Chapter 157: Relying on Your Big Face?
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Yu Zhi Yi watched Ou Yang Shuo’s retreating figure, her fingers within her sleeve swiftly calculating. Yet the clues remained elusive. One of them was the Daughter of Heavenly Fate, blessed with immense fortune, while the other was a cultivator deliberately veiling their destiny. It left her momentarily stumped.
Noticing her persistent frown as she stared in the direction You Bing Yue and her companion had departed, Li Chang Huai, the Young Master of Heavenly Domain Manor, couldn’t stand it any longer.
“We admit, supporting Brother You Lin and Miss You openly in front of you was perhaps a bit inconsiderate. But they’ve left already, so there’s no need to carry on with that expression.”
His tone turned mocking. “Madam, don’t forget, no matter how legitimate a wife you are, you’re still just a woman. Brother You Lin has the right to take concubines. If I were you, I’d show some restraint. Otherwise, you’ll end up being the one stuck with the title of Young Madam, but without his heart or his affection.”
Yu Zhi Yi treated his words as mere hot air. She didn’t even spare him a glance, turning instead to Du Zi Heng.
“Judging by Ou Yang Shuo’s face, he’s facing a death trap in the coming days. For a cultivator, such a fate either involves evil cultivators or malicious entities. Either way, the situation will be perilous.”
Du Zi Heng, still mired in thoughts of romance, instantly sobered up.
He trusted Yu Zhi Yi.
Just as he was about to speak, Li Chang Huai interjected in disbelief. “Are you serious? How venomous can you be? Just because he insulted you a little, you’re cursing him to die?”
He turned to Du Zi Heng. “Brother You Lin, you’re not seriously buying her nonsense, are you? Ou Yang Shuo is the Chief Disciple of Dragon-Tiger Mountain. Not only is he incredibly powerful, but he also carries countless artifacts and excels at exorcising demons and monsters. How could he possibly die?”
Yu Zhi Yi: “…”
This fool was insufferably noisy. Before he could spout more nonsense, she silenced him with a Mute Spell. For a moment, she sighed inwardly.
As expected of the Daughter of Heavenly Fate. She could attract admirers effortlessly, even from random bystanders.
Li Chang Huai, it seemed, had already developed feelings for You Bing Yue.
Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t help but wonder—how would Du Zi Heng feel, knowing he had unwittingly played matchmaker between his beloved and his friend?
Now that peace had returned, she turned her focus back to Du Zi Heng.
Du Zi Heng realized the gravity of the matter and set aside his preoccupation with love. “They’re heading to Cao Nan Village,” he said.
He explained, “Miss You… I mean, Miss Bing Yue recently accepted a bounty. Anyone who can solve the thirty-year-old water ghost case in Cao Nan Village will be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold.”
One hundred taels of gold equaled five hundred taels of silver. For commoners, who mainly dealt in copper coins, this was a fortune beyond imagining.
One thousand taels of silver translated to 1.2 million copper coins—enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for generations.
Even for nobility, one thousand taels was no small sum. Unless someone frequented establishments like Splendid Embroidery Pavilion or Treasure Pavilion, such wealth could sustain the indulgent lifestyle of a noble young master or lady for at least half a year.
You Bing Yue had said that money earned with her own hands brought her the greatest satisfaction.
She seemed to have reverted to the determined woman Du Zi Heng had first met, which only deepened his pain.
Yu Zhi Yi paid no mind to his lovesick thoughts. Her expression shifted slightly. “Cao Nan Village?”
“What’s the issue?” he asked.
After a moment’s thought, Yu Zhi Yi spoke. “I’ve recently been reviewing records concerning a case in Cao Nan Village from thirty years ago. I’ve uncovered some leads.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Cao Nan Village is now a place of great misfortune. It’s best to stay away.”
Du Zi Heng couldn’t afford to wallow in heartache anymore. “Are you referring to the case of villagers mysteriously dying in the water ghost incident thirty years ago?”
Yu Zhi Yi nodded.
“Are there really ghosts?”
Yu Zhi Yi pursed her lips. “I haven’t reviewed all the case files yet, nor have I investigated the scene. Any conclusion I draw now would be premature. But if the place Ou Yang Shuo intends to go is indeed Cao Nan Village, and if there are omens of calamity there, then it’s highly likely.”
And more than that—it’s likely a Fierce Ghost.
Du Zi Heng couldn’t sit still. “Let’s go stop them.”
Yu Zhi Yi looked at him impassively. “You go. If I’m the one to speak, they won’t believe me.”
They would simply accuse her of seeking attention or trying to steal their credit. Judging by the look on the face of that fool who was always by their side, it was clear enough.
Du Zi Heng couldn’t find a rebuttal.
Although he didn’t want to admit his friends were deliberately targeting Yu Zhi Yi, he couldn’t lie to himself.
“Fine. I’ll go talk to them.”
Soon, Du Zi Heng caught up with the departing You Bing Yue and Ou Yang Shuo. It wasn’t yet curfew, and the three stood in a bustling open square. Du Zi Heng relayed Yu Zhi Yi’s analysis, all the while scrutinizing Ou Yang Shuo’s face for any sign of lifelessness.
To his dismay, no matter how hard he stared, he couldn’t detect any trace of death energy on the man’s face.
Ou Yang Shuo pulled a copper mirror from his pack and glanced at his reflection. Rolling his eyes, he sneered, “That woman really knows how to cause a scene.”
Both Du Zi Heng and You Bing Yue’s expressions turned peculiar when they saw him using the mirror.
Realizing their reactions, Ou Yang Shuo’s lips twitched, and he hastily explained, “This is the Demon-Exposing Mirror from my sect. When aimed at demons or malicious entities, their true forms appear in the reflection.”
“But most of the time, it’s just an ordinary mirror.”
Although the copper mirror’s reflection wasn’t as clear as a glass one, he wasn’t interested in his features but rather looking for signs of death energy. As a practitioner, if there were such energy on his face, he would surely notice it.
“Relax, there’s nothing to see. That woman is clearly making things up.”
You Bing Yue’s tone turned mockingly sweet. “Zi Heng, you mentioned just now that Young Madam Du has been investigating a case from thirty years ago?”
Feigning regret, she bit her lip. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Young Madam Du isn’t that kind of person.”
Then she turned to Ou Yang Shuo. “Young Master Ou Yang, let’s go.”
She cast an apologetic smile at Du Zi Heng. “I’ll think about it. If Young Madam Du really doesn’t want us to go, we might…”
Ou Yang Shuo cut her off. “Why should we let her take the credit? Just because she has a big face?”
He sneered coldly. “The more she wants to stop me, the more I’ll go. She’s already stolen your beloved. How dare she try to take your achievements and money too?”
His gaze softened with a hint of anger as he looked at You Bing Yue. “With me here, no one will take anything from you again.”
Du Zi Heng returned to Radiant Harmony Courtyard in a daze, only to find Yu Zhi Yi still there.
He hesitated. “It didn’t work?”
Du Zi Heng nodded silently. His trust in Yu Zhi Yi wavered.
Yu Zhi Yi, keenly attuned to others’ emotions, immediately sensed his doubt. Her lips curled into a cold smile. “Du Zi Heng, I reported to the Ministry of Justice three days ago.”
The revelation hit Du Zi Heng like a thunderclap. His face turned pale. “Zhi Yi…”