The next day at noon, Nangong Ping had regained conscious and he slowly regained his movements. Ye Manqing gently carried him to sit onto the bed. This cold demeanor beautiful maiden had now become so tired, so fragile. Nangong Ping did not dare to look at her, he lowered his head and sighed. “When I am sick, it must be really hard on you.”
Ye Manqing softly laughed and said. “As long…as long as you recover from your sickness, no matter what I have to do, I will be happy to do so.”
Nangong Ping was jolted. He had never dreamed that she would say such gentle words. This was so different from what he had known. He did not know that in this short three days, a kind of womanly softness that was in her heart changed the way Ye Manqing regarded her attitude to life. A type of irresistible force that caused her feeling to flow out to Nangong Ping unwittingly and she was unable to use her cold haughty words and attitude on him as a pretense anymore.
Nangong Ping could not help but looked at her and saw that her face was flustered lightly with red but it could not hide the tiredness and fragile of her look. He suddenly thought of a poem as he lowered his head and watched her leave the room. He felt a conflict in his heart from the many emotions. He tried to control his feeling but failed miserably.
Suddenly from the dinning room, was the laughing sound of that bald old man. “Is your sickness better now?”
Nangong Ping replied. “Thanks for the concern of old sir, I…”
The bald old man laughed. “If I were you, I would surely fall sick for a few days more.”
Nangong Ping was startled.
He added. “If it isn’t for your serious sickness, how would that baby girl allows me to stay here, eat and drink heartily? If it weren’t for your serious sickness, how would that baby girl show her affections for you? If you are sick for a few days, I can eat a few more days and you can enjoy some blissful and warm moments. This is a joyous thing so why are you not happy?”
Although he looked hateful but what he said was so sharp and direct.
Ye Manqing bowed her head and her face flustered with red. She became shy and coy because it hit her in her innermost heart.
Nangong Ping forced himself to smile as he said. “If old sir, if you are free, you can travel with us…” Because he suddenly realized that he could not travel together with Ye Manqing or he would surely be unable to control his feelings. He quickly added. “When my illness is over, I will accompany old sir to eat and drink heartily. This, I can still afford to pay.”
The bald old man laughed. “Marvelous, marvelous…” Suddenly he ceased his laughter and said solemnly. “Even though the two of you invite me but I will never feel appreciated or grateful. This is because the two of you have a hidden intention for me to accompany you. As for me…haha! I only get to eat and drink heartily.”
Those few words hit right on the mark in Nangong Ping and Ye Manqing innermost hearts.
Nangong Ping sighed and said. “If old sir, you have any needs, I can render you with some assistance…”
The bald old man laughed for awhile before he said solemnly. “Do I look like some one that need pity from others?”
Nangong Ping said. “I can ask the shop assistants to get a few good clothing for old sir.”
The bald old man shook with both his hands and solemnly exclaimed. “You and I have no feuds with one another, why then are you trying to harm me?”
Nangong Ping was shocked and asked. “Harm…you?”
The bald old man got up and walked to Nangong Ping, pointed to his robe that did not look like robe, clothing that is not clothing and said. “Can't you tell how convenient and comfortable is my clothing? Next he pointed to his smooth head that was bald and said. “Do you know why I become a bald head? I spend a lot of efforts and blood to be a bald. Now I don’t have to cut my hair, don’t have to wash my head, don’t have to tie my hair. Do you know how much efforts and blood for me to research this efficient and not wasteful method to save my time and money? Now that you want to give me clothing! If I use your clothing, I will have to worry for that clothing all the time and will surely waste a lot of my time that should be use on earning money. So you are harming me.”
Nangong Ping and Ye Manqing looked at one another in astonishment for they had never heard of such logic in their entire life. Therefore for sometime, they were unable to answer him.
The bald old man angrily hummed and returned to the table to eat. As he was eating, he was asking. “If the both of you want me to accompany you, please do not ever mention this matter ever again. Haiz, haiz! If it isn’t for the fact that your riches are indeed worthy of my respect, or else I would have left already.”
Ye Manqing secretly hummed and turned her head while Nangong Ping sighed deeply and asked. “Is riches really so important?”
The bald old man sighed and said. “Even if I use a thousand phrases and words, I can never explain the importance of riches to a rich man like you. But after you have undergo a tribulation, then without a need for me to explain, you will know the importance of riches.”
Nangong Ping suddenly paused to ponder. “I wish I can have a taste of being poor. But how difficult is it for me to be poor.” He laughed when he thought of that.
The bald old man in all his seriousness asked. “What I say is all true. Why are you laughing?”
Nangong Ping slowly said. “I am laughing because I did not know old sir’s name yet.”
The bald old man said. “Name is not important. You can simple call me Qian Chi (One that is obsessed with money).
Nangong Ping smiled. “Qian Chi…Qian Chi…” Suddenly he became serious. “Just now I was laughing not because of this reason. Old sir, you…”
The bald old man ‘Qian Chi’ said. “The thoughts that are inside a man heart, no one have a right to ask and no right to guess. What you are thinking doesn’t concern me. To me, their words and actions are sufficient. Even if they hate me in their heart, I don’t care. If I am always thinking very hard of what others are thinking about me, then won’t I become a mad man?”
This word whipped Nangong Ping hard into his most innermost heart. He lowered his head and was silence for a long time.
By then Qian Chi had finished eating as he got up, he turned and looked at Ye Manqing and said in a monotone. “Maiden, I advise you not to bother about others think in their hearts then your troubles will be lessen a lot.”
Ye Manqing bowed her head in deep thoughts. When she lift her head, the bald old man had already gone to the courtyard.
Suddenly there appeared several men with sabres and another strong man with a red flag carrying a wooden chest and they walked into the another courtyard.
There were all alert and tense. The last man of their group looked at Qian Chi carefully before he closed the door to the courtyard.
Qian Chi eyes glow as he smiled. “The Red Flag Escort Agency, the Red Flag Escort Agency…”
Nangong Ping was in sober thoughts for a long time before he walked into his room.
Qian Chi began to mutter. “After eating, one must sleep. Alas, alas…” Therefore he walked to his room too and closed the door tightly.
Ye Manqing lifted her head and looked at the door of Nangong Ping’s room and looked at the bald old man too. She suddenly sighed and slowly walked into the courtyard…
The sounds thin down and the lights began to dim but Ye Manqing did not know how long had she been standing. She only heard the dong of the watchmen…First watch, second watch and soon it was the third watch!
Ye Manqing looked alone at the empty sky for a long time. She aspersed for a long time in her heart and asked why she had been forgotten. She hated herself for falling for a man whose heart belongs to another. Why?
Suddenly from the back of the roof, there was a soft laughter. A man whispered. “Who are you forlorn for?”
Ye Manqing furrowed and her slim body rose up and she asked in a low voice. “Who?” By now her slim body had landed on the rooftop and saw a man running in the darkness and mocking. “Who are you forlorn for?”
This man was very fast which startled Ye Manqing. His mocking struck hard into her soul as she said in a low voice. “Stand where you are!”
She turned around and noticed that the light in his room had not vanished yet. That lonely room looked exactly like she was.
Facing the vast rooftop, she felt very angry because she was unable to vent it out. She expended all her best efforts to search for that stranger. She did not know why she wanted combed the area in a frantic search, was it for the stranger or the anger inside her that needed to be vent.
After some time he managed to calm himself down. Slowly his mind becomes peaceful and cast him into a blank…
After a long time, he suddenly heard a voice from the courtyard and he was alerted to it and saw a man shadow jump down from the roof. His swiftness movement skill was not weak.
Nangong Ping was startled and opened the window and suddenly he saw Ye Manqing with her long hair in a mess, the melancholy Ye Manqing looking idiocy outside his window.
At this moment when their eyes looked at one another, there was a spark. In his heart came a wave of ripples and he did not know if he should avoid her alluring watery eyes.
Ye Manqing sighed in her heart but asked. “You have not sleep yet?”
Nangong Ping shook his head and suddenly asked. “Maiden Ye, did you see someone?”
Ye Manqing said. “Earlier, I saw a man in night clothing when I am in the courtyard. I try to follow him but I did not manage to!”
Nangong Ping was startled and his eyes widened. “Even with Maiden Ye’s swiftness movement skill, you are still unable to catch up with him!”
Ye Manqing flustered and bowed her head. “I also do not know that in this place, there will be such a martial exponent. What is even strange about this man is that I don’t know if he is a bad or good guy, an enemy or a friend, why did he come here? It is indeed very puzzling.”
Nangong Ping was wondering as well and slowly said. “He shouldn’t have any bad intention or else why did he not attack?”
Although he had say so just to comfort her but he was secretly sighing. He knew that at this moment, his enemies in the Fraternity far exceed his friends. Because of her, because of such a heartless cold blood maiden, why did he have to sacrifice so much?! There were so many powerful enemies around to face. How could he face and explain his feeling?
As the two of them faced one another but there were no words, Nangong Ping sighed. “The cold wind is strong tonight, Maiden Ye you should come in!”
Although his words contain only a slight concern but that was enough to make Ye Manqing very delight.
She walked into the dining room with a alluring smile while Nangong Ping welcomed her inside. He lit a lamp and both of them sat inside but none of them dared to look into one another directly.
Suddenly the bald old man walked into the dining hall in a sleepy manner. He laughed. “Alas both of you are such romantic staying overnight just to chat, haha…young people.”
Just then the shop assistant approached and said. “You guests are awake so early!” As he poured them tea, he asked. “Please forgive me for asking but the meal and room fees are due…”
When the bald old man ‘Qian Chi’ had heard those last words, he suddenly turned around and walked into his room and closed the door.
Nangong Ping smiled. “It alright. You just have to tell me the accounts.”
The shop assistant smiled broadly. “Not much not much. Although that old sir have the lion share because of his feasting, it is only ninety-three silver and seven copper coins.”
This was indeed not a small amount but in Nangong Ping’s eyes, it was like dirt. But on second thought, he realized he had no silver on him so he turned his head and smiled. “Maiden Ye, can you help to pay for the lodging first.” As he was born from a wealthy family, he thought very lightly about money. Therefore he can ask in such an unintentional way.
Ye Manqing was startled and she too smiled. “I rarely bring silver.”
She knew Nangong Ping’s background therefore she did not mind at all.
Nangong Ping was slightly startled and he saw that the shop assistant was now staring at him without a single trace of smile.
Nangong Ping suddenly realized that he had given everything that was valuable on him to others therefore he calmly said. “Go fetch a brush and ink for me, I will write a I.O.U and you can instantly get the silver.”
The shop assistant looked most unwilling and just when he was about to turn his back, the bald old man opened the door a little and said loudly to him. “What are you afraid of? Do you know who this master is? Not to mention one hundred silver, even a few tens of thousands of silver, if he is willing to write on that IOU, you can get it instantly.”
The shop assistant looked questioning at Nangong Ping.
The bald old man ‘Qian Chi’ laughed. “Let me tell you, he is the Young master of the Nangong Aristocracy Family!”
The shop assistant turned ashen and Nangong Ping thought. “These people are atypical. When they heard that…”
The shop assistant suddenly laughed and his thoughts were interrupted. He coldly said. “Although I have seen many people who cheat for their food and drink but I have never saw anyone that as vile, stupid as your group. To think that you can think of this…”
Ye Manqing opened her apricot eyes and said sternly. “What did you say?”
The shop assistant unwittingly took a step back but his mocking face remained. “You don’t even know that all the businesses that belonged to the Nangong Aristocracy Family for hundreds of miles have been sold three days ago to others. And the workers under the Nangong Aristocracy Family have all been dispersed. And you even dare to impersonate as the young master of the Nangong Aristocracy Family, heng, heng! If you don’t pay out by today, heng, heng..” As he looked angrily at them.
Nangong Ping had been shocked beyond words and he was now on the ground while Ye Manqing looked lost and did not know what to do.
What a sudden change of events, it happened so suddenly. Why did the Nangong Aristocracy which had wealth that could rival a kingdom suddenly sold all its businesses?
The reasons were beyond understanding!
Even the bald old man who was standing by the side of the door was stunned.
It was the most extremely embarrassing moment of Nangong Ping life. Just then there was a commotion outside.
Many terrified cries were heard. “Oh dear…Oh dear…”
Even the shop assistant was startled by it and turned to look.
Nangong Ping suddenly remembered the incident last night and Ye Manqing remembered the strange man that she had saw.
“Is it because there occurred murders last night?”
Without thinking, Nangong Ping moved into the courtyard, followed by Ye Manqing. But no one noticed the movement of that bald old man ‘Qian Chi’.
There were a lot of commotion and people in the courtyard. “Very strange, very strange. Last time we did not hear anything.”
Some say. “What is more strange is that it happened to even the renowned Red Flag Escort Agency. I wonder who is the extraordinary people that commit this crime.”
Nangong Ping swept his eyes around and he saw blood all over, it really horrible. Just as Nangong Ping was about to rush inside, a man stopped him and said. “It is forbidden at the moment to enter…”
Before he could finish, Nangong Ping had pushed him away and the man almost fall. One must know that Nangong Ping had been stricken with an illness and his strength had not recovered yet. But in his anger and surprise, he had exerted all his might therefore even though he feels regretful for his action but he did not hesitate to push opened the door and witnessed with such appalling at the corpses that were all over the place!
Those people had all died differently but the reason for their deaths were all the same – They were pieced by their own red flag in the chest and lost their lives instantly. Some of them did not even have the chance to pull their sabres.
Nangong Ping stood at the entrance in shock for awhile. Ye Manqing was looking extremely pale. The guard that was pushed aside looked at them but did not dare to open his mouth.
Those men were all fighters under Sima Zhongtian’s Red Flag Escort Agency and his fighters were all famous fighters in the Fraternity. Not only were their martial abilities high but their keen sense of alertness were extraordinary.
The reason why Sima Zhongtian Red Flag Escort Agency could be so renowned throughout the entire fraternity much was owned to these fighters who were much feared.
But now, those much feared fighters were all killed in this very small Xunyang City, this very small Inn and they all died so terribly, so horrible and in a state of fright. This was really unbelievable!
Who had the courage to rob the Red Flag Escort Agency? Who had the martial skill to cause all these expert fighters to die even before they could even attack? It was simply not possible to be accomplished by the power of a human ability and more like the act of the devil!
Nangong Ping lowered his body and examined the body that was closest to him and was startled. He had discovered that the body was still warm. He examined this man various accupoint channels and found no trace of poisoning or signs of being immobilization. Then how could so many people have died? How could so many people be present, yet none could retaliate!
Suddenly there was a sound from the body and Nangong Ping was startled and happy. He softly said. “Friend! Hold on tight!”
The wounded man asked. “Who?…Who are you?”
Nangong Ping said. “I am Nangong Ping. I have ties with your Escort Agency, I hope that you will say out the killer…” Before he could finish, the wounded man turned ashen with his face smiling and muttering. “Nangong Ping…Nangong…fin..ish…finish…”
Nangong Ping was surprised and asked. “Finish! What finish?” But the wounded man could only look on idiocy as he repeated the same mutterings. “Finish…fin…”
Then his body stumped and he could forever not speak.
Nangong Ping sighed and looked around and saw that the wooden chest had been taken away by someone. “Robbery.” He thought.
He tried to figure out the meaning from the man’s last words. Did it have something to do with the Nangong Aristocracy Family? Suddenly he grew chilled when he thought of that.
Ye Manqing walked behind him and with a solemn look, she muttered. “Nangong…finish…” Suddenly she lifted her eyes and softly asked. “Does this Red Flag Escort often escort goods and riches for your family?”
Nangong Ping nodded. “That is right.”
Ye Manqing replied. “Then this time, they could be possibly escorting for your family too. Therefore when he was robbed, he felt guilty and heart wrenching, that is why he said those words.”
Nangong Ping thought it over and sighed deeply. He was very downcast.
Ye Manqing asked. “What are you sighing for? Although the Nangong Aristocracy Family had been robbed but the amount stolen is like a drop in the ocean, therefore what does it matter.”
Although her words contained some satire but she had said so unintentionally and with all sincerely and frankness. No matter how vile and sharp words were, if it come from the mouth of a person with good intention and frankness, it sounded different to the ears of the listener.
Nangong Ping sighed. “How will I sigh for that.” He forced himself to smile and added. “Some things are actually very simple and obvious but I have to use the most complex reasoning to solve it, am I stupid?”
Ye Manqing smiled alluring. At this moment, there was a sound of a bark. The bark was way above that of a normal dog.
Suddenly a large fierce golden dog strolled hurriedly toward them. And a man in black was holding it with a thin chain.
One voice was heard. “Never to expect that the Xihe most famous constable ‘Jin Xian Ru’ will be in Xunyang. Since he is here, this case will probably be solved.”
The man in black looked at Nangong Ping and Ye Manqing before he furrowed and turned his head around. “Proprietor Lin, how can you allow just anybody to enter even before I have reached the scene!” He coldly hummed and sunk his face.
Ye Manqing thought that this dog looked strange and special, therefore she could not help reaching her hand to rub it. But before she could do so, the fierce dog barked aloud.
The black man countenance changed and he shouted aloud. “The maiden besides it. Hurry away! Do you not value your life?”
Ye Manqing raised her eyebrows only to feel Nangong Ping tagged her on her sleeves. Before she could open her sarcastic angry words, she swallowed it and saw the man in black blending down and patted the dog and saying. “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. They will not dare to touch you anymore.”
And the dog barked two times in a low voice.
The man in black got up and thundered. “Who are the two of you? Why are you still standing here?”
Ye Manqing coldly said, “What does it have to do with you if I am standing here?”
The man in black laughed coldly. “What an ignorant girl. Do you know who I am? You dare to interfere with my official task?”
Ye Manqing coldly mused. “How will I not know who you are. No matter how I look at it, you are but a slave to that little dog.”
Her voice was crystal clear and the crowd that was at the entrance turned ashen and was secretly worrying for her.
This fierce dog was called ‘Jin Xian’. Not only was it strong but fierce. The average pugilists would find it very difficult to fend it off if it rushed at them. And its sense of smell was very sharp and extraordinary. No matter how homicide a case was, as long as it reached in time, just a sniff, it could track the criminals to their hiding place.
And he solved many cases and became the famous constable in the entire constabulary because of the dog.
Although his nick was ‘Jin Xian Ru’ (Ru means slave). He really hates others to mention about it. Now that Ye Manqing had unwittingly used such a sharp tone to pierce his inner most and caused a heart aching feeling therefore he had turned ashen to green. He shouted. “Men! Arrest this artful girl!”
Ye Manqing coldly laughed for a few times looking in the heaven. “Dog should be a slave of a Man, not a Man become a slave of the Dog…hehe, hehe.” Suddenly she lifted her right hand and she looked at the other four constables with chains and rankles, her cold demeanor piercing them all of them. “If any one of them dare to move one step in front, I will immediately kill you with my hand.”
‘Jin Xian Ru’ asked. “Really?” As he slowly loosened his grip on the chains…
Even he could finish, Nangong Ping was in front of Ye Manqing and said. “Please wait!”
Jin Xian Ru looked at this man, who had a noble look. Therefore he tightened his grip on the chain again. He was about to loosen the chain and set the golden dog upon the artful maiden. “Who are you? Are you with this girl…”
Nangong Ping smiled and added. “I have long heard of your fame in the constabulary. So how can you not discern between good and bad?”
Jin Xian Ru exclaimed. “How will a crime scene have good people!”
Nangong Ping sunk his countenance and said. “Then Constable Jin, so you have already decided that I am the mastermind or the accomplices? That I am guilty and you are here specifically to arrest me?”
Jin Xian Ru cast his eyes around and saw the crowd who was eagerly trying to know what he would say. He coldly hummed and said. “Although I cannot decide now but very soon, we will know the truth.” He patted the golden dog and said. “Jin Laoer (Referring to the dog which he address as his Second brother), I have to bother you again.”
The golden dog suddenly rushed forth and stopped in front of Nangong Ping and Ye Manqing. It began to sniff their shoes and then ran around the place several times.
Jin Xian Ru asked. “LaoEr, have you found anything yet? LaoEr, have you…”
Ye Manqing who was glancing the sky, coldly laughed for awhile.
Then the golden dog stopped awhile then turned toward the outside of the door.
Jin Xian Ru was relief as he proudly looked at Nangong Ping and Ye Manqing, then he solemnly said. “Brothers, do not let them go.” And he followed the dog and the crowd moved aside for him.
Nangong Ping softly said. “If he can really find the real culprit, then I must really be thankful to him.”
Ye Manqing said. “Let us follow.”
The four constables with the shackles asked. “Where are you going?”
Ye Manqing turned her slim body around and gently reached forth her hand. There were a series of ding dang sound as the shackles that were in their hands fell onto the ground.
The four of them had never seen such startling martial arts before, therefore they were stunned and just watched with open eyes as Nangong Ping and Ye Manqing went out of the door. No one dared to move.
The golden dog had now reached the courtyard. Suddenly it jumped over a small wall and without hesitating, Jin Xian Ru followed as well. Then it began to howl aloud at the door in the courtyard.
Jin Xian Ru turned his head and thundered. “Who are the people that stay in this courtyard?”
Nangong Ping and Ye Manqing had just reached when dozens of eyes looked at them.
Jin Xian Ru shouted. “So you are the ones that are staying here!” Ye Manqing said. “Does it matter if I stay here?”
Jin Xian Ru said. “Then you must be robbers and the killers!”
Everyone was startled and moved back three steps and did not dare to stand beside them.
Nangong Ping asked. “Are you willing to be responsible for your actions?”
Jin Xian Ru replied. “More than ten years ago, I have solved so many cases and is never wrong. I advise the two of you to surrender quietly.”
Suddenly Nangong Ping remembered the greedy and mysterious old man ‘Qian Chi’ and his expression changed. Without a word, he ran to the door and pushed it opened and found out that was empty and there was no sight of the old man!
Jin Xian Ru laughed. “Although your accomplice had already slipped away but I only need to capture you and I will know his whereabouts. Or unless the both of you want to resist arrest?” And the chains in his hands became a silver spear!
Nangong Ping said. “You have not investigate and want to…”
Jin Xian Ru replied. “The best evidence is my golden dog’s nose. What there to investigate?”
He whipped his chain at Nangong Ping. Ye Manqing worrying that Nangong Ping had not recovered from his illness yet, gave a soft grasp as she stepped in front of Nangong Ping at the same time Jin Xian Ru released the golden dog.
The golden dog although it looked bulky but when it rushed forth, it was without a sound, there was no denial that it ranked as a top swiftness movement expert! And it rushed for Ye Manqing’s neck!
Everyone was startled for they were about to witness such a beautiful maiden losing her life in that instant.
Ye Manqing inclined her slim body and dexterously dodged three feet away. This swiftness skill of hers was almost very close to the most profound of all the swiftness movement types ‘The Movement Transfiguration’. But she did not expected that the golden dog could move in a zip zap and attacked very fast much like a man with two swords in his hands.
Ye Manqing secretly thought. “No wonder this golden dog can become famous, its swiftness movement is really dexterous.”
She had no intention to hurt this golden dog in her heart as she found this golden dog more and more adorable. So she lifted her left hand and patted the golden dog lightning speed on its head and softly grasped. “Go back!”
On the other hand, although Nangong Ping was still afflicted by his illness but to deal with Jin Xian Ru, was still enough. He used a very ingenious movement skill to evade all of Jin Xian Ru attacks – His silver chain spear although swift was unable to touch him.
The crowd was taken aback and there was a low muttering among them. “These two young man and woman look like they really the accomplices of this case. Or else why will they have such astonishi