The three returned to the inn just before the rooster's first crow the next morning.
The inn was in chaos, the sounds of fighting identical to three days prior. The trio slipped in through the back and safely reached their room.
"Master!" Lin Jin, who had been pacing anxiously in the room, looked relieved to see the three return safely.
"A Wu, go to the next room to wash up. You and Lin Jin can rest for a bit. Once the inn resumes its business as if it were daytime, I will find you."
"Yes!" A Wu acknowledged the order, turned, and followed Lin Jin to the adjacent room.
Now, only Zhong Li and Lu Wu Xie remained in the room.
Lu Wu Xie's body had not yet recovered, and he had also made a trip to the small woods overnight. As soon as he relaxed, he appeared weary, half-reclining on the bed, panting for breath.
Zhong Li poured him a cup of water and helped him drink it. Seeing he was a little better, she quickly took out medicine from her medical kit, intending to administer it.
"Li'er," Lu Wu Xie held her hand and shook his head, refusing the medicine again this time.
"No, the poison in your body has not been resolved, and you have inhaled more poisonous mist. If you do not take this medicine, I am worried..."
"Trust me, I know my body, I can still hold on," Lu Wu Xie pushed the medicine back into Zhong Li's arms. "It's you who has been enduring all this time. You should take this medicine."
Zhong Li shook her head. "I can go several days without rest, just like A Wu. It's only mist poison. When Lan Heng brings good news, he will surely bring the antidote."
"Carrier pigeons are fast, reaching Jin Cheng in a day. But for Lan Heng to solve the case and send the medicine, it will take at least three days. What do you think will happen if you go three days without closing your eyes?" Lu Wu Xie asked.
Zhong Li lowered her gaze and remained silent. As a quasi-healer, she knew better than anyone the side effects of staying up all night on the human body.
Seeing her like this, Lu Wu Xie held her tightly in his arms, his heart aching. "Li'er, trust me, I will find a way. Take the medicine and get some good sleep, okay?"
Zhong Li nodded. She was indeed tired. The journey of a day and a night, coupled with the torment of nightmares, had kept her nerves on edge. With just one dose of medicine, she felt drowsy.
As the first rays of sunlight streamed into the room.
Lu Wu Xie changed into a suit of close-fitting attire, took a brain-awakening pill made with a small amount of Tian Hua powder from the table, and turned to enter Lin Jin's room.
"Master, you can't!" kuAiδugg
A Wu and Lin Jin both knelt on the ground, looking at Lu Wu Xie with tension.
Lu Wu Xie held a map that had not yet completely dried. "According to the map drawn by A Wu, the abandoned residence should be about an hour's walk from here. We not only need Tian Hua powder, but we also need to lure out the mastermind behind the Shen Nü Cult."
"There are two more days until the Shen Nü Cult's sacrifice. They will surely select suitable women in Yu County or Liao City. If we can identify the mastermind, we can catch them off guard and perhaps prevent one more wrongful death."
"Master, we understand all this. Even if we need to scout the abandoned house, it shouldn't be you. A Wu and I can go." After hearing Lu Wu Xie's explanation, Lin Jin immediately placed his hands on his head, his intention evident: he wanted Lu Wu Xie to give him the map, and he should be the one to take the risk.
"No!" Lu Wu Xie shook his head again. "A Wu and I will go. He is familiar with the route, and we can take fewer detours. As for Lin Jin, you must stay to protect Li'er."
"But Master..."
"Lin Jin!" Lu Wu Xie interrupted Lin Jin. "The Shen Nü Cult is looking for me. Only I can draw out their mastermind. You going would be useless."
"I..." Lin Jin was speechless and could not persuade him further.
Lu Wu Xie placed his hand heavily on Lin Jin's shoulder. "Li'er is still asleep. I want you to swear that even if you lose your life, you will protect her."
Lin Jin cupped his fist and said, "Master, your subordinate swears that I will protect Miss Zhong with my life."
"Good!" Lu Wu Xie nodded, pushed open the window, and saw that the bodies were already being moved to the backyard by the innkeeper and the waiters. He led A Wu out of the window and disappeared into the surroundings of the inn.
Lin Jin closed his eyes to compose himself, then turned and walked into the adjacent room.
-------------------------------------
At the same time, in Jin Cheng.
"Sir, we have a carrier pigeon message," Lan Heng said, looking at the scrolls in his hand while seated in his official hat chair.
In recent days, the Shen Nü Cult had become a hot topic in Jin Cheng, especially recently. Some members of the Shen Nü Cult had appeared on Wenchang Street, going from house to house to spread their message. They had even sold "holy water" to the people of Jin Cheng, claiming it could prolong life and grant longevity.
He was unsure if these so-called holy waters and elixirs were effective, but the Emperor was already very displeased. The Dali Temple had arrested many Shen Nü Cult members, but they seemed inexhaustible. Zhong Li had been gone for several days with no news, so he had no choice but to personally oversee the investigation.
"No time!" he frowned, slightly annoyed by his subordinate's interruption.
"Sir, it's from Yu County. If you don't read it, I will have someone else handle it." The young constable, fearing Lan Heng's anger, quickly prepared to leave.
"Wait!" Lan Heng called out, stopping him. "You said which county?"
"Yu County!"
"Yu County? Liao City?" Lan Heng murmured to himself. Realizing what it meant, he said, "Quick, bring it to me."
The young constable hurried forward, and Lan Heng quickly read through it. He then stood up and said, "Quick! To the water prison."
Hua Yao stood at the entrance of Lan Heng's hall, holding a bowl of millet porridge. Just as she was about to push the door open, a strong gust of wind almost knocked the porridge from her hands.
"Lord Lan, where are you going?" Hua Yao reacted and quickly followed behind, asking.
Lan Heng handed the letter to Hua Yao.
Hua Yao handed the porridge to the young constable following behind and took the letter to examine it.
"What does this mean? Did Li'er get into trouble in Yu County?" she anxiously followed Lan Heng into the carriage and asked.
Lan Heng said, "According to the letter, this was written by Lu Wu Xie."
"Young Master?" Hua Yao's eyebrows rose in delight. "Then it means Li'er found the Young Master? That's great."
As she spoke, she suddenly realized something and subtly raised her eyes. Lan Heng's face was indeed as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Hua Yao lowered her gaze, appearing docile, and softly asked, "Then did they get into trouble?"
Lan Heng's expression was grim. "Yes!"
"What? This..." Hua Yao looked worried. "Sir Lan, how do you know? The Young Master only asked you in the letter to thoroughly investigate the Shen Nü Cult case from ten years ago and a person named Xuan Qingzi. There wasn't a single word in the text that indicated danger."
Lan Heng took out a fire starter and burned the letter. "Based on my understanding of him, if he could handle it, he naturally wouldn't have contacted me. The fact that he contacted me means there's only one possibility: he must be in danger."