sneaked into the depths of my Tang Clan, subdued the maid, and used evil skills to force her to confess."

"Seeing this situation, we members of the Tang Clan can't help but think more deeply about it."

"Does Constable Li covet the secrets of the Tang family? Does he intend to use this maid to uncover the Tang family's unspeakable secrets?"

He shrugged, feigning helplessness, and laughed.

"If that's really the case, what's wrong with me killing a maid to prevent secrets from being leaked?"

"When comparing the life of a mere maid to the safety of the entire Tang Clan, Constable Li should be able to clearly distinguish which is more important."

His words were tactful yet malicious, portraying the deadly dart as a legitimate measure to prevent leaks, while accusing Li Fu of having ulterior motives and coveting Tang Clan secrets.

Li Fudao.

"What a fine young master of the Tang family! With such nonchalance, you have reduced a human life to nothing."

"Speaking of which, Officer Li knows what you've done. Didn't all of this start because of you?"

"The rules of the Tang Clan are as follows: breaking into the inner quarters late at night and using evil techniques to interrogate maids may involve the secrets of our Tang Clan."

"Although Officer Li is an official appointed by the imperial court and his martial arts skills are respected by everyone in the martial arts world, this place is ultimately the territory of my Tang family."

5"

"We urge Officer Li to give the Tang family an explanation, hand over this wretched woman, and allow us to investigate whether the Tang family's secrets have been leaked."

"Furthermore, I request that Officer Li and I go to see my father to make a decision. I hope Officer Li will not put me in a difficult position."

As Tang Fengzhi spoke, he turned slightly to the side and gestured for them to proceed.

His smile remained unchanged, but his gesture carried an air of undeniable authority.

As the night wind rose again, amidst the fragrance of flowers in the garden, a faint hint of murderous intent was revealed.

Song Zhaoxue felt a chill run down her spine, moved closer to Li Fu's shoulder, and lowered her voice.

"Be careful, the commotion here may have already alerted the experts within the Tang Clan. We must make a decision quickly."

"Let me give the Tang family an explanation?"

What if I don't hand over the people and don't go with you?

Li Fu stood still and said indifferently.

Tang Fengzhi paused, then warned, "Then don't blame the Tang Clan for showing no mercy."

The seven or eight black-clad disciples behind him had already dispersed, completely sealing off the courtyard walls.

His smile vanished, replaced by a cold and stern expression.

"No mercy? Haha—"

Li Fu seemed to ignore his warning, his expression calm and composed.

He no longer even glanced at Tang Fengzhi and his group, as if they were nothing more than roadside wooden stakes and stone pillars, not worth mentioning.

He turned his head slightly and said to Xinghua, who was still under the control of the Soul Transfer Technique, "I was interrupted halfway through what I was saying."

"It's alright, just finish what you were saying."

"Officer Li, it's not too late for you to stop now—"

Tang Fengzhi was furious when he saw that Li Fu not only did not stop, but continued to pry into the Tang family's secrets.

But it was too late.

Xinghua's eyes were vacant and her face was blank. Upon hearing this, she continued without hesitation the half-finished sentence that had been interrupted by the hidden weapon: "Some people say—some people say they—were taken away by the master—to be used to develop a kind of deadly poison."

"Using living people to develop highly toxic substances?"

Song Zhaoxue shuddered, feeling a chill run down her spine.

Testing medicine with poisons and using living people to test poisons—even for the Tang family's reputation, this is somewhat appalling and too heretical.

At this moment, Tang Fengzhi's expression had completely changed.

His eyes were fixed on Li Fu and the other two, his killing intent surging, like a wolf whose tail had been stepped on, his whole body exuding a fierce aura.

His jaw was clenched, and the veins on his forehead throbbed slightly, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry.

"How dare you!"

It's unclear whether it refers to the apricot blossom that revealed the secret or to Li Fu.

A deep chill flashed across Li Fu's dark eyes as he spoke softly.

"You used it to develop deadly poisons? So, the deadly poisons of your Tang Clan are all developed by taking living people and committing such inhumane acts?"

"How many lives are lost behind each type of deadly poison?"

"If I were to keep counting, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up with the numbers."

Tang Fengzhi suppressed his anger, sneered, and said, "Does Officer Li really believe the rumors and gossip circulating among these damned lowly maids, which are baseless and based on hearsay?"

"How could the century-old reputation of my Tang Clan be tarnished by the mere words of a lowly servant girl?"

"The Tang Clan's reputation?"

Li Fu sneered.

In truth, he knew that what he had just said was merely sarcasm, and there was probably another truth behind it.

If the Tang Clan truly had a generations-long tradition of testing poisons on people, and those missing old servants were indeed used to develop deadly poisons, then the Tang Clan should have a set of procedures passed down through generations.

Before the previous batch of servants has been exhausted, the next batch has already been recruited and trained. Only through such orderly replacement can we ensure that no trace is left and the household remains in chaos.

However, the Tang Clan is currently facing a shortage of qualified servants. With the old servants gone and the new servants not yet familiar with their roles, they are hastily recruiting people from all over the place, causing the once grand Tang Family Manor to lose face and dignity.

This is illogical.

Most of the missing servants are dead, but the cause of death is probably not as simple as "being used as a poison tester".

But no matter what, the fact that the Tang Clan has blood on their hands is undeniable.

Thinking of this, Li Fu waved his hand and lightly brushed it across his apricot-blossom-shaped brow behind him: "Wake up."

Xinghua's body trembled violently, and her empty eyes suddenly regained their luster.

She blinked, and the moonlight, flower shadows, and figures in the courtyard came into view one by one. Memories of the time she was under control flooded back into her mind like a tide.

I remembered every single word she said and every detail she revealed.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly, all color draining away.

She looked at Tang Fengzhi, then at the murderous black-clad disciples around her, her whole body trembling like a withered leaf in the wind, her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground.

Her voice was choked with sobs as she cried out intermittently, "Young Master—I didn't mean it—I didn't mean it—"

Tang Fengzhi's eyes were as venomous as a snake as he stared at Xinghua and said, "You lowly servant, how dare you call me 'young master'?"

"You ignorant and arrogant lowly servant girl, how dare you slander the reputation of my Tang family to outsiders? You're really tired of living."

"You clumsy and stupid servant girl, if it weren't for my ninth sister's sake, I would have executed you long ago."

O

"You dare to spout nonsense now? You deserve to die! I will make you wish you were dead, subject you to all the torment in the world, and then let you die slowly!"

"And you, Officer Li, have touched upon the reputation of my Tang family. I'm afraid this matter will not end well."

He suddenly waved his hand and shouted at the seven or eight black-clad disciples behind him, "What are you all standing there for? Attack!"

"Young Master, I—"

Upon hearing this, Xinghua froze, tears welling up in her eyes. She curled up into a ball, too exhausted to even run away.

Li Fu slightly turned his body to the side, blocking Xinghua's path.

"Don't worry. Since I asked, I will naturally ensure your safety."

"Don't be afraid, these people from the Tang Clan can't touch you."

As he spoke, he turned his head slightly and whispered to Song Zhaoxue behind him, "Protect this maid and step back. I'll handle these people."

Song Zhaoxue helped Xinghua up from the ground, her eyes alert, her inner strength already subtly filling her entire body.

She shielded the apricot blossoms behind her, retreating to the shade of the osmanthus tree, leaning against the trunk to ensure she was safe from both sides.

Li Fu then turned around, stood with his hands behind his back, facing Tang Fengzhi and the seven or eight black-clad disciples who were approaching step by step.

The moonlight shone on his profile, making his sharply defined features appear even more aloof.

He was completely unarmed, and without even striking a pose, he simply stood there casually, yet he possessed an air of profound composure and unwavering strength.

Seeing his arrogance, Tang Fengzhi's anger intensified. With a wave of his hand, he shouted sharply, "Kill!"

Before the words were even finished, the seven or eight disciples in black attacked simultaneously.

With a flick of their wrists, they unleashed a barrage of hidden weapons—poison needles, caltrops, darts, and plum blossom nails—a dazzling array that blanketed the area, weaving together a gleaming net that descended upon Li Fu.

At the same time, they kept moving forward, using the cover of hidden weapons to close the distance. Each of them now held a short blade coated with deadly poison, the blades gleaming with a faint blue light under the moonlight.

Li Fu remained expressionless, casually raising his right hand and waving it in the air in front of him.

In an instant, an invisible wall of energy appeared in front of him, three feet in diameter, as thick as a copper wall or iron wall.

The hidden weapons struck it, making a series of clanging sounds before bouncing to the ground, none of them managing to penetrate the air barrier even slightly.

"Get out of here."

Li Fu uttered two words lightly, then, as if swatting away mosquitoes, he swung out two palms.

The palm strike is executed with a light touch, yet its momentum is like a white rainbow piercing the sun, drawing an arc and striking both sides.

The White Rainbow Palm technique can be straight or curved, hard or soft, and can be used at will.

The seven or eight black-clad disciples had only rushed halfway when they felt an overwhelming force strike them. Before they could even think of resisting, they were sent flying like kites with broken strings.

With a series of thuds, they crashed into the courtyard wall, flower trellis, and stone steps, spitting out blood, dropping their weapons, and falling to the ground, unable to get up again.

These disciples, entrusted with the responsibility of night patrols, are among the best in the Tang Clan and would be considered masters even in the martial arts world.

But in front of Li Fu, he couldn't even last a single move.

Tang Fengzhi was furious and said, "Not only did Kai covet my Tang family's secrets, but he also injured people. Li Fu, do you really not intend to let my Tang Clan go?"

In my eyes!

Before he finished speaking, he had already raised both hands and unleashed one of the Tang Clan's secret weapon techniques, "Ten Thousand Trees Flying Flowers."

His fingers flew swiftly, flashes of silver light appearing between them, and dozens of willow-leaf throwing knives flew out of his hand, covering the sky and the earth, truly like ten thousand trees in bloom in spring, with flowers flying and dancing wildly in the air.

Each throwing knife was coated with a deadly poison that could kill instantly. The blades slicing through the air with a hissing sound, and they were everywhere, leaving no blind spots.

This unique skill is so powerful that even the most skilled martial artists of the time would have to be alert and dodge or block it.

Humans don't have three heads and six arms, and a slight mistake can cost them their lives.

Li Fu simply stood there with his hands behind his back, and the three-foot-high wall of air remained completely still.

The falling petals struck it as if hitting a copper wall or an iron barrier, clattering and tinkling as they fell to the ground.

He spoke calmly, his tone even, across the mess of hidden weapons scattered on the ground: "Don't bother showing off such trivial skills."