"Xiao Wu, Xiao Liu!"
He Buning’s face was filled with anger as he shouted loudly, but outside the courtyard, the leaves rustled, and no one responded.
The storyteller slowly brought his fist to his mouth, "Cough, cough~"
As soon as he coughed, He Buning imdiately beca tense as if facing a formidable enemy, his whole body tight, standing frozen at the door, not daring to make a move.
The storyteller was often plagued by illness during his stories, much like the rising and falling action of a tale. The closer it got to the climax, the more severe the tornt, and the greater the burden on his body. Only when the story reached its conclusion would the storyteller’s ailnts disappear.
But even when the pain disappeared, the consumption of his lifespan could not be compensated. The ti passing in the story would double, fivefold, even tenfold, drain the storyteller’s life.
The deeper the story’s impact on reality, the more intense this consumption would beco.
Therefore, the storyteller’s tales were always very short, and if not necessary, they wouldn’t use stories to influence the court’s grand affairs, as they couldn’t afford the cost of life.
Every story was confined as much as possible to a place already rife with deceit, thereby harnessing the night’s energy to annihilate everyone by the end, minimizing subsequent effects and costs.
The Evil Suppression Bureau was clearly not a suitable place for a storyteller’s tale to unfold.
Realizing that the storyteller was using his cough to intimidate him, He Buning’s two thick eyebrows relaxed, but he still blocked the doorway, coldly asking, "Are you here to surrender? Or are you planning to betray the Nine Songs and expose the others’ whereabouts?"
The storyteller smiled faintly, "If I were truly betraying the Nine Songs, wouldn’t my junior brother be quick to execute in a fit of rage before I could confess?"
Their gazes collided in the air, sparks flying.
The storyteller carefully observed his junior brother, who had already taken command of all the Night Travelers in Qinzhou at just over twenty. Without relying on his ancestors, he joined the Evil Suppression Bureau at fifteen, starting as a common constable, and in just over six years, had reached his current position.
In the entire Qinzhou, besides the Yin Walking General guarding the state, he held the most real power.
"Junior brother, you say you refuse the opportunity to go to Shengjing for a post, choosing instead to stay in Qinzhou and lead the most dangerous Night Travelers, always tracking the Nine Songs. Aren’t you tired? Are you really trying to ’protect the people and uphold justice,’ or are you... looking for soone?"
He Buning said nothing.
The storyteller, leisurely as ever, said, "We haven’t seen each other in years. As a child, you always liked following around, pestering to tell you stories, but now you won’t even offer a cup of tea."
"Forget it, let’s get to business. You know, since ancient tis, the Nine Songs always have only nine primary mbers. Throughout history, it’s the Nine Songs who have secretly stabilized the situation."
"The Witch Temple is not an illicit cult, nor are the Nine Songs heretics. If you trace it back, the Evil Suppression Bureau was also established by the Witch Lady. If the Witch Temple is illicit, what does that make the Evil Suppression Bureau? What you should really be investigating is the Ghost Opera Troupe!"
He Buning remained expressionless, his voice icy, "That’s none of your concern!"
The storyteller shook his head with a bitter smile, "How can it not worry ? You’re relentlessly targeting the Nine Songs, making everyone miserable. I’m the only restless one in the Nine Songs; the other brothers and sisters are innocent. So I’ve co to give you a clue about the Ghost Opera Troupe. Do you know of the Ming Family in Cuiyun Mountain outside Dongyang County fifty years ago?"
He Buning pondered slightly, yet showed no trace on his face.
"When did Ming’s Jade Juice reach the ladies in the palace, and when did the Ming Family start worshiping the Nie God? Junior brother, you might want to investigate which ’Nie’ the Nie God actually refers to. The Ghost Opera Troupe worships the Opera God, and actors, after all, are best at changing faces!"
He Buning’s eyes turned sharp, suddenly shooting towards the storyteller.
The storyteller smiled with implication, "Don’t get wrong, I have no intention of slandering the current Pri Minister. I’ve said all I needed to today. Between the Nine Songs and the Ghost Opera Troupe, which is the bigger threat? I’m sure you have a scale in your heart."
After speaking, the storyteller stood up and placed a small gourd-shaped dicine bottle down.
"The Bell Doctor’s dicine for you, rember to take it on ti. Considering I’ve delivered both the dicine and information today, could you let pass?"
With their gazes locked, He Buning ultimately stepped aside to allow the storyteller through. If he truly wanted to leave, He Buning couldn’t stop him.
The storyteller paused beside He Buning, "By the way, I almost forgot to tell you, I found our little junior sister."
He Buning sharply turned his head, and at that mont, his previously tense face finally showed unobscured shock.
"Where is she?"
The storyteller smiled mysteriously, "She might not be quite what you imagined. I recall you said if you saw her, you’d kill her, right? Seize this chance!"
"Don’t go! Explain yourself!"
He Buning turned swiftly to grab the storyteller, but the storyteller’s head twisted around, turning into an old lady’s cat face.
He Buning shuddered all over, abruptly waking up.
It was a dream!
"Boss, if you’re too tired, you should rest a bit."
In the study, Xiao Liu was helping organize the reports sent from various places, looking at He Buning with concern, while Xiao Wu nodded incessantly beside him.
He Buning considered massaging his temples but suddenly discovered a gourd-shaped dicine bottle in his palm. It was indeed not an ordinary dream.
Xiao Liu was about to speak when Xiao Wu imdiately gestured for silence, recognizing that He Buning was obviously contemplating sothing important and shouldn’t be disturbed.
He Buning recalls the last words of the storyteller; he ntioned the Ming Family, who are outside Dongyang County at Cuiyun Mountain, which is the necessary path from Tangyuan County to Dongyang County.
So he t her there, Tangyuan County and its surrounding villages have just undergone the sacrificial offerings of the Ghost Opera Troupe, she must be among those surviving refugees.
This coincides with what he previously discovered as their last settlent near Tangyuan County.
Who is it?
Is she on her way to Dongyang County?
He Buning’s hand couldn’t stop trembling; he felt he was very close to the answer, but he forcibly suppressed his thoughts, preventing himself from thinking further.
"Xiao Wu, Xiao Liu, prepare the horses, we’re going back to Wangshan City now!"
Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu exchanged a glance, bowed, and left.
"Wait, before leaving, go and retrieve all the archives on the Ming Family at Cuiyun Mountain from fifty years ago, bring them."
"Yes!"
He Buning frowned deeply, having searched for her for so many years, knowing she’s still alive is good enough, not to miss this fleeting mont.
The storyteller deliberately ca to tell him all of this, there must be a sche, he must not be exploited by the storyteller, he must leave here imdiately.
*
Dongyang County, Peace Inn.
The storyteller changed his outfit, packed his luggage, and walked out of the guest room on the second floor. On the way downstairs, the waiter led two girls upstairs, he stepped aside, watching them walking hand in hand.
"Little junior sister, senior brother can only help you this far, the story of sibling reunion can be written later."
Thinking about the answers she gave in the copper mirror, the storyteller was quite looking forward to the scene of brother and sister reuniting.
With a shake of his head and a smile, the storyteller quickly left.
At the second floor corner guest room door, the waiter opened the door to let the two walk in.
"Ladies, this is your guest room, call if you need hot water."
"Sister, Little Chan is very hungry~ When are we eating?"
ow~
Sang Que paused and turned back, looking at the scholar who hurriedly went downstairs, feeling an inexplicable chill down his spine.
Entering the guest room, Sang Que took all the remaining food from the bag and gave it to Xia Chan, asking the waiter to bring hot water and als.
While Xia Chan was eating, she quickly checked the copper mirror, embroidered shoes, and the nail’s usage.
The copper mirror is not a yin object, and failed to check through visualization. Sang Que guessed the copper mirror should be sothing like a magic artifact, capable of sealing evil spirits and evil ghosts. Huilan at least had the strength of the fourth layer, which ans the copper mirror can seal ghosts of the fourth layer.
The nail is a one-ti yin object, after being triggered with blood, it becos an invisible ghost hand strangling the enemy’s neck; the price is your nail will peel off piece by piece.
Sang Que felt a chill down her spine during visualization, wondering if there was a place to exchange yin objects, she did not want to use this at all.
The embroidered shoes, as she expected, had the ’Breaking the Boundary’ ability, wearing them allows one to step into the Hidden Realm, can break through the blockade of evil spirits and evil ghosts below the fourth layer, but once put on, the shoes won’t co off, continuously compressing the user’s feet until the muscles and bones break, flesh is blurred, bringing persistent pain until the person dies in agony.
Sang Que knew too little about what kind of place the Hidden Realm exactly is, making her once again entertained the thought of joining the Evil Suppression Bureau.
The embroidered shoes certainly can’t be worn by herself; she can let the Yin Child wear them, the Yin Child is a soul body, doesn’t know pain, perfectly countering the side effects of the embroidered shoes.
Previously, Wan Xiangtou also gave them to his Deceitful Bride to wear, indicating this is the correct usage.
At night, after eating and drinking, Sang Que still helped Xia Chan bathe, especially her hair, washing it twice.
Afterward, she checked the wounds on her arms everywhere, only leaving a pink mark, going at this rate, not even scars would remain.
Moreover, she had beco paler.
Sang Que had a guess, the village resentnt should have acquired part of the curse’s power, this power isn’t sufficient to make her immortal but can slowly heal the wounds on her body.
The side effects, naturally, are the need to drink blood, and a slight fear of light, not severe enough to affect daily life, normal people also dislike sun exposure.
Sang Que now only hoped that after returning, eating so pig’s blood, duck’s blood, sheep’s blood, etc., could alleviate the craving for blood, otherwise, she really would beco a vampire.
As last ti, they agreed with Xia Chan to bring back so delicious food at dawn; after watching Xia Chan fall asleep, Sang Que went to the downstairs guest room and found Kou Yushan, giving him one of the silver ingots from Yan Daozi’s money bag, asking him to take good care of Xia Chan and the Black Donkey.
Tomorrow she needs to go to Dongyang County’s county governnt to reapply for household registration also requires money, Sang Que planned to take the opportunity to settle in Dongyang County with Kou Yushan and them, using the na Sang Mulan, otherwise it will be troubleso to deal with various docunts later.
The matters here are temporarily concluded, Sang Que uses the door of the guest room to return ho with Xuan Yu.
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