Heaven's Silence

Chapter 65 – Seven Kill Hall

Chun Qiong glanced at Lu Chuan, wanting to take the letter, but Lu Chuan pulled it back.

"Ah, I can't let you see this."

"...Anyway, I meant well. I originally wanted to help you erase this stain last night, but it turns out this guy knows a particularly powerful woman. I don't know if it's the one we were looking for outside the county, but in the end, it didn't work out."

"I hope you act quickly, to avoid any long nights filled with dreams."

Lu Chuan deliberately elongated his tone when saying the last six words, not realizing that they struck a chord with Chun Qiong.

Words Wen Chaoshen had said not long ago echoed in his ears once more:

...

"If I were that official... I'd silence you immediately."

...

A flash of memory passed, and Chun Qiong calmly put down the small knife in his hand.

"I understand."

"Is there anything else? If not, please give me some space. I still need to examine the body. Tomorrow, Guanghan City will come for the person, and Liu Jinshi's case should be closed."

"Lu Chuan, you wouldn't want anything left behind in Liu Jinshi's case that shouldn't be, right?"

Lu Chuan met his gaze, then smiled and said softly, "Then, Lord Chun, you must examine it carefully."

Chun Qiong replied, "I wouldn't gamble with my life."

Lu Chuan was very satisfied with this answer and soon left with Qian Lv. After they left, Chun Qiong stood in front of Liu Jinshi's corpse, staring at the yellowed face due to the embalming herbs, lost in thought...

...

The next morning, Wen Chaoshen had chopped half the firewood. Seeing it was about time, he went out to buy buns and soy milk. After eating with A Shui, he said to her:

"Later, we'll go find Seventh Master. I'll go in and talk to him. You'd better hide first. You've met Seventh Master before, and he's bound to have people from Wangchuan looking for him. Although Wangchuan wouldn't dare cause trouble in the county city during the day, we're in enough trouble as it is. Better safe than sorry."

A Shui, chewing on a bun and sipping soy milk, mumbled to Wen Chaoshen, "Where did you buy the buns and soy milk?"

Wen Chaoshen was a bit taken aback by her sudden off-topic question.

"Uh... across the gallery bridge, walk a mile, there's a 'Ren Family Bun Shop.' Why, are you still hungry?"

A Shui replied, "Their tofu buns are decent. I just wanted to know, so if Seventh Master kills you, I can go buy them myself."

Wen Chaoshen couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Can't you wish me well?"

A Shui finished her bun, licked her index finger, and stared at Wen Chaoshen.

"If you don't take me, I can't help you if something happens. Think it through."

Wen Chaoshen said, "I know."

"But Seventh Master is definitely scared to death of you. If you go, I can't negotiate... After all, what I want is not intimidation, but cooperation."

"If today's matter succeeds, I can use Cheng Feng to probe Chun Qiong and establish a beneficial connection with Seventh Master. He won't act with resentment. Otherwise, if it's just intimidation, he might hold a grudge, and in the future, this debt might fall on Cheng Feng."

A Shui looked at Wen Chaoshen, clicking her tongue.

"You always seem to have some strange ideas in your head."

"I'll wait outside for half an hour."

"Is that enough?"

Wen Chaoshen nodded.

"Enough."

Finding Seventh Master's place wasn't difficult. A Shui had been there once and pointed the way to Wen Chaoshen. He slipped some copper coins to the guards at the entrance. It wasn't much, but it was a little extra for them.

They led Wen Chaoshen inside, where burly men were drinking and playing dice, making a ruckus.

Inside, besides the strong smell of alcohol, it resembled a private casino.

A man with a knife led Wen Chaoshen in and shouted to an old, frail man in a black robe at the far end of the hall:

"Seventh Master, this kid wants to see you."

The lively scene quickly quieted down. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Wen Chaoshen.

Seventh Master turned his head. The goatee he once had was gone, leaving only a patch of fine, white stubble. His eyes were sharp and shrewd.

He glanced at Wen Chaoshen, confirming he was a stranger, and gestured for him to come closer.

Wen Chaoshen stepped forward and said to him:

"I am Wen Chaoshen, and I've brought a business proposal for Seventh Master. I wonder if you're interested?"

Wen Chaoshen didn't bow or exchange pleasantries but went straight to the point.

With A Shui not by his side, he was now facing real martial world figures, not the small-time thugs he saw yesterday. His life was at risk at any moment.

So, what mattered wasn't unnecessary formalities but demonstrating his value immediately.

Seventh Master leaned on his deer-head cane, looking down at Wen Chaoshen, his fingers tapping lightly.

"What business?"

"Speak."

Wen Chaoshen crossed his hands in front of him and spoke slowly:

"Since Seventh Master is willing to listen, I'll talk."

"I'm straightforward, so if I offend anyone, please... bear with it."

"Then... let's start with the current situation of the Seven Kill Hall. These days, things haven't been going well for you."

"When Liu Jinshi was alive, the Seven Kill Hall helped him bully the locals and exploit the people, doing dirty and tiring work, and you got quite a few benefits from it. Back then, the officials often turned a blind eye to your actions, as long as you didn't go too far, no one cared."

"But now that Liu Jinshi is dead, you've gone from being official bandits to wild bandits. Not only has your source of income dried up, but worse, if you don't restrain yourselves, the new magistrate might use you to make a name for himself..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp sword was suddenly drawn, placed against Wen Chaoshen's neck!

The next moment, angry shouts erupted around him:

"Bastard!"

"Where did this stray dog come from, daring to be insolent in the Seven Kill Hall!"

"Bai Lang, chop this kid up and feed him to the dogs!"

"..."