Chapter 64 – Dark Crow
A black crow flapped its wings in the night sky.
The peaks below are lit with sporadic lights. Numerous buildings half submerged in darkness are scattered in this mountainous terrain.
After circling several times in the air, the crow found its destination and immediately dived down. It spread its wings in order to reduce speed, and then landed on the frame of a half-opened window.
In the room, an old man with white hair sitting in front of a desk and wielding a brush is writing rapidly, dealing with the mountain of documents in front of him.
The old man is this house’s master – Merak Temple’s Law Enforcement Elder Liu Chengzong.
“Caw…!” The crow called out suddenly, warning the master of the house of its arrival.
“Oh?” Liu Chengzong raised his head and looked in the direction of the sound.
When he saw the crow nearly blended into the darkness, surprise flashed past his eyes.
“Dark Crow?”
He got up and approached the crow. At the same time, he murmured, doubtful, “Is it from the Shadow Gate?”
Dark Crow is a kind of crow-like martial beast.
They are born with a unique ability to hide their body as well as aura in the darkness. With their “stealth” ability, even Heaven Realm masters will find it difficult to find them at night.
On the other hand, Dark Crows have an excellent identification ability and fast flying speed. After being tamed, they can assume the responsibility of delivering letters. They are excellent – better than carrier pigeons – messaging tools.
This Dark Crow came to deliver a letter.
The Dark Crow’s scarlet eyes reflected a haggard face containing hatred.
Under the Dark Crow’s gaze, the old man untied the small bamboo tube tied to its foot and took out a small slip of paper from inside.
The next moment, the sound of wings flapping sounded.
Its mission presumably completed, the Dark Crow flew away and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
“…”
No intention to let me reply? Liu Chengzong withdrew his gaze, unrolled the small slip of paper, and read it.
Silence lasted only a moment.
“Good-for-nothings!” There was a loud, angry shout.
As the piece of paper floated down, Liu Chengzong’s face distorted and his cheeks became red.
“A bunch of good-for-nothings!” Flustered and exasperated, he returned to his seat and slammed his hand on the desk.
“After collecting so much money, they promised that they would complete the task. Yet in the end, they say that they cannot complete the task, and will return the money?” Liu Chengzong is so angry that he instead started smiling, “It’s over just like that? It’s basically brushing me off!”
His gaze fell on the desk inadvertently, and as if a turbulent river has found an opening, he swept away the documents on the desk.
He was somewhat looking forward. Now that his expectations weren’t met, he became furious.
Shadows danced as the candles swayed.
As time went on, his violently undulating chest stabilized and his anger dissipated gradually.
Liu Chengzong exhaled a long breath and expelled the last traces of anger.
“… Fine.”
I didn’t expect much to begin with – Liu Chengzong consoled himself.
Even though it reeks of self-deception, but when people encounter roadblocks, they look for a reason to comfort and convince themselves. Otherwise, how can they feel relieved?
His unfocused gaze fell on the documents scattered on the ground and lingered for a while.
Until a powerless sigh sounded, he finally moved his gaze away and looked out the window at the dark night sky.
“It seems that I have to rely on myself…” Then, he showed a self-deprecating smile.
Anyhow, what happened to him? Why is he this unscrupulous, to the point that he even hired an assassin to kill her?
Liu Chengzong couldn’t help thinking – I must have gone crazy.
So what drives him crazy?
Is it hatred? Or self-blame?
I’m afraid it’s both.
To be honest, he isn’t clear himself.
He just can’t let go, can’t forget Qin Chen’s pale face.
It’s carved into his mind, impossible to get rid of. He feels like his feet are stuck in the mud, and he can’t free himself.
If this continues, he will self-destruct one day.
If there must be someone who needs to disappear in order for him not to self-destruct, then he only can…
“Xue Qilin…” Liu Chengzong muttered a name.
… destroy another person.
Whether he is turning a blind eye or being unreasonable, it doesn’t matter. He just wants to transfer the pain onto another person.
Only her pain can erase the pale face lingering in his mind and dispel the pain gripping his heart. At least that’s how he feels. Therefore…
“I want you to taste the same pain.” He said with decisiveness that could slice nails and cut iron.
However, what should he do?
How can he make the other party have a taste of his pain?
The old man frowned, anxious. Dark thoughts are brewing in his heart.
*
Knock, knock! The sound of knocking on the door suddenly sounded.
His heart jumped up violently, and Liu Chengzong roused with a start.
“Who is it?” In order to cover up his guilty conscience, he deliberately used a harsh tone.
“Elder Liu, it is I, Qian Duoduo.” A respectful answer came from outside the door.
Why is he here?
Qian Duoduo is a disciple of Xia Xue, and has nothing to do with Liu Chengzong, so Liu Chengzong is surprised by his sudden visit.
However, he immediately recalled something.
Is it related to the enrollment assembly? The old man guessed and went to open the door.
When he opened the door, the first thing that entered his sight was a travel-worn figure.
Dressed in blue-white sect clothes, Qian Duoduo looked tired. He must have gotten little to no rest throughout the journey.
“It’s so late…” Liu Chengzong took a closer look at Qian Duoduo, “Martial Nephew Qian, what brings you here?”
Liu Chengzong didn’t want others to see the mess he made when he forgot himself. As such, he didn’t let the other party enter. Instead, he got right to the point and asked the youth about his purpose in coming here.
“Um, I came to deliver the admission list.” Qian Duoduo took out a notebook from a bag and gave it to Liu Chengzong.
“Oh, the enrollment assembly?”
“Yes. Elder Xia ordered me to deliver this to you posthaste, Elder Liu.”
In addition to law enforcement, Liu Chengzong is also in charge of the Merak Temple’s outer sect personnel.
“Okay.” After taking over the notebook, Liu Chengzong flipped through it.
“Where’s Elder Xia?” As he read the information recorded in the notebook, he asked casually, “She isn’t back yet?”
“Elder Xia said that since her task has been completed, she is will travel at a leisurely pace with the Young Ancestor. She said that she will relax and have fun on the way back.”
“Preposterous!” Liu Chengzong snorted, “An Elder and the Young Ancestor of the Merak Temple are actually neglecting their duties!”
“Uh…” Taken aback,Qian Duoduo didn’t seem to know how to respond.
No longer paying attention to Qian Duoduo standing awkwardly aside, Liu Chengzong continued to sweep the contents of the notebook with his gaze.
The sound of a page turning sounded again.
“Ah?” Liu Chengzong suddenly knit his eyebrows, raised his head, and asked “What’s the matter with this Shui Yuner?”
Born with congested qi passageways – this passage prompted him to ask, “Why would Xia Xue admit her?”
A person born with obstructed qi passageways cannot become a martial practitioner… Xia Xue should know that.
However, she still admitted a person who cannot become a martial practitioner? What sort of joke is this? Liu Chengzong felt baffled.
“Elder Xia didn’t intend to accept her.” After a pause, Qian Duoduo added an explanation, “It was the Young Ancestor who gave her approval.”
It’s Xue Qilin again! An obscure fire arose inside him.
“Does she not know what restraint is? There is a limit to how willful you can be!” In a fit of anger, Liu Chengzong threw the notebook to the ground and yelled, “People born with obstructed qi passageways can also join the temple, what nonsense is this?”
Feeling that the old man has said too much, Qian Duoduo creased his eyebrows and explained, “The situation of this miss is a little special. The Young Ancestor should have her considerations…”
Before Qian Duoduo could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a snort from Liu Chengzong, “Considerations, what considerations? A person born with congested qi passageways cannot practice martial arts, this is an iron law! Is there anything she can do about that?”
Qian Duoduo didn’t respond, but defiance filled his face.
I forgot myself again… Tired, Liu Chengzong rubbed his temples, and then picked up the notebook that fell on the ground.
“Alright.” The old man’s attitude softened a little, “If Shui Yuner comes to register, tell her that there was a mistake and let her leave.”
“But …” Qian Duoduo hesitated for a moment, “This will be hard for the Young Ancestor to explain.”
“What is there for her to explain to that Miss Shui? No one at the Merak Temple can teach her.”
“Maybe the Young Ancestor has a way. Although I wasn’t present at that time, but I heard that the Young Ancestor let Shui Yuner perform a ‘spell’.” Qian Duoduo told what he knows.
“‘Spell’? Xue Qilin’s method?” Slowly, a question popped up in Liu Chengzong’s mind, “Does she want to accept this Shui Yuner as a disciple?”
Qian Duoduo was silent for a long time, and then said with some uncertainty, “I think that it should be the case. The Young Ancestor seems to have this wish…”
Xue Qilin is going to accept a disciple? Liu Chengzong who got his answer was dumbfounded at once.
When he noticed the strange reaction of the old man, Qian Duoduo called softly, “Elder Liu …?”
“… Okay, I got it. Let’s just go along with the Young Ancestor’s idea.”
As if everything just now was a lie, Liu Chengzong’s attitude suddenly did a 180.
Qian Duoduo has a look of incredulity on his face. The old man’s words are all over the place.
“Hmm… Is there anything else?” Seeing the young man stand blankly in front of the door, Liu Chengzong raised an eyebrow and asked.
“… Then I’ll be going?” The youth recovered his composure and asked tentatively.
“Go.” Liu Chengzong waved his hand as if driving the other party away.
Looking both dazed and confused, Qian Duoduo turned and left.
“Shui Yuner…” Liu Chengzong constricted his eyes and stared at the girl’s name in the notebook.
“Xue Qilin must cherish her.” He mused.
