Five years ago, when they were investigating A’Yu’s case in Jinjiang, they had taken shelter from the rain for one night in a broken-down temple.

And it was then that the crown pearl from her hair had been removed by Jingrong.

All along, Jingrong had kept that crown pearl with him!

Never parting from it!

Yet unexpectedly, three years later, that crown pearl had appeared on Luo Yang.

She couldn’t care about anything else. She desperately pushed through the crowd and rushed over, grabbed that crown pearl, and yanked it from Luo Yang’s neck.

Excitedly demanding: “Where did this pearl come from?”

At this moment, Luo Yang was still being held by the collar by Master Hu’s large hand. He clutched his swollen, aching stomach, frowning as he looked at this woman who had inexplicably jumped out.

Obviously stunned!

Wasn’t this woman mute?

How was she speaking now?

He swallowed and had no time to question why she had pretended to be mute. His gaze fixed on that crown pearl, he answered with somewhat insufficient confidence: “This is mine! My own, I’ve had it since I was in my mother’s womb.”

“I’m asking you one more time—where exactly did you get this pearl from?” Ji Yunshu roared almost like a madwoman.

Her eyes instantly red!

This was the only thread of hope she had gained in these three years!

Luo Yang was stunned.

Master Hu and the surrounding people were also dumbfounded!

Who was this woman?

Where had she come from?

Ji Yunshu shed tears, restraining her emotions, speaking with a hint of pleading in her tone: “Do you know where he is? Tell me!”

Luo Yang blinked: “I…”

Just as he was about to speak, Master Hu shook him by the collar several times: “You little punk, I don’t have time to watch your theatrics! If you’re smart, hand over the dagger right now, or else I’ll dismember you into eight pieces!”

Luo Yang met Master Hu’s furious eyes and spread his hands to both sides, saying: “What dagger? I didn’t take it!”

“Still being stubborn? Looks like if I don’t dig out your heart and liver, you won’t know how formidable Master Hu is!”

Xiao Ba, who had been hiding behind them all along, poked his head out. He knelt on the ground and desperately hugged Master Hu’s thick leg, crying out: “Murder! Murder! Help! Someone’s trying to kill my brother!”

Crying with tears streaming down!

His shouts were heart-wrenching!

Master Hu kicked him away with one foot: “Get lost, you brat!”

Xiao Ba persevered, rushing up to continue hugging his thigh: “If you kill my brother, I’ll fight you to the death! My brother’s heart isn’t good, his lungs aren’t good either. Even if you dig them out, you can’t sell them for a good price. Please spare him!”

“Still not getting lost?”

“Sir, we really didn’t take your dagger. We’re poor, but we don’t do these kinds of things. Wipe your eyes and take a good look!” Xiao Ba was crying desperately.

No matter what, he refused to let go of Master Hu’s thigh.

The surrounding people began pointing and whispering.

“Isn’t this person Master Hu from Taonan? How is he doing this kind of thing, wrongly accusing people?”

“He’s usually someone not to be trifled with, but who would have thought he’d be cruel enough to want someone’s life now.”

“Truly a human-faced beast at heart.”

…

When Master Hu heard the surrounding discussions, his face turned livid!

Luo Yang looked down and saw Xiao Ba wiping tears while wailing loudly, all the while frantically blinking at him.

This kid really hadn’t followed him for nothing.

He’d almost become a genius!

Luo Yang’s eyes rolled. Seizing this opportunity, he quickly thought of a plan. Suddenly having a flash of inspiration, he signaled Xiao Ba with a glance and scraped some sand with his foot. Xiao Ba understood, grabbed a handful of sand from the ground, and stuffed it toward Luo Yang.

He loudly shouted “Master Hu!”

Master Hu was already annoyed by the surrounding scolding voices. At this shout, just as he was about to open his mouth—

Taking advantage of this, Luo Yang threw the sand in his hand toward his eyes and mouth.

“Ah!” Master Hu roared loudly.

His eyes hurt, tightly closed.

Luo Yang immediately exerted all his strength, pushed Master Hu away, then pulled Xiao Ba and darted into the crowd.

But before running, he didn’t forget to slap a nearby camel a few times. Whether or not he had touched the camel’s “reverse scale,” the camel immediately went wild, starting to rampage, knocking over several people.

Making the surroundings chaotic.

Luo Yang whistled and pulled Xiao Ba, running with all his might.

Fleeing far away!

Ji Yunshu gripped that pearl, intending to give chase, but the surging crowd completely blocked her path.

She could only watch helplessly as those two triumphant figures grew farther and farther away…

Finally disappearing into the crowd!

Behind her, someone shouted at the top of their voice: “Master Hu, are you alright?”

She turned back to look and saw Master Hu rubbing his eyes and retreating repeatedly. His tall figure toppled directly to the ground, and his subordinates quickly surrounded him.

But—

Master Hu suddenly pressed both hands to his chest.

Unable to catch his breath, his whole body convulsing.

His originally flushed, furious face suddenly turned deathly pale.

“This is bad—Master Hu’s illness is acting up! Quick, get the medicine!” someone said.

A young man pulled out a bottle from his person and poured out a pill.

Just about to give it to Master Hu!

Seeing this, Ji Yunshu quickly stepped forward and knocked that pill away with one hand.

Those people immediately became furious, about to teach her a lesson.

But they saw her crouch down, forcefully slap Master Hu’s chin upward, forcing his head to tilt back high, then she took a pill from her waist and quickly stuffed it into Master Hu’s mouth, and struck his chest hard with her fist twice.

Those people watched dumbstruck.

“Who are you? What did you feed our Master Hu?”

“Medicine!”

“Medicine? I think you’re here to harm people.” One burly man rolled up his sleeve, planning to pull her up.

Suddenly, Master Hu’s body convulsed, and he spat out a black mass from his mouth.

That black mass mixed with a nauseating smell!

By the looks of it, that thing had been in his body for a long time.

Master Hu was much better now, and finally caught his breath.

“Master Hu, are you alright?”

He waved his hand, having someone help him up from the ground. Looking at the masked young lady before him, he said: “Thank you, miss, for coming to my aid.”

Ji Yunshu said: “You had a foreign object inside you, perhaps accidentally swallowed. Not removed for years, it pressed on your chest, causing a heart blockage. Now that you’ve coughed it out, your illness won’t recur anymore.”

“So that’s how it was! This illness has troubled me for many years, never cured. Miss, you’ve saved my life.” Master Hu was someone who repaid kindness and grievances alike. Seeing Ji Yunshu still holding that ordinary crown pearl in her hand, he said: “I, Master Hu, have always repaid grievances with grievances and kindness with kindness. Miss, you cured my chronic illness—this is a great kindness! I have premium glass beads being transported to Qujiang. I’ll give you several—they’re far more precious than what you’re holding.”

Ji Yunshu gripped the crown pearl in her palm, saying: “To me, no matter how precious a pearl may be, it cannot compare to this one of mine.”

“Miss?” Those were glass beads! Extremely precious.

How could she not value them?

“Great kindness requires no thanks. Farewell.”

Ji Yunshu declined the favor. She took the pearl and turned to leave. She needed to find Luo Yang and get some clear answers!