Сhарtеr 251: Тhe Past оf thе Half-Fаced Ghоst (1)
Zhu Yаn’s wоrds wеrе nоt false. Sinсe she dared to makе suсh a рromisе, shе wаs сertаin shе соuld fulfill it аs agrеed.
At this pоint, Ji Dаfu was likе meat on а choрping bloсk, with nо wау оut оthеr than resigning himsеlf tо his fatе.
Тhеrefоre, thеrе was no сhоicе but to confеss honestly.
Тhе fight bеneаth the city wаll соntinued, аnd Ji Dаfu bеgаn rесounting thе рast tо Zhu Yan аnd Pan Сhi.
Thе rооt of аll this misfоrtunе bеgan with the deаth of Ji Dafu’s wife, Li Xiulian.
Li Хiulian, true to hеr name, wаs gentlе, kind, аnd cоnsiderate, and the couple shared a deep affection.
"Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—merchants are the lowest class," but "money can make the devil turn the millstone," and naturally, it could also bring influence. Thus, the Ji family was relatively wealthy and not looked down upon.
Out of love for his wife, Ji Dafu treated Li Kaixiang and Li Kairui with care. To support the Li family, he even brought Li Kaixiang into business, and the family lived in harmony and happiness.
However, Li Kaixiang had a bad temper—he was extremely irritable and impulsive. Even when negotiating business, he refused to yield. If things didn’t go his way, he would resort to insults, offending many people in the process.
Despite Ji Dafu’s repeated attempts to persuade him, Li Kaixiang remained stubborn. Helpless, Ji Dafu had to draw a clear line in business matters to avoid getting into trouble.
Little did he know that his words would become a prophecy, and it truly came to pass.
Ji Dafu and Li Xiulian had been married for many years but had no children, which naturally worried Li Xiulian.
She heard that the incense at Green Mountain Temple outside the city was flourishing, and all prayers made there were fulfilled.
Thus, every few days, Li Xiulian would bathe, fast, and go to Green Mountain Temple to pray to the gods and Buddhas, offering incense money in hopes of having a child.
Usually, Ji Dafu would accompany her, but this time, he was held up by business matters.
Unwilling to let Li Xiulian go alone, Ji Dafu suggested, "I need to personally inspect the goods on the cargo ship, and I really can’t spare the time. How about postponing it for a day? I’ll accompany you to Green Mountain Temple tomorrow."
The cargo ship couldn’t stay at the dock for too long. He had to inspect the goods quickly and move them, or else it would cause delays.
Li Xiulian chided him, "In broad daylight, under the clear sky, who would dare to commit evil deeds? Besides, Green Mountain Temple is just outside Yingzhou City. We’ve been there countless times—there’s no danger. Praying to the Bodhisattva requires sincerity. Since we’ve set the date, it shouldn’t be changed. Don’t worry, husband! I’ll bring Xiaocui with me. Ordinary people won’t be able to harm me."
Xiaocui was a maid Ji Dafu had recently bought who knew some martial arts. Ordinary people were no match for her.
With that, Ji Dafu had no reason to stop her and could only agree, "Then go and come back quickly."
"Understood."
Li Xiulian agreed and left with Xiaocui.
At Green Mountain Temple, as usual, she burned incense, prayed, and offered incense money before preparing to return home.
Upon learning that the temple’s master was going to preach the Dharma to save all beings, she changed her mind and took Xiaocui to listen.
By the time everything was over, it was already quite late.
To show sincerity, the carriage only went to the foot of the mountain, and she and Xiaocui had walked up.
Thus, they had to walk back down the mountain to take the carriage home.
Halfway down the path, Xiaocui became alert. "Madam, something’s not right."
As a martial artist, Xiaocui’s hearing was exceptionally sharp. She said this because she heard footsteps approaching them.Green Mountain Temple bustled with pilgrims ascending and descending the mountain, but these footsteps were far too chaotic.
Sure enough, as soon as Xiaocui finished speaking, a group of men emerged from the woods, blocking the path down the mountain. There were six of them, all burly men.
Li Xiulian was startled and stood beside Xiaocui, eyeing them as she demanded, "Who are you? Why are you blocking our way down the mountain?"
However, the men did not answer.
The leader unfurled a portrait, glanced at Li Xiulian, and said, "Li Xiulian, sister of Li Kaixiang? Is that correct?"
Xiaocui’s eyes darted, and she immediately understood the situation. She shielded Li Xiulian and said, "You’ve mistaken us, sir. My mistress is not Li Xiulian, and we don’t know anyone named Li Kaixiang."
Xiaocui had been bought by Ji Dafu precisely to protect Li Xiulian, as he feared Li Kaixiang’s enemies might come after her.
Usually, Li Xiulian rarely ventured out, so there was no trouble. Even when she did go out, Ji Dafu would accompany her with guards, and no issues arose.
Who would have thought that on this unlucky day, with Ji Dafu absent due to other matters, the enemies would find her?
The burly man sneered, "Still playing dumb? Even the position of the teardrop mole under her eye is almost identical, and you still deny she’s Li Xiulian?"
"Brother, let’s not waste time with them. We should finish this quickly and go back to claim our reward," said one of the men, who had a sharp, weasel-like face.
The others chimed in agreement.
"Enough, let’s move!" the burly man said, waving his hand. The remaining five men lunged forward.
Xiaocui, loyal to her mistress, pushed Li Xiulian aside, urging her to run while she tried to hold them off.
Li Xiulian had never encountered such a scene before and was terrified. Her legs were already weak, and with Xiaocui’s push, she stumbled a few steps and fell to the ground.
Although Xiaocui knew some martial arts, she was no match for so many opponents. Within moments, she was captured.
Both mistress and servant were tightly bound, gagged, blindfolded, knocked unconscious, and taken away.
It was unclear how much time had passed when Li Xiulian awoke. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Li Kaixiang, similarly bound, and exclaimed in shock, "Brother? Why are you here? Who are those people?"
As she spoke, she tried to struggle, but it was futile—she was tied up tightly.
She looked around and saw they were in a dilapidated temple. The roof leaked, and tattered cloth strips fluttered in the wind, tangling with the cobwebs covering the corners. The floor was strewn with straw.
Li Xiulian had been thrown to the ground with her hands tied behind her back, while Li Kaixiang was bound to a broken chair. Scanning the surroundings, she noticed Xiaocui was nowhere to be seen.
Li Xiulian couldn’t help but worry, "Where’s Xiaocui? Brother, have you seen my maid?"
They had been knocked unconscious together, so logically, if she was here, Xiaocui should be too.
Li Kaixiang’s expression darkened, and he stammered for a moment before saying, "She... she’s dead."
"What?" Li Xiulian cried out in disbelief.
Before Li Kaixiang could explain further, the old wooden door creaked open with a loud groan.
A man with a scar on his face walked in, looking menacing. He glanced at Li Xiulian before fixing his gaze on Li Kaixiang. "Have you made up your mind? If you refuse, what happened to that woman will be your sister’s fate."Li Kaixiang, however, spat with a "pah," sending a thick glob of phlegm flying to land by the visitor's feet. "You're dreaming! This was my doing, and I alone will bear the consequences. If you have the guts, release my sister and settle the score with me. Why drag innocent people into this?"
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