Chapter 110 Aftermath

Chapter 110 Aftermath

By the time Jiang Yutang returned from another town on horseback with snake-repelling powder, Zhao Tong had already led the Kangding Sect members to rescue the imprisoned family members of the sect leader.

When the members of the Kangding Sect left the Bewitching Town in an orderly fashion, each of them had a look of anticipation and smiles on their faces, meaning that they could finally leave this hellish place.

Kangdingmen was the one that was truly coerced, but it's hard to say about Fengyangmen and Wudumen.

"Grandpa, I've brought back the snake repellent powder." Jiang Yutang took two large jars off his horse. "I asked the villagers nearby, and they said this is the best snake repellent. It should be safe for a short time."

Bai Cen took the two jars handed to him by Jiang Yutang. Jiang Yutang continued, "I also asked people nearby for ways to drive away snakes, but there are too few of us to do it. We have to wait for the people from Qingyun Manor to arrive."

Although Bai Cen's arm was injured, it was only a superficial wound, and he could still easily lift these jars.

"Yu Tang, you and the maid stay here and keep an eye on that guy and Bazhenlou. The old man, Bai Cen, and I will go back to the snake den."

The old man took a horse from the Eight Treasures Pavilion and set aside a small carriage, which could seat three people.

Wang Sumo knew that the old man was afraid that even if he went back, he might not be able to find Gu Lianyong, or even find the complete Gu Lianyong.

“Grandpa, I’m not a child.” Wang Sumo said firmly.

The old man, Grandpa Weng, and Jiang Yutang all looked at her in surprise.

Wang Sumo's voice was gentle yet firm: "Although we didn't know each other before, we became acquainted during a time of crisis. Although the time on the carriage was short, we went through hardships together."

"Whether or not we can find him in the end, or what he looks like when we do find him..."

Wang Sumo first spread his hands, then clasped his palms together, and finally crossed his arms: "He jumped off the carriage so that we could pass through smoothly. I'm going to see him off on his final journey."

After Wang Sumo finished speaking, Old Master Qu and Old Master Weng exchanged a glance, a faint smile appearing in their eyes.

Bai Cen also looked at Wang Sumo and offered his support: "To be honest, this guy seems exceptionally cunning. I'm not sure if the boss and Yutang can keep an eye on him, but..."

Bai Cen took a deep breath and said "solemnly": "If I were here, he would probably be very well-behaved."

After Bai Cen finished speaking, he winked at Wang Sumo.

However, Wang Sumo was both amused and grateful.

Bai Cen glanced at the Netherworld Messenger who was lying on the ground like a pupa, and politely asked, "Is that right?"

Messenger of the Underworld: ? ? ?

Bai Cen also looked at Jiang Yutang: "Do you want to go?"

Jiang Yutang paused, briefly glanced around, and then calmly said, "I don't really want to..."

Everyone has the right to make their own choices.

Jiang Yutang happened to see Gu Lianyong jump off the carriage.

Some things, though painful, I don't want to see again.

Bai Cen politely looked at the Netherworld Messenger on the ground again: "Hey, you have one more person to keep you company."

The messenger from the underworld was annoyed.

*

The wheels rolled forward, and the old man was still driving, with Grandpa Weng accompanying him.

When I left this place at dawn, my journey was filled with tragedy; when I returned, it was with a different kind of sorrow.

Last night, I wasn't familiar with the terrain of Dongli. Now, it's easier to find out where the snakes are and where to find Gu Lianyong than before.

With the addition of Jiang Yutang's two cans of powerful snake repellent powder and realgar wine, and with the sky now bright, the panic from the previous night had completely subsided.

"We're in this vicinity," Grandpa Weng reminded him.

Wang Sumo also became alert. When he passed by last night, there were small snakes hanging on the branches. Now, perhaps because of the strong snake repellent powder, the snakes were avoiding him.

Jiang Yutang also bought protective clothing from the place where she bought snake repellent powder, and wore it to avoid snake bites.

And so, the old man slowed down.

There were traces of snakes around, but none of them went forward.

Old Master Weng suddenly said in a deep voice, "Ahead."

Wang Sumo peeked out, but Old Master Weng blocked him, saying, "I'll go and take a look first."

Wang Sumo thought for a moment and nodded.

The best thing is to avoid causing trouble.

"I'll go, old man, you stay here." Old Qu got off the carriage himself, leaving Old Man Weng and Wang Sumo in the carriage to see what would happen.

With his thick boots treading on the stone slabs and piles of fallen leaves, even the old man dared not be careless.

However, the entire garment reeked of realgar, and many small snakes immediately slithered away.

The old man discovered something, slowly stepped forward, then slowly squatted down, used a nearby branch to push aside the debris, and after a moment, his solemn gaze lingered on the spot. He said in a deep voice, "Found it."

Wang Sumo and Grandpa Weng both got out of the car.

"Girl." The old man reminded her, and she could ignore it. He and the old man lifted the girl onto the carriage.

Wang Sumo understood that the old man was protecting her, and she said softly, "I'm fine."

"Then take it slow." The old man didn't say anything else.

Although Wang Sumo was mentally prepared, she still froze when she saw it, clenching her fingers so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

"Old man," the old man called out.

Old Master Weng stepped forward; he was wrapped in a horsehide shroud, and all that remained was a straw mat.

"Will he be buried here?" Old Weng asked the old man.

The old man remained noncommittal, but Wang Sumo said, "Brother Gu has always wanted to leave the Bewitching Town. Let's bury him somewhere outside of the Bewitching Town."

Both old men looked at her, which meant the body would remain on the carriage.

Wang Sumo said confidently, "I can."

Wang Sumo cleaned up the carriage and made room for it.

Old Master Weng and Old Master Qu together carried the straw mat onto the carriage.

Life is unpredictable; a person who was alive and well just hours ago can become...

The old man didn't say anything, and the carriage turned back one mile to the east.

Weng He advised, "Old Qu, we've done our best."

Wang Sumo also looked at the old man's back. She was very familiar with his back and knew that he was not feeling well right now.

After a long while, on the carriage back, the old man said in a deep voice, "If I hadn't reminded him back then, perhaps he would still be a chivalrous thief, robbing the rich to help the poor, and wouldn't have ended up like this."

Ultimately, the old man felt more guilty than anything else.

Gu Lianyong went to the Bewitching Town because he met him and was asked if he wanted to be a petty thief for the rest of his life.

The old man couldn't let it go.

In particular, Gu Lianyong died in front of him in such a tragic way.

If it weren't for his past actions and his "kindness," Gu Lianyong wouldn't have ended up like this.

Old Master Qu rarely acted like this. Weng He reached out and patted him on the shoulder: "Old Qu, this isn't your fault. You did it for his own good, not wanting him to go astray. It's just that the mastermind behind this Bewitching Town is too insidious..."

Weng He looked at him and said, "You and I both know that when you're in the world, it's never smooth sailing. It's just one person's fate; don't take it all on yourself. There are so many people in the world; how many can you possibly take on?"

Weng and himself had been through it all.

Having witnessed the rise and fall of numerous martial arts sects, I know it's all a result of the intertwining of fate and opportunity.

There are so many martial arts sects, but only a few are truly lucky...

“Grandpa,” Wang Sumo said.

Unfollow her.

Wang Sumo said softly, "Old Weng and I will stay with you, it's alright."

In that instant, tears welled up in his eyes as he unfollowed her.

*

Leaving the town of Mihun to the east, we didn't go too far before finding a place with relatively beautiful scenery.

While it was still light, Wang Sumo, along with Old Master Qu and Old Master Weng, dug the grave, placed Gu Lianyong inside, and finally erected a tombstone.

The inscription on the tombstone reads: "Gu Lianyong, the chivalrous thief."

Everyone has their own path, from petty thieves to chivalrous heroes. Who says a hero has to have a dramatic life?

Wang Sumo poured a cup of wine in front of the tomb as a tribute to Gu Lianyong.

Over the years, I've traveled the world and met all sorts of people. Some I've only known for a short time, perhaps just an hour or so, yet they may have left a deeper impression than others...

Gu Lianyong is one of them.

“Grandpa, it’s getting dark.” Wang Sumo looked at him.

"I want to stay a little longer," the old man said in a deep voice. "You and the old man should go back first. I'm a little worried about Bai Cen and Yu Tang watching over the Netherworld Messenger."

Wang Sumo looked at Old Master Weng, who understood and said, "I'll go back and take a look. Girl, you stay with me."

“Okay.” Wang Sumo accepted the offer.

As darkness fell, Wang Sumo gathered some leaves and twigs around him and lit a fire with a tinderbox.

After all, apart from Bewitching Town, it's also a desolate wilderness. In addition, with the rumors surrounding Bewitching Town over the years, there are few people around it, and it becomes a place where wild animals roam at night.

It's safer with a fire.

Once the fire was lit, Wang Sumo and the old man knelt down and sat against the fallen tree trunk behind them.

The fire crackled and popped, the leaping flames reflecting on their faces and dispelling the chill of the night.

"Why don't you go back with the old man?" Guan asked.

Wang Sumo said quietly, "The old man left the new grave because he was afraid that wild animals or other wandering ghosts would bully Gu Lianyong."

He glanced at her and whispered, "You can see through everything..."

Wang Sumo said gently, "Shall I tell you a story?"

Unfollow her.

Wang Sumo said leisurely, "When I first started driving the Eight Treasures Pavilion, everything felt new and exciting. Although I didn't know martial arts, it seemed like I could do a lot of things because of the Eight Treasures Pavilion. Once, I passed through a village and met a runaway bride who said her family insisted on marrying her off to a sickly man in town to bring her good luck. I took pity on her and let her get on the carriage..."

Wang Sumo's eyes were filled with leaping flames, as if her thoughts had truly returned to that time.

At that time, there were only two girls in the Bazhen Tower, her and the other girl. She was driving the Bazhen Tower, preparing to travel all over the country, while the other girl had just escaped from the den of demons and was full of hope for everything.

So she and Liniang set off together.

"And then?" the old man asked, looking at her.

Wang Sumo crossed his arms and said softly, "Later, we stopped in a town to resupply. I waited for her at the Bazhen Restaurant, while Li Niang went into town by herself. I waited for her for a long time, but she didn't come back. Later, I went to look for her and found out that a child had stolen her purse. She chased after him and was stabbed in the abdomen with a knife by the child..."

Wang Sumo hugged his arms tightly and said in a deep voice, "Actually, there wasn't much silver in that money bag, and it wasn't worth much. But she felt that it was her new life. She wanted to travel the world with me in the Eight Treasures Pavilion. She didn't expect that the first resupply after we left would disappoint me, and in the end, she lost her life for nothing."

Wang Sumo lowered her eyes: "For a long time, I thought that if I hadn't let her go to the Eight Treasures Restaurant, perhaps she would still be alive and well, instead of losing her life. It took me a long time to realize that when I brought her out of the village, she saw hope. A person will strive to improve themselves because of the hope they see, and Gu Lianyong was the same. So, Grandpa, it's not our fault. In Gu Lianyong's eyes, you gave him hope, which is why he strives to become a better person..."

Unfollow her.

Wang Sumo also looked at him: "Li Niang and Gu Lianyong are actually the same. They won't blame us, but life is unpredictable..."

To silence the old man.

*

Three days later, Wang Sumo met He Ping and He Qingque.

"Miss Wang~" He Qingque cheered when she saw her, wishing she could rush to her side.

Duan Wuheng returned with them, covered in dust from the journey, indicating they hadn't stopped along the way.

"Well done," Bai Cen praised.

"Then, can I stay?" Duan Wuheng confirmed.

Bai Cen put his arm around his shoulder: "The master said that you are a child, so you should tell your mother so that she won't worry. On the way back, if your mother agrees when we pass by your house, we will travel together."

"I miss my mother too," Duan Wuheng said calmly.

He Qingque fluttered around in front of Wang Sumo for a while before joining the other disciples to observe the situation in the Bewitching Town.

He Ping and Wang Sumo said, “We happened to be not far away when Duan Wuheng came to find us, so we came together. Duan Wuheng told us about the Bewitching Town. I also sent a message to the Manor Lord by carrier pigeon. On the way here, I received a letter from the Manor Lord. This matter is of great importance. He has already sent the eldest son with the disciples of Qingyun Manor to confirm the details of this place before making any further statements.”

"You mean, Master Huo sent He Huai'an here to clean up the mess?" Wang Sumo asked.

He Ping nodded: "That's right. Over the years, many of the manor's external affairs, including dealing with the imperial court and the business of wound medicine, have been handled by the eldest young master. It's safest to leave this matter to the eldest young master. There are still many survivors in the Bewitching Town. Let the disciples of Qingyun Manor search them first."

Wang Sumo nodded.

"Where is that messenger from the underworld?" He Ping asked.

Wang Sumo led him to the place where the Netherworld Messenger was imprisoned.

With his mouth sealed shut and his body bound, he couldn't make a sound, but when he saw He Ping, the Netherworld Messenger still struggled a few more times.

Wang Sumo said, "The old man, the old man Weng, and Bai Cen have all been interrogated, but they couldn't get anything out of them."

He Ping nodded: "Then we'll talk about it when the eldest young master arrives."

The Netherworld Messenger struggled once more, and He Ping assigned two disciples to guard it before closing the door.

Wang Sumo led him to the underground granary. In fact, when Wang Sumo first saw it, she was just as surprised as He Ping was now.

With so much grain stockpiled, what percentage of the disaster relief grain actually reaches the victims?

He Ping frowned.

“There should be more than just disaster relief grain here; there are other kinds of grain as well. This is a temporary granary. Ordinary sects don’t have that kind of power, so they must be colluding with the imperial court. This matter is very serious, and if it’s not handled properly, it could cause trouble. We can only leave it to Qingyun Manor,” Wang Sumo said.

He Ping nodded: "Miss Wang, don't worry. The manor lord had been inquiring about this matter before. In any case, the disaster relief grain has been found, and Qingyun Manor will continue to investigate."

Wang Sumo was relieved.

"In the next few days, I'll have people remove the explosives from underground first, and then make other plans," He Ping said, having a plan in mind.

Sure enough, with He Ping's abilities, things were quickly sorted out after He Ping arrived.

[Author's Note]

The flu was so potent, I slept until evening, took medicine, and only then could I start writing. I'll give out a red envelope for this chapter!

I don't know if there will be any tomorrow.

I'm not feeling well, so I might not write anymore.