Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 340 Encountering an Attack
A lone boat, its reflection shimmering in the eastern sea, gazes afar at the white hawk heralding a new era of peace. The evening drums beat mournfully for Duke Huan of Qi, while the heavy wine of the night deepens the regret for past disputes.

Zhou Zhao recalled the four lines of poetry left behind by Princess Changyang.

The princess's residence has dismissed its servants, and now the huge mansion is empty. It's impossible for Uncle Fu to light up the entire mansion by himself.

The lake is not close to the main courtyard. The waterside pavilion and the lakeside courtyard are only occupied by the owners in the summer. The lakeside is now very desolate, with reeds growing in a few places.

Su Changying rowed the small boat eastward toward the place where it connected with the Dongshui River.

The lake became increasingly expansive, and as far as the eye could see, it was completely flat, without a single ghost in sight.

"Zhaozhao, there don't seem to be any white hawks around."

As Su Changying spoke, she looked around. The sky was getting darker, and occasionally a bird would fly past the edge of the setting sun, spreading its black wings.

But no matter which direction you look from, you can't see any hawks.

Zhou Zhao sat at the stern of the boat and said patiently, "Wait, wait until the evening drum sounds."

Just then, the evening drums sounded.

Su Changying looked around and saw a flock of white hawks suddenly taking flight in the western sky. However, their view was partially blocked by the trees. Without hesitation, Su Changying moved the small boat and rowed a few more steps to the west. Suddenly, his view opened up.

Dozens of white hawks took off in the distance, like a white cloud chain.

"Changying, face the white hawk and don't move," Zhou Zhao said, but instead of looking at Su Changying, he turned his head to look at his shadow.

The evening sunlight cast a long shadow of Su Changying, making her look like a long stick lying on the lake. Zhou Zhao followed the shadow and saw another shadow that had merged with Su Changying's.

After the two long shadows met, they separated again, looking like a wine cup filled with wine that was rippling.

"The night was deep and heavy with wine... so that's what it meant!"

Zhou Zhao's eyes flickered as he looked towards the source of another shadow. It was a small lighthouse in the lake, perched on a small boat, probably used for nighttime lake recreation.

“Chenchen, so the things are underwater. Ah Huang, you take my place. I'm a good swimmer, but the lake water is too cold in winter for Zhao Zhao to go in.”

Zhou Zhao shook his head upon hearing Su Changying's words, "No need, I've already memorized the location. Let's row over there and then see how things go."

As she spoke, she directed Su Changying to row the small boat to the point where the shadows had met.

Su Changying stopped the boat. "This time you have to listen to me, right, Ah Huang? Zhao Zhao's body hasn't fully recovered."

Ah Huang nodded emphatically, "I'll listen to Brother Changying."

Before Zhou Zhao could answer, Su Changying leaped lightly, plunging into the lake like a silky fish.

The lake water was freezing cold in winter, and Su Changying couldn't help but shiver. He circulated his internal energy to warm himself up. The bottom of the lake was pitch black at night, with little light left from the setting sun.

Su Changying held her breath and sank down, drawing her long sword from its sheath and probing towards the bottom of the water.

The bottom of the water was densely covered with aquatic plants, like the long, curly hair of a dead woman. They would occasionally entangle people's hands and feet, making them slippery, cold, and sticky.

Su Changying didn't stop, and immediately dived to the bottom of the water. His longsword touched something hard and bent slightly.

Suddenly, Su Changying felt something hit him from behind. He turned around sharply in the water and met a huge eye.

Su Changying's heart skipped a beat as she saw a stone turtle lying among the water plants.

This stone turtle had been at the bottom of the water for countless years, covered in green moss and countless, terrifying-looking snails, layer upon layer, its four legs almost completely sunk into the mud. Su Changying circled the stone turtle but found no entrance to the mechanism.

"Ah Zhao, why hasn't Brother Changying gotten up yet? Should I go down and check on him?"

Zhou Zhao shook his head. "Trust him. He's a very good swimmer."

Su Changying was usually quiet and always followed behind her to watch her solve cases, but Zhou Zhao knew that he was no less intelligent than her.

Su Changying, who was underwater, stretched out his long sword and brushed away the moss and snails on the stone turtle. The thing carved on the turtle's back was immediately revealed. It was a sundial. The iron pillar in the middle was rusty and bent over by someone, and it was completely stuck to the turtle's back.

Without hesitation, Su Changying reached out and turned the pointer-like iron pillar, pointing it directly at dusk.

Sure enough, the stone tortoise trembled twice and spat out a sealed stone tube from its mouth.

Su Changying reached out and grabbed the stone tube, then pushed off and floated to the surface. "Zhaozhao, found it."

Su Changying wiped the water droplets from her face, looked up at Zhou Zhao who was leaning against the side of the boat, and smiled when she saw the worry in her eyes. "Zhao Zhao is worried about me?"

Zhou Zhao snorted, "Ah Huang is worried about you, but I'm not. Get up quickly, or you'll freeze."

Su Changying laughed happily. He leaped onto the boat and circulated his internal energy throughout his body, instantly drying his clothes and hair.

Seeing this, Ah Huang started rowing the small boat.

The stone cylinder was sealed and covered with a layer of wax, making it look like a candle. Judging by its length and size, it was just right to hold a scroll of imperial edict.

"Ah Zhao, should we open this stone cylinder to confirm?"

Zhou Zhao shook his head at Ah Huang, "No need."

Her ears twitched, and her expression turned serious. "Get ready, the fish we've been waiting for has arrived."

Ah Huang was taken aback and looked ahead. Sure enough, eight small boats were coming menacingly toward the three of them. Each boat had two men in black, and in the blink of an eye, they surrounded their small boat.

The sky had now completely darkened, leaving only the moonlight illuminating the lake.

"This is the Princess's residence. Who are you heroes? Dare to state your names?"

One of the sixteen men spoke up, "Enough with the nonsense, hand over the goods, and I'll spare your lives."

Zhou Zhao met the man's eyes. Those eyes were exceptionally gloomy, cold like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness. For some reason, his eyes were bloodshot, looking as if they were about to shed tears of blood at any moment.

Not only him, but Zhou Zhao looked around and saw that all sixteen people had the same red eyes veiled by blood mist.

It looks very strange.

The man's voice was exceptionally hoarse, so low it seemed as if he couldn't make a sound, and upon closer listening, it even trembled.

"Really? Is it the Third Prince or the Crown Prince?"

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he paid attention to the eyes of the men in black. Whether he was talking about the Third Prince or the Crown Prince, they didn't blink or change their expressions.

Either neither of these groups is the case, or these people are highly trained assassins.

Before Zhou Zhao could think it through, a huge fishing net descended from the sky, covering her, Su Changying, and A Huang's small boat.