“Why are you looking at me like that?” Pan Chi was the first to avert his gaze and shake his head. “What do you want to say?”
Zhu Yan didn’t press further. “I thought of someone very suspicious.”
“I also have someone in mind who seems very suspicious,” Pan Chi and Shen Du said in unison.
The three looked at each other and almost simultaneously uttered a name.
“Ji Dafu.”
After saying this, they all burst into laughter.
“However, Ji Dafu is naturally suspicious. It might be difficult to uncover his background if we want to investigate. Our previous attempts to probe weren’t successful,” Pan Chi hesitated.
To Zhu Yan, this statement was unfounded. With determination, nothing is impossible.
“The last investigation was unsatisfactory. Ji Dafu’s gambling den is at most a branch, not the headquarters. To uproot it completely, we must explore further,” Zhu Yan said with certainty.
Pan Chi and Shen Du agreed.
“Pan Chi, continue your role as Liu Qingming. Meet with Ji Dafu and be careful with your questions to avoid suspicion,” Zhu Yan said matter-of-factly.
A glint of cunning flashed in Pan Chi’s eyes. “That’s possible, but if I go alone, I’ll be vulnerable. If I say something wrong, wouldn’t it be a lose-lose situation?”
Zhu Yan ignored his shameless words.
“Why don’t you come with me? You can continue to play your role as Master Wan Er. How about it?” Pan Chi continued to probe Zhu Yan.
“You saw how respectful Ji Dafu was towards you last time. He must think you’re a fool with money, which everyone likes. So this time, you should maintain that foolish appearance to let Ji Dafu lower his guard, giving me an opportunity,” Pan Chi continued to analyze.
“I’ll take the chance to manipulate Ji Dafu, whether by playing on his sympathy or his desire for money. We’ll adapt to the situation. With our cooperation, we’re sure to be twice as effective,” Pan Chi’s flowery speech wasn’t without reason.
Zhu Yan nodded in agreement, applauding the idea. If they went together, their chances of success might be greater.
Shen Du, who had been silent on the side, couldn’t bear to hear them getting carried away. He pulled Zhu Yan aside and tapped her forehead:
“You believe whatever he says. Are you a pig?”
Zhu Yan was displeased but decided not to argue with Shen Du, considering the importance of the investigation. Instead, she urged:
“Let’s start the operation quickly.”
As the three turned to leave, a rider came galloping from afar.
Zhu Yan looked closely and saw it was one of Sun Tan’s subordinates.
“Official Zhu!” the man shouted, dismounting swiftly and rushing forward.
Zhu Yan immediately sensed something was amiss.
“Official Zhu, Commander Sun has news. There’s trouble at the city gate. Please hurry there, I’ve prepared horses for you all.” As he finished speaking, several fast horses galloped over.
An ominous feeling enveloped Zhu Yan’s heart.
“What’s the matter?” Zhu Yan inquired.
“It’s related to the Half-Faced Ghost,” the subordinate said urgently, furrowing his brow. “Hurry, or we’ll be too late.”
Upon hearing it was related to the Half-Faced Ghost, the three quickly mounted their horses without further words and followed Sun Tan’s subordinate. They galloped at full speed, soon arriving at the city gate.
Mo Qianzhi had already arrived with his men and was in a standoff with the Half-Faced Ghost. Shen Du quickly dismounted and stepped forward to observe the Half-Faced Ghost.
They saw that the Half-Faced Ghost was holding a young woman hostage, his demeanor arrogant.
“This woman looks familiar,” Pan Chi whispered, pondering for a moment before suddenly realizing, “Isn’t that Du Xiaowan, the bride from the new bride case?”
Zhu Yan furrowed her brow, staring intently at the Half-Faced Ghost and the hostage. Suddenly, a pain shot through her heart, and she instinctively grabbed Shen Du’s wrist, her gaze becoming distant.
Fragments of memory flashed through her mind. This scene was strangely familiar, stirring up long-forgotten memories.
In that memory, she too was held by the neck, with a thin blade pressed against her throat…
Seeing her pallor, Shen Du couldn’t help but worry. “Are you alright?”
Shen Du tried to loosen Zhu Yan’s grip on his wrist to hold her hand differently, but she clung to him tightly.
Zhu Yan’s expression was anxious and somewhat panicked. Shen Du felt a pang in his heart, thinking he shouldn’t have brought her to such a scene.
At this moment, seeing the crowd that had gathered, the Half-Faced Ghost burst into laughter, tightening his grip on Du Xiaowan’s neck and rambling, “Good, everyone who should be here has arrived. Let me show you how to eat people!”
Du Xiaowan, frail and restrained by the Half-Faced Ghost, trembled and wept softly.
Annoyed by her crying, the Half-Faced Ghost barked, “Cry again and I’ll cut off your head.” As he spoke, he brought the dagger closer to her neck.
A thin line of blood began to seep from a small cut on Du Xiaowan’s neck.
Seeing the Half-Faced Ghost’s unwavering grip on his weapon, Pan Chi began to worry that rescuing Du Xiaowan might prove difficult.
Mo Qianzhi lifted his official robe and stepped forward with his men, saying, “Half-Faced Ghost, release Lady Du first, and we can negotiate everything.”
Hearing this, the Half-Faced Ghost laughed loudly, his hoarse voice tinged with mockery, “Do you think I’m that stupid? You, the illustrious Prefect of Yingzhou, how could you possibly let me go, Mo Qianzhi? Are you trying to make a fool of me?”
Mo Qianzhi frowned slightly but continued speaking calmly. “You’re aware of the current situation. If you release her, we can still negotiate terms.”
Before Mo Qianzhi could finish, the Half-Faced Ghost spat disdainfully, “Stop your eloquent words!”
He then began to laugh maniacally, his laughter shrill and eerie like a ghost from the underworld, each sound grating on the ears.
“Seventy years in this world is not enough, better to become immortal for ten thousand years,” the Half-Faced Ghost muttered incessantly, gripping his curved blade tightly. “Life is death, death is life, an endless cycle, perpetually renewing. With a perfect method, what use is longevity?”
“What is he talking about?” Pan Chi mumbled in confusion. Shen Du also didn’t understand fully and shook his head silently.
“I am a lonely ghost in this world. One day, when I am reborn, I vow to show both mortals and immortals the difference between life and death. Swallowed into my belly to be reborn again, and so on…”
As the Half-Faced Ghost spoke more recklessly, the crowd looked at this madman in the distance with bewildered expressions as he rambled on.
At this moment, Mo Qianzhi lowered his hand and quickly made a gesture. Captain Mo immediately went to the rear to order the archers to prepare.
Suddenly, the Half-Faced Ghost called out Mo Qianzhi’s name. “Hey, little Prefect.”
Mo Qianzhi frowned deeply, clasping his hands behind his back and staring intently at the Half-Faced Ghost. “If you promise not to investigate this matter further, I can agree to release her. How about that? It’s not a bad offer!”
Mo Qianzhi didn’t respond, glaring at the Half-Faced Ghost to continue. This creature had more to say: “If you don’t agree, I’ll eat all the citizens of Yingzhou! This vast Yingzhou will become a ghost town!”
Hearing this, Mo Qianzhi burst into laughter. “If you have the guts, eat me first! I’m waiting right here! If not, release Lady Du quickly, and you might still have a way out.”
The Half-Faced Ghost didn’t believe Mo Qianzhi’s words and once again used his curved blade to wound Du Xiaowan.