A thin figure stood by the corpse, wielding a shovel as if digging for something.
"Bubu?"
Yun Ze called out tentatively, recognizing the slender figure.
She was the blacksmith Li's child, only thirteen years old.
The villagers said the child had been quiet since birth, only learning to call her parents at four or five. Her disposition was extremely cold, as if nothing could pique her interest, nor would she play with the other children in the village.
Yun Ze had lived in Hanshan Village for so long, he had met her only a handful of times, always when blacksmith Li brought her over to visit during festivals.
Hearing her name, the figure turned her head to look at Yun Ze behind her, but remained silent.
Yun Ze hurried forward, "Bubu, I..."
"Those people, they came looking for you, didn't they?"
Bubu interrupted Yun Ze as soon as he spoke.
Her childish voice carried no emotion, yet it struck his chest like a heavy hammer.
He had not killed伯仁, but伯仁 had died because of him.
If it weren't for him, the villagers wouldn't have confronted those yamen runners, and naturally, they wouldn't be lying here.
"Yes."
"Then are the deaths of the villagers related to you?"
"Yes."
"Good, you admit it."
Bubu said, stopping her digging, turning, and swinging the shovel at Yun Ze!
Her movements were not fast; if Yun Ze had wished, he could have dodged as she turned.
But he wouldn't, and didn't want to.
He owed Bubu a life! Whatever Bubu did to him, it was deserved!
A gust of wind carrying the smell of earth rushed towards him!
Yun Ze's brows furrowed, his fists clenched, his tension at its peak.
He waited for a long time, but the shovel did not land on him anywhere as expected.
"Alright, you can open your eyes now."
As Bubu's voice sounded, Yun Ze opened his eyes and looked ahead.
He turned his head and saw that the shovel was suspended an inch from his head!
Just an inch away from hitting his head.
Then the shovel began to fall. By the time it reached his thigh, Bubu swung it with all her might!
She used the back of the shovel.
But how much strength could a thirteen-year-old girl possess?
Yun Ze felt a pang of pain but was not significantly harmed.
"Bubu, I..."
"Be quiet."
Bubu interrupted him again, casually stuck the shovel into the pit beside her, and stared intently at him!
"Remember, you owe me a life, and you owe the lives of all the villagers of Hanshan Village."
"Keep this life for now. You can settle it after you avenge the villagers."
Bubu's expression was surprisingly calm, her tone devoid of any emotion, as if she were talking about someone else.
This wouldn't do! What if she went mad from suppressing it all!
"Bubu..."
"Listen to me first."
Bubu interrupted him for the third time: "Bury the villagers here, and then come find me."
"Do you understand?"
Yun Ze nodded heavily, indicating he understood.
Bubu said no more, turned, and walked towards her home, the blacksmith shop, her steps gradually quickening.
Silence enveloped the surroundings. Yun Ze could faintly hear faint sobs in the distance.
Sometimes people are like this; when no one is watching or listening, they can bear immense grievances alone.
But once someone can share them, those grievances will surge like a mountain flood.
Bubu's hurried departure was likely because she didn't want him to see her vulnerable side...
Yun Ze watched Bubu return to the blacksmith shop before turning to look at the corpses before him, kneeling on one knee!
"The kindness of all you villagers today, Yun Ze will remember forever! If there is a next life, I will surely repay your kindness!"
"However, with blood vengeance unavenged, I dare not descend to the underworld, nor do I have the face to pay respects to you all."
"May you all linger for a while longer. Once Yun Ze has delivered those nineteen beasts to your graves as offerings, then I shall depart!"
Nineteen of them, one young nobleman, and eighteen yamen runners!
Yun Ze had etched the appearance of each of them into his memory.
Yun Ze stood up, bowed three times to the villagers' corpses, then picked up the hoe beside him and began to dig graves and bury them.
From the first rising of the moon in early winter until its setting and the sun's rise.
He did not rest all night. Only when the rooster crowed three times did he finally finish burying everyone, collapsing onto the ground before the graves.
He had not had a drop of water since last night. After staying in the dry well for so long, and burying so many bodies, he was utterly exhausted.
Yet, for some reason, besides fatigue, he felt no hunger.
He leaned against the old tree by the door and took out the immortal jade again, examining it carefully.
Could it be because of this immortal jade?
Were not the legendary immortals said to subsist on immortal nectar and dew, not grains?
However, when his father mentioned the immortal jade before, he hadn't said it had such effects.
Perhaps... this was the immortal destiny they sought?
Yun Ze was unsure.
It was strange, too.
The jade, which had been broken into two pieces, now fit together perfectly.
If placed on a flat surface, one could barely tell it had been broken, except for the extremely sharp edges at the fracture.
Yun Ze didn't dwell on it, simply tucking the immortal jade back into his embrace and walking towards the tiled house.
Now that dawn had broken, it was time to think about the path ahead.
He had to go to the prefecture. He needed to find out who that young nobleman was, and to retrieve his parents' bodies so they could rest in their homeland!
If there was an opportunity... he would also report it to the authorities!
He knew about the collusion between officials, but no official would want to miss an opportunity to gain leverage over an opposing faction.
He would start by inquiring in the prefecture, perhaps he could find a force that was at odds with that young nobleman?
At worst, he could hand over this immortal jade! As long as it could help him avenge his parents and villagers, it would be worth it!
This trip to the prefecture was a must!
Since he was going to the prefecture, he needed to prepare provisions!
Now that the villagers were all dead, their gold and silver were of no use to them. Yun Ze searched briefly and filled his pack.
When he returned to the villagers' graves, Bubu was already standing there, also carrying two packs and holding two swords in her hands.
It was as if she had deliberately waited for him there.
"You're here?"
Bubu's tone was still cold. She casually tossed one of the swords to Yun Ze and asked without turning her head, "Where do you plan to go next?"
"The prefecture."
Yun Ze caught the sword and walked slowly to Bubu's side, gazing at the graves with her. "Some things just have to be done by someone."
"That answer is barely acceptable."
Bubu glanced at Yun Ze, turned, and walked towards the outskirts of Hanshan Village. "In that case, let's depart."
"Depart?"
Yun Ze paused, then followed her. "You're coming with me? Bubu, you're still young. Let me handle this!
I remember you have an uncle at home, right? How about I take you there first..."
"Noisy."
Bubu uttered two words indifferently, casually striking a nearby large tree!
Crack~
Countless fine cracks spread from beneath her palm, covering the entire tree in mere moments. The green foliage on the crown withered and fell.
Yun Ze watched the green leaves drift down, his jaw involuntarily dropping.
What... what was going on!
"Now."
Bubu looked at Yun Ze again. "Can we continue on our way?"