After discovering something strange, the courtyard seemed to be filled with evidence of guilt. A cowhide whip in the corner, bricks scattered in front of the house, a dark stone house... Shen Qingmang opened the creaking door and smelled an even stronger smell of rust.
This small, empty room is suitable for solitary confinement, and also for torturing someone without being discovered.
She couldn't tell whether she was filled with anger or sadness. Her chest felt heavy with pent-up tension as she exited the stone house and kicked open the wooden door of the main room. The door slammed against the wall, sending a few pieces of debris flying. The room was filled with a foul stench. A few black insects, startled, fled toward the door, but the figure in the inner room remained motionless.
Shen Qingmang held his breath and walked in, and suddenly understood the source of the stench.
There was no living person on the bed, but a corpse. No one had collected it, and the body had already begun to decay.
She left the dilapidated courtyard with a complicated expression. Not long after she walked, she ran into the woman again. This time, there was an old man beside her. The two of them were talking and gesturing to each other. When the woman saw her, surprise flashed in her eyes.
"Oh, girl, you finally came out. I was worried about you just now, afraid that something might happen to you. Who knew that after following you for a few steps, I would disappear. I waited for a while but didn't see you come back. I thought you met with something, so I asked my husband to go over and take a look. How is it? That old man Gu knows some magic, so he didn't hurt you, did he?"
Shen Qingmang slowly shook his head. "He passed away some time ago. His remains remain in the house, unburied..."
"Oh my god, dead?"
The couple looked at each other, and the old man sighed, "Gu Fangping, when he wasn't crazy, he said he could live to be 500 years old. He hasn't aged at all in all these years. I really thought he had some ability. How come he's dead?"
"It would be better if he died. It would be a sin for such a person to live," said the woman.
"You can't say that. Didn't he heal my leg?" The old man patted his thigh. "When he wasn't crazy, he had a kind heart. What a pity... I'll find two people to bury him together."
After saying this, the old man walked towards the Gu family's house. Shen Qingmang noticed that his right leg was slightly lame. The woman sighed, "Ah... What an injustice. Never mind. I'll just give him this fate. Girl, why did you go to see him?"
"I have an old relationship with his son. I came to the capital to take care of some business and passed by Chunhui Town. I wanted to visit him, but who knew this would happen?"
The woman's expression immediately became somewhat ambiguous. "What's the old story? Girl, you are Xiao Gu's wife, right? So the child left home, and he's doing well. He didn't ask you to come back to see him, right? Is it because you want to meet your parents-in-law?"
Shen Qingmang was a little confused by the woman's series of questions and was speechless: "I... am not..."
"Alright, alright, I know you're shy, so I won't ask any more questions. Little Gu is a good kid. He doesn't complain about his father's abuse of him and continues to serve him. He also defends his mother desperately when she's being beaten, and her body is always covered in bruises. We neighbors should help out if we can, but Old Man Gu has at least entered the immortal sect and knows some magic, so we don't dare to offend his family too much. So this kid...it's really not easy these years."
The woman was moved when she spoke, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, held Shen Qingmang's hand, and said sincerely: "Now that this has happened, to be honest, it may be a good thing for him. Go back and tell Xiao Gu that he doesn't need to come back. Let's help him bury his father. This child has finally walked out, and he certainly doesn't want to return to this sad place. For you, it's also a good thing that you don't have to serve your parents-in-law. Look at it more open-mindedly."
Fortunately, Shen Qingmang made the best of it and nodded, "Yes, Sui Han is a good boy. I will treat him well."
"That's right." The woman burst into laughter. "It's better for you two to live a good life together. As the immortals say, these are just 'the past'. You'll forget them tomorrow. The future is more important."
"Hey, hey." Shen Qingmang smiled awkwardly and took out another string of copper coins. "Please accept it this time. Buying a coffin will cost some money."
She had no sympathy for Gu Fangping and even hoped that his body would be left exposed in the wilderness and eaten by wild dogs, but the neighbors were willing to help, so she had to repay the favor.
The woman accepted the money this time. Shen Qingmang wanted to say goodbye to her and leave, but she remembered something and squeezed her hand. "Look at my memory, young lady. There's something you have to take with you."
"What?"
"Come with me first." The woman dragged Shen Qingmang to a courtyard near the Gu family, pushed the door open and walked in, shouting, "Sister-in-law, where is the bracelet Qiaoying left for you?"
A gray-haired old woman opened the door curtain and walked out. "What's going on? Your old man just called my old man away. He said that Lao Gu had died and they wanted to bury him."
"Yes, he's been dead for quite some time. He never left the house. Who would have known that this would happen? Don't worry about their men's affairs. Xiao Gu's wife is here. Quickly take out the jade that his mother left for her."
After saying that, she turned to Shen Qingmang and explained how Gu Suihan's mother entrusted the only heirloom to the old woman after she drifted here, and why she didn't take it back due to concerns, and why it was still hidden here.
Shen Qingmang saw that things were getting complicated, so he had to confess. "Actually, I'm not Sui Han's wife. I'm his master."
"What?" The two women looked at each other, and the old woman said, "Can the master marry a wife these days?"
Shen Qingmang was both amused and annoyed, and explained to them where Gu Suihan had gone. One of the reasons she had concealed the truth before was that she was afraid that the neighbors had bad intentions. Now that she saw that everyone was sincerely caring about Gu Suihan, she had fewer concerns.
"This... can be considered a great fortune, but Immortal, will Xiao Gu also go crazy in two years?" The woman looked a little hesitant.
The old woman scolded her: "What are you talking about? Joining the immortal sect is a good thing that brings honor to the family. How many people are like Lao Gu? Don't mind it, immortal. She may not be good at talking, but she has a good heart."
"No problem." Shen Qingmang smiled. "I don't mind."
"I'll give this jade bracelet to you. We won't be able to see Xiao Gu anymore. He will definitely not come back after he gets married. Please keep it for him first."
"Okay." Shen Qingmang accepted the jade bracelet, said goodbye to them for real this time, and returned to Wuya Peak.
She took a shower, making sure she didn't smell like a corpse, and then immediately rushed to Lingshuang Residence. Gu Suihan was practicing sword in the courtyard. Seeing her, he said in surprise, "Master, why are you here? Come and sit down."
When Shen Qingmang saw the child's bright smile and thought of everything she had heard and seen, her nose felt sore and tears fell from her eyes.
"Master, you..." Gu Suihan looked a little flustered and hurried forward. "What's wrong with you?"
She held him in her arms, her voice hoarse. "Good boy, don't you feel any pain?"
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