Chapter 24: How About Buying Your Life?

On the way to the inn, Ji Qing slowed the carriage, yet someone still collided into it.

The man was dressed in coarse cloth, with white hair scattered. His face was wrinkled with age spots.

He rushed forward and deftly lay down a foot away, then shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Oh dear, everyone come see, I've been hit!"

Ji Qing quickly tightened the reins, the horse stopped, its front hooves raised high.

Soon, onlookers surrounded the scene, three circles deep inside, three circles deep outside.

Ji Qing kept a straight face: "You've got plenty of energy, stop making a fuss."

"You won't admit you hurt me, right?"

The old man wriggled on the ground in feigned agony.

"I may be poor, but at my age, I wouldn't swindle people?"

"If you don't settle with me today, don't think of leaving!"

Ji Qing: "What do you want?"

The old man stretched out his rough hand: "This matter won't end without one tael of silver between us."

To have a good year, he had already conned no less than five outsiders in a few days.

He figured these rich young masters were in a hurry and wouldn't want more trouble. They'd consider it as paying to pass.

He held his unharmed leg, wailing pitifully: "This leg of mine, I'm afraid it's going to break."

The crowd clamored, everyone was filled with righteous indignation for the old man.

"You hit someone, don't take them to the clinic, and don't even cover medical expenses, isn't this bullying?"

"Truly shameless!"

Ji Qing let out a cold laugh, his master wasn't one to avoid trouble easily?

Sure enough, Cui Yun's voice sounded from inside the carriage.

"Ji Qing."

"At your service."

The man's eyes were as dark as ink, many had threatened him, yet none met a good end.

He was a cold-hearted person.

"Hit him."

The crowd fell completely silent: ???

Things were already like this, and not only was he not showing himself, but he still wanted to hit someone?

The old man was dumbfounded: "You... are you crazy?"

Cui Yun closed his eyes, the sons of the Cui family were each more handsome than the last, with an air of elegance embedded in their bones.

The carriage curtain had long fallen after Ji Ge left, light blocked outside, he was entirely engulfed in familiar darkness.

Though no scent of a rotting corpse was at his nose, Cui Yun breathed shallowly, living like a walking corpse.

Being slandered is truly unpleasant.

He still held the thin silver note, his expression indifferent, but his voice was uncharacteristically gentle, like pearls falling onto a plate, yet his words were extreme to the core.

"I'll pay 500 taels to buy your life, how about it?"

————

When Shen Hua returned to the courtyard, Yicui greeted her. The smile that just started to rise on her lips vanished as soon as she saw the medicine in Shen Hua's hand.

"Is my lady feeling unwell somewhere?"

"For soothing the throat."

Upon hearing this, Yicui was relieved and took it with both hands.

Although more servants had been added to the courtyard, all the medicine was brewed by Yicui. It's not a matter of mistrust, but only when she did it herself did she feel most at ease.

Shen Hua clumsily headed towards the inner room. Inside, the charcoal fire was sufficient. She sighed comfortably, finally taking off the heavy mink fur.

"My lady."

Yicui closed the door. She approached and spoke softly.

"The investigator sent a message."

Shen Hua straightened her expression.

Ever since she met Lady Qiu, who served by Aunt Liu's side, Shen Hua became concerned.

In a ghost marriage, every step in the arrangements must heed taboos—viewing portraits, calculating birth charts. Not one could be missing.

And all this, needed the witch doctor residing at the Dong's Mansion to personally handle.

"Though the Dong Family closes their doors to guests, Mr. Dong goes to the shop to check the accounts every few days. This has been consistent over the years."

"This time, the Dong Family acted extremely covertly, perhaps they paid enough silver to keep mouths shut. When Mr. Dong went out to check the accounts, there wasn't a trace of suspicion, which shows their caution."

Yicui whispered: "Should we continue monitoring?"

If this matter wasn't connected to Shen Zhui, they probably wouldn't have heard even a whisper of it.

Maybe, the investigator might eventually uncover something, but Shen Hua was worried time was too rushed. If the Dong Family gathered all the girls to perform the rituals…

Shen Hua's gaze fell on the carvings of birds, fish, and insects etched into the wood.

After a while, she spoke softly: "No need."

"However."

Her words shifted direction.

"I have something for you to do."

Yicui hurriedly leaned in to listen, as she heard Shen Hua's words, her face gradually turned to shock.

The sun set in the west, the afterglow dim and dull. All were swallowed clean by the evening.

On Chidong Street, someone walked barefoot, wrapped tightly in a strange black wizard robe, his head donned in a large hood that concealed his face.

"Mom, his outfit is really interesting! It's even more interesting than grandpa's longevity clothes."

On the street, a child clapped their hands innocently, soon having their ear twisted by someone.

"You little brat!"

"Mom, it hurts! How come Grandpa hasn't come home for dinner these past few days?"

"Your Grandpa won't be back."

"Surely it's because your cooking is so bad he ran away from home. How petty, calling me his good grandson yet not taking me."

He walked silently, holding a cane.

The cane thudded on the ground, yet the bell hanging from it did not move at all.

Until he passed by Dong's Mansion.

The bell suddenly shook violently, jingling and clanging.

The man in the black robe stopped, looking up at Dong's tightly closed gate. As the wind blew, the hood slipped down slightly, revealing a face marked by years and furrowed with wrinkles.

Making him even more mysterious.

He said nothing, yet the bell did not quiet at all.

While onlookers gathered around as if to watch a show.

Right then, a fitting voice rose from the crowd.

"They say a wizard uses talismans to ward off evil, could this... could this be grievances ringing the bell?"

People are most superstitious about ghosts and gods. Moreover, years ago the Dong Family buried many alive, there's precedent.

One remark and everyone's expressions changed.

How intense must the grievances be.

"Could the Dong Family be up to some mischief again?"

"They're sinning, the Dong Family's luck has been poor all these years, could it be restless spirits?"

More cautious people look at the wizard's face: "Master, I pass by Dong's Mansion daily, will I catch bad luck?"

The gatekeeper of the Dong Family received news and slightly opened a crack.

The wizard moved.

His voice sharp and hoarse: "Your honorable household has done too many evil deeds, thus harming itself. Stop while you can."

The gatekeeper heard, and immediately put hands on hips.

"Where did this riff-raff come from? Making trouble in front of our Dong's Mansion?"

"Disperse! Disperse! Or I'll report to the authorities and have you all thrown in jail!"

The wizard gave the door plaque of Dong's Mansion a deep look, chuckled coldly, turned, and gradually left. The sound of bells persisted, amidst which his voice carried eerie layered mockery, indistinguishable whether male or female.

"The Dong Family acts with impunity, the sins are heavy, blood debts will be paid."

"Nonsense!" The gatekeeper slammed the door shut.

Yet soon, his legs went limp and he collapsed to the ground. A similarly dressed gatekeeper came to help him up, but he pushed him away. Cold sweat pouring.

"Go, quickly tell the Master!"

Mr. Dong, upon learning of this, felt a jolt in his heart, disregarding usual manners, he rushed to the West Garden.

Soon, his questioning voice came from inside.

"Ge Wizard, the year you did the burial rites for my son, I trusted you with all my heart, but how come grievances ring the bell?"

"Who is that person? Maybe he's someone significant, if he notices anything after our plan is executed and causes trouble..."