That wretched vixen has disguised herself as my wife!

Thank you so much this time!

Xie Yunqi stepped forward and bowed to Fang Zhiyi.

She thought for a moment, then lowered her voice.

“I went to the house of the person in charge yesterday. It was dilapidated and there didn’t even seem to be many maids! If you don’t like staying here, we can go stay at an inn.”

The manager was directing the shopkeeper and waiters to lift Lu Zhao up when he heard her say that, and he immediately stumbled.

Fang Zhiyi smiled faintly.

"We doctors travel all over the world, and it's common for us to eat in the wind and sleep in the open. We're already very fortunate to have a room to shelter us from the wind and rain."

"Alright then, alright then!"

Miss Xie seemed a little embarrassed by her own delicate nature, which was quite rare.

Jiang Jingming listened for a long time with his arms crossed, but he couldn't find anything suspicious about Fang Zhiyi, so he had to put his suspicions aside for the time being.

Aqing picked up their bags and silently walked behind him.

"Thank you so much today, Jingming!"

Xie Yunqi patted his shoulder and suddenly leaned closer.

"What are you and Aqing doing in Shulan City? You two don't look like people from Yongzhou."

Jiang Jingming sensed a hint of inquiry in the young lady's nonchalant tone, probably an occupational hazard stemming from growing up in the Divine Capital Guard.

Therefore, the answer should not be too detailed, lest it seem deliberate, nor too brief, lest it seem insecure.

“I moved to Shulan City with my family when I was young to do jade business. Unfortunately, business has become increasingly difficult in recent years, so I took Aqing with me and prepared to go to Zhongzhou to stay with relatives.”

Jiang Jingming made slight modifications to the version that Na Risong had told him.

"Zhongzhou is so big, where are you going to find your relatives?"

"Fengling City, Tingpu Villa".

Jiang Jingming remained unfazed.

Anyway, it's normal for an ordinary merchant in Shulan City to be out of the loop and not know about the massacre of Tingpu Manor.

"..."

Xie Yunqi hesitated, his expression shifting between sympathy and tension, as if he couldn't bear to tell them the news.

"Which relative of yours is at Tingpu Villa?"

“He is my uncle. He did not come to Shulan City with my father at first. Later, I heard that he was working for the Tingpu Manor of the Righteous Alliance, so he had quite a bit of influence in Fengling City. We are welcome to visit him anytime.”

Jiang Jingming continued to fabricate lies.

Xie Yunqi scratched his face and smoothed his hair.

People often pretend to be busy when they feel awkward.

After a long while, she finally sighed.

"Alright, actually, the entire Listening Waterfall Manor was wiped out a few days ago, and the murderer has not yet been found. You'll probably be disappointed if you go there this time."

"What? Everyone's dead? Then my uncle..."

Jiang Jingming forced a look of grief.

"I'm afraid so."

Xie Yunqi hung his head listlessly.

Seeing her so dejected, Jiang Jingming suddenly felt a pang of guilt, but he had to keep making up the lie.

“Miss Xie, my uncle and my father have been friends for many years and have always looked after each other. He can’t just die for no reason. I still have to go to Fengling City and find out the truth.”

Jiang Jingming took a deep breath, reflecting on his painful experience.

"Great! Jingming, I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

Xie Yunqi suddenly looked up, his peach blossom eyes suddenly igniting with fierce fighting spirit.

She patted Jiang Jingming hard on the back, looking as if they were kindred spirits who had met too late.

"Cough cough!"

Jiang Jingming coughed repeatedly as she patted him.

The young lady's swordsmanship is mediocre, but her palm techniques are first-rate.

"Then it's a deal! We'll go to Zhongzhou together! I'll protect you the whole way, don't worry!"

Xie Yunqi shouted excitedly.

"Then thank you in advance, Miss."

Jiang Jingming sighed and answered casually.

"Hey! Don't think I'm joking!"

Xie Yunqi leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"You have no idea, the murderer of the entire family massacre is none other than the young mistress of the Duyue Sect!"

"Oh?"

Jiang Jingming pretended to be surprised.

Xie Yunqi waved his arms and spoke eloquently.

"The Moon Crossing Cult! They're all ruthless villains who devour flesh and blood, tear bones and pull tendons! With your small frame, you wouldn't even be enough to fill their teeth!"

Hearing the young lady's solemn tone, Jiang Jingming couldn't help but picture the familiar group of followers.

He got gored by a cow while herding cattle... He cheated at a card game over a few coins... He clung to Chen Zhuo's leg, crying and begging him to bring him some wine...

It's truly unimaginable what these people look like, devouring flesh and blood, tearing bones and pulling tendons.

"In short, follow me and I'll keep you safe!"

Xie Yunqi put his hands on his hips and sneered.

"But I'm not doing this entirely to help you guys; I also need to investigate this case myself."

Finally, she added one more sentence.

Why?

Jiang Jingming raised an eyebrow.

"Because it's related to the Moon Crossing Cult."

Xie Yunqi turned his head to look at him.

Do you remember me saying you reminded me of someone I used to know?

"Ah."

Jiang Jingming suddenly had the illusion that she had recognized him.

"That person, they killed him."

Xie Yunqi turned around, leaving him with his back to him.

She stepped over the collapsed tables and chairs, humming an unknown tune.

The door was wide open, and the cold night wind made her skirt flutter.

Jiang Jingming was about to follow with Aqing when he heard someone say slowly.

"By the way, the surname Jing is quite rare, isn't it?"

Fang Zhiyi leaned against the door and blinked.

Jiang Jingming's heart skipped a beat.

He always felt that a destiny-ending tribulation was quietly approaching, but when they first met, it was as gentle as a spring breeze hitting the door of his heart.

Chapter Thirty: The Moon Shines Brightly Over the Sea

Passing through the chaotic long street, at the other end of Shulan City, there is a more ordinary bustle.

The lights were always on, and various performing troupes played instruments and danced. Unlike the strict family education in Zhongzhou, the children of Yongzhou ran barefoot through the crowd.

Xie Yunqi bought four lanterns by the roadside, one for each person.

She made a tiger design for herself, a puppy for Jiang Jingming, a sparrow for Aqing, and Fang Zhiyi took the rest of the rabbits.

"Actually, Shulan City is quite lively! Before I came here, I thought it was really like my father said, that everyone would close their doors early at night and there would only be the sound of yellow sand and camel bells!"

Xie Yunqi childishly swung her tiger lantern, using its shadow on the ground to eat Jiang Jingming's puppy.

"It's probably still not as bustling as the capital."

Jiang Jingming answered with a smile.

He had never been to the capital, but had some general idea based on the descriptions in the book.

I've heard that the capital is a place of revelry and extravagance, with grand festivals throughout the year.

A huge painted boat glided leisurely through the moat, and beautiful women danced gracefully on the deck, while someone tossed gold onto the boat from afar.

"I like lively places, but sometimes I find them quite annoying."

Xie Yunqi pouted, thinking again of the banquets her father had forced her to attend.

A group of old men flattered each other, drank and sang, or leered at the dancers they had bought who were swaying their hips.

The powerful figures in the hearts of the common people, who hold the power of life and death, are actually just bald, decrepit old men who spend their days scheming about how to enjoy themselves while they have few days left.

This is incredibly boring.

Xie Yunqi's tiger lantern seemed to be baring its teeth and glaring angrily, just like her.

Jiang Jingming smiled, unable to empathize with the young lady's feelings.

The city of Zhige, where he lived, was a desolate and cold place, with only winter lasting a long time.

Due to the harsh climate, most people are not well-off and have little extra money to celebrate festivals throughout the year.

On New Year's Eve, we bought malt candy for the children, ate dumplings around the stove, and set off a few firecrackers. That was it for celebrating the New Year.

When the mountains were blocked by heavy snow, Jiang Jingming would stay in his yard alone, roasting sweet potatoes. The world was always very quiet at this time, and it was as if you could hear the rustling sound of snow falling on the eaves.

"Ah! What's that?!"

Xie Yunqi exclaimed in surprise and pulled Fang Zhiyi to the front.

She must have seen some interesting performance, because for a moment she forgot her worries and became excited again.

Jiang Jingming walked behind, looked up, and saw a crescent moon amidst the bustling lights.

Aqing walked silently beside him, the sparrow lantern in her hand was given to her by Xie Yunqi, and it would flutter its wings with each step she took.

"Actually, it looks quite like you."

Jiang Jingming turned his head and smiled.

Aqing lowered her eyes, watching the titmouse's wings rise and fall.

After a long while, she suddenly spoke up and asked.

"Young Master, do you think we can trust them?"

Jiang Jingming was slightly taken aback, then shook his head.

"So far, I haven't trusted anyone."

He was telling the truth, even though Xie Yunqi seemed innocent and generous enough to recruit him.

As for Fang Zhiyi, just by looking at her, you can tell she's someone you absolutely can't trust!

There's an old saying that goes something like this: the more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to deceive people, especially a woman who looks like a femme fatale.

So far, the only person I can unconditionally trust is still Aqing.

When Aqing heard his answer, she didn't say anything, but just nodded.

"By the way, I haven't asked you about it in all these years."