Chapter 56

Cheng Shanping, on the verge of collapse, leaned against the cave wall but could not hold himself up, slowly sliding down along the wall. He turned his head with great effort to see the blood-soaked sword piercing his chest.

His gaze swept over the few people present, finally settling on Yu Qing, his eyes filled with unwillingness and deep hatred. He sat on the ground, gasping for breath, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.

Tie Miaqing and the other two slowly turned to look at Yu Qing, only to see that Yu Qing's hands were already empty, and the scabbard hanging from his waist was also empty. The sword that had been used to draw patterns on the ground had vanished from his hands.

Even without seeing it, the three could sense who had made the move just by hearing it, but they could hardly believe it, wanting to confirm it with their own eyes.

Even if they had seen it with their own eyes, the three found it hard to believe that this scholar, who was about to take the imperial exams, would suddenly kill someone, and right in front of them.

Yu Qing did not meet their gazes, slowly folding his hands in front of his abdomen, his face expressionless, as if it had nothing to do with him.

The reason he did not reveal Cheng Shanping as a traitor at first was that he could not be sure they would believe him, being an outsider.

He also could not be sure that they could control Cheng Shanping once he revealed it. If they did not control Cheng Shanping first, and he denied the accusations, it would be secondary. If his accusations angered Cheng Shanping, he would not be a match for him.

There was a significant gap in their abilities, and they were in an unequal position, which was the key point.

He wanted to use these people to control Cheng Shanping, to use their hands to render Cheng Shanping powerless. Otherwise, how could he avenge himself?

"What are you doing?" Tie Miaqing shouted at him, never having dreamed that he would break his word.

Sun Ping and his wife had already rushed to Cheng Shanping's side, supporting him.

After all, they had known each other for many years, and they instinctively tried to help, but they realized it was a fatal blow, a sword through the heart, already beyond saving. The moment the sword was pulled out, he would die, his eyes rolling, his body trembling slightly, his breath weakening rapidly.

Squatting on the ground, Sun Ping looked up and shook his head at Tie Miaqing.

Tie Miaqing lost control of her emotions on the spot, nearly hysterical, "A Shiheng, you said you would spare his life, why did you break your word?"

Yu Qing met her gaze briefly but ignored her, turning to look at Sun Ping instead, "Mr. Sun, I have no grudge against him. The first time we met, he tried to kill me, and I narrowly escaped. He did not give up, repeatedly trying to kill me, but failed. If I had not noticed this time, and we fell into the hands of Jianyuan Hall, do you think he would not blame me? Do you think he would let me off easily?

Now that I have helped you ruin Jianyuan Hall's plans, he is exposed to them. I don't know if he still has any value to them. If we let him go... he might not blame you, but can you guess if he would blame me? If Jianyuan Hall kills his mother, the grudge would be even greater. I don't want to guard against such an enemy for a long time.

If we let him go, even if we escape now, with him around, if he helps Jianyuan Hall intercept us, can you be sure you can return to Youjiao Bu smoothly? He knows you too well! You can be indifferent, but I still want to live and take the imperial exams. Mr. Sun, he has always wanted to kill me, but failed. Now he is in my hands. Mr. Sun, please give me a reason not to kill him!"

Sun Ping's brows furrowed, and he fell silent.

Tie Miaqing, almost ready to attack, shouted, "You said you would give him a chance to live!"

Yu Qing replied, "I said the boss lady was willing to give him a chance to live, but I never said I would!"

Watching his old partner die in his arms, Zhu Shangbiao's eyes turned red, and he lunged at Yu Qing.

Sun Ping was startled and quickly followed, grabbing her husband.

Zhu Shangbiao had already grabbed Yu Qing's shirt, roaring, "Little thief, do you believe I will kill you?"

Sun Ping grabbed his wrist, shouting, "Let go!"

She did not know that the third fire cricket had already been caught, and she remained relatively calm.

Zhu Shangbiao, with red eyes, refused to let go, breathing heavily, and for once did not listen to his wife.

Yu Qing said calmly, "If Cheng Shanping had not met with Jianyuan Hall, I would believe you could kill me. But now that he has met them, do you think he would not tell Jianyuan Hall about the three people from the Sannan Bureau here? If I die at your hands, Jianyuan Hall would be delighted, making you do whatever they want, forcing you to hand over the fire cricket. You would not dare to refuse!"

Upon discovering that Cheng Shanping was a traitor and confirming his collusion with other shops, he had a plan to ensure his own safety.

In a sense, A Shiheng's willingness to let him take the risk of taking the exam on his behalf was not without reason; he understood him.

"You..." Zhu Shangbiao was furious.

Sun Ping used her strength to pry open his hand and pulled him away, "Get out of here!"

Tie Miaqing glared at Yu Qing, her voice filled with hatred, "You knew he was a traitor all along. You were not trying to control him to verify anything, but to use my hands to control him so you could act. You planned to use my hands to kill him from the beginning!" At this moment, she finally understood Yu Qing's intentions.

Yu Qing said calmly, "Would you rather protect a traitor, even if it poses a fatal threat, and continue to make mistakes? If I had known the boss lady was so incapable of distinguishing right from wrong, not recognizing my contributions and instead blaming me for my mistakes, I could have said nothing and joined the more powerful Jianyuan Hall. Whether you could bring back the fire cricket would have nothing to do with me.

I could even have secretly revealed the truth and colluded with Cheng Shanping to trick you. Jianyuan Hall would get the fire cricket, and Cheng Shanping could continue to be a traitor by your side, pursuing his plans. How good would that be? I wouldn't have to be in such a difficult position!"

Sun Ping raised her hand to stop him from speaking and then tried to calm the agitated Tie Miaqing, "Miss, Old Cheng brought this upon himself. Given the situation, it's best to grieve in moderation and think about the living. Miss, the boss is waiting for us to save him."

Her implication was that they still needed Yu Qing to find the third fire cricket and figure out how to escape.

Yu Qing did not mention that he had already found all the fire crickets, leaving it to Tie Miaqing to decide. If they could not get over this hump and attracted Jianyuan Hall, he would not care about their lives, nor could he, and would only think of his own escape.

"Miss, Old Cheng has already admitted it. Jianyuan Hall is lying in wait outside. Escaping now is the priority..."

After Sun Ping's persistent persuasion, Tie Miaqing's emotions gradually calmed down. The situation was dire, and she had to suppress her emotions and ask, "You said you had a way to escape, is that true?"

Having a way to escape? Sun Ping immediately focused on Yu Qing, which was what she was most anxious about now.

Yu Qing said, "I do have a way, but your attitude is scary. I'm afraid you might turn on me after I help you."

Sun Ping sighed, "A Shiheng, you are a sensible person. You have made it clear that Jianyuan Hall knows your identity. We will not harm you."

Yu Qing was waiting for this assurance. Without another word, he walked to Cheng Shanping's body, bent down, and gripped the sword handle. He recalled the moment Cheng Shanping had stepped on his face and the time he nearly strangled him, a cold smile appearing on his lips. He thought to himself, "Do you think I am so easy to deceive just because I am not as cunning as you?"

He pulled the sword from the body, sheathed it, and then squatted beside the body, reaching into Cheng Shanping's clothes to retrieve his belongings, including the demon-revealing dew and rainbow silk, stuffing them back into his own clothes.

Even the dead were not spared, and Zhu Shangbiao was infuriated by his actions. However, before he could speak, Sun Ping stopped him, sighing and shaking her head. It was already this bad, and it was not wise to argue with him.

With his belongings in hand, and the silver notes seemingly more than before, Yu Qing did not count them in public, feeling the solid weight, and quickly put them in his clothes. Standing up, he said to the three who were staring at him, "Let's be clear, I am taking back what is mine, what he took from me."

If it were not for his most valuable possessions being in Cheng Shanping's hands, the situation might not have escalated to this point.

When he first discovered that Cheng Shanping was a traitor, he did not know what forces were behind him and did not dare to offend him lightly. His first thought was to secretly reveal the truth to Tie Miaqing and others, then find an excuse to separate Cheng Shanping from the group and run away.

However, thinking of his most valuable possessions in Cheng Shanping's hands and the old grudges, he could not swallow his anger and act otherwise.

Sun Ping ignored the scene, trying to remain calm, "Do you really have a way to escape?"

Having recovered his belongings, Yu Qing felt much better, glancing at the silent Tie Miaqing, he said, "If you are willing to listen to me, I have a way. If not, I don't."

Sun Ping sighed, "It's already this bad, just tell us."

Yu Qing turned to her and Zhu Shangbiao, "You two go outside and act as if nothing has happened. Cut down a nearby tree and bring it in."

Sun Ping was puzzled, "Cut down a tree? What for? Are we still catching the fire cricket here?"

"You'll see." Yu Qing said and fell silent, not feeling the need to rush when the anxious ones were not.

He thought to himself, "No matter how beautiful you are, you're not mine. Why should I care about your mood?"

Sun Ping was frustrated by his attitude and was about to ask again when Tie Miaqing finally spoke, "Do as he says. The third fire cricket has been caught and is temporarily in the tunnel."

"Caught?" Sun Ping and her husband said in unison, both stunned, their gazes shifting from Tie Miaqing to Yu Qing, surprised and amazed.

Without further questions, Sun Ping waved to her husband, and they both rushed out of the cave...

"Look, Sir."

Hidden behind the thorny bushes, Wu Kuang pointed to the couple emerging from the cave.

Cui You pressed his hand down, having seen it too, and watched them cutting down a tree.

With Sun Ping's cultivation, cutting down a tree was no problem. After cutting it into several pieces, they brought it into the cave.

Wu Kuang was puzzled, "Sir, why are they cutting down a tree?"

Cui You knew it was for catching the fire cricket and sighed in relief, "It seems they are still busy inside. Everyone, continue to lie low, and do not alert them!"