Chapter 70 The pavilion in the middle of the lake at night, usually...

At night, the pavilion in the middle of the lake is usually deserted, with only the sounds of frogs and cicadas in the lake. But after summer, the sounds of frogs and cicadas gradually disappear, making it seem dark and cold, like a painting, lying in the corner of the Wen family's old house.

Tonight is different, because Ji Jiayu, Elder Pei and Wei's father have both come, each with several attendants. Fearing that Elder Pei, being old, might fall, they had arranged many candles in advance on the railings and rocks.

Ji Jiayu rolled up his trousers, took off his shoes and socks, and went to the lake to catch fish. Although the lake water was cold, the young man was strong and vigorous and was not afraid of the cold at all.

The wind was strong in the pavilion, so the elderly Pei and Wei's father set up a brazier and drank hot tea in the chilly autumn wind.

After eating half of the grilled fish, Wei Yin went back to find Lu Hun. Old Master Pei, being too old to withstand the wind, only took a few bites and went back as well. Only Wei's father and Ji Jiayu drank together until late at night before going back to their rooms.

Ji Jiayu was already very drunk. He didn't bring any servants and stumbled out alone. When he got near a cave, he heard something making a noise behind him. He turned around but saw nothing. He looked up again in confusion and saw a scene that made his jaw drop.

A sword almost as long as a man, with a food box hanging from it, flew over his head.

He shook his head.

Trying to shake off the alcohol.

But his eyes remained fixed on the sword that was sending him flying.

Ji Jiayu paused for a moment, then, unable to resist her curiosity, she followed.

The sword flew into a cave.

The cave was too dark to see clearly.

Fortunately, Ji Jiayu had a lantern that could illuminate some of the area.

The cave was a bit deep. He went in a little further and found it completely silent, as if no one was there. But as he went in a little more, he could vaguely see a figure moving at the far end. He raised his lantern so that its light could shine a little further forward, and then he saw a scene he would never forget.

A rusty sword, probably the same one he had just seen, was placed on the ground with a food box on its handle, and the tip of the sword was used to hit a child leaning against the wall.

The child then turned around.

It turned out to be the same child he had seen that day, dressed in a white linen coat.

This sword...

They're actually delivering food to a child!

Upon seeing this, Ji Jiayu smashed the lantern in her hand to the ground with a thud.

The noise finally startled Po Jun and the child. The child was even more frightened than Ji Jiayu and banged his head against the wall again, trying to pass through it. Po Jun quickly stopped the child, and when he realized he had been discovered, he hurriedly flew towards Ji Jiayu.

As Ji Jiayu watched the sword fly towards him, he thought it was going to stab him. He was so frightened that his legs went weak. Forgetting about the lantern, he cried out for his father and mother, shouting that the sword had become a spirit, and ran desperately out of the garden.

This frightened Po Jun, who then pursued even more closely.

Unwittingly, they ran over to Lu Hun and Wei Yin. Wei Yin first heard Ji Jiayu's scream and immediately buried her face in the neck of the young boy, kissing him passionately.

Lu Hun refused to get up, "Sister, no..."

Wei Yin kissed him on the lips and coaxed him to get up. Lu Hun reluctantly sat up straight and carefully buttoned up her clothes.

Not only Wei Yin and his group, but also Wei's father and others who lived nearby were awakened and quickly put on their clothes to see what was going on.

Standing not far away, Wei's father frowned as he looked at Ji Jiayu, who was shouting loudly, and asked, "Jiayu, why are you shouting in the middle of the night? Aren't you afraid of disturbing Elder Pei's rest?"

Ji Jiayu rushed to Wei's father, "Uncle Wei, a sword is chasing me, help!"

Without thinking much, Wei's father scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about? How can you get so drunk after just a little wine?"

“There really is a strange sword! It’s a flying sword that’s been chasing me. If you don’t believe me, take a look…” Ji Jiayu pointed behind him and turned around, but there was nothing there. The sword that was chasing him a moment ago was gone.

Mr. Wei thought he was just drunk and seeing things, "Alright, alright, look how much you've drunk, I'll have someone make you some hangover soup."

"etc."

Lu Hun seemed to have noticed something and suddenly looked behind a tree behind Ji Jiayu. He picked up a pebble and threw it at the tree.

With a clang.

Something is scraping the ground behind the tree.

“Uncle Wei, look, look!” Ji Jiayu held Wei’s father’s hand tightly.

"What is that thing?" Wei's father glared angrily. "Come out!"

As he spoke, a slight movement came from behind the tree. Then, Po Jun's sword slowly and cautiously peeked out before fully revealing itself.

When the group saw it, they were all taken aback.

Ji Jiayu shouted, "Uncle Wei, it's it, it's it! It's chasing me, and this sword can fly by itself!"

Po Jun looked a little guilty and slowly moved to Wei's father's side, touching his fingers with the tip of his sword. This startled Ji Jiayu, who quickly took a big step back from Wei's father to avoid it.

Father Wei smiled, patted Po Jun's head, and then said to Ji Jiayu, "You child, you've handled cases before, yet you're scared by a sword. You're too timid. Don't be afraid, come and take a look."

Ji Jiayu shook her head violently.

“This sword is called Po Jun,” Wei’s father reminded him. “It’s the Emperor’s imperial sword. You’ve been saying you wanted to see it, haven’t you? Come and take a look.”

Ji Jiayu's eyes widened in surprise. He was even more astonished to see Po Jun clinging to Wei's father's hand, acting like a spoiled child.

“Don’t be afraid,” Wei’s father said. “Po Jun is a rare and precious sword, not a monster. It has just gained some spirituality. Don’t be afraid.”

Ji Jiayu was relieved and stopped trembling. She quickly stepped forward to take a look out of curiosity.

Wei Yin stepped forward and said, "Young Master Ji, I'm sorry. Po Jun was naughty and scared you. Po Jun, apologize to Young Master Ji."

Po Jun then bent his sword towards Ji Jiayu.

Ji Jiayu felt like she had truly seen a ghost. Remembering something, she immediately said, "That's right, Uncle Wei, I was just saying I wasn't mistaken last time. I just saw that child again. Po Jun was with him just now and even brought food to the child..."

“I see.” Lu Hun pursed his lips. “No wonder it has been coming to my place to scavenge for food these past few days.”

Suddenly, Ji Jiayu remembered something and glared at Po Jun, "You took all my snacks?!"

Po Jun turned his back, pretending not to hear.

Unexpectedly, a child actually entered the garden, but did so silently. The group then followed Ji Jiayu to the cave where the child was hiding.

As soon as they entered, the child was indeed still there. Seeing so many people coming, he trembled with fear and started banging his head against the wall, trying to run away.

And just as Ji Jiayu had said, the child was dressed in a white linen garment, his hair and face were disheveled, but it was still possible to tell that he was a boy.

Lu Hun's gaze fell on the child's clothes, and his body stiffened.

He didn't go any further, but just stared intently at the boy with a somber expression.

Wei Yin and the others were so focused on watching the children that they didn't notice the boy standing alone behind them, who was unusually stiff and cold all over, like a cold sculpture, with his back seemingly stiff.

Wei's father noticed the child's fear, raised his hand to stop Wei Yin and Ji Jiayu, and after thinking for a moment, said to Po Jun, "Po Jun, go and comfort him."

Po Jun flew over, and the child calmed down when he saw it was Po Jun. He just hugged Po Jun tightly.

Po Jun patted his arm, as if to tell him not to be afraid.

Seeing that the child had calmed down a bit, Wei Yin prepared to go forward and ask him why he had come here.

But the boy behind her suddenly grabbed her arm. "Sister, don't go yet. This child, he's not human."

Wei Yin froze instantly.

Wei's father's eyes narrowed.

Only Ji Jiayu was unaware of the reason.

After closing his eyes and suppressing his complex emotions, Lu Hun said to everyone, "Don't go over there, I'll go."

As he spoke, Lu Hun called out to Po Jun, and Po Jun ran out of the child's arms.

Lu Hun frowned deeply, squatted down in front of the child, and after his gaze lingered on the child's clothes for a moment, he reached out his hand to the child.

The child stared at him warily, but seemed to know that Lu Hun was the same kind of ghost as him, so he was no longer frightened.

Lu Hun didn't say a word, only patted his head with gentle eyes. The child seemed to sense it and didn't pull away. Lu Hun said softly, "It's too dark here. Shall I take you outside?"

The child didn't move, but turned his gaze to Po Jun.

Po Jun pointed at the sword's head.

The child then relaxed, and Lu Hun picked him up. He then said to Wei Yin, "You and Lord Wei go back first and send the servants away. This child is afraid of strangers. I will take him to my room first."

Wei Yin and his father understood, and left without saying a word.

Ji Jiayu stood there completely bewildered, but as Lu Hun carried the strange child away from the cave, he noticed that the child had six toes on its bare right foot.

His expression changed drastically.

Because he clearly remembered that the boy in the pair of children's remains that were discovered last time had six toes on his right foot.

Lu Hun picked up the child and left, leaving Ji Jiayu alone in the dark cave. A gust of night wind blew in from outside, sending a chill down his spine.

He dared not think any further and quickly followed.

When Lu Hun carried the child back to the room, Wei Yin had already dismissed all the servants, including those who were patrolling the house.

The child was lying on a small couch in the room, curled up in the corner. When Ji Jiayu arrived, she couldn't help but look at the child's feet, but the child was already covered by the blankets and couldn't be seen.

The child is unwilling to talk and doesn't pay much attention to people.

Ji Jiayu looked at the strange child in front of her and said, "Young Master Lu, please let me see this child's feet."

Lu Hun glanced at him and pulled the blanket off the child's feet.

Ji Jiayu saw it clearly this time; the child did indeed have six toes on his right foot. His brows furrowed tightly as he stared at the child with a complicated expression.

"He...has six toes, and that boy also has six toes on his right foot..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Hun suddenly looked up at Ji Jiayu.

He asked, "Young Master Ji, I heard you mention last time that in the case you're handling, both children were murdered, and both of them had signs of abuse on their bodies?"

Ji Jiayu stared blankly, then nodded.

"That's right, it's like this. Although many years have passed, the coroner's examination confirmed that... I don't know who could be so heartless as to do such a thing to such a young child."