Chapter 28: Then There Was Nothing Left
Old Huang and several soldiers, including the monk, silently followed behind Childe Guo as they walked forward.
Since Childe Guo opened his mouth, naturally they dared not refuse.
However, their hearts gradually sank and they remained silent.
These soldiers had gathered enough compensation money and passed through the barrier in their hearts before daring to come and inform Qiao Mu's family of his death.
Though a person may be dead, at least there would be compensation money, providing some comfort.
But now, they had arrived too late and unfortunately encountered the City Lord's son, who had a dispute with Qiao Mu.
Old Huang and his friends already know what will happen next.
But even the few soldiers they have are powerless.
Very soon.
They have reached the end of this narrow alley.
A servant approached and knocked on the door. Soon, the door opened, revealing a blind woman that Old Huang and his friends had met before.
"Who are you?" Qiao Canxue asked, a bit wary.
Although she couldn't see, she could hear the sound of many footsteps in the alley, clearly indicating a large group of people.
Normally, there aren't so many people in the deep alleys of the outer city. This is obviously unusual.
When she appeared, the servants and attendants outside the door were immediately impressed, but their gaze fell on Qiao Canxue's tightly closed eyes and they felt a sense of regret.
Childe Guo pointed at his chin and carefully looked at Qiao Canxue, then shook his head, "This blind person looks so beautiful, but unfortunately she is a girl."
The servant who was knocking on the door in front of him was about to speak, but Childe Guo pushed him aside with one hand and made a quiet gesture with his index finger at his mouth.
"Really can't see..." Childe Guo murmured softly, then said with a heavy tone:
"Is this Yan City Army centurion Qiao Mu's home?"
"I am one of Qiao Mu's companions... Actually, I have something important to tell about Qiao Mu."
"Are all of you Qiao Mu's companions? So many people came together?" Qiao Canxue's expression changed slightly as she realized something.
Childe Guo looked behind him, scanning past Old Huang and others.
"Yes."
"We sure are."
"A few days ago, I had a drink with the boss." Old Huang and the others could only say it reluctantly.
Qiao Canxue's expression relaxed slightly.
"Come in and talk then."
Those days, Old Huang and the others spent time with Qiao Mu, teaching him a special skill called Iron Crotch Skill. Qiao Canxue had some understanding of this matter.
She fully opened the door and let Childe Guo and the others come in.
Childe Guo gestured to his servants behind him, instructing them to bring in the coffin containing the body.
Qiao Canxue, who was walking into the house, turned back, confusedly asking:
"What... are you carrying?"
"Since we're visiting, we can't come empty-handed. It's just a small gift," Childe Guo laughed and evaded.
These few servants who carried the coffin were basically martial artists in the early stages of training. They had strength of several hundred pounds, so the coffin wasn't too heavy for them. Their footsteps were not heavy, so even though Qiao Canxue had sharp hearing, she didn't notice that they were carrying a heavy object like a coffin.
"Since you've come, there's no need for any gifts." Qiao Canxue politely said, shaking her walking stick and returning to the house to prepare tea.
Qiao Canxue's house was originally a normal empty house in a deep alley of the outer city.
Because of the previous famine, the slightly valuable furniture in this empty house had long been gone. Only some worthless items, like the stone table in the courtyard used as a tea table, remained.
There wasn't much furniture in this house, so it was not an exaggeration to say that it was empty. This scene made Old Huang and the others sigh.
Old Huang looked at Qiao Canxue's back, his Adam's apple rolling up and down. In the end, he didn't say anything and remained silent.
The people in the yard stood quietly like this, not making a sound. There was a coffin lying next to them, making the scene slightly eerie.
Childe Guo watched Qiao Canxue busily moving up and down, boiling water and making tea, with great interest.
"I want to ask, what happened to Qiao Mu? Why isn't he here?" Qiao Canxue finished brewing the tea and invited Childe Guo and the others to sit on the stone bench.
"Oh, you're asking about that. Yesterday, the Yan City Army went out of the city to fight the bandits. Qiao Mu, he bravely charged into the midst of the bandits..." Childe Guo spoke calmly and took a sip of the clear tea on the table, causing his eyebrows to furrow deeply.
The City Lord's son, who is accustomed to luxury, naturally couldn't stomach this kind of rough tea.
However, in order to act, he suppressed his impatience.
Qiao Canxue, seeing that Childe Guo only told half of the story and there was no continuation for a while, had to inquire:
"He charged into the midst of the bandits, and then what happened?"
"And then he broke through during the battle and developed internal strength." Childe Guo rested his chin on his hand and unabashedly scrutinized Qiao Canxue's expression, relieved to see her visibly relax.
This City Lord's son... Old Huang and the others stood at the back of the crowd, with their eyes twitching.
Old Huang knew Childe Guo's character very well, as shown in the incident where he openly robbed and humiliated a 9th rank swordsman and his wife in the street. Childe Guo repeatedly used his words to taunt them, causing them to lose their composure and focus.
It was obvious that this visit was intended to bother the blind girl.
"Unfortunately, there were too many bandits..." Childe Guo sighed.
"There were easily over a thousand people! Such a large number, even a highly skilled martial artist would have no chance of winning, certain death!"
Qiao Canxue didn't say anything, sitting on the stone stool, her body slightly leaning forward, showing a listening posture.
Childe Guo continued, "Then suddenly, Qiao Mu's internal strength skyrocketed. It is said that he used some kind of secret technique and easily maneuvered through the bandits, shocking them into retreat. He gained valuable time to catch his breath..."
He exaggeratedly described Qiao Mu's bravery, adding more and more exaggeration.
"Did he use the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method...?" Qiao Canxue silently nodded, relieved.
Before Qiao Mu went to the lord's mansion, she specifically taught him this explosive secret technique so that he could unleash his potential and survive in crucial moments.
The so-called Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method is a secret technique that sacrifices one's life for survival. Once used, even if not dead, the body's meridians suffer great damage and energy and blood plummet.
Once the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method is used, it basically means giving up one's future.
Qiao Canxue and Qiao Mu had a simple trade relationship. She taught him martial arts, and Qiao Mu was responsible for avenging him.
So, teaching this secret technique didn't actually match the goal of revenge – even if Qiao Mu survived, he would be too weak to take revenge after using the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method.
It's just that at the time, Qiao Canxue thought that human life was more important than revenge, so she taught him this secret technique.
Now it seems that she had foresight, and this Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method really came in handy.
Thinking of this, she felt a little relieved in her heart, knowing that her preparation would at least be effective.
"And then? What happens after using the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method?" Qiao Canxue asked again.
Childe Guo didn't immediately answer; instead, he picked up his teacup, took his time drinking, and then looked at Qiao Canxue.
"And then?"
"And then, nothing." Childe Guo shrugged and a smile gradually appeared on his face. "He died."
He stopped acting and revealed himself.
Translator: Volume 4 has been translated and published on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3OZfrI0).
