Chapter Fifty-Four: Pinjian Tower

Chapter Fifty-Four: Pinjian Tower

Investigating Jade Willow Villa naturally had to wait until the dead of night.

At around the hour of Chou, Su Mo quietly opened the window and leaped out. His toes barely touched the ground before he vaulted onto the roof.

His gaze swept far, and although he couldn't see all of Jade Willow Villa, he could make out most of it.

At this moment, the entire villa was eerily silent, not even a sliver of light escaping from within.

Su Mo's brows furrowed slightly. This was unusual for such a large estate.

An estate of this size should have lanterns lit at night, even if they were frugal. There was no reason for it to be so utterly quiet.

Especially at the edges of the villa, there wasn't even the slightest sound of insects or birds.

As he pondered, he was about to move when his ears caught a sound, causing him to pause.

Peering over, he saw someone leap out from the neighboring courtyard, their steps light and agile, landing on the roof in a single bound.

It was the scholar.

He seemed well-rested, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Su Mo ducked in time, avoiding detection.

The scholar then took off.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Su Mo decided to follow him.

Everyone who came to visit Jade Willow Villa today likely had different intentions.

However, regardless of their goals, they probably all involved Liu Suifeng.

Since this person was also venturing out at night, they might lead him to Liu Suifeng.

The scholar's lightness of movement was impressive; as he leaped and bounded, his arms flailed like a bird taking flight. Though not particularly fast, he made no sound.

Su Mo's own lightness of movement came from the Purple Sun Sect.

The Purple Sun Sect was renowned for the Nine Purple Fiery Sun Technique, focusing primarily on internal martial arts with secondary emphasis on external techniques. Their lightness of movement was average.

If not for Su Mo's profound internal energy from the Dragon Elephant Prajna Power, he wouldn't have achieved such remarkable agility.

Fortunately, Su Mo's mastery of his internal energy was exquisite, and his breath control was excellent, allowing him to follow the scholar without being detected during his periodic stops.

In a short while, the two had moved from the southwest of the villa to the north.

While following the scholar, Su Mo kept an eye on the villa's activities.

He noticed that not only were there no lights, but there were also no servants or patrolling disciples in sight.

The vast Jade Willow Villa truly resembled a deserted mansion.

Initially, the scholar tried to remain hidden, but after a while, he became more open, running without concealment.

Just as Su Mo was feeling puzzled, the scholar suddenly stopped.

He wasn't checking behind him but seemed to have discovered something, hiding to observe.

Su Mo also halted, noticing that the scholar's gaze was fixed on someone slowly walking in the darkness.

With his perfected Dragon Elephant Prajna Power, his senses were heightened, and though he couldn't see perfectly in the dark, a bit of light made it almost like daylight.

The person walking inside the villa held a lantern.

The lantern itself was normal, but instead of emitting a regular flame, it gave off a faint green glow.

Dressed in black, blending into the night, the person holding the lantern looked like a floating green flame.

This scene was indeed unsettling.

What truly shocked Su Mo, however, was the identity of the person.

It was Liu Qingkong!

The hospitable and courteous steward who had welcomed him and Yang Xiaoyun into the villa.

In the dead of night, carrying a lantern that looked like ghostly fire, he wandered through the eerily silent Jade Willow Villa like a lost soul.

"What is going on here?"

Although the information from Pingfeng Town and the strange visitors to Liu Suifeng had hinted at significant changes in the villa, he hadn't expected it to reach this level.

What was wrong with Liu Qingkong?

Was he sleepwalking? Or had he drunk fake wine?

Why was he doing this in the middle of the night?

As these thoughts raced through his mind, the scholar started moving again, following Liu Qingkong.

Su Mo pushed aside his confusion and followed both of them.

Three people, one following the other, slowly moved through the silent mansion.

Liu Qingkong's pace was slow, but each step was precisely the same distance and rhythm, never pausing.

It took about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and they arrived in front of a courtyard.

With a creak, Liu Qingkong opened the gate, revealing a small building inside.

Above the building were three large characters: Pinjian Tower!

The calligraphy was sharp and forceful, with a faint sound of swords clashing.

This was completely different from the eerie aura surrounding Liu Qingkong.

When Liu Qingkong reached Pinjian Tower, he pushed open the door and stepped inside. The door slammed shut behind him, and all was silent once more.

Outside Pinjian Tower, Su Mo and the scholar stood in silence.

However... Su Mo knew why the scholar was silent, but the scholar was unaware that Su Mo was following him.

The scholar's silence did not last long. After another incense stick's time had passed and there was still no sign of Liu Qingkong, the scholar moved.

He flickered and appeared on the second floor of Pinjian Tower.

Pushing open a window, he vanished inside.

Left alone outside Pinjian Tower, Su Mo stood amidst the silence, as if the entire world consisted only of this tower and himself!

Of course, this was just an illusion.

"Liu Qingkong, staying up late at night dressed like this, can't possibly be doing so just to scare people...

"What secrets does this Pinjian Tower hold?

"The scholar went in without making a sound. Even if he died, shouldn't there have been at least an 'ah'?"

As these thoughts raced through his mind, he suddenly turned around and saw a figure heading north, looking somewhat conspicuous.

His brows furrowed slightly, and then he heard a loud crash. The door of Pinjian Tower burst open, and a figure rushed out, heading towards the one moving north.

This was none other than Liu Qingkong.

Su Mo's eyes flickered, but he did not hesitate. Taking advantage of the open door, he leaped inside, landing lightly within Pinjian Tower.

Upon entering, he sensed something amiss in the air.

Looking up sharply, a figure approached swiftly.

Su Mo extended his palm, imbued with the power of dragon and elephant, ready to strike the face of the intruder. But at the last moment, he pulled back, sidestepping, and the figure swept past him, falling to the ground.

It wasn't because Su Mo was merciful; in that instant, he realized the attacker was not alive.

"Is it that reckless Wang fellow?"

Under the night sky, the door of Pinjian Tower remained open, and a corpse lay before Su Mo, shriveled and unrecognizable.

But judging by the attire, it was clearly the same reckless man who always boasted about fighting three hundred rounds.