We talked and told many things, and before we knew it, we had descended the mountain.
Unbeknownst to me, I found myself walking back to my courtyard.
I placed Haku Ei on my own bed and went to boil water. First, I let Haku Sai give her a bath, and then helped her change into a clean set of my clothes.
As for me, I did not immediately seek out the lock corresponding to that copper key. Instead, I cooked some food in the kitchen and also made a pot of soup with herbs meant to tonify vital energy.
Without the Zi Yang Dan, I could only use this herbal soup to help Hua Yun recover some of her vital energy.
By around noon, Hua Yun had been changed into clean clothes, fed the soup medicine, and was lying in the courtyard to bask in the sun.
Though Hua Yun had not woken up yet, her complexion was growing increasingly rosy. By the time she woke up naturally, her spirits would surely be much improved.
Huaiqi was very happy and stayed by Hua Yun's side, never leaving her side.
Originally, I planned to wait until Hua Yun woke up before doing anything else.
But Huaiqi suddenly reminded me that Lu Kan had previously said that Yu Xiu's situation was not good, and that we needed to return the spirit tablet.
I just barely came to understand.
I instructed Huaiqi to stay at home and wait for me carefully, not to go anywhere, and to call me immediately if anything happened.
The village is not entirely safe.
The Zhou family actually only lost two members: Zhou Ji and Zhou Kang. The rest were still alive.
Jing Chang is also still here.
If we really start to fight, I won't be able to avoid taking heavy blows.
However, I believe they have been scared into a corner and may not dare to come to my doorstep to cause trouble.
Therefore, I left the courtyard and went directly to Yu Xiu's house.
Just as before, I lifted the lid of the rooftop and entered the attic.
The attic with sunlight was not as gloomy as before, and everything looked tidy and clean.
The neatly arranged boxes were on both sides, and in the middle was that small coffin.
The coffin lid was slightly ajar.
I walked straight to the small coffin, took a deep breath of stale air.
I looked through the slightly open slit, and there, it looked like there were eyes watching me!
After a few seconds, I reached out and pushed the lid of the coffin open.
Before me was a body that still appeared moist.
A strong scent of medicine filled my nostrils.
The body was very thin and curled up together.
The sides of the coffin were full of scratches, and his nails were pitch black and frightening.
Especially his listless face, which appeared even more gloomy.
However, the gloominess was only in the atmosphere of the body itself; Lu Kan's expression was not venomous, and even carried a trace of a hopeful smile.
His meaning was that he wanted me to place the spirit tablet back inside the coffin.
Continue to suppress him?
I was somewhat confused inside.
But Lu Kan himself was already inside the coffin, and the lid was closed. This must be his attitude...
Perhaps, he wanted to wait for Yu Xiu to return and see him alive and well, never leaving.
Implies that he is willing to listen to Yu Xiu?
Putting aside my scattered thoughts, I re-covered the coffin lid and placed the spirit tablet on top.
A faint creaking sound came from somewhere.
The coffin lid seemed to fit even tighter……
For a moment, the attic became dark again.
It seemed as if the position of the small coffin had once again become sunless.
Turned around, ready to leave.
Suddenly, my shoulder was tapped.
Pausing slightly, I reached out and tapped my own shoulder in the same spot.
To my surprise, my palm felt a trace of coolness.
Gently holding the cool feeling, I picked it up and took a look, it was a small jade pendant.
The jade pendant engraved a "Xiu" character!
"Rest assured." My pupils constricted as I answered in a low voice.
...
After leaving Yu Xiu's house, as I walked back to my house, I passed through the main village road.
I happened to see several cars heading towards the outskirts of the village……
One of the cars rolled down its window. Jing Chang, with a face that was severely damaged and ears that were gruesome to behold, looked at me in shock before quickly pulling her head back inside. They seemed like birds that had been shot from a bow, speeding off at high speed!
I let out another breath of relief.
When I returned to the courtyard, I saw that Huai Ying was quietly sitting there.
She had woken up and seemed to be in a daze.
I suddenly stopped at the doorway, feeling a strong sense of joy welling up inside me, mixed with an indescribable sense of pity.
After a moment, Huai Ying raised her head blankly.
Her face had recovered much of its vitality, although it was still a little weak, and a strange, delicate rosiness glowed on it.
She pursed her lips and tried to get up.
I rushed over in a swift step, grasped Huai Ying's hand tightly, pressed her legs down, and whispered hoarsely, "Sit for a while longer, rest more..."
"Um..." Huaiqi softly replied, but her head dipped slightly, pressing her face against my forehead.
In that moment, time seemed to have come to a standstill.
After a long time, I loosened my grip, slightly lifting my head.
For a moment, Huai Ying's face turned a deep red like blood. She closed her eyes and leaned in, her lips pressing tightly against mine.
It was a long time... before our lips parted slowly.
"Where is Xiaoqi?" Huai Ying asked softly, her face turned even more red.
"Hmm..."
I just realized.
Just now, Huaiqi wasn't in the courtyard, so she must have gone inside. Since Huai Ying and I are like this, she would definitely feel embarrassed to come out.
"Huaqi?" I stood up and called out.
No response.
"Xiaoqi?" Huai Ying also stood up. I immediately supported her; she was much thinner, and her body was very light.
There was still no response...
Huai Ying showed a slight sense of unease.
My eyelids twitched slightly, and I hurriedly opened the doors to the other rooms, including my and Lao Qin's house. I looked inside all of them.
Where was Huaiqi's shadow in the house?
She was not found...
However, I found a note under the tea pot in the hall.
"Brother-in-law, take good care of my sister."
"Do not be a mere consort."
"Do not be distracted."
"Otherwise, hmm, even if you are my brother-in-law, I will smash your head."
"You and my sister also do not need to worry about me, do not look for me."
"The Zhou family lost their head of the household and one second-ranking son; it will be very troublesome."
"My parents will also be implicated, and you all will be drawn in as well."
"I will go home with my grandfather."
"I brought people out, and I'm going back. I will not care what they say, it's also a reason."
"Sister, brother-in-law."
"99."
After reading this note, my face changed, and an indescribable emotion rose in my heart.
The last "99" I didn't understand, but I understood that Huaiqi was returning to her Hua family to avoid trouble from the Zhou family.
But if the Zhou family were to vent their anger on her,
What would happen?
There are two possibilities.
One possibility is that Huaiqi was killed.
One is that Huaiqi could be killed.
The other is that she would end up like before, married into the Zhou family to form an alliance.
As for how the Zhou family would treat her, who knows?
Huai Ying covered her mouth, and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, I immediately took out my phone and called Huaiqi.
But she was off the grid.
"What's Huaiqi's number?" I immediately asked Huai Ying.
Huai Ying pursed her lips and immediately told me.
I called, but Huai Chang was also off the grid.
"This brat is rash and thoughtless, she doesn't know anything!" My expression was ambiguous.
"I'll go back home for a visit, I can't let Xiaoqi suffer." Huai Ying said, pursing her lips.
"No." I immediately shook my head.
For some inexplicable reason, I glanced at the note one more time.
But I noticed a little bit of moisture on the note, which was not Huai Ying's tears just now.
For a moment, my heart felt congested and a sense of frustration rose within me.
Is Huaiqi really just going to use herself to silence the mouth of the Zhou family?
The moisture on the paper clearly indicates that she has something she cannot divide clearly and can only avoid it this way.
