Chapter 136

Chapter 136

Xiaoyun told Shengsheng Zhou that the white fish was not poisonous and could be eaten. But when she asked its name, he said he did not know.

Why care about the name of something going into one’s stomach?

Shengsheng instructed him solemnly, “The name isn’t for us to hear. It’s for the fish. Out of respect, we should at least let it know what it died as.”

The boy understood. “So that’s how it is.”

Shengsheng shared her plain grilled fish with him and asked where they were.

Xiaoyun said the forest was called Old Forest. It had existed since the era of the Qing Kingdom and was extremely ancient, so everyone “affectionately” called it Old Forest.

His village was below the mountain, a very small village. Farther east lay Border City. Whenever the villagers needed to trade, they went there, where many military lords lived.

A-Pang cried happily, *Wonderful! Isn’t Border City on the boundary between the Zhu Kingdom and Yong Kingdom? Maybe the dark-skinned man is here!*

Shengsheng continued questioning him. “Have you seen a man black as charcoal–really, really dark?”

Xiaoyun chewed his fish and blinked. “What does he look like?”

“Very handsome,” Shengsheng answered solemnly.

Handsome, yes, but also thoroughly deserving of death.

Xiaoyun shook his head. “I’ve never seen him.”

Shengsheng had expected the disappointment.

How could a boy living in a simple mountain village have met Jierge? Better if he never did. A ruthless man like that might do anything to an honest boy.

Fortunately, after meeting Xiaoyun, Shengsheng did not have to sleep on the street.

The villagers were extremely warm and greeted even a stranger like Shengsheng of their own accord.

The setting sun slowly dyed the simple land fiery red. Children returning from grazing cattle held adults’ hands and hummed tuneless songs.

Everyone here lived ordinary, happy lives.

Xiaoyun’s parents warmly welcomed Shengsheng.

The family of three received her kindly, and she also met Xiaohua from next door when the girl delivered sweet potatoes.

She was indeed a delicate-looking girl. The moment Xiaoyun heard she had arrived, he rushed outside, and the two talked for a long time.

Shengsheng thought this place was wonderful. Settling here someday might be comfortable.

At dinner, Xiaoyun had been devouring his food. But when he saw Shengsheng eating elegantly opposite him, every movement pleasing to the eye, he blushed and began chewing slowly.

Then he discovered he was not alone. His father, who normally ate heartily and smacked his lips, made no noise tonight. His mother also ate quietly instead of discussing trivial matters as she did every evening.

Shengsheng did not notice. She was enjoying her meal. Compared with palace food, it was only coarse fare, but eating it occasionally had a special charm.

After hesitating, Xiaoyun’s mother finally asked from sheer curiosity, “Young lady, how did you become lost here?”

Shengsheng might not notice, but her presence in such a place was far too conspicuous.

Unlike sun-beaten mountain women, her skin was fine as snow. Her speech and movements were elegant, clearly marking her as a daughter of a great household. Her entire style clashed with the small village.

Shengsheng’s eyes dimmed. “Actually… I’m searching for my fiancé.”

Xiaoyun’s mother gasped, and his father set down his chopsticks.

They knew they were about to hear a wonderful story.

Shengsheng did not disappoint. Looking sorrowful, she said, “My fiancé contracted a terminal illness. To avoid burdening me, he came here alone. I thought he had heartlessly abandoned me, but after bribing one of his servants, I learned that he actually…”
Shengsheng Zhou covered her mouth and gave a choked sob, as though she were in too much pain to speak.

Tears glimmered in Xiaoyun’s mother’s eyes. She covered her mouth in disbelief. “My heavens. That truly is…”

Xiaoyun’s father shook his head as well. “May I ask your fiancé’s name and what he looks like, young lady? This isn’t a very large place. If you want to ask around for someone, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Shengsheng’s face stiffened for an instant.

No need. She did not want to see Fusheng Duan yet. The sight of him would only remind her of what a complete idiot she had once been.

“N-no need… Actually, I…”

“Are you talking about that pitch-black, super-duper dark, very handsome man?”

Shengsheng shook her head without hesitation.

Jierge, her fiancé? What a joke.

Ha. Even nine lives would not be enough for him to ruin.

“Black?” Xiaoyun’s father repeated thoughtfully.

Shengsheng’s eyes lit up. “Do you know him?”

Xiaoyun’s father shook his head. “I’ve never seen him myself, but I think one of the men I work with mentioned him.”

Xiaoyun’s father was a bricklayer in Border City and met all sorts of people.

Hope flared in Shengsheng at once, and she asked him to take her into the city the next day.

Xiaoyun’s mother asked in puzzlement, “What is this dark-skinned man to you, young lady?”

Shengsheng said bitterly, “He’s a servant of my household. He developed feelings for me that he never should have had and grew jealous of my fiancé, so he poisoned him and tried to kill him!”

“Wasn’t your fiancé terminally ill?” Xiaoyun asked as he finished his cornbread and licked his fingers.

Without missing a beat, Shengsheng replied, “That happened before he became terminally ill. It was precisely because he’d once been poisoned that…”

Tears gathered in Xiaoyun’s mother’s eyes again. “That truly is…”

A-Pang lay atop Shengsheng’s head and rolled his eyes.

How he hated that he had no recording function.

He wished he could broadcast every last word of this to Fusheng Duan…

…

After bidding farewell to Xiaoyun’s father, who had brought her inside, Shengsheng wandered around the small city alone.

It was a frontier settlement, after all. Supplies were scarce, and it was nowhere near as prosperous or orderly as affluent Heping City.

When Shengsheng left, Li Su had given her a purse for travel expenses. She had also “borrowed” some money from San Zhang, but unfortunately had no idea where any of it had fallen.

At the moment, she was completely penniless.

She turned into an unnoticed alley, utterly unaware that a thief had long since marked her as his target.

*A-Pang, the cooldown is over, right? Is there anything that can help me pinpoint Jierge’s location?*

She suspected Jierge had come here for the same reason he had gone to Dazhang City: to destroy the entire city from within. But the barbarian army could not enter from here, not when Yong Kingdom lay just across the border. What exactly was he trying to do?

*I took a look. Shengsheng, there’s a surprise!*

Shengsheng instantly grew excited. *What is it? A Philosopher’s Stone?*

A-Pang thought that someone who had died poor in her last life really did make the strangest associations.

*No. It’s a Memory-Restoration Potion.*

Shengsheng froze. That was right. After so long, it was time for Zhiyu Jiang to become her old self again.

She wondered if Zhiyu would hate her once that happened.

*Exchange it.* Shengsheng made the decision without a moment’s hesitation.

A-Pang shook his head. *Not now. The shop will enter cooldown again. Our priority is finding Jierge. The potion won’t disappear for the time being.*

Shengsheng nodded. Her concern really had muddled her thinking.

The important thing now was to exchange for something that could both find Jierge and teach him a lesson.

She smiled sinisterly, giving the thief watching from a short distance away a full-body shudder.

Why did this woman look a little deranged…?