Сhарtеr 258: Guangchun Наll 3
Zhu Yаn liftеd hеr skirt and tore оff а strip of sоft fabric frоm thе innеr lining. Аftеr Хiuxiu aрplied the medicine, shе bеgan bаndaging thе wоund.
Wаng Вuzui walkеd оvеr tо а wall аnd pressed а rеcеssed spot. Тhe wall immеdiatelу trаnsfоrmеd, rеtrасting from the сеnter tоwаrd bоth sides.
Тhe соmmotion drеw Zhu Yаn’s attеntion. With a “bang,” аnother seсrеt сhambеr was reveаlеd.
In аn instant, numеrоus mоths flеw оut frоm within. Drawn tо thе flamеs, theу fearlеssly flеw tоwаrd the firе, оnlу tо rise again frоm the flames, their wings reduсed to ashеs beforе falling tо thе ground.
Zhu Yаn stared in astonishment and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Heavens, Deputy Helm Master Wang, where did you catch so many fluttering moths?”
To stage such an elaborate act for a nonexistent revival secret technique was truly breathtaking.
Wang Buzui shot Zhu Yan a look as if she were an idiot and snapped, “Silence! What fluttering moths? These are the sacred objects of our Fire Moth Party! Do not speak recklessly, or you won’t even know how you die.”
Zhu Yan pursed her lips. “If they’re sacred objects, shouldn’t they be enshrined and worshipped? Why stand by and watch them throw themselves into the fire to die?”
“Silence!” Wang Buzui roared angrily. “Do you believe I’ll kill you first?”
The threat was clear, but it didn’t intimidate Zhu Yan in the slightest. She calmly stood up, smoothing the wrinkles in her sleeves, and swept her gaze over Xiuxiu and the others. Xiuxiu retreated several steps, unable to meet Zhu Yan’s eyes.
Wang Buzui sneered, “Don’t tell me you still think that so-called Great Pavilion Commander Shen Du will come to rescue you?”
Zhu Yan raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“When we captured you earlier, I saw the cinnabar dot on your forearm was still intact. Your claims of affection with Shen Du must have been nothing but an act. I’ve long heard that on his wedding day, the Great Pavilion Commander imposed the ‘Three Delusions’ on his bride, ensuring she wouldn’t live past three months. After arriving in Yingzhou, rumors of your affection circulated, but I found it strange. It was all just Shen Du’s smoke and mirrors, meant to deceive us.”
Seeing Zhu Yan stare at him without a trace of fear, Wang Buzui grew displeased. He snorted coldly before continuing, “If he truly cared for you, why hasn’t he come by now? Even if I killed you, he probably wouldn’t spare you a second glance. What a pity for such a beautiful face.”
He examined Zhu Yan closely. “However, things are different here with me. I can make your face and body serve their greatest purpose. How about it?”
First, he tried to sow discord, then slowly lured her in. Unfortunately for him, he had encountered Zhu Yan.
“What purpose?” Zhu Yan feigned curiosity. Before Wang Buzui could say more, she pointed first at Xiuxiu, then at Du Xiaowan, who was slumped dejectedly to the side, and the other women, pretending to have a sudden realization. “Ah, let me guess, shall I?”
Without waiting for Wang Buzui to respond, she clapped her hands and said, “At first glance, these women seem unrelated, but upon closer inspection, they share one common trait.”
Her words made the women exchange glances, scrutinizing one another, but they remained clueless about what they had in common.
“Miss, you must be mistaken. We don’t look alike at all,” Xiuxiu, who was more experienced and bolder, spoke up first.
Zhu Yan shook her head. “You’re right, you don’t look alike.”
If they didn’t look alike, why say such a thing?
“But if you combine each of your facial features—yours, of course, and mine—then you will.”The others were even more puzzled. How were they combined? And who did they resemble?
"Like him!"
Zhu Yan gestured toward Wang Buzui with her chin, a smile in her eyes. "Don't you think so?"
The others looked at Wang Buzui again, this time stealing glances even if they dared not look openly. Soon, someone noticed something odd.
"It's true, her nose resembles his."
"Her mouth too..."
"..."
Enduring her pain, Du Xiaowan said, "Could it be that Deputy Helm Master Wang wants to resurrect himself?"
Then she began to cry. "Your methods are truly vicious. To resurrect someone, you must take another's life in exchange. This is borrowing another's life to save your own. Even if you succeed, how could you live in peace? Aren't you afraid the Bodhisattvas will drag you down to Avici Hell?"
Du Xiaowan was a well-bred young lady who had rarely left her chambers before marriage. She had never encountered such wicked people or deeds, and for a moment, she could not accept it. Her chest heaved, and before long, she fainted again.
Wang Buzui did not even glance at her, merely spitting out, "Only capable of this much, nothing more."
"Hah, I haven't finished," Zhu Yan said, ignoring his attitude. She looked Wang Buzui up and down, revealing an expression of understanding.
"Deputy Helm Master Wang is a man, and a living one at that. How could he possibly resurrect himself?"
At these words, Wang Buzui's expression changed.
"I suspect the one to be resurrected is not Deputy Helm Master Wang himself, but someone closely related to him—a sister, a mother, or the like."
"A mother is unlikely. To resurrect a mother, you wouldn't seek out such young women. So it must be a sister."
"Deputy Helm Master Wang, do you have a sister who died unjustly?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Buzui swayed slightly. Endless sorrow instantly welled up in his eyes, only to be replaced by hatred—so resolute that even Zhu Yan was startled.
But what needed to be said still had to be said. "Wang Buzui, if you believe your sister died unjustly and with grievances, you could seek help from the authorities or the government. By committing murder and breaking the law, and even attempting to use others' lives to resurrect your sister, you should know that there are consequences in this world. Retribution may be delayed, but it always comes."
"Consequences? Retribution?" Wang Buzui sneered. "Then let it come. Why haven't I seen it?"
"I—"
"Shut up," Wang Buzui waved his hand to stop Zhu Yan from continuing, glaring at her fiercely. "If you weren't still somewhat useful, I'd kill you right now."
Zhu Yan smiled faintly. "Fortunately, I have not failed in my mission."
Wang Buzui flicked his sleeve and ordered someone to tie her up. Turning around, he directed the Half-Faced Ghosts to place the jars they were holding on the stone table in the secret chamber and remove the sealed lids. A sweet fragrance immediately filled the air.
Zhu Yan sniffed and stepped closer, as if very interested in what they were doing.
Wang Buzui noticed her movement and glanced back. Zhu Yan immediately pretended nothing was amiss, offering a flattering smile to show she would behave. She even mouthed two words to Wang Buzui. His pupils dilated in shock, and he turned away, ignoring her.
Zhu Yan couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Who would have thought? Shen Du's name still carried weight. It seemed the fearsome reputation of the White King of Hell truly made everyone wary—no wonder Lai Luozhi wanted him eliminated so badly.
Wang Buzui paid no further attention, and the other Half-Faced Ghosts pretended not to see, focusing intently on their tasks.
Seeking divine favor was a sacred matter, requiring purification through bathing and incense burning to avoid offending the gods.
At that moment, they were setting up incense altars in all four directions, burning incense, and offering prayers to the deities of the four quarters.Afterwards, Wang Buzui walked to the main hall, knelt on the prayer mat, and chanted scriptures before the portrait above, holding prayer beads in his hand with a devout expression.
The others did the same; wherever an incense altar was set up, someone knelt and recited scriptures.
Listening to the murmuring Sanskrit chants, Zhu Yan couldn't help but sneer. Even if gods existed, they would not perform miracles for those whose hands were stained with blood and who treated human lives as expendable to achieve their goals.
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