Chapter 56 The Abandoned Infant Tower

Luo Qing nodded slightly, a thoughtful look in her eyes: "Yes, I feel that this village chief is not simple. She seems to be deliberately hiding something."

"Moreover, as the village chief of Peach Blossom Village, she should be very anxious about the disappearance of the Fairy of Yaochi, but she is too calm, which is not normal." Qi Ru also felt that something was wrong.

Mu Qimeng took a deep breath, looked around to make sure no one else was nearby, and then continued, "I think we should be careful. This village chief may not be as simple as he seems."

Mo Ming asked worriedly, "Have you noticed that all the people we've encountered along the way have been women?"

Mo Ming's words made everyone tense again. They then realized that since entering Peach Blossom Village, they had indeed only seen women.

Where are the men? Where have all the men in this village gone?

Luo Qing walked to the window, pushed it open, and gazed into the distance.

In the distant fields, all the busy figures were women. Had the men really disappeared?

A sense of unease welled up within her; this village seemed to be hiding a deeper secret.

Suddenly, a burst of cheerful laughter broke the silence as several young women carrying flower baskets passed by their window, chatting and laughing.

Luo Qing's gaze followed the women closely as their laughter and words gradually faded into the distance.

She turned around and looked at Mu Qimeng and the others, her expression turning serious.

“Mo Ming is right, we only saw women. Something seems off about this village.”

The group exchanged glances, a strange sense of tension rising within them.

They seemed to be standing in an unknown fog, behind which lay a disturbing truth.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew by, scattering the fragrance of flowers outside the window and dispelling some of the confusion in their hearts.

Luo Qing's gaze fell on a corner of the wooden house, where there was an exquisite wooden table with some tea sets on it. She walked over, gently picked up the teapot, and poured herself a cup of tea.

The aroma of tea filled the air. Luo Qing took a small sip, a glint of inspiration flashing in her eyes.

She put down her teacup and looked at everyone: "We can start with the villagers and try to understand the true situation of this village. Perhaps they can tell us some clues."

Just then, there was a knock on the courtyard gate. The five people immediately became alert, exchanged glances, and looked puzzled and nervous.

Luo Qing walked to the door, gently opened it, and saw a young woman standing outside, carrying a basket filled with fresh fruits and vegetables.

The woman smiled at Luo Qing and said gently, "These were sent by the village chief so that guests who have come from afar can have a taste."

Luo Qing nodded slightly to express her gratitude, while secretly observing the woman.

She was dressed simply, with delicate features, and looked no different from any other villager.

The woman handed the basket to Luo Qing, who took it and said softly, "Thank you. Please come in and have a seat."

The woman was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Luo Qing to invite her inside. But she quickly flashed a bright smile, nodded, and gently stepped into the wooden house.

Luo Qing asked her to sit down and poured her a cup of tea.

The woman sat down cautiously, holding the teacup with both hands, seemingly a little nervous. Luo Qing smiled at her, trying to ease her tension.

"What's your name?" Luo Qing asked softly.

“My name is Sun Pandi,” the woman replied.

The people nearby frowned slightly when they heard her name.

“Pan Di, we are very curious about your village. Could you please tell us about it?” Luo Qing said gently, while gesturing to Mu Qimeng and the others to remain friendly and patient.

Pan Di nodded, "No problem."

She began to recount the various interesting stories of Peach Blossom Village, describing the daily lives of the villagers and the relationships between them.

Luo Qing listened attentively, sometimes nodding to show understanding, and sometimes asking questions to guide Pan Di to elaborate further.

Pan Di's words revealed the tranquility and harmony of Peach Blossom Village, but Luo Qing keenly sensed a subtle tension hidden within.

Whenever the village chief or the history of the village is mentioned, Pan Di's eyes would unconsciously flicker, as if he was avoiding something.

Just as Luo Qing was about to press further, a woman's urgent voice came from outside the door: "Pan Di! Pan Di! Come quick, my chickens are gone again!"

Pan Di's expression changed slightly. He immediately put down his teacup, got up, and walked towards the door.

Luo Qing also stood up and followed behind her.

A middle-aged woman stood anxiously in the courtyard, gesturing with her hands, her face filled with worry.

Pan Di hurriedly replied, "Aunt Wang, don't worry, I'll help you look for it."

She turned to Luo Qing and smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, I have to go find chickens for Aunt Wang first."

Luo Qing nodded, watching Pan Di leave in a hurry. She turned back to the wooden house, her brows furrowed, her doubts deepening.

Aunt Wang's anxiety just now seemed genuine, and Pan Di's reaction was also very natural.

She turned and went back inside, whereupon Mu Qimeng and the others immediately surrounded her, asking with concern what had happened.

Luo Qing shook her head, her brows furrowed: "Pan Di was just called away, apparently to look for the lost chicken."

The group exchanged glances, a hint of suspicion flashing in their eyes.

"Is she really going to find a prostitute?" Mu Qimeng asked in a low voice.

Luo Qing was silent for a moment, then shook her head: "I don't know. But her reaction was too natural. If she really was hiding something, her acting skills are just too good."

Mo Ming frowned, pondering the possibilities.

“We have to follow them and see,” he said in a deep voice.

Luo Qing nodded in agreement, and the group quickly left the wooden house, secretly following Pan Di's footsteps.

As they walked along the village path, they saw Pan Di and Aunt Wang anxiously searching in the fields.

It seems there's nothing wrong; the two are indeed looking for chickens.

Luo Qing's eyes were sharp as she observed the movements around her. Suddenly, she noticed something unusual.

Luo Qing's gaze swept across the fields and landed on an ancient building surrounded by trees.

The building was tall and gloomy, like a lonely giant guarding this land.

Its shape is strange, its body is mottled, and time has left countless marks on its surface.

What is most shocking is that on one side of the tower, there is a dilapidated plaque with the three large characters "Abandoned Infant Tower" faintly engraved on it.

A strange chill ran through Luo Qing's heart.

She remembered reading about infant towers in ancient books, which were usually built by ancient villages to deal with babies they could not raise.

Luo Qing felt strange. "Didn't Pan Di just say that their village was having a hard time having children? Why is there an abandoned baby tower there?"

Luo Qing's words made Mu Qimeng and the others stop in their tracks, their eyes all focused on the ancient abandoned baby tower.

Mo Ming frowned, a hint of unease flashing in his eyes: "This tower... really shouldn't be here."