Chapter Thirteen: The Soul-Stealing Needle of the Scorpion's Heart

How embarrassing! Everyone saw through my little trick! :) It seems I'm still a beginner writer, and these little schemes are utterly inadequate compared to the "well-read" readers.

Actually, introducing a bit of suspense into this story was to make the plot more readable. If you're expecting a Kindaichi-style novel, you'll be greatly disappointed. When I finished the last chapter, I realized the logic of the entire work was extremely chaotic; any character could be considered the murderer and still work. :( So, don't get too excited about guessing the ending now, because I can revise it at any time! Of course, no matter how I revise it, this story won't have a happy ending—that's for sure! ****************************************** ****************************

In shock, Ren Dongjie stood frozen, motionless. Though it was only a brief moment, it felt like an eternity to him…

Suddenly, a warm, delicate body rushed into his arms. Strands of soft hair brushed against his cheek, carrying a faint, elegant fragrance. Round, jade-like arms tightly embraced his neck, so tightly, yet the body trembled violently, like withered leaves in the autumn wind!

Ren Dongjie patted her soft shoulder tenderly, saying sorrowfully, “Shiyun, don’t be afraid, I’m here…”

The delicate body jolted, lifting her head from his embrace, and stammered, “I…I’m not Shiyun!”

“What?” Ren Dongjie was shocked. Looking closer, he realized he was holding Madam Ling!

"So, could it be that the dead person was...?"

Ren Dongjie's mind raced, and he asked incredulously, "Killed... the one who was killed wasn't you, it was Shiyun?"

Madam Ling took two steps back, covering her face and weeping bitterly, "Yes... it wasn't me who died... the assassin was going to kill me... Heavens, why wasn't it me who died... why... took the life of such a good girl?"

She waved her hands in despair, her upper body, clad only in a bodice, swaying and spinning, her high, full breasts heaving violently, almost about to burst out, her long, slender legs seemingly weak and powerless, and after a few unsteady steps, she finally collapsed backward!

Ren Dongjie hurriedly... He helped her up and carefully assisted her to lie down on a soft chair. Her eyes were tightly closed, her pretty face drained of color, pale and heartbreaking. Without hesitation, he placed his palm on a vital acupoint on her back, continuously channeling his inner energy into her body.

Qi Nanzhi, who had been carefully observing the corpse since entering the room, suddenly looked up and exclaimed in horror, "At least five hundred needles!"

Ren Dongjie, confused, asked, "What?"

Qi Nanzhi's expression turned grave as he slowly said, "The girl has countless short needles embedded in her body, at least five hundred!"

Ren Dongjie's heart skipped a beat, and he exclaimed, "It's 'Soul-Snatching Needles'!"

Qi Nanzhi was startled and said: "Is it the 'Soul-Snatching Needle,' the most vicious hidden weapon, that's been missing for over fifty years?"

Ren Dongjie nodded and sighed, "It's probably the same one. What other hidden weapon has such power?" He paused, then asked, "Can you tell which direction these needles came from?"

Qi Nanzhi circled the room, finally stopping by the southwest window, and said confidently, "They definitely came from here! Look, this screen window is clearly pierced by a barrage of needles. The culprit must have launched the hidden weapon from that tree six or seven zhang away across the street. By the time we broke down the door, he had already escaped."

Ren Dongjie pondered, "Hmm... listen..." "It seems that way! But there's still one thing that doesn't make sense..."

Just then, noisy footsteps echoed in the corridor, and a group of people surged into the room like a tide, anxiously asking, "Sister-in-law... Sister-in-law, are you alright?" Leading them were Kong Wei, Luo Jingwen, Lu Dahong, and several other leaders.

Ren Dongjie sighed, saying sadly, "Thank God, Madam Ling is alright, it's just a pity... a pity for Miss Shiyun..."

Lu Dahong glanced at Shiyun's corpse and said casually, "It's just a maid who died, what's the big deal? As long as sister-in-law is safe and sound..."

Ren Dongjie suddenly interrupted him, saying sharply, "How is the maid? Could it be that... " "Isn't a maid's life also a human life?"

Lu Dahong's eyes widened in disbelief, and he said in a rough voice, "How can a maid's lowly life be compared to the precious body of a lady? Kid, this is an internal matter of my Shenfeng Gang, what's it to you? Why are you meddling?"

Ren Dongjie's face darkened, and he said coldly, "Say it again

if you dare!" Lu Dahong laughed wildly, "You think I'm afraid and dare not say it? Hehe, I'll say it again! You brat, what the hell are you meddling in..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ren Dongjie suddenly rushed over and slashed at his neck vein with a palm! His right hand was still holding Madam Ling, but the move of his left palm was still as fast as lightning!

Lu Dahong's eyes blurred, and his whole body was completely enveloped in the attack . Covered in the wind of his palm. Seeing that the situation was not good, Kong Wei and Luo Jingwen both rushed from the side and attacked Ren Dongjie's back together, forcing him to retreat and save himself!

Qi Nanzhi shouted: "Hey, are you going to hit one of the three?" With one mistake, his fists blocked the folding fan struck by Luo Jingwen. At the same time, Ren Dongjie suddenly waved his right arm and sent Mrs. Ling's body steadily out. Kong Wei was startled, and the trick in his hand failed halfway, so he had no choice but to take Mrs. Ling over.

Ren Dongjie sneered and continued to cut with all his strength with his left palm! At this time, he was moving with such fierce force and momentum that no one present could block this palm.

Seeing that Lu Dahong was inevitably beaten, someone suddenly shouted at the door: "Watch out for the hidden weapon!" Seven points of cold light flew swiftly towards him, exploding three feet behind him. The seven points multiplied into seventy, like a dense shower of golden light falling from the sky!

This was a signature technique of the Tang Clan of Sichuan—the Rain of Flowers! Tang Gang watched the hidden weapon approach Ren Dongjie's back, a cold smile appearing in his eyes. He confidently believed that no one in the world could dodge these hidden weapons at this distance.

But Ren Dongjie didn't dodge. As long as he had one hand to move, he would never need to dodge! If Tang Gang's hidden weapons were as terrifying and dense as a torrential downpour, then his hand was like the ocean, encompassing all rivers!

Suddenly, the dazzling golden light completely disappeared. Vanished without a trace. Tang Gang's face turned ashen, his eyes widening in disbelief. But in that instant, Ren Dongjie's expression also turned grim. He discovered that his left palm, aimed at Lu Dahong, had been blocked—precisely and skillfully blocked! The

one who blocked the palm was a young man; no one had seen when he had entered! He had a very ordinary face—ordinary eyebrows, ordinary nose, ordinary mouth, ordinary demeanor! You could see plenty of people like him on the street every day; he was one of the most common people in the world. Yet, this very ordinary young man had blocked Ren Dongjie's powerful hand!

“Young Master Ren, you are a magnanimous man…” The young man’s voice was also ordinary, so ordinary that it lacked any

distinctive features: “Please forgive Master Lu’s unintentional slip of the tongue!” Ren Dongjie stared into his eyes, those eyes that held a restrained, hidden brilliance, no different from the gaze of a young scholar. He stared for a long time, then suddenly smiled, approvingly saying, “Good! Excellent swordsmanship!”

The young man bowed slightly and calmly said, “Good! Excellent eyesight!”

The two exchanged a smile, then withdrew their hands, each inwardly admiring the other. Only Ren Dongjie knew that although the young man had used his bare hands, he had employed a sword technique! And only the young man knew that if Ren Dongjie hadn't been busy dealing with others, his own "hand-blade" might not have been able to withstand that unparalleled skillful hand!

Lu Dahong escaped the palm strike, shaking his face full of fat, still displaying a fierce and fearless demeanor. Luo Jingwen, quick-witted and agile, pulled him behind him and smiled at the young man, "Young hero, what a nimble skill you possess! May I ask your esteemed name?"

The young man was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "My name is Aping, the 'Ping' of 'ordinary'."

Luo Jingwen was taken aback, then asked again, "May I ask who your master is?" Aping

answered irrelevantly, "I came with the great hero Wei Tianying!" With that, he clasped his hands in a fist salute and gracefully flew out of the house.

Kong Wei leaped forward, blocking his path, and said in a deep voice, "Wait!"

A Ping stopped, coldly asking, "What?"

Kong Wei said, word by word, "Everyone in the main altar tonight is a suspect in the murder! No one can leave until the matter is cleared up!"

A Ping's eyebrows shot up, as if he wanted to explode, but after a moment he finally calmed down and slowly said, "I'll stay! You begin the investigation!

"

"This room was only lit by an oil lamp, and the light was so dim that we couldn't even find a candle when we came in. Then I felt the soot on my clothes was really...really uncomfortable, so I took off my dirty robe. Shi Yun reached out and took it, saying she wanted to take it to the window to brush off the dust. But she had only taken a few steps when...when..."

Madam Ling's pretty face was filled with horror as she spoke, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably. Clearly, the bloody and terrifying scene had terrified this beauty, leaving her completely disoriented and bewildered!

Ren Dongjie gazed tenderly into her beautiful eyes and said softly, "Tell me slowly, don't be afraid! With so many of us here, no one can hurt you!"

Madam Ling looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and affection. She unconsciously moved closer to him, as if only in this way could she find a sense of security and trust.

"She had only taken a few steps when suddenly a bright light flashed by the window... a very bright light... like the most dazzling fireworks, and then she collapsed. I... at first I didn't react, but upon closer inspection, I saw that her body was riddled with holes... blood... blood gushing out incessantly! I was terrified, and it took me a lot of effort to... to finally cry out..."

After saying this, Madam Ling seemed to have exhausted all her strength. Crystal tears streamed down her jade-like cheeks, her small mouth slightly panting, looking frail and delicate, a sight that evoked immense pity.

Luo Jingwen frowned and said gravely, "Sister-in-law, did you see clearly? Was that light really shining in this window?"

Madam Ling nodded very affirmatively. Luo Jingwen tapped his temple, muttering, "This is strange!"

Qi Nanzhi couldn't help but say, "This window is the only way for hidden weapons to enter, what's there to question? You and Xiao Ren both say it's strange, but I think you two are the ones who are confused!"

Ren Dongjie said calmly, "Just jump out of the window and look into the room, and you'll know what's strange!"

Without saying a word, Qi Nanzhi immediately leaped to the window, then jumped back into the room a moment later, his face also showing a puzzled expression. He muttered to himself, "It really is strange... really..."

He paused, then explained to the bewildered crowd, "It's burning outside..." With so many torches, the light in this room was practically negligible. If the murderer had been lying in ambush in the tree six or seven zhang away, he wouldn't have been able to see the person inside. So how could he have launched his hidden weapons?

Wei Tianying, who was listening nearby, pondered, "Perhaps it was because he couldn't find his target that he mistakenly killed Miss Shiyun."

Luo Jingwen shook his head and said, "This person came prepared. He wouldn't be so reckless as to attack randomly before finding his target... I think that although Shiyun was mistakenly killed, there must be another reason..."

Ren Dongjie suddenly walked to Shiyun's body and examined it carefully. An hour ago, she was a lively, lovely, and enthusiastic young girl, but now she was a disfigured corpse with not a single intact muscle on her body! She was almost riddled with holes by a dense barrage of hidden weapons, and her two arms, studded with needles, were still clutching a tattered robe.

“If I’m not mistaken, the problem lies with this robe.” Ren Dongjie reached out and carefully scraped a bit of ash from the fabric, looking around at everyone. “Those four assassins who stormed the mourning hall went all in, yet they only sprinkled this powder on Madam Ling. Does anyone know why?”

Sun Yuanfu nodded. “I’ve been thinking about that too. They only had a split second to assassinate her. Logically, they should have used swords and hidden weapons to fight with all their might. Why did they just sprinkle some harmless powder?”

Seventh Leader Yi Bin coldly said, “With our tight defenses, how could those assassins have entered the headquarters with weapons?” "?"

Kong Wei seemed to remember something and exclaimed, "Young Master Ren means..."

Ren Dongjie slowly nodded and said, "That's right, these powders are specially made 'luminescent powder,' which can emit a special light in the dark. People who have received special training can naturally distinguish them clearly. According to my deduction, the whole assassination plan is like this..."

He cleared his throat and said in a deep voice, "Those four assassins are just supporting characters. Their task is to sprinkle the 'luminescent powder' on Madam Ling's outer robe and then cause chaos in the mourning hall. In the face of a sudden attack and not knowing the details, Master Kong will definitely make Madam Ling go upstairs to hide." At this moment, the real murderer was secretly lying in ambush outside. No matter which room Madam Ling entered, he could shoot the deadly "Soul-Snatching Needle" guided by the "glow-in-the-dark powder"!

Kong Wei broke out in a cold sweat and glared, saying, "What a vicious scheme!"

Sun Yuanfu sighed, "Who knew that man proposes, God disposes? Madam Ling was ticklish, so she took off her outer robe as soon as she entered the room. Miss Shiyun then took it to the window to dust it off, and thus suffered the same fate in place of Madam Ling!"

Luo Jingwen's face was as cold as water. His eyes swept across everyone's faces, and he said in a deep voice, "Except for Second Brother, myself, Young Master Ren, and Hero Qi, everyone else will inevitably suffer..." "You're guilty! Now, please tell me in detail where you were when the incident occurred. Are there any witnesses?"

Fu Heng's face darkened, and he said angrily, "Third Master, are you saying we're criminals? I was patrolling the western path with my female disciple at the time. How could there be a third person to testify? Besides, there are so many guests paying their respects tonight. Why don't you question them?"

Luo Jingwen said, "Those guests should naturally be questioned, but I believe..." His voice suddenly became colder than ice, and he said, word by word, "The murderer is in this room!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked and their faces showed disbelief. Ren Dongjie said calmly, "There are many people in this room. Third Master, could you be more specific about who the suspects are?"

Luo Jingwen did not answer, but slowly drew a circle with his finger, which included almost everyone—the leaders of the Shenfeng Gang, Wei Tianying and his wife, Fu Heng and his disciple, Sun Yuanfu, Tang Gang, and the young A Ping.

"

There are a few more people who should be included..." Ren Dongjie poured himself a glass of wine, and said thoughtfully, "Yes, there are a few more suspects..."

Qi Nanzhi exclaimed, "What? There are already more than ten people suspected, and you still think that's not enough?"

It was already dawn, and the two of them were alone in a guest room. Although they hadn't slept all night, they were still wide awake and didn't want to rest.

Ren Dongjie pondered, "Don't forget that the mastermind is a woman, so theoretically speaking, Miss Ling, the Thirteenth Concubine, Wei Hong, Yi Cui, and Han Bing could all have been involved in the assassination!"

Qi Nanzhi looked at him and said, "I think you're out of your mind! How could Miss Ling and Han Bing have had the opportunity to assassinate someone? They were both in the mourning hall when the incident occurred!"

Ren Dongjie smiled and said, "When we escorted Madam Ling upstairs, I happened to glance back at them. At that time, they were walking out of the mourning hall, and they were walking in different directions."

Qi Nanzhi exclaimed, "Are you trying to tell me that they also had time to commit the crime? Humph, I don't really believe these delicate beauties are the murderers! Especially that Thirteenth Concubine, she devoted herself to..." "You, yet you so suspiciously doubt me, it's truly a case of good intentions gone unrewarded..."

Ren Dongjie said with a wry smile, "I was merely stating a fact. Making wild guesses without evidence is ultimately pointless!"

He downed his wine in one gulp, stood up, and murmured, "It seems the weather is quite nice today. I should find a girl to go for a walk with!"

Qi Nanzhi exclaimed in surprise, "At a time like this, you still have the mood to go out and flirt with women?"

Ren Dongjie replied seriously, "Why not? Only from women can we uncover some unknown secrets. I advise you to go out for a walk too, and perhaps pick up those two ladies, Wei Hong and Yi Cui. They might bring you some unexpected gains." With that, he brushed his hair aside and strolled out of the guest room.

Qi Nanzhi sighed and muttered to himself, "This guy always mixes work and personal matters together, but somehow he always does it with such self-righteousness!"

********************

"Finally finished! You...you come and see!" Fang Wanping excitedly put down her paintbrush and smiled at Ren Dongjie, saying, "I guarantee you've never seen such a wonderful oil painting!"

Ren Dongjie rubbed his aching legs and laughed, "With someone as wonderful as me as your model, it's hard for your painting not to be amazing!" As he spoke, he walked to her side and glanced at the colorful canvas.

There, a man was depicted in vibrant paint, his strong muscles bulging, his body glistening with oil, his naked body like a meticulously crafted sculpture, perfectly embodying the best combination of strength and beauty.

"What do you think?" Fang Wanping tilted her pretty face up proudly, her eyes filled with eager anticipation.

"Only the words 'exquisite craftsmanship' can describe it..." Ren Dongjie feigned great admiration, rattling off a string of praises. Then he leaned down, gently patted his exposed penis, and sighed, "My darling, thank goodness you were behaving yourself today, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to appreciate such perfect art, and you might have even been harmed by the beautiful woman's hands."

Fang Wanping giggled seductively, her pretty face flushed as she glanced at him, saying, "Oh dear, you're so heartless! How could I bear to harm your...that little treasure? It makes me...makes me so happy, I cherish it too much..."

Ren Dongjie, captivated by her alluring figure, a blend of shyness and wantonness, felt a surge of desire. He pulled her into his arms, his hands firmly gripping her buttocks, while rubbing his penis against her flat stomach. He teased, "Tell me, how can it make you happy?"

Fang Wanping let out a soft moan, clinging to his neck in a coquettish manner, her eyes filled with seductive allure. "I won't tell you... you rascal, I just won't tell you..."

Ren Dongjie laughed heartily, nonchalantly saying, "Since you won't listen, then I won't be polite..." Before he finished speaking, one hand had already untied Fang Wanping's belt and plunged straight into her tender pubic hair.

Fang Wanping's delicate body trembled, her eyes instantly becoming watery and alluring. Her right leg involuntarily wrapped around Ren Zhongjie's body, while her left foot gently rose on tiptoe, making it easier for his fingers to explore…

"Eh, what's wrong with Thirteenth Concubine today? Wanting it so quickly?" Ren Dongjie teased, blowing hot breath into her ear. His fingers gently kneaded her pearly clitoris, then slid into her dripping, honeyed vagina. Fang Wanping couldn't help but let out a soft moan, a mixture of ecstasy and pain, as a gush of warm fluid flowed freely.

"Guess how many times you'll climax today?" Ren Dongjie's face wore a victorious smile as he gazed at the beautiful woman's alluring body in his arms, a burning desire for conquest raging within him.

"At most...at most three times..." Fang Wanping bit her lip desperately, panting, "Impossible...no more..."

"Is that so? When did you become so conservative with your assessment?" Ren Dongjie spoke boldly and flirtatiously, his hands not idle either, quickly stripping her clothes bare and tossing them into a corner some distance away.

"No...please don't..." Fang Wanping subconsciously closed her beautiful eyes, feeling as if her entire body was being roasted on fire in her dazed state. Her already high breasts swelled even more, her nipples proudly erect on their peaks, like two ripe wild grapes, passionately and seductively beckoning her lover to taste them.

Seeing such a beautiful sight, how could Ren Dongjie possibly resist? He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, lifting her slightly upwards. His thick penis rubbed against her wet, slippery buttocks a couple of times before thrusting forward forcefully. With a soft "plop," it was fully inserted into the tight, pink walls of her secret passage.

Fang Wanping gasped with pleasure, involuntarily twisting her round, snow-white buttocks. Her long, shapely legs tightly encircled her lover's waist, her body rising and falling in perfect harmony with the increasingly powerful thrusts. The pleasure of being filled by his penis made her abandon all restraint and self-respect, letting out unrestrained, wanton cries.

"Ah... harder... oh... so good... oh my god... it feels so good... ouch... you're killing me... mmm... deeper... deeper..."

Amidst these moans filled with desire and satisfaction, Ren Dongjie's movements grew increasingly intense and frenzied. His penis, like a wound-up toy, displayed its full power, each thrust reaching deep into the heart of her flower.

The storm-like, rapid impact caused Fang Wanping's body to spasm irresistibly. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she could no longer withstand the wave after wave of onslaught. Yet, her hips continued to thrust upwards, willingly responding to her lover's movements and rhythm.

"Oh... ah... ahhh..." Her moans grew louder and louder. Her slender hands vigorously caressed her breasts, her two smooth, white legs trembled and kicked hysterically, her slender toes curled together, and her pink labia, like a cherry mouth, firmly enveloped the magnificent penis. Their genitals were joined so tightly that only a few strands of clear, sticky fluid stubbornly trickled out, dripping down their alluring buttocks and onto the ground.

After a while, Ren Dongjie suddenly grabbed Fang Wanping's soft shoulders, let out a violent shout, and his body began to tremble. His hot semen, like a spring-loaded jet of water, sprayed onto her clitoris. Fang Wanping screamed excitedly, almost fainting from the pleasure. The wonderful feeling carried her to the heavens, to the pinnacle of ecstasy…

A long time passed before the two calmed down from their unrestrained pleasure, lingering in each other's arms. Fang Wanping blinked her beautiful eyes hazily, panting and laughing, "Hey, you were very... very chivalrous today..."

Ren Dongjie played with her nipples, asking curiously, "What do you mean?"

Fang Wanping chuckled, saying seductively, "You said... you'd make me climax at least three times, but... you only let me enjoy it twice..."

Ren Dongjie was silent for a long time, then smiled wryly, "I'm sorry, I wasn't in a good mood today, which affected my performance..."

Fang Wanping's eyes widened in surprise, "Not in a good mood? Why? Is it... because ..." "The assassination attempt last night?"

Ren Dongjie nodded, his voice tinged with sadness. "I was standing just outside the door, not far away, yet I couldn't save Shiyun from being harmed. I can only be described as utterly incompetent... Alas, no wonder Miss Ling is so angry she won't speak to me anymore..."

Fang Wanping gently stroked his angular face, softly comforting him, "How can you blame yourself entirely? Shaoyun has always been willful; don't take her words too seriously. She'll naturally calm down in a few days."

Ren Dongjie sighed deeply, a bitter smile on his face. "When I went to visit her this morning, she wouldn't even see me; we just separated by a room..." "The doorman scolded me severely. The maids said she'd been crying all night, so heartbroken she couldn't even eat..."

Fang Wanping's face also showed grief. She said sadly, "She and Shiyun were like sisters..."

Before she could finish, someone outside sighed, "While others are weeping, you two are here having a good time. This shows how depraved the world has become..."

Fang Wanping exclaimed in surprise, quickly pulling the blanket to cover her naked body, her voice trembling, "Who is it?"

Ren Dongjie, however, remained unmoved, smiling. "Don't be afraid," said Qi Nanzhi. "This is my childhood friend. He has a lifelong hobby: peeping at handsome men and beautiful women in bed..."

Qi Nanzhi exclaimed, laughing and scolding, "You little brat, how dare you maliciously ruin my image! Who wants to peep at you having sex? Get up quickly, Master Kong says he has urgent business to discuss with us!" 　　Ren

Dongjie sighed again, muttering, "Why 　　now, of all times, when I least want to move? He's preparing to discuss this! How can there be so many tactless people in this world?" As he spoke, 　　he helplessly picked up the clothes scattered around him. ********** ... The kneeling man was thin and dejected, his head hanging low. It was none other than the Sixth Leader, "Angry Sword Divine Rat" Zuo Leidong! 　　Ren Dongjie showed no surprise, instead smiling slightly, "Chief Kong, it seems you finally believe what I said is true." 　　Kong Wei's lips twitched a few times, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself. Luo Jingwen looked embarrassed and said with a wry smile, "Young Master Ren is indeed a traitor! But... I don't know how you found out?" 　　Qi Nanzhi was completely bewildered and asked in surprise, "What? Chief Zuo is a traitor? And it was you who found out, Little Ren?" 　　Ren Dongjie smiled and said calmly, "Of course I found out. Actually, the reason is quite simple. This morning, when I was inquiring around, I heard that Chief Zuo had been bedridden for three or four days to recuperate from his internal injuries since our fight, and only last night did his condition improve, allowing him to barely get up and inspect the headquarters." "Hearing this, we know there's a trap!" 　　Luo Jingwen and Qi Nanzhi asked in unison, "Where's the trap?" 　　Ren Dongjie said in a deep voice, "That time, the Left Chief attacked me from inside a wine jar, and I grabbed his pulse point and threw him to the ground. But I didn't use my internal energy to fight him head-on, so how could he have suffered internal injuries? He couldn't get up from the ground and even had to be carried out. Although I found it a bit strange, I thought it was because his acupoints were sealed and his limbs were weak, but there's absolutely no reason why he wouldn't be able to get out of bed for three or four days. His acting must have a deeper meaning." 　　Luo Jingwen sighed: “That’s right, he just confessed everything. After leaving ‘Fengyue Xiaozhu,’ he happened to witness the fight between Elder Fu Heng and the lecherous Chu. He took the opportunity to pick up the scattered pieces of clothing from Li Yan’s body, and then impersonated me to leave a letter for Young Master Ren, intending to drag Young Master Ren into this incident as well.” 　　Ren Dongjie’s eyes flashed as he asked, “Did Master Luo ask him who the woman behind this is?” 　　Kong Wei then spoke up, slowly saying, “We brought you two here precisely because of this person behind it all. Although we know who she is, we still can’t touch her.” "Hair! We can only hope that you two will act on our behalf!" 　　Ren Dongjie paused, then said, "You can't touch her? Why?" 　　Kong Wei smiled bitterly, "Because she did a great favor for Chief Ling. The chief once gave strict instructions, forbidding us from fighting her... You've probably heard of this woman's name; she's the most prominent figure in the martial arts world lately, 'Golden Leaf'!" 　　Qi Nanzhi exclaimed, "What? So it was her? She orchestrated all these assassinations?" 　　Luo Jingwen nodded heavily, saying, "That's why we had no choice but to ask for your help! Golden Leaf deliberately..." "They've been plotting to get rid of Madam Ling, and they're clearly not going to give up. If you two can subdue her, our entire gang will be eternally grateful!" 　　Ren Dongjie remained silent for a long while, then suddenly said, "I won't help with this!" 　　Luo Jingwen was taken aback by his resolute refusal and asked in astonishment, "This... why is that?" 　　Ren Dongjie coldly replied, "Because I know that Jin Yezi isn't the mastermind behind it all! At least not for sure right now! You want to deal with her, I'm afraid it's still for the Crimson Flame Treasure!" 　　Kong Wei and Luo Jingwen's expressions changed simultaneously, and it took them a while to recover before they looked at each other. He glanced at him and said with a bitter smile, "So Young Master Ren already knows!" 　　Qi Nanzhi sneered, "Your gang wants our help, yet you're unwilling to be honest with each other. What kind of logic is that! Heh heh, a real man acting so secretively is truly chilling to the bone!" 　　Kong Wei hesitated for a moment before sighing, "In front of two such esteemed individuals, concealment is ultimately not a good solution... Third Brother, please tell me the whole story!" 　　Luo Jingwen nodded slightly and began to speak methodically, "More than four months ago, when Gang Leader Ling traveled to the Northwest, he..." At the foot of Kunlun Mountain, a stunningly beautiful woman was rescued. This woman was none other than Bai Bishuang, the wife of the Crimson Flame Sect's Demon Lord—the 'Jade-Faced Rakshasa'. Out of gratitude, she gifted the sect leader a treasure map. According to the map, in the past, at its peak, the Crimson Flame Sect had expanded into the heart of the Central Plains. Although they were later driven back to the harsh northwest, they had buried an enormous fortune in Jinling City. 　　"That must be the 'Crimson Flame Relics,' isn't it? Everyone wants this treasure map. It won't be easy for Sect Leader Ling to keep it!" said 　　Qi Nanzhi, moved. Wen Dao said, “That’s right. The gang leader also knows the story of ‘A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime,’ so he politely declined. But Jade-Faced Rakshasa said, ‘Since Gang Leader Ling is unwilling to accept this gift, then I will give it to one of your confidantes. If you live to be a hundred and take care of her for the rest of your life, she will naturally not need this wealth. But if anything happens to you one day, I will immediately send someone to secretly deliver the treasure map to her, so that she can live out the rest of her life without worry.’” Ren Dongjie smiled and said, “I have heard that Gang Leader Ling is a romantic, so I suppose these words finally moved him?”

Luo Jingwen sighed, "The gang leader was indeed moved by her words. But Jade-Faced Rakshasa had a harsh condition: she said this treasure could only be given to one woman. She felt that while a man could have casual affairs, he could only truly love one woman!"

Qi Nanzhi chuckled, "This is forcing your gang leader to make a choice! He's torn between two equally dear options; he must be in a very difficult position!"

Luo Jingwen nodded slightly and continued, "The gang leader pondered for a long time, then wrote a note and handed it to Jade-Faced Rakshasa, saying: 'I really can't make a decision, but I always...' " "Of these two women, here's the arrangement. If I unfortunately perish, just send someone to deliver the map to either of them."

Ren Dongjie suddenly said, "One of these two women is undoubtedly Madam Ling. But you can't guess the other one's identity, can you?"

Luo Jingwen smiled bitterly, "That's right! The gang leader still refuses to tell us who this woman is! Even now, we're still clueless!"

Qi Nanzhi slapped his leg and shouted, "From this perspective, Madam Ling's motive for the assassination is quite clear!" "The murderer is most likely this unknown woman. She knows that once Chief Ling and Madam Ling are dead, the treasure will be hers alone."

He paused, then continued, "This woman may have already plotted against Chief Ling, but she plans to wait until Madam Ling is also killed before revealing the Chief's death, so that the treasure map will fall into her hands without fail."

Zuo Leidong, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly raised his head and said timidly, "Master Qi, you're probably wrong. I know who the Chief has designated. She would never kill indiscriminately..."

Kong Wei roared, rushing forward to grab his collar, shouting, "How do you know who this person is? Speak! Speak! I warn you, don't spout nonsense in front of me, or you'll die a horrible death!"

Zuo Leidong stammered, "That girl, Jin Yezi, told me that the gang leader might have written some crucial words and placed them in the 'Treasure Pavilion' at the headquarters. She gave me a key and told me to go in and search. After carefully examining them, I finally found a will drafted by the gang leader..."

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, their faces showing a mixture of disbelief and skepticism. This news was truly shocking, so much so that they didn't even notice a dark, cylindrical object quietly protruding from the entrance to the hall!

Luo Jingwen said sternly, "How could Jin Yezi have a key? And how do you know that will wasn't forged?"

Zuo Leidong hurriedly said, "I can be 100% certain that it is indeed the gang leader's handwriting. It says, 'After my death, the treasure map will be sent to the Shenfeng Gang headquarters. Although I have had countless beauties in my life, I can only call two my confidantes. One is my legal wife, Lingmen Jishi, and the other is…'"

Suddenly, a very light clanging sound came from the hall door. Everyone turned their heads sharply and caught a glimpse of a bright light!

An incomparably brilliant and dazzling light! A light faster than lightning!

The light suddenly disappeared, vanishing onto Zuo Leidong's body, and then Zuo Leidong became a bloodied man riddled with holes!

--The Soul-Stealing Needle! This is the terrifying Soul-Stealing Needle!

Everyone's heart screamed, their eyes fixed on the doorway, where a pair of slender, white hands held aloft the world's most terrifying hidden weapon, a weapon that struck fear into the hearts of all! And there it was, aimed at them all!

Kong Wei suddenly roared like thunder, smashing half a long table with his palm. He grabbed the two table legs, shielding the round tabletop to his chest, and leaped towards the doorway.

A flash of light appeared again, brighter and more dazzling than before. With a deafening thud, Kong Wei and the table were sent flying backward a foot, crashing heavily against the wall!

—Such immense force! If such a swift hidden weapon struck him directly, could he have survived?

The crowd exchanged horrified glances, but then the hands suddenly retracted and vanished in the blink of an eye. Luo Jingwen shouted, "The Soul-Snatching Needles can only be fired twice! We must chase after them!" With a flick of his arms, he shot out like an arrow!

Kong Wei pushed aside the table and, along with Qi Nanzhi, leaped out. Ren Dongjie, however, walked to Zuo Leidong's corpse, sighed deeply, and murmured, "If you hadn't peeked at the suicide note, you wouldn't have been killed to silence you. Since ancient times, 'men die for wealth, birds die for food,' but... who exactly is the person you're talking about?"

Zuo Leidong's entire body was riddled with bullets and blood, only his eyes remained intact, staring wide-eyed at Ren Zhongjie, as if expressing his deepest regret—he would never be able to utter that person's name again!

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Chapter Thirteen: The Soul-Stealing Needle of the Scorpion's Heart

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