The rain grew heavier, and Fuman’s crying grew louder.

At first, it was from fear. Though she had seen all kinds of scenes following Lord Shen over the years, she had truly never seen anything like what just happened – it was too terrifying!

But as she continued crying, she felt relieved. All these years, gritting her teeth while investigating cases, she never dared show weakness to anyone. Forget crying – even at life-and-death moments, she hadn’t dared bend her back even once. The accumulated pressure over time was unimaginable.

What was there to fear about ghosts? The most terrifying things in this world were people.

Thinking this, while wailing, Fuman still found time to glance at Ruyi.

Ruyi crouched beside her, hands supporting her chin, like a little cat that didn’t understand human joys and sorrows, her eyes full of curiosity.

“You look so cute when you cry,” she said.

Fuman’s tears flowed even more fiercely: “No, no, no one has ever, ever praised me like this.”

As soon as she finished speaking, her head was patted.

“Still just an innocent little girl, looks like you’ve suffered many grievances,” she said.

Fuman sobbed: “I, I, I investigated cases, my hus, husband died, died right before my eyes. I, I wore mourning clothes in the Ministry of Justice, working from dawn to dusk, racking, racking, racking my brains, but in the end…”

Ruyi found this somewhat familiar: “Ministry of Justice?”

Fuman continued crying loudly: “I, I’m so tired. I I want to die on the small, small hill in my hometown. I never, never want to come back.”

Her clear almond-shaped eyes were swollen from crying, her nose tip was bright red, and crystal tears fell one by one from her chin onto her clothes – she looked as pitiful as could be.

Ruyi couldn’t help but gather her into her arms, gently coaxing: “Be good. I’ll kill your enemies for you, then you won’t be so sad.”

Fuman was so frightened she hiccupped and finally stopped crying.

She looked down, staring in amazement at the still-bleeding hole in Ruyi’s chest: “You, you’ve already been killed, yet you’re still, still talking about killing people for me.”

“You mean this?” Ruyi was unconcerned. “A good sleep will fix it. I won’t die.”

Fuman: “…?”

Did this look like an injury that could be fixed with sleep?

With her heart pierced through, how could a person still be alive?

Thump, thump, thump.

The sound of a living heartbeat came from that wound, interrupting her thoughts.

Fuman sharply sucked in a cold breath, looking at her in utter shock: “I, I’ve examined corpses for over five years. This, this, this is impossible.”

Ruyi chuckled meaningfully as she twisted a strand of her hair: “Grand Preceptor Liu probably thinks the same. When I return to the city, I must give him a surprise.”

She could hardly wait to see the expression on Grand Preceptor Liu’s face.

Another flash of white light appeared on the horizon – this time lightning.

Ruyi’s smile froze on her face.

She quickly hugged Fuman’s arm, and the next moment thunder crashed: “BOOM—”

The thunder was deafening. Fuman reacted quickly, hurriedly leading her away from under the tree toward Ten-Li Pavilion.

The corpse who had seemed so carefree moments before was now hugging her arm, trembling and walking heavily: “Walk slower.”

Fuman couldn’t open her eyes from the rain: “Every slow step means more suffering. Hurry up.”

Feeling the grip on her hand getting heavier, Fuman wiped her face and simply carried her on her back, running quickly toward the pavilion.

Fortunately, this thunder was just perfunctory. By the time the two sat down in the pavilion, only rain remained outside.

Ruyi instantly recovered her energy, sitting under the eaves with her chin raised, letting Fuman bandage her wound.

“It’s just a little rain. I’m not afraid at all,” she said, swinging her toes.

Fuman nodded: “You, you, you’re only afraid of thunder.”

Giving her a reproachful look, Ruyi pouted: “Beautiful little girl, don’t expose people’s shortcomings.”

“I, I, I’m not beautiful,” she said, lowering her head in shame.

Only then did Ruyi notice something was wrong: “You’re not crying anymore, so why are you still stammering?”

“I, I, I’m not stammering.” Her face reddened, and Fuman felt awkward for a moment, then simply gestured to her in sign language: I’m naturally a stutterer.

Ruyi pushed away her hands: “What fancy stuff is this? I can’t understand. Since you’re not mute, speak to me properly.”

Fuman was extremely troubled. She spoke very slowly and kept repeating words. Everyone found listening to her annoying, which was why she had specifically learned gestures.

This gorgeous girl in front of her seemed to have no patience and would probably get angry after hearing a few more sentences.

Ruyi seemed not to notice her unease and only said, “You mentioned earlier that carriages would come here tomorrow morning. What time exactly?”

Fuman instinctively wanted to gesture, but meeting her gaze, she steeled herself to speak: “At the first quarter of the Chen hour, there will be the first carriage.”

She smiled and nodded: “Our meeting like this today can be considered fate. Tell me, who is your enemy? I’ll eliminate this inner demon for you.”

At this mention, Fuman’s eyes dimmed: “There’s no, no, no way. Even Lord Shen, such, such a capable person, has no, no way.”

Ruyi chuckled: “Shen Qiyuan?”

Fuman blinked in amazement: “Miss, Miss knows him?”

“Of course, I know him. He’s my lover,” she said generously.

Fuman let out an “ah,” her face full of disbelief: “How, how could that be? Lord Shen, Lord Shen is someone who practices self-discipline and propriety. He hasn’t even, even married.”

“Marriage and starting a family have so many rules. How could that be as comfortable as fooling around with me?” Her eyes held charm as she leaned back with her body supported. “If you don’t believe me, go back and ask him. Just mention me, and he’ll blush.”

—Getting red from anger was still getting red.

Ruyi looked completely matter-of-fact, without the slightest guilt.

Fuman’s look toward her gradually turned to admiration: “The woman Lord Shen, Lord Shen likes, is indeed ex, extraordinary.”

She hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice: “My, my, my enemies are too, too many.”

One Black Market Case implicated over a hundred noble families and over a thousand provincial and county officials. How could one person kill them all?

Looking at the pattering rain curtain outside, Fuman sighed deeply: “My luggage, luggage is also gone, gone.”

She couldn’t even return to her hometown to commit suicide.

“No matter.” Ruyi patted her hand. “I’ll support you.”

Fuman looked at her in confusion.

“When men say they’ll support you, it’s mostly about having you manage household affairs, serve your husband, educate children, and be filial to in-laws. But when I say I’ll support you, I mean giving you food, clothing, and expenses – you just need to stay alive.” Her eyes shimmered. “How about it? Doesn’t that sound much more sincere?”

Inexplicably amused by her, Fuman still had hesitation in her eyes.

Ruyi didn’t insist on persuading her, just looked up to enjoy the mountain rain scenery, planning to wait until dawn to take a carriage.

However, just after the Yin hour, the Liu Manor servants who had fled back returned with over twenty guards, carrying clubs and ropes.

“Over there!” A sharp-eyed servant pointed directly at Ruyi in the pavilion.

Fuman was startled, only then remembering she hadn’t asked this girl who she had made enemies with.

Though the rain had stopped, the mountain roads were still muddy. As two weak women, where could they possibly flee to?