The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

The next morning, Hu Yiba finished his morning exercises as usual. Just as he arrived at the main hall, before he sat down, he saw Wu Li hurriedly walk in and handed him a visiting card.

"Master, there's a young man outside the courtyard claiming to be the Wise King, Gu Zhanghua. He's asking to see you and is here to return the Evil-Slaying Blade. Here's a visiting card."

Hu Yiba took it, opened it and took a look, then looked at Wu Li in confusion.

"Isn't the Evil-Slaying Sword in Liang Changping's hands? How did it end up in the hands of the Wise King?"

"I don't know, leader, do you want to see it or not?"

Hu Yiba closed the visiting card.

"Of course we have to see him. Even if he's a mule or a horse, we have to take him out for a walk. If it's really His Royal Highness the Wise King coming, and this is about the Evil-Slaying Sword, we really can't be negligent. This leader must personally greet him!"

Gu Zhanghua, Zhao Xuan, and the secretary waited at the gate for less than an hour before the Tiandao League's gate suddenly flung open. A burly, middle-aged man, seemingly in his forties, strode out with his hands behind his back, followed by several followers.

Zhao Xuan whispered to Gu Zhanghua, "The leader is Hu Yiba."

Gu Zhang nodded, took a step forward and bowed to Hu Yiba.

"I presume you are Alliance Leader Hu. I'm Gu Zhanghua, and I'm honored to meet you."

Hu Yiba looked up and saw that the young man in front of him had a handsome face and a tall figure. He was half a head taller than himself, but a little thin. He was wearing a moon-white gown and his hair was tied with a jade crown on his head. He exuded an air of nobility. He was truly a man as beautiful as jade and unparalleled in the world.

Hu Yiba looked around again and saw the man standing next to the virtuous king. He was about twenty years old, dressed in a neat short suit and had a knife on his back. At first glance, Hu Yiba was sure that it was the Xie Zhan Knife!

Hu Yiba was surprised and happy, but he did not show it and kept calm, but his eyes were attracted by the girl standing on the other side of Gu Zhanghua.

The girl was dressed in a strange way, wearing a light green floral shirt and black wide-leg pants. Her hair was braided into a big braid and hung down behind her head. Her face was covered with a scarf of the same color as the floral shirt, which covered half of her face and only revealed a pair of eyes. At this time, the eyes were slightly drooping and did not look at him. Strangely, the girl was holding a sword in her right hand.

She looked like a village girl, but also like a wandering woman; she looked like a wandering woman, but also like a maid. Even though Hu Yiba was very shrewd, he couldn't guess the identity of this girl for a while, and always felt that there was a hint of weirdness in her.

Gu Zhanghua introduced them one by one.

"This is my personal guard, and this girl is my personal maid. Because I have a birthmark on my face, I often wear a veil to cover my face. If you find this inappropriate, I hope you will forgive me."

Only then did Hu Yiba look away.

"No problem, no problem. Your Highness the Wise King has condescended to come to my Tiandao League, which truly brings honor to my humble abode. Please join me in the main hall for a chat."

The three followed Hu Yiba to the main hall and sat down as host and guest.

Gu Zhanghua winked at the secretary, who quickly took off the evil-slaying sword from his back and handed it to Hu Yiba with both hands.

"Alliance Leader Hu, please look, is that the Evil-Slaying Sword in my hand?"

Hu Yiba refused to take the knife. Wu Li, who was standing beside him, took the Xie-slaying knife from Shishu's hand. After confirming it again and again, he nodded to Hu Yiba.

Hu Yiba looked at Gu Zhanghua with a puzzled look.

"There is one thing I don't understand. How did the Evil Slaying Sword fall into your Highness's hands?"

Gu Zhanghua picked up the tea bowl, took a sip of tea, put the bowl back on the table, and then gave Hu Yiba a sincere smile.

"When I was young, I heard about General Hu Yidao's deeds. Even now, more than ten years later, I still remember them deeply. I also knew that General Liang Changping of Yue State accidentally obtained the Xie Zhan Sword. I was extremely anxious. This is the most precious treasure of our Xia State, representing the blood and passion of our soldiers. How could I let Liang Changping take it? Therefore, I have been trying every possible way to get the Xie Zhan Sword back. Not long ago, I had an opportunity. I exchanged another treasure for the Xie Zhan Sword and personally delivered it to Leader Hu."

Hu Yiba's eyes flickered and a mysterious smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Your Highness is truly generous! I am ashamed of myself, but I cannot accept rewards without merit. Since Your Highness spent so much treasure to acquire the Evil-Slaying Sword, then this sword should rightfully belong to Your Highness."

What? He doesn't want it? Then how do we discuss the Jiaoyang Valley matter? What should we do?

Gu Zhanghua subconsciously looked up at Zhao Xuan who was standing beside him.

Zhao Xuan did not expect Hu Yiba to do this. She and Gu Zhanghua had discussed various possibilities, but she never thought that Hu Yiba would turn a blind eye to the Evil-Slaying Sword that was in his hands?

Zhao Xuan frowned at Gu Zhanghua and shook her head slightly, indicating that she had not figured out how to respond.

When the secretary saw Hu Yiba take the knife from the servant and hand it to him, he didn't know whether to take it or not, so he could only look at Gu Zhanghua in embarrassment.

Yes! It turns out that I can only rely on myself at the critical moment.

Gu Zhanghua steeled himself and spoke, "Alliance Leader Hu, as the saying goes, a gentleman does not take away what is loved by others. Ever since I set my mind to reclaim the Evil Slaying Blade, I have never considered keeping it for myself. Now that I can return it to its rightful owner, my wish has been fulfilled. I hope that Alliance Leader Hu will accept it."

Gu Zhanghua stood up and walked to Hu Yiba, trying to push back the knife that Hu Yiba handed to him.

One push, two pushes, three pushes, Gu Zhanghua almost used all his strength, but Hu Yiba's hand holding the knife did not move at all, and Gu Zhanghua himself was sweating.

Hu Yiba then withdrew his hand, smiled slightly, and gently placed the evil-slaying knife on the table.

"Your Highness is mistaken. I have sent people to the Kingdom of Yue many times, trying every possible means to reclaim this sword, but to no avail. Your Highness must have spent a lot of effort and even sacrificed a precious treasure to obtain this sword. Your Highness is kind and righteous, and I appreciate it, but I cannot accept this sword."

This time, Gu Zhanghua heard something behind the words.

"How about this, Alliance Leader Hu, name a price, and I'll treat it as selling the Evil Slaying Blade to you. We'll settle the payment. You won't take advantage of me, and I won't let you suffer any loss. What do you think, Alliance Leader Hu?"

Hu Yiba was indeed interested.

"Okay, but I wonder if your treasure has a price? Why don't you name a price? I will definitely agree and will not bargain!"

How much was the God-Slaying Sword worth? It was his second brother's personal sword, a token of his and his second brother's love, and a treasure heirloom from his family. It was priceless.

Hu Yiba is such an old bastard. If he asked Hu Yiba to name a price for the Xie-Slaying Sword, would he be able to offer it?

Gu Zhanghua came to his senses only then. He was being led by Hu Yiba and jumped into the trap set by Hu Yiba in one step. He returned the knife properly and wanted Hu Yiba to do him a favor, but now it has completely turned into a business deal.

The price he offered was too high. Hu Yiba didn't have that much money, so the Evil-Slaying Sword couldn't be delivered. There was no room for negotiation on the matter of Jiaoyang Valley. But the price he offered was too low, which was an insult to his second brother's sincerity in helping him.

When Gu Zhanghua thought about this, he felt so miserable that he just stood there in a daze.