"Hmm, right Ah Lin, was it the Ninja from the Tutian Family who committed that murder you told me about last time?" An Yiqing suddenly remembered the words Gu Yelin had shared with her before.
"Yes. The four Ninjas who tried to assassinate you were also from the Tutian Family."
"Did you manage to find out why the Tutian Family wanted to kill those people?" An Yiqing thought for a moment before continuing to ask.
"No, they were merely tools for murder and didn’t have the privilege to know the inner workings of the Tutian Family’s upper echelons," Gu Yelin shook his head as he spoke in a heavy tone. Just the thought of the Tutian Family made him clench his teeth in hatred. Recalling the sight of his darling covered in blood that night, Gu Yelin wished he could head to Country Bai right away. But he had promised his darling that she would handle this matter herself.
Seemingly sensing the man’s displeasure, An Yiqing extended her small hand and gently placed it on his leg to comfort him.
"Ah Lin, do you think the Tutian Family might have any connection with the Canglang Sect?" It wasn’t that she was overly suspicious, but the scent of the medicine on those black-clad men from last night and the similarity to the smell on the bodies from the previous murder case, as well as on Xiong Tian, made her question things. One time could be a coincidence, but too many occurrences pointed to a problem.
Upon hearing An Yiqing’s words, Gu Yelin’s dark eyes flashed.
"I’ll look into it. Don’t worry."
An Yiqing obediently nodded her head, leaned back in the chair, and closed her eyes to rest.
At this moment, her brain swiftly sorted through the events of the past few months, trying to make sense of everything. From the Xuandu City murder case to her own attempted assassination by Ninjas, then the death of Xiong Tian, being framed and taken to the police station, and the attack on the An Family yesterday. She felt there was a covert connection between all these events. Perhaps it was targeting her, or perhaps it was aiming at the An Family...
At this thought, An Yiqing couldn’t help but recall information about the Tutian Family.
The Tutian Family, a renowned Ninja family in Country Bai, was akin to the Ancient Martial Arts Families of Xuanjin. They were held in the highest glory in Country Bai, as distinguished as the Onmyoji Family, the Anpei Family.
The head of the local branch of the Tutian Family, Tutian Zhengxiong, was very ambitious. Ever since he took over more than twenty years ago, he had been making covert moves, maintaining close ties with the Prime Minister, the Monarch of Country Bai, and the Shankou Group. Tutian Zhengxiong turned sixty this year, and it was said that his Ninjutsu skills were so remarkable that he had few rivals. However, An Yiqing was skeptical about this. It was rumored that twenty years ago, Tutian Zhengxiong had secretly come to Xuanjin for a contest, but the result was never made public.
An Yiqing thought that, given Tutian Zhengxiong’s personality, if he had won, he would have bragged within Xuanjin!
However, events from twenty years ago were now impossible to verify unless the people involved were willing to speak. Otherwise, it would remain a legend.
What An Yiqing was currently pondering was what connection, if any, did the Tutian Family have with the Canglang Sect?
Or, what kind of relationship existed between the Tutian Family and Tan Bing, the new Family Head of the Canglang Sect?
The journey home was quiet, with An Yiqing deep in thought and Gu Yelin driving. In no time at all, they arrived back at the An Family Villa.
Before An Yiqing could even step through the door, she heard the hearty laughter of her grandfather and master.
She pressed the doorbell with a smile, and soon after, the door was opened from the inside, revealing Kong Shi’s charming and gentle face.
"Niuniu and Xiao Gu are back? Come in quickly! Dinner’s just ready; we were only waiting on you!" Kong Shi hurriedly welcomed An Yiqing and Gu Yelin into the house, and it was all bustling with her helping them with their slippers and taking their coats. Her warm demeanor was so engaging that even the usually composed Gu Yelin began to feel flustered.
"Auntie, auntie, I’ve got it," Gu Yelin quickly slipped into his slippers, then swiftly took off his coat, afraid that Kong Shi might snatch it away.
While leisurely taking off her clothes, An Yiqing watched the man fumbling, with a sly twinkle in her eyes.
Seeing Gu Yelin’s embarrassment, Kong Shi gently scolded her beloved daughter with a warm glance and then cheerfully said to Gu Yelin, "Xiao Gu, come to the dining room for dinner. Niuniu, you go wash your hands with Xiao Gu."
Treated with the tenderness usually reserved for a child, An Yiqing found great comfort, as if making up for the vulnerabilities of her childhood. Holding Gu Yelin’s hand, she cheerfully greeted everyone in the dining room before heading into the washroom.
"Hmm, Ah Lin, you were shy just now!" An Yiqing teased him with a smile while washing her hands.
Gu Yelin’s face stiffened slightly, and he coughed softly, "You saw wrong."
The girl’s eyes curved into crescents as she playfully widened them and said, "Ah Lin, my eyesight is really good! Your face turned red just now! I didn’t see wrong!" As she spoke, she reached out with her wet hand and playfully pinched Gu Yelin’s handsome face back and forth.
Gu Yelin let the girl’s small hand fumble over his face, and with his own hands full of suds, he gently tapped her nose, pulling a playful