The thin moonlight penetrated the sparse clouds and sprinkled mottledly on the ancient cemetery.
Shangguan Qing's eyes were sharp, staring at the gravekeeper in front of him like a hawk.
"You have been guarding this cemetery for many years, how could you not know the origin of this prisoner? I am asking you for no reason. This matter is of great importance."
There was both pleading and unquestionable determination in Shangguan Qing's words.
The gravekeeper slowly turned around, with his back to the moonlight, as if blending into the boundless night.
His voice was low and hoarse: "Under the cemetery, there are countless secrets buried, including those pasts that people don't want to be known.
Some truths, once revealed, will cause another catastrophe.
I am incapable, I just want to protect this piece of pure land, as for the prisoner, his fate may have been determined long ago."
After saying this, he slowly walked into the depths of the cemetery, leaving Shangguan Qing alone. Under the cold moonlight, he stared thoughtfully at the receding figure.
Under the moonlight, Shangguan Qing's brows were furrowed, his eyes penetrating the night, as if he was looking for some answer.
At this moment, a faint but firm voice came from a corner of the cemetery, breaking the silence around.
"Miss Shangguan, please listen to me."
The voice was low and slightly trembling, coming from a young man whose outline was vaguely outlined by the moonlight.
He was dressed in rags, and there was a strange light in his eyes, as if he had been imprisoned in the dark for a long time and finally found a glimmer of hope for escape.
He approached slowly, every step he took seemed so cautious, as if the ground beneath his feet could swallow him up at any time.
"I have never really left here." His words were mixed with helplessness and longing, "But I know that there are landscapes outside that I have never seen, and there is freedom that belongs to me. As long as you can lead me out of this haze, I am willing to exchange everything I know."
Having said that, he stopped and looked up at Shangguan Qing, his eyes flashing with unprecedented determination and expectation, as if the weight of the entire world was pressing on the decision at this moment.
Shangguan Qing led a gentle young man into the antique shop. The simple lights in the shop illuminated the dazzling array of antiques, adding a touch of the charm of time.
Cheng Ji happened to push the door open at this moment, and his eyes unexpectedly met the strange figure, and a sour ripple suddenly arose in his heart.
He paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes - surprise, confusion, and jealousy that was hard to conceal.
The air seemed to freeze. Cheng Ji stood there, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his eyes fixed on the two people. All the noise around him seemed to drift away from him, leaving only the unwilling groan in his heart.
Shangguan Qing opened her red lips slightly, her voice gentle but with unquestionable power: "Cheng Ji, this is a friend I met by chance in the cemetery. He may be able to help me solve the mystery that has troubled me for a long time. I know you have doubts, but please trust my judgment. He needs to stay here temporarily for a few days until the truth comes out."
After saying this, she turned her gentle gaze to the young man beside her and motioned for him to follow.
Emotions surged in Cheng Ji's eyes, but eventually they returned to a deep calm.
He slowly loosened his clenched fists and forced a smile, although that smile contained too many unspoken emotions.
"Since it is Miss Shangguan's decision, I will certainly follow it. However, I would like to ask this... friend to be careful. Every antique in the antique shop carries the weight of history and must not be lost."
There was a hint of reminder and temptation in his words, and his eyes wandered between the two of them, as if he was weighing something.
The night was as dark as ink. Cheng Ji's voice was low and firm, penetrating the slightly cool air and falling into the man's ears: "You, come back to Cheng's house with me. Shangguan Qing, this matter has nothing to do with you, please stop."
After saying this, he turned around, his back straight and resolute, the moonlight cast a thin layer of frost on his shoulders, as if even the night had given way to it.
The man was stunned for a moment, his eyes wandering between Cheng Ji and Shangguan Qing, finally fixed on Cheng Ji's unquestionable profile. Although he was unwilling in his heart, he knew that resistance was useless at this moment.
He took slow steps, and each step seemed extremely heavy, as if he was carrying invisible shackles.
Shangguan Qing stood there, looking at the two people's backs as they walked away. A complex emotion flashed across his eyes, including confusion and worry, which eventually turned into a sigh and dissipated into the night.
The young man stopped, the moonlight lengthening his lonely and proud figure. He raised his hand slightly, interrupting Cheng Ji's refusal that was about to come out.
"Mr. Cheng, thank you for your kindness, but please allow me to arrange my own accommodation."
Although his voice was soft, it was firm and could not be underestimated. After he finished speaking, he turned to face Shangguan Qing, his eyes gentle and sincere.
"Ms. Shangguan, I know what you are talking about. Please believe that I can not only take good care of myself, but also shed some light on your mystery."
After saying this, he took out an ancient jade pendant from his bosom. Under the moonlight, the jade pendant emitted a faint glow, as if it contained some mysterious power. "I found this deep in the cemetery. Perhaps it can serve as proof of my ability."
He gently handed the jade pendant to Shangguan Qing, and then his figure gradually blended into the night, leaving behind an elusive smile, as if it was an indifferent acceptance of an unknown fate and a confident declaration of his own abilities.
Shangguan Qing's eyes followed the direction the young man left. After a moment, she slowly withdrew her gaze, turned around and walked into the store, holding the ancient jade pendant tightly in her hand. The faint light flowing on it seemed to reflect the past clouds in her eyes.
She spoke softly, with a barely perceptible tremor in her voice: "Can you... tell me about General Shangguan? He is a legend in my family, and an eternal mystery in my heart."
The dim lights in the store illuminated her focused and expectant face. Upon hearing this, the young man stopped and turned to face Shangguan Qing, with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
He slowly approached, keeping a polite distance from Shangguan Qing, and said softly: "General Shangguan, he is not only a brave general on the battlefield, but also a model of being concerned about his country and being both wise and brave. My discovery in the cemetery is closely related to a piece of dusty history, and that history is the unsolved mystery surrounding him..."