In the following time, Lu Tong and Yin Zheng inquired further about the Lu family’s affairs around town.

The day passed quickly, and as evening approached, the two found lodging at an inn.

Tired from traveling all day, they hadn’t eaten much. While Yin Zheng went to ask the innkeeper about meals, Lu Tong sat alone in the room.

The Fuling cakes Yin Zheng had bought from the woman still lay on the table, carelessly opened, blurred into dark shapes by the half-lit lamp.

Lu Tong’s gaze grew cold.

She had spent seven years on the mountain, with remarkably simple belongings. The most precious thing she owned was merely this medicine box. Returning home full of hope, only to be met with tragic news.

Her father had always been strict in educating his children. In childhood, if one person made a mistake, all three were punished. When Lu Qian fought with others and spoke rudely as a youth, their father punished him with twenty strokes of the cane and made him apologize with thorns on his back. Everyone in Changwu County knew of the Lu family’s strict principles—how could he have stolen and assaulted someone?

Lu Rou’s death was strange enough, but their father encountering a water disaster was even more peculiar. From Changwu County to the capital, there was only one water route, and there had never been reports of shipwrecks before. How did Father meet with misfortune just as he approached the capital? And mother… Lu Tong’s gaze darkened.

A family of four, meeting with frequent misfortunes within a year—such coincidences didn’t exist in this world.

Lu Tong slowly clenched her palm.

Now with no remains of her mother left, and the people of Changwu County speaking unclearly, Lu Qian’s case must have records in the capital’s government office, and Lu Rou…

All answers could perhaps only be found in the capital.

Footsteps sounded outside the door as Yin Zheng entered carrying a porcelain bowl, speaking softly: “Haven’t eaten since noon, Miss. I asked them to make some hot porridge… please have some to fill your stomach.”

She placed the bowl on the table and turned to Lu Tong, adding: “The side dishes will arrive shortly.”

Lu Tong’s gaze fell on the porcelain bowl, remaining motionless for a long while.

Yin Zheng observed her expression and, after some thought, couldn’t help but advise: “Miss, please try to accept this loss…”

She knew Lu Tong had been away from home for many years, and returning to find everything changed was naturally heartbreaking. Yet faced with such circumstances, Yin Zheng couldn’t think of any comforting words despite wracking her brain, only able to offer stiff consolation.

Lu Tong asked: “Yin Zheng, how long have you been following me?”

Yin Zheng startled, instinctively responding: “…About half a year now.”

“Half a year…” Lu Tong looked at the lamp on the table.

Yin Zheng felt uneasy. After a while, she heard Lu Tong say: “Then, let us part ways here.”

“Miss!” Yin Zheng looked at her in disbelief.

Yin Zheng was a courtesan, sold to a brothel in childhood by her gambling-addicted father. Though clever and beautiful, her fate was unfortunate, contracting venereal disease at sixteen.

The madam wouldn’t spend money on her treatment and complained she smelled too unpleasant to continue receiving customers. One night, she had servants roll Yin Zheng in a mat and dump her in the wild burial ground on Falling Plum Peak.

At that time, Yin Zheng was barely breathing, just waiting to die. Unexpectedly, she met Lu Tong at the burial ground.

Lu Tong carried her back to the mountain and treated her illness. Later, Yin Zheng recovered.

To this day, Yin Zheng didn’t know why Lu Tong had appeared at the burial ground in the dead of night, and she never asked. This cold-mannered young woman seemed to have many secrets. However, since then, Yin Zheng has followed Lu Tong. Lu Tong had told her she could leave, but unlike Lu Tong, Yin Zheng had no family or relatives and didn’t want to fall back into brothel life. After much thought, she felt most at ease following Lu Tong.

But she hadn’t expected to be driven away by Lu Tong today.

“Miss.” Yin Zheng knelt: “Have I done something wrong?” She asked anxiously, “Why suddenly ask me to leave?”

Lu Tong didn’t answer her, walking to the window instead.

Night had fallen, the sky dark, and nighttime Changwu County had lost its daytime bustle, returning to its former quietness.

“Today you also heard, my entire Lu family died within a year,” Lu Tong gazed at the long street outside, the lanterns under the eaves swaying dimly, casting her young face in an exceptionally clear light.

“I don’t believe in such coincidences.”

“Everything started with my sister’s death notice. Now there’s no one left in Changwu County who knew the Lu family. To uncover the truth, I must go to the capital and confront the Ke family.”

She said: “Something is suspicious. I must go to the capital.”

“The capital?” Yin Zheng forgot her earlier emotional state, saying: “I can go to the capital with Miss, why must you make me leave?”

Lu Tong remained silent, closing the window and returning to sit at the table.

The Fuling cakes lay on the table. After a day of traveling, the cakes carried in her chest had crumbled. The crumbs scattered in the wind, covering the table like a layer of frost.

Her voice was cool as if through heavy fog, carrying a chill: “Didn’t the cake seller say? My second brother went to the capital and became a villain who stole and assaulted women. My father went to file a complaint and just happened to drown in a shipwreck. Even though my mother did nothing, the house caught fire and burned everything to ashes.”

She looked at Yin Zheng, her black eyes bright and penetrating in the lamplight: “If I go to the capital, how do you know you won’t be next?”

Yin Zheng was confused at first, but after understanding Lu Tong’s meaning, a chill ran down her spine.

The Lu family’s deaths were suspicious. Rather than offending some evil spirit, it seemed more like they had offended someone. But who could so easily extinguish an entire family? Could ordinary people achieve such things?

Lu Tong watched her, speaking flatly: “This journey to the capital is fraught with danger. Since I must uncover the truth about the Lu family, I will inevitably confront those behind it. You have no relation to the Lu family, why get involved? Better to leave now and live well.”

“Then I definitely can’t leave!” Yin Zheng raised her head, speaking earnestly: “Miss is going to the capital with a purpose, you’ll surely need help. Though I’m not very skilled, I’m decent at dealing with people, perhaps I could help Miss gather information. Two people will accomplish more than one in the capital.”

Seeing Lu Tong unmoved, Yin Zheng pleaded: “Moreover, Miss knows I have nowhere else to go besides following you. Though you’ve cured my illness now, who knows if it might return someday…” At this point, genuine sorrow arose in her heart, “In this world, only Miss doesn’t despise me.”

She was a courtesan with a dirty disease—ordinary people either couldn’t get away fast enough or looked at her strangely. Only Lu Tong treated her no differently than anyone else. Only by Lu Tong’s side did Yin Zheng feel at ease.

“Miss saved my life, so my life belongs to Miss. Even if we face a dragon’s pool or tiger’s den, climb blade mountains, or descend into fire seas, I must brave them with Miss.”

Though her words were bold, the speaker lacked confidence, anxiously watching the person opposite, waiting for a response.

The room was very quiet. After a while, Lu Tong said: “Get up then, I’ll take you with me.”

Yin Zheng’s heart leaped with joy. Afraid Lu Tong might change her mind, she jumped up and hurried outside, turning back to smile at Lu Tong: “Then it’s settled, Miss mustn’t go back on your word… The side dishes should be ready soon, I’ll urge them to bring them quickly. Miss should eat and rest early. Since we’re going to the capital, we’ll need to travel again, must conserve energy, absolutely can’t tire yourself…”

She left, still chattering. In the room, Lu Tong stood up.

The half-lamp on the table had nearly burned out, with only a short wick remaining with an orange flame. Lu Tong brought over the lantern from the desk. The weak flame on the table flickered and went out.

A spark burst from the dried lamp, scattering around it, looking like a delicate flower.

A lamp wick bursting into a flower was considered an auspicious sign.

Lu Tong quietly watched the embers. Her pupils reflected the lantern’s light like fierce flames in the pitch-black night.

The lamp flower smiled…

Such a good omen—it seemed this journey to the capital should go very smoothly indeed.