Stranger Danger

“I don’t need to impress you upon the value of the intel you received, so I’m just going to ask you this: why did you act on your own instead of reporting this to me or the chief at first notice, Ding Shengshui?”

At the Dragonmount Manor, Xin Meiqing was questioning Ding Shengshui with an icy look in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Vice Chief Xin. I can only beg for your forgiveness,” Ding Shengshui replied while cold sweat poured profusely down his forehead.

Xin Mieqing wasn’t yelling in anger, and her tone was remarkably steady considering the issue they were discussing. However, Ding Shengshui felt as cold as a prisoner with a guillotine hanging above his neck, afraid of drawing even a large breath.

Xin Mieqing might be a young woman, but she was the Dragonmount Duke’s chief disciple. Not only was she powerful beyond measure, she was as heartless and cruel as her name implied. She was the Dragonmount Duke’s right hand, and the things she did to expand her master’s influence and exterminate those who opposed them could only be described as tyrannical. There was nothing she wouldn’t do; no one she wouldn’t kill in order to achieve her goals. The number of people she had directly killed was countless, and the people she indirectly killed even more so. As a result, she wasn’t just feared by the enemies of the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance, she was feared by her own men as well, so much so that they called her the “Heartless One” behind her back.

Besides that, Xin Mieqing was the vice chief of the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance. He might be a Trueman and a Hallmaster, but Xin Meiqing, second only to the Dragonmount Duke himself in terms of authority, could snuff him out easier than an ant if she really wanted to.

“I did wonder if I should report this as soon as I received the intel, but I was worried that the killer would be gone if I did not mobilize immediately, and because… I was greedy. I understand that I had unwittingly allowed the killer to escape and even cause a mess in Dragonmount City, and I understand that my sins are grave. All I ask is that you give me another chance.”

“If you would allow me to redeem myself, I promise that I will do everything in my power to capture the true killer!”

“And how are you going to capture him, exactly?” Xin Mieqing asked.

“What?” Ding Shengshui did not ask why she was asking the obvious, but he answered, “I would mobilize the entire alliance to capture the Sword Ghoul and take revenge for the chief’s son, of course.”

“Foolish!” But Xin Mieqing shut down his idea ruthlessly. “You still don’t understand the severity of the situation, do you?”

Ding Shengshui asked carefully, “I don’t understand, Vice Chief Xin. Please enlighten me.”

“Do you think it’s just a matter of capturing the killer? Have you considered what would happen if you went after him with such fanfare?”

Xin Mieqing explained in an indifferent tone, “We can infer from the killer’s actions that he cares nothing for the chief’s or the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance’s dignity. He is a man who would not hesitate to drag our reputation through the mud if it serves his goal.:

“If you were able to capture him at first notice, then it would have been fine. His death would have served as a fine example for those who thinks they could outsmart us. The problem is, you failed. Not only that, you allowed him to escape from our central headquarters. If this matter is exposed, the Dragonmount Duke and the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance’s face would be dragged through the mud. We would become the laughingstock of the jianghu, and no one would ever look at us the same way again. That is the ludicrous situation your thoughtless action would have caused.”

Ding Shengshui gulped when he listened to the end. His entire back was drenched in cold sweat because of it.

“Unbelievable. You really haven’t thought this through at all.”

Xin Mieqing’s voice suddenly turned grave. “You had not considered the consequences of your actions for even a second, and you dared to go after the killer with the fanfare you did? Do you want the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance to lose face? Or do you think we need a trial by fire or two because things have been peaceful for too long?”

“Of course not! There is no way I would want such a thing!” Ding Shengshui hurriedly spoke up. “I apologize deeply for my thoughtlessness, Vice Chief Xin. I beg for your forgiveness.”

After waiting for a second and finding no anger in Xin Mieqing’s expression, Ding Shengshui asked carefully, “So, what should we do now?”

“Our first order of priority is to suppress the news and minimize the damage as much as possible. No one must learn of the truth or even the fact that the Sword Ghoul is involved,” Xin Mieqing declared.

“In that case… are we still going to capture Sword Ghoul?” Ding Shengshui asked.

“Of course. Not only are we going to capture him, we need to do it as quickly as possible.” Xin Mieqing said coldly, “The bastard dared to kill the chief’s son and tarnish our reputation. He must pay for what he’s done—but in secret. As I’ve said, no one must learn about this.”

“Understood.” Ding Shegshui hesitated for a moment before speaking up, “I have one more question to ask, Vice Chief Xin, if that is acceptable…”

“Ask away,” Xin Mieqing replied shortly.

“Vice Chief Xin, I suspect that the one who informed me of Sword Ghoul’s whereabouts is Joyless Ye,” Ding Shengshui said carefully.

“Remove the word ‘suspect’ from your mind. It can only be him,” Xin Mieqing declared with absolute certainty. Literally no one else would do such a thing except him.

“In that case… What should we do with Joyless Ye?” Ding Shengshui asked.

“What else?” Xin Mieqing’s brow furrowed into something dark and dangerous. “He must die, of course. Not only that, we must do everything in our power to snuff out his life at first notice.”

“He knows everything. What will happen if he spreads the truth regarding Sword Ghoul?” Ding Shengshui asked worriedly.

“That is exactly why we must act first. We must kill him before he spreads the truth,” Xin Mieqing answered. “That is not something you need to worry about though. I will deal with him myself.”

“In that case, the matter is as good as settled,” Ding Shengshui paid her a compliment.

“Master!”

Suddenly, someone barged into the inner hall. He was a handsome young man in his twenties with an evil air about him. He was Xin Mieqing’s chief disciple, Miao Ai.

“What is it?” Xin Mieqing turned to look at him.

“Master, I just heard that the one who killed senior uncle Xiang was someone named Sword Ghoul, and that he even dared to use us to take revenge against his wrongdoer. Is that true?” Miao Ai reported.

“Where did you hear this?” Xin Mieqing’s eyes darkened.

It looks like it’s the truth, Miao Ai thought as soon as he saw his master’s reaction. He answered, “Everywhere! It’s the talk of the city right now!”

“T-The talk of the city?”

Ding Shengshui collapsed on his knees when he heard this. He could practically see his future dimming by the second.

“Speak clearly! Is it only inside the city, or has it spread to other places?” Xin Mieqing demanded. Although she hadn’t lost her cool like Ding Shengshui had, her urgent tone betrayed her true feelings.

“It’s not just in Dragonmount City. It’s spread to Black Desert City and Red Cloud City as well. In fact, I heard that the rumors had originated from Black Desert City!”

Miao Ai shot Xin Mieqing a careful look before continuing, “That’s not all. According to the rumors, the Sword Ghoul didn’t just play us like a fiddle, he even wreaked havoc on our Dragonmount City and escaped afterward…”

“Vice Chief Xin, I’ll mobilize the men and suppress the news this instant!” Ding Shengshui spoke up. He had to do something, or today would be his last day as the Hallmaster of Myriad Horse Hall. Hell, it might even be the last day of his life.

“It’s too late,” Xin Mieqing replied with her eyes closed. “By the time you got to Black Desert and Red Cloud, the entire jianghu would have heard about this.”

“What… What should we do then?” Ding Shengshui asked.

“Since the truth has leaked, and the damage has already been done, there is no other option. We must capture Sword Ghoul as quickly as possible and publicly execute him. Only then can we rescue our reputation somewhat.”

Xin Mieqing said calmly, “Send word to the entire alliance. They are to drop everything and capture Sword Ghoul as quickly as possible, no matter the cost.”

“What… What about Joyless Ye?” Ding Shengshui uttered through gritted teeth, “He has to be the one who leaked the news. He cannot be allowed to get away scot free!”

“What is your plan?” Xin Mieqing asked.

Ding Shengshui answered, “The news originated from Black Desert City, so he must still be there. I shall mobilize the men and—”

“Foolish!” Xin Mieqing cut him off before he could finish. “If you were him, would you linger in Black Desert City after leaking the news?”

Ding Shengshui opened his mouth but could not formulate a response.

“Now that the news is leaked, Joyless Ye is no longer a concern—at least not now.” Xin Mieqing said coldly, “As I already told you, our foremost priority right now is to capture Sword Ghoul, no matter the cost. Not only that, anyone who dares to assist him or stop us from capturing our quarry must be executed without question.”

“The world must know that the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance’s honor cannot be sullied, much less the Dragonmount Duke’s!”

“As you command!” Ding Shengshui replied affirmatively before leaving together with Miao Ai to carry out his orders.

“Joyless Ye… Do you really think you can escape judgment?”

Xin Mieqing looked up at the sky. It was currently evening, so the sky was as red as blood. “Anyone who dares to offend master must die!”

“They all must die!”