Chapter 115: Death’s Grasp

Cao Yue scratched his bald head and looked at Wu Yi. “So we’re just going to let that mute girl—and the Cloud-Nether Bone Flute in her possession—go?”

Wu Yi narrowed his eyes. “In my opinion, that mute girl must have a close relationship with Su Nian. Otherwise, there is no way she would possess Su Nian’s magical artifact, the Cloud-Nether Bone Flute.”

Cao Yue’s eyes widened. “Then all the more reason to capture the girl immediately and wipe out the roots!”

“We can’t rush this. That mute girl is certainly not living alone in Yan City. If we intend to wipe out the roots, we must first find out who is around her and what their backgrounds are,” Wu Yi said. “In any case, this matter is far from trivial. We should return to the Murong Residence and report it to Hall Master Wu.”

Although Cao Yue and Wu Yi did not bear the surname Murong, they were both disciples of the Murong Clan and served the clan with their lives.

A vast immortal-cultivating clan such as the Murongs naturally needed to maintain a powerful force to act on its behalf.

Thus, the Crimson Wolf Hall had come into being.

The Crimson Wolf Hall was the martial organization subordinate to the Murong Clan. Most of its members were disciples of the Murong family.

The ambush that had killed Su Nian back then had been carried out by the Crimson Wolf Hall.

The Crimson Wolf Hall had six deputy leaders, each of whom was addressed as a Hall Master.

Three years ago, the tragic death of Murong Jingtian and the sudden disappearance of Murong Qingyi had led Clan Head Murong Xiao to believe that someone was coveting the Murong Clan’s influence in Yan City and had secretly murdered two of its descendants.

Thus, Murong Xiao had dispatched one of the Crimson Wolf Hall’s Hall Masters, Wu Hun, to oversee Yan City.

Now that Murong Jingliu and Murong Jing had returned to Luo City, all matters concerning the Murong Clan in Yan City had been placed under Wu Hun’s authority.

Wu Hun possessed profound cultivation. He had once been an immortal master of the Supreme Void Palace, but later withdrew from the palace and became a disciple of the Murong Clan.

Wu Hun’s presence in Yan City served two purposes: to secretly investigate the identity of the culprit who had killed Murong Jingtian, and to deter those who intended to strike at the Murong Clan from the shadows.

On their way back to the Murong Residence, Cao Yue and Wu Yi passed a gambling house. Cao Yue rubbed his hands together and grinned at Wu Yi.

“Wu Yi, you go back to the Murong Residence on your own. I’m going into the gambling house to slaughter them in every direction and raise a little operating money for our Crimson Wolf Hall.”

Wu Yi rolled his eyes. “Take it easy. Don’t gamble away all your blades.”

Wu Yi knew that once Cao Yue’s gambling addiction took hold, no one could stop him. He therefore returned to the Murong Residence alone and personally reported to Wu Hun that they had discovered the Cloud-Nether Bone Flute.

As Wu Hun toyed with a jade thumb ring, he said, “Go immediately and find out who is behind that mute girl.”

Less than an hour later, a spy returned with a report.

“Hall Master Wu, we’ve found out. The mute girl is called Song Yan. She has an elder brother who works at the prefectural office. He is the head of the office’s constable division, and his name is Song Ye.”

Wu Hun frowned slightly. “Is this Song Ye merely an ordinary constable at the prefectural office? What connection could he possibly have with Su Nian?”

“That Song Ye is no ordinary man,” the spy replied. “He nearly became the son-in-law of a princess of the Li Kingdom’s imperial court.”

“Oh? A constable nearly became a prince consort? What happened? Tell me everything.”

The gossip-loving spirit within Wu Hun had been thoroughly awakened.

The spy then told him the ill-fated love story between Song Ye and Li Qingyu.

After listening, Wu Hun laughed gleefully. “Ha! That Song Ye must hate the Demon Venerable of the Profound Abyss to the bone. If the Demon Venerable had not suddenly appeared, ruined the wedding, and caused the princess to vanish, Song Ye would already be a high-born prince consort by now.”

“Still, he cannot blame anyone else. He simply was not blessed with that fortune.”

“Even so, he was once a prospective prince consort. His status is far from ordinary, so we cannot act against him openly.”

“Wait until nightfall, then capture the brother and sister together and interrogate them thoroughly. I will lead the operation personally.”

“But we are only capturing a mortal clerk and a mute girl. Why should Hall Master Wu trouble himself?” someone beside him asked.

Wu Hun shook his head. “Anything involving Su Nian is far from trivial.”

“Furthermore, because the Celestial Decree Sect is going to publicly execute the Demon Venerable of Absolute Yin in Yan City, many cultivators of unknown origin have recently entered the city.”

“To ensure nothing goes wrong, I must take action myself.”

…

That night, Pear Blossom Lane in Yong’an Ward.

The hour of the Boar.

By the dim, yellow candlelight inside the room, Song Ye lay on the bed, carefully examining the Cloud-Nether Bone Flute in his hand.

Madam Xu had already told him that someone had questioned Song Yan about the flute during the day. The owner of the noodle stall had recounted the incident to Madam Xu afterward.

Song Ye reasoned that the two people who had questioned Song Yan during the day most likely knew something about her origins. Whether their intentions toward her were benevolent or malicious, however, remained unknown.

In truth, Qin Xuanxi should have reminded Song Ye that the Cloud-Nether Bone Flute had to be kept hidden and should never be displayed casually before outsiders. Later, however, Qin Xuanxi had become preoccupied with capturing the Flute Immortal and had overlooked the matter.

Song Ye felt that those two people would not be satisfied with merely asking Song Yan a few questions during the day. They would certainly come knocking again—and the next visit would very likely take place deep in the night.

For safety’s sake, Song Ye had therefore let Song Yan sleep in his room that night.

For Song Yan, being able to sleep in the same room as Song Ye was a source of immense happiness. She slept especially soundly. At that moment, she was fast asleep beside him, the corners of her mouth curved in a faint smile, dreaming some unknown pleasant dream.

Suddenly, Song Ye’s extraordinary hearing detected someone approaching his small courtyard.

There were seven of them.

Song Ye slipped the bone flute into his pocket. Just as he had expected, they had indeed come.

At the same time, the voice of the game system rang out in his mind.

“Ding. Title mission, ‘Life Reaper,’ activated.”

“Mission requirement: Kill the seven invading enemies before the hour of the Rabbit.”

“Mission reward: Obtain the permanent title ‘Life Reaper.’”

Title attribute of “Life Reaper”:

+300 Vitality.

+50 Spirit Essence.

Once Song Ye obtained the title, he would gain its corresponding attributes. Moreover, when he possessed multiple titles, the attributes of all those titles would stack upon him in their entirety.

Titles could therefore become another means by which Song Ye strengthened his physical body.

Most importantly, title attributes were bound to him personally. He could take them out of the Profound Victory Continent and bring them back to the modern world.

As for Song Ye’s guardians, guardian abilities, and demon pets, they could not be brought back to the modern world. But that was a matter for later.

At that moment, Song Yan seemed to sense something as well. She suddenly sat up in bed and stared blankly at Song Ye with her wide eyes.

Song Ye gently stroked her head. “Is the candlelight too bright?”

As he spoke, he took out a strip of black cloth and tied it over her eyes.

“Song Yan, be good. Stay in bed and don’t move. It will all be over soon.”

Then Song Ye rose from the bed and opened the door.

With a single thought—

Change clothes!

The moment he stepped out of the room, his clothing instantly transformed into the dazzlingly stylish outfit known as “Clouds Over a Thousand Snows.”

It seemed he had not stretched his muscles properly in quite some time.