Seeing from the newcors’ attire that they were likely from the Celestial Water Palace, Fang Shuwen held back:
"Hold! We had nothing to do with what happened here!"
"Uncle Ironman!!"
Shui Qianrou also hurriedly cried out:
"It’s ! Big Brother didn’t kill Auntie Shui Man! When we arrived, she was already..."
The burly man stared, seemingly unable to believe his eyes. After rubbing them hard, he confird that he wasn’t seeing things and imdiately dropped to his knees with a THUD.
"Greetings, Young Palace Master!!"
The others heard the commotion and arrived as well. Upon seeing Shui Qianrou, they too knelt one after another:
"Greetings, Young Palace Master!!"
"Young Palace Master?"
Fang Lingxin looked at Shui Qianrou in surprise. The two girls had gotten to know each other well recently, and while she knew Shui Qianrou was a "little princess" of the Celestial Water Palace, she never expected her to be the Young Palace Master.
’Didn’t she say she had a brother?’
Shui Qianrou, however, just waved her hand. Despite her young age, the gesture was very practiced. Her face took on a hint of regal grace that belied her years.
"All of you, rise... How did you... how did you end up here?"
"The Young Palace Master ran away from ho, and the Palace Master is consud with worry. We were sent under the Palace Master’s orders to find you and bring you back."
As Ironman spoke, he couldn’t help but look at Shui Man’s body, his eyes filled with anguish.
"Shui Man... Your Auntie Shui Man said you’ve always loved a bustling scene. With all the commotion in Pojun City, she was certain you’d show up... That’s why we ca here.
"We went out looking for you today, just like always, but we never expected..."
Fang Shuwen suddenly asked,
"Is this all of you? Everyone who ca?"
Ironman shot a look at Fang Shuwen.
"And who might you be? I am speaking with the Young Palace Master. You..."
"Do not be rude to Big Brother,"
Shui Qianrou chided him sharply.
Ironman imdiately lowered his head.
"This subordinate was at fault."
"Big Brother saved my life and traveled a great distance to bring here. I owe him a debt as heavy as a mountain.
"From now on, when you see Big Brother, you will treat him as you treat . If you dare to show such insubordination again, I will not be lenient."
The words coming from such a small girl were filled with authority.
It made Fang Shuwen see her in a new light.
’Then again, rembering that night she’d ripped a tree out of the ground to attack soone in a fit of rage, this display of authority wasn’t so surprising after all.’
"Yes. This subordinate understands."
Although Ironman said as much, his eyes were still filled with suspicion and wariness as he looked up at Fang Shuwen.
But he didn’t ignore Fang Shuwen’s question. He quickly counted the bodies and then said,
"Our people... the living and the dead... they’re all here."
At these words, Fang Shuwen turned to look at Shui Qianrou.
Shui Qianrou took a deep breath.
"Gather the bodies first... We’ll investigate afterward."
Ironman gave Shui Qianrou a surprised glance. ’If they gather the bodies, how can they investigate?’
But at this point, he didn’t dare disobey her. He could only agree.
"Yes."
He imdiately called his n over to gather the bodies and cover their faces with white cloths.
Throughout the entire process, Shui Qianrou remained silent. Her shoulders trembled slightly and her eyes were red, but she stubbornly refused to let a single tear fall.
Fang Lingxin couldn’t bear to see it and wanted to go comfort her, but Fang Shuwen held her back.
Shui Qianrou was, after all, still just a child. She was holding back her tears through sheer willpower. A single mont of kindness now could shatter the fragile strength she had forced herself to wear.
Fang Shuwen had noticed a change in Shui Qianrou ever since Ironman and his n arrived.
Before, she had been a little girl full of curiosity about the world around her.
Upon seeing Shui Man and the others dead, she had been trying to hold back, but the tears were on the verge of spilling over.
It wasn’t until Ironman and the others appeared that she had donned this armored facade of strength.
’Perhaps her status as Young Palace Master won’t allow her to cry in front of her subordinates?
Even if she is only a ten-year-old child.’
After silently carrying out the order, Ironman returned to Shui Qianrou and knelt on one knee.
"Young Palace Master, what should we do now?"
A burly, middle-aged man, kneeling before a ten-year-old girl to ask for instructions.
The scene was almost comical.
But neither Fang Shuwen nor Fang Lingxin smiled. Shui Qianrou simply let out a slow breath.
"Are there any leads on my brother?"
"...At present, we have found no trace of the Eldest Young Master."
"Find him."
Shui Qianrou’s wrist trembled as she spoke with clipped, concise words:
"I don’t care what it takes. Even if you have to tear Pojun City apart brick by brick, find him!!"
"But, Young Palace Master, why are you so certain the Eldest Young Master is even..."
"Just go find him!!!"
Shui Qianrou suddenly exploded in a rage:
"Don’t make repeat myself!!!"
"Yes, this subordinate obeys!!"
Ironman quickly assented and was about to leave with his n, but he glanced back at Fang Shuwen, clearly uneasy about leaving Shui Qianrou with him.
Shui Qianrou saw his hesitation, and her voice grew even more frigid:
"If it weren’t for Big Brother, I would have been dead long ago. How dare you presu to comnt?"
"Yes... This subordinate wouldn’t dare."
Ironman didn’t dare say another word. He led his n and hurried from the small courtyard, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
At that mont, Shui Qianrou could no longer keep up the act. She slowly sank to the ground.
Fang Shuwen silently walked to her side. Shui Qianrou looked up at him, her small face now streaked with tears, and threw her arms around his leg.
"In the Celestial Water Palace, the person with the best Swordsmanship... is my brother.
"In all of Pojun City, besides them, my brother is the only one who can use Water Silk...
"But... but... why would he kill Auntie Shui Man?
"Big Brother, what... what am I supposed to do?"
Fang Shuwen let out a soft sigh and gently patted her on the head.
"What you see is not always the truth, let alone what you rely suspect.
"Instead of feeling lost and helpless, wouldn’t it be better to find your brother... and ask him yourself?"
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