Chapter 11: Huangzhou Yun Family

Clear River County, ten days have passed since Wang Ergou's death.

That day, Clear River County welcomed a mysterious dignitary. Inside the government office, the Assistant Magistrate of Clear River County and the county officials gazed respectfully at the young woman in a purple long dress, her face veiled with gauze.

"I didn't know Miss Yun would grace Clear River County; I failed to welcome you properly." The Assistant Magistrate of Clear River County said respectfully, cupping his hands.

The woman in purple glanced at him indifferently and said, "Yun Wan has come to find someone; I didn't mean to bother anyone, but I happened to meet Commander Lu, who was coming to Clear River on business, so we traveled together."

As her words fell, a man in brown armor with a sword at his waist stepped forward, cupped his hands slightly toward her, then turned to the Assistant Magistrate of Clear River County and said, "In Maple Forest Town under Clear River County's jurisdiction there is a case involving witchcraft; I, the Commander, have been sent to investigate."

"Are there any county officials currently handling the situation in Maple Forest Town?"

Witchcraft!?

Upon hearing that word, the Assistant Magistrate of Clear River County's body involuntarily trembled, then he quickly cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to Commander Lu, the Jail Clerk Zheng Ming is currently in Maple Forest Town!"

The man in brown armor nodded, turned to the veiled maiden Yun Wan, and said, "Miss Yun, shall we depart now?"

Yun Wan gave a slight nod, rose, and walked toward the outside of the government office.

Seeing this, the man in brown armor waved his hand, quickly leading the group to follow Yun Wan's steps.

Watching them leave, the Assistant Magistrate of Clear River County wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a trembling arm.

The advisor beside him, puzzled, asked, "Sir, what is witchcraft?"

The Assistant Magistrate jerked upright, then exclaimed in frustration, "Don't mention it again—I just want to get a good night's sleep!"

Maple Forest Town.

Fang Xu sat upright in the courtyard, at times frowning, at times sighing and muttering to himself.

"Alas! Only 2% remains—what exactly does this number signify?"

Before him, on the light screen's friend list, beside Zhang Mingliang and his two attendants' names, the percentage figure had dropped from 15% to 2%.

If this trend continues, it will likely fall to zero in just a few days.

Likewise, the numbers after the names of Wu Ningxue of Refreshing Fragrance Hall and the old servant Chu Li are also dropping, but over the past ten days they have only fallen by 3%, far less sharply than the decline of Zhang Mingliang and his group.

If this number drops to "0"... could it mean that my friendship with Zhang Mingliang and his two attendants will be severed?

Thinking of this, Fang Xu felt a headache coming on.

If that's the case, then things will indeed become quite troublesome from now on.

Thump thump!

Thump!

"Fang Xiaoge!"

Fang Xu was pondering when suddenly Madame Wang's voice came from outside the courtyard gate.

These past days, Madame Wang, unable to pay the compensation for the Charity Estate Arson Case, had been temporarily detained by the Maple Forest Town government office, but today she inexplicably was released again.

Fang Xu rose and went to the courtyard gate, opening it.

Outside the gate, Madame Wang looked noticeably exhausted, her face thinner than before, appearing more fragile, yet she wore a smile.

Upon seeing Fang Xu, Madame Wang hurriedly said, "Fang Xiaoge, you've come!"

Fang Xu blinked and asked, "What do you mean, 'come'?"

Madame Wang said, "Uncle has arrived! And he's brought several important figures with him!"

Wang Erhu has returned!?

Fang Xu started slightly, then turned his attention to the important figures Madame Wang had mentioned.

Logically, Wang Ergou was just an insignificant nobody in Maple Forest Town; the fact that his death attracted county officials could only be because he had a brother serving as a prefecture soldier—otherwise the county would have simply ordered a hasty burial.

Moreover, given that Wang Erhu is merely a prefecture soldier, it's impossible for him to summon any important figures from Huangzhou Prefecture.

Could it be...?

Fang Xu suddenly thought of the owner of those flashy gold-embroidered boots!

Could the important figures from Huangzhou Prefecture be connected to the owner of those flashy gold-embroidered boots?

Thinking of this, his expression grew solemn; if everything truly unfolded as he suspected, the Huangzhou Prefecture dignitaries had come for the owner of those flashy gold-embroidered boots, and he would need to be cautious.

"Fang Xiaoge, Uncle has already paid my fine and specially sent me to invite you to his home tonight as a guest," Madame Wang's words interrupted Fang Xu's thoughts.

Wang Erhu wants to treat me to a meal?

Setting aside his doubts, Fang Xu smiled lightly and said, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for such formality."

Madame Wang gave him an annoyed glance and retorted, "What's wrong? Are you afraid I'll poison you?"

"You must come tonight; I'll head to the town tavern now to have food and drink prepared and sent home, to be enjoyed after Uncle finishes his official duties."

Having said that, she turned and left.

Seeing Madame Wang off, Fang Xu pondered a moment, then hastily shut the courtyard gate, went inside, and took the beast skin from its hidden compartment.

Fang Xu did not know exactly what kind of cultivation technique the Divine Extension Canon was, but the fact that it allowed him to enter the Inner View Realm with 100% certainty each time he cultivated made it a priceless treasure.

Regardless of whether the Huangzhou Prefecture dignitaries had come for this or not, he could by no means reveal the secret of possessing the Divine Extension Canon.

After glancing at the beast skin, Fang Xu promptly fetched an iron shovel from nearby, pried open several floor tiles in the room, quickly dug a pit nearly one meter deep, wrapped the beast skin tightly inside and out with oil paper, placed it in the pit, and buried it.

After replacing the floor tiles, Fang Xu cleaned the area thoroughly several times to ensure no trace remained, then simply washed up, changed into clean clothes, and hurried to Wang Ergou's home.

Making friends with Wang Erhu was something he had considered before; now that the opportunity had arisen, he would naturally not let it slip.

By the time he arrived at Wang Ergou's small courtyard, a burly figure in black armor with a saber at his waist stood there, dazed.

Fang Xu lightly knocked on the gate; the figure slowly turned, hastily wiped away tears, and asked, "Is that you, Fang Xiaozhi?"

Fang Xu gave a slight bow and said, "Erhu Ge."

Wang Erhu strode over, his large hand clapping heavily on Fang Xu's shoulder as he forced a smile and said, "When I left Maple Forest Town, you were only fourteen, right?"

"In the blink of an eye, seven years have passed... how is the old man doing?"

Fang Xu shook his head somewhat sadly: "He passed away last winter."

"Old man not here?" Wang Erhu blinked slightly, then seemed to recall his dead brother, and immediately let out a heavy sigh: "Life and death are unpredictable."

"Fang Xiaozi, have a seat."

After greeting Fang Xu and inviting him to sit down, Wang Erhu took off his weapon from his waist and shouted towards the room: "Sister-in-law, Fang Xiaozi has arrived."

Hearing the shout, Madame Wang hurriedly brought out a food box from inside the house, took out food and drink, and placed them on the stone table in front of the two.

"Please take your time, Uncle and Fang Xiaoge."

With Wang Erhu present, Madame Wang also didn't dare be too presumptuous; after taking out the food and drink, she turned and went back inside.

Wang Erhu picked up the wine in front of him, filled a cup for himself and Fang Xu, raised his cup and said: "My sister-in-law told me everything about my older brother, Fang Xiaozi—thank you."

Fang Xu also quickly raised his cup and said: "Erhu brother, saying that makes you sound like an outsider; after drinking this cup, we are friends."

Wang Erhu blinked slightly, then gave a faint smile: "Yes, we are friends; older brother, you're treating me as an outsider."

Saying that, he drained the wine in his cup; Fang Xu, seeing this, also tilted his head and drank the wine in his cup.

Before him, a virtual light screen popped up again, and soon after the name Wang Erhu appeared on the friend list.

Just the number after his name is 91%.

"Erhu brother, I heard sister-in-law say that a few big shots have come to Huangzhou Prefecture?" Fang Xu picked up some vegetables, put them in his mouth, and asked without a trace.

Wang Erhu nodded: "This time I originally planned to come back alone, but the prefecture received news that a wizard had appeared in Qinghe County, so the Commander was ordered to come investigate."

"On the road we also met a young lady from the Huangzhou Yun family who wanted to come to Qinghe County to look for someone, so we decided to travel together."

Hearing this, Fang Xu suddenly realized.

It seems my guess was correct; the young lady from the Huangzhou Yun family is probably looking for the owner of those dazzling gold-thread embroidered boots.

But what exactly is this "wizard"?

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(End of chapter)