Chapter 66: Ganchang Village
The next morning…
Hua Shuya packed her things, ready to continue their journey.
But as she reached the inn’s entrance, she saw a familiar figure.
“…Miss Cheng?”
Cheng Yishi turned around and curtsied gracefully. “It seems you had a good rest, Miss Hua.”
“Why…”
“She was passing through last night and stayed here.”
Lin Tianlu emerged from the inn. “But we have to part ways today.”
“Indeed.” Cheng Yishi nodded slightly. “I have some business to attend to in Anshi County. I won’t stay long. I hope you two enjoy your trip. I’ll invite you to my residence in half a month.”
She smiled gently, took off a jade bracelet from her wrist, and placed it in Hua Shuya’s hand.
Hua Shuya’s eyes widened in surprise. “Miss Cheng, this is…”
“Just a small gift for a friend.”
Cheng Yishi patted her hand gently. “Take care, Miss Hua.”
“T-thank you for your kindness, Miss Cheng.”
Seeing the girl’s blush, Cheng Yishi chuckled softly and, without another word, turned and walked towards her carriage.
But as she glanced back at Lin Tianlu, she bit her lip, her eyelashes fluttering.
Remembering her shameless actions last night, a blush crept onto her face, and she quickly pulled the curtain closed, her carriage disappearing into the distance.
Hua Shuya watched her leave and sighed. “Miss Cheng is truly hardworking and dedicated, managing such a large family business as a woman.”
After their conversation at the Ascension Immortal Restaurant, she had developed a sense of respect and admiration for Cheng Yishi.
Lin Tianlu smiled. “She would be happy to hear your praise.”
Hua Shuya blushed. “It would be awkward to praise her directly, and she left in such a hurry.”
She picked up her bag and hurried into the carriage, a bit embarrassed.
But the Cheng family maid approached them stealthily and whispered, “Master, how was Miss’ service last night?”
Lin Tianlu was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. “You knew?”
“I can tell that Miss is glowing with happiness today. It must have been a good night, Master… Ah! Forgive me, Sir, I misspoke again.” She quickly slapped her mouth and bowed apologetically.
“It seems Miss Cheng spoils you quite a bit.”
Lin Tianlu asked curiously, “But aren’t you going with her?”
“Miss specifically instructed me to stay with you for a few more days, to take care of you, Sir.” The maid curtsied. “I’ll join her once we reach Fuyang Prefecture.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all! It’s my duty to serve you, Sir—”
Lin Tianlu gently tapped her forehead. “You’re still young. Just focus on helping Miss Cheng with her business.”
The maid stared at him, her cheeks puffing out slightly.
“But I was the one who taught Miss all her… techniques… I’m not that young.”
She mumbled to herself, then obediently boarded another carriage.
…
After five days of travel, they finally left Xima Prefecture and entered Fuyang Prefecture.
They parted ways with the Cheng family shortly after arriving in Fuyang Prefecture, finally free from the talkative maid. Lin Tianlu sighed in relief.
She was quite knowledgeable about certain topics for her age.
As for the rest of the journey, he and Hua Shuya decided to travel on foot, eventually reaching a village called Ganchang.
“Flatbreads for sale! Two coins for three!”
“Fresh buns!”
“Look at these newly made porcelain bowls, excellent quality and affordable prices!”
The lively cries of vendors filled the air as they walked through the bustling market.
“This Ganchang Village is quite lively.”
Lin Tianlu, carrying his bag, looked around with interest.
Unlike the more prosperous Changling County, Ganchang Village seemed a bit run-down, judging by its infrastructure and the lack of wealthy merchants and scholars. It had a more rustic atmosphere.
“Gancang Village is a remote village, Senior. It’s naturally not as prosperous as Changling County.”
Hua Shuya had just bought two hot flatbreads and handed one to him. “Here you go, Senior.”
“Thanks.”
Lin Tianlu smiled, took the flatbread, and took a bite.
He nodded in approval, savoring the crispy and flavorful taste.
It brought back memories of the street food he used to enjoy in his previous life.
As they ate their afternoon snack, they strolled through the market.
They were still two or three days away from their destination, He’an Village. It wouldn’t hurt to rest in Ganchang Village and buy some souvenirs.
Besides, he needed to find a place for Hua Shuya to rest.
Although she insisted that she was fine, claiming that she could stay awake for days with her Azure Spirit realm cultivation, Lin Tianlu wouldn’t let a young girl sleep outside and skip meals. Finding an inn for the night wouldn’t delay them too much.
“Miss, you don’t seem to be from around here. How about buying a protective amulet?”
A middle-aged woman suddenly approached them, her voice urgent. “These beads are very cheap, only three coins.”
“This…”
Hua Shuya was taken aback by the woman’s eagerness.
But the wooden beads did look quite well-made.
She was about to speak, but Lin Tianlu quickly took the beads with a smile. “Madam, you have such good craftsmanship. Why are you selling these amulets on the street?
In my hometown, these kinds of superstitions are just stories. No one takes them seriously.”
But the woman frowned and glanced around before lowering her voice. “To be honest, Sir, there’s something strange about this village.”
Lin Tianlu raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Please don’t tell anyone. People here are very superstitious.” The woman’s expression turned serious. “I heard that several families have died mysteriously in their homes. And recently, I even heard that a few officers and martial artists came from other towns to investigate…
But in the end, they all disappeared without a trace, no bodies found.”
More mysterious deaths?
Lin Tianlu was surprised.
But he quickly calmed down.
It wasn’t that unusual. After all, this village had a population of tens of thousands. A few deaths every now and then were to be expected. But the circumstances of these deaths… did seem a bit strange.
“What did the authorities say?”
“They haven’t said anything publicly. They just claimed that a tiger was roaming the area and has been driven away.” The woman shook her head. “But everyone knows it’s a lie. And those martial artists keep coming, which means the matter hasn’t been resolved.
As for me… I have three children to feed. So I’m using my family’s traditional craft to make these protective amulets and sell them on the street.”
Hua Shuya quickly took out a handful of coins and placed them in the woman’s hand. “We’ll take the amulets, Madam. And please be careful. Stay away from danger.”
The woman’s eyes widened in shock. “T-this is too much! I can’t accept this!”
“It’s alright, Madam. It’s just a small token of appreciation from this young lady.” Lin Tianlu said gently. “Use the extra money to buy some meat for your children.”
The woman’s face was filled with gratitude as she bowed repeatedly.
Watching her leave happily, Hua Shuya tightened her grip on her sword, her expression serious.
“Senior, are there truly ghosts in this village?”
“It’s possible.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled softly. “Let’s find an inn and rest for the night. We can gather some information.”
…
As night fell…
Lin Tianlu sat alone in a bustling restaurant, enjoying his meal.
This was the liveliest part of Ganchang Village at night, and this restaurant was renowned for its good food and bustling atmosphere.
As for why Hua Shuya wasn’t with him, there was a reason.
Because…
A brothel was located right across the street.
Music drifted from the building, and a faint, seductive fragrance filled the air.
Of course, this brothel wasn’t like the ones in his previous life. It wasn’t a place for debauchery and lewdness. The women here were mostly educated and cultured, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. It was a place frequented by scholars and artists.
They sold their skills, not their bodies.
However…
It was still a brothel. If a man and a woman found each other appealing, things could naturally progress further.
Although Lin Tianlu had no objections to such matters, it wasn’t appropriate for a young, unmarried girl like Hua Shuya to be wandering around here. It could damage her reputation and create unnecessary awkwardness. So he had asked her to wait for him at the inn.
“This brothel is quite clever.”
Lin Tianlu took a sip of wine and chuckled inwardly.
To open a brothel right across from a restaurant, wasn’t that a blatant attempt to lure in customers?
Just looking at the expressions of the men in the restaurant, no matter how hard they tried to act indifferent, their eyes kept glancing towards the brothel, hoping to catch a glimpse of a beautiful woman.
They were all old perverts.
“Excellent taste, Sir!”
A young waiter, passing by their table, smiled brightly. “Our restaurant, the Peaceful Joy, has a partnership with the Spring Surge Workshop across the street. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement, a win-win situation!”
Lin Tianlu chuckled softly. “It’s a clever business strategy. But I have a few questions.”
“Ask away, Sir! I know everything about Ganchang Village, big or small!”
“Have there been any strange or unsettling events in the village recently?”
“…”
The smile vanished from the waiter’s face, replaced by a dark frown.
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