Chapter 19
"Oh, my mother heard that I was going to be the magistrate of Weiwei County, so she has already set off for there." Wen Ze didn't seem to care much.
Wen Ze called Madam Wen "Mother" and his own mother "Mother." These were the only two mistresses of the Wen household.
Because of her gentle nature, Madam Wen has been indifferent to the old man over the years, but she has still lived a relatively comfortable life.
Over the years, Madam Wen and the Wen family have become like strangers. However, Wen Ze often comes to see his mother. After he became sensible, he came even more frequently, saying that he was showing filial piety on behalf of his sister.
Madam Xu couldn't stop it; Madam Wen's status had changed, and Old Master Wen naturally wanted to see the family harmonious. Madam Wen was initially somewhat resistant, but gradually she got used to it. The two children had a good relationship, and Wen Ze was willing to be filial to her. Over time, she also regarded Wen Ze as her own son, giving all the affection she couldn't give to Wen Wan to Wen Ze.
As soon as she heard that Wen Ze was going to Weiwei County to become the county magistrate, she didn't want to stay at home for a moment longer and set off first so that she could arrange everything for Wen Ze in advance. Wen Ze couldn't stop her.
"Cloud City is a day's carriage ride from Weiwei County, so Mother should have arrived by now." Wen Ze said with some regret, then suddenly remembered something: "Sister Wan'er, you didn't sneak out this time, did you? Would you like to come with me to Weiwei County to see Mother in three days?"
Wen Wan crossed her arms, looking displeased: "Do I look like the kind of person who would sneak out?"
Wen Ze: "Doesn't seem like it..."
You are.
Of course, he dared not say the last part aloud, and Wen Wan nodded in satisfaction.
Three days later, the two siblings went to Weiwei County together, but the two friends who were supposed to see Wenze off did not show up for a long time. Wenze waited in disappointment until the appointed time, but did not see the two of them. He was sullen all the way.
However, upon arriving at his destination, he saw his two friends already waving to him at the entrance of the county town.
A light then ignited in Wen Ze's eyes, and he complained to the two of them.
"This terrible idea came from Han Si, and I couldn't argue with him," Kong Jiang quickly shifted the blame.
"You bastard Chen Hansi, how could you pull this stunt? I was worried sick all day, thinking you'd been kidnapped by some wildcat." Wen Ze was furious and chased after Chen Hansi, ready to punch him.
While dodging, Chen Hansi remained unrepentant: "Just tell me! Are you surprised or not? That's all!"
After saying that, Wen Yu'an beat even more fiercely.
Wen Wan felt a little envious watching this scene; she didn't seem to have any friends here.
"Miss Wen," Kong Jiang greeted with a cupped-hand salute.
Wen Wan waved her hand: "No need for formalities."
Wen Wan changed into a light blue dress today, and her dark hair was tied up. She casually found a spirit hairpin of the same color in her space to fix it.
She was born with a beautiful face. Her childhood dream of being as beautiful as her mother has come true. In fact, she is even more beautiful than her mother, with fair skin and no makeup.
A few days ago, she wore a fairy outfit that was easy to fight in, looking both beautiful and cool. Today, her casual clothes accentuate her gentle temperament, making her look like a lady from a noble family.
Those who don't know her can truly be deceived by her serene appearance.
Kong Jiang remained outwardly composed, but inwardly she was amazed.
The two playfully bickering duo came over.
"When did you arrive? Have you seen my mother?" Wen Ze asked.
“We set off a day earlier than you. Madam Wen has already made all the necessary arrangements and is just waiting for you,” Kong Jiang explained in detail.
“Yes, Madam Wen personally cooked today, making many of her signature dishes. We’re in for a treat.” Chen Hansi looked like a hungry cat.
"Sister Wan'er, let's hurry! You haven't eaten Mother's cooking in many years, have you? Let's go quickly, or these two starving ghosts will steal it all."
After saying that, Wen Ze pulled Wen Wan and quickly walked into the city, as if the two behind him were really starving ghosts who would steal all the food. However, since he didn't know the way, he eventually had to rely on his two bad friends to lead the way.
"Aze has arrived."
Hearing the commotion outside, Madam Wen came out to greet them. Her eyes welled up with tears the moment she saw Wen Wan. The three of them tactfully gave the mother and daughter some space.
After exchanging pleasantries, Madam Wen realized that the group hadn't eaten yet: "Look at my memory, everyone must be hungry, let's eat first."
Wenwan obediently let her mother pull her to sit down at the dining table.
"Wan'er...can you eat whole grains? I heard that you cultivators have to abstain from grains and can't eat ordinary food, as it will affect your cultivation." Madam Wen asked cautiously, "What can you eat? I'll make you a new one."
Wen Ze was taken aback. These past few days, Sister Wan'er had been treating him like a wallet, practically devouring the entire Cloud City. How could he not have thought that Sister Wan'er needed to abstain from grains? Would eating so much these past few days affect Sister Wan'er's cultivation speed?
Wen Wan casually picked up a piece of white jade tofu and put it in her mouth. The texture was silky smooth and melted in her mouth, proving with her actions that she could eat it.
“Mother,” Wenwan said arrogantly, “I’m telling you, only the weak worry that impurities in food will affect their cultivation. I don’t need to worry about such things at all.”
After saying that, Madam Wen finally felt relieved, as long as she wasn't just putting on a brave face.
Wen Ze looked at Wen Wan with admiration: I knew it, sister must be very strong!
Fanboy filter +10086.
In reality, Wenwan thought: What is cultivation? I can't even use spiritual energy. If it weren't for the Bigu Pill, I would have starved to death on the mountain long ago. With delicacies right in front of me, I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn't eat them.
Ignoring the presence of outsiders, she began to feast, a behavior completely out of place with her outfit.
Seeing that she didn't have the demeanor of a well-bred lady at all, Madam Wen not only didn't stop her, but also served her food with a satisfied expression.
Seeing this, Wen Ze quickly joined the battle. Chen Hansi and Kong Jiang had never expected that Miss Wen had this side to her. She didn't treat them like outsiders at all, which made them even more impressed with Wen Wan.
The two frequently visited the Wen residence and had eaten at Madam Wen's house more than once or twice. They started eating without any hesitation, and the meal was so delicious that it was like a fight between them. Fortunately, Madam Wen had prepared a lavish feast to welcome Wen Ze, otherwise there wouldn't have been enough for them to fight over.
All of them patted their round bellies in the same way.
"My mother's cooking is much better than the chefs at the Grand Hotel in Cloud City," Wen Wan said with a satisfied look.
She hadn't tasted such delicious food in a long time.
"If you like, your mother will give it to you every day."
Mrs. Wen looked at her daughter, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, with a doting expression.
"By the way, Wan'er, you didn't sneak out this time, did you?" Madam Wen asked worriedly.
Wen Wan had sneaked back to see her twice before, but each time she came and went in a hurry, not even having a meal together, and she had to leave after exchanging a few words.
"Don't worry, Mother, I'm not that little girl who would sneak out anymore. I've grown up and have a mission to take me down the mountain." Wen Wan said calmly and confidently. Suddenly remembering something, she reminded everyone, "By the way, those who know about my identity as a cultivator know, but those who don't, don't reveal it, especially not in Weiwei County."
The group nodded solemnly.
Madam Wen had an appointment with a friend, and knowing that Wan'er wouldn't be in a hurry to leave, she went to keep the appointment without worry.
I miss you dearly, but everyone has their own life.
The bond between her and Wan'er as mother and daughter was too difficult to mend. The two, who rarely saw each other, eventually grew somewhat estranged, because they were no longer from the same world. Wan'er rarely came down the mountain and had her own things to do. She didn't need to stay by her daughter's side all the time because of her love for her daughter; that would only make her a burden.
It's already good enough if I can do something when needed.
"Sister Wenwan, what kind of missions do you cultivators have? Could you tell us? We're very curious." Chen Hansi looked at Wenwan with his big puppy eyes, his face full of curiosity.
"You can be curious all you want, but don't talk about all of us." Wen Ze didn't hold back in humiliating him, and then said to Wen Wan, "Sister Wan'er, they're both so curious, why don't you tell them?"
Kong Jiang was quite helpless, but also curious, and continued, "Yes, Han Si and I are very curious. Miss Wen, would you mind revealing something? If it's related to Weiwei County, perhaps Yu An and I can help."
After all, Yu An is about to become a county magistrate. Before they came, they had researched a lot about Weiwei County. Compared to Miss Wen, who is not familiar with the local people, they might actually be able to help in some way.
Wen Wan thought about it for a moment and said that it wasn't impossible to tell them, but she was afraid of scaring them.
"Are you guys very brave?"
Wenwan first reassured them and told them to prepare themselves mentally.
The group exchanged glances, with Chen Hansi being the most excited: "Sister Wenwan, please feel free to speak freely. We are all very brave. Is it some kind of scary story?"
The other two also looked like they were listening attentively.
Wen Wan then briefly revealed the information about the succubus.
"In short, that's how it is. In the eyes of us cultivators, Weiwei County is a very dangerous place. Several cultivators have also fallen at her hands. So, Brother Wenze, it's probably not easy for you to be the county magistrate." If he hadn't just happened to take on this mission, he didn't know if Weiwei County would ever be peaceful.
"By the way, it's rumored that this succubus prefers to target men, so the three of you should be careful," Wen Wan cautioned.
“There is indeed such an unsolved case in the Weiwei County files, a case from more than 300 years ago.” Kong Jiang said in a deep voice: “From more than 300 years ago to the present, a total of 132 people have died unnatural deaths, including 31 women and 101 men.”
"Without exception, the women were all hanged from the trees, while the men all died in extremely gruesome ways. Their eyes were gouged out, their tongues were cut off, their hands and feet were chopped off and turned into human sticks, their stomachs were empty, their internal organs were dug out and stuffed back into their throats, and while the blood was still congealing after they died, their bodies were tortured, and the blood stained the entire ground."
After Kong Jiang finished speaking with trembling fear, she closed her eyes with a heavy heart and said after a long while, "I suppose behind this unsolved case is the succubus that Miss Wen is looking for on this trip."
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