Chapter 56 - Manslaughter In Broad Daylight

…

Melian Aelfis was filled with infinite curiosity– she could not help but ask a complicated question that would differ in opinion for anyone who had heard of Li Qu's notoriety.

"My Nature Goddess and Esteemed Elder Donaer– what was His Excellency like before? Back… at the Sacred Place?"

Donaer Cerle knew of the rumors better than Cal Cal as he was always out and about– he replied in a grave and low tone.

"His Excellency– He… was like the executioner for the righteous path sects. The place he arrives at will most definitely turn into a graveyard for the sinful and evil. All of that done emotionlessly, like a puppet with no life– that's all that I'm going to tell you. It's not beneficial for you to listen more; he was simply too cold-blooded before."

"G-Graveyard for the sinful… I just can't perceive that, given how friendly he looks now."

Melian Aelfis was spooked, however, Donaer Cerle simply smiled and closed his eyes– putting the topic to rest.

After almost an hour– Xia Qiu walked out with a big triumphant smile holding a tray containing 3 teapots and teacups while Li Qu walked behind slowly– his face gloomy; as if gray clouds were forming above his head.

Xia Qiu brought the trays to the three elves and sat down with them; happily chatting and giggling.

It was just that their laughter just felt like sneers towards Li Qu– sitting alone at the cashier counter area– experiencing an internal existential crisis.

'System… Is this the true reason why you guided me to employ Xia Qiu as my waitress?'

[...Host, it is merely a coincidence. ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔ]

"..."

Left speechless, Li Qu was going to take out his phone to relieve his pent-up stress from the riddles when he heard Xia Qiu boasting about her feats.

"And then, the next riddle was 'What time is it when an elephant sits on a fence?', and he said that it was time for it to die. Oh my– I can't stop laughing, help!"

"..."

Donaer Cerle carefully looked at Li Qu's current expression and forced out an awkward smile in response to Xia Qiu's laughter– he was not about to risk his life just to get a laugh.

However, the same could not be said to Cal Cal; she burst out laughing even louder than the person telling the joke.

"HAHAHAHA!!! My Royal Mother would be very interested in this, I'll remember it so I can tell her next time! Pfft, haha–"

"Keep it down a little– you people are too noisy."

Li Qu made a slight frown in apparent vexation– interrupting Cal Cal's discordant laughter.

"Says the one that can't even solve a simple riddle, blegh~"

Xia Qiu retorted and stuck out her tongue.

Cal Cal eyes opened wide and gasped with her hands in front of her lips– as if she was horrified or surprised. Despite that, it soon turned into a grin of admiration.

"That was a good one! Xia Qiu~ I feel like we can be friends, hehe…"

"I… think so too!"

They looked at each other and gave a knowing smile– making Li Qu think that the two girls on the same frequency level could indeed telepathically connect with one another.

"...Enough. Lil' Qiu– come here and help me with this account registration."

"Got it…. Why're you acting like a boomer? Sheesh."

Donaer Cerle smiled and was now fully convinced that his conjecture on Li Qu's personality was not wrong.

The elves then relished in the splendid taste of the Enlightenment Tea while praising it to the high heavens.

…

In the meantime, somewhere in Hua Country, Jing Ling City, under the void-deck of a certain abandoned building in the late afternoons…

A burly-looking man with an afro was using his hands to angrily grab a frail young man by his shirt collar while demanding something– the young man was dangling in mid-air while groaning in pain.

"Qi Mingyun, don't piss me off! I'm asking you for the last time– where the f*ck is the money you stole from me?!"

"I told you– that it– wasn't me! It was your henchman that stole it, he framed me!!!"

Qi Mingyun struggled to speak properly; the hold on his shirt collar had choked his airway– making his speech slightly incoherent.

"Cut that bullsh*t, why would my own men betray me? You're trying to sow discord within our Golden Snake Gang?! Guys, beat him up till his foster mother doesn't recognize him anymore!"

"Yes, Boss Peng Tou!"

Peng Tou did not believe Qi Mingyun's words; he ordered his sidekicks to give him a good one while throwing him onto the cold hard floor and stood to the side to observe the show.

To which they readily agreed with evil grins and approached Qi Mingyun menacingly while cracking their knuckles, ready to give him a beating of his lifetime.

Qi Mingyun tried to crawl away with the little remaining energy he had, unfortunately– his right leg was caught by a henchman as he was dragged back to his original spot a few meters away.

They proceeded to unleash their brutal punches and devastating kicks towards Qi Mingyun without any sort of restraints.

Pffft!

Qi Mingyun puked out a mouthful of blood as he used his hands to desperately shield his head from being attacked.

"Keeeugh! Please, I'm begging you– stop! I'm innocent!!!"

Qi Mingyun coughed from the terrible pain being inflicted on him and begged for them to stop with all his means, albeit futile.

"Hahaha, little rat– trying to steal Boss Peng Tou's money?! Who gave you the f*cking guts to offend our Golden Snake Gang?!"

A certain henchman taunted him with a sadistic smile hung on his lips.

Qi Mingyun's screams and grunts were gradually turning softer, and soon, it was silent– only the impact from the kicks and punches was heard as their legs and fists collided with his still body.

However, there was one one particular henchman who stood out.

He had just finished his Evolver's Ceremony and was still new to his abilities– as he was too caught up in his own enjoyment, his ability had abruptly activated without his control.

Crackle!

His fists were suddenly covered in sizzling intermittent yellow colored lightning while he was still in the midst of raining punches on the back of Qi Mingyun's head. Despite the fact that he had stopped when he realized that his ability was being used, it was too late– the punch filled with lightning connected.

Bam!

A soft muffled sound of something popping was heard– Qi Mingyun laid helplessly on the floor, his bruised body shivering; his bleeding head was convulsing non-stop, as if suffering from an electrocution.

"Sh*t– I f*cked up! I-I think I got too excited and my ability activated by itself– this happened before too! What should we do?!"

The Phase 1 Evolver henchman panicked; he knew the reason for his loss of control– his fluctuating emotions.

"Tch, he looks like he's gonna die! Boss Peng Tou, how is it?"

Another henchman directly asked with disdain while the frowning Peng Tou evaluated the situation with ample experience– as if he had done many times before.

Peng Tou hurriedly walked towards Qi Mingyun and squatted down while examining his head injury while giving out orders to his henchmen–

"I don't think he's gonna make it– his brain suffered a trauma, he's basically f*cked! Dump his body in the rubbish bin behind us and make it quick, don't let anyone near and witness it!"

The henchman that dealt the electrocuting blow felt goosebumps crawling up his skin– he had not expected to accidentally commit murder– it was just a regular beating that he had always dished out without any problems.

But now, it was plain manslaughter.

…