Chapter 87: World 3 [1] Part 2

Because she could not exist as a Consciousness Form in this world, the portion of her true self present here couldn’t be directly reclaimed. Instead, it had transformed into a heavenly treasure containing immense opportunity, which had fallen upon a specific individual favored by the System (Rules).

A human body restricted some of Jing Ke’s abilities. She could only sense the existence of her true self’s core at specific times, and the information she could receive was very limited.

And the sole survivor of the Luo family mentioned in the conversation she just heard, that young lady named Luo Yuezhu, had appeared quite a few times in the information Jing Ke had managed to receive.

After finishing her pot of tea, Jing Ke summoned the Waiter and tossed him a piece of silver.

“When exactly did Squire Luo meet his end? I want to know everything related to the Luo family,” Jing Ke directly asked this question.

The Waiter, clutching the silver, swallowed hard. He carefully sized up this patron dressed entirely in a Profound Black, form-fitting outfit. Noticing Jing Ke was clearly dressed in the manner of someone from the Jianghu, a fawning smile appeared on his face.

“Esteemed Guest, this humble one doesn’t know much. Squire Luo’s tragedy struck seven nights ago. That night, there wasn’t even a moon. No unusual sounds came from his residence either. It was only at dawn the next day, when neighbors nearby smelled the scent of blood, that anyone realized something terrible had happened inside.”

The Waiter continued, “The Yamen people arrived quickly. After examining the wounds and a note left behind, they classified the case as retaliatory murder by the Devil Sect. They immediately strengthened the day and night patrols in the city.”

“The Yamen certainly can’t handle the Devil Sect, so they urgently dispatched a message to the Capital City. By my count, people from the Four Seas Pavilion and the Martial Arts Alliance from the Capital City should be arriving within these next few days.”

Seeing Jing Ke furrow her brow slightly and remain silent, the Waiter proceeded to spill every bit of information he knew.

“Regarding the Luo family, this humble one also knows that a distant uncle of Miss Luo’s has arrived. It’s this Uncle Luo who is currently managing the funeral affairs.”

The Waiter paused here and lowered his voice. “I hear this uncle was driven out by Squire Luo in the past. He’s a good-for-nothing scoundrel. This time, he’s probably seen that only a young girl is left in the Luo household, so…”

The Waiter didn’t finish the sentence, but both he and Jing Ke understood the implication.

“The Four Seas Pavilion is subordinate to the Imperial Court?” Jing Ke asked.

“Yes, the Four Seas Pavilion is filled with elite Imperial experts. Most are stationed in the Capital City protecting His Majesty. They only appear to investigate major incidents like this,” the Waiter explained. A flicker of confusion rose in his heart.

Wasn’t it common knowledge that the Four Seas Pavilion was under the Imperial Court? Even the three-year-old toddlers in his family knew that! How could this guest, who looked like someone from the Jianghu, not know?

“What about the Martial Arts Alliance?” Jing Ke continued. “What do you think of the Martial Arts Alliance?”

“The Martial Arts Alliance, ah. That’s an organization formed a hundred years ago by a group of highly respected Jianghu Seniors and Elders from various major Sects, specifically to oppose the Devil Sect. I think the people the Martial Arts Alliance sends will definitely be more reliable than those from the Four Seas Pavilion,” the Waiter said, weighing the silver in his hand and silently suppressing his internal doubt.

The one paying silver was the master, no matter what. Even if it was common knowledge known to three-year-olds, even if the guest was clueless enough not to know the current reign year, he still had to respectfully provide an answer!

“Will the Martial Arts Alliance protect ordinary commoners?” Jing Ke raised an eyebrow.

The Waiter was taken aback by the question. “I wouldn’t know about that, but if a family is killed by the Devil Sect, the Martial Arts Alliance will take in the survivors. If Miss Luo could gain the protection of the Martial Arts Alliance, she probably wouldn’t need to worry about the Devil Sect coming for her again.”

Jing Ke neither agreed nor disagreed. From the Waiter’s hesitation just now, she could already guess the answer.

Neither the Imperial Court’s Four Seas Pavilion nor the so-called Martial Arts Alliance were entities ordinary commoners could rely on.

The former existed to protect the Emperor and nobles and high officials. The latter was purely a Jianghu power. They were intervening this time solely because the perpetrator was the Devil Sect. If it had been any other Jianghu figure, they would likely have just shown up to perfunctorily glance around.

After getting the precise location of the Luo Residence from the Waiter, Jing Ke tossed him another piece of silver as payment for the tea and an extra tip.

The Luo Residence was in the north of the city, while the teahouse Jing Ke had been in was in the south. The distance from one end to the other was quite substantial.

Should she buy a Horse to ride over? Or should she simply use her Lightness Skill to fly there?

Jing Ke hesitated briefly between the two options before ultimately deciding on the more low-profile approach and chose the former.

After spending twenty taels of Silver Notes to buy a rather handsome-looking white Horse, Jing Ke nimbly mounted the steed and headed along the main road towards the north of the city.

–

Generally, after someone passed, burial was chosen seven days later. Then, rituals were held every seven days, continuing until the forty-ninth day, completing the mourning period.

Based on the timeline the Waiter provided, if the Luo family tragedy occurred seven nights ago, then tomorrow might very well be the day of the Luo family’s funeral procession.

Jing Ke mulled this over. Realizing that the Luo family members would soon be laid to rest, she quickly fabricated an identity for herself. She arrived on horseback at the Luo Residence, which was draped in white mourning couplets and cloth, just one Shichen before sunset.

Squire Luo had enjoyed a very good reputation during his lifetime, so quite a few people were inside the residence paying their respects. Occasionally, sounds of weeping could be heard from within.

Jing Ke’s visit dressed entirely in Profound Black attire to offer condolences was also perfectly acceptable. So, the Gatekeeper did not stop her but instead proactively offered to stable her Horse.

“Is your Miss also inside?” Jing Ke asked before entering the gate.

The newly appointed Gatekeeper hesitated for a moment. “Miss Luo kept vigil in the Mourning Hall without sleeping or resting for a long time. Third Master couldn’t bear to watch it any longer and insisted she go rest just this morning.”

Third Master? Jing Ke’s brow arched slightly. She quickly realized the “Third Master” the Gatekeeper mentioned was the scoundrel distant uncle the Waiter had spoken of.

“Could you please inform her that two years ago, Squire Luo made an agreement with me. If one day he should meet with misfortune, I would come to the Luo Residence to watch over his remaining family for three years.” Although this reason was completely fabricated by Jing Ke on the spot, it fit the current situation quite well.

Sure enough, after a brief hesitation, the Gatekeeper nodded in agreement. “Then I shall go and inquire with the maidservant attending Miss, to see if Miss is resting.”

“Thank you for the trouble,” Jing Ke said. She stood tall and ramrod-straight, waiting by the entrance.

After about half a quarter-hour, the Gatekeeper came trotting back. “My lady, although our Miss is not resting, there is already a guest from the Martial Arts Alliance inside the courtyard. You may need to wait a moment.”

“A visitor from the Martial Arts Alliance? I’ve also dealt quite a bit with people from the Martial Arts Alliance. Perhaps the one who came is an old acquaintance,” Jing Ke said, proactively stepping forward, seizing the initiative.

“Is Miss’s courtyard this way?” Jing Ke asked.

A troubled look crossed the Gatekeeper’s face, but unwilling to offend a Jianghu figure, he eventually nodded. “Yes, I will lead the way, my lady. Please, this way.”

After passing through a rather tastefully arranged small garden, Jing Ke smoothly arrived at the small courtyard where Luo Yuezhu was staying.

Before the Gatekeeper could even step inside to announce her, a male and female voice in conversation reached Jing Ke’s ears first.

“Thank you for your kindness, Hero Yu, but I have no intention of leaving this place. This is where I have lived since birth. I will remain here and learn to take over the businesses Father and Mother left behind,” Luo Yuezhu said.

Being only ten years old, her voice was still somewhat childlike, and her face was pale, almost bloodless, no better off than the mourning clothes she wore.

“Miss Luo, even if you come to the Martial Arts Alliance, you can still take charge of your respected parents’ legacy. Our Martial Arts Alliance will not seize your belongings, Miss. We are merely concerned that if members of the Devil Sect learn you are still alive, they may wish you harm.”

The one addressed as Hero Yu looked as if he had just barely reached the age of adulthood and received his cap. Had anyone else been addressing him, he would, at most, be called Young Hero Yu.

“If that is truly the case, then perhaps it is simply my fate. To reunite with Father, Mother, Elder Sister, and Elder Brother below would not be a bad thing,” Luo Yuezhu remained unmoved. Though her voice was youthful, it held firm resolve.

Just as the two sides reached a stalemate, the Gatekeeper knocked on the open door panel and announced, “Miss, this heroine here had an agreement with the Master. She has business with you.”

As Luo Yuezhu looked over, Jing Ke, a Long Sword hanging from her waist, stepped forward. She cupped her fist in a very Jianghu-style salute and then announced herself.

“Miss Luo, I am Jing Ke. Entrusted by Squire Luo, I am here to watch over you for three years.”