OUTSIDE OF TIME

277 The Secret of Erniu

Xu Qing’s words were the best thing Xu Xiaohui had heard in the past few months. She wasn’t lying. Everything she said to Xu Qing was true.

What she didn’t mention was the heartache and pain she had suffered in the past few months to investigate. She now had no belonging to the Seven Blood Eyes.

However, she didn’t hate anyone. She just didn’t understand why such a good person like Senior Brother Zhou would suddenly die a tragic death. She just wanted to do her best to repay the other party’s kindness.

Occasionally, she would wonder if it was worth it for her to have done so much to investigate… However, Xu Xiaohui felt that if she gave up, then perhaps she would give up the last trace of warmth in her heart.

This warmth was her most precious thing since she came to the Seven Blood Eyes, so she didn’t want to give up.

Hence, even though Xu Qing spread out his strength to help her up, she still chose to kneel down after her strength dissipated. It was as though to fragile people, kneeling to others would help them have a peace of mind.

Xu Qing sighed inwardly.

He took out the voice transmission jade slip and contacted someone.

“Come and see me.”

Not long later, a small and skinny figure sped through the alley in the distance. He ran as fast as he could and headed straight for Xu Qing.

Xu Xiaohui sensed it and her eyes narrowed when she turned her head.

She saw a kid. He wore a gray Daoist robe and a dog skin coat, making him have a bulging appearance, but the coldness in his eyes and the murderous aura he emitted were enough to make the hearts of many people shake.

Xu Xiaohui took a deep breath. She had heard of this person who liked to wear a leather coat under his Daoist robe.

She knew that the other party was a mute. In the past half a year, he had gained a lot of reputation. He was someone who rose after Xu Qing in the Homicide Department and liked to kill messily.

Many wanted criminals had been killed by him. Moreover, this person looked to be only at the seventh level of Qi Condensation, but in reality, some ninth level Qi Condensation cultivators from small sects had also died tragically at his hands. This was because this mute was even more reckless than those desperadoes.

It was as though life was nothing to him. Once he confirmed that it was an enemy, it would be either he died or the enemy.

Hence, when she saw the mute arrive, Xu Xiaohui instinctively felt some fear.

The mute didn’t even glance at Xu Xiaohui and knelt down in front of Xu Qing. The fanaticism and joy on his face were very obvious.

“Go and investigate the cause of Zhou Qingpeng’s death. As for the details, you can ask her through the message transmission jade slip.” Xu Qing pointed at Xu Xiaohui.

The mute nodded vigorously and turned to leave. He didn’t ask Xu Xiaohui any questions at all.

It was as though in his opinion, if he settled this matter after asking others, it would show that he was useless.

Xu Qing glanced at the mute’s back and didn’t speak. He stood there and waited silently.

Dusk was passing. The sunset in the distant horizon was dyed pitch-black by the night and the moon rose.

Xu Qing had chosen a specific place for his ship’s berth. Regardless of whether it was day or night, it was very quiet and no one came to disturb him.

The mute didn’t make Xu Qing wait for long. The entire process only lasted for the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn. The mute returned and knelt before respectfully handing Xu Qing a jade slip.

Xu Xiaohui had paid a huge price to find the answer after months of investigation. To the mute, it only required two incense sticks of time. Of course, this was also related to the Homicide Department.

Amidst Xu Xiaohui’s excitement, Xu Qing took the jade slip and checked it.

The investigation into the cause and effect of Zhou Qingpeng’s death was extremely detailed. Xu Qing wasn’t interested in these. He only glanced at it and looked at the murderer’s information.

The murderer wasn’t a disciple of the Seventh Peak.

The person’s name was Li Zelin. He was a piedmont disciple of the First Peak. His cultivation level was at the ninth level of Qi Condensation. He had a gloomy temperament and was murderous.

The mute’s jade slip indicated that the deaths of at least 11 disciples from the other peaks were directly related to this person.

However, this person was cautious and killed in other areas. Moreover, the targets he chose were calculated, so he didn’t cause irresolvable trouble.

After all, such a thing often happened in the dark of the Seven Blood Eyes. As long as it wasn’t out of line and no experts pursued the matter, the various departments wouldn’t care.

For example, if Zhou Qingpeng didn’t owe Xu Qing that favor, his death would have gone unresolved.

The mute’s investigation was very detailed. Other than these, he even found Li Zelin’s current location and his recent connections.

“He was taken in as a follower by the First Peak’s Wu Jianwu. At this moment, Wu Jianwu is in Knowing Dreams Restaurant. I couldn’t find out who he arranged to meet but this Li Zelin is guarding outside the Knowing Dreams Restaurant.”

Xu Qing nodded and passed the jade slip to the very nervous Xu Xiaohui.

Xu Xiaohui took it and took a closer look. Her breathing was clearly hurried, and her face was pale by the time she finished reading the report. She looked at Xu Qing with a bitter and hesitant expression.

“Martial Uncle Xu, about this…”

The contents of the jade slip allowed her to know about the murderer. At the same time, she also knew that the murderer had a very powerful background. She wasn’t sure if Xu Qing would continue to help.

“Let’s go.” Xu Qing’s expression was as calm as ever. The mute led the way at the side. Xu Xiaohui was stunned. She looked at Xu Qing’s back view and took a deep breath as she followed behind while suppressing the excitement in her heart.

Knowing Dreams Restaurant was one of the most famous restaurants in the entire port area. It was very large and had a lot of customers. Compared to the restaurants of the Coast Guard Department, Knowing Dreams Restaurant was clearly of a higher level.

This was because they mainly served spirit food. If one ate it on a daily basis, not only would it strengthen their body, but it also had the effect of removing anomalous substances. Although the effect was very small, it could be consumed for a long time.

At that moment, on the second floor of the Knowing Dreams Restaurant, there were three people sitting in a luxurious private room.

If Xu Qing was here, he would know all three of them.

One was the First Peak’s Wu Jianwu. Sitting opposite him was the pale-faced captain. At that moment, the captain was no longer invisible, and looking at him, he had no body parts missing.

His injuries had also healed.

The last person was an old man. This old man was none other than the innkeeper of the Inn on the Panquan Road.

To be precise, there were not only three people here but also a snake.

That snake was very large. It coiled around the beam of the private room and hung down halfway. It swayed around on its own, as though it was playing with itself in boredom.

Occasionally, it would stick out its tongue at the captain or make gurgling sounds, seemingly asking something.

The captain smiled and looked up at the large snake.

“Ling’er, are you thinking of someone?”

“Gurgle, gurgle!”

“How about this? Give me ten bottles of the anomalous substances fog you collected last time. I’ll help you call that kid out and let him accompany you for a day. How about that? It’s fair and reasonable.”

The captain spoke with a harmless expression.

The large snake’s eyes instantly lit up. The old man from the inn hurriedly stopped it.

“Chen Erniu, you’re being too much. It’s fine if you lie to me, but why are you lying to a kid now!!”

Wu Jianwu, who was sitting at the side, coldly glanced at the captain. He picked up the alcohol flask and took a big gulp before calmly speaking.

“The human heart is greedy; one day, it will be cut down!”

The captain blinked and took out an apple from his pocket. He slowly took a bite and gave Wu Jianwu a spurious smile.

“Little Jianjian, although you just came out of seclusion today and don’t know what happened outside or how powerful I am now, I still have to tell you. If I were Uncle-Master, I would definitely beat you up until you speak human language.”

Wu Jianwu raised his sword-like brows.

“Making indescribable faces; be struck by lightning and split into two!”

“You don’t have to flatter me. I promised Uncle-Master not to beat up his disciples anymore. Don’t worry, I won’t beat you up,” the captain said with a smile.

When the old man from the inn heard this, he slapped his forehead and looked helplessly at the captain and Wu Jianwu.

“Alright, alright. I invited you guys here today for three reasons. I will leave after I’m done speaking, it’s annoying to deal with you guys…” The old man from the inn sighed.

“Firstly, Wu Jianwu, the time your master promised me is almost up. However, I have to leave the Seven Blood Eyes for some time, so I’ll reinforce the seal of the inn before I leave. Tell your master to quickly send someone to take over. Otherwise, if anything happens, it will have nothing to do with me.”

“Secondly, Chen Erniu, I can still reinforce your seal three times. After three times, I won’t be able to do it anymore. So, you have to think of other ways to suppress it as soon as possible. The stronger the divinity, the better. Otherwise… if it lives, you might not be you anymore.” The old man looked at the captain meaningfully.

The captain’s expression was as usual. He was still smiling as though he didn’t care at all.

However, if Xu Qing was here, with his familiarity with the captain, he would be able to tell that after the captain heard the old man’s words, he turned the apple in his hand but didn’t eat it.

“The third thing is about what I said earlier. I have to leave for a period of time. Ling’er is about to reach the Foundation Building realm. She’s a little special. I’m going to take her to the ancestral land. I’m afraid it will take a few years before we return.”

“Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!” The large snake stopped swaying and anxiously spoke to the old man.

The old man glared.

“You’re still thinking about that kid surnamed Xu. Aren’t you afraid that he’ll eat you up?”

“Gurgle!!” The large snake also glared and didn’t retreat at all.

Seeing the snake like this, the old man let out a long sigh. The wrinkles on his face seemed to have increased.

“I think that kid Xu Qing isn’t bad either. He’s a good match for Ling’er.” The captain coughed and showed encouragement to Ling’er.

Ling’er was instantly happy and quickly swayed back and forth. She even spat out a small bottle filled with anomalous substances and gave it to the captain.

The captain took it and kept it in his pocket. A smile bloomed on his face.

“They’re very compatible. Also, I think Xu Qing can completely be our Ling’er’s boy toy.”

“Gurgle?” Ling’er was curious, as though she was asking what a boy toy was.

The captain was about to explain when Wu Jianwu, who was at the side, heard them mention the name Xu Qing. His eyes straightened and his body, which had been lazily leaning against the wall earlier, instantly tensed up. Her expression also revealed a solemn expression.

“Who in the world has a true image; looking back, it is the same person?”

The captain and the old man looked at each other.

“I don’t understand.”

“I don’t know what you’re saying.”

Seeing this, Wu Jianwu became anxious. His breathing hastened and he gritted his teeth fiercely.

“Is the Xu Qing you’re talking about the Xu Qing from the Seventh Peak who just advanced to Foundation Building some time ago? The one who looks very demonic? Is he the same person?” Wu Jianwu quickly asked.

“That’s right. Xu Qing is my deputy director. Do you know him?” The captain once again gave a smile that was not a smile.

“Incognizant in countless years, heaven…” Wu Jianwu snorted and was about to speak when the captain said faintly.

“It’s fine if you don’t know him. He’s back too. I’ll call him over to meet you or I’ll bring you to meet him.”

Wu Jianwu’s eyes widened. He took a deep breath and stood up.

“How can I go with a great pill in home, we’ll meet again if fate allows it.”

With that, he turned to leave. However, the instant he turned around, an astonishing pressure suddenly erupted from the street outside the private room.

This sudden fluctuation caused Wu Jianwu’s expression to change. As for Ling’er, her eyes lit up. She pushed open the window and looked out.

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