Chapter 789

After merging with most of the bones and pulling out the Soul-Subduing Nail, Xiao Hong's mind did flash many chaotic images, recovering some memories, but they couldn't be pieced together, and after the pain passed, many fleeting images vanished entirely, never to be recalled again.

Whenever she tried to think deeper, she would suffer intense pain.

Xiao Hong remained motionless for a long while, then murmured: "Xiyuan…"

Pan Yun perked up and asked: "Who is Xiyuan?"

She had never mentioned Ji'an to Xiao Hong before, nor had she mentioned Xiyuan.

Her head throbbed violently, as if a massive boulder had sunk inside it, stretching her skull to the brink of explosion.

She winced and shook her head.

Sister Hong Yan immediately stepped forward and embraced her, soothing: "There, there, if you can't remember, then don't try."

She glared at Pan Yun: "Why must we remember? If every case required a vengeful spirit to speak, what use would the government officials be? Just go straight to the courthouse and ask!"

Pan Yun nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, if it hurts, don't think. Let's first look for your bones."

Golden sand flickered in Pan Yun's palm—this was merit, which she transferred to Xiao Hong.

She had discovered this that morning when pulling out the Soul-Subduing Nail: as long as she held compassionate thoughts and genuinely offered the merit to Xiao Hong, Xiao Hong would benefit without being harmed by the golden light of merit.

She had a faint sense that this was like her descendants inheriting her merit under her protection.

Even though it shouldn't be, Pan Yun's gaze toward Xiao Hong now carried a touch of tenderness.

Not just Xiao Hong—even slow-witted Miaohé noticed the change in the junior uncle's gaze and shuddered involuntarily.

Wang Cong hurried off: "Let's find them quickly—it's already past noon."

Pan Yun pulled the club out of her spiritual realm space, shook it to transform it into a human, then shoved it into Tao Yan Bai's hands: "You two keep each other company. Now, pair up—split up and search. No matter what method you use, sweep the entire area—find Xiao Hong's bones!"

Everyone responded in unison, dividing into five pairs in a fan formation to search downward.

Xue Shao barely knew any spells, but as a Censor and nephew of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he knew many methods of evidence gathering.

So he took Xi Jin and began searching using his evidence-gathering techniques.

Pan Yun and Wang Cong remained together, walking while observing their surroundings.

Xiao Hong said she was captured by Zhang Weiliang in the summer three years ago and kept by his side.

Before she was caught, she had fled in panic, and finally, it was Zhang Weiliang's magical artifact that captured her.

They had fought—though three years had passed, if they found the right spot, traces would still remain.

Especially in remote forests, traces from three years ago would still be preserved.

The two walked a short distance, and Wang Cong spotted a pile of droppings on dead leaves; he immediately knelt down to inspect it and told Pan Yun: "Wolf."

Pan Yun: "Find it!"

Wang Cong followed the trail to track the wolf, while Pan Yun looked up at the branches, whistled twice, and directly asked the bird on the branch: "Do you know where the wolf is?"

The bird, just landing and flapping its wings, peered down, tilted its head left and right, chirped, and in bird-speech cried: "Fool, fool, talking to me…"

Pan Xiaohei burst out laughing, then leapt swiftly from Pan Yun's shoulder, climbed the tree soundlessly, and padded noiselessly behind the bird, pinning it under one paw.

Pan Yun bared her teeth in a smile: "That's right—I'm talking to a fool bird."

The fool bird stared blankly.

Pan Yun asked: "How old are you? Do you know where that wolf is—the one with no decency, defecating everywhere?" The bird flapped its wings and struggled, but Pan Xiaohei held it down tightly; it finally shrieked: "Over there, over there—the big banyan tree, inside the hollow!"

Pan Yun nodded in satisfaction and asked offhandedly: "How old are you? Have you seen a Daoist Priest chasing a female ghost here three years ago?"

The fool bird's brain clearly couldn't process such a long sentence, and Pan Xiaohei immediately let it fly; after licking its paw, it said: "It's only a year old—perfectly plump."

Pan Yun praised it: "You truly have insight—you actually let go of such a plump fool bird."

Pan Xiaohei bared its fangs at her: "Stop feeding me fish—I'm eating meat tonight!"

"No problem!"

Pan Yun nodded toward Wang Cong: "Let's go find that wolf."

In broad daylight, the wolf was sleeping in its den; it was too cold, so it had stored food and hadn't seen much prey lately, meaning it rarely left its den unless necessary.

As it slept soundly, it felt the light footsteps of prey approaching from the ground; it bolted upright.

The wolf planted its front paws, arched its back, and stared at the den entrance, uneasy.

No—this wasn't prey—it was an enemy, and the enemy was powerful.

The thought had barely flashed when footsteps halted at its den entrance; then a handful of dry grass was shoved inside, and soon sparks ignited, smoke surging violently into the hollow with the wind.

The wolf froze for a moment, then grew agitated; finally, it made a desperate dash, shoving aside the burning grass and bursting out—only to be kicked mid-air before it could even see its attacker.

Its body crashed against a tree with a thud and slid down.

It growled low, scrambled up quickly, and turned to face its enemy.

Pan Yun unleashed her full aura, pinning it down; she scanned it from head to toe, then nodded slightly: "An old wolf, separated from its pack or driven out—how long have you lived in this forest?"

Its green eyes stared at her, devoid of anger, filled only with the hunger for life; its pupils shifted slightly, desperately searching for an escape.

Pan Yun raised her hand; a sword materialized in her grasp, its tip pointed at the wolf: "I know you understand—answer me!"

The wolf fixed its gaze on Pan Yun's eyes and whimpered twice from its throat.

"Two winters? Too bad. Then tell me—who's been here longer in this forest?"

After a moment, the wolf led the way, guiding Pan Yun and Wang Cong through a stretch of forest until they reached a patch of tall grass.

Wang Cong stepped forward, pulled aside the grass, and quickly found the hidden entrance.

Wang Cong, ever dutiful, grabbed a handful of dry grass and shoved it inside, then lit it.

Moments later, smoke rose from a nearby clump of wild grass, and a yellowish-brown figure shot out with it.

Pan Yun flashed forward, blocking its path, and kicked it hard—it crashed into the wolf's side with a thud.

The wolf stood motionless, its eyes shifting slightly as it stared at the weasel, knocked down and struggling to rise; a flicker of satisfaction passed through its gaze.

Pan Yun stepped forward, standing with Wang Cong to block both creatures.

The weasel realized feigning death wouldn't work; it flipped up quickly, saw the wolf with its tail hanging low, and retreated two steps, its big eyes locked on Pan Yun.

An animal's instinct is sharper than a human's; it knew that this human was very powerful.

Pan Yun: "Don't worry, I have no habit of killing weasels. I just have a few questions to ask you. I heard from Old Wolf that you've lived in these woods for a long time?"

The weasel lowered its head and squeaked once, a show of submission, yet its eyes slanted up to sweep across the wolf, brimming with hatred. (End of chapter)