After poring over the details several times, he finally realized something was amiss.
This Zuo Qiu seemed immutable at all times, a person whose inner confidence was powerfully extreme, inscrutable.
When he spoke to Ashimo, his eyes conveyed a naturalness akin to the air itself, complete with contempt for everything, an attitude that belittled all lifeforms.
When he spoke to Ashi Liren, his gaze continually fell low, fixed on the ground.
Indeed, he never once looked at Ashi Liren directly, let alone met her gaze.
This was not normal, was it because of Ashi Liren’s beauty that he dared not look her in the eye?
Impossible, a person like Zuo Qiu could remain unflustered even if mountains crumbled before him, let alone facing a peerless beauty.
Or perhaps, he considered himself a recluse of high virtue, regarding beauty as nothing but dry bones, unworthy of his attention?
That was even less likely, for the saying that one regards beauty as dry bones is but a facade masking one’s own stirring heart. Otherwise, a person who has cultivated to the extreme extent of purifying their desires would regard even the most beautiful women as no different from plants and trees.
Just as if the most beautiful butterfly in the butterfly kingdom were seen by a sparrow, would it be captivated?
Therefore, someone like Zuo Qiu, the so-called recluse of high virtue, should be able to face anything calmly, including a stunning beauty.
Why would he not look at Ashi Liren? There was a reason for this.
"I know you are supremely skilled, help me investigate this Zuo Qiu," Ashi Liren said. "He might be our only variable."
"Yes, my lady," Suo Lun said.
He then took out paper and a painting brush, and based on his memory, he sketched the image of Zuo Qiu’s chicken skin and crane hair, his emaciated, corpse-like face.
"Is this what he looks like?" Suo Lun asked.
"Strikingly lifelike, an uncanny skill," Ashi Liren said.
Then, Ashi Liren walked towards the outside, saying, "Then our plan to exterminate Ashi Luo is set, the result will follow in half a month."
"Yes, my lady," Suo Lun said.
Ashi Liren hesitated for a moment and said, "You are a lord, and I am but the daughter of a lord, you need not treat me with such formality."
Suo Lun said, "But now, I am merely your son’s teacher, your strategist."
Ashi Liren said, "Very well, I hope you can cover all bases, ensuring our battle to eradicate Ashi Luo in half a month is flawless, decisive in one stroke."
"Yes," Suo Lun said. "I will do my utmost."
Ashi Liren said, "Get to the bottom of this Zuo Qiu, I feel he is pivotal."
Suo Lun said, "Then, my lady, do you have any thoughts regarding this man, any thoughts at all?"
Ashi Liren thought for a while, then shook her head, "No particular thoughts, just an instinctive sense that he’s key."
Suo Lun said, "I will utilize all resources to uncover this man."
"Good," Ashi Liren said.
Then, she left outright.
Once he lay down, Suo Lun couldn’t fall asleep, his heart restless with unease for some unknown reason.
Yet, he couldn’t pinpoint the source of this anxiety.
Interesting. Ashi Liren did not sense anything amiss when she met with Zuo Qiu, but upon returning, she felt something was off, though she couldn’t identify what exactly.
After his conversation with Ashi Liren ended, Suo Lun felt a rush of anxiety, but likewise, he could not determine its cause.
So, he closed his eyes, replaying the earlier dialogue with Ashi Liren in his mind, second by second.
And then, he found the source of his unrest.
It was a remark made by Ashi Liren.
"He is exceptionally smart, yet has suffered immense damage, turning him into a distorted madman who can’t find the meaning of life. His only interest now is women."
Ashi Luo was a deranged maniac, lost without a goal in life, his sole interest being women.
His top target was Ashi Liren, followed by Yan Nai’er, with Suo Ningbing in third place.
Aside from Ashi Liren, all the other targets involved Suo Lun.
So, in Ashi Luo’s mind, Fu Yan’er once belonged to Suo Lun and was the mother of his child. Would he let Fu Yan’er go easily? Would he let her die so readily?
Just that morning, he had hastily sent out hundreds of samurai, taking a huge risk in disguising themselves as Tianshui City samurai to fetch Fu Yan’er.
Fu Yan’er, once Suo Lun’s woman, having Fu Yan’er was one of Ashi Luo’s rare life goals. Would he let her die so easily?
Therefore, Fu Yan’er was not truly dead but had been given the poison from Demon Continent. The kind that induced complete death-like symptoms, only to revive her several hours later.
The aim was to escape by the skin of one’s teeth, having Ashi Liren remove Fu Yan’er’s "corpse" for burial, and then having Ashi Luo’s people dig it up and bring her back to life.
Then, the delectable Fu Yan’er would be entirely in the hands of Ashi Luo.
Although many women Ashi Luo had been with were prettier than Fu Yan’er, who was she compared to Suo Lun’s woman?
For Ashi Luo, this was the ultimate delicacy.
Suddenly, Suo Lun got up immediately, needing to find a way to warn Ashi Liren, to not carry Fu Yan’er out but pretend to cremate her within the residence instead.
However, it was already too late.
An hour earlier, Fu Yan’er had been placed in a coffin and buried.
Because, by Ashi Liren’s orders, this matter was to be settled before dawn.
Upon hearing Suo Lun’s words, a slight change flickered in Ashi Liren’s delicate eyes. However, her figure flashed, vanishing from sight as she rushed to Fu Yan’er’s grave with utmost speed.
She might not care for Fu Yan’er’s life but her honor certainly mattered.
Fu Yan’er was Qin Qin’s mother, the woman once belonging to Suo Lun.
She could not allow Fu Yan’er to fall into Ashi Luo’s clutches!
Yet, when she arrived at Fu Yan’er’s grave, she found the coffin empty.
Fu Yan’er’s "body" had vanished without a trace!
Note: The first update of five thousand words is here, asking for your support.