Chapter 18: 018 Strange
Translator: 549690339
“When did she come back?” Zhu Xiangxiang frowned and asked.
“Ms. Ming Jing just went upstairs when you two came back. I thought you all returned together.” Madam Zhou brought brewed flower tea for Lin Qing, and muttered that these three were really strange. They all left together, but didn’t come back together.
“Does she… look strange in any way?
Madam Zhou laughed and said, “What’s strange about her? Isn’t she the same as when she left?”
“Never mind, I was just asking.” Zhu Xiangxiang brushed it off and decided to go upstairs to find Ming Jing and get things clear.
Today’s events were full of mysteries. Ming Jing’s sudden disappearance and her return alone made Zhu Xiangxiang feel something was off.
Zhu Xiangxiang knocked on the door, and soon the door was opened from inside. Ming Jing stood coolly at the entrance.
In her slender, white fingers, she held Buddhist beads. The beads were round and glossy, possessing an austere beauty in the delicate spaces between her fingers.
“Where did you run off to when you were at An Zhitinglan earlier? Your mother and I couldn’t find you anywhere, you should’ve at least let us know when you came back.” Zhu Xiangxiang’s tone was somewhat cold, her eyes probing, cautiously scanning every inch of her.
Ming Jing walked to the floor-to-ceiling window with an indifferent expression, “I was feeling unwell and needed to find a restroom. I didn’t want to interrupt you and Madam Li, so I left alone. When I came back, something had already happened, so I could only leave with the crowd and wait for you to return home.”
The calmer Ming Jing’s explanation, the more uneasy Zhu Xiangxiang felt. Could it really be just a coincidence?
“As long as you’re okay, get some rest.”
Zhu Xiangxiang turned around and left, walked two steps, then seemed to suddenly remember something, “Oh, I remember you have a few junior temple sisters who should be like real sisters to you. Your master has passed away, and you’re no longer in Jiyue Temple. How do they live? Why not bring them to Jiangzhou? I’ll let Mother arrange good families for them so they can have a worry-free life.”
Ming Jing’s hand, which was holding the Buddhist beads, paused for a moment before smoothly sliding through her fingers.
“No need to bother, they have their own opportunities.”
“But it’s been so long, you should go back and check on them. What if I send the housekeeper to deliver them some food and drinks? They’re all just children, it’s so pitiful.”
Ming Jing said indifferently, “Then I’ll thank you on behalf of my sisters for your kindness.”
“Why be polite with family? Since they are your sisters, they are naturally my sisters too.”
After Zhu Xiangxiang left, Ming Jing stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the garden.
The flowers were splendid, and the warm sun was melting, but her eyes were filled with boundless gloom.
“Madam, the identity of the troublemaker has been determined to be a homeless man with no background. The other party’s methods were very clever, leaving no trace.”
“As for the Qinglong Association, more investigation is needed.”
Zhou Xue frowned, “Based on the characteristics you provided, I collected all the surveillance footage from An Zhitinglan that day. Three girls fit your description, but strangely, after the incident, all the surveillance cameras were destroyed, making it impossible to verify which one it was.”
“All a bunch of useless people.” Jiang Chunlan angrily said.
She paused and continued, “Investigate all three girls. Anyone who knows about the Qinglong Association can’t be an ordinary person.”
“Is Madam worried…?”
“I hope I’m just being paranoid.”
At this moment, Jiang Jinchen walked in from outside, and Jiang Chunlan waved her hand. Zhou Xue quietly retreated.
“Mom, I’ve been informed of today’s incident at An Zhitinglan. Are you hurt?” Jiang Jinchen was the type of person who didn’t show his emotions easily, but at this moment, his eyebrows were furrowed, and his eyes were full of concern.
Jiang Chunlan smiled with relief, “I’m fine, thanks to a girl who saved me.
Otherwise, I might be having tea with the Qinglong Association now.”
“Qinglong Association?”
“I didn’t want you to get involved in all this, I just wanted you to focus on your studies. But if I don’t tell you, I’m afraid they’ll target you next time. You’re grown up now, and there are some things you should know.”
Jiang Jinchen’s face turned solemn, and he unconsciously sat up straight.
Jiang Chunlan took a sip of tea and leisurely said, “The reason I stay in Jiangzhou is to investigate a certain matter. This matter is far-reaching and could attract life-threatening disasters any time. Now it seems, the other party can’t hold back any longer.”
“I’ve failed, please punish me, my lord,” a man and woman knelt in the center of the hall, surrounded by cold-faced individuals in black attire. In the main seat, a handsome young man sniffed the wine in the cup he held.
“You can’t even handle such a trivial task, what use are you? Lin Feng.”
A man led a fierce dog into the room. The dog was more than half a person’s height with a sturdy body. As soon as it bared its fangs, it growled, wanting to charge at the pair but was held back tightly by the man behind it.
The woman’s body trembled slightly, “My lord, the plan was perfect, but a girl, out of nowhere, spoiled everything. She had peculiar skills and abilities, and my brother and I couldn’t beat her together. What’s even stranger is that she knows our origin. To prevent more exposure, my brother and I had to retreat.” The man narrowed his eyes, “What did you say?”
“That girl was young, looked to be in her teens, but she was incredibly skilled. She even seemed to be aware of our affiliation. My lord, we were outmatched, but we should also be careful of internal moles. How else could there be a leak in this otherwise flawless operation?”
The man sneered, “Interesting.”
He looked at the silent kneeling man and said, “Ye Jian, what do you have to
“My lord, everything my sister said is true. If there’s even one lie, let my brother and I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death.”
The man looked at Lin Feng, “Go investigate.”
Lin Feng nodded, leading the fierce dog away.
Before the siblings could breathe a sigh of relief, they heard an amused but cold voice above them, “Your death sentence can be spared, but you can’t escape a living sentence. The rules of the Qinglong Association cannot be
violated..”
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