The group stopped in their tracks. The cry for help came from a man, who was shouting so loudly that his voice cracked. It sounded like Su Shikun, but it didn't quite seem like him.
The group stopped and listened carefully. At this critical juncture, they couldn't afford any unforeseen complications. However, if they didn't investigate today, whatever happened later might become a thorn in their side.
Moreover, their identities and education do not allow them to ignore the plight of others.
Qin Yi glanced at Su Wan, whose expression was complicated. She was not a saint and could not sympathize with Su Shikun who had hurt her, but at the same time, if she knew he was in danger and did not lend a helping hand, she might regret it one day.
With a solemn expression, Qin Yi instructed Su Wan, "Wanwan, wait for me here."
He glanced at Jiang Baiyuan and said, "I'm leaving the person to you. I'll go with Changchun to take a look."
Jiang Baiyuan nodded seriously, accepting the heavy responsibility of protecting Su Wan and Chen Qianlan.
Then, he casually looked around. Since they were entering the village, the other people in the group couldn't hide their identities and appear in various disguises. However, the sudden influx of so many outsiders into the small village would still attract attention.
Therefore, only some people have entered the village so far; the others are expected to come in tonight.
Lin Changchun was puzzled. He wanted to ask why he was the one to go instead of Jiang Baiyuan, but seeing their solemn expressions, he wisely kept quiet.
Saying it aloud would only make him look foolish. Jiang Baiyuan glanced at Lin Changchun's reaction and said, "Young man, work hard, you have a bright future ahead of you."
Lin Changchun slapped Jiang Baiyuan's hand off his body, glanced at him with disdain, and thought to himself, "You cunning and treacherous fellow, you must be having a blast being with your sweetheart."
He waved his clothes and left without a trace, because he was the only bachelor left. Talking about it would only bring tears. He just kept his head down and worked hard, hoping that one day he would meet the person he liked and who would like him back.
Qin Yi glanced at Su Wan with concern, but the usually aloof Chen Qianlan tightened her grip on Su Wan's hand to reassure her brother: "Don't worry, I'll stay with Wanwan."
The group agreed that if Qin Yi and Lin Changchun didn't return in fifteen minutes, Su Wan and the others would go to Li Xiaohong's house first, and Qin Yi and the others would then meet up with them there.
Qin Yi and Lin Changchun slowly approached the direction from which the sound came, cautiously observing their surroundings. When they arrived at the gate of the house, they found an elderly woman with white hair sitting in the yard, playing with a dog.
"You'll only get food if you obey. If you don't, I'll starve you for three days and three nights. If you still don't listen, I'll kill you and eat you like dog meat. Let's see if you dare to run around again!"
The old lady chatted incessantly with the dog, scolding it for being disobedient and running away, which made it take her ages to find it.
The dog lay on the ground, head drooping, letting the old lady scold it; it seemed to be a well-behaved dog.
Despite being an old woman, her words sent chills down one's spine. Qin Yi and the other woman exchanged a glance, and Qin Yi stepped forward and patted the fence that only reached his waist.
"Sir, did you hear anyone calling for help just now?"
The old woman, dressed in simple southern Xinjiang clothing and wearing a silver necklace, looked up when she heard the question. A forced yet sinister smile appeared on her deeply lined face. "Vultures? We don't have any vultures here."
Lin Changchun immediately realized that the old lady was clearly arguing, and her behavior was completely different from when she was training the dog.
He was an impatient man, and he stepped forward and shouted loudly to the old lady, "Grandma, we're asking if anyone has called for help?"
The old lady glared at Lin Changchun with displeasure and complained, "What are you yelling about? Are you taking advantage of my old age? Where is anyone asking for help? No, no one is here!"
He waved his hand, as if to shoo people away.
Qin Yi glanced at Lin Changchun, signaling him not to ask any more questions. The two then turned and left to meet up with Su Wan.
After walking quite a distance and making sure the old lady couldn't hear them, Lin Changchun quietly asked Qin Yi, "Old Qin, what do you think of that old lady?"
There's a problem.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing suspicion in each other's eyes. An ordinary old woman, if she were a native of the village, and the village was small, everyone would know her, and they would all be related by blood for three generations. This was not a developed area, and according to local custom, when people see outsiders, their first question will be why they came here.
But the old woman didn't seem surprised at all; she didn't seem to find it strange that two strangers she didn't recognize would appear in the village.
"This isn't the place to talk, let's go back first."
Lin Changchun looked around and felt that the village seemed a bit strange, as if someone was always watching him from behind, but when he turned around, there was no one there. It felt like he was appearing in public without clothes and being stared at by people.
I just feel uncomfortable.
He couldn't help but quietly ask Qin Yi if he felt the same way.
Qin Yi frowned. Indeed, he had felt this as soon as he entered the village. However, the village was someone else's territory, and they were now trying to remove the curse from Su Wan. There were two women in their group. Although Chen Qianlan could protect herself, if the other party was a member of the Zhengqing, and wanted to do something to Su Wan before removing the curse, they would be in a very passive position. Therefore, even if they discovered something unusual, they did not dare to investigate rashly.
He cautioned Lin Changchun, "Be careful in everything; things aren't safe here."
They all had this feeling, but they didn't know where things were going wrong, so they could only be on high alert to deal with the unknown changes.
When Qin Yi and Lin Changchun arrived at the place where they had parted ways with Su Wan and the others, Su Wan and the others were nowhere to be seen. The two glanced at the time; just over fifteen minutes had passed, so they figured the others had gone back to Li Xiaohong's house first.
Qin Yi and Lin Changchun didn't linger and returned to Li Xiaohong's house as quickly as possible. Cui Zhengming was helping Li Xiaohong prepare a medicinal bath. When he saw them, he greeted them with a smile: "You're back. Where are Wan Yatou and the others?"
The two men who had just returned froze, and Cui Zhengming, seeing their expressions, was also startled: "What do you mean? They weren't with you?"
Without a word, Qin Yi turned and went out the door. He whistled, and six people dressed differently quickly emerged from the village, which was about to darken. Qin Yi's expression was solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "Jiang Baiyuan, Chen Qianlan, and my wife Su Wan are missing. Everyone, quickly search for their whereabouts."
Cui Zhengming and Li Xiaohong also chased after them. Cui Zhengming was anxious to join the search, saying, "Let's search together. Many hands make light work, and we'll find them faster."
Li Xiaohong looked at Yi with a puzzled expression: "Where did you two break up?"
Qin Yi told Li Xiaohong where they parted ways, and Li Xiaohong frowned with difficulty, "The Gu God Temple in the village is not far from there. Is it possible that they went to the Gu God Temple?"
Temple of the Gu God?
A Gu poison can actually become a god? What kind of god would that be?
Seeing their puzzled expressions, Li Xiaohong patiently explained to them that the Gu God Temple was built to commemorate their ancestor who left them the secret art of Gu cultivation.
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