Ambush at Sunset

"Holy crap! System, what are you up to?" Su Hao's pupils dilated and his heart raced upon seeing the system's task prompt.

Gu Xi'er seemed to sense Su Hao's rapid heartbeat and looked at him quizzically. "Why is your heart beating so fast?"

"Isn't it because I'm going shopping with you? I'm just too excited. Come on, I'll accompany you for two hours today!" Su Hao replied naturally.

Of course, he was thrilled internally. He had already completed two tasks involving Gu Xi'er, and the rewards were quite generous. He almost didn't want her to return to the Qingmu Sword Sect.

"Two hours!" Gu Xi'er was stunned. Su Hao had never spent this much time alone with her before. A strange feeling arose in her heart.

She had liked Su Hao since childhood, especially after that night they slept together. However, Su Hao's playboy behavior and frequent visits to brothels frustrated her, leading to her often beating him up.

But now, Su Hao wanted to spend time shopping with her alone. She felt incredibly sweet.

"Let's go. Why are you in a daze? Today, whatever you want to buy or eat, your brother Hao's got it covered!" Su Hao said with the air of a modern-day tycoon.

As he spoke, he walked up to Gu Xi'er and took her hand, leading her out of the courtyard.

Gu Xi'er's face turned bright red when Su Hao held her hand, but she didn't pull away.

Su Hao was surprised that she didn't reject his hand. "Could it be that this girl likes me?" he thought to himself.

Gu Xi'er's hand was slightly cool but very soft. Su Hao felt the urge to caress it but quickly composed himself, not wanting to risk angering her and failing the task.

As they left the constabulary, Gu Xi'er became a bit shy and tried to withdraw her hand, but Su Hao held on. They boarded Su Ping's carriage together.

"To Qingrong Street!" Su Hao instructed Su Ping.

Qingrong Street was one of the busiest commercial areas in Fu City, with shops selling clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, and various snacks.

In Fu City, at the back room of a cosmetics shop on Qingrong Street:

Blue Moon stood with a grim expression. On the ground before her lay a corpse with a blackened face, apparently killed by her hand.

"Damn that black market! How did the antidote for the Black Blood Poison appear and fall into Su Wu's hands? Father's plan has failed!" she cursed, having just received news from the Northwest Prefecture.

She slammed her palm on the wooden table, shattering it. "Damn Su Wu, damn the Su family!"

"We can't remain passive. Come here!" Blue Moon called out coldly.

A man with a curved sword at his waist entered, his eyes full of admiration and desire for Blue Moon.

"Sima Mingyue, any movement on that end?" she asked, ignoring his gaze.

"Miss, we just received word that Sima Mingyue and his merchant group have left the city gates, likely returning to the prefecture capital," the man reported.

"It seems he got the news. This Sima Mingyue!" Blue Moon's eyes flashed with annoyance, but she knew there was no reason for him to stay now that the young lord had the antidote.

"Then I'll have to act myself. Prepare for tonight. We'll ambush Su Hao and leave Fu City immediately after," she ordered, her eyes cold.

"Yes, Miss," the man bowed and left, taking the corpse with him.

In the room, Blue Moon extended her hands, which emitted a faint blue light. "Su Hao, blame yourself for being born into the Su family and being useless. Who else should I kill if not you?"

Back at the constabulary, Little Liu delivered the confessions to Chief Lu Hao.

"Are these really from Li Xing?" Lu Hao asked skeptically, staring at Little Liu.

Little Liu quickly explained what happened in the dungeon with Su Hao.

"Hmm?" Lu Hao's expression tightened upon hearing that Su Hao had given Li Xing something.

After dismissing Little Liu, Lu Hao reviewed the confessions. They were detailed except for information about the vice altar master, Blue Moon. However, he hesitated to act as many constabulary members were implicated.

"I'll wait for Commander Su Wu's return and report to him before taking action," Lu Hao decided, not wanting to risk making a mistake.

On Qingrong Street, Su Hao ended up spending the entire afternoon with Gu Xi'er. As the sun began to set, they boarded Su Ping's carriage.

"Su Ping, take Gu Xi'er home first, then we'll return to the Su residence," Su Hao instructed.

Not far behind them, two figures appeared – Blue Moon and the man with the sword.

"That girl is Gu Xi'er from the Gu family, also a disciple of the Qingmu Sword Sect. They're likely heading to the Gu residence," the man reported.

"A Qingmu Sword Sect disciple? We'll deal with her too. Let's ambush them on the street in front of the Gu residence," Blue Moon decided.

With that, they quickly left to prepare for the ambush.