Chapter 63 How can we get married if she doesn't come home? ...
Sheng Zhiyi gently patted the woman's back and asked:
"What exactly happened? Was your suicide by drowning related to the demons?"
The woman's gaze was fixed on the dark water. The river lanterns in the distance were dazzling, but her eyes were lifeless. She gave a bitter smile.
"You misheard me... I was just talking nonsense..."
Sheng Zhiyi was taken aback: "But you clearly just now..."
"That was just a momentary lapse of judgment!"
The woman couldn't wait to interrupt Sheng Zhiyi.
Before Sheng Zhiyi could say anything more, the woman stood up. She was soaking wet, her hair was disheveled, and she walked forward unsteadily, coughing from time to time. She looked fragile and disheveled.
"Hello!"
Sheng Zhiyi called out to her retreating figure.
She acted as if she hadn't heard, and continued to stagger forward.
Are you afraid we'll offend the demons?
Sheng Zhiyi continued shouting.
The woman finally stopped. She turned around, her eyes wide with horror, and then immediately looked at the crowd in the distance, afraid that the sound would attract the attention of others.
On the distant arched bridge, a bustling crowd was still releasing river lanterns, creating a lively and vibrant scene.
Sheng Zhiyi walked over and confirmed:
"Someone is secretly falling into demonic possession? Let me guess... Is it your family, or the family you're going to marry into?"
The woman instinctively took a step back, looking at Sheng Zhiyi in a panic, her voice hoarse:
"You know me? Who are you?!"
Sheng Zhiyi moved with lightning speed, grabbing her wrist, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on her expression, and said earnestly:
"It's my deduction. In your haste, you uttered the word 'demon race,' and then immediately denied it, clearly because you didn't want others to know about it."
“Women in this world, except those who live independently, all have a maternal family and a husband’s family… To be honest, you don’t look like someone who lives independently, so I made a bold guess.”
The woman was still shaken, her eyes wary, her expression half-believing and half-doubting.
Clearly, these words failed to completely dispel her doubts.
Seeing this, Sheng Zhiyi made a hand seal in front of her.
The light quickly shone on the woman, and in an instant, her entire body became dry.
The woman touched her hair in surprise, then checked her clothes.
Just moments ago it was dripping wet, but after a flash of white light, it instantly changed its appearance.
She was deeply shocked, and unconsciously grabbed Sheng Zhiyi's arm, tears welling up in her eyes: "Immortal Master!"
"Don't rush, don't rush." Sheng Zhiyi pulled her to a pavilion on the shore and sat her down. "Tell me slowly."
The woman subconsciously looked around.
"Don't worry, no one will hear you," Sheng Zhiyi reassured her.
The woman's expression was complex, clearly indicating she was going through a fierce internal struggle. After a long pause, she hesitantly spoke: "Those...people, they are powerful...you..."
The demon race is numerous, while there are only two cultivators, Sheng Zhiyi and Ji Fuguang.
These two seem kind, but with their thin arms and legs, can they really defeat the demons in a fight?
In that case, we don't want to lose two lives in vain.
Just as Sheng Zhiyi was about to pat her chest confidently, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty when she thought about the battle with the demons.
She reached out and grabbed Ji Fuguang's arm, slapping it twice forcefully.
"My senior brother is a handsome and elegant man with unparalleled cultivation, possessing the power to move mountains and overturn seas. Not long ago, he single-handedly defeated eight top experts of the Demon Clan, and with just one move, he made them grovel at his feet, their heads separated from their bodies."
The woman was stunned. She secretly glanced at Ji Fuguang, her eyes filled with disbelief.
This handsome young man seems very elegant, but is he really as capable as she claims?
"You didn't see that scene! The demons all knelt down and begged for mercy!"
Sheng Zhiyi spoke with absolute certainty, and even nudged Ji Fuguang lightly with his elbow, signaling him to express his opinion.
Ji Fuguang frowned, thinking that although the second half of the sentence was made up by Sheng Zhiyi on the spot, it was still consistent with the facts, and nodded slightly.
Sheng Zhiyi felt he wasn't cooperating, so she gave up on the two-person interaction and continued:
"So don't worry, just tell us what happened, and we'll definitely help you solve it!"
The woman's fingers gripped the hem of her skirt, her knuckles turning white.
After a long silence, she finally spoke:
"My name is Lin Wanshuang..."
Lin Wanshuang is the second daughter of the Lin family in Yingzhou City. Her family has been in the silk business for generations and is quite famous. Naturally, they also have many colleagues and old friends.
The Lin and Chen families have been on good terms for generations. Chen Jihui, the eldest son of the Chen family, has already taken over the silk business at a young age and has been highly relied upon in recent years, with more than 80% of the business passing through his hands.
Seeing that Chen Jihui was outstanding at a young age, handsome, and had known Lin Wanshuang since childhood, the Lin family patriarch arranged a marriage between them early on.
The two had known each other for a long time, and Lin Wanshuang had secretly fallen for him, so she naturally nodded in agreement.
They were old friends, had business dealings, and were related by marriage, so Lin Wanshuang naturally frequented the Chen family home.
That day, Lin Wanshuang went to the Chen family to settle some accounts. She was good at using an abacus and sorted out the details in less than half an hour. Seeing that the Chen family's servants were busy sorting out a batch of newly arrived silks, she declined to be greeted or seen off and prepared to leave on her own.
Halfway there, she remembered that the younger sister of the Chen family had been pestering her to borrow her most treasured abacus, so she turned back, bypassed the noisy front gate, and walked along a side path to the backyard.
Lin Wanshuang felt that her trip was somewhat reckless, but since she had already gone halfway, and thinking that she was just going to give the abacus to her younger sister and put her mind at ease, she gritted her teeth and continued on.
She knew the Chen family's place very well, always choosing secluded paths, and didn't encounter a single person along the way.
As she rounded the artificial hill, she suddenly heard someone talking. She had a bad feeling and instinctively hid.
A male voice said, "It really is a divine skill. In just a few days, I have already felt its effects."
The voice was deep and hoarse, slightly distorted, but Lin Wanshuang's heart skipped a beat; it was the Chen family patriarch speaking.
What kind of divine skill is that?
The two families have always been on good terms and have often cooperated in business dealings, so why has Mr. Chen never mentioned it?
Another male voice said, "I suppose after a few more days of cultivation, your chronic illness will be fully cured."
As soon as the voice came out, Lin Wanshuang immediately recognized it; it was all too familiar. It was her fiancé, Chen Jihui.
In his early years, when Mr. Chen was selling silk, he was robbed by river bandits. In order to protect his goods, he was stabbed by the bandits, which injured his lungs. After that, he suffered from a chronic illness. Every year when the weather turned cold, he would cough every night and could not sleep. He had consulted dozens of famous doctors, but they all said that it was difficult to cure and that he could only take good care of himself.
It sounds like this miraculous skill can completely eliminate the lesions.
At this moment, Lin Wanshuang was only surprised, and even vaguely felt that it was a good thing.
Then, Mr. Chen's voice rang out:
"Last time, when I practiced the divine skill, I used the 'goods' from Granny Liu's hands. This time, I must use a different one."
"Yes, those last time were too young. As our cultivation deepens, we need to buy some bigger ones."
Lin Wanshuang was still completely confused when they continued:
"Later, when the time is right, you should also persuade your sister. Remember, you must proceed step by step; this kind of secret must not be leaked."
Chen Jihui disagreed, saying, "The divine skill is good, but it requires a strong will to cultivate. My little sister is still young and has always been timid. She can't even watch a chicken being killed. How can she start cultivating it? I'm afraid she will reveal the secrets of heaven."
The two argued for a few more minutes.
The name Granny Liu seems somewhat familiar.
Lin Wanshuang pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered Granny Liu's identity. She was a well-known human trafficker in Yingzhou City, and the "goods" that Chen Jihui and his son were talking about were human lives.
The "divine skill" they speak of requires the sacrifice of human life to cultivate, and as the cultivation progresses, it requires older individuals.
Lin Wanshuang was shocked and quickly bit her lip hard, but she still couldn't help it and her breathing became heavier.
Chen Jihui suddenly turned around and shouted sharply, "Who?!"
The two hurried over and were about to round the artificial hill.
Chen Jihui took the lead and strode over quickly.
Master Chen also came over.
After a long pause, Master Chen spoke:
"There's nobody here..."
Chen Jihui looked around, frowned, and remained silent for a long time.
Master Chen then said:
Was that just a whistling sound?
Chen Jihui's gaze swept over the artificial hill inch by inch, then he suddenly reached out and slapped the side of it, his voice cold and hard:
"Come out! I see you!"
Another period of complete silence ensued.
After a short while, Chen Jihui finally relaxed and instructed his father:
"Remember, the matter of this divine skill must never be revealed! It must not be told to anyone outside the Chen family! If anyone finds out..."
He lowered his voice:
“My master will kill everyone, including you and me.”
A fine layer of sweat appeared on Mr. Chen's forehead, and he nodded vigorously.
Lin Wanshuang curled up tightly in the dark cave, her whole body cold and stiff. She bit her lip so hard that it left a deep gash, trying her best to keep herself from making any noise.
The younger sister of the Chen family secretly told her about the cave when they were playing together.
Only the younger sister, who spends all day climbing and hiding in the yard, could discover a cave hidden in the bushes that leads to the heart of the artificial mountain.
The sounds outside finally disappeared. Lin Wanshuang waited for half an incense stick's time before she could faintly hear the shopkeeper calling out to lightly check the goods. Only then did she dare to climb out of the cave.
She fled home quickly, locked herself in her room, and fell seriously ill.
In her dazed state, Chen Jihui's ruthless and icy voice kept echoing in Lin Wanshuang's mind, "Except for the Chen family, this must never be told to anyone else! If anyone finds out, Master will kill them all..."
Even in her sleep, she bit her lower lip tightly, afraid that if the rest of the Lin family found out, it would bring about her death.
Master Chen only practiced for a few days and was able to cure his stubborn illness. How exquisite is this demonic art!
She couldn't even imagine how powerful Chen Jihui's master really was. In the eyes of such a person, ordinary people like them were nothing but ants, easily crushed with a single finger.
The more she thought about it, the more hopeless she felt. She had no desire to practice this kind of demonic art, much less marry Chen Jihui, who was in human skin, fall into the demonic abyss, or even become material for their cultivation.
In her dreams, she dreamt countless times of being skinned alive and having her tendons pulled out, her head twisted off by Chen Jihui's own hands, and boundless blood filling the entire space.
But Lin Wanshuang was helpless. She dared not tell anyone else, and she could not break off the engagement without any evidence. If things got out of hand, and Chen Jihui found out that she knew about this all along, even the Lin family would be implicated.
As the wedding day drew closer, in despair, Lin Wanshuang contemplated suicide by drowning.
As she continued, Lin Wanshuang grabbed Sheng Zhiyi's wrist and couldn't help but burst into tears.
She had suppressed this secret for so long that when she finally spoke it out, the grievances, fears, and despair that had accumulated over countless days and nights burst forth like a flood.
The low sobs seemed to come from the depths of her soul, and her whole body was trembling violently.
Sheng Zhiyi's wrist was gripped so tightly it hurt, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she patted her shoulder, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable firmness:
"Don't be afraid, it's alright! We will definitely handle this!"
Lin Wanshuang, her face streaked with tears, spoke uneasily, "You...you really..."
“That’s right!” Sheng Zhiyi nodded. “Leave this matter to us. From now on, you don’t need to go back to the Lin residence.”
Lin Wanshuang didn't understand and kept saying, "But...but...tomorrow is the wedding day!"
How can we get married if she doesn't come home?
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