Chapter 83: "All I Want Is Your Heart"

"Young Master Shi, it's so late—why did you call me to the martial arts hall?"
"You'll know soon enough."
Shi Yanfeng had arrived as well!
"Senior Brother, are you afraid?" Yu Miaotong's voice rang out.
"Hmph, what would I be afraid of?" Du Liangjing snapped. "You just want to take advantage of no one else being here to force me to sign and leave the martial arts hall for good, don't you?"
"Relax, you don't have to force me. Since you've allied yourself with Young Master Shi, I'll concede. From now on, the martial arts hall is yours."
"Well, if you'd realized that earlier, things would have been much simpler," Yu Miaotong laughed triumphantly.
But Su Jingxing frowned.
The heartbeats he heard were not just those of Du Liangjing, Yu Miaotong, and Shi Yanfeng.
There were eleven in total!
Eight others were scattered throughout the martial arts hall, having silently scaled the walls moments before.
Du Liangjing hadn't noticed at all.
Whether Yu Miaotong and Shi Yanfeng were aware was unclear.
To Su Jingxing, Du Liangjing's explanation was insufficient.
With Shi Yanfeng backing her, Yu Miaotong had no need for such elaborate methods to force Du Liangjing out.
And bringing him here so late at night?
Something was off!
And with eight silent newcomers entering together, there was definitely a problem.
If not for the fact that one among them stood out—his breathing and heartbeat marking him as a master of at least sixth rank—Su Jingxing would have left immediately.
The conflict between Yu Miaotong and Du Liangjing had nothing whatsoever to do with him.
He had no desire to get caught in the vortex between the two.
Yet that master was less than twenty meters away from Su Jingxing, lurking in a corner. Su Jingxing had no choice but to endure for now, staying hidden in the room and slowing his breathing.
...
At the same time, in the courtyard lit by streetlamps,
Du Liangjing, Yu Miaotong, and Shi Yanfeng stood bathed in the light.
Du Liangjing's face was stiff, while the other two stood hand in hand.
"Young Master Shi, if you have something to say, say it. Since I've conceded, I won't bother her anymore," Du Liangjing said in a low voice.
"No rush."
Shi Yanfeng smiled, his arm circling Yu Miaotong's waist as he spoke gently, "Tongtong, are you willing to do anything for me?"
"Of course," Yu Miaotong replied, her eyes brimming with affection. "Feng, whatever you want, I'm willing to give you—even this martial arts hall, even my father's skills."
Du Liangjing curled his lip in disgust, turning away so he wouldn't have to look at her, cursing her inwardly.
"Those mean nothing to me," Shi Yanfeng maintained his smile. "There's only one thing I want."
"What is it? Just say the word." Yu Miaotong's cheeks flushed as she seemed to guess, bowing her head and whispering shyly, "Could it be... that? Feng, if that's what you want, I... I'm willing..."
Wretched woman!
Shameless, brainless fool!
A total idiot!
Du Liangjing fumed, his fists clenched, his heart roiling with hatred.
His anger was tinged with sorrow for his master—
His daughter, raised with such care, had been utterly duped by a pretty-faced manipulator.
What bitter irony! Ha...
Du Liangjing laughed bitterly inside.
In the room, Su Jingxing was equally speechless.
Yu Miaotong was astonishingly foolish.
Of course, it only served to highlight Shi Yanfeng’s cunning.
...
"Silly girl, what are you thinking?"
Shi Yanfeng gently tapped Yu Miaotong's nose with fondness. "It's not that. What I want is..."
"What?" Yu Miaotong asked bashfully. "Feng, what is it you really want?"
"Your heart," Shi Yanfeng smiled. "I don't want anything else, just your heart."
"My heart? But it's always been yours." Yu Miaotong replied in confusion, her shyness evident. "You've been the only one in my heart for so long. Whether now or in the fu—"
Suddenly—a chilling sound of blade piercing flesh.
Yu Miaotong's words came to an abrupt halt.
Her pupils dilated; her mouth opened and closed, as if trying to speak, but no sound emerged.
Her wide eyes filled with shock, confusion, and helplessness.
She stiffly lowered her gaze to her chest, where a strangely shaped dagger was buried straight through her heart.
"Why..."
Barely audible, she uttered the word, her breath fading away into oblivion.
[Corpse detected. Retrieve?]
"...Yes!"
In the room, Su Jingxing responded inwardly, his expression blank.
Dead!
Yu Miaotong was dead!
Shi Yanfeng had thrust his knife into her heart, killing her instantly!
He only wanted your heart...
Shi Yanfeng hadn't lied; he had indeed taken her heart.
But why?
Why would Shi Yanfeng kill Yu Miaotong so suddenly?
Yu Miaotong had been utterly bewitched by him, willing to give up everything—so why kill her?
Su Jingxing was silent.
...
In the courtyard,
Du Liangjing was dumbfounded.
Shi Yanfeng had killed Yu Miaotong?
Weren't they in league together, with Yu Miaotong ready to give Shi Yanfeng even the martial arts hall?
Why would he kill her?
Du Liangjing was baffled, shocked, disbelieving—he could not make sense of it at all.
A wet sound came from the oddly shaped dagger.
Shi Yanfeng gripped the hilt and pulled it from Yu Miaotong's heart, letting her body collapse limply to the ground.
Through it all, he wore the same gentle smile, calm and collected, showing not the slightest hint of killing intent—like someone crushing an ant, utterly unaffected.
After stowing the dagger, he patted the dazed Du Liangjing on the shoulder and said softly, "Senior Brother Du, I'll leave the rest to you."
"N-no trouble at all..." Du Liangjing stammered, regaining his senses, his voice quivering on instinct.
"Good, thank you."
Shi Yanfeng patted Du Liangjing’s shoulder again in appreciation, then turned to call into the shadows, "Elder Zhu, we can go now."
"Go?"
Du Liangjing started violently, suddenly understanding, his pupils dilating as he growled, "You can't go! You killed Tongtong—how can you just walk away?"
With that, he grabbed Shi Yanfeng's shoulder.
Whoosh—
Pa!
Thud!
With a shake of his shoulder and a sharp sidestep, Shi Yanfeng flung Du Liangjing to the ground.
"Senior Brother Du, that’s not right," Shi Yanfeng smiled. "Didn't you agree to help? How can you go back on your word?"
"Don't worry, it's only murder. Do a dozen years in prison, and you can come out to inherit the Baihe Martial Arts Hall. I'll keep it for you, waiting until you're free. I believe that under your management, Baihe Martial Arts Hall can shine like it did under the old master!"
Du Liangjing was stunned.
In the room, Su Jingxing’s pupils contracted as understanding dawned and he sighed inwardly.
Ruthless!
Shi Yanfeng had clearly planned this all along, even if the reason for killing Yu Miaotong wasn't clear.
Bringing Du Liangjing here at this hour was only to make him take the blame!
With the conflict between Du Liangjing and Yu Miaotong earlier that day, and with Du Liangjing killing her at night—if the Shi family pushed the story, the public would only believe Du Liangjing acted out of spite and resentment.
No one would suspect that the true murderer was Shi Yanfeng.
What a scheme, what skill!
Su Jingxing couldn’t help but be impressed.
...
In the courtyard,
After "comforting" Du Liangjing, Shi Yanfeng turned and left, calling back as he walked, "Elder Zhu, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Rest assured, young master, I know what to do."
An aged, steady voice answered. "Little mouse in the house, you've been listening long enough. You can come out now."