Chapter 666: Hunch

Chapter 666: Hunch

“Two days before Brother Tea’s death, he sought me out.” Chestnut narrowed her eyes and recalled the memory. “It was night. He brought me food and alcohol. We talked about nothing in particular as we ate. Then Brother Tea suddenly asked if I could make him a weapon.”

“Weapon?” Chen Ying questioned.

“I found it strange, too. His Talent didn’t require a weapon. I suppose a pair of boxing gloves would work.” Chestnut shrugged. “But he didn’t ask for gloves, but a needle.”

Chen Ying was even more confused. “Needle?”

“Yeah.” Chestnut nodded. “I’ve received many strange commissions, but it was the first time someone asked me for a needle.”

“Why did he want one?”

“He asked for a Black Gold needle that would seriously injure the target’s soul and drive it out without hurting the body.”

Bemused, Chen Ying asked, “How did you respond?”

“I said I couldn’t do it. It seemed absurd.” Chestnut scratched her head and hesitated. “Well, it’s not entirely impossible on paper. I could make a Black Gold needle and had Jiang Hao enchant it for me, on the premise that we find the energy of an awakener who can do spiritual damage. Even if I make a weapon that damages the soul, though, it won’t drive a soul out of a body. It’s too difficult to make into reality; I’d say it’s nigh impossible.”

Chestnut cocked her head. “Brother Tea thought it was a baseless idea, too, and he gave up.”

“Before he went, he told me to keep it a secret for my own good, but he died after two days. I knew he must have gotten into some serious trouble.”

Chen Ying digested the information she had gathered. “Did he leave anything? A note, a statement, or an object.”

Chestnut shook her head. “No.”

Chen Ying had a feeling that she wouldn’t get more out of Chestnut. “Okay. Thank you. And keep my visit a secret.”

Chestnut suddenly asked, “May I know who else is suspected?”

Chen Ying smiled apologetically. She couldn’t tell her.

Chestnut didn’t press.

She walked Chen Ying out. Before Chen Ying left, she warned, “If you trust me, Chestnut, please stay here and don’t come into personal contact with anyone at the Union, especially the female members.” NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

Chestnut nodded. “I understand.”

“Then I do.” War Tiger moved his right foot forward with a backward grip around the hilt, tucking his hand to his waist in the posture of iaido[2]. “You aren’t gonna live til the very end anyway. There’s no difference in dying early or dying late.”

“You’re insane!” Chen Ying yelled. “The Hundred Rivers Union will see this as a declaration of war...”

Whoosh. War Tiger made a slash at Chen Ying like a phantom. There was a flash of indigo light.

Chen Ying didn’t even catch his movement before her vision blurred. A gust of wind swept her hair back, cutting and scattering strands of her hair. The cold blade pressed into her neck.

War Tiger hadn’t used the blade aura of Killing Expert; otherwise, Chen Ying would’ve been decapitated even though the blade hadn’t cut into her flesh.

Fear seized her heart. It wasn’t until she made sure that her head was still attached to her neck that her heartbeat relented.

Thump...thump, thump, thump!

Fear, frustration, anger, relief... A myriad of emotions rushed up to her.

Thank God War Tiger didn’t kill me. He’s just trying to scare me into confessing.

“Haha, good. You’re strong-willed.” War Tiger sheathed his blade. “Alright. You’ve proven yourself. I apologize.”

A bead of cold sweat streaked down Chen Ying’s cheek. She did her best to maintain her composure. “War Tiger, your action...”

“I lied,” War Tiger cut her off with a scoff.

Chen Ying’s eyes widened. There was a cold stab in her chest. She looked down in disbelief to see that War Tiger was holding a dagger with his other hand, and the dagger had buried into her chest.

White hot pain bloomed like a flower, and soon, Chen Ying lost the sensation of her heart. It seemed that her heart had stopped beating after getting stabbed.

War Tiger was still smiling at her.

“You...”

Chen Ying reached out to War Tiger’s face, but in the end, she couldn’t do it.

She toppled backward to the ground, blood leaking out from a corner of her mouth.

1. Dust is chen-ai in the raw. ☜

2. A Japanese martial art that emphasizes quickly drawing the sword and responding to sudden attacks. ☜