sovbooks Chapter 72 Murder
Chapter 72 Murder
The corridor was very long, seemingly endless.
The candlelight flickered in the wall lamps on both sides, casting the shadows of Batu and Sun Yongfu on the wall, sometimes long and sometimes short.
Batu walked in front, with Sun Yongfu following half a step behind him.
"How many years has Manager Sun been at Juxianju?" Batu asked.
He didn't turn around, his gaze fixed straight ahead, but his ears were perked up, listening to the sounds behind him.
He needed to distract Sun Yongfu, to make him lower his guard, and to find a moment when he could be alone with him.
"Your Highness, I have been working at Juxianju for five years," Sun Yongfu's voice came from behind. "I have been here since the day Master Gao opened the business."
I've watched Juxianju grow bigger and bigger every day.
"Five years is not a short time." Batu nodded, without stopping. "Where is Manager Sun from? His accent doesn't sound like he's from the capital."
"I'm from Shanxi," Sun Yongfu said. "My hometown is Taiyuan Prefecture. I've been working here for over 20 years, and I've lived in Beijing, Tianjin, and Baoding."
Later, after joining Master Gao's household, things finally settled down.
"The people of Shanxi are truly skilled at business," Batu said, turning a corner where the corridor branched into two forks.
He slowed his pace and waited for Sun Yongfu to give him directions.
Sun Yongfu quickened his pace, catching up with him. He pointed to the left and led the way, but didn't forget to be polite: "Your Highness is too kind. I am just a rough man, only good at accounting and managing people. How can I compare to Your Highness's heroic spirit on the grasslands?"
Batu remained expressionless and followed him to turn left.
"Manager Sun," Batu spoke again, "you've been busy all day, you don't need to follow me. I can find the outhouse, you can go back and rest."
"Master Gao has some guests over there, please go and greet them. Don't let this little matter of mine delay important business."
Sun Yongfu's steps did not stop, and his rhythm did not change at all.
"Young Master, you are too kind. Master Gao instructed me to accompany you, and I must do so. You are Master Gao's honored guest, and if I neglect you, I will be held accountable for any consequences."
He paused, then laughed again.
"I understand that Your Highness is considerate of me. But rules are rules, and I dare not break the rules set by Master Gao."
Batu clenched his fist inside his sleeve.
This dog is really hard to deal with.
At the end of the corridor, Sun Yongfu pushed open a small door and stepped aside.
Behind the door was an even narrower passageway, dimly lit, with only a lone lamp at the end.
"Young Master, we've arrived." Sun Yongfu stood at the door, showing no intention of going in.
He leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest.
Batu didn't look at him and walked straight in.
The cubicle was small, and he turned around to face the thin wooden door.
Outside the door, Sun Yongfu's shadow lay motionless on the ground.
Batu's hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly inside his sleeves.
His palms were sweaty and sticky.
His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his chest.
He's been forced into this corner.
time does not wait.
He didn't know how long Gao Mengyuan could hold out, when Xiao Guoxing would leave, or when the night patrol would arrive.
If we delay any longer, it's uncertain when we'll find another opportunity to get out.
Even if he gets out, he'll still be followed by people just like he is now, and he still won't be able to bring himself to do it.
His gaze pierced through the crack in the wooden door and landed on Sun Yongfu.
Batu's eyes changed.
There was ferocity and determination in his eyes.
He knew he couldn't hesitate any longer.
Hesitation is death.
"Manager Sun," he said.
"Young Master, what are your orders?" Sun Yongfu's voice came from outside.
Do you have any toilet paper? I've run out.
"Yes. Please wait a moment, Your Highness, I'll get it for you."
The footsteps sounded once, then stopped.
Batu heard the sound of fabric rubbing together, as if someone was rummaging through something.
Then the footsteps started again, getting closer and closer.
Sun Yongfu's shadow was cast on the wooden door, growing larger and larger until it almost covered the entire door.
Right now.
Batu suddenly pulled his right hand out of his sleeve.
He held a Mongolian knife in his hand.
His arm shot out like a spring, the metal sheet whistling through the air as it pierced the wooden door.
"puff."
The sound was muffled, like something being punctured or torn apart.
The iron sheet pierced through the wooden board, the cloth, the skin and muscle, all the way down to the handle.
A muffled groan came from outside the door. Without hesitation, Batu swiftly and ruthlessly pulled out the metal sheet.
A stream of warm liquid spurted out from the metal sheet and splashed onto his hand.
He pushed the door open.
Sun Yongfu stood at the door, his eyes wide open and his mouth agape.
He clutched his stomach with both hands, the blood seeping between his fingers appearing black in the candlelight, spreading rapidly and soaking through his robes.
His lips were trembling, and he was making "hoarse" sounds in his throat, as if he was trying to say something, but he couldn't say anything.
Batu did not give him a chance.
His second stab followed immediately, this time aimed straight for the throat.
The piece of iron pierced Sun Yongfu's Adam's apple and emerged from the back of his neck.
Sun Yongfu's body stiffened abruptly, and he loosened his hands from his stomach, grabbing at the air haphazardly a couple of times.
His eyes were still staring at Batu, his pupils were beginning to dilate, his lips moved twice, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Then his body went limp and he collapsed at Batu's feet.
The corridor fell silent for a moment.
The only sound was the faint flicker of the candlelight in the wall lamp.
Batu squatted down, grabbed Sun Yongfu by the collar, and dragged him into the outhouse.
Sun Yongfu's body was very heavy, and it made a dull rubbing sound when he was dragged on the ground.
Batu gritted his teeth, dragged him into the innermost cubicle, leaned him against the wall, and then closed the door.
His hands were covered in blood, which he wiped haphazardly on his robe and cleaned his Mongolian knife on his sleeve.
His heart was pounding like a drum, and his ears were ringing, but he had no time to stop and catch his breath.
He knew that what he had just done would soon be discovered.
People could come and go in the corridor at any time, and people could come and go in the outhouse at any time.
He had to complete the task assigned by Tenth Master before anyone discovered Sun Yongfu's body.
He pushed open the door of the outhouse, peeked out, and looked around.
The corridor was empty, no one was there. He stepped out, his steps quick and light.
In the next room, Yin'e, leaning against the window, could clearly hear Batu's every move.
This is a risky move.
If Batu makes a mistake, if he fails to control Sun Yongfu, if Sun Yongfu shouts out, then he's finished tonight.
But if he were in Batu's position, he would have no other choice.
Killing Sun Yongfu was a poor choice, but also the only option.
Yin'e took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions.
He turned his head and glanced at the eighth and ninth brothers.
Without making a sound, he pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve and held it between his fingers.
Then he turned around and patted Fuquan on the shoulder.
Fuquan was pouring him tea when he was startled by the slap, causing the teapot in his hand to tilt and spill a few drops of tea onto the table.
Yin'e slipped the note into Fuquan's hand, then whispered in his ear:
"Go and give this to Yin De. Tell him the time has come. Proceed with the second plan."