Geschichte über einen Ehemanndiebstahl

Kapitel 64

The green-clad woman, who had been silent all along, seemed to disapprove of the two's expressions and frowned as she argued, "Doctor Xia was forced into this situation. He has done his best to save many people from those people! Otherwise, why do you think those people's corpses were hanging outside the woods? And as for the rumors of the evil spirit's curse, Doctor Xia tried every possible way to get the people in the town to move away as soon as possible, and for outsiders to also take a detour."

Duan Chen had always found the practice of hanging corpses outside the woods strange, but now, after hearing what Lü Miao said, it all made sense. The woman continued, "People used to frequently enter this woods, and many pass through from the outside. They would lie in ambush here and kidnap anyone they saw. It was Doctor Xia who told them that doing so would arouse suspicion and was not conducive to long-term operations. Moreover, the fewer people who knew about the 'Sulfur Fire Spring,' the better. It was best not to let unrelated people in, so those people became more restrained. Doctor Xia also made up a story about a vengeful ghost and made an agreement with them that they could only kidnap two or three girls on the night of the fifteenth of each month. Otherwise, would we be waiting for you to come? This town would probably be empty by now!"

Upon hearing this, Zhan Yun frowned, subconsciously glancing down at the jade flute in Duan Chen's hand. When he looked at Xia Luzhen again, his gaze became much more complicated: "Since you and the other two who have jade flutes are of equal status, and you have established many rules between you, why have they become increasingly presumptuous lately and no longer abide by the previous agreements?"

Xia Luzhen replied calmly, "One important reason why I am qualified to receive a jade flute is that I can help them refine medicine. In addition, because I have been by the side of the former sect leader since I was young, they still have some respect for me."

Xia Luzhen's expression turned somewhat grave as she spoke: "However, it seems they recently found someone more suitable for this position than I am, so they're not as wary of me as they used to be. Moreover," Xia Luzhen turned slightly to look at the gushing sulfur spring behind her, "they may have discovered that my previous story about the sulfur spring was a lie. Once they've confirmed that, they won't stay obediently in this small town. By then, the world will be vast, and their power will gradually expand, making it much harder to capture them."

"What are you lying to them about?" Zhan Yun couldn't help but ask curiously. He glanced at the sulfurous spring, thought for a moment, and then his eyes widened in disbelief: "You wouldn't..."

Xia Luzhen nodded happily: "I told them that there is an essential step in the alchemy process, which is to put the mashed medicine into a container and leave it in this sulfur spring for three days and three nights. This way, the temperature is high enough to facilitate the alchemy process, and the essence of the spring water can be absorbed." That's why those people only gathered near Bitter Water Town. Even though they were unwilling, they listened to Xia Luzhen's advice and the fewer people who entered the forest, the better.

As Duan Chen listened, he moved closer, stood before the spring, gazed at it intently for a moment, then took a bowl from a nearby wooden stool and filled it with a little water. He brought it close to his nose to smell it, gently shook it for a moment, and waited for the water to cool slightly. He then dipped his finger in and rubbed it between his fingers, and couldn't help but smile slightly: "Isn't this just hot spring water?"

The woman in green gave a somewhat sarcastic smile: "Exactly! Those people consider themselves clever. Seeing this spring shrouded in white mist year-round, its water a vibrant green tinged with crimson, boiling like fire, they assume it's a sacred spring, a once-in-a-century find. Ha! If Doctor Xia were to bring out a few ancient books and tell them a couple of stories, they'd believe it!"

Zhan Yun took the wooden bowl, dipped it in water, and examined the spring water closely, unable to help but chuckle. Then, suddenly remembering what Xia Luzhen had said earlier, he frowned and asked, "Who was the person you mentioned who would replace you? And who are the other two people with jade flutes?"

This time, Xia Luzhen and the woman in green spoke at the same time: "Madman!" One sighed, the other angrily rebuked. The woman in green seemed to feel that calling him a madman wasn't enough, and continued to curse several times: "Madman! Bastard! Heartless and shameless scoundrel! Those three together can't possibly do anything good!"

"That disgusting idea of digging out people's hearts and livers was conceived by Zhao Lin and Jin Xiaobai! And whenever they captured someone with even a little bit of good looks, whether male or female, the two of them would not let them off easily..." As the woman spoke, she slowly touched her cheek with one hand, as if she were lost in some memories, and her expression was extremely grief-stricken.

Seeing Zhan Yun's brows furrow slightly, Lü Miao sneered and lowered her hand: "No need to make that face! I wish I were uglier, so I could suffer less in this life."

Duan Chen noticed that Zhan Yun's expression was strange, but he didn't say anything. He turned to look at the two of them and said, "We can talk about the rest later. The most important thing now is to go out with us and meet up with the people who are coming. We need to wipe them out before they realize what's happening."

Xia Luzhen shook her head solemnly with a serious expression: "Not to mention that your people haven't arrived yet, even if they did, we would not go with you."

Seeing the other woman staring blankly at the boiling spring water, Duan Chen's clear phoenix eyes grew even colder. He muttered, "Foolish!" Ignoring the angry glare from Lü Miao beside him, Duan Chen stared intently at Xia Luzhen and said, "If you truly believe your crimes are unforgivable, you should come out with us. Whether you offer advice or fight to the death, if you lose your life, it will be a worthy death, at least you'll be worthy of your constable friend who died unjustly because of this. Staying in the woods to commit suicide, isn't that just another life lost?"

Combining Xia Luzhen's previous account with Lü Miao's words, it's not hard to guess that the constable from Suzhou Prefecture was indeed his friend, but it's likely that Xia Luzhen didn't write to invite him; rather, he returned voluntarily. When Xia Luzhen recounted this incident that day, his face showed remorse and barely concealed grief, not because he blamed himself for dragging his friend into this mess, but because he resented knowing the truth yet failing to save him in time, causing the other's unnecessary death. Of course, only those involved know the details, but judging from the change in Xia Luzhen's expression upon hearing this, Duan Chen knew his guess was pretty much correct.

While observing Xia Luzhen's expression, Duan Chen glanced at Lü Miao and said with a smirk, "Doctor Xia still thinks that the girl next to you should die with you and doesn't have the fortune to live another thirty or fifty years?"

The woman in green looked indignant, opening her mouth several times to interrupt Duan Chen, but as she listened, her eyes reddened and a hint of sorrow appeared in her eyes. Xia Luzhen's face turned white, then green, then red, her lips trembling, but she couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

Seeing this, Zhan Yun also spoke up to persuade them: "If you both feel guilty, you can make a decision after this matter is over. If there are things you are not comfortable talking about, we will not force you. As Doctor Xia just said, if we do not capture them all this time, they will surely cause trouble in the future. More people will be arrested, tortured, or even killed. It will be difficult to catch them then! You two, for now, please consider the bigger picture."

After Duan Chen and Zhan Yun finished speaking, the woman in green seemed to waver. She carefully tugged at Xia Luzhen's sleeve and whispered, "Since you saved my life and didn't mind my disfigured appearance, why can't you do as they say and let yourself go this time..."

As the woman spoke, her face gradually flushed, but her eyes revealed a resolute determination unlike that of ordinary women: "Xia Luzhen, I've never begged anyone in my life. But today, for your sake, I first begged those two to spare your life; now, I beg you, listen to their advice and let yourself go this time, even if it's just for my sake, is that not enough?"

By the end, the woman's words were almost a murmur, yet each one was earnest and deeply moving. Xia Luzhen, her sleeve tugged by the woman, lowered her eyes to the ground, her expression complex. After a long while, she sighed and looked up at the two of them: "It seems I really miscalculated!" A bitter smile gradually appeared on the man's weary face. "I went to great lengths to lure you two into this forest, not only revealing a great deal of secret, but also turning the people around me against my cause. And now I have to leave this forest with you. What a waste of my time!"

Both of them breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Zhan Yun even smiled faintly, having persuaded Xia Luzhen and Lü Miao, undoubtedly gaining a decisive advantage for their upcoming actions. Lü Miao even revealed a smile for the first time, and before anyone knew it, she had firmly grasped Xia Luzhen's hand.

As dusk approached, Xia Luzhen glanced at the setting sun in the distance, then frowned and looked at the two of them: "According to the journey, your Mr. Xiao should arrive in at most half an hour. I hope he's smart enough not to cause too much of a commotion. Come with me."

Zhan Yun and Duan Chen followed behind the two, circling around to the rock behind the sulfurous spring. Lü Miao moved a wooden table, then bent down and felt around on the ground for a moment, soon hearing the sound of iron rings interlocking. Xia Luzhen pulled the two back two steps, and saw Lü Miao directly pull up a square wooden plank, which turned out to be a door leading underground!

Green Mist leaped down first, and a moment later, some light appeared on the ground. The three of them went down one by one, and what appeared before them was a small house about ten feet long and wide. The house was simply furnished with a table, a chair, and a soft couch, while a wooden shelf next to it held many bottles and jars.

Xia Luzhen pulled out a stack of Xuan paper from the bottom of the wooden shelf, placed it on the table, and smiled at the two of them: "Originally, these things were meant for you to use as a reference. Now, let's just get straight to the point."

The two each picked up a piece of paper and examined it closely by the oil lamp lit by Lvmiao. They saw that the papers were topographical maps of several villages near Kushui Town. Xia Luzhen also picked up a repeatedly folded piece of paper and spread it out on the table: "This one depicts the entire Kushui Town..."

Author's Note: There will be an update next Monday at 9 AM.

Huh? The case is really closed that easily? Are the eerie legends just rumors?

Who did Xiao Changqing find to save the day? And what kind of perverted and strange existence is the Seven Life Cult?

To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next chapter, "When the Light Snow Falls"!

P.S.: Such a twisted story is more motivating to read on a weekday~ Everyone, have a good weekend and sleep in and have fun~

62

Chapter Nine: Moon's Brightness and Darkness • Walking in the Dark...

The moonlight flickered on the horizon, the clouds drifted and shifted, and the outlines of distant mountains could be faintly seen. Duan Chen and Lü Miao stood quietly by the edge of the woods near the official road, waiting. After a long while, Lü Miao whispered, "You trust us that much?"

Duan Chen, who had been looking into the distance, gave a soft "hmm" upon hearing this.

Lümiao couldn't help but glance at her, her delicate brows furrowed tightly: "Aren't you afraid that we're just pretending to be friendly to set a trap for you, and that we're actually still in cahoots with them?"

Duan Chen smiled slightly. "No." After a slight pause, Duan Chen continued, "In your heart, he is the most important person. Even if you had other thoughts at first, after we helped you persuade him, you won't."

Lu Miao was speechless for a long time. When she spoke again, her voice trembled slightly: "You, you..." Lu Miao never expected that this person was using her relationship with Xia Luzhen to control the two of them, and was sure that she would not dare to make any rash moves even if she had any thoughts.

Duan Chen glanced at her sideways, and Lü Miao was so provoked by that look that she finally managed to say a complete sentence: "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you with one palm!"

A clear voice came from behind, with a hint of amusement in its tone: "Even if you kill us, Doctor Xia will never leave the forest."

Lu Miao turned around and saw the two walking over one after the other. Zhan Yun had a warm smile on his face, while Xia Luzhen looked a little embarrassed, her face turning red and then pale, and her eyes were somewhat unsteady.

Looking at the man's expression, Lü Miao's cheeks suddenly flushed red. She turned her head and glared at Duan Chen, then took two steps forward, gazing into the distance without saying another word.

The faint sounds of carriages and horses could be heard in the distance. Green Mist looked closely and saw a large, dark black banner at the head of the convoy, edged with fiery red trim. The banner bore the two bright silver characters "霹雳" (Pili, meaning thunderbolt) written in running script, resembling a blazing silver flame at first glance. Green Mist turned to the three men, frowning, and said, "Jiangling Prefecture Thunderbolt Hall. Doctor Xia, what should we do?"

Upon hearing this, Zhan Yun took two steps outside, carefully examined the place, and confirmed that it was indeed the Thunderbolt Hall. He then shook his head and chuckled, "They've found a really strong backer!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Miao's face lit up with joy: "This is the reinforcement you brought? Doctor Xia, this is wonderful!"

Duan Chen also looked at Xia Luzhen and asked softly, "They should have seen the Thunderbolt Hall's convoy by now, right? Won't this arouse suspicion?"

Xia Luzhen pondered for a moment before saying, "Probably not. Jin Xiaobai and Zhao Lin are overconfident. Especially Jin Xiaobai, if he sees the Thunderbolt Hall people, he'll probably personally lead his men to ambush them in town."