[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ring-of-fate":3,"chapter-the-ring-of-fate-the-ring-of-fate-chapter-7":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ring of Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2297976,4496,"Chapter 7","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-7",7,"\u003Cp>After leaving the old tavern, Lu Mi stood on the packed-earth road, hesitating where to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning sun spilled down, carrying a faint chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Raymond Cos came from the side:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just about to look for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?” Lu Mi asked, feigning normalcy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond looked astonished:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You forgot? Today we’re going to ask the elderly people still alive, around my grandfather’s age, about the witch legends.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi raised a hand to his head, grimacing in pain:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? I don’t remember that at all—or did you imagine it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond was startled and frightened, about to recall the details and confirm whether yesterday’s events were his own delusion, when suddenly he saw a smile flicker across Lu Mi’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bastard, you’re playing another trick!” Raymond couldn’t help but curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not even a proper insult,” Lu Mi sighed. “Ava could curse better than you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ava Litzie was a pretty girl from Cordu Village, now known as the “Goose Girl.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her father, Guillaume Litzie, was a cobbler skilled at making leather shoes from hides supplied by shepherds, and he was fairly well-known in several surrounding villages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ava…” Raymond’s expression shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Lu Mi:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ava is our friend, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Lu Mi nodded with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them, plus Guillaume from the Beri family—Ava’s cousin Azema Litzie—were the young people who often played together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not let Ava join us in investigating the truth behind the legend?” Raymond suggested. “You know her father always says, ‘Why should a woman get property when she marries? That’s how many decent families go broke.’ It troubles her. If we find some treasure or reward during the investigation, she’d feel much better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard similar things from several village men, even the parish priest,” Lu Mi replied, glancing at Raymond with a casual smile. “They’d rather their brothers never left home—even after marriage—because setting up a separate household means giving them their rightful share. That’s why many families prefer to send one child to be a shepherd: he won’t likely marry, earns some income, and mostly supports himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond’s face darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never considered this before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also why he liked hanging out with Lu Mi. Though most villagers said the guy had a bad temper, loved to deceive and play pranks, his insight far surpassed everyone his age. Unlike himself, who knew little and drifted through each day, blindly obeying his family’s orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good enough… Lu Mi thought silently, steering the conversation back on track:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s too late now—we need to hurry and question people. We’ll visit Ava tomorrow. After that, we can include little Guillaume and Azema too. Besides possibly gaining rewards, it’ll be an interesting activity that sharpens our skills.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Include little Guillaume and Azema too?” Raymond sounded reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more people sharing the reward, the less he’d get.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, he’d lose any chance to court Ava.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi looked at the boy, his gaze softening with a touch of pity:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foolish child, do you really think Ava would have eyes for you? She’s got high standards—she only wants to marry into a good family. She clearly has some fondness for me, the ‘villain,’ yet still controls herself…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Dariji region, “high eyebrows” meant having high standards, looking down on ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My sister said, more people mean more strength,” Lu Mi explained simply. “Who are the elderly we need to visit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t investigate?” Raymond asked, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the “Wand” card incident, I didn’t have the energy to ask… Lu Mi smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I investigated. I’m testing your ability to gather information.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond didn’t doubt him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are nine elderly people still alive in the village, around my grandfather’s age or older:”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six women, three men—women really do live longer… Lu Mi listened quietly, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Skip the last two. They’re outsiders who married into the village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s start with Na Roka. She’s the oldest; she was probably already an adult when the witch incident happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na Roka wasn’t her real name—it was an honorific.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Lesdon Province, married women of noble lineage or those who acted as household heads were entitled to the title “Madame,” formed by adding an “a” to the end of their name and prefixing it with “Na,” meaning “Madame” or “Mistress.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madame Pualis couldn’t use “Na” + “a” because her family had long declined and she had to obey the administrator Beostr. She could only be called “Madame.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na Roka’s husband died early; she took full charge of the household. Even after her two sons grew up, married, and had children, and even as she aged, she still held complete control over the family’s finances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was rare in Cordu Village. In most cases, men dominated. In households without a father, once the children came of age, they naturally reclaimed control of the home from their mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine,” Raymond said without question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After passing several buildings, Lu Mi saw four elderly women sitting in front of a two-story house, basking in the sun and chatting casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, they sat close together, picking lice off each other’s bodies—clearly relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—In the Republic of Intis countryside, picking lice off one another was a way to bond and show affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should we ask now?” Raymond hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He feared word of their quest for the legend’s truth might spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a bit longer,” Lu Mi nodded gravely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew many village rumors originated and spread through gatherings like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, the other three women left one by one, each having chores at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good morning, Na Roka,” Lu Mi walked over immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na Roka’s hair was completely white, her eyes slightly cloudy. She wore a dark, coarse-fabric long dress; her hands looked like they were covered in chicken skin, her face marked with obvious patches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When will Aurora come out to socialize? Many people in the village miss her,” Na Roka asked, smiling at Lu Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many men, huh? Lu Mi slipped into his own world, feigning curiosity:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Na Roka, they say you saw the real witch—the one whose coffin couldn’t be moved by nine oxen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na Roka’s expression shifted slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who told you that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My grandfather told him at night when he came back,” Lu Mi began fabricating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na Roka blinked in surprise:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can a soul really return home…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father told me. My grandfather used to say so,” Raymond interjected—he couldn’t bear Lu Mi deceiving the elderly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na Roka looked slightly disappointed. After a long pause, she said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before he died, none of us knew he was a witch. He acted perfectly normal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like you didn’t know Aurora was a witch… Lu Mi thought silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Until he suddenly died… and that owl flew in…” Na Roka drifted into memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What followed matched the legend almost exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi pressed further:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did that witch live?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na Roka looked at him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right where you and Aurora live now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After the witch was buried, the parish priest took several men, removed the valuable items, burned down the house. For twenty or thirty years, no one dared go near it. Later, the matter faded from memory. Then Aurora came, bought the land, and rebuilt the house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our house? Lu Mi’s heart jolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This answer completely surprised him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, he recalled questions he’d always ignored:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Aurora’s ability to earn money and her hidden supernatural powers, why settle in Cordu Village, a backwater?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The provincial capital Bigor, the textile center Suxit, or even the capital Trill—all far better choices. Even if she wanted a place with good air and scenery, those big cities had plenty of suitable areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora once said the best hiding place was in a big city… Lu Mi’s thoughts churned, unsettled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today he learned—the land where Aurora built her house, the very ground she chose, once belonged to a witch…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where was the witch buried?” Raymond asked, unable to hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house’s possessions were hopeless—now he could only hope the witch’s corpse held something special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Na Roka chuckled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such a big event would’ve stirred the parish priest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They used nine oxen to drag the coffin to the churchyard. The priest performed a purification ritual, then burned the body to ash, dug a hole, and buried it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s it…” Raymond couldn’t hide his disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you asking these questions?” Na Roka studied his expression for a moment, then spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi laughed, uttering a truth that sounded more like a lie:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We want to find the witch’s treasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young people shouldn’t always dream,” Na Roka warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood,” Lu Mi replied, acting obedient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Raymond bid farewell to Na Roka and headed toward the village square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s hopeless, Lu Mi. This is hopeless,” Raymond said gloomily after passing a building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True. Everything worth burning was burned. Everything worth taking was taken decades ago,” Lu Mi nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the dream incident had offered a glimmer of hope, he wasn’t as disappointed as he might have been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond agreed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. The only thing left in the whole legend is that owl.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Owl...\" Lu Mi's eyes lit up as he turned his gaze toward the mountain forest beyond the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond shuddered and quickly added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But after all these years, it must be dead long ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was deeply afraid of encountering owls, such evil creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In southern Intis, owls, nightingales, and crows were all regarded as ominous, evil beings serving the Devil, often carrying away human souls or bringing misfortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1587,"2026-06-20T06:22:34.374Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5d274e748beeb06dbcb4bb07c90695274c10e2b5b3c056de4e902f0ae81803be","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-8","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-6",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ring-of-fate-cover.jpg"]