Chapter 38: Trouble Follows Where the Widow Dwells

The two men led their horses directly toward the Huang residence. As the largest family in Anli County, the Huang estate was naturally quite opulent. However, following the death of the family head, Huang Zaoze, the residence now appeared somewhat desolate. Without Huang Zaoze to hold the fort, his widow and young son were utterly incapable of protecting the family legacy. In the shadows, many were eyeing this piece of prime meat. They refrained from descending upon it only because they were waiting for a signal from the Mu family; if the Mu family failed to send representatives after a few days, it would mean they had abandoned the Huangs.

Yu Qi and Mu Qingnan entered the Huang residence together. A beautiful woman dressed in white mourning clothes emerged, cradling a small boy. Her face was streaked with tears. "Young Master Mu, you must seek justice for my husband," she pleaded. As she spoke, more tears spilled forth. The child, still too young to understand, began to wail upon seeing his mother cry.

"Madam Huang, may we see the body of the family head?" Yu Qi asked. Though he sympathized with the mother and child, he could not bring Huang Zaoze back to life; all he could do was help them find the killer.

"Please, follow me." Seeing that Yu Qi had arrived with Mu Qingnan, the woman dared not refuse. Wiping away her tears, she led them into the main hall.

The hall was filled with funeral offerings. A coffin rested in the center, with a maid burning paper money nearby. Yu Qi and Mu Qingnan approached. After receiving a nod from Madam Huang, Yu Qi slid the lid open. Inside lay a man of about thirty, his face deathly pale, devoid of any sign of life. Across his throat was a horrifying, clean-cut wound. After a brief glance, Yu Qi closed the coffin.

"This is a sword wound," Yu Qi said. As a swordsman himself, he knew the nature of such injuries all too well. He turned to Madam Huang. "Do you know who killed him?"

Madam Huang shook her head, sobbing, "I do not know who it was, but Cai'er saw the assailant that night." She called out to the maid, who was still burning paper money.

Cai'er stood up hurriedly and bowed. "That night, I brought the Master his tea and happened to see a person wrapped entirely in white robes leaping out of the study. When I entered, I found the Master lying in a pool of blood."

Madam Huang began to weep again.

"Do you know if the person was a man or a woman?" Yu Qi pressed.

Cai'er shook her head. "I am not sure. Their face was covered by a white veil, but their height seemed about the same as yours, young master."

Yu Qi fell into deep thought. Beyond the nature of the wound, this was the only useful information. Mu Qingnan was also pondering. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, he said, "Big brother, don't you think this sounds exactly like the person I bumped into in Fenghua City?"

Yu Qi’s eyes brightened. Both were wrapped in white robes and of similar height. This bizarre attire seemed unique to that individual in these parts. The only uncertainty was whether he used a sword.

Just then, a maid ran in, looking terrified. "Madam, it is bad! Tan Yulin is here again."

Madam Huang’s face changed, flashes of fury appearing in her eyes. Noticing this, Yu Qi asked, "Madam Huang, who is this Tan Yulin?"

"He is the son of the master of the Wanli Money House here in Anli County," she sobbed. "He coveted my looks even before I married into the Huang family. He backed off after I wed, but since my husband's death, he has been constantly harassing me."

With her husband dead and no one to rely on, she was at a loss. If not for her son, she would have ended her own life.

"Beauty Huang, have you missed me? Hahahaha!" A voice boomed as a man swaggered into the hall. He was somewhat handsome, but his eyes were lecherous as they scanned the widow.

Tan Yulin looked at Yu Qi and Mu Qingnan, a frivolous smile curling his lips. "Oh, Beauty Huang, your husband isn't even in the ground yet, and you've already found two pretty boys? Looks like you aren't much better than the rest."

Yu Qi frowned, and even the usually mild-tempered Mu Qingnan grew incensed. Just as Mu was about to erupt, Yu Qi held him back. He would not act recklessly until he knew the opponent's strength. Although Tan Yulin knew of the Mu family’s influence, he had never met Mu Qingnan. Had he known who stood before him, he would not have dared to speak so.

Though Tan Yulin’s ostensible goal was Madam Huang, he was actually coveting the Huang family’s entire fortune. If he could force her to remarry him, he would control the estate, and he could claim to the Mu family that it was her choice.

"Tan Yulin, have you no shame?" Madam Huang cried, though she lacked the power to oppose him. The boy in her arms began to cry again.

"Tsk, tsk, Beauty Huang. The Mu family doesn't care about a tiny family like yours; you should remarry sooner rather than later," Tan said, kicking the coffin. "Many people are eyeing your estate. If you marry me, I can take care of you." He turned to Yu Qi and Mu Qingnan with a threatening glare. "The Huang family is mine. If you two know what's good for you, get out."

He unleashed his aura, pressing down on them. "Otherwise, I think Huang Zaoze would be happy to have two young men to keep him company in the grave."

Yu Qi’s expression turned icy. He sensed the man’s strength was roughly on par with Meng Po’s. In this county, he was a master, but before Yu Qi, he was an ant. With a flash of light, Yu Qi’s sword, Frost, was already at the man’s throat. "For the sake of the Wanli Money House, I will spare you," Yu Qi said coldly. "Get out now. If you dare harass Madam Huang again, I think the family head would be happy to have you join him in the grave."

Tan Yulin stared in terror at the blade, feeling the biting cold of the steel. He swallowed hard. He had not expected the two youths he thought he could crush to be such formidable experts. Pale and trembling, he stammered, "I... I understand. Thank you for your mercy, hero. I... I'm leaving!" He backed away and fled in a panic.

"Thank you, young hero," Madam Huang said, her face full of gratitude.

"It is nothing," Yu Qi replied, sheathing his sword. "Such scum—if not for his connections, I would have killed him."

"Big brother, why didn't you kill him?" Mu Qingnan asked, still feeling the sting of the insult.

Yu Qi shook his head. "Qingnan, he is detestable, but he hasn't committed a capital crime yet. If we kill him, the Money House will retaliate, and we will invite unnecessary trouble. Scaring him is enough; if he returns, it will not be too late to finish him."

In the shadows, Su Dongli watched and nodded to himself. *Yu Qi’s temperament is excellent—he knows how to distinguish right from wrong, though the young master still lacks experience.*

As night fell, they stayed at the Huang residence, planning to resume the hunt at dawn. The next day, they bid farewell to Madam Huang. Though the killer was elusive, such strange attire would surely have been noticed. They soon found a lead at a local inn; the proprietor confirmed a man matching the description had stayed one night and left the next day.

At a stable near the city gates, they found more clues. The man had bought a horse and headed toward Guozi Mountain.

After thanking the stable master, Yu Qi and Mu Qingnan rode out. On the way, Yu Qi asked, "Qingnan, how far is Guozi Mountain?"

"About ten miles. The scenery is beautiful; I used to sneak out to play there," Mu Qingnan laughed.

They reached the foot of the mountain quickly. The peak was verdant, draped in colorful fruits. Yu Qi dismounted and inspected the path. He spotted horse tracks and turned to Mu Qingnan. "If this is indeed the man we encountered before, we must be careful. His strength is likely on par with my own."