21⚫Not as it Seemed

In contrast to the crying person across the river, An Xiao didn't became instantly alert nor assumed a defensive stance. Instead she continued her pitiful sobs and disregard the wet faced vigilant person, though it was an inexpedient reaction she was feeling blue enough not to acknowledge danger.

Perceiving the indifferent and unconcerned gesture of An Xiao, the person across the river began to quietly withdraw his steps. While projecting the swift escape procedure inside his head and wiping his tears, he subconsciously imitated An Xiao's attitude and let his guard down.

"Hey you.."

The man recoiled at the sudden voice, he immediately cursed his sloven vigilance for inadvertently dropping itself down.

"Can you hear me?"

In the eerily quiet forest, even the smallest sound would be clearly audible. Though An Xiao's small voice was already crystal clear, she decided to raise a volume it was enough to reverberate.

Still not receiving any form of response from the silent unmoving figure, An Xiao glanced downward and heaved a small sigh, "People say the higher a person climb, the harder they fall..."

The man flinched at the relatable words, he subconsciously let himself stood still to continue listening at what the girl have to say.

"Ah i don't know... It feels so suffocating... What did i do to receive this kind of treatment? Well.. i indulged in love... But so what? Someone is loving me so dearly, what am i supposed to do? Run away from him even if it costs my life?? Even though i also craved for his love?? I wasn't even treated like this on my lowest point of life! Sure people ignore and reject me when they didn't want my services, but that was reasonable! And other people still treated me with friendliness! But this?? I'm only being insulted and ignored in front of my face by everyone! With a ridiculous reason! They said i'm lower than a dog because i want to receive his love!

"Social standing and whatnot is so.. So.. Annoying... Why can't two people that loves each other just.. Just.. Lived in peace and simplicity... " An Xiao continued to rant although she didn't get any response, she no longer care as she needed someone to at least hear her. Although she was irritated by social standing, she inwardly understood how Qing Rui also needed it, and it made her felt even more helpless and grief stricken. Her chest felt suffocated as tears ran down her cheeks, she hugged her knees and buried her face once more.

The man felt sympathetic at the pitiful sobbing ball of a girl, hence he decided to cross the river by stepping on boulders and cobblestone that scarcely paved the water flow. He trotted carefully towards An Xiao and sat beside her, attempting to comfort the girl with his presence while pretending to be mute.

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Yamato carried Xiao Yun in his arms, the boy was light enough to be propped up effortlessly by Ren Xiu's thin arms. Qing Youya also followed him around like a baby chick, which raised his slightly disgruntled mood into a pleasant one. The five of them wandered aimlessly in town, prying every place they passed through for the sake of catching a lost stupid mary sue. Yamato choose not to announce for lost children blatantly like some department store, instead he was careful and avoided being conspicuous for the sake of his hidden concern. He also ordered Baili Haoyue and Jian Yu to follow him from afar beforehand, because it attracts too much attention should they walk together.

Walking while staring right and left with a smile in the market, Yamato resembled nothing but an enthusiastic curious princess who have never left her palace. Catching sight of a certain fruit vendor, his smile widen with sparkling eyes as he approached.

It was a simple old yet well maintained wooden counter under a worn-out shared marquee, "How about some peaches young lady? It's freshly picked! You can search other stall and wouldn't find one fresher than this! Only three copper coin for two!" the fat and plain looking salesperson offered in high spirit.

Yamato peered through the pile of pink peaches while still lifting the corner of his lips, "... I want to take three for this much," he spread his five fingers, clenched, and spread three.

Although still in high spirit, the light in the salesman eyes changed subtly, "How about other fresh fruits?"

"With two bonus!" Yamato beamed.

The fat salesman who still looked all carefree with a smile hanging on his face, poked a sleeping youngster beside him and ordered the guy to look after the stall, "Come young lady, the other fruits are sensitive to heat," the fat man beckoned Yamato to follow him through a decrepit grimy door behind the vendor which connected to an equally run-down house.

After scratching the back of his head three times as a signal for Baili Haoyue and Jian Yu to wait, Yamato followed suit after the fat man along with Xiao Yun and Qing Youya in tow. The inside of the room didn't betray their expectation, it was dark, messy, and humid, with stacks of mossy and greasy wooden boxes piling up here and there. They continued to follow the fat man to another room and climb up the stairs to the second floor. The tidy and clean room that greeted them was truly unforeseen. Poles apart to the humid and messy first floor, the second floor resembled a clean and neat basic hotel room.

The easygoing smile on the fat man face was wiped clean as he sat down beside the low tea table in the right corner of the room, and was followed gladly by Yamato whose legs were already giving up from walking nonstop. Although Qing Youya actually noticed more things than Yamato, he kept quiet and went along with Ren Xiu's actions, inadvertently won over by his playful curiosity. Being cooped up in a weird building with a fat man was absolutely not what he had expected, however it only made him even more curious and docile looking, resembling nothing but an obedient child.

Glancing at the adorable look Qing Youya displayed, Yamato couldn't help but to pinch his soft cheek gently and lovingly. Qing Youya slightly flinched, and his docile look were instantly shifted to that of his usual fake smile, he loathed being touched by anyone.

"Anything you wanna know, milady?" the fat man spoke up, he didn't beat around the bush nor exchanged shady pleasantries, he simply turned solemn with an unimpressive smirk on his flabby face.

"... Did you see a girl around sixteen, as tall as you, straight bangs, light green dress, white jade hairpin, and well.. Fairly cute face?" Yamato also inquired straight to the point.

Closing his eyes, the fat man mused with a wrinkled forehead, "hmm... Two gold coins."

"Sure."

"Alright, white shoes or black shoes?"

Yamato threw a meaningful glance towards Qing Youya and Xiao Yun.

"Black shoes," Qing Youya was very observant to his surrounding and his memories were very good and detailed, and just as the prince had expected, the fat man was actually an informant.

"Blue perfume pouch with white rabbits?"

Qing Youya nodded.

"She's going towards xuyin forest since one and half an incense ago, go straight southeast past a dilapidated temple, the forest's dark, you'll know when you see it.." the fat man was nothing but efficient and concise, gaining an appreciation from Yamato, however before Yamato could even thank him, the fat man continued, "want a bonus?"

"... Do i need?" Yamato smirked while raising his right brow.

The fat man gazed straight to Yamato's eyes. Although his eyes were small and narrow, his gaze were very piercing it was unbelievably incompatible with his chubby and squishy image.

In front of such gaze that scans, Yamato felt like he was being stripped off his skin. It was very uncomfortable. It was as though his heartbeat and breath were grasped by some invisible pressure. Yamato never underestimated anyone nor judges someone from their appearance, and yet the intimidating fat man still exceeded his expectations.

"... You might need," finally the fat man retracted his sharp gaze, allowing Yamato to catch a breath.

Heaving a small sigh, Yamato turned solemn, "How much?"

"fifteen."

Yamato frowned, "That is too unreasonable.. I don't even know what this info consist of and if i really needed it.."

"Alright, then let's drop it," the fat man responded lightly.

"nine.."

"fifteen."

"ten..."

"fifteen."

Yamato massaged his temple, ".. Alright, fifteen."

The fat man suddenly stood and walked up to a nearby drawer, he rummaged for a while until he found a ball and a horse shaped bamboo strips toy. He unexpectedly handed the two toys to Xiao Yun which the boy accepted in a daze.

Catching the purpose, Yamato stood up himself then carried and placed Xiao Yun down in another side of the room, leaving space for them to discuss about serious matters.

Originally the fat man signaled Ren Xiu to brush the two child away, however she unexpectedly let the other child stay. He already gave the appropriate warning, anything that happens next wouldn't be his responsibility, "Already know the women slaughterer?"

".. Yes, what about it?"

"The three women slaughtered were previously kidnapped and had been missing for years.."

"I also know this.."

"Then do you know how much girls have been missing in Zhuxin these past 10 years?"

Yamato gulped, "... No."

"Sixty seven."

After slightly flinched in shock, Yamato quickly regained his composure without leaking any movement.

"From my connection, three are found eloping, two are found trafficked, twelve found dead each in some road, and three are found murdered just like what you know.. And the rest of forty seven woman couldn't be found until now," the fat man peered outside a small ventilation gap, "Already know the killer?"

"... Wu Chen," although the answer were clear and straight, Yamato actually knew something was not right.

"Found guilty of killing three missing girls, now he is accused of kidnapping every lost women in Zhuxin. You can ask everyone in the city and you'll know every single person loathe him.."

Yamato was very focused he couldn't even hear the small rustling noise Xiao Yun made by playing with the ball, "He was caught red handed when killing?"

"Caught red handed when about to dispose of the corpses.."

"By who?"

"Three town's guard and a merchant,"

".. Does anyone found the evidence of his murder?"

"No, but he didn't deny any accuse before escaping," the fat man let out a slight mocking chuckle.

Yamato also raised the corner of his lips and responded with underlined words, ".. Must be naive, he lacked instruction.. Does he have anyone close to him?"

"The man was deformed, his left hand and his left eye is disproportionated, his jaw was left inclined, and a bit of hunched back, unfortunately no one wants to be close to such a person who were also timid, stuttered, and often get sick. Everyone thought the creature brought sickness," he cringed, "now that he murdered people, he was basically viewed as a demon."

"I see.. Then what did he do for a living?"

"Our lord Lu Zhen employed him to take care of the horses in his stable, truly generous."

"Grudges?"

"Such a timid person never even yelled back when bullied, his life is so dull and miserable there's barely strength to provoke anyone."

"Lineage?"

The fat man's eyes glinted, "Orphaned, unfortunately my channel couldn't trace it."

Yamato nodded, "Info about Lu Zhen?"

"One thousand gold."

"Wha-!"

"Things about him are afterall connected to the country's affair, selling his info equal selling a part of this country, i'm afterall a good citizen, i only sell things equal it's worth," the fat man showed a business smile.

The corner of Yamato's lips twitched, ".. I see.."

"Well, the fifteen gold package doesn't only consist of Wu Chen.. There's one more."

Yamato's eyes immediately lit up.

"That forest your girl were running towards, has a bit of a myth.."

This time, Qing Youya's eyes subtly glinted.

"The crimson vision of worldly tribulation.. I will tell you a passage from a destroyed inscription..

"The anguish reaching the heavens,

The screams reached the demons,

Our soul tattered,

Our hands dismembered,

The demons answered,

Such blessings, such mercy,

Comes with a blinding sun,

And the light becoming our claws,

For our anguish will never fade,

For our anguish will become fangs,

This crimson vision will consume,

Towards countless sufferings,

Until the end of our time,

My brethren,

The star of solitude will lead your steps,

If you desire our light."

Yamato tilted his head, ".. What an uncommon passage, does not sound like a poem?"

"It's because it's not a poem," the fat man sighed.

Bowing while childishly fiddling with his fingers, Qing Youya were actually hiding a smile of ecstasy with his eyes turning into a mad crescent, an expression no child could produce. He whispers softly, "Found it."