Horse Bandit Officer (VIII)
Xiao Lin was more sober than anyone present. She was not crazy. She knew what every word she blurted out meant.
Everyone was stunned, only Mu You was panicked.
"No?" Mu You blinked, tilting his head, not even having time to catch his breath. "Xiao Lin, do you know how dangerous this is? Now is not the time for you to be a hero!"
"Then who else should we choose?" Xiao Lin was unusually calm. He raised his eyebrows and stared into Mu You's eyes.
Of course, she knew that Mu You's reaction was out of concern for her safety, but what was her own mind? After all they had been through together, how many regrets had accumulated in her heart?
Gao Qing died because of her negligence, Fang Jingyu sacrificed his life to save her life, and even Li Chiyin believed her resolutely and did not blame her after being arrested.
She had long been fed up with the small mistakes she had made time and again. This time, she was the one who knew the truth best. Moreover, with Tong Huan and others working together, she shouldn't be in any serious trouble.
Since this is the case, she will be the pioneer.
"No!" Mu You refused to give in. He scratched his temples and said, "If you want to go...if you want to go, take me with you!"
"County Magistrate Tong said he only wants women."
"I...I can just dress up as a woman!"
"Have you read too many scripts? Your shoulders are so broad, it's easy to be seen through."
"Then... then I'll just walk away with my back hunched. Anyway, I will never let you take risks alone!"
Mu You was resolute, but Xiao Lin was unwilling to let him take the risk: "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
"We came here together and we have to leave together. Don't even think about leaving me." Mu You's eyes did not blink, freezing the night.
Xiao Lin was also choked by his words.
She had indeed underestimated her position in Mu You's heart - childhood sweethearts, sharing life and death, and at worst, dying together.
"Ahem." Chu Mo's cough passed through the intertwined breaths of the two and reached Xiao Lin's ears. "I have a way to help him."
Yes! And Chu Mo! Doesn't he know magic tricks... no, magic? He must know the art of disguise!
Immediately, Mu You turned around and regarded Chu Mo as his life-saving straw, watching his every move, afraid of missing a word he said.
How could he let Xiao Lin bear it all alone? He hadn't even had time to confess his feelings yet!
No matter what, he wants to die with Xiao Lin!
Chu Mo waved his sleeves, stepped forward, and took out a talisman from his sleeves. He handed it to Mu You and said, "This is a shape-shifting talisman. Burn this talisman to get ashes. Throw the ashes into tea and drink it. Then you can transform into any human form."
With this treasure, how could Mu You not accept it?
Anyway, Xiao Lin has made up his mind to leave, so he will follow him until death!
Mu You snatched the talisman paper from Chu Mo's hand, picked up an oil lamp and lit a corner of the talisman paper without saying a word, then threw it into the empty bowl, turned around and took the teapot on Tong Huan's table. A stream of clear tea flowed out from the spout of the pot and down the wall of the bowl.
Mu You's movements were so smooth that Xiao Lin barely had time to react before he picked up the porcelain bowl.
Seeing this, Xiao Lin took two steps forward, pressed against his arm, snatched the porcelain bowl, and whispered, "Drink it just like you said? Aren't you afraid of being poisoned?"
"What else?" Mu You was a bit nervous and didn't understand Xiao Lin's deep meaning. "If you don't go, then I won't drink."
Xiao Lin stretched out his finger and twisted his arm: "What nonsense are you talking about? Of course I have to go."
"Why?"
"For this mission!"
Mu You still didn't understand what he meant.
Xiao Lin had no choice but to lower his voice again and said to him clearly: "Chu Mo said that County Magistrate Tong died from poisoning by a traitor, right?"
Mu You blinked.
"Why was he poisoned?"
"Because... Zheng Ju and his gang were wiped out?"
"That's right." Xiao Lin finally released his grip on Mu You's sleeve. "So this game must succeed. Only if it succeeds can we ambush and find Tong Huan's murderer."
But Mu You didn't understand. He only knew that Xiao Lin was risking his life: "No, according to Chu Mo, even without us, this bandit suppression would be successful!"
Having said this, Xiao Lin's expression suddenly dimmed. Mu You finally hit her sore spot - indeed, without her, the bandit suppression mission would have gone according to the predetermined fate, so why was she so stubborn?
She couldn't explain it clearly. Maybe she was really crazy, or maybe she wanted to give herself an answer.
Seeing that Xiao Lin was still unable to respond, Mu You stopped arguing with her and drank up the talisman water in one gulp while she was off guard.
"You, you, you..." Xiao Lin was so anxious that he couldn't speak and could only accuse him verbally.
However, Mu You didn't care at all. He immediately grasped Xiao Lin's index finger, pulled her behind him, and turned to Chu Mo and said, "Boss Chu, I have already drunk the talisman water. What should I do next?"
Little did they know that Chu Mo had already seen the two of them pulling each other. Seeing Mu You make a prompt decision, he also stretched out his fingertips, drew a light spot in the air, and then pointed with his jade finger, and the light spot covered Mu You's entire face.
It’s icy and cool, very refreshing.
Then, he explained the truth: "The talisman will take effect tomorrow, but it will only last for three days. Once the three days are up, your true form will be revealed."
"Okay!" Having just been drinking too much, Mu You patted his chest and took a deep breath before speaking. "I'd also like to ask County Magistrate Tong to make arrangements as soon as possible and not waste time."
In comparison, Tong Huan's plan was not as decisive as his.
But it makes sense. Having one more person will always be safer. Since Mu You has already drunk the talisman water, it would be better to see what he will look like tomorrow.
The plan for this bandit suppression operation is as follows:
Using them as bait, they pretended to sell them to Zheng Ju's informant Black Dog at a low price in the black market to help lure the bait in. The task of Xiao Lin and the others was to ensure that all the abducted women and children in the den were dispersed before the county government sent troops. In this way, Tong Huan could lead his troops to wipe out the den in one fell swoop.
However, this trip is dangerous and we really need to protect ourselves.
"You two have sacrificed yourselves for the people. On behalf of the people of Hanlu, I would like to thank you two heroes." After Tong Huan said this, he immediately bowed and saluted. Seeing this, Ai Ye and Si Niang followed suit and thanked the two men.
Being called a "knight" for the first time, and receiving such a great gift, Mu You felt a sense of obligation that surged in his heart and immediately clapped his hands on his chest, making a dull sound: "Leave it to us! We will not give up until we achieve our goal in this operation!"
The bold words made everyone present smile. Indeed, at this moment, the plan to suppress the bandits was in full swing and ready to be launched.
But in addition to the hostages, someone is also needed to play the role of the person who is looking for Black Dog to trade.
Tong Huan couldn't help but look at Chu Mo.
Chu Mo waved his hand in denial: "How do I look like someone who is desperate to survive and has to sell his children for food?"
Looking him up and down, it was true that he had a striking appearance and no one would believe that he could not even afford to eat. Even if he was covered with charcoal, he looked like a piece of jade porcelain dropped into muddy water.
Chu Mo can't do it.
Tong Huan had been to the black market before and showed up, but that didn't work either.
Si Niang had been captured by Black Dog before and was afraid of being recognized.
"I'll go." Before Tong Huan could say anything, Ai Ye volunteered and stepped forward. "I've never been to the black market, and I'm a farmer myself. I'm the perfect choice."
"No, it's too dangerous for you to go..."
Before Tong Huan could finish his words, Ai Ye interrupted him again: "Sir, we have no way out. If we delay for another day, those abducted women will suffer for another day."
"Yeah, that talisman paper can only be effective for three days. We don't have time to look for anyone else." Mu You took the opportunity to add.
In a dilemma, Tong Huan met the eyes of everyone present one by one, until his gaze met Ai Ye's. He sighed softly and said, "Please keep what happened tonight a secret. I'm afraid that too many people will spread rumors and ruin the whole thing."
Everyone responded one after another.
"Everyone, take care."
After the personnel deployment was completed, Xiao Lin and his group said goodbye to Ai Ye Si Niang, watched their backs turn into black dots and disappear at the end of the long street, and then they returned to Dong Wu Courtyard together.
The night was very dark that day, and it felt so long that no light could be seen.
Ai Ye thought so.
After taking care of Ali and helping her wash up, Ai Ye washed the family's clothes before going to bed.
After blowing out the candle, she lifted a corner of the quilt and casually placed it over her belly button, then lay down on the bed quietly, for fear of waking up Zhao Mugen who was lying beside her.
However, when her neck was about to touch the pillow, Zhao Mugen turned his back to her and said, "What's your relationship with that county magistrate..."
What is coming will come, and you can’t escape it.
"Just... old friends."
"Old friend?" Zhao Mugen's words were filled with disdain. He immediately turned around and faced Ai Ye. "I take it you two are old lovers, right?"
"Zhao Mugen, what are you doing so crazy in the middle of the night?"
"I'm crazy? He grabbed my clothes and told me to give you back to him in front of the neighbors today. He's the crazy one!" Zhao Mugen shouted even louder, his face full of anger. "Who knows what you actually did with him later? He needed your help with something. What did he need your help with? You must have gone to undress him, didn't you?"
As soon as Zhao Mugen finished speaking, Ai Ye's burning palm print was immediately felt on his right cheek.
He was stunned for a moment, speechless.
"Don't insult me. I won't fall for it." Although she couldn't see Zhao Mugen's expression, Ai Ye still said sternly, "Since I said I have nothing to do with him, then it means nothing. We are just old friends. Do you think that I, a butcher's wife, can marry the governor of a county?"
Zhao Mugen was speechless, and then he started to babble: "Yes, you can't be his legal wife, but being a concubine is fine."
Ai Ye was so angry that she couldn't help shaking her head. Then, regardless of her blindness, she still groped her way to roll off the bed. Even though her pubic bone hurt, she was unwilling to share a bed with this short-sighted and ignorant man.
Ai Ye's silent departure only added fuel to Zhao Mugen's rage. He no longer concealed his anger and roared at Ai Ye's back, "He was just a gangster before! No matter how lowly I, Zhao Mugen, am still much better than his bandit background! It was me who saved you! It wasn't Tong Huan, his dog!"
But she still didn't look back, and didn't even light the oil lamp. She slammed the door and left.
Ai Ye knew very well that if he continued to entangle with Tong Huan, it would not only be Zhao Mugen who would be nosy.
All the neighbors had witnessed the entanglement between her and Tong Huan. If the matter continued, people's gossip would be terrifying, and Ali would inevitably be affected by the gossip.
Could it be that I should just quit?
No, since the rumor has spread, the worst that can happen to her is that she will get the title of "□□". Even if she is ruined, she will destroy Zheng Ju and his gang.
That night, Ai Ye couldn't fall asleep, perhaps because the coolness of the night was too disturbing or because he was worried about tomorrow's plans.
However, summer nights are always so short that they pass in the blink of an eye. Zhao Mugen and Ai Ye were angry with each other, so even after waking up the next day, he insisted on staying in bed and was reluctant to get up.
Ai Ye ignored him and took Ali with him to prepare the glutinous rice dumplings and set up the stall.
Business wasn't going well that day. Ever since the street fight with Tong Huan yesterday, gossips had spread throughout the county—the adopted daughter of the Zhao family was actually having an affair with the Hanlu County Magistrate? Wasn't this more interesting than the daily necessities of life?
Obviously, Ai Ye heard the gossip of passers-by, but she always turned a deaf ear to it. After all, she couldn't shut everyone up with the glutinous rice dumplings on hand.
But Ali didn't understand. He was just playing with his stones beside his mother, but passers-by would glance at him from time to time, and then cover their mouths and say gossip that he couldn't hear.
So, Ali had no choice but to grab a handful of pebbles and hide behind A Niang to entertain himself.
This situation continued until dusk fell, and Hanlu County was gradually shrouded in a thin layer of gray mist. The market vendors dispersed one by one, and only a few scattered vegetable leaves remained on the bluestone road, swirling in the wind.
However, in the eastern corner of the county town, there is an alley with dim lights and shadowy figures, as if a beast lurking in the dark has quietly opened its eyes.
That is where Xiao Lin, Mu You and Ai Ye are about to set off.
What's funny is that when Mu You woke up from the dream that day, the talisman water that she drank the day before took effect. In the eyes of others, Mu You now looked like a graceful young girl.
But Xiao Lin couldn't help laughing the first time he saw him - his facial features hadn't changed much, his nose bridge was much softer, his face was a few inches smaller, and his height and shoulder width were also slightly shorter.
It did look pretty, but it also made Xiao Lin laugh out loud.
"Boss Chu... Boss Chu is amazing, he has everything! Hahahahaha..." Xiao Lin laughed so hard that she couldn't straighten her back. If she hadn't put one hand on Mu You's shoulder, she would have laughed herself to death.
Seeing this, Mu You deliberately twisted his body, acting pretentiously. Then he turned to Chu Mo and asked, "Boss Chu, after we are sent there, how are we going to break the chains and distract the guards? They will definitely search us, right?"
"First, please speak less. Your voice is too rough and it's easy to expose yourself." Chu Mo reached into his sleeve pocket and pulled out a wooden block smaller than his knuckles, handing it to Mu You. "Second, this is the Nachuan box. I've prepared all the utensils for you. You can hide it in your earlobe and take it out and hide it in your palm when you eat. When the time is right, just give it a gentle shake and the contents will fall to the ground."
Who could have guessed he had such a treasure hidden away? Why didn't he bring it out sooner?
Mu You immediately snatched the Nachuan box and fiddled with it in his hands. In an instant, the box became the size of a grain of rice. He found it novel and stuffed it into his ear with great interest.
However, Chu Mo chuckled and spread his hands: "Ten taels, no bargaining."
No way? Are they going to trick them too? They're the heroes who are going to save the people of Hanlu! No matter how treacherous they are, they shouldn't ask them for money at this critical moment, right?
Although they had charged all their accommodation expenses to Chu Mo's account during this period, and thought he was generous for once, who would have thought that he would be waiting for them here?
Mu You was about to push back when Tong Huan intervened and paid the ten taels out of his own pocket: "Alright, Brother Chu, stop joking. If everything is OK, please leave immediately."
Yes, now a day has passed, and Mu You’s disguise technique is about to expire.
So following the darkness, the three of them arrived at the alley of the black market as planned.
Ai Ye was blind, so he had to take a fire starter, grab the hemp rope that tied Xiao Lin and Mu You with one hand, and grope his way into the alley.
The alley was narrow and deep, with low earthen walls on both sides. At the base of the walls were piled some worn-out bamboo baskets and sacks. Occasionally, a few rats would run by, making rustling sounds.
Xiao Lin followed Mu You cautiously, with a rag stuffed in his mouth, and looked around with his big eyes.
Mottled marks were still visible on the mud walls lining the alley, and in some places, yellowed notices with blurred writing were still posted. The air was filled with a mixed smell: musty, earthy, and a faint hint of fireworks.
Xiao Lin couldn't help but shudder. After all, they had no idea what kind of person that Black Dog was.
Ai Ye couldn't see clearly, so he walked a little slower.
However, it was their clumsy and funny appearance that attracted a dwarf to come forward.
He stretched out his arm and stopped Ai Ye.
Ai Ye moved the fire lighter closer, and only then could he see his appearance more clearly - he was not good-looking, even extremely ugly.
She didn't want to pay attention and just walked forward.
"Young lady, please wait." The man followed Ai Ye's steps and took a step forward. "Young lady, are you... going to sell something?"
Fortunately, it was Ai Ye who came. During the years when she was being sold, she became familiar with their jargon. When the man said the word "selling goods", Ai Ye suddenly came to her senses.
Her eyes were like those of an eagle, staring straight into the man's eyes.
"I'm Black Dog, and I have a good price to negotiate."
The black dog raised the corner of his mouth, while Xiao Lin pursed his lips and swallowed his saliva.
At the same time, the county yamen runners were still looking forward to the last moment of their duty, but just as they were about to leave, they were called back by Tong Huan.
The yamen runners were already filled with dissatisfaction, and after seeing this, they felt even more contemptuous.
After all the yamen runners on duty lined up in the courtyard, Tong Huanqing cleared his throat, his Adam's apple rolling, and said, "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, the county yamen will send people to accompany me up the mountain to suppress the bandits."
"Suppress the bandits?" The yamen runners were discussing the matter. "Sir, what bandits are we suppressing?"
"Zheng Ju and his men from Canghu Valley."
When they heard that the one being suppressed was Zheng Ju, most of the yamen runners booed, and only a few raised their fists in response.
Tong Huan was puzzled, so he asked, "What are you talking about? Do you still have to worry about getting rid of harm for the people?"
Then, amidst the clamor, a voice suddenly emerged to defend itself, its words devoid of respect: "I have too many concerns."
"What did you say?"
"Sir," the yamen runner said defiantly, "we will not go."
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