Gu Baiqing was only accompanying Xie Qingrong over here, and in his heart he didn’t hold out hope that anything useful would be left, so he was somewhat distracted.
Thinking that by now Mo Xuanli should be awake, he wondered what he would be like. In truth, Gu Baiqing felt a little guilty, since some things he had done were far too much.
His indulgent fondness for Little Xuanli had already exceeded how he had ever treated any child before, as if his usual neglect of Mo Xuanli had come back to bite him. It felt like karmic retribution, like he had walked straight into a trap.
But later he thought again: as long as Mo Xuanli didn’t know about the river lanterns, and the words and deeds they had exchanged on the lake, then there wasn’t much to worry about. After all, the information he could get from others was limited—at most it would look like his master had simply cared for a disciple who had turned small.
So long as he didn’t regain his memories. Instinctively, Gu Baiqing still treated it all as a ridiculous accident. Once awake and clear-headed, the same path would continue on.
Suddenly Xie Qingrong asked something, a line that was extremely familiar, and Gu Baiqing was so startled he shivered, as if a blade were suspended right above his head.
Mo Xuanli had once asked him, if he were to fall into demonhood, what would happen. Gu Baiqing had jokingly dodged the question, but in the end it had made Mo Xuanli cry.
And now it was a similar question again. Did he have to keep asking him these kinds of death traps?
Gu Baiqing really didn’t want to answer at all. It felt like no matter what he said it would be trouble, so he put on a profound air instead, countering: “I haven’t had much contact with demons. What does Young Master Xie think?”
Passing the burden so directly left Xie Qingrong momentarily stunned. He knew Gu Baiqing’s identity—such an immortal master, not answering directly but guiding others to think for themselves, it fit the role.
Xie Qingrong thought for a while and said: “It depends what kind of demon. Some are born demons, or fall due to obsessions. But as long as they don’t slaughter innocents or commit evil in the human realm, their existence or not has nothing to do with us. But some demons delight in killing, feeding on life to elevate themselves, spreading evil—that kind must certainly be destroyed.”
Gu Baiqing almost wanted to applaud him. That truly was the standard answer. “What you say makes sense.”
“But… if the one who fell into demonhood and did evil was someone close to you?” Xie Qingrong’s little jade head dipped slightly. “Could you do it? Or would you think, if only you had been more careful back then, perhaps you could have prevented them from falling, if only you had done better, maybe the tragedy wouldn’t have happened.”
Gu Baiqing felt chills run down his spine, staring in shock at the little jade man. He thought—this guy can’t possibly know the plot, right? Every single line hit right on his sore spots. Was this the fourfold death question?
It was entirely asking: if Mo Xuanli were to fall into demonhood, what should his master do?
The questions made Gu Baiqing’s back run cold. Just as he was at a loss for how to answer, he heard Xie Qingrong smile faintly and say: “Forgive me, I was overthinking. Of course it should be the close one themselves who delivers the end, because only those closest are most qualified to bear that evil consequence.”
Gu Baiqing froze, feeling the topic had turned oddly grim. Though he was glad he didn’t have to answer, Xie Qingrong’s response left his mood heavy.
All of a sudden, Gu Baiqing sensed a powerful gaze fixed on him. He whipped his head around, but only saw the mouth of the alley where the occasional townsfolk passed by.
He blinked in confusion.
“Brother Mo, let’s go back,” Xie Qingrong said. “Brother Xuanli should be awake by now. We ought to check on him.”
“Mm.” Gu Baiqing responded, took the little jade man, and started back.
They hadn’t walked far before they ran into Mo Xuanli.
Gu Baiqing stopped in his tracks. Looking at the tall, elegant man not far away, suddenly his heartbeat faltered, irregular. He didn’t know if it was guilt or what, but as Mo Xuanli drew nearer, Gu Baiqing felt as though the very oxygen was being sucked from the air around them. That oppressive aura, until the man came right up to them, was enough to make breathing seize.
Mo Xuanli lowered his gaze, eyes deep. “Brother…”
Completely different tones—when Little Xuanli said it, it was lightly lifted with a hint of cuteness. But now, Mo Xuanli’s voice was low and magnetic, as though plucking the strings of the heart, making one’s chest tremble.
Gu Baiqing’s throat felt tight, he barely managed to force out a hum in reply. “Recovered?”
“Mm. Sorry to trouble Brother.” Mo Xuanli spoke.
“Your memories…” Gu Baiqing felt something in his eyes carried a different meaning, and grew worried.
“Memories after being struck are gone. I don’t know if they’ll come back.” Mo Xuanli said.
Gu Baiqing let out a breath of relief.
Xie Qingrong finally greeted them, then said: “According to existing records, there’s no recovery. But since Brother Xuanli has always recovered faster than usual, maybe there’s still a chance.”
“It’s only two days of trivial memory, it doesn’t matter even if it’s gone.” Gu Baiqing quickly interjected.
Mo Xuanli froze for a moment, the corners of his lips lifting with a faint sweetness, as if he could see the guilt hidden in his master’s brows and eyes—he knew that must have been a beautiful memory, otherwise his master wouldn’t be this awkward about it.
Just hearing about it, seeing those small traces of evidence, already made Mo Xuanli feel indescribably happy. That was his master making up for the childhood he’d missed, perhaps enough to cover all his unhappy memories. Of course he wanted to remember it, but in this matter—even with his knowledge of medicine—he was powerless.
If he really could recall it… maybe…
Mo Xuanli’s gaze toward Gu Baiqing gradually took on an invasive edge. Gu Baiqing, too guilty to meet his eyes, didn’t notice, but Xie Qingrong with his spiritual sight saw and felt everything clearly. What he sensed was the intent of a hunter fixed on its prey.
Wait… could it be that what Jingzhan said was true?
Weren’t they supposed to be master and disciple?
Or was it that his little jade body’s presence was too faint, or because everyone knew he was blind, so Mo Xuanli acted with no restraint?
Please, Brother Xuanli, your gaze can even be felt through spiritual sight. Could you rein it in a little?
Xie Qingrong, who had always known courtesy, at that moment felt so awkward he wished he could vanish on the spot. In the end, he could only pretend to be blind.
But Mo Xuanli’s eyes quickly fell on the little jade man tucked in Gu Baiqing’s arm. With a faint smile he said: “Let’s go back. Oh, and let me take Brother Xie. I just happen to have something to ask him.”
Gu Baiqing looked strangely at Mo Xuanli. To talk, there was no need to take the jade man away. “What’s this? Do you need me to step aside?”
Mo Xuanli paused, then quickly said: “No, I just worry… that Brother will tire himself.”
Gu Baiqing looked even more puzzled, but then thought—this Mo Xuanli was no longer Little Xuanli, but his disciple. A disciple had always shown him reverence and care, and usually snatched up any task that needed doing. Taken that way, it all seemed reasonable enough.
Thus the little jade man was smoothly transferred into Mo Xuanli’s hand.
If he weren’t in a jade body, Xie Qingrong at that moment would surely have twitched the corner of his mouth. His impression of the once modest and courteous Mo Xuanli was being rewritten. Wasn’t this unmistakably jealousy? Even if held in someone’s arms, he was still just a small jade figurine, alright?
“Brother Xie, do you think this deed was done by one person or two?”
Xie Qingrong had just been inwardly laughing at Mo Xuanli’s behavior, but that sudden question struck like a thunderclap, as if even his jade shell cracked with it.
“Why do you say that?” Xie Qingrong asked.
“There are some doubts that seem quite strange.” Mo Xuanli said faintly.
Gu Baiqing glanced at him. Thinking it over—yes, in the original text it was Hua En. But now, Gu Baiqing could no longer rely on the “original text.” Too many bugs had already appeared, and he was starting to trust more in Mo Xuanli’s intelligence.
“It does… seem to have some odd points.” Gu Baiqing suddenly said.
“Brother, what did you notice?” Mo Xuanli’s tone immediately grew lighter.
“The first time, I clearly injured that man’s arm. But the second night, when Hua En appeared, there wasn’t any sign of injury. Could it be that the first one wasn’t Hua En?” Gu Baiqing said, becoming doubtful even himself. “And the first one seemed stronger in every way.”
Mo Xuanli asked: “I heard from Three Bean, the first time it should have been me running into him by chance, and he tried to kill me. The second time Lu Sulan lured Hua En out, and Hua En wanted to kill Lu Sulan.”
Gu Baiqing nodded: “That’s right.”
“Then the chance of it being two different people is greater.” Mo Xuanli said.
Gu Baiqing frowned slightly: “Xuanli, what doubts were you referring to just now?”
Mo Xuanli answered directly: “I only thought it odd that Brother Xie and Senior Brother Zhu both arrived very early. Yet at that time Hua En already had the ability to trap the two of them. That doesn’t match with what Hua En has shown since. So I wanted to ask Brother Xie’s opinion. After all, Brother Xie knows his own strength best.”
Having been led this far, Xie Qingrong still hadn’t spoken, which even made Gu Baiqing find it strange.
“Brother Xie? Have you thought of something?” Gu Baiqing asked. After all, it was Xie Qingrong who had asked him to bring him along to investigate. He must have had suspicions to make such a request. For a blind man, what he could see was inherently limited—if he still insisted on coming, there had to be an important reason.
“I also… can’t be certain. We’ll only know once we catch Hua En.” Xie Qingrong finally said.
But Mo Xuanli cast him a cold glance.
When they returned to the Wen residence, Jingzhan immediately started complaining: “You all ran off, leaving me here alone. I was nearly deafened by the noise.”
Even without him saying so, the clamor could be heard at the gates of the Wen estate.
Because the funeral was to be held tomorrow. Without a puppeteer to control the body, it would soon rot—three days’ preservation was already the limit. Tomorrow they would have to cremate it.
Of course cremation was a last resort, to prevent Wen Jiang’s corpse from being used again. But for the Wen family, it was painful. A burial was always best. Cremation was only for those without kin. Wen Jiang’s family loved him, and in their grief they vented their anger at Lu Sulan.
Lu Sulan, clad in mourning clothes, face expressionless from start to finish, seemed already numb.
Wu Hongxi kept her company, curses running across her face, but before a family who had just lost a loved one, she could not voice them aloud.
When Gu Baiqing and the others entered the hall where the coffin was placed, they heard Wen Jiang’s mother cursing Lu Sulan.
“All your uselessness—couldn’t keep my son alive, and no ability to give him a son or daughter either. We never should have let Wen Jiang marry you in the first place!”
Wu Hongxi couldn’t bear it and said: “Brother Wen Jiang was kidnapped—what does that have to do with Sister Lan? Madam Wen, Sister Lan is already grieving deeply. You shouldn’t be blaming her.”
“Enough, what use is scolding her.” The old master also stepped forward to speak.
“If I don’t scold him, then I’ll scold you. Why did you agree back then to let Wen Jiang bring that villain to stay in our house? If he hadn’t come—”
“That’s enough! Stop talking!” The old master immediately turned stern, after all, family scandals mustn’t be spread outside.
Madam Wen choked, then suddenly collapsed at the side of the coffin, crying bitterly: “You unfilial son, how could you make us grey-haired parents bury our black-haired child!”
At that moment, Master Wen saw the few people at the doorway, and quickly went up: “I beg you Daoists, tomorrow please safeguard my Wen household, let my son rest in peace soonest, and most importantly, capture that evil ghost! Make his soul scatter to ashes!”
Master Wen spoke with fierce hatred, his whole face trembling.
Because Mo Xuanli had fainted upon coming up from underground and hadn’t spoken with the Wen family, it was only now that he heard and frowned: “Evil ghost? You think the murderer who harmed your son is already dead?”
“Wasn’t it Hua En who harmed my son? That villain died six months ago—it was his evil ghost come to claim a life.” Master Wen’s voice was sharp.
“How are you so sure he’s dead?” Jingzhan also caught onto the problem at this point. After all, when they fought with Hua En, they couldn’t touch his body, so they couldn’t judge his life or death the way they had with Wen Jiang.
Previously they’d heard Hua En speak only of “puppeteer” and “murderer.” Lu Sulan had mentioned it a few times, and they had also seen an empty grave. So all along they had assumed Hua En had faked his death and returned as a puppeteer for revenge.
But if Hua En had truly died, then he couldn’t be the puppeteer.
A corpse with self-awareness… that sounded more like a puppet under the control of a corpse-controller.
They couldn’t make a firm judgment. Hearing their discussion, Master Wen was also struck dumb: “Could it be he didn’t die? But he should have! He drank poison, died completely. At that time we were the ones who found him and sent him to be buried in a wild grave.”
“You found him? Why would he drink poison for no reason? Unless—it was you who poisoned him?” Jingzhan deliberately provoked.
Master Wen’s face immediately darkened: “We are a proper family, how could we ever commit such a crime? That poison was something he bought and drank himself, it had nothing to do with us!”
Looking at Master Wen’s agitated manner, it didn’t seem like he was lying.
“Then why would he commit suicide? Was it for your son?” Jingzhan pressed again with the painful question. This time Madam Wen grew furious. “Daoists, please just do what you should. We will reward you generously. As for the rest, do not pry further.”
Clearly, to them, the matter between Wen Jiang and Hua En was unspeakable. Faced with such a situation, it could be understood. Regarding facts already set, it seemed useless to dig into the truth.
The group didn’t linger in the main hall. They split up again: Mo Xuanli and Gu Baiqing went up to the roof, Jingzhan and Xie Qingrong hid nearby, concealing their auras. If Hua En were to come, it would be either tonight or tomorrow before the cremation.
Jingzhan couldn’t help but complain: “There are way too many doubts in this whole thing. Anyway, I’m starting to feel maybe Hua En and Wen Jiang were actually in love, and it was outsiders interfering that led to this end. Also, whether Hua En is dead or alive—that’s crucial, right? It could mean there’s someone else behind all this. We have to be on guard. Ah, such a headache. Whatever—once we catch him, we’ll just force him to reveal where your main body is.”
One had to admit, Jingzhan’s mind was sharp—he immediately pointed to the key issue.
Xie Qingrong’s heart stirred, and suddenly he spoke: “I’m sorry, Jingzhan.”
Jingzhan was startled, frowning: “Sorry for what?”
“It was supposed to be my matter, yet…” Xie Qingrong hadn’t finished when Jingzhan scooped him up, flicking the jade-like youth on the forehead. “Say that again and you’re not my brother anymore. From the first time we met as kids, when you saved me, I promised you—your matters are my matters. If you treat me like an outsider, I’ll be pissed. Besides, haven’t you dealt with plenty of my messes? If you don’t make use of me more, aren’t you at a loss? Right, brother?”
Xie Qingrong was silent for a moment, then suddenly murmured: “Brother, huh? If only… we could always be brothers.”
“Nonsense. We’ve always been brothers. What, you want to break ties with me?” Jingzhan was exasperated, just about to rap the little jade man’s head when he noticed Xie Qingrong’s head lowered, looking heavy-hearted and dejected.
Jingzhan was puzzled when suddenly Mo Xuanli hopped down. He only glanced over.
Mo Xuanli explained: “I came to get refreshments.”
Jingzhan was about to sneer, teasing him for doting endlessly on his elder brother with such attentive care, their brotherly relationship—
When suddenly his sneer froze. He recalled Xie Qingrong’s words just now, and was instantly dumbfounded.
Lowering his head stiffly to look at the jade youth in his arms, he suddenly felt as if holding something scalding hot.
“Right, since we’re already out, once this is over and we recover your main body, come with me to a place. I heard the scenery is beautiful, and there are many beauties. Come with me to look at them.”
In the past, Xie Qingrong would scold him for being frivolous, but still agree to go.
But this time—
“Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t accompany you this time.”
Jingzhan’s heart thudded, a chill spreading through him.
