Chapter 181: 168 Search, Part 2

In recent days, the Golden Wing Pavilion has risen to prominence, attracting the attention of many young martial artists.

The number of applicants for membership has also suddenly increased.

However, some of those who join cannot fully abide by the confidentiality rules. They need constant reminders and supervision.

Such individuals can only serve as auxiliary members for now.

As for the main members, only three have joined. They are all stable in character and tight-lipped.

These three have taken over many trivial matters for Qingsu and Bao Ning.

Their code names are Qingjiu, Red Pigeon, and Black Raven. All their martial skills are above the fifth rank.

They all have relatives in the Wushan area.

With such attachments, it further guarantees their loyalty to the Golden Wing Pavilion.

Just as Zhang Rongfang and Jin Xiu were discussing what to buy first in preparation for wild food.

Inside the Yinhuai Forest.

In a desolate, abandoned, and eerie temple.

Bang!

A disheveled figure crashed hard against the half-open temple door and rolled out.

The figure was covered in blood, and from the curves of her body, it could be discerned that she was a young woman with a full figure.

She was supposed to be wearing a Hunter’s leather outfit, but now her deep brown fox fur coat was stained with her own blood.

Her black leather pants were also slashed all over.

“Run!! Run!! As far away from here as possible!!”

Chen Miaoxiang screamed in her heart as she got up and sprinted into the distance.

She never dreamt that while she was resting in the city to prepare for a mountain hunt, she would fall asleep by accident.

Upon waking, she found herself in the Yinhuai Forest.

When she woke up, she realized her former friend and bodyguard were nowhere in sight.

She was alone, lying on the corner wall of the dilapidated temple.

Moreover, in the same room where she lay, there was a Daoist, sitting cross-legged with his back to her, reciting some scriptures.

She couldn’t understand what he was chanting, but her body’s instincts felt an intense sense of dread, urging her to flee immediately.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she quietly left the room while the Daoist was reciting scriptures and ran wildly outside.

Once outside, she realized she had sustained many injuries, which she couldn’t feel any pain from.

This intense anomaly made her even more fearful of her situation.

Stumbling and running out of the temple, Chen Miaoxiang hadn’t gone far when she suddenly shivered all over and came to a halt.

She stared blankly at the woods ahead.

On the trunks of the trees hung bodies nailed through their chests to the trees.

These bodies didn’t look like ordinary people.

They were burly and strong, with special pouches that only someone from the martial world would carry.

Some had weapons fallen by their feet.

Yet, this group of people had all perished together in this remote mountain place.

Chen Miaoxiang felt a chill run through her body, feeling as though this was a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.

She involuntarily stepped back a couple of steps.

“Xiang’er!” Suddenly, a faint voice called out from the distance.

Chen Miaoxiang’s spirits lifted, and she shouted urgently.

“I am here!! Brother Ming!! I am here!”

There was a brief pause in the voices before they erupted with excitement, as if many people had arrived.

“Xiang’er! Stay put, I will come to find you! Don’t move no matter what!”

The person called Brother Ming shouted loudly.

“I’ll wait right here for you!” Chen Miaoxiang felt joy in her heart as she responded loudly.

Just as the words left her mouth, she suddenly felt something was wrong.

Behind her, it seemed something was blocking all the light…

A cold shiver surged through her body once again.

In a flash, she turned around to see the mysterious Daoist facing her, raising the iron sword high in the air.

The Daoist wore a metal helmet, with all exposed parts of his body clad in metal.

His hands were gloved in metal, and his neck was shielded by what looked like a metal shell of the helmet.

Swoosh!

The iron sword came down.

*

*

*

At the edge of Yinhuai Forest.

Zhang Rongfang and Jin Xiu spread out a large blue tablecloth on the ground and placed their food on it one by one.

They lit a mosquito-repellent incense nearby.

With the soothing fragrance lingering in the air, the two knelt down, chatting leisurely while snacking.

The area they had chosen was the most bustling wild food spot around Yinhuai Forest.

Hunters and herbalists frequently traveled through here, and there was a military post not far away.

So not many animals dared to approach this area.

The weather had cleared, and many others like them had come to enjoy wild food.

Clearly, they weren’t the only ones confident in their abilities.

Zhang Rongfang took a piece of plum candy and popped it in his mouth.

Though he appeared to be eating, he was actually eavesdropping on the casual conversations of others and any noises coming from the forest.

“Speaking of which, after the last incident in the forest, not many vile cases have emerged since.” Jin Xiu sipped her fruit wine, her pretty face flushed.

“I heard it’s under the care of a local organization from Wushan Prefecture, called the Zhengming Association.

With such organizations around, the situation in Wushan can indeed become better.”

“Have there been other women coming here in the middle of the night?” Zhang Rongfang asked.

“Yes, but quite a few are turned back by the Zhengming Association. Recently, however, there have been rumors saying this place is starting to have problems again.

That’s why, when you first mentioned coming here, I was a bit scared…” Jin Xiu wasn’t pretending; she was genuinely a little afraid.

“How so? It’s starting again? Why haven’t they reported to the authorities?” Zhang Rongfang frowned.

Since Golden Wing Pavilion suffered heavy losses, with more than half of its members gone, his understanding of the whole Wushan had weakened considerably.

“The ones going missing are local women. Earlier, the authorities claimed the case was resolved and closed. Now that it’s starting to happen again, it’s like a slap in their face, so they’re naturally reluctant to publicize it,”

Jin Xiu explained, “I have a cousin who went missing some days ago, and despite searching everywhere fruitlessly, it was found that she went to Yinhuai Forest.”

“So you mean women have been disappearing again recently?” Zhang Rongfang said.

“More or less, I’ve been hearing about it these past few months.” Jin Xiu nodded. “But there are lookout towers set up by the authorities here, so most probably get turned back, right?”

“Hmm.” Zhang Rongfang’s gaze shifted toward the depths of Yinhuai Forest.

The forest resembled a shrouded mist where sunlight couldn’t directly penetrate, and one could only see ten meters inside from the outside before shadows blocked the view.

Trees towering tens of meters high together formed a vast, cold space beneath the forest canopy.

’Why exactly did Gong Shuyin want me to come here? Is there something I need here?’

Zhang Rongfang pondered.

Given that disappearances have started anew recently and lasted for months.

That signifies Wushan Prefecture is already powerless against this place.

Or perhaps unable to bear the cost of resolving the issues here.

“Maybe we could start a fire here too, cook something like milk tea or so?”

Nearby, Jin Xiu saw a few stalls not far away already grilling food, and was instantly tempted.

“We could, but I didn’t bring a tinderbox; we can still build a stove with stones,” Zhang Rongfang nodded, snapping back to reality and smiling.

He was currently recuperating, rarely practicing martial arts and only occasionally studying the Cultivation of Literature.

In relaxing like this, his mood instantly lightened a lot.

“I’ll go borrow some fire, or we could just join others,” Jin Xiu eagerly suggested.

*

*

*

Commercial Bureau.

“That Zhang Rongfang guy went out with Jin Xiu again?”

Lu Meisha raised an eyebrow upon hearing the report from her personal maid Xiaoshui, while holding the almond crisp she just bought.

These days, Jin Xiu had been very proactive, even her close friend who once was couldn’t miss the intentions.

Watching Jin Xiu and Zhang Rongfang getting closer, the fire of anger in her heart burned stronger.

Moreover, what puzzled her increasingly is.

Although Zhang Rongfang indeed fulfilled various requirements for Jin Xiu, with her charm, she shouldn’t have to be this forward.

Now, Zhang Rongfang is merely an ordinary person relying on her brother.

Even with some talent, it would take years for it to realize.

So many years ahead, too many variables, no one can predict what might transpire in between.

Hence, seeing her friend so proactive, even recklessly risking a girl’s reputation.

It incited more discontent within Lu Meisha.

“Were they just the two of them?” She asked again.

“Yes, Miss. They said they were going to some forest outside the city, though I didn’t catch the name. Young Master Rongfang said he’ll be back later, no need to wait for him for dinner,” Xiaoshui supplemented.

“Really?”

Lu Meisha wasn’t clueless, earlier she also casually chatted with her brother once.

Both had discerned that Zhang Rongfang was hiding something, yet no matter what his secret may be, her brother trusted he wouldn’t harm his sister, hence chose to ignore it.

Initially, Lu Meisha thought the same.

After all, someone who could get recognized at such a young age as a martial artist talent, even walking over a hundred miles alone to join a Daoist temple for official recognition.

He shouldn’t be what she imagined.

But now….

The guy even took interest in someone as opportunistic as Jin Xiu….?

“Alright, I understand, you can leave now.”

Lu Meisha waved her hand, her expression thoughtful.

Returning to her room, she set down the pastries. Sitting on the chair, an array of thoughts surged.

’I understand Jin Xiu’s character very well, extremely pragmatic and profit-driven, never taking action without gain.

For her to be so proactive, there must be a hidden opportunity of benefit! Moreover, it’s highly likely related to Zhang Rongfang!’

Lu Meisha’s mind was illuminated.

’But considering Zhang Rongfang, even if he’s hiding something, even with great future potential, currently, he’s still just a Grade One martial artist. Talent can’t be utilized now, and each month he merely receives the regular pay from the household, which isn’t much.

What’s there for Jin Xiu to value in him?’

Her thoughts wandered until, realizing Zhang Rongfang had gone out of town….

How about…

A thought sparked like wildfire in her mind.

She immediately took action, quickly tidying up and leaving.

She didn’t go directly to her destination first, but somewhere else.

Once preparations were done.

Before long, she changed into new attire, cloaked with a veil and hood, and arrived again in front of Zhang Rongfang’s residence.

’This is a great opportunity to uncover if there’s truly anything secret about Zhang Rongfang!

’If he does have secrets, it’ll bring peace once revealed.’

’If he lacks secrets and is just deceivingly loud, I can immediately inform Jin Xiu. As a friend, I can’t let her be duped and suffer a huge loss.’

Having decided, she used a key Zhang Rongfang left for her sister to open the lock, pushed the door, and entered.

At this time, in Zhang Rongfang’s study, a Little Red Bird slowly landed on the desk, lowering its head to peck at the grains scattered on it.

The bamboo tube tied to the Little Red Bird’s leg was clearly visible in the daylight.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep