While on Mount Hua, my mind is at peace!

Chapter 132 Murder to Silence

Lin Pingzhi had a very long dream, a nightmare. When he woke up, he was drenched in sweat, but he couldn't remember what he had dreamt about. He wiped the sweat from his brow, looked out the window at the sky, and saw that it was past midnight. Lin Pingzhi frowned slightly and called out loudly, "Someone come here!"

A servant entered: "What are your orders, Young Master Escort?"

Lin Pingzhi said, "Didn't I tell you to wake me up before dark? How come I slept until now!"

The servant stammered, "I was going to wake you, but Chief Escort Lu said you've come a long way and must be tired, so let you get some sleep..."

Lin Pingzhi snorted and asked, "Where's Old Lu? Is he asleep?"

"No."

"Summon him to see me."

"Yes."

The servant acknowledged and immediately left the room. A short while later, he brought Lu Yong over. Lin Pingzhi noticed that Lu Yong's throat was bandaged and asked, "What happened?"

Knowing he couldn't hide it from Lin Pingzhi, Lu Yong recounted his evening visit to the White Horse Escort Agency, including what Xie Tianqing and Yue Feng had said. When Lin Pingzhi learned what Xie Tianqing and Yue Feng looked like, a smile involuntarily appeared on his usually stern face.

He abruptly stood up, picked up the longsword Yue Feng had given him, and was about to leave when he stopped at the door. He slowly turned his head and asked Lu Yong, "What did you say that boy said?"

Lu Yong had no choice but to repeat Yue Feng's words again: "He said to tell you to perform well and not disappoint certain people."

Lin Pingzhi pondered for a moment, then turned around and sat down, saying to Lu Yong, "Tell me exactly how the convoy was lost this time, without missing any details."

Just as Lin Pingzhi was listening to Lu Yong recount the case, Yue Feng, Xie Tianqing, and Ma Liangcai were also discussing the matter in a small hall of the White Horse Escort Agency.

Ma Liangcai sighed, "Brother Xie, Young Master Yue, I am grateful that you two trust me. But to my shame, some of my men did indeed have the idea of ​​robbing the caravan and even suggested it to me."

"Although I rejected that person's suggestion, somehow it reached Lu Yong's ears. In addition, I heard that the robbers used my best technique, the 'Great Monument-Splitting Palm Force'."

"This palm technique is easy to learn but difficult to master; it's a truly arduous skill. As everyone knows, I'm the only one in the entire city of Hanzhong who has mastered it. That's why Lu Yong was certain it was me, and I can't blame him for being reckless."

Xie Tianqing said, "The robbers specifically used the 'Great Monument-Splitting Palm' technique, their intention to frame someone is quite obvious. I wonder if Brother Ma has any enemies?"

Ma Liangcai shook his head and said, "The only one I could call an adversary is the newly established Fuwei Escort Agency branch. But we are just business rivals, we have no personal grudges, and I doubt they would use such methods to frame me. As for others... I really can't think of any."

Xie Tianqing pondered for a moment, then said to Yue Feng, "Brother, I want to stay and help Brother Ma investigate the case. If you have urgent business, go to Sichuan first. Three days later, no matter the outcome, I will definitely come to Sichuan to find you."

Yue Feng laughed and said, "As a close friend, how can I stand idly by? It's only three days anyway. Once it's over, we can quickly ride away and snatch it back."

Xie Tianqing's face lit up with joy, saying, "With my brothers' help, what's there to worry about the truth not coming out?" Ma Liangcai also bowed and thanked Yue Feng. After a few polite words, Yue Feng asked Ma Liangcai if there were any other clues besides the "Great Opening Palm Force" section. Ma Liangcai replied:

"Most of the clues are with the Fuwei Escort Agency. I don't know much about it, but I've heard that this shipment is extremely valuable, and the compensation would be staggering if it can't be found."

"Tomorrow morning, I will personally lead a team to inquire and try to gather as many clues as possible. It is late tonight, and I have prepared superior rooms for you all. Go back and rest early."

Xie Tianqing nodded and was about to get up when Yue Feng suddenly asked, "Is the gentleman who made the suggestion to Brother Ma in the station tonight? If so, may I see him?"

Seeing the slight change in Ma Liangcai's expression, he added, "Brother Ma, don't worry, I never suspect someone casually. I'm just asking him to find out what's going on."

Ma Liangcai said, "Chief Escort Feng doesn't live in the bureau, but his residence isn't far from here. If Young Master Yue wants to see him, may I take you there?"

"Thank you for your trouble."

"Young Master Yue, you're too kind. You were just trying to help me, why are you saying you've troubled me? It's just that Chief Escort Feng is always honest and upright, he..." Ma Liangcai shook his head and stopped talking.

Yue Feng and Xie Tianqing followed Ma Liangcai out of the escort agency, turned a few street corners, and entered a small alley. As soon as the three reached the alley entrance, a night breeze blew, and they faintly smelled a pungent stench of blood. The three exchanged glances, their expressions changing drastically.

Ma Liangcai used his lightness skill to move swiftly, arriving in front of an exquisite courtyard in an instant. The courtyard door was properly latched, but an even stronger stench of blood emanated from behind the heavy door panels.

Ma Liangcai cleaved open the courtyard gate with a single palm strike. In the dim moonlight, he saw three corpses—two adults and one child—lying stiffly beside the well. Ma Liangcai rushed over, bent down to examine them for a while, and finally stood up, shaking his head at Yue Feng and Xie Tianqing.

Under the moonlight, his face was ashen, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Captain Feng and his wife and children... are all dead. The murderer used... the Great Monument-Splitting Palm technique, which shattered their heart meridians with a single blow. His skill was even greater than mine."

Yue Feng and Xie Tianqing remained silent. All three knew that the murder of Feng Biaotou's family at this critical juncture was highly likely a cover-up. In other words, Feng Biaotou was most likely in cahoots with the murderer.

Yue Feng said, "Since the person is dead, there's no point in saying anything. Let's search the courtyard and see if we can find any valuable clues."

Xie Tianqing and Ma Liangcai both nodded and were about to split up to search when they suddenly heard two loud bangs. Two figures darted out of the windows of the east and west wing rooms and fled.

Xie Tianqing took off after one of them. Ma Liangcai saw that Yue Feng was not moving and was about to chase after the other person when suddenly a bolt of purple lightning flashed past his eyes, then ripped through the night sky and passed through the wall.

A piercing scream rang out from behind the wall. Before Ma Liang could react, Yue Feng had already brought the man back.

Ma Liangcai saw a three-inch-long throwing knife embedded squarely in the man's dantian, its hilt black and the blade completely obscured. Recalling the martial arts skill Yue Feng had displayed in his attack, he felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but feel fortunate that such a person was a friend rather than an enemy.

Yue Feng casually sealed all of the man's major acupoints, then unleashed a Golden Wind Jade Dew Finger strike, before sitting down by the well to wait. Ma Liangcai swallowed hard and couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Yue, what about Brother Xie...?"

Before he could finish his sentence, more than a dozen figures scaled the courtyard wall and slowly surrounded them. Yue Feng, knees drawn up, looked up at the sky and said calmly:

"Brother Ma, before you worry about Brother Xie, you should worry about yourself first. After all... if you, the 'murderer,' are dead, everything will be much easier, won't it?"