Chapter 54 Waiting for Your Return: Dangerous, terrifying aggression, and invasiveness...
Wang Canjun's smile froze completely, and a fine layer of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.
When he saw Jiang Geyun, he thought that this young girl was still inexperienced, came alone, and had no background. With his slickness, he was sure he could make her be fooled without her even realizing it.
Seeing that he had already neatly arranged everything and placed it in front of them, they could at least have done their part, even if they hadn't done anything particularly impressive. Most people, being treated with such "attentiveness" by him, would certainly not dare to speak ill of him directly. Instead, they would reluctantly comply and obediently look at it for a few days.
Especially since she is a young woman, she is naturally more sensitive.
This cabinet is full of files, a mix of genuine and fake, as vast as the ocean. One file leads to another, and while you're looking through them, you have to retrieve new files, which takes time, right? Going back and forth like this, I don't know how many days it will take to finally get rid of these files.
With that kind of time, there are so many things you can do.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Geyun returned the ball to him directly, and even added a threat... He immediately felt extremely distressed.
Wang Canjun rubbed his hands together and forced a smile.
He said, "This... Lord Jiang, it's not that I'm declining, but the files are so numerous and complicated. If I were to search through them haphazardly, I'm afraid I would delay your work..."
“It’s alright,” Jiang Geyun interrupted him. She sat down in the main seat in the room and said leisurely, “I’m not in a hurry. The military advisor can take his time to look for it, or we can have an experienced clerk who is familiar with filing methods come along. If we can’t finish looking for it today, I’ll come again tomorrow. Anyway, I’m on orders to investigate the case and will be staying in Lianzhou Prefecture for the time being, so I have plenty of time.”
After Jiang Geyun said that, Wang Canjun felt relieved.
Judging from the implication in her words, she simply didn't want to search through the files. Letting him search? That would just drag on any longer.
The wrinkles on Wang Canjun's face loosened up a bit, and his expression became much lighter.
He bowed and smiled obsequiously, saying, "Your humble servant obeys."
Having said that, he was about to give a signal to the old clerk waiting nearby when he heard Jiang Geyun's voice from the head of the table again:
"I'm not in a hurry regarding the time, but it seems there's no rush to join the army either? That's rather unusual..."
"You're so confident about joining the army, that this evil spirit won't come after you?"
The person at the head of the table smiled faintly at the crowd below, her expression inscrutable. Her dark blue official robes with gold embroidery not only displayed her imposing presence but also silently emphasized her status.
Wang Canjun was terrified!
He dared to stall for time because he knew that thing wouldn't come after him.
But he forgot that the Night Watcher was different from the usual censor. Although he was also given the function of inspecting officials and inspecting counties, the Night Watcher also had special supernatural powers.
Jiang Geyun's figure gradually receded and shrank in his eyes.
As she asked that question... a strange, indistinct shadow seemed to appear at the edge of his vision!
Wang Canjun's face drained of color, and his prepared perfunctory words turned into urgent instructions. He gripped the old clerk's arm tightly and said, "Quickly, quickly organize the files for Lord Jiang! Also, bring out all the files of women who fell to their deaths in the last three years!"
Jiang Geyun watched with a smile as Wang Canjun reacted with fear.
Your natal fire element is very useful, isn't it?
Having achieved its goal, the tiny cluster of golden flames leaped, like a silent laugh, before vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Wang Canjun's attitude changed abruptly, leaving the clerks looking at each other in bewilderment.
However, the clerks simply followed orders without any intention of investigating, and quickly got to work.
Jiang Geyun didn't have to wait long; in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a clerk brought a prepared file to her desk.
The speed at which they acted was not like they were following orders; it was as if they had been prepared for a long time and were just waiting for the right moment.
Jiang Geyun's gaze followed the submitted files upwards, and she looked up at the clerk.
The clerk was a young woman with a calm, expressionless face. She remained unperturbed even as Jiang Geyun stared at her with a probing gaze. At first glance, she seemed more suited to the position of military advisor than this Wang military advisor.
A person's position is not always commensurate with their abilities. While this is regrettable, it's a common occurrence.
Jiang Geyun had a slight idea to have the clerk assist her.
She came to Lianzhou without any teammates.
The Pei siblings and Xie Jiming's group of three went to Mirror Lake because a foul shadow appeared in the tranquil Yunshui Temple, proving that the thing must be extremely dangerous... although it was ultimately killed instantly by Abbot You.
But this evil spirit, not to mention that it hurts people very slowly, taking a full seven days, its influence can't even reach the Lianzhou area.
I bumped into Jiang Geyun the day before yesterday, and now she's vanished without a trace. She's obviously not some kind of dangerous creature, so there's no need to make a fuss.
On the surface, from the perspective of suppression, Jiang Geyun only needs to deal with her "hide-and-seek" and find a way to imprison the evil spirit, and then directly perform a ritual to deliver it from suffering.
Jiang Geyun's cautious investigation was mainly due to the contagious nature of this evil spirit.
Getting rid of a ghost is easy, but who knows if the one being eliminated is the real thing?
In the end, no matter how many methods we tried, the problem remained unsolved. It would be better to thoroughly investigate the underlying truth from the beginning and try to resolve it once and for all.
Trivial and complex, if she can't solve it, she'll seem incompetent; if she does solve it, she won't gain any fame. This is the characteristic of Jiang Geyun's mission this time.
Troublesome tasks are a perfect match for junior staff.
Jiang Geyun gritted her teeth inwardly. What a good choice! That wretched cactus.
...
Jiang Geyun calmly accepted the case file, nodded to the young clerk, said nothing, and began to look through it—she decided not to act rashly for now, as who knew if there were others behind this person.
The case file in my hand is very clear.
This should have been the initial mystery, but it was ruled an accident. Although the family claimed that the deceased would not have chosen to commit suicide, everything at the scene and the coroner's autopsy results pointed to this indisputable direction. The family's statement could also be explained as being overwhelmed with grief and not knowing the deceased well enough.
Jiang Geyun quickly glanced through the document and jotted down some information on a piece of paper.
Before long, the organized files were handed over one by one and gradually piled up on Jiang Geyun's desk.
After screening, they were much better than the previous mountain of paper, but the quantity was still not enough to make her optimistic.
As Jiang Geyun flipped through the book, she would occasionally call on someone to ask about the details.
Her hands were also busy, taking notes of quite a lot.
Seeing evil spirits, being absent-minded, falling to one's death... similar cases were all concluded as suicide, until one day, a clerk also died in the same way, and the matter began to be taken seriously, and then connected...
The clerk's file doesn't contain more detailed information about his position or work... It would be best to take a look.
Jiang Geyun gently called for someone to come.
No one responded.
She looked up and found herself alone in the room. Most of the candles in the room had been extinguished, leaving only a patch of light like an isolated island beside her.
Jiang Geyun suddenly remembered that as it was getting late, she had agreed to let the clerk and the military advisor leave as usual, and to check again the next day.
After that, she thought she would leave after finishing the one she had read, but before she knew it, she had read quite a few more and forgot about leaving.
The room was silent, a breeze blew through the room, the candlelight flickered, and the words on the documents on the desk were not very clear.
Candlelight is no match for modern lamps, and looking at it for too long can really hurt your eyes.
However, after weighing the options, Jiang Geyun did not summon her natal fire again.
Unless there are special circumstances, it is really unnecessary to summon one's natal fire, as this act consumes both physical and mental energy and should not be used frequently.
Jiang Geyun sighed softly, noted down the progress, and put down the file in her hand.
She walked out of the room, rubbing her temples.
Outside, the night was as dark as that night at Zhudu.
The yamen was deserted and eerily quiet.
No, it wasn't entirely silent.
It was pouring rain outside, a light drizzle.
The rain obscured her vision; no matter how far she looked, she could only see blurry black outlines. The world seemed unreal for a moment, and the combined effect of the rain and the night evoked a profound sadness and weariness in her heart.
Jiang Geyun walked along the path she had come from, preparing to leave the Legal Affairs Office.
As she walked, she pondered the difficulty of getting home in the rain.
She wondered if there were any people left in the manor, and if she could borrow an umbrella or a rain hat.
If all else fails, you'll have to use your natal fire element.
But she didn't think it was worth it just because of a rain shower. Even if she didn't get wet, the journey would be so long, and she would definitely be mentally exhausted from the whole trip, like she had overtrained and had a migraine.
There was no one along the way, and the situation was not optimistic.
Although it was midsummer, the night rain still carried a noticeable chill, which explained why there had been a draft just now.
Jiang Geyun hugged her arms tightly and walked around the corridor to the door.
She took a deep breath and leaned forward to push open the door.
—In the endless rain, there is a single warm-colored light.
The carriage, adorned with Cheng family lanterns, stood quietly in the rain, the driver wearing a raincoat, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
The sound of the door opening was not loud, especially under the cover of the rain, the small movement was almost imperceptible, yet it was this almost imperceptible movement that caused the carriage door to open.
A familiar figure stepped down from the sedan chair, holding an umbrella, and walked towards her through the pouring rain.
The man walked up to her and stopped, tilting his umbrella slightly in her direction.
Cheng Xi said gently, "My wife, I've kept you waiting."
It was clearly not her I had been waiting for.
The night was deep, and even though the two were face to face, they could not see each other's expressions clearly, but she seemed to be able to depict his gentle face as before.
So, not caring whether the other person could see clearly, she looked up and smiled, "My lord, I've kept you waiting."
...
The carriage was dry and warm, with a faint scent of bamboo. A blanket, a soft lamp, and a book that Cheng Xi had only half-read were placed nearby.
Jiang Geyun was first escorted into the carriage by Cheng Xi. She turned around to hand him her hand, but just as she leaned out, she happened to see him getting into the carriage.
For a moment, their breaths were very close, almost touching.
Jiang Geyun quickly stepped back, making room for her.
The heat on her cheeks had not completely dissipated.
...The two of them had been walking hand in hand. The umbrella was quite large, but it was still a bit of a stretch to fit both of them. They had no choice but to get very close together.
Outside the carriage, a servant holding an umbrella took the umbrella from Cheng Xi's hand. After the two were seated, the servant bowed and closed the carriage door.
Jiang Geyun looked up at Cheng Xi, whose clothes were inevitably damp. She couldn't help but say, "It's raining so hard, and you're not feeling well, why did you come to pick me up in person?"
Cheng Xi said casually, "I happen to have nothing to do, and I suppose you must be tired."
Just as Jiang Geyun was about to say something more, Cheng Xi suddenly said, "I don't feel comfortable letting someone else come."
She was about to say something, but then forgot.
...
He suppressed the deep weariness in his eyes, not wanting her to see it.
He could hear the echoes of the Sea of Sin—he had been tormented by this thing in his childhood, but now he could easily break it. However, for the sake of what he had to do, he allowed the voice, filled with malice, curses, sorrow, anger and many other negative emotions, to continue to exist.
Evil spirits roam this place, and have even set their sights on the person in front of them. Faint black lines of death are trying to bind her and sever her life.
He was not in a hurry because of this.
Not to mention the dagger, a portion of his blood still flows in her body, allowing him to feel her heartbeat no matter where he is.
What in the world dares to approach her?
His weariness stemmed from the fact that the mere existence of his deeply gnawed soul was an unavoidable noise that disturbed his peace of mind.
Even so, I still came to pick her up.
The night rain was too chilly.
The silence didn't last long; the light in front of him was partially obscured.
For some reason, she leaned towards him, her eyes reflecting a vibrant light.
She said, "But you're very tired, aren't you?"
...
Although Cheng Xi didn't say it explicitly, Jiang Geyun could see it clearly.
The candlelight inside the carriage had just illuminated his face when Jiang Geyun could see that, despite his gentle and refined demeanor, he also looked weary.
Just like her.
However, the moment the words left her mouth, Jiang Geyun felt a chill run down her spine.
Subconsciously, the person in front of me seemed to have become cold and unfamiliar because they had been seen through. The weariness in their eyes disappeared, replaced by a sharp, hunter-like scrutiny, like locking onto prey in the dark, with a sudden burst of dangerous, terrifying aggression and invasiveness.
A warning exploded in Jiang Geyun's mind!
This state lasted only for a very, very short moment.
It was only for a fleeting moment, when the wheel rolled over the gravel, that the candlelight flickered.
Then all his sharpness was concealed.
He, who was usually so composed, froze for a moment, as if he had just realized what the person in front of him had said, or rather, as if he had just realized that the person in front of him had said those words.
His eyelashes drooped, and in that moment of stunned silence, his unchanging smile was finally tinged with obvious weariness.
He said, "It's too cold tonight."
Jiang Geyun pulled herself out of the sudden, needle-like chill. Before she could figure out what had happened, she felt that she had been exhausted just moments before, but for some reason, she had suddenly become much more awake.
Looking at Cheng Xi, whose eyes were half-closed, she shook her head and stopped caring.
Perhaps it was a sudden jolt in the middle of a dream, something that happens quite often, right now...
She thought for a moment, then got up and sat down next to Cheng Xi.
Golden flames suddenly appeared and burned steadily between the two.
Evil spirits and chills alike are all driven away.
She was just a little mentally exhausted.
Jiang Geyun said softly, "My lord, call me when you get out of the sedan chair."
After saying that, she closed her eyes to conserve her energy.
I missed those eyes that paused, closed, and then opened again.
...
Jiang Geyun only opened her eyes after the carriage entered the villa.
The lively golden flames returned to her body, and as soon as she looked up, she saw Cheng Xi.
Cheng Xi smiled at her, and she smiled back.
Inside the villa, the sound of rain seemed to be shut out, leaving only the rumbling of wheels over stone slabs. It was the sudden change in the sound of wheels that awakened her.
For some reason, this tranquility and order felt strangely eerie to her.
Jiang Geyun casually lifted the carriage curtain, wanting to find out where the carriage was.
The walls were high and the heavy gate slowly closed behind them. Guards stood guard both inside and outside the gate. Despite the wind and rain, a patrol team wearing raincoats and marching in unison was still present. In addition to these people in sight, there seemed to be hidden sentries in the shadows. For a moment, it gave people a strong sense of oppression.
Everything was orderly and quiet, exuding a sense of absolute control. Noticing this, she naturally felt at ease for Cheng Xi.
There was only a fleeting moment of confusion: the Cheng family... actually had such a level of protection?
The carriage stopped, and the curtain was rolled up by the Cheng family servants. The warmth inside the carriage dissipated to the outside, and the atmosphere of the deep night was similar to that of dawn, as if a temporary dream had just ended.
Jiang Geyun got up and followed Cheng Xi off the carriage.
"My lady," Cheng Xi said gently, "it's getting late, you should rest early."
After getting off the bus, the stern and terrifying feeling she had just experienced disappeared.
The courtyard where she lived was extremely quiet and undisturbed. Therefore, when she first came here, she did not notice what the outside world looked like until she lifted the curtain of the carriage window.
Considering his situation in the Cheng family, such caution is reasonable.
Jiang Geyun nodded, bid him farewell, and followed the servant into the house.
The door was closed before Cheng Xi finally looked away.
His expression vanished completely, leaving a blank space. This blankness and indifference made it seem as if the somewhat weak and refined man had never existed.
"Keep watch."
He gave his instructions in a low voice, and the "servants" in the courtyard knelt down silently in agreement before dispersing into the night.
...
Hot water was ready inside, and the servant carefully asked her if she needed a midnight snack.
Jiang Geyun waved her hand and smiled, "There's no need to trouble yourself at a time like this."
The servant asked many more questions, which she refused one by one. Finally, the servant bowed and left, and Jiang Geyun regained her peace.
She rested for a moment, reviewing the files she had read that day in her mind, until the candlelight crackled, pulling her out of her reverie.
Jiang Geyun stretched and walked towards the bathtub, which was at the perfect temperature.
Just then, she suddenly heard a rustling sound, seemingly near yet far, not quite real.
Jiang Geyun looked up in the direction of the sound.
Is it the roof?
A very faint fishy smell lingered in the air; it was unclear whether it was from the rain or something else.
She was unsure whether she should care or not. If she did care, should she tell the servant, or...?
There's really no time to rest.
I don't know if they came to kill her or him.
Surely they didn't come here to protect her.
Jiang Geyun sighed and pushed open the door to go out.
-----------------------
Author's note: I tried my best to write it...!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
