Heaven's Silence

Chapter 80 – My leg is numb

As the founder and leader of the Seven Kill Hall, and having brought a small martial organization of just over a dozen people to its current state, even if Seventh Master isn't particularly cunning, he is cautious enough.

Most people in the martial world have some taboo about the name Wangchuan and won't provoke it lightly. After all, no matter how skilled a master is, they can't guarantee they'll never sleep and can always stay vigilant.

Even though Chun Qiong is the magistrate of Kuhai County, that doesn't mean he won't lie. When he casually mentioned killing dozens of people from Wangchuan, including Wu Jiu, the seventh-ranked under the Lin Banner, Seventh Master's first reaction was naturally shock and disbelief. But after the shock, he began to doubt the truth of Chun Qiong's words.

It's not that he's overly suspicious, but the story Chun Qiong told is too unbelievable for a place like Kuhai County.

However, when Chun Qiong mentioned offering the sword 'Wufeng' from Wu Jiu as a token of gratitude, Seventh Master's expression completely changed.

Words can be false, but a sword cannot.

For an assassin like Wu Jiu, their weapon is almost equivalent to their life.

Unless they are dead, a famous sword like 'Wufeng' could never fall into someone else's hands.

Weapons listed by Tianji Tower have detailed information widely circulated in the martial world, so anyone with a bit of information can easily identify famous swords and knives.

"Is Lord Chun's statement true?"

Seventh Master quickly gathered his thoughts and asked.

Chun Qiong gently tapped the table with his fingers:

"Seventh Master, I've just arrived in Kuhai County, and I have many matters at hand. Do you think I'd take off my official robes and neglect my duties just to chat with you?"

A slightly embarrassed smile appeared on Seventh Master's old face, but he quickly cleared his throat and said:

"Since it's the lord's instruction, we will naturally comply..."

Chun Qiong was quite satisfied with his attitude.

After explaining some specific details, he didn't linger. Seventh Master and the stewards of the Seven Kill Hall saw Chun Qiong off, watching his distant figure. An elderly steward couldn't hide his excitement:

"Seventh Master... this is a great opportunity!"

"The Seven Kill Hall is at a critical point of disbandment. Without help from officials, we'll be driven to death by those Salt Gang brats!"

"As long as we can establish a connection with the new magistrate, we can maintain our business operations, and the people behind the Salt Gang won't dare to meddle with us!"

Seventh Master looked down at the snow pit under his feet, moved his foot, and spoke in a somewhat muffled voice:

"We need Chun Qiong's connections to continue our business, but don't get too excited too soon. This Chun Qiong is very different from the previous Liu Jinshi. Recently, many people from Wangchuan have flooded into Kuhai County, and I've even heard of some figures from the Royal City. There must be something going on."

"Liu Jinshi's death was strange, and Chun Qiong's appointment might not be any less so. What kind of behemoth is Wangchuan, and what caliber of assassin is Wu Jiu?"

"To put it bluntly, this guy could wield two swords and wipe out hundreds of people in the Seven Kill Hall within two hours!"

"And now he's inexplicably dead at Chun Qiong's hands... I'm worried."

After speaking, he looked at the rippling waves on the distant lake, his aged voice full of emotion:

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"I have a feeling that after earning this money from Chun Qiong, the future days of the Seven Kill Hall... might not be peaceful."

"Additionally, put Cheng Feng's matter on hold, and don't engage with Qiu Ziheng for now. That Wen Chaoshen seems to have some connection with Chun Qiong. Let's wait until their grievances are resolved and then decide whom to support."

...

Wen Chaoshen finished chopping wood, counted some money carefully, and went to the market to buy half a black-bone chicken and some herbs like ginseng, white atractylodes, and poria. He returned to stew a pot of black-bone chicken soup.

The courtyard was filled with snow-covered corpses, while outside were Chun Qiong's trusted aides. They watched Wen Chaoshen expressionlessly cooking chicken soup in the courtyard, their expressions complex.

Indeed, the winter snow was heavy.

The corpses didn't stink.

But like this... can he really eat?

In fact, when they smelled the aroma of herbs and chicken soup wafting out, they even felt a bit nauseous.

At noon, Wen Chaoshen carried two bowls of chicken soup to Lü Zhiming's courtyard, letting him and Madam Lü taste it. After tasting, Madam Lü exclaimed in surprise and praised Wen Chaoshen's cooking skills.

"Chaoshen, you can cook?"

Wen Chaoshen replied:

"Cooking is easy to learn but hard to master. I can make some food, but it's just food, nothing compared to Madam's skillful hands."

Madam Lü couldn't suppress a smile and playfully scolded:

"You sure know how to talk."

"You've said all the good things."

Wen Chaoshen chuckled, took two bowls of porridge from Madam Lü, and returned to Fan Youwei's courtyard.

He brought the porridge and hot chicken soup into the room. A Shui, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, opened her eyes, her gaze falling on the chicken soup, more surprised than Madam Lü:

"Wen Chaoshen, you can cook?"

Wen Chaoshen handed her a bowl of chicken soup.

"Try it."

A Shui took a sip, her furrowed brows relaxing slightly.

"Not bad."

She praised.

After drinking two bowls of chicken soup in one go, they began to eat. A Shui looked at the half black-bone chicken and those herbs in the pot, suddenly tilting her head to ask Wen Chaoshen:

"How much did this pot of chicken soup cost?"

Wen Chaoshen didn't look up, focusing on his meal.

"Not too expensive, just borrowed a few of your drinks' worth in advance."

Hearing this, A Shui's eyes widened slightly, staring at Wen Chaoshen with a very serious look.

"Taking advantage of my illness to take my life?"

Wen Chaoshen was choked by her reaction, turned his head to cough a few times, and rolled his eyes:

"I'll deduct it from my own money, okay?"

"I'll keep a separate tab for your wine."

A Shui nodded in satisfaction, lowered her head to scoop a mouthful of soup-soaked rice, hesitated for a moment, then tentatively hinted to Wen Chaoshen:

"Actually, I'm almost recovered. If nothing goes wrong, tonight I can..."

Wen Chaoshen knew exactly what she was implying and refused her without hesitation:

"This time, the injury is severe. You need to abstain from alcohol for at least three days. After three days, we'll see about getting you some wine."

Hearing she had to abstain from alcohol for three days, A Shui's heart sank. She immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks, propped herself up on the bed, trying to stand up to prove to Wen Chaoshen that she was already full of energy. But after a moment of stiffness, A Shui's brows furrowed, and she finally chose to give up, slowly adjusting her posture to sit back on the bed obediently.

Facing Wen Chaoshen's surprised gaze, she calmly said without blushing:

"My legs are numb."