Long Liu was killed?
Ye Qiu’s face was full of shock.
He immediately dialed Diao Chan’s number.
“What, miss me already?” Diao Chan’s gentle voice came through, teasing playfully.
Ye Qiu wasn’t in the mood for jokes. “What happened? Who killed Long Liu?”
“No idea who did it,” Diao Chan said. “Long Liu died in the suburbs, ten kilometers outside the capital. Looks like it happened on his way to the airport.”
Ye Qiu found it hard to believe. “With the Underworld Palace’s intelligence network, you still don’t know who killed him?”
Diao Chan replied, “The War God has ordered an investigation, but so far, nothing’s turned up.”
“Since Long Qi and Long Ba rushed to the scene, our people couldn’t get close.”
“But one thing’s clear: whoever killed Long Liu is an absolute top-tier expert.”
Ye Qiu furrowed his brow.
Which top-tier expert could it be?
Why kill Long Liu?
Another enemy of the Forbidden City?
Diao Chan chuckled. “Either way, Long Liu’s death is good news for you. At least you’re safe for now.”
“True, but I still want to know who did it. Diao Chan, if you find anything, let me know right away.”
“Got it.”
He hung up.
Cao Yuan’s call came in next, also about Long Liu’s death.
“Ninth Lord, who do you think could’ve killed Long Liu?” Ye Qiu asked.
“No clue,” Cao Yuan said. “I’ve been wondering who’d have the skill. Honestly, I’m stumped.”
“The War God’s probably digging into it. I’ll keep an eye out and let you know if I hear anything.”
“Regardless, Long Liu’s gone. The Forbidden City’s lost a major player—that’s good for you.”
“Yeah.” Ye Qiu nodded and put away his phone.
He stood still.
“Who killed Long Liu?”
“Worldwide, the number of people capable of taking him down can be counted on one hand.”
“Master Kong Jian might have the strength, but he’s here in the tower, so it’s not him.”
“Xiao Jiu? Never heard of him having a grudge with the Forbidden City. He wouldn’t kill Long Liu.”
“Third Uncle?”
Ye Qiu shook his head. Ye Wudi was abroad, guarding the top leader. No time to return to the capital for a kill, and his skills likely weren’t enough.
So who was it?
Ye Qiu pondered for a while but came up empty. Giving up, he focused and looked at the wall.
The wall was etched with the manual for the second form of the Six Meridians Divine Sword.
After studying it, Ye Qiu began practicing according to the manual.
…
Meanwhile, in the capital.
The Forbidden City.
The meeting hall was heavy with tension.
A thick aura of killing intent filled the air.
In the center lay a corpse—an old man, perhaps ninety, eyes bulging, blood trickling from his mouth.
Long Qi and Long Ba sat in armchairs on either side, their faces burning with anger.
Bang!
Long Ba slammed his hand on the armrest, roaring, “Damn it!”
“Sixth Brother just came out of seclusion, didn’t even leave the capital, and got killed out of nowhere. It’s a disgrace!”
“Seventh Brother, who do you think did it?”
Long Qi’s face was grim. “Before Sixth Brother’s seclusion, his skills already surpassed ours. After years in retreat, he’d reached the peak of mastery. Globally, those who could kill him are few.”
“I checked around. The old monk at Tianlong Temple hasn’t left Dali, and Xiao Jiu’s in the northern border. That leaves three suspects.”
“First, Ye Wudi.”
“But I examined Sixth Brother’s wounds. He was killed by bare fists, and the fight was quick—three to five minutes at most.”
“I know Ye Wudi’s skills. He couldn’t kill Sixth Brother, let alone in three to five minutes. Plus, he’s abroad with the top leader.”
“The second is the bodyguard by Old Man Ye’s side—Shadow!”
“Shadow’s skills are above Ye Wudi’s. I called to check—Shadow’s with Old Man Ye at Beidaihe for recuperation. They’re both there now.”
“So, Shadow’s out.”
Long Ba asked, “Who’s the third suspect, Seventh Brother?”
Long Qi’s expression grew heavier. “The third is the one who turned the capital upside down twenty years ago.”
Long Ba’s heart skipped a beat. “Seventh Brother, you mean Ye Wushuang?”
Long Qi nodded slightly.
“No way!”
Long Ba said, “Ye Wushuang can’t still be alive. With his personality, he’d have come for revenge long ago.”
“And though we’ve been in seclusion, we’ve had eyes out there.”
“If Ye Wushuang were alive, we’d have caught some trace of him by now.”
Long Qi said, “Whoever acted must have a grudge with our Forbidden City.”
“Someone with a grudge who could kill Sixth Brother so fast—Ye Wushuang’s the prime suspect.”
“But you’re right. If he were alive, he couldn’t have stayed hidden for twenty years.”
“So who killed Sixth Brother?”
Long Qi frowned deeply, unsettled by the mysterious expert’s sudden strike.
Long Ba suppressed his rage and, after a pause, said, “Seventh Brother, I suspect this has to do with Ye Qiu.”
“Oh? Why’s that?” Long Qi asked.
Long Ba explained, “Sixth Brother left the capital to kill Ye Qiu but got taken out before he could.”
“It’s obvious—the killer struck to stop Sixth Brother from getting to Ye Qiu.”
“This has to be tied to Ye Qiu.”
“By the way, Seventh Brother, ever since we saw that kid Ye Qiu at the Bai family, I’ve thought he resembles someone.”
“Who?”
“Ye Wushuang!”
Long Qi sat up straight, closing his eyes to recall Ye Qiu’s face.
“Old Eight, now that you mention it, Ye Qiu does look a bit like Ye Wushuang. They share the same surname. Could Ye Qiu be… Ye Wushuang’s son?”
Long Qi’s own guess startled him.
“Twenty years ago, Ye Wushuang did have a son. It was because of that son we got our chance, using Iron-Mouth Zhuge Qing to brand the kid a cursed lone star, sparking that upheaval in the capital…”
Before Long Ba could finish, a powerful aura surged from outside, pressing down like a tidal wave.
His words caught in his throat. Face pale with dread, he stared at the door.
As if facing a mortal enemy!
