Chapter 37: You deserve to die!

“Found them?”

A wisp of sinister wind swept in, and Zhang Lingshan felt a bone-chilling cold rush through his body, making him shudder uncontrollably.

Then, he saw a face that he could never forget, no matter how hard he tried.

A sudden sense of horror gripped his heart!

The same slender beauty, the same bright red dress and embroidered shoes; the only difference was that she was not holding that vibrant green oil-paper umbrella.

However, Zhang Lingshan noticed that while she wasn't holding the umbrella open, it was still carried on her back.

In other words, had the woman who once said on Qinghe Road, "The Netherworld is conducting business, bystanders stay back," been resurrected?

But she didn't seem to recognize him. Instead, her willow-like brows furrowed slightly as she huffed, "You're saying *he* is the one who caused my sister's death? A mere mortal who trembles in fear just by seeing me—is he even worthy!?"

'Sister?'

Zhang Lingshan understood immediately.

So that was why the evil entity could appear in broad daylight to terrify people; it wasn't that woman, but her sister.

Had she come here to investigate the cause of her sister's death?

But so much time had passed; what could she possibly investigate now?

No, that wasn't right!

He had only met that woman once, yet they had managed to track him down. This meant they possessed mysterious methods beyond his knowledge.

It was clear that these two, just like the previous woman, were powerhouses from another dimension!

To them, a mere "Stone Skin" novice like himself was no different from an ant.

They could crush him with a casual flick of a finger.

'What should I do?'

Thoughts raced through Zhang Lingshan's mind.

Should he tell the truth? After all, he had no connection to that woman, nor had he killed her. If he simply recounted what he had seen and heard, he should be...

"Which ear of yours heard me say he killed your sister?"

Li Ziming said indifferently. "I only helped you find traces regarding your sister. Finding the hairpin on him proves he had contact with her. Isn't that right, young man?"

Fang Qiuyue's brows shot up as she barked, "You've seen my sister?"

Before Zhang Lingshan could respond, she immediately added, "No wonder you looked strange just now. You really have seen my sister; you mistook me for her, didn't you?"

'This woman reacts so fast!'

Zhang Lingshan was shocked. He had only been stunned for a split second before she had detected it and analyzed the truth.

Since that was the case, he had nothing to hide.

Though this woman was beautiful, her tone was fierce and her expression menacing, completely different from her sister.

And the tall man in the high crown beside her wore an even more indifferent expression.

Neither of them were easy targets!

If he lied in front of these two, he would surely die a miserable death.

Zhang Lingshan made an immediate decision to speak, but the man in the high crown suddenly said, "It's getting late. We need to find a place to rest... Hmm, let's just go to your house. Lead the way!"

As he spoke, he grabbed Zhang Lingshan by the scruff of his neck.

Zhang Lingshan's upper body immediately went limp, leaving him at their mercy, though his legs remained free to walk.

"Yes."

Lacking the ability to resist, he could only obediently lead the way.

However, the direction was not toward Hongwu Street, but toward his old family residence on Changning Street.

As he led them through Qinghe Road, the saucer in Li Ziming's hand began to vibrate again.

*Buzz, buzz, buzz!*

The head of the hairpin spun frantically in place.

"There it is, there it is. This is the place—the place where your sister was murdered. You lead very accurately, young man; my techniques truly do not err," Li Ziming said with self-satisfaction.

Suddenly!

The hairpin head stopped with a sharp *chirp*, pointing directly at the Zhao family residence on Qinghe Road—the very place where the pile of corpses had been discovered.

"My sister was murdered right here!?"

Fang Qiuyue's expression changed drastically. With a slight movement of her embroidered shoes, she rose into the air, intending to leap over the wall into the Zhao residence.

Zhang Lingshan was utterly shocked.

This woman's lightness skill was incredible; without any visible exertion, she had effortlessly lifted two feet off the ground.

If Li Ziming hadn't pressed her down with his hand, she likely would have flown straight in.

"Calm down," Li Ziming said in a heavy voice. "This estate looks significant; we cannot trespass recklessly. We must plan this carefully. Let's rest at the boy's house first, and I will accompany you to scout it tonight."

Fang Qiuyue froze, not expecting Li Ziming to take the initiative to help her scout the site of her sister's death. She couldn't help but say movedly, "Brother Ming, you are so kind."

"Was I not kind before?"

"You were, and you always are. You are my best Brother Ming," Fang Qiuyue said coquettishly.

Li Ziming chuckled, though his face remained as expressionless as a corpse.

Zhang Lingshan felt as though he had a thorn in his back and a fishbone in his throat watching their sudden flirting. He hadn't realized they were a couple; their previous behavior suggested otherwise.

They were truly two eccentric, mercurial freaks.

By now, the curtain of night had begun to fall. There were few pedestrians left on the streets of Qinghe Road, and the commotion here went unnoticed by most.

Even if someone did see, they would pretend they hadn't.

They adhered to the long-standing principle of survival: it is better to avoid trouble than to seek it.

Moreover, they were all ordinary people.

Thus, Zhang Lingshan had no possibility of struggling; there was no one to call for help. Even if Li Ziming let go of his neck, he could only lead the way honestly.

Soon, they turned onto Changning Street and arrived at the entrance of his old family home.

Li Ziming suddenly glanced at the house next door and said, "The neighbor is a haunted house. A family of three died there with great resentment, and it's quite substantial. It seems you aren't as honest as you appear, young man. Did you harm that family of three? Can't you see all three of them staring at you?"

Zhang Lingshan was speechless.

His wariness of Li Ziming grew even deeper.

Compared to the loud, temperamental woman, this Li Ziming was clearly far more dangerous.

*Creak.*

The lock was turned, and the courtyard gate was pushed open.

As the three entered the courtyard, Li Ziming remarked, "So much dust. No one lives here. Just as I thought, you aren't honest."

"This is my old family home," Zhang Lingshan explained. "I have been busy practicing martial arts and rarely return here."

"Martial arts?" Li Ziming let out a contemptuous chuckle.

Fang Qiuyue didn't bother with such trivialities. As soon as she entered the room, she barked sharply, "Where did you see my sister, and how did she die? Speak!"

*Vroom!*

The woman's voice seemed to carry a magical force, making Zhang Lingshan's head spin.

He had intended to tell the truth anyway, as her sister's death had nothing to do with him.

Now, struck by the force of her voice, he felt he had no room to resist. He immediately recounted everything from the day he met her sister.

He even described the gruesome state of her sister's corpse in the Zhao residence the following day without any concealment.

"That Zhao residence indeed has issues," Li Ziming nodded, believing Zhang Lingshan was not lying.

To him, a mere mortal had no way to hide anything; they didn't even have the qualification to lie.

"You deserve to die!"

Fang Qiuyue suddenly let out a furious cry and lashed out with her right hand.

*Clang!*

A steel nail slammed violently into Zhang Lingshan's chest. Without even a moment to react, his eyes bulged in shock, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Why did you kill him?" Li Ziming asked, feeling it was nonsensical. "It's not like he killed your sister."

"I'll kill him if I want to! If not for this jinx, how could my sister have been murdered?"

"You're being unreasonable," Li Ziming said, shaking his head in exasperation.

"Killing him is perfect. Once he turns into an evil entity, you can absorb him, and I won't owe you a favor."

"Whether he can even turn into an entity is an unknown, and who knows how much he can provide. I'd be better off absorbing that family of three next door. Forget it, I won't argue with you. Get ready; we're going to scout the Zhao residence."

"I knew Brother Ming was the best."

Fang Qiuyue suddenly flashed a radiant smile.

At this moment, the dialogue of the two echoed in Zhang Lingshan's mind, yet he could not move a single muscle.

(End of Chapter)