Mortal Dawn and Dusk, My Eternal Life - Chapter 43

Hearing Old Master Du’s words, “General Gu, wait! This old man suddenly remembered something!”, Gu Mingxuan, who was about to lead his team away, involuntarily paused. He turned around, looking at the old man who seemed to be on the verge of collapse due to “grief” and “weakness.” He frowned slightly but patiently asked, “Old Master Du, what did you remember?”

Old Master Du put on an expression of deep concentration, lightly hitting his forehead with his withered hand. His voice was hoarse as he said, “Alas, my memory… it’s truly failing me. While speaking with General Gu just now, my mind was solely on Yuqing’s tragic death, and I overlooked some… some details that might be related to the case.”

“Oh? What details?” Gu Mingxuan’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately pressed. He wouldn’t let go of any clue that might be related to the case.

Old Master Du glanced at the police officers behind Gu Mingxuan, a perfectly timed hint of hesitation and… a subtle cunning appearing on his face. He lowered his voice, saying to Gu Mingxuan, “General Gu, this matter… is very important, and… quite horrifying. This old man… this old man only wishes to speak with the General alone in detail. Please, General… dismiss your men and accompany this old man to the back hall for a discussion, how about it?” As he spoke, he subtly winked at the butler beside him.

The butler immediately understood, stepping forward and saying to the police officers, “Gentlemen, my master is unwell and should not stand here too long. Please, gentlemen, come to the side hall for tea. My master and General Gu have important matters to discuss and will join you shortly.” The police officers looked at Gu Mingxuan, awaiting his instructions.

Gu Mingxuan pondered for a moment. Although he felt Old Master Du’s actions were somewhat deliberate, he considered that the old man had just lost his beloved concubine and was emotionally agitated, so some special requests were understandable. Furthermore, if there truly was an important clue, conveying it privately would indeed avoid unnecessary trouble. Most importantly, he was genuinely somewhat concerned about Old Master Du’s physical condition. Seeing him looking so utterly depleted, if he were to suffer any more shock, he might truly die.

“Very well,” Gu Mingxuan finally nodded, instructing Zhang Meng and Li Erniu behind him, “You two take the men to the side hall to wait. Old Master Du and I will be back shortly.”

“Yes, General!” Although Zhang Meng and Li Erniu also felt something was amiss, seeing that their general had already decided, they couldn’t say more. They could only lead the other police officers to the side hall, following the butler.

In the vast main hall, only Gu Mingxuan and Old Master Du remained. Old Master Du’s face showed a grateful smile, and he gestured for Gu Mingxuan to follow: “General Gu, please follow this old man.” With that, he tremblingly turned and walked towards a dim corridor at the back of the main hall.

Gu Mingxuan didn’t think much of it and followed. His mind was solely focused on the case, completely unaware that he was stepping into a meticulously planned trap. He also didn’t notice that the moment he turned, a sinister and triumphant glint flashed in Old Master Du’s cloudy eyes.

The two walked one after another, passing through several winding corridors, arriving at a seemingly secluded courtyard. This courtyard was somewhat similar to the abandoned dry well in the Huang Mansion’s backyard, also overgrown with weeds and desolate, completely out of place with the opulent surroundings of the rest of the Du Mansion. In the center of the courtyard was a study that appeared to have been abandoned for many years. The study’s doors and windows were tightly shut, covered in cobwebs and dust, emitting a damp, decaying odor.

“Old Master Du, the clue you spoke of… is it here?” Gu Mingxuan looked at the desolate scene before him, a hint of caution rising in his heart. This place, by all appearances, did not seem like somewhere with important clues.

“Hehe… General Gu, don’t rush,” Old Master Du’s face showed a strange smile. He pointed to the abandoned study, saying, “This old man remembers… a few days before Yuqing’s demise, she unintentionally mentioned seeing a… a suspicious dark figure near this abandoned study. At the time, this old man didn’t pay much attention, but now that I think about it… perhaps, that dark figure was the murderer of Yuqing!” He spoke with such conviction, as if it were truly the case.

Gu Mingxuan frowned upon hearing this. Although he felt something was fishy, since he was already here, he might as well go in and see. “Then let’s go in and take a look,” Gu Mingxuan said gravely, and took a step towards the study.

However, just as he took two steps—

An unexpected change occurred!

From the shadows on either side of the study, and from the corner of the corridor behind him, several dark figures suddenly darted out simultaneously! Leading them was the black-robed figure who had previously fought with Su Mingyue! Behind him were several masked men also dressed in black night suits and armed with short clubs! The timing of their appearance was simply too sudden, too cunning! Like poisonous snakes that had been lurking for a long time, they silently pounced from the darkness, their short clubs swinging with fierce force, aiming directly at the vital points of Gu Mingxuan’s back of the head and neck!

“Not good!”

Gu Mingxuan’s heart jolted. Although he was a seasoned veteran and reacted extremely quickly, in such an unsuspecting situation, being ambushed from behind by several people simultaneously, he was inevitably caught off guard! He abruptly ducked, trying to avoid the fatal blows, and at the same time quickly drew the pistol from his waist! However, he was still a mortal body of flesh and blood! Even though his body contained A-Mu’s peculiar power, fused with demonic energy and Su Mingyue’s blood, without any preparation and no time to activate that power, his body still couldn’t withstand this sudden heavy blow!

“Thud! Thud! Thud!”

Several dull thuds resounded! Gu Mingxuan felt a sharp pain in the back of his head and neck. His vision went black, and he lost consciousness. The pistol in his hand clanged as it fell to the ground. His tall body swayed twice, then limply collapsed.

“Hmph! Overestimating yourself!” The black-robed figure sneered, looking at Gu Mingxuan, who lay motionless on the ground, his eyes filled with disdain. He hadn’t expected that General Gu, renowned on the battlefield, would be dealt with so easily by them.

“Well done!” Old Master Du walked out from the side, a sinister and triumphant smile on his face. He looked at Gu Mingxuan lying on the ground, his eyes filled with greed and craving, as if looking at a priceless treasure about to fall into his hands.

“Quick! Get him into the secret chamber! Remember, be quick and don’t leave any traces!” Old Master Du instructed the black-robed figure and the others.

“Yes, Master!” The black-robed figure and the others responded in unison, then clumsily carried the unconscious Gu Mingxuan and swiftly moved towards a hidden direction.

Old Master Du watched Gu Mingxuan’s retreating figure, the smile on his lips growing wider. He knew he had made the right gamble this time! This Gu Mingxuan was indeed a courageous but reckless brute! As long as it was tonight, at the hour when yin energy was strongest, he could completely assimilate this “supplement” with its vibrant life force! By then, his own chronic ailment could be delayed for a longer period!

He did not immediately consume Gu Mingxuan’s life force. Because the evil art he cultivated had a fatal flaw: it was only at the hour when yin energy was strongest each day that he could maximize the absorption and refinement of others’ life force, and minimize the side effects. If he forced it during the daytime, not only would the effects be greatly diminished, but he would also be more susceptible to backlash, even risking his life. Therefore, he had to endure. Endure until tonight.

After imprisoning Gu Mingxuan in the secret chamber (where a demon had once been held) that was already prepared and covered with various bizarre runes, Old Master Du immediately put on a flustered, heartbroken expression. He rushed out of his mansion, stumbling all the way towards the police station. As he ran, he frantically shouted:

“Oh no! Something terrible has happened! General Gu… General Gu has been captured by a demon!”

“Someone come quickly! General Gu was abducted by a demon while pursuing the culprit!”

His voice was filled with “genuine” fear and “urgent” concern, quickly attracting the attention of pedestrians on the street. A farce of the thief crying “stop thief,” meticulously orchestrated by him, officially began. And his true goal, besides covering up his crimes and diverting police attention from himself, was even more to… lure that “Divine Doctor Su,” who also possessed miraculous medical skills and might already suspect him, into his trap as well! After all, “Divine Doctor Su” was also investigating him!