Chapter 178 Lies

The carriage was about to go back to the Marquis’s Mansion. Duan Canghai saw that the guard had not woken up and said softly, “Marquis, you can’t just go back like this. If the Third Lady sees it, I’m afraid she will be terrified again.”

Yang Ning immediately remembered that the Mansion of Marquis of Honor had been through so many times recently, and Gu Qinghan was already exhausted. These days, she had been terrified. If Gu Qinghan knew about what had happened last night, even if Yang Ning had been safe, Gu Qinghan would still be afraid of it. Since that was the case, it was best not to let Gu Qinghan know.

“Find a place for him to recuperate first,” Yang Ning said, “We can’t let Third Auntie know what happened tonight.” He thought of something and asked, “Oh right, where did another guard go? And your mount was killed. What happened?”

Duan Canghai clenched his fist and said, “The bronze general that Marquis was talking about looks very cunning. I chased him on horseback and he jumped onto the roof. His flying skill was not weak. I could only abandon my horse and chase after him, but that guy instantly disappeared. When I heard the horse’s cry, I hurried back and found that the horse had been killed. That person’s martial art was vicious.”

“Uncle Duan, do you know what martial art the bronze general was using?” Yang Ning frowned and said, “That person is very strange and ruthless. If we don’t eliminate him as soon as possible, more and more people will die.”

“I’ve seen the wound on that horse. I’ve also examined the corpse Marquis saw,” Duan Canghai said, “If I’m not mistaken, that person’s punch is extremely heavy and his wrist is full of strength. At first glance, it would make people think that he’s practicing pure strength. But as long as you examine it carefully, you can discover that the vampire is practicing a very soft internal power.”

“A soft internal strength?”

“Yes,” Duan Canghai explained, “The methods of cultivating internal strength are different, so the internal power of cultivation is very different. Some of the internal power was extremely fierce, while some of the internal power was extremely feminine. As for the internal power that was both strong and soft, it was naturally the strongest internal strength. This kind of internal power move was also the most powerful. However, if you want to have both strength and softness, you have to obtain a method to cultivate this internal power. However, in this world, there aren’t many internal power methods to cultivate both strength and softness. The Temple of Great Light’s internal strength is just like this.”

Yang Ning suddenly wondered if the Purity Scripture that the Fourth Old Master Jingchun imparted to him would be able to cultivate the internal strength of both strength and softness.

“When that person’s fist struck out, it looked fierce, but in reality, it caused the meridian inside the person’s body to break. It was very vicious.” Duan Canghai’s expression was serious, “Besides, he must have practiced clawing skills. The ordinary martial art would never tear their throats to that extent.” He frowned, “Marquis, this vampire’s martial art is great. Qu Xiaocang is right. It’s a good thing that the two young people didn’t meet him. If they did, they wouldn’t be a match for the vampire.”

Yang Ning frowned, “Don’t you know the origin of that vampire’s martial art?”

“I don’t know.” Duan Canghai shook his head and sighed, “Marquis, I don’t know much about ganghood. I’ve never heard of the Mysterious Flying Cicada Ninjas you mentioned before. However, as the Mansion of the Divine Marquis was in charge of ganghood affairs, its people should be very clear about the martial arts of various sects. Marquis Ximen is known as a master of all things, and he is even more familiar with all ganghood matters. This vampire has already killed several people in a row, so they naturally know the wounds on the body of the corpse very well. Until now, they have not caught the murderer. It can only mean that even they do not know what kind of martial arts the vampire uses. Otherwise, it would be very easy to find the real culprit.”

“An unknown vampire.” Yang Ning seemed to be lost in thought, “Uncle Duan, as killing the innocent people is already very abnormal, why does he still want to suck human blood?”

“I don’t know either.” Duan Canghai shook his head and thought for a moment before saying, “Such a strange case happened right under the Mansion of the Divine Marquis’s nose. They haven’t found out yet. I’m afraid the Divine Marquis will have to personally investigate it. Marquis, the clues you gave them should be useful. By the way, as I found Marquis tracks beside the corpse, I thought that you had been captured by the vampire and happened to run into another brother. I was afraid that the Third Lady would be worried in the mansion, so I sent him back to report that Marquis had been drinking with Young Master Yuan. You might not be able to go back at night.”

By this time, the carriage had already passed through the alley and arrived at Pipa Street. Duan Canghai got off the carriage with the unconscious guard in his arms and said, “Marquis, I’ll take him to settle him down first and hurry back as soon as possible.”

“OK.” Yang Ning nodded, and the carriage went on to the gate of the mansion. Yang Ning got out of the carriage and returned to the mansion. He did not sleep for the entire night but felt a little sleepy. The sky had already brightened. At dawn, Yang Ning stretched his back and saw that the servants in the mansion were already cleaning the courtyard. He smiled and greeted them. He was about to go back to his room to sleep when he heard Gu Qinghan’s voice behind him, “Stop.”

Yang Ning stopped and turned around to see Gu Qinghan walking over.

Gu Qinghan was wearing a light purple cloud-smoke brocade jacket and a plain snow-white cloud-scented silk dress. She was dressed in a smoke-covered bun. She only wore light makeup, but under the morning light, she was beautiful. She twisted her waist slightly and walked forward. Yang Ning was already smiling, “Third Auntie, why did you get up so early?”

“It’s early.” Gu Qinghan rolled her eyes at Yang Ning and walked around Yang Ning. After sizing him up, she moved closer to Yang Ning and sniffed with her nose. She frowned and asked, “What’s the smell on you?”

“Smell?” Yang Ning lifted her sleeve and sniffed, “There’s no smell. Third Auntie, what did you smell?”

He had touched the corpse last night and his hands had indeed been stained with blood, but he had already cleaned it up on the carriage. He was worried that Gu Qinghan would find traces.

“Where did you go last night?” Gu Qinghan asked.

Yang Ning smiled, “Didn’t Duan Canghai send someone back to report? Yesterday, it was Yuan Rong’s treat. That brat insisted on getting me drunk and said he wanted to congratulate me…” He noticed that Gu Qinghan was slightly tilting her head and her beautiful eyes were looking at him with a strange expression. For some reason, although Yang Ning wasn’t a person who liked to lie when he told lies in the past, he didn’t change his expression. But now that he was being stared at by Gu Qinghan, he had a guilty conscience. He smiled awkwardly and touched her face, saying, “I’d better not drink outside in the future.”

Gu Qinghan asked indifferently, “Yesterday when you went out, of course, I knew you were drinking with Yuan Rong. It’s normal for men to drink. When the old Marquis and the General were alive, they drank too. I just want to know where you were drinking.”

“This…” Yang Ning rubbed his head and said, “I didn’t remember where it was.” He deliberately yawned, “Third Auntie, I’ll go take a rest first.”

“Don’t be in a hurry to leave.” Gu Qinghan didn’t have a smile on her face, “Have you been drinking since dusk yesterday?”

“I was a little drunk when I was halfway there. I just lay in the restaurant for a while.” Being watched by Gu Qinghan’s pair of wonderful eyes, Yang Ning felt more guilty.

Gu Qinghan nodded, “Wasn’t Duan Canghai with you? Why didn’t he come back?”

“Since he drank too much, he would be back later. Third Auntie, I’m sleepy. Look…”

“He’s with you as your bodyguard. Why should those people let a guard drink at the same table?” Gu Qinghan said, “Even if others give him some respect and let him have a few drinks, didn’t he know his duty and dared to get drunk there? Ning, such a guard, do you think Marquis’s Mansion can let him stay here?”

Before, she had been the manager of one mansion. Although she cared about Yang Ning, once she became cold and stern, she had an imposing aura.

Yang Ning knew that Gu Qinghan was intelligent and that she would see through any flaws. It was obvious that she had seen through his lies. However, he didn’t want her to be afraid of what had happened last night, so he could only brace himself to say, “Third Auntie, I’ m the one who allowed him to drink more. Don’t blame him.”

Gu Qinghan glared at Yang Ning and bit her lips, “You even dare to lie to me now.” She turned around and left.

When Yang Ning saw Gu Qinghan turn around, he was stunned for a moment. He hurriedly chased after her and said, “Third Auntie, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly angry?”

Gu Qinghan quickened her pace and didn’t even look at him. She walked into the lobby and sat down on a chair in a huff. Yang Ning approached her and Gu Qinghan turned away.

“My Third Auntie, are you really angry?” Yang Ning stretched out a hand and gently tugged Gu Qinghan’s sleeve. Gu Qinghan said angrily, “Don’t touch me.” She shook off Yang Ning’s hand.

Yang Ning shook his head with a helpless smile and said softly, “Third Auntie, don’t be angry in the morning. If I didn’t do well, you can just scold me. Everyone outside was looking at us. When I’ll be out in the future, I will come back early.”

Gu Qinghan turned around and said angrily, “Am I blaming you for drinking? Am I blaming you for not coming back last night? You’re infuriating me. You brat, you’ve only inherited the title for a few days and you’re already lying to me. You weren’t like this before.”

“Third Auntie, I…”

“To be honest, were you going out to hang out with women?” Gu Qinghan said angrily, “You still have their scent on you.”

Only then did Yang Ning realize that Gu Qinghan had smelled the fragrance from his body, which was why she was so angry.

Last night, he was close to Chi Danmei’s body. Although it had been a few hours, he had thought that the fragrance that remained on his body had dissipated. Who would have thought that Gu Qinghan’s sense of smell was so sensitive that she could smell the residual fragrance from his body?

“Third Auntie, you misunderstood me.” Yang Ning raised one of his palms, “I swear to God, I didn’t hang out with another woman last night. If it’s a lie, let me…”

“Don’t swear.” Before Yang Ning could finish, Gu Qinghan scolded, “Who told you to swear?” She snorted softly and said, “You’re a Marquis of Honor now. I don’t care which woman you’re with. You can do whatever you want, but I hate people who lie to me the most.”

Yang Ning sat down on the side and said, “Third Auntie, when I was drinking last night, I listened to the young lady playing the guqin. It might have been that time, but I definitely didn’t touch her at all.” He thought to himself, “I’m not lying. I didn’t touch Zhuo Xian’er last night.”

Gu Qinghan looked at the Yang Ning suspiciously.

At this moment, they saw a person rushing to the door and reporting, “Marquis, someone is asking for a meeting!”

“Oh?” Yang Ning stood up, “Who wants to meet me in the morning?”

“He said that Miss Xian’er sent him here. Once mentioning Miss Xian’er’s name, Marquis must know.” The servant honestly reported, “That person said Miss Xian’er asked him to come over and apologize to Marquis. Last night, she didn’t properly serve Marquis. Miss Xian’er felt very guilty and sorry for Marquis…!”

Yang Ning didn’t listen to what that person was saying. He only felt that Gu Qinghan’s eyes were like two ice arrows, shooting right at his back. His back was cold and he didn’t dare to look back at Gu Qinghan’s eyes.