Yet, the hair at his temples had begun to turn white, but this did not make him look old, on the contrary, it made him look more authoritative.
Upon seeing that his guest was a young lady, Leng Souw-hiang was also taken aback for a moment.
However, he did not at all look down on his guest.
If she indeed came from outside the city, it was eighty percent certain that she was a person sent here by King Su-cen.
The king would not just send someone who was incompetent.
This woman must have her own special qualities to have gained his trust.
Having thought so far, he automatically stood up.
"Leng Taiya!" the female guest greeted him very respectfully.
Leng Souw-hiang was again taken aback, because this woman, in showing respect, did not exhibit the etiquette found among the general public nor the etiquette found among the Han people.
Both her hands remained clasped in front of her chest.
Because she was wearing a large, continuous cloak, coupled with her gestures like this, she looked very heroic.
However, this was a way of greeting the warriors commonly found in the martial arts world! Leng Souw-hiang asked himself, he had never dealt with people who came from the martial arts circle! Because he was taken by surprise, he forgot to return the greeting.
Fortunately, the old man who had shown her the way in immediately represented his master in returning her greeting and inviting her to sit down.
"No need to be shy, no need to be shy!" only then did Leng Souw-hiang regain consciousness, "seeing Miss is very beautiful, very authoritative, I was stunned by Miss......where does Miss come from?" "Li-sun" After stating the place of her origin, Leng Souw-hiang's heart immediately became calm.
King Su-cen lived in that region.
Looking at the behavior and appearance of this young lady, she is very likely the envoy of King Su-cen.
If not, who else is more suitable? "How is the King? Is he well?" Leng Souw-hiang, while slightly bowing his body in respect, asked very politely and slowly.
It seemed that he intended to provoke this lady to say who sent her.
"Very well," her answer was very brief.
"How is the situation there?" This time she didn't say anything.
She just nodded her head.
At the same time, she glanced at the old servant who had brought her in.
"Go!" Leng Souw-hiang immediately waved his hand.
The old guide immediately retreated and stepped out of the room.
He closed the door behind him.
Now in the room were only the two of them.
"Leng Taiya, I want to ask you.
Which hand do you usually use to hold the pen when you write a letter?" "Right hand" "Then, please stretch out your right hand!" Leng Souw-hiang felt a little strange, but he still extended his right hand.
It was unusual for him to obey what was ordered of him.
But this time it was really strange.
It seemed to be caused by the great charisma emanating from her.
"If there is someone who has made a mistake and made someone angry, and the person who has been made angry asks him: 'which do you prefer" Would you prefer to have your throat cut or your right hand cut off"' if that person is you, which would you choose?" Leng Souw-hiang was truly startled, he quickly withdrew his right hand.
This woman's movements were very fast, with just one big step she was already in front of Leng Souw-hiang, in her hand now appeared a very sharp knife.
The sharp tip of the knife pressed hard against Leng Souw-hiang's chest, he actually thought about stepping back to avoid the attack, but his legs did not obey his wishes.
"Leng Taiya, what choice would you really make?" "No...
Miss, ho...
how could it be like this" a....are you really a messenger of King Su- cen?" "Make your choice quickly!" "No....Miss, have I ever wronged you before?" "Choose!" Just a single word...
but this single word had an extraordinary power.
Slowly Leng Souw-hiang's right hand, which was shaking violently, stretched out again.
"Leng Taiya, listen well! Ten years ago this right hand of yours committed some kind of crime, you yourself understand.
Now the time for retribution has come.
Leng Taiya, your hand will be cut off, it will certainly hurt very much.
But you must endure the pain, you must not scream.
If you scream even a little, not only will I kill you, but even the entire residence will certainly fall victim to innocent casualties.
Do you understand?" "No...miss, can I pay money to atone for my sins" How much do you want....however much, I will definitely give....give that much" "You must understand now, money can't always solve all problems.
No matter how much money you have, you have no way to regrow your arm that has been cut off from your shoulder....please raise your right hand a little" Leng Taiya's body was shaking violently, but his whole body felt very weak.
His right hand had no strength to be lifted.
The movement of this young lady's hand was very cruel, she did not immediately slash her knife hard to cut off her opponent's hand, but she slowly slashed her knife.
Leng Taiya not only had to endure the unbearable pain, but also had to endure the deep heartache.
This young lady used her hand to press on the tips of Leng Taiya's fingers, so that his hand was stretched out straight.
From her movements, she seemed to be about to cut a fish, or a chicken.
"I will say it once again.
you must not scream at all.
Once you scream, you will immediately lose your life.
You will also make life difficult for others!" Leng Taiya was sweating cold sweat, his legs were shaking very badly, he felt he was about to faint.
0-0-0
On the same day, in Pakhia, there were four gruesome cases.
Leng Taiya's right hand was cut off, the eyeballs of the chief director of a renowned bank named Hui Ci-hong were gouged out.
A versatile artist in Pakhia, who was skilled in playing musical instruments, chess, educated and good at drawing, named Tan Po-hai, also experienced a similar incident.
The perpetrator had cut off both his ears.
A great lord who had once served in Ciu-mui during the Ceng dynasty named Oey Souw suffered the lightest injury.
With a sharp knife, the perpetrator carved an X mark on his cheek.
After the perpetrator injured the victims, at each crime scene, she always left the same sign........a swallow bird carving made of iron and also with a drop of red candle wax attached to the bird's eye.
Leng Souw-hiang and Hui Ci-hong, each having lost a hand and an eye.
After enduring severe pain, they both immediately passed out.
After being rescued they only regained consciousness, the injuries suffered by Tan Po-hai and Oey Souw were not serious, but they all did something that many people did not understand.
Regarding this case, they all did not make a fuss about it, on the contrary, they insisted they did not see the perpetrator.
Clearly, they were all lying.
The reasons they lied seemed to be two: First they were afraid the perpetrator would be more ferocious and seek revenge.
Second, they did not want this case to reveal all the secrets they held.
Of course, others would also come to the same conclusion, that all the perpetrators were the same person.
The reasons for the four victims were certainly the same.
Because they had all hurt the perpetrator.
The severity of the crimes they had committed was commensurate with the injuries they suffered at this time.
Only Oey Souw's child did not commit a crime with his own hands.
He only bore the sins committed by his parents.
He was only twenty years old, it was impossible for him to commit a crime together with the great lords of that age.
These four horrifying incidents occurred when the day was still very early.
Later, based on the existing evidence, the location of the crime and the time of the occurrence, Leng Souw-hiang was the victim who suffered the most severe injury.
Leng Souw-hiang had four sons and three daughters, he also had an adopted child named Wie Kie-hong.
His biological father, named Wie Ceng, was actually born into a family of bandits, but later he became a good person.
He served in the royal family of King Su-cen for several years as a guard.
He truly gained the trust of the Leng officials.
Once he had received an order from the Leng official, to go out of town to carry out a secret mission, what mission was given to him" it seemed only they knew about this mission.
After going to carry out his mission, he never returned.
After investigation, it turned out he had sacrificed his life for Leng Souw-hiang.
Leng Taiya still had a little conscience, he then took care of and educated the child left behind.
He became his beloved adopted child, and he treated him like his own child.
Since he was a child, Wie Kie-hong had learned the martial arts taught by his father, coupled with his natural talent, studying for a short time he had reached a pretty high level.
Glossary:
Leng Souw-hiang - Character's name
Leng Taiya - Character's name
King Su-cen - Character's name
Li-sun - Place name
Pakhia - Place name
Hui Ci-hong - Character's name
Tan Po-hai - Character's name
Ciu-mui - Place name
Ceng dynasty - Historical period
Oey Souw - Character's name
Wie Kie-hong - Character's name
Wie Ceng - Character's name