Chapter 73

"I didn't!" Gu Zhi went forward and immediately grabbed Sang Li's arm. There was a hint of panic in his tone, "I really didn't. I didn't regain my memories, I didn't kill Zhu Mu! Sister, I didn't! Do you believe me?"

The others were standing on the side at this time, and didn't dare say a word.

Sang Li's eyes were somewhat red, with tears swirling inside. She forcibly pushed away Gu Zhi's hand, took out the silver bell bracelet from her waist, and shook it in front of his eyes.

"What's this then? This is yours, right?"

The crisp sound of the silver bells entered Gu Zhi’s ears. His mind buzzed for a moment, but it was only a fleeting moment before he regained his composure again.

Gu Zhi looked at the silver bell bracelet, stunned for a moment.

"I found this at Zhu Mu's house. Did you leave it there?" Sang Li asked.

Gu Zhi explained immediately, "No... Zhu Mu took this bracelet away after I woke up. He said he was going to pawn it for money."

"If he was going to pawn it for money, why did it appear at Zhu Mu's house again?" Sang Li questioned.

"I... I don't know. Maybe he didn't pawn it."

"Hmph!" Sang Li let out a cold laugh. "Gu Zhi, how long are you going to keep deceiving me?"

Tears slid down Gu Zhi's face. "Sister, I'm not deceiving you! I really didn't deceive you! Why don't you believe me? Why would you think I went to kill Zhu Mu? I didn't! I didn't do it!"

Sang Li raised her voice a little. "Then where did you go yesterday? How did you get hurt on your face?!"

Seeing their confrontation, the others didn't dare say anything. Su Mo wanted to step forward to advise them, but Wu Ying grabbed her arm and shook his head at her.

Gu Zhi looked at Sang Li with eyes full of grievance and sadness.

"Yesterday I went out to buy materials for making shoes. I personally picked out the materials because I wanted to make you a pair of shoes to surprise you, so I didn't tell you the truth. As for the injury on my face, it was because I ran into those thugs from Floating Splendor Tower on the street. Seeing that my face had healed, they knew I had tricked them before, so they beat me up... I was afraid you would worry, afraid it would implicate you, so I said I got accidentally injured from falling." After hearing Gu Zhi's words, Sang Li was stunned for a moment.

She looked into his eyes, trying to see from his gaze whether he was lying, but she was too upset and confused to judge.

Gu Zhi's eyes were red. "Sister... what I said is true, I didn't kill Zhu Mu..."

Sang Li didn't speak. She didn't know whether to believe Gu Zhi's words, but seeing him so aggrieved made her heartache too.

Seeing they had both gone silent, Xiao Han immediately stepped forward to smooth things over, "Hey, we're all family. If there's anything, just talk it out nicely! There's no need to be so... confrontational!"

"Yes, yes..." Xia Miaomiao also stepped forward and said, "Sister Li, I can testify about Gu Zhi making shoes for you. He's been learning embroidery from me recently! And told me not to tell you first!"

Sang Li rubbed her brows. She felt indescribably annoyed.

"I'm going back first today. Leave the shop to you guys." After speaking, Sang Li turned and left Four Beauties Pavilion.

"Sister..."

Gu Zhi wanted to catch up, but Sang Li stopped immediately and said lightly, "Don't follow me. I want some quiet time alone..."

Gu Zhi halted his footsteps immediately. He bit his lip, and could only obediently stay at Four Beauties Pavilion.

Everyone looked at each other. Su Mo immediately went up to Gu Zhi and said, "Gu Zhi, you're the first person to make Sister Li so furious!"

Xiao Han also came over, "That's right. We've never seen her lose her temper before. Don't feel bad. Just think of it as... good fortune!"

"The fact that Sister Li is mad at you already proves you're special to her," said Xia Miaomiao. "If it was someone unrelated who killed Zhu Mu, she wouldn't care at all!"

Gu Zhi twitched his eyelids. His eyes seemed lifeless. "Is that so? But... she doesn't believe me. She suspects me... Am I really that untrustworthy to her?"

"Speaking of which... did you really not kill Zhu Mu?" Yu Yifan asked.

"No. Since I came out of Floating Splendor Tower, I haven't seen him again."

"Then that's strange," said Xiao Han. "The way Zhu Mu died was too bizarre. His internal organs were seemingly gnawed by some kind of insect. It was horrifying to behold."

Hearing this, Wu Ying, who was standing on the side, couldn't help but frown. He gave Gu Zhi a subtle glance.

"It was possibly the Miao Territory venomous worms," said Wu Ying.

Everyone looked towards Wu Ying.

"Wu Ying, what venomous worms are you talking about?" asked Su Mo. "The Miao Territory has a kind of worm that specifically eats human organs."

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but shudder.

"There's actually this kind of thing?" asked Su Mo.

"Yes, but for the worm to take effect it has to be ingested orally," Wu Ying added.

Xiao Han recalled, "The overturned food in Zhu Mu's house was probably the reason he ingested the worm."

"Wu Ying, how do you know so much about everything?" Su Mo couldn't help but flatter.

Wu Ying smiled and pinched her cheek. "When you've been in the jianghu for a long time, you naturally know some things. So this Zhu Mu you all speak of was very likely killed by a Miao person."

"Master, but I've heard the Miao people usually don't leave the Miao Territory," said Yu Yifan.

"Yes, so the appearance of Miao people in Lan City means something has happened in the Miao Territory."

"What does the Miao person have anything to do with Zhu Mu though?" asked Su Mo. "Why would they kill Zhu Mu?"

Yu Yifan suddenly seemed to realize something. He looked at Gu Zhi in surprise, "Gu Zhi, could you be... a Miao person?"

Gu Zhi was startled. He immediately refuted, "I'm not!"

Yu Yifan immediately hid behind Wu Ying. "Then didn't Zhu Mu say he found you unconscious at Yu Ling Mountain? That area is very close to the Miao Territory. It's very possible you killed Zhu Mu!"

Everyone looked towards Gu Zhi again.

"I... I'm not a Miao person! I'm not!"

Gu Zhi's expression suddenly turned somewhat gloomy. He angrily shouted, "I said I didn't kill anyone!!"

After speaking, Gu Zhi left Four Beauties Pavilion without looking back.

"If Gu Zhi really is a Miao person, wouldn't we be in great danger?" said Xiao Han. "That venomous worm is too terrifying. You guys didn't see Zhu Mu's internal organs. It was ghastly."

"After all, we did save his life. He shouldn't harm us, right? Besides, he likes Sister Li too." said Xia Miaomiao.

"Forget it. Let's just go back first. I'm worried about Sister Li alone," said Su Mo.

After a while, everyone closed the shop and returned to Green Grove Manor.