Chapter 487: Chapter 487: What Happened Back Then

Speaking of which, Li Fenghuo looked at Su Qing with hesitation. The truth was, he and Gu Xinsheng had wondered if Su Qing was the one who hijacked the antiques. But they both thought it was unlikely. No matter how capable Su Qing was, she was still just a teenage girl. Did she really have the guts to kill someone?

Neither of them could quite believe it.

Su Qing naturally noticed the looks from Li Fenghuo and Gu Xinsheng. Even Mr. Li was frowning, a hesitant expression on his face.

’They think I’m the one who hijacked the antiques?’

Su Qing blinked. It was true she had done it, but she had no intention of admitting it. She could explain away a truckload of antiques with her ability to control plants, but what about the murders?

She had indeed killed those Japanese men and that Onmyoji. However, she didn’t think her family, while accepting her special abilities, could also accept the fact that she had killed people. After all, this was a society ruled by law, not the apocalypse where such things were commonplace. Besides, she didn’t want to put her family in a difficult position.

So, Su Qing said with a smile, "Grandpa, Uncle, Uncle Gu, you don’t actually suspect I did this, do you?"

"I don’t think it could have been you," Li Fenghuo said, shaking his head. "That Onmyoji from Japan was very powerful. He was said to be among the top five in Japan, capable of killing without a trace."

Li Fenghuo had heard rumors about Japanese Onmyoji before, but he never really believed in such things. However, after learning that his own niece could control plants and considering the recent case with Jin Zhiwei, he had started to take the matter of Japan’s Onmyoji seriously.

If people like that came to Hua Country in the future, they must be placed under high-priority surveillance.

Su Qing gave a little laugh. "I don’t have the guts to kill anyone."

Gu Xinsheng nodded. "You’re still just a kid. How could you have that kind of nerve? That’s not something an ordinary person could do."

He remembered his first mission. When he came back, he had nightmares for half a month and couldn’t even stand the sight of meat. He didn’t believe an untrained young girl like Su Qing could go through such an experience and remain so composed, speaking with them so calmly.

"Someone must be dealing with this group of Japanese in secret," Mr. Li said with a nod. "Our Hua Country still has plenty of people with patriotic fire in their hearts."

At Mr. Li’s words, the others all nodded in agreement.

Now that they were certain Su Qing had nothing to do with the hijacked antiques, Li Fenghuo and the others dropped the subject. Still, the thought of how many of Hua Country’s antiques and cultural relics had been secretly shipped to Japan by the Qiutian Clan over the years filled them with indignation.

And even now, there were still many grave robbers in Hua Country working for the Qiutian Clan.

Speaking of grave robbers, Li Fenghuo brought up Du Xiangbao.

"That guy, Du Xiangbao, we’ve already arrested him in secret," Li Fenghuo said. "He’s confessed to quite a lot."

Hearing this, Su Qing quickly asked, "Did he say anything about my father? What happened to them in the mountains back then?"

Li Fenghuo nodded and said in a low voice, "Back then, Du Xiangbao and a few accomplices were searching for ancient tombs in Baihua Mountain. One time, while he was discussing something with his partners, your father happened to pass by. They were worried he’d overheard their secret plot, so they planned to go into the mountains to kill him. Du Xiangbao said it was only when they were about to kill your father that they realized he hadn’t heard anything at all. He was just passing through the area and hadn’t even noticed them."

"But Du Xiangbao’s group felt that since they had already made their move, they couldn’t stop. So, they still decided to kill your father and two other people. However, your father struggled free and ran for it, eventually falling off a cliff. They thought he was surely dead, so they left the mountains." As Li Fenghuo recounted this, he was filled with indignation. "My former brother-in-law’s death back then was a terrible injustice."

Su Qing listened to Li Fenghuo, her lips pressed tightly together. "So," she said, "the person who came out of the mountains with Du Xiangbao back then was also one of his accomplices."

"That’s right," Li Fenghuo said. "However, he was injured in the mountains and couldn’t go back in to search for tombs, so he pulled out of the group. But according to Du Xiangbao, the only way to leave the group safely was to be dead. So, Du Xiangbao killed that man too."

"Did Du Xiangbao say which cliff my father fell from? Did he give a specific location?" Su Qing asked.

Mr. Li looked at Su Qing. "Qingqing, are you planning to go back to the Northeast?"

The moment Su Qing asked, Mr. Li knew what she was planning to do.

Su Qing didn’t hide her intentions and nodded. "My father was murdered unjustly. As his daughter, I can’t just leave him out there in the mountains. I plan to wait until after the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, then use the time before school starts to go back to the Northeast and search in the mountains. If possible, I want to give my father a proper burial."

The eighth day of the Lunar New Year was Li Wan and Gu Xinsheng’s wedding day. Su Qing couldn’t possibly leave before then.

Mr. Li and the other two men all understood Su Qing’s decision. After all, no child could bear the thought of their unjustly murdered father’s body being left exposed in the wilderness.

"Alright, then you should go back to the Northeast," Mr. Li said with a nod. "But, Qingqing, remember one thing: act within your abilities. You do have the power to control plants, but you must still be careful. There are always more powerful people in this world. When you’re out there alone, you can’t let your guard down."

Su Qing nodded. "Don’t worry, Grandpa. I understand."

Gu Xinsheng gently patted Su Qing’s shoulder. "Qingqing, if you need help with anything, you must ask. I should also do my part for your father’s sake."

Su Shengjun was Li Wan’s ex-husband. Gu Xinsheng knew about Li Wan’s past experiences in Lihua Village. Although the Su Family had its share of oddballs, Gu Xinsheng was very grateful for how Su Shengjun had protected Li Wan. Now that he knew Su Shengjun had been murdered, he felt he should contribute in some way.

"Okay, thank you, Uncle Gu." Su Qing could clearly sense Gu Xinsheng’s generosity, and she was very happy for her mother. Her mom had truly found a good man this time.

Mr. Li had called Su Qing to the study mainly to talk about Tian Qiu and Du Xiangbao. As for the subsequent arrests of the other grave robbers, that was not something Su Qing would be involved in. So, Su Qing left the study and went back downstairs.

Before she even reached the bottom of the stairs, Su Qing caught a fragrant aroma wafting from the kitchen.

"Smells so good!" Su Qing’s eyes lit up. It was the smell of fried meatballs. And from the aroma alone, she knew Li Wan was the one cooking. She absolutely loved her mother’s fried vegetarian meatballs.

Just then, Li Huan came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of fried vegetarian meatballs and fried dough twists. Seeing Su Qing, she called out with a smile, "Qingqing, come quick! They’re fresh out of the pan."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.