Chapter 60 Investigation

It seemed that only when she sensed I genuinely harbored killing intent did a trace of genuine panic finally flicker across Lvsheng's expression.

Even so, that look of fright vanished in the blink of an eye.

"You want to know the answer that badly? I'm afraid you won't be able to bear it!"

Lvsheng suddenly smiled at me, her demeanor shifting as if she had suddenly come to terms with something.

Just as I thought she was about to reveal the truth, a piercing, bone-chilling murderous intent flashed fiercely across her eyes.

Oh no, I’ve been tricked!

A wave of dread washed over me, but by the time I tried to retaliate, it was already too late.

At that exact moment, a freezing gust of yin energy lunged directly at my chest, leaving me with no choice except to twist away and dodge.

Still, I was a fraction of a second too slow. A heavy, devastating blow slammed into the left side of my ribcage, and a mouthful of fresh blood instantly spewed from my lips.

I knew immediately that I had sustained a severe injury.

Blasted backward by the sheer force of the impact, I stumbled continuously, feeling as though the ribs on my left side were cracking under the strain.

My retreat only stopped when my back collided hard against the wall.

Enduring the agonizing pain, I reached down and pulled open my shirt to take a look. Imprinted clearly across the left side of my chest was a massive, dark fist print.

Judging by its appearance, it looked as though I had been struck with full force by a hulking brute.

"You're keeping Yin soldiers? Aren't you afraid the Underworld will dispatch envoys to drag you down?"

Spitting out the remaining foul blood from my mouth, I glared at her. This wretched woman, relying on the Blind-Eye Formation to shield herself, actually dared to harbor Underworld soldiers right here in the mortal realm.

Damn it all, I had underestimated her!

These Yin soldiers were originally deployed by the Underworld to escort the souls of the recently deceased back to the nether regions, yet now this creature kept one tamed right by her side.

It seemed she was truly audacious, utterly devoid of fear toward the soul-reaping emissaries of the netherworld.

"Heh, are you scared, Chen Qiyue?"

"Weren't you acting all arrogant just a moment ago, boasting that you'd kill me within a minute? Take a look around and see where you are. You're a long way from being able to kill me!"

"I advise you to obediently stay right here and serve as a lackey. Perhaps if you do, I might spare your life!"

Lvsheng massaged her neck with her palm. The spot where I had choked her earlier was now deeply inflamed and red.

"You little bastard, you certainly don't pull your punches. If I hadn't made preparations in advance, I might have actually perished at your hands!"

She muttered, continuing to rub her sore neck.

"Old Mo, subdue him, but don't kill him just yet. I still have use for him."

Lvsheng shouted toward the empty air beside her. Evidently, the Yin soldier that had injured me was standing right there.

However, since I was currently unable to channel my profound yang energy, I couldn't activate the Heavenly Eye Technique, leaving me completely blind to the entity lurking in the shadows.

The moment Lvsheng finished speaking, a chilling gust of wind swept toward me. Relying solely on the direction from which the freezing air flowed, I forcefully bit the tip of my tongue and spat a large mouthful of vital blood straight ahead.

As a virgin, my tongue-tip blood was exceptionally potent and brimming with pure yang energy.

Even if it couldn't destroy the Yin soldier outright, getting hit by my tongue-tip blood would temporarily strip away its urge to attack.

After all, being a Yin soldier, it possessed a degree of spiritual intelligence.

It surely knew how difficult it was to cultivate such a state, and if it perished here, all its efforts would be reduced to nothing!

My gamble paid off.

The moment I spat out the vital blood, that chilling wind immediately veered away from me, halting its assault.

"Old Mo, don't be afraid. This bastard has already been heavily wounded by you. He doesn't have enough cultivation left to trade blows with you. Catch him, and our mission will be an absolute success!"

Lvsheng called out anxiously toward the empty air on one side, clearly still harboring lingering dread of me.

Prompted by her words, the previously retreating gust of wind circled back and lunged toward me once more.

I knew full well that once a Yin soldier set its mind on capturing you, trying to drive it away with threats became exceedingly difficult.

Just as I hesitated over whether I should forcefully tap into my profound yang energy, the murderous aura of the Yin soldier closed in right before my chest.

And just as it prepared to strike me down, a piercing, icy shout rang out.

"Cease this instantly!"

The thunderous roar echoed through the space, instantly scattering the incoming wave of ghostly energy into nothingness.

It was a female voice, and judging by its tone, the speaker could not have been very old.

I stood there in a daze, having no idea whose voice this belonged to.

Yet one thing was certain: the sheer presence carried by that single command was overwhelming.

With merely a few words, the aura of the Yin soldier had vanished completely.

Lvsheng, meanwhile, was clearly terrified of the owner of that voice. Upon hearing the command, she immediately stood rigidly at attention by the side, her eyes fixed firmly on the space behind me.

"Lvsheng, how are you handling things? This Chen Qiyue is the successor of the Qingma Physiognomy! Show some respect!"

The female voice rang out once more. It sounded ethereal and clear, confirming it belonged to a very young woman.

I glanced back over my shoulder, but saw no one there. Moreover, the paper crane in my pocket gave off no warning pulses, indicating there were no supernatural entities lingering nearby.

That was strange!

Where on earth was the owner of this voice hiding?

This room was wide open, and it certainly didn't look like it was fitted with hidden surveillance monitors.

"I'm sorry, Boss. I was wrong!"

Lvsheng lowered her head, speaking with utmost reverence toward the empty space behind my back.

A moment later.

The female voice echoed once again, this time directed straight at me:

"Chen Qiyue, what on earth brought you here to tear my club apart today? If you can't give me a proper explanation, then even if you are the heir to the Qingma Physiognomy, I won't let you off easily! If you don't believe me, feel free to try me!"

Though it sounded like a casual remark, it was underpinned by a majestic, towering aura.

That immense pressure felt strikingly similar to the presence of the Netherworld General I had encountered back at the Liu family villa.

Not daring to act rashly, I cupped my hands and bowed toward the empty air around me, saying:

"Senior, I was driven to this by sheer desperation. The arranged bride chosen for me by my grandfather was branded with an infant spirit's curse right here. Even though we've broken off our engagement, I cannot simply stand by and watch her meet a tragic end! That is why I came."

"How interesting! Are you claiming that your former fiancée met her misfortune right here in my establishment? Our club has always operated on the principle of putting customers first—how could we possibly harm them? Surely you must be mistaken!"

The voice replied in an unquestionable, authoritative tone.

"Yet she came nowhere else except this place, and has not stepped foot outside anywhere else since. Of that much, I am certain!"

I cupped my fists again, speaking respectfully to the unseen mastermind hidden in the shadows.

After a brief silence, the female voice spoke once more:

"Since the successor of the Qingma Physiognomy is so certain, I will reluctantly make an exception. But remember, this is the first and last time. There will never be a next time."

"I will give you thirty minutes to search every nook and cranny of this club. But heed this well: you have precisely thirty minutes. Not a single second more!"

"Chen Qiyue, remember this: I am not granting you this courtesy for your own sake. Out of those thirty minutes, fifteen are given out of respect for your grandfather, the Golden Point Master. Another ten minutes are granted for the sake of the old man wielding the Demon-Shattering Golden Mace. And the final five minutes are granted for the sake of Blind Li, whom you just met." p(O)velch0n.c0m

"I will have Lvsheng accompany you. Within these thirty minutes, you are free to investigate every corner of the club, both inside and out."

"However, bear in mind that you only have thirty minutes! You are permitted to use arcane arts! The moment the time is up, get the hell out of here immediately!"

Hearing the woman's decree, Lvsheng nodded submissively.

She then motioned for me to exit the room, trailing silently behind me the entire way.

Knowing I only had a thirty-minute window, I had to locate the source of the curse afflicting Liu Qingqing as quickly as possible.

I began by inspecting the first floor, which was entirely dedicated to women's skincare and cosmetic treatments, containing nothing out of the ordinary.

Since the owner had granted me permission to use mystical arts during this half-hour, I opened my Heavenly Eye to accelerate my search.

A sweep of the first floor yielded nothing.

I rushed up to the second floor, only to find it equally barren of clues.

Without pausing, I bolted straight up to the third floor.

The third floor was a gambling den, serving as a recreational lounge for the female patrons.

The moment I stepped onto the floor, a wave of gloomy yin energy washed over me.

Scanning the area, I spotted several minor ghost entities crouching in the corners near the gaming tables, glaring at me with low, muted growls.

However, red threads were tied tightly around each of their necks, indicating they were little gambling ghosts kept in captivity by the house!

Raising minor gambling spirits in a casino was a common practice designed to tilt the house in the establishment's favor.

After all, nine out of ten gamblers lose, and regardless of who won or lost at the tables, the final victor was always determined by the house!