Chapter 85: I

Splash—

The last bucket of water was poured into the vat, and the surface finally reached just below the rim.

Xu Yuan wiped his sweat; Old Lady Ying nodded in satisfaction: "You're a sensible kid."

Xu Yuan glanced again at the courtyard: "Should I help you chop firewood too?"

"No need, Ah Hua can handle that."

Ah Hua spread her feet, stood firm before a log, her stance steady, her waist and abdomen—maybe her waist and abdomen—suddenly surged with power!

Her beak let out a "Duo!" and split the log cleanly in two.

Then she gave Da Fu a defiant stare.

Da Fu stared straight ahead, neck extended, ignoring her completely.

Huh? You dumb bird think I'll chop wood for you? Not a chance.

Old Lady Ying sat down on the small stool in front of the house and asked: "Alright, what's your business? Spit it out—wait much longer and it'll be dark."

Xu Yuan grinned: "You really can't be fooled."

"I'm not that old and addled yet."

"I want to ask: who among the evil spirits in the mountains is Qiao Zia'ang colluding with?"

Old Lady Ying immediately replied: "How would an old woman like me know such things…"

Xu Yuan just kept grinning at her.

Old Lady Ying changed her tune: "An old woman like me can't possibly meddle in such matters."

"We will handle it," Xu Yuan said. "The men who came back with me are all senior officers from the Purification Office."

Old Lady Ying thought again, then said: "If I tell you this, the things in the mountains won't spare me."

This time Fu Jingyu spoke: "The Purification Office will protect you. If you're willing, we can move you to the county seat and give you an annual stipend of silver."

This is a major case; once solved, the court won't hesitate to reward you.

Because the returns will far outweigh the cost!

Old Lady Ying stared only at Xu Yuan—she didn't trust this stranger, this Young Master.

Xu Yuan nodded.

Old Lady Ying lowered her voice: "There are four: Haikou Toad, Snake Pole, Locust Woman, and Ghost Temple Idol. But I heard that Qiao's plans require the approval of those few on Guanghuo Street—yet his status isn't high enough to reach them."

"Guanghuo Street?"

"Guanghuo Street isn't a good place—it doesn't sell things meant for humans!"

Xu Yuan asked more about Guanghuo Street's history, but Old Lady Ying knew little.

Finally, Xu Yuan asked: "How do I find Locust Woman?"

Old Lady Ying gave him the route.

As dusk approached, Xu Yuan thanked Old Lady Ying and prepared to leave.

Da Fu refused to leave, still locked in a staring contest with Ah Hua to see who blinked first.

Xu Yuan picked him up; just as he reached the door, Old Lady Ying suddenly called out: "My memory's slipping—I almost forgot something."

Xu Yuan turned back; Old Lady Ying shuffled forward, trembling, and whispered into his ear: "There are still Qiao Zia'ang's men in town—they're…"

…

Back at Zhao's Leather Shop, dinner was ready—though nowhere near as good as his stepmother's, the Purification Office's funds were ample, and the meals were hearty.

After dinner, Fu Jingyu, Yan Lao, Lu Zhengyan, and Xu Yuan gathered to discuss.

Fu Jingyu recounted the afternoon's findings to the two elders, then asked Xu Yuan: "Your second target is Locust Woman?"

"No, Locust Woman is a malevolent spirit, not a person." But the second person Xu Yuan truly wanted to question might not even count as human—he was the old mountain guide from Wangxiang Village.

"But we still need to find Locust Woman—I heard her mention Guanghuo Street to Qiao Zia'ang."

Xu Yuan was still weighing whether to visit the old mountain guide first or Locust Woman.

"Do you have a way to deal with Locust Woman?" Xu Yuan described her situation.

Yan Lao quickly calculated: "Roughly Level Seven strength—but she's got a whole brood of offspring, which makes her tricky."

Fu Jingyu said: "We do. The Doghead Guillotine my teacher brought is hidden in my carriage."

Xu Yuan mapped out the route: "Then we go after Locust Woman first, then to Wangxiang Village."

…

As night fell, Yang, the widow of South Street, sighed softly—another slow day of business.

Suddenly, the half-closed door was pushed open; a fat man grinned slyly: "Missed me?"

…

Grand Lord Qin and his men arrived just before dark; Ceng Si said: "My lord, I'll send men to find lodging."

Grand Lord Qin pointed to the side: "No need—there's your lodging."

Everyone turned; a ruined temple stood alone on the wasteland.

But Ceng Si distinctly remembered—there had been nothing there just moments ago!

"This…?" Ceng Si's blood ran cold: "Is it safe to stay?"

Grand Lord Qin walked forward first: "Don't worry—it's perfectly safe."

"But…" Ceng Si asked again: "Aren't we going to meet Lin Qi?"

"Lin Qi has another purpose."

Now that we've made contact with Ghost Temple Idol, there's no need to rush to connect with Qiao Zia'ang's useless remnants.

Besides, our entire group entering Qihetai might draw the Purification Office's attention. Xu Yuan's boy spent time in town—who knows if there are any spies?

But Grand Lord Qin thought they could be put to use—Lin Qi's people make good blood offerings.

……

At first light, everyone in the Zhao Leather Goods Shop rose.

Xu Yuan was also roused; he glanced at the almanac on the wall:

Today's prohibitions: night travel, burial, shouting at the mountain, breaking ground.

Once everything was packed, the group set out.

Arriving outside the Lin Family Sugar House, not a single person in the entire group glanced at it.

After passing it, Seeing Fu Jingyu asked, "Why not capture him?"

Xu Yuan replied, "Keeping Lin Qi serves another purpose."

Yesterday, Old Lady Ying finally told Xu Yuan that there were still Qiao Zi'ang's men in the town; she was referring to Lin Qi, the master of the Lin Family Sugar House.

The older a person gets, the more they naturally know.

When the Yiting Fang Inn was destroyed, Lin Qi, seeing the great power of the Pingtian Society, obediently went into hiding and did not show his face.

Seeing Fu Jingyu asked again, "Nor did you arrange anyone to keep watch?"

"Someone is keeping watch."

Seeing Fu Jingyu asked no more.

……

Ceng Si woke up, opened his eyes, and shivered: he had actually slept in the wild mountains and fields!

The small temple from last night was gone.

Ceng Si's suspicions grew even stronger; last night's bizarre situation, yet he had fallen asleep the moment he lay down, and slept very deeply.

Recalling it now, last night he had actually "forgotten" to arrange people for night watch; everyone had entered the small temple without even eating dinner, then one by one yawned and lay down!

Lord Qin also woke, his clothes perfectly arranged, looking as though he had… not slept at all.

"Enter the mountains," Lord Qin ordered. "Eat some dry rations along the way."

A subordinate exclaimed, "Where are our horses?"

The horses pulling the carriage were gone.

The carriage was heavy; without horses, having everyone pull it would leave them all exhausted within two li.

Lord Qin said calmly, "Leave the carriage."

Ceng Si felt strange; he quietly pushed the carriage, but it was no longer heavy—the "cargo" inside was gone!

Ceng Si then understood; he urged his men, "No nonsense, set off quickly."

The group followed the road outside the town, taking a path beside Meiren Dam.

Lord Qin led the way, appearing very familiar with the roads here.

Two more chapters tonight; release at dawn; the public version gets a few extra updates.





(End of this chapter)