Shi Cheng reached out and caught the flying knife, which fell into his hand.

Turning back to look at the rooftop, the person had already drifted far away.

Old Ma and the others immediately leapt to pursue.

Su Mo gently spoke:

"Come back."

Everyone immediately halted.

Su Mo took the flying knife from Shi Cheng’s hand, retrieved a folded note from it.

He casually opened it, glanced at it, and handed it to Yang Xiaoyun.

Yang Xiaoyun quickly read it, a look of joy appeared on her face:

"It’s here."

Su Mo nodded slightly and gestured gently:

"Take this child away and take good care of him."

Old Ma agreed, carried Fang Jie away, and found a room to settle him.

After instructing the others to go about their business, Su Mo reopened the note, upon which was written: 9:45, Longevity Pavilion.

Su Mo read it and smiled wryly.

He wondered what was so special about Longevity Pavilion.

Every secret meeting and plot seemed to be arranged there.

He stored the note safely away, as there was nothing else to do during the day.

Xing Zhan’s agreed time with Su Mo was also in the evening.

He conducted his activities in secret, naturally avoiding broad daylight. Doing things at night was only natural.

Su Mo had Little Situ check on Fang Jie’s condition.

Although the child had been startled into unconsciousness by Yin Xiaoyu’s murderous aura, his prolonged slumber was not due to this.

After the Martial God Temple incident, Yin Xiaoyu’s ability to wield her murderous aura had become quite refined.

She had only meant to scare Fang Jie, not to harm him.

The reason for Fang Jie’s continued unconsciousness was actually due to his own mental exhaustion.

Now, he was sleeping soundly, gaining a temporary peace.

However, to recover fully, he would need a few days of rest.

Su Mo nodded slightly, allowing Fang Jie to continue sleeping.

At lunch, Su Mo indeed ordered an extra half pig for Zhen Xiaoxiao.

The girl ate with such relish that her face was covered in grease, beaming with joy.

Just after lunch, while Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun were discussing where to settle next, Chen Dinghai’s voice came from outside:

"Young Master."

"Come in."

Su Mo waved his sleeve, and the door swung open.

Only then did Chen Dinghai step inside:

"Young Master, I have almost gathered all the information you asked for."

"Oh? Do tell, is there indeed a Fang’s Manor over by Cuiyang Mountain?"

Su Mo smiled.

"Young Master, I cannot say for certain whether Fang’s Manor exists, but I discovered that six months ago, the most significant event in Cuiyang Mountain was:

"The massacre of Nong Yue Villa in one night.

"Both the manor master Fang Baiyu and the manor lady were killed, and nearly all of the more than three hundred inhabitants perished."

Chen Dinghai spoke solemnly.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun exchanged a glance, and Yang Xiaoyun couldn’t help but shake her head:

"Why does Xizhou seem even more chaotic than Nanhai?"

"Whole families are wiped out in an instant..."

Su Mo glanced at Chen Dinghai:

"Is there more?"

"To report, Young Master."

Chen Dinghai continued solemnly:

"I learned that Fang Baiyu had a pair of children.

"The daughter is named Fang Hongying.

"In the Jianghu, she is known as the Heroine Jing Hong, not yet twenty, yet she has made quite a name for herself.

"She is reputed to be of unmatched beauty, a rare gem.

"Every year, suitors visiting Nong Yue Villa nearly broke down the doorstep.

"As for the son... he is still young and does not practice martial arts, so people in the Jianghu don’t know much about him."

"Oh?"

Su Mo, hearing this, looked at Chen Dinghai:

"A son of a Martial Arts Family who doesn’t practice martial arts?"

He thought of Xing Zhan.

Publicly declaring he didn’t practice martial arts, yet secretly training.

According to Hei Bodhisattva, Xing Zhan’s martial arts skills were not inferior to Old Master Xing.

The martial arts he practiced were rather intriguing.

Although not the same, they reminded Su Mo of an old rival.

If he weren’t genuinely uninterested in the Xing family’s affairs, Su Mo might have wanted to investigate where Xing Zhan learned such skills.

"Young Master, you might not know."

Chen Dinghai quickly explained:

"Nong Yue Villa differs from typical Jianghu families.

"They value both literary and martial arts.

"Disciples can choose to study martial arts or literature as they please.

"Fang Hongying favored martial arts, while the Young Master favored literature.

"Fang Baiyu allowed them to pursue their interests freely."

"I see."

Su Mo smiled at this, "That’s quite interesting."

Then Chen Dinghai continued:

"Since the fall of Nong Yue Villa, there were those who went to clean up the ruins and bury the dead.

"They found that the pair of children were not among them.

"Additionally, after tallying the corpses, they found the numbers didn’t match.

"There were at least dozens missing.

"But because the bodies were disfigured, some burnt, some mutilated by swords,

"they couldn’t be sure the missing were all females."

Su Mo nodded gently:

"Does the Jianghu have any rumors about who might be responsible?"

"There are no rumors."

Chen Dinghai shook his head, "There are countless speculations, but none are credible."

"Having just arrived in Xizhou, we’ve already encountered two extermination tragedies.

"It seems this sort of thing isn’t uncommon here.

"If the blade hasn’t fallen on them, others at most treat it as gossip during tea.

"I’m afraid few truly take it to heart."