I looked at the unfamiliar number with some confusion.
The next moment, my heart tightened, and I quickly stood up, walking aside to answer the call.
As soon as the call connected, I could hear Xu Wanrong crying on the other end.
I knew immediately that something was wrong.
Sure enough, after sobbing a few times, Xu Wanrong spoke, "Master Li, my master is dead."
My hair stood on end, and I hurriedly asked, "When did this happen?"
"About an hour ago. My master told me to call you, saying that if anyone comes looking for you to save a girl with a Nine Yin fate, you must not go. That's a trap set by the Three Yin Sect."
Xu Wanrong began crying again, choking as she said, "Master Li, my master is gone, and I have no one to turn to in Hong Kong. What should I do now?"
The Three Yin Sect...
I gasped, realizing that this wasn't just a trap; it was a well-laid one.
I figured Tang Quan must have been in the same situation.
He wasn't foolish, and if he still went, he must have had no choice.
I said, "Wanrong, stop crying. First, take care of your master's affairs, then buy a plane ticket and come to me."
The Three Yin Sect's retaliation wouldn't just target me and Tang Quan—everyone around us could be implicated.
Everything had happened too suddenly, and I was in a bit of a panic.
After hanging up with Xu Wanrong, I took a few deep breaths to calm myself.
The first thing I did was call Aunt Su Yimei.
Su Yimei rarely contacted me, not because of any ill feelings, but because she kept her distance for her own safety and to protect Tingting.
When the call connected, I asked her to bring Tingting to my shop right away.
After hanging up, I called Zhan Ling. Before she could say anything, I shouted angrily, "Tang Quan is dead, people from the Three Yin Sect are in town, what are you demon hunters doing?"
Zhan Ling, stunned by my outburst, took a while before asking, "What happened?"
I snapped, "Isn't that something you should be asking?"
Her tone grew a little sharper, "Li Yang, you need to understand, dealing with the Three Yin Sect is not our responsibility—it's just a task."
Her words left me dumbfounded. I asked quietly, "What do you mean? Are you saying you won't help?"
When she heard the change in my tone, she softened and said, "Where are you? I'll come with Mr. Jiang."
Upon hearing her mention Mr. Jiang, I sighed in relief and told her I was at the shop.
Huang Jiu had a habit of eavesdropping on calls, and his expression was grim as he asked, "Tang Quan is dead?"
I nodded.
Huang Jiu shook his head. "Damn, he made money but couldn't spend it."
Looking back, I realized that the two million was probably too little for what happened.
I steadied myself and turned to look at the old lady.
She had been listening to my phone conversation and was now visibly nervous, gripping her cup tightly.
I walked over and asked, "Auntie, did they say anything else?"
Her voice trembled as she replied, "They said if you don't come by tomorrow, they'll dig out my daughter's heart." She started crying again.
From what she said, I understood how Tang Quan must have died.
Those crafty Hong Kong people...
But Tang Quan had received proper training. When faced with something like this, he would never back down.
The thought of the old man, whose Qi was so profound, still dying, made my head throb with pain.
Xiao Cui had been woken up by the noise. She rubbed her eyes like a confused pumpkin and, seeing me rubbing my head, asked with concern, "What happened?"
"It's nothing!" I forced a smile.
Maybe it's because there's no sorrow in the world of fools, but Xiao Cui just sat down nearby and started eating potato chips.
The old lady, fearing I wouldn't save her daughter, stood up, grabbed my hand, and knelt again.
Her crying was making me anxious, and her begging was beginning to irritate me.
However, I could understand her desperation. I patiently helped her up and said, "Don't worry, I will save your daughter. Just let me think for a moment and come up with a plan."
When the old lady heard that I would save her daughter, she cautiously moved to sit beside Xiao Cui.
Not long after, Aunt Su Yimei arrived with Tingting. The moment she stepped in, she furrowed her brows.
I didn't explain too much. I handed her the jade pendant that Hu Wenhui had given me and told her to take Xiao Cui and Tingting to Tianbao Pavilion's owner. The three of them should stay there tonight and not come back.
Aunt Su Yimei didn't ask any questions. She quickly coaxed Xiao Cui and Tingting, and they left in a hurry.
After sending them off, I finally felt a bit of relief.
It felt as though nothing could go wrong now, even if the sky were to fall.
Huang Jiu commented, "This won't do. We always act like the city gate is on fire when something happens."
I replied, "What else can we do?"
Those who walk the path between Yin and Yang are often isolated, fearing that any attachment could endanger others.
Relaxing a bit, I stopped focusing on the old lady and started discussing the Three Yin Sect's plan to use the Nine Yin fate in their scheme with Huang Jiu.
Huang Jiu, his human form rubbing his chin, said, "I just heard the old lady say that her daughter is locked in a room."
The old lady had been eavesdropping on our conversation, and now she spoke up, "That's what they said."
I asked, "You've never seen the room, right?"
The old lady nodded, "He said you would be able to find it."
Find it?
The city has hundreds of thousands of people, with countless houses. How am I supposed to find it without any clues?
While I was still trying to figure this out, Zhan Ling and Mr. Jiang entered.
However, just as they entered, a little beggar appeared at the door. The beggar poked his head inside and looked at Mr. Jiang. "Excuse me, are you Mr. Jiang?"
Mr. Jiang, suspicious, nodded.
The little beggar hurriedly pulled out a letter from his chest and placed it at the door. "Someone asked me to give you this!" He said, before turning and running away.
Mr. Jiang picked up the letter and immediately opened it.
After a quick glance, his expression changed.
He turned back to me and said, "Li Yang, I can't get involved in this!"
I quickly stood up, opening my mouth, but ultimately didn't speak.
The fact that he came here meant he no longer cared about the past. But now, saying he couldn't help meant that the contents of the letter had made him hesitate.
It seemed that the Three Yin Sect had even included the demon hunters in this scheme.
But what I couldn't understand was, someone like him, listed on the demon hunter ranking, what could threaten him?
I tried, "What if I use the Demon Hunter Order to ask for your help? Would you assist me?"
Mr. Jiang looked flustered, quickly saying, "Li Yang, I'm ranked far behind in the Demon Hunter rankings. If you use the Demon Hunter Order on me, it's a waste."
I hadn't planned on using the Demon Hunter Order, I was just testing him.
His panic showed that he had been threatened.
Though I couldn't pry further, I wouldn't pressure him.
I said, "Mr. Jiang, I'm grateful that you came here. I'll remember this favor."
Mr. Jiang lightly flicked the letter, and the paper instantly turned to dust. He sighed and said, "Li Yang, I'm sorry!"
Before even sitting down, Mr. Jiang rushed out.
I took a deep breath, feeling that things were taking a turn for the worse. Just as I sat back down, a large black umbrella appeared at the door.
The plague god Xiao Cui had chased away had come back.