Chapter Forty-Two: The So-Called Game of Playing House

Jie Peiling asked again, "Because he has a prominent background, is a disciple of some sect, or the child of some big shot, that makes me unreasonable, is that it?"

The young girl thought for a moment and replied, "Yes, precisely because of that, what you are doing is wrong."

Jie Peiling said expressionlessly, "Then I am unreasonable. So what?"

He thought of the Chu family in Yuhan Prefecture. Their stance was that no one’s words mattered there. Reason? Who defines reason? The Chu family was the ultimate, absolute reason. And this situation was no different.

That was why Qionglin Yan had died—died in a place where no one would care, where even claiming the body was forbidden.

Therefore, Jie Peiling did not want to play along with them. He did not want to abide by this game of house where the Yuhan Prefecture was surnamed "Chu." He tore up the rules and did what everyone else was too afraid to do: he killed a high-ranking player of the game.

It was the same this time. He had no intention of following this absurd "game."

Why should it be that when he dies, someone helps him seek a so-called "justice"? Never mind that Jie Peiling hadn't known at the time; even if he had, so what?

He would still kill anyone who tried to kill him. Jie Peiling did not seek trouble, but once trouble landed on him, he would show no mercy. He would eliminate the target within the scope of his abilities.

The girl was furious. She pointed at Jie Peiling and said indignantly, "You... you are impossible! I’m doing this for your own good!"

Jie Peiling was silent for a moment before saying, "Thank you."

"Forget it, I don't care anymore. Do whatever you want."

With that, she didn't give him a moment, leaving only her retreating back as she walked away.

Jie Peiling looked up at the sky and sighed. Just as he was about to stand up, he noticed movement near the surrounding walls. He stopped his departure.

He did not turn around immediately, but instead muttered, "Who asked for your concern..."

The person behind the wall seemed to heave a sigh of relief. Seeing Jie Peiling stop suddenly, he had thought he was discovered.

Upon hearing Jie Peiling’s grumbling, he showed a hint of disdain. Just as he was about to continue the pursuit, he suddenly felt a bone-chilling coldness against his neck.

He couldn't help but slowly turn his head, only to see a sword resting against his skin. A single slight movement would separate his head from his body.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?"

Jie Peiling’s voice sounded as if it came from the underworld. It seemed that if the answer did not please him, he would strike the man down with a single blow.

"I... I didn't want to do this..."

The man trembled all over, terrified of saying the wrong word.

Jie Peiling’s sword gently drew a bloodline across the man's neck; a thin, scalding stream of blood flowed from the icy blade. Every hair on the man's body stood on end.

"I know you didn't want to do this. I'm asking you, who ordered you to do it?"

"If I tell you, will you let me go?"

Jie Peiling spoke the truth: "I certainly will not let you go. Given how skilled you are at stalking, heaven knows how many lives have vanished at your hands?"

The man didn't show a single flaw; this perception was purely due to Jie Peiling’s affinity with nature. Had he lacked such an ability, this person might have followed him indefinitely, and no one could have predicted what might happen.

The man wept and begged again, "Their deaths have nothing to do with me! I only reported their whereabouts and words. As for the rest, I did nothing. That is all I did!"

Jie Peiling was so angry he laughed. What kind of logic was that?

"You mean their deaths have nothing to do with you? If this has nothing to do with you, then who is responsible? Did they kill themselves?"

"Yes... yes! That’s it! If they hadn't drawn attention to themselves, they wouldn't have died! It’s all their fault! They deserved to die!"

Jie Peiling spat two words through clenched teeth.

"Madman..."

The man’s emotions surged. He seemed to have convinced himself, and he began to shout wildly.

"It’s all their fault! This has nothing to do with me! Let me go! I promise I won't follow you again!"

Jie Peiling said, "Forget it. I don't expect you to say anything useful. Since that's the case, I’ll have to do it myself."

Upon hearing this, the madman froze, his face twisting into a hideous mask. Like a wild beast, he lunged at Jie Peiling with all his might.

Jie Peiling snorted coldly and kicked him to the ground. To prevent any further resistance, he sliced off the man’s limbs amidst his agonized screams.

Blood can sober a person, but it can also bring them closer to the devil.

The madman chuckled hoarsely, a miserable sound. His pupils were bloodshot. In this moment, he was not lucid; he was more like a pure beast, like a toy kept in captivity for years, still believing that none of this had anything to do with him.

"It’s all your fault! Why? Why? Why did you have to attract his attention! If you hadn't, I wouldn't have to die! You deserve to die!"

Jie Peiling felt annoyed. He pierced the man’s throat with his sword, then, staring into the man's terrified eyes, pressed his hand against the man's forehead.

The madman’s eyes turned vacant, as if his soul had been ripped away.

Images of memories began to flicker like a lantern show. These were his memories, his entire past; he saw his life clearly.

The soul in the madman's eyes was filled with disbelief. Even he himself had no impression of these events.

Behind him appeared an eye—it belonged to Jie Peiling, filled with cold, icy murderous intent. The man turned his head and collapsed onto his knees with a thud.

"I confess... I confess! Master, I was wrong! I was truly wrong! They seduced me into doing it! None of this has anything to do with me!"

Jie Peiling ignored him, continuing to rummage through his memories. The deeper he looked, the more certain he became that this man had to die.

"The Li family in the south of the city, is it? I see."

Jie Peiling slowly closed his eyes. In this man’s memories, there was always a figure—the young man he had seen earlier, the young master of the Li family, Li Shen. This man acted with arrogance, possessed a mental state incomprehensible to ordinary people, and had committed countless filthy and wicked deeds.

A major factor in why he could commit such acts was this madman. The man was a martial artist proficient in movement techniques and concealment, but his combat skills were mediocre. He would be no match for an ordinary fighter, let alone Jie Peiling.

The man opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

"Ignorance is no crime! Master, please have mercy and spare my life!"

Jie Peiling could read his lips, but he found the man’s pleas tiresome. After killing him with a single stroke, he summoned a flame in his palm and reduced the body to ashes.