Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 46 Zhou Zhao's Purpose

“You are a good official. Xie Ling, you are not wrong, I am wrong.”

Upon hearing this name, both unfamiliar and familiar, Xie Laosi burst into tears.

He did not disappoint his father's expectations, living an upright life and serving as an official with integrity.

He had waited for this day for far too long, so long that his tombstone had already been erected in the Xie family ancestral graves, Liangping County had a new magistrate, and the fair-faced scholar Xie Ling had become the scarred Xie Lao Si...

Long ago, my future was over, and I could no longer return to my homeland.

Xie Ling looked at Cheng Yuyuan, who was covered in blood, his lips trembling slightly, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

No one is perfect; although he didn't hate, he couldn't easily say "forgive."

He turned away, no longer looking at Cheng Yuyuan, and walked to a sunny spot to put away the red umbrella. He then silently walked to Liu Huang's side.

Liu Huang shuddered and shifted to the left.

Xie Ling didn't say anything, but moved to the left as well, keeping a distance that was just right for him to learn from Xie Ling's skills.

Zhou Zhao noticed the commotion behind her, and her lips twitched. She looked at Cheng Yuyuan, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, "Chief Cheng, I have resolved your troubles; now it is your turn to help me resolve my problems."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yuyuan looked up, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

She glanced at Xie Ling, her eyes filled with apology, but now that things had come to this, she had no face to beg for forgiveness.

She steadied herself, took Cheng Ming's hand, and staggered to her feet. "Miss Zhou, take whatever you want, as long as I have it! Even my life. I have only one request: after I die, bury me with my son outside Tianying City, and drag Li Zhan out to feed the dogs."

"However, if you want to take my life, you don't need to go to such lengths to help me resolve my inner conflict."

Cheng Yuyuan pondered for a moment, "You want me to abdicate and hand over the position of chieftain to you? I can do it right now."

She couldn't think of anything else she had that would catch Zhou Zhao's eye.

Zhou Zhao looked at the glaring red at the corner of Cheng Yuyuan's mouth, then glanced at the bloodstain where she had knelt earlier, and sighed inwardly.

"No, you should remain the leader of Tiandou Village. I want to become the leader of Xuanwu Hall."

A hint of surprise flashed in Cheng Yuyuan's eyes, but she nodded without hesitation, "Okay! I'm willing to follow Miss Zhou's arrangements."

Zhou Zhao was not surprised. Cheng Yuyuan had always been able to prevent people from being left without a family, so she must have had some courage. Last night, she had only lost her composure because she had fallen for Sun Youshan's psychological manipulation.

"With the old leader of the Xuanwu Hall stepping down, how should a new leader be chosen?"

Zhou Zhao never beats around the bush; he went straight to the point and asked the question.

Although she had asked Han Dashan before, Han Dashan didn't give her a detailed answer, so he didn't know as much as Cheng Yuyuan.

"The old hall master's name is Ye Xuan. When I came to Tianying City, he was already a hall master. He is over sixty years old this year. I heard that he used to be a soldier who lost an arm on the battlefield. However, he is very skilled in martial arts. Like the girl's sworn brother, he can lift a cauldron with one arm."

"There are three strongholds under Xuanwu Hall. The chief of Tiannv Stronghold is named Zhang Miaoshou. He used to be a conman who had his index finger cut off."

"Tiannv Village mainly operates honey traps, using beautiful girls to swindle money from people. Zhang Miaoshou has two confidants, one of whom is named Zhang Ling'er, a beautiful young girl who uses bells as weapons. It is said that the leader of Yaoguang Hall in the Inner Seven Halls once intended to take her away."

The head of Yaoguang Hall? Isn't that Qianmian?

Zhou Zhao hadn't expected to hear Qianmian's scandal in a place like this.

"But the rumors are not credible. The head of Yaoguang Hall is the youngest of the seven heads of the inner seven halls. He is arrogant, ruthless, and never gets close to women. He doesn't seem like the kind of person who would have such thoughts."

"Moreover, as far as I know, Master Yaoguang has a sweetheart."

Zhou Zhao's breathing became erratic. She steadied herself and continued, "What about the other one?"

Cheng Yuyuan knew she had gone off on a tangent, so she quickly changed the subject. "The other one is named Yingge. She used to be a courtesan. Yingge is skilled in using medicine and is very difficult to deal with. The lady who serves the old master now is from Tiannv Village."

Zhou Zhao immediately understood; she was a female con artist who knew how to manipulate people and whisper sweet nothings in their ear.

“Tianxu Village is a gathering place for beggars. As a mother, I can’t stand these kinds of things, so I’ve always been at odds with Tianxu Village.” Cheng Yuyuan’s eyes were full of disgust when she mentioned Tianxu Village.

Zhou Zhao thought to himself, no wonder Tian Xu and Tian Dou were at odds at that roasted mutton restaurant, ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

"The master of Tianxu Village is called Huang Sanbai, but no one knows his real name. He has two fierce generals under his command, one of whom is called Zijinchui, a burly man wielding a large hammer, who is a fellow disciple of Zhu Wen and Zhu Wu."

"The other one is named Tian Jing, a playboy. He looks very kind and likable, and he is eloquent and good at using hidden weapons."

Cheng Yuyuan didn't keep him in suspense; she knew what Zhou Zhao most wanted to hear.

She thought for a moment, feeling slightly embarrassed, "You must have heard the rumors in the village that the leader prefers me to take over. But that's not actually the case; it's just something I said to appease the brothers."

"The old master did treat me differently because he had a daughter who was about my age. That's all."

"He has already told us who will become the head of the Xuanwu Hall. In the past month, the leader of the village that brings back the most wealth will be the next head of the hall."

As Zhou Zhao listened, his mind raced. "So Sun Youshan went out to rob merchant caravans and brought back cloth; Zhu Wen was sent to Yuyang to search for treasures. Tian Dou mainly engaged in robbery and plunder."

Cheng Yuyuan nodded in shame.

She used to think she was right, that it was all Xie Ling's fault that she ended up in this situation, and that becoming a bandit was a last resort; now, looking back, she realized she had indeed done many absurd things.

"According to the schedule, when will Zhu Wen be able to return?" Zhou Zhao asked.

Cheng Yuyuan turned to look at Cheng Ming, who was standing to the side. Cheng Ming thought for a moment and said, "The day after tomorrow."

Zhou Zhao's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile.

"I have a plan that kills two birds with one stone. All you need to do is send a letter to the Purple Gold Hammer of the Heavenly Void in Zhu Wen's name..."

After Zhou Zhao finished speaking, he caught a glimpse of Liu Huang's longing gaze out of the corner of his eye, and twitched his lips speechlessly.

Ah Huang is still thinking about Cheng Dong's poisoned body!

“Cheng Dong cannot die without knowing the truth. If one thing happens, another will follow. Where did Sun Youshan get his poison? Does that person still have any? If we don’t find out, we don’t know who will be the next to die.”

Cheng Ming's expression immediately tensed up. He secretly glanced at Cheng Yuyuan, his eyes filled with worry.

“We will split into two groups. Chengming, you are familiar with the people in the city, so you go and investigate the source of the poison. My brother is good at autopsies, so let him examine Cheng Dong’s body to see if he can determine what kind of poison it is and if he can prepare an antidote in advance.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Ming nodded without hesitation.

He was Cheng Yuyuan's servant; he obeyed whoever Cheng Yuyuan listened to.

Zhou Zhao nodded calmly, but seeing Liu Huang's beaming smile, he couldn't help but shake his head in exasperation.

After Zhou Zhao and his group took Cheng Dong's body out, only Cheng Yuyuan and her servant Cheng Ming remained in the courtyard.

Cheng Yuyuan no longer tried to hide it. She swayed and spat out a mouthful of scarlet blood.

Cheng Ming's eyes reddened, and he quickly supported her. In his heart, he called out "Yu Yuan," but he dared not overstep his bounds, saying, "Master!"

Cheng Yuyuan wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve.

"After I've repaid Miss Zhou, you should take me, Cheng Nan, and Cheng Dong back to Guzhang. Tianying City is too dry and too cold; I really don't like it here."

"Then bury us on the small hillside next to the Cheng family ancestral graves, the place that is full of purple clover."

Cheng Ming gave a soft "hmm," as gentle as a feather falling to the ground.

"Someone like me is probably destined for the eighteenth level of hell. It's better not to disturb my father and mother and just stay by their side."

Cheng Ming didn't say anything more; he would die there too.

Cheng Yuyuan went to the eighteenth level of hell, and he went to the eighteenth level of hell, just like before.