No matter how uncertain the road ahead may be, they must go and see for themselves.
Cheng Muyun's hands, which were hanging on his knees, tightened slightly, and he could feel his heart trembling continuously and slightly in his palms.
It wasn't fear or unease, but a joy that burst forth from the depths of his heart, almost overwhelming him.
It had been too long. Since that fire, his world had been nothing but gloom and desolation. But now, it was as if a clear spring had suddenly flowed into the parched desert, bringing a faint but real glimmer of life to his barren heart.
He raised his eyes to look at Xu Jixin opposite him, his voice still trembling slightly: "Is there any way to find Zhuohua?"
Xu Jixin scratched his head in frustration. His once neatly combed hair was now a mess, sticking to his forehead. The excitement in his eyes had faded, leaving only a deep sense of helplessness.
“I’ve already instructed all the stations along the eastbound-southbound route to keep an eye on things, and to send me a message immediately if anyone matching the description appears.” He paused, his tone full of frustration, “But so far there’s been no movement at all. Zhuohua’s former confidants are all like they’ve been given a death order by my father; they’re all keeping their mouths shut and are completely ignoring me.”
He had tried too many methods. But Xu Shinong seemed to have laid out an impenetrable net, erasing all traces related to Zhuohua.
"In the end, all I could confirm was that things were indeed missing from the warehouse, but I had no idea when they were moved or where they were sent. I couldn't even find the general direction."
Silence fell again in the tent, the two men bearing similar anxieties and determination.
Cheng Muyun pondered, "Can you find out where Chen Hede has recently traveled via the Eastbound Southbound Route?"
Considering Hu Moli's suspicious death, Cheng Muyun couldn't help but suspect that Chen Hede must know that Xu Zhuohua was still alive, and that Chen Hede would definitely not be unable to resist visiting her.
Xu Jixin frowned. "We can investigate, but why investigate Chen Hede?"
Cheng Muyun said, "I suspect Chen Hede knows something."
"Then why don't we just go and ask him directly?"
Cheng Muyun pressed Xu Jixin's hand down. "If he knew Zhuohua was alive but didn't tell us, do you think he was one of the people who hid Zhuohua?"
Xu Jixin suddenly opened his eyes wide and nodded in complete belief.
"It will take some time to find out what route Chen Hede took. I'll go back now, and you can wait for my news."
Cheng Muyun nodded and said, "I also need to confirm this matter. At the latest, I will know whether Zhuohua is alive or not tonight."
Xu Jixin asked, "You're not going to torture my father and Chen Hede, are you?"
Cheng Muyun smiled, a smile so cold it sent a chill down Xu Jixin's spine. "I won't. Anyway, just wait for my news."
Xu Jixin hurriedly left to check the route Chen Hede had taken.
Cheng Muyun found two handy shovels in the armory, one for himself and one for Zhang Qi.
Zhang Qi, holding the shovel, was completely bewildered, but he didn't dare ask any questions. He followed Cheng Muyun's instructions and drove the car to the Cheng family's ancestral graves.
Xu Zhuohua's grave stands on the hillside, the bluestone tombstone bearing the cold hardness of new chisels. It is only a few feet away from Cheng Wenyun's grave not far away. The two new graves stand silently facing each other in the wind, neither of them having had time to be stained with the dust of time.
In the past six months, Cheng Muyun has become a regular here.
Sometimes they would arrive late at night, reeking of alcohol, kneeling drunkenly before the grave, muttering incoherent pleas and confessions until dawn before being carried away; other times they would simply stand silently for hours, like a lifeless stone statue, letting the wind pierce through their thin robes.
At this moment, Cheng Muyun stood in front of the tombstone again.
The afterglow of the setting sun washed over his knuckles, which were gripping the shovel tightly, turning the cold, hard metal red.
He pressed his lips together tightly, his jawline taut into a sharp arc, and his eyes no longer held the grief of the past, but only a clear-headedness that was almost resolute.
He had to confirm one thing—something that had been overwhelmed by grief and hadn't had time to examine in detail.
With a "crash," Cheng Muyun bent down and moved a blue stone that was pressing down on the grave mound. The stone rolled down the slope and crashed heavily at Zhang Qi's feet, startling the latter.
Zhang Qi tightened his grip on the shovel, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his voice trembling: "Young Marshal, what are you going to do?"
Cheng Muyun didn't even look up. He flipped off a few more stones that were pressing down on the grave. His movements were swift and decisive, and his tone was calm to the point of being indifferent: "Digging up graves."
"What?!" Zhang Qi was so frightened that his face turned pale.
As dusk settled, a mountain breeze swept across the graves, carrying a chilling, eerie air. To dig up graves at this hour was utterly shocking.
"Young Marshal, this is...this is Madam's grave!"
"I know." Cheng Muyun finally stopped, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked at Zhang Qi. "Come and help."
Zhang Qi's eyes widened, his voice cracking: "Huh? Young Marshal, are you crazy? If this gets out..."
Cheng Muyun ignored his rambling and stared at him intently, saying each word clearly, "Are you going to help or not? If not, get lost."
Zhang Qi looked at Cheng Muyun's tense profile, then at the silent grave, his mind in turmoil.
Finally, he gritted his teeth, steeled his resolve—either way he had to obey orders—and gripped the shovel tightly, bracing himself for the task.
According to custom, new graves are not too high, and the soil covering them is not too much; the graves are piled higher and higher over the years.
It took the two grown men nearly two hours to dig before they finally found the somewhat decayed coffin.
Cheng Muyun swept away the damp soil with his hand, revealing the pitch-black coffin.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
