Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 274 New Preview
As Zhou Zhao spoke, he looked at the huge tree shaking wildly outside the door and the gloomy sky, and for some reason, a bad premonition rose in his heart.

The Northern Army soldiers escorted the Su siblings out in single file. Their armor made even their footsteps sound heavier.

"Zhaozhao, you should go home and rest first. You're still injured. I'll go to Yunjian Temple with Ahuang. Han Ze can take the people back to Tingwei Temple."

Zhou Zhao originally wanted to refuse, but the words were on the tip of his tongue when he suddenly changed his mind. "I'm going home for a bit. You all go ahead and wait for me at the foot of the mountain. I'll be there soon. That silk painting was recently done. If what the old woman said is true, Yin Fang has been in that place for five years."

Why go through all that trouble and suddenly hide such a map? There's something fishy about this; it might just be a trap.

So what if it's a trap?
Neither she, Su Changying, nor Ahuang would avoid going just because there was a trap.

They were in a passive, defensive position, and they wouldn't let go of any clue.

Su Changying knew that Zhou Zhao's mind was made up, so he did not try to dissuade him. He nodded and said, "Okay."

Zhou Zhao flipped over and mounted her horse. Without saying another word, she sped off like an arrow towards the Zhou residence.

The strong wind whipped her hair into the air, and the black and white hairband that read "Heavenly justice prevails and all taboos are no obstacle" swirled in the air. She looked like a gust of wind rushing by.

Han Ze stood behind Su Changying and Liu Huang, staring intently at the figure.

Finally, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister Zhao, you're amazing..."

He had never seen anyone ride a horse with such a feeling that it seemed to break through the sky and shatter everything in sight.

As he was thinking, he suddenly found himself in complete darkness. Su Changying was like a giant black wall, completely blocking his view.

Han Ze himself wasn't short. Although he was a bit of a scoundrel, he was still a handsome man. However, Su Changying was a head taller than him. Standing there, he looked like an insurmountable mountain.

"She was already very capable."

Han Ze suddenly remembered that Su Changying was Zhou Zhao's fiancé. He blinked and blurted out, "Many people in Chang'an want to marry Sister Zhao, including Zhao Yizhou, the heir of the Marquis of Huaiyang, who even asked the Prime Minister to act as a matchmaker..."

Before Han Ze could finish speaking, he wished he could slap himself across the face.

You foul mouth, what are you saying?
As he spoke, he felt his scalp tingling.

Su Changying, who was standing in front, turned around and stared at him coldly...

It's only the beginning of winter, but it already feels like it's freezing cold! He felt that if he said another word, he would become a dead soul under Su Changying's sword today.

"How could Sister Zhao possibly be interested in Zhao Yizhou? The person most suitable for her is none other than you, Marquis Lu!"

Han Ze felt the murderous aura vanish instantly, and Su Changying turned around again.

He let out a long sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then reached out and slapped himself in the mouth.

You foul mouth, I'll teach you to say that again.

Su Changying glanced at Ahuang, and the two of them immediately mounted their horses and galloped towards the city gate closest to the Taoist temple.

Zhou Zhao was unaware of the incident between Su Changying and Han Ze. She galloped all the way to her own courtyard in the Zhou residence, and without even reining in her horse, she leaped over the courtyard wall and rushed into her room.

It was still early, and no one had gotten up yet; the whole courtyard was quiet.

Zhou Zhao navigated through the various crime scenes in the room, making his way to the bedside, and pulled out the bamboo scroll from under the pillow.

The bamboo slips were burning hot to the touch, the worst possible omen. Zhou Zhao's previously anxious heart finally settled down.

She just said it.

Such fear and anxiety must mean death is imminent!
Now that I finally know she is really going to die, I feel relieved.

Because there had been several days between the previous letters to her deceased wife, and she had just almost lost her life in the Lost City and her wounds had not yet healed, she assumed that there would be a new announcement on the bamboo slip in a while, so she did not carry it with her at all times.

I never expected this...

Zhou Zhao thought for a moment and quickly spread out the bamboo slip.

The familiar, fiery words immediately appeared, still in Su Changying's handwriting.

Zhou Zhao paused, her hand holding the bamboo slip. She raised her thumb, the pad of which was wet, as if a scalding tear had fallen on it, burning straight into her heart.

She didn't know if it was raining over there too, or if these were Su Changying's tears.

She never imagined that Su Changying, who had endured so much suffering, would be crying like this, with tears flowing endlessly.

Water droplets fell on the writing, blurring many of the strokes.

A Letter to My Deceased Wife: Bright as the sun and moon, hanging on a long ribbon. On New Year's Day, I met her on the straight path; under the orchid moon, I met her again. Reeds grow wildly, white pears line the path, and suddenly my heart is filled with a single thought. The Imperial Censor's Northern Army wields double blades; in the perilous tower, I risked my life to be resurrected. Blood mist hangs over the bewildered city, the north wind blows; Cui Zi's attempt to kill his master failed. A hundred ghosts wail in the clouds; my soul returns, regretting our reunion…

"A hundred ghosts wailed in the clouds, their souls returning, regretting their reunion..."

Zhou Zhao murmured the last sentence repeatedly, and suddenly, blood spurted out from the bamboo slip.

This time, there was an unusually large amount of blood, almost covering the entire bamboo slip.

Zhou Zhao gripped the "Letter to My Deceased Wife" so tightly that she almost crushed the bamboo slip if she used any more force.

"Yunjian needs no introduction; it's Yunjian Temple. This place is indeed suspicious; it's likely a trap, and a fierce battle awaits them. What does 'The Soul Returns' mean? 'Regretful Encounter'—who regrets this encounter? Is it Su Changying who regrets meeting her again?"

Zhou Zhao felt a tightness in his chest as he thought about it.

She pursed her lips and then stood up abruptly.

The words on the bamboo slips disappeared one by one, and the bamboo slips, which were once scalding hot, gradually cooled down.

Zhou Zhao crumpled the bamboo slip into a ball, wrapped it in a cloth bundle, and hid it back under his pillow.

She then carefully put on the soft armor that Su Changying had given her, replenished some medicine and coffin nails, checked the Qingyu dagger, and went directly into the courtyard. With a light leap, she jumped over the wall and landed on the horse's back.

Then, like a black cheetah, it charged straight towards the location of the Cloud Temple.

When she arrived, Su Changying and Liu Huang had just dismounted.

Zhou Zhao glanced out of the corner of his eye and sensed that there were many people hiding at the foot of the mountain. Clearly, this time it was not just the three of them fighting; Su Changying had mobilized the Northern Army to surround the mountain.

As she thought about it, she glanced indifferently at the tree branches again. Tianquan and Xu Yuan had also arrived.

Zhou Zhao felt a warmth in her heart. She knew that she had almost died in the Lost City before, and Su Changying was afraid that something might happen to her again.

"Everyone be careful, this is a trap set by the higher-ups."