TEFSCBSS Chapter 130

Chapter 130: The Third Painting of the Beauties

“How is that possible!?”

Everyone stared at the blank scroll in shock once again.

The previous scroll had been hung up—if it had been burned by someone, that would’ve made sense.
But this one had remained rolled up the entire time, kept in Number Two’s hands, never passed to anyone else.
So how could it have disappeared into thin air?

Number Five and the others touched the scroll. The texture matched that of the earlier one—coated with the same fire-resistant material. The surface even bore faint scorch marks.

Strange. Very strange.

Number Eight suddenly had another flash of insight.
“Wait—what if this means the third painting has already appeared?”
“Did someone else go missing?”

“The last time the first scroll vanished, Su Li’s disappearance followed shortly after. So this time… is it Liu the Butcher?”

But no matter how they searched—inside the grand restaurant, nearby streets, even Liu’s own house—they found nothing. No new scroll, no new clue.

South of the city, in the first-floor lobby of West Tower Script Hall

Number Five spoke gravely.
“There’s still no sign of anything. Maybe the culprit is lying low, waiting for the right moment to make the next disappearance known—or they haven’t acted yet.”

Number Two nodded and added,
“Also, even though you don’t think Liu the Butcher could be the culprit, the fact that he vanished without ever appearing in the painting is suspicious.”

“I think we should consider him a suspect. What if he deliberately left those clues behind, essentially telling us he’s the one—mocking us?”

A few others nodded in agreement, especially Number Eight.

At another table, the Challenger Squad and Zhao Wen were discussing the day’s findings.

“Master Zhao, you know this script hall well, and you’re familiar with the owner and his circle. Who do you think the culprit might be?”

Zhao Wen shook his head. “I don’t know for sure, but I have some guesses.”

“From what I can tell, the killer enjoys playing tricks that feel supernatural. People here who lean into ghostly themes… that would be Prince Wang Bo, or some of the actors who portray spirits.”

“But the killer is also clearly skilled at creating locked-room setups, which takes real mental horsepower. Of those I know, the Third Prince is one, and then there’s the scholar Wang and his friends. Beyond that, not many come to mind.”

Everyone nodded.
It was rare to find someone who fit both profiles.

They waited eagerly for Zhao Wen to continue narrowing down suspects, but just then, he clutched his stomach, face turning pale.

“Ugh—guys, I think I’ve got a stomachache. I need to use the latrine. We’ll talk more after.”

Seeing Zhao Wen break out in a cold sweat, everyone quickly made way for him.

At a nearby table, Han Yueyi had been quietly watching Zhao Wen the entire time.
Yes, he’d suspected him from the start.

He hesitated. Should he follow him now and try to pry something out?

Deciding to act, Han Yueyi excused himself too, walking toward the backyard latrines.

By then, the retired veterans had returned. They were lounging in the backyard, a few playing cards.
When they saw Han Yueyi, they waved but kept doing their own thing.

But the Gu siblings were still nowhere to be found.

Veteran A said, “Oh, you mean Young Master Gu and the others? Haven’t seen them since morning. They said they had something to do.”

The others nodded in agreement.

Han Yueyi asked again, “Did you see Zhao Wen come back here just now?”

“Yeah, saw him clutching his stomach and rushing to the latrine.”

“Say, these latrines are oddly fancy. Did you hear Liu the Butcher designed them? Strange hobby for a butcher.”

They laughed while Han Yueyi just sighed—he knew the backstory.

He walked to the latrine they had pointed out, pinched his nose, and called out,
“Zhao Wen, are you in there?”

“I want to ask you something.”

“Where were you last night? Did you stay here or go back to the Zhao estate?”

He waited, but only heard some faint groaning from inside—no actual reply.

Tch, was Zhao Wen so sick he couldn’t answer?

Han Yueyi grimaced at the thought of standing there, breathing in that air, while someone was doing their business inside. It was nauseating.

He held his breath.
“Zhao Wen! If you’re in there, say something!”

Still no response.

…
Forget it. He gave up. Too gross.

Before leaving, Han Yueyi gave the veterans a message:
“When Zhao Wen comes out, tell him I’m waiting for him at the Huai Tree Village dungeon entrance.”

He quickly headed off and, upon arriving, grabbed a bottle of that “perfume” Chun Ya and her group had made and sprayed it liberally on himself.

Sigh, much better.

But as time passed—half a stick of incense’s worth—Zhao Wen never showed up.

…What? He dared stand up to him, a prince?

Something felt off.

Han Yueyi left the Huai Tree Village instance and headed back toward the lobby.

No sign of Zhao Wen there either.

He tapped a member of the Challenger Squad on the shoulder.
“Has Zhao Wen returned?”

“No, he hasn’t.”

Han Yueyi’s brows knitted together.
Still not back?

The table’s mood shifted.
Something was wrong.

Sure, he had a stomachache—but not this long. Did he fall in?

Panic set in. The group jumped to their feet and rushed back to the backyard with Han Yueyi.

“Has Zhao Wen come out of the latrine yet?”

Veteran A scratched his head.
“Nope. We’ve been keeping an eye on the place like you said. Only one guy’s gone in and out. Zhao Wen hasn’t.”

They looked just as surprised now, clearly thinking the same thing:
Did he fall into the latrine pit?

Worried, Veteran A strode up to the latrine Zhao Wen had entered and shouted,
“Master Zhao, are you in there? Hey—can you hear me?”

No response.

With a muttered apology, he reached out and yanked the door off its hinges.

What lay behind it wasn’t some awkward scene of a young man doing his business—

—but a scroll.

A Painting of the Beauties, hanging right inside the latrine.

 

THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER AS THE SOURCES HAVE DRIED UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!!!!