Chapter 39: The Situation Shifts

Although it was foul inside, after ventilating for a while, the stench had faded considerably.

The Demon Extermination Bureau’s men went down and brought up a strange object—black and red, like a jar.

Then they placed the jar onto the cart, seemingly with no intention of letting the four Spirit Hunters of Yulin County see it.

Li Lin and the others didn’t feel particularly curious.

In this remote wilderness, curiosity is one of the greatest causes of human death.

After the Demon Extermination Bureau had been busy for a while, Zhang Minsheng walked over, clasped his fists, and said: “This unexpected find is entirely thanks to your lead, Inspector Li. When we return to Yulin County, I’ll see to it that you’re properly credited.”

“Inspector Zhang, no need for courtesy—it’s our duty as Spirit Hunters.”

“Hahaha, Inspector Li, you truly are a remarkable man.” Zhang Minsheng laughed a few times, then turned and left.

It seemed the so-called “credit” was merely empty words.

Su Huafang watched Zhang Minsheng’s back and smiled, then asked: “Shall we go take a look? Though there’s probably nothing left inside.”

“We can still deduce something from the traces.” Bai Liwei stood up: “I’m curious too—what’s inside?”

The four reached the entrance to the secret passage; the stench grew stronger.

But they didn’t all go down together—they went in pairs.

The other pair stayed above to keep watch.

Li Lin and Su Huafang went down first.

Both had cloth tied over their mouths and noses, yet the stench still struck straight to their skulls.

Su Huafang held up the torch; under its light, everything in the cellar was plainly visible.

Several skeletons lay slumped on the ground, and behind them, the walls were embedded with iron shackles.

Clearly, this was a place for private torture.

Based on the tattered clothing and pelvic structure beside the bones, it was obvious these people had all been women in life.

Li Lin’s brow furrowed.

He could guess what this place had been used for… the poor souls captured by soldiers in this garrison for their own lust.

Su Huafang saw Li Lin’s expression and whispered: “From the clothes, you can tell they weren’t Han women—they were Southern Barbarians. Don’t be too upset. What puzzles me is, what connection do these Southern Barbarian women have with that object they carried up?”

Li Lin suddenly understood—foreigners had no rights at this time.

To the Han people of this era, the Eastern Yi, Western Rong, Southern Man, and Northern Di were not even considered human if they weren’t registered in the household rolls.

Li Lin rubbed his temples, then looked around.

Aside from the skeletons and some bloodstains… there was nothing else here.

So he put on his mask.

Sure enough, he found something—a dark aura seeping from the innermost wall.

Li Lin tucked the mask away, pointed to the inner wall; Su Huafang understood and began searching nearby.

Budebushuo ， Laojianghudejingyanjiushizu ， Henkuaitajiuzaiyigeliaokaonalizhaodaoleanmendekaiguan ， Qingqingyiniu …… Qiangbinalizhuchuletiaofeng 。

Liangrentuikaikanlexia ， Jiulikeguanshangle 。

Yuanyinwuta …… Limianhenduoqian ， Jinziheyinziduileyidi 。

Rangrenxinkuangshenyi 。

Liangrenhuxiangkanleyan ， Diandiantou ， Ranhoubahenjihuifudaoyuanlaideyangzi ， Zoulechuqu 。

Qitaliangrenzhengxiangxiaqu ， Suhuafanglazhuletamen ， Shuodao ：「 Limianmeiyoushenmehaokande ， Buyongxiaqule 。」

Shuowanhua ， Haiqingqingzhalexiayanjing 。

Naliangrenbianhenshiqudimeiyouzaixiaqu ， Ershisirenyoupaodaolejiaoluolijuzaileyiqi 。

Sirenjixuweizhuxiaohuoduichizhuqianliang 。

Chuyaosinabianderentingnaotengde ， Shuangfanglideyuan ， Yinggaitingbudaozhebiandeqiaoqiaohua 。

Zhaohaorenbuzhuwendao ：「 Zaixiamianfaxianleshenme ？」

「 Haodongxi ， Xiancangzhu ， Daoshihoudajiayiqifenle 。」 Suhuafangxiaoshengshuodao 。

Zhaohaohebailiweiliangrenqingqingdiantou 。

Ranhoubianbuzaiduoyan 。

Shijianhenkuaijiudaoleshenye ， Chuyaosiderennaotenggoule ， Biankaishixiuxi ， Tongshianpailerenyuanlunshou 。

Shoulingrenzhebian ， Yezirananpaiyou ， Tamensirenbuxiangjiangzijidexiaomingjiaogeijiangyaosiderenguanzhu 。

Lilinshidiyigezhishoude 。

Yuelangxingxi ， Qitasanrendouzaibiyanxiuxi 。

Lilinxianzhuwushi ， Biannachumianju ， Youdaizailelianshang ， Tazhishixiangyanjiulexia ， Kankanzhegemianjuhaiyoushenmegongneng ， Dansuiyuanyipie ， Quekandaojitanchu ， Youliangge 『 Zhenjun 』。

Yigeshihongmaoderenlianfeifei ， Lingyigeshi …… Yigeshangshenchiluo ， Danshentishangquezhangzhushijifunvrenliandenanren 。

Erqiezhegenanrendeshentitebiegaoda 。

Zheliangwei 『 Zhenjun 』 Zhengzaijiaotan ， Meiyoufaxianlilinzaikanzhutamen 。

Lilinlikelikezhaixiamianjufanghao ， Taneixinzhongyouxiejinzhang ， Ranhouqingqingyaoxinglepangbiansanren 。

「 Zenmele ？」

Sanrenjihutongshizhengkaiyanjing ， Henjingtidikanzhusizhou ， Quemeiyoufaxianshenmebuduijindedifang 。

Lilinxiaoshengshuodao ：「 Youlianggezhenjun 。」

「 Wozhikandaoyige 。」 Zhaohaoxiaoshengshuodao 。

Lilinjixushuodao ：「 Lingyige …… Yaodaimianjucainengkandao 。」

Sanrendeyanshenlikebianderuiliqilai 。

「 Nagezhenjundemoyangruhe ？」

「 Henguiyi 。」 Lilinxiaoshengshuodao ：「 Rendemoyang ， Shenshangqueyoushijizhangnvrenlian 。 Gangcailianggezhenjunzaijiaotan ， Buzhidaoshuoshenme 。」

Zhaohaolianshangturanbiandejingkong ， Likeshuodao ：「 Zou ！ Bunengzailiu 」

Shuoba ， Talikeqishenjiupao 。

Lilindengsanrenlenglexia ， Likekuaisugenshang 。

Sirendexingwei ， Yinqilechuyaosishouyerendezhuyi ， Duifangdahan ：「 Nimenpaoshenme ， Chuleshenmeshiqing ！」

Hendasheng ， Zhijiebasuoyourendoujingxing 。

Zhangminshengcongbantangdezhuangtaitiaoleqilai ， Takanzhuyijingpaodaolechengqiangshangdesiren ， Liansebiandeyinchen 。

Suihoutagengshikanzhusigeshoulingren ， Haobuyouyucongchengqiangshangtiaolexiaqu 。

「 Paodezhenkuai ！」 Tahenglesheng ， Suihoushuodao ：「 Dongshou 。」

Canjiaoshengxiangqi ， Youjimingchuyaosiderenyuan ， Likejiubeibeicile 。

Sizhebukezhixindikanzhushuxidetongliao ， Ranhouhuanhuandaodi 。

Zhangzuoqingzouleguolai ：「 Doutou ， Yaobuyaowobatamenzhuahuilai ？」

「 Zheshidangrande ！」 Zhangminshengxiaozhushuodao ：「 Meiyoutamen ， Womenzenmebaguocuotuidaohuangyannalaopifudeshenshang 。」

Zhangzuoqingqingxiaoleqilai ， Bikaidishangdexuewu ， Jibubianyuedaolechengqiangzhishang ， Suihouyefantiaolexiaqu 。

Huashuoyindaolilinzhebian ， Sirencongchengqiangshangtiaoluo ， Qitasanrendezishidouhenpiaoyi ， Jiulilinxiangshiyikuaichengtuoshide ， Zhijiezaluodimian 。

Tashuangtuifama ， Zailuodiqianyongleyinqihushen ， Zhecaimianqiangbachongjililiangxiequ 。

Qitasanrenyongguguaideyanshenkanzhuta 。

「 Lixunshou ， Dengzhecihuidaoxiancheng ， Wosongniyibenshouchaodeqingshenfa 。」 Zhaohaodaxiaolesheng ：「 Wohaizhenmeiyouxiangdao ， Nijuranbuhuiqinggong 。」

Lilinxingfendiwendao ：「 Dangzhen ？」

Zhaohaozhengxiangshuohua ， Quetingdaoshenhouchuanlaishengyin ：「 Nimenhuibuqule ！」

Yidaorenyingcongkongzhongpiaoxialai ， Tongshitashuangshoudeshouzhidandong ， Jidaofuzhiluozaisirenqianfang ， Xingchengleyidaozhangzhangdehuoqiang 。

Huoqiangkanzhupingchang ， Kezhushiyouxieguaiyi ， Kaojinlenengrangrentineideyinqibodong 。

Zherenluodi ， Zhengshichuyaosidezhangzuoqing 。

「 Mafanle 。」 Suhuafangrulindadi ：「 Zhejiahuodefufakeyizhenduiyinqi ， Womenshoulingrenbeitakezhi 。」

Zhangzuoqinghuanhuanzouguolai ， Lianshangdaizhudeyidebiaoqing ：「 Shenmeshoulingren ， Wufeijiushiyiquntanlianchimeiwangliangyinqidewuzhubale 。 Yiyuanqixingshen ， Fangshitandangdadao 。」

Suhuafangsanrenliansenankan ， Ganjuebeishuopolefang 。

Danlilindeyanshenqueshixingfende ， Yinweitakandaoleyixingtishi 。

【 Fuzhou +1】

Yigexindenenglichuxian 。

( Benzhangwan )