Chapter 95

A group of people in black surrounded them, encircling the few individuals, but they didn’t immediately start fighting. Instead, those few seemed somewhat relieved to see the people in black.

Shen Yu’s voice was heavy. “Because they knew each other.”

“Y-yes,” Sanfu stammered nervously. “I was scared at the time, so I didn’t open the door. Then, I saw the people in black approach. When they let their guard down a bit, I directly cut their throats.”

Those few individuals didn’t have any weapons and were no match at all. Besides, they were acquaintances, so they clearly weren’t on guard.

“Why didn’t you report it to the authorities?”

“I was afraid,” Sanfu said fearfully. “Later, they cleaned up the bloodstains and changed into different clothes to pretend to be guests asking for accommodation. Luckily, I quickly pretended to have just woken up, saying we don’t take guests at night, so they left.”

So, that night’s scene was only witnessed by Sanfu alone, which also explained why later reports to the authorities claimed those individuals hadn’t returned after leaving in the morning.

Sanfu was afraid of retaliation, so he didn’t dare to tell the truth.

“I later went to the outskirts to the Potter’s Field and saw the bodies of those people.”

Shen Yu frowned. “What were you doing at the Potter’s Field?”

“Out of curiosity, and I had to confirm if they were really dead. Their swords… seemed quite valuable.”

Shen Yu wasn’t sure why she was so interested in this case, perhaps because it was related to the Qi Chang Prefecture, or perhaps something deeper was guiding her to investigate this matter.

Anyway, her intuition told her that this matter wasn’t as simple as a few individuals inexplicably dying.

Shen Yu sheathed her dagger and clapped her hands, standing up. “Let’s go, take me to the Potter’s Field.”

Sanfu was terrified and quickly waved his hands. “It’s not safe to go to the Potter’s Field at this hour. Can’t we go tomorrow during daylight?”

Si Xi chimed in, “Go to the Potter’s Field? At this time, leaving the city, we won’t make it back before the gates close. We’ll have to spend the night outside the city.”

Shen Yu had slept outdoors before, so that wasn’t the issue. The problem was that she hadn’t informed Xie Tingzhou in advance. It wouldn’t be good if he thought something had happened to her.

Shen Yu thought for a moment and asked, “Which gate is closer to the Potter’s Field?”

Si Xi replied, “It’s Chong’an Gate.”

“You two go wait outside Chong’an Gate for me. I have some business to attend to. Let’s meet near the gate at the third watch.”

Shen Yu walked to the door, then turned back and pointed at Sanfu. “Don’t even think about running away. I know where you work and where you live. You can’t escape.”

…

After the spring started, the days became warmer, but the nights remained chilly.

Sanfu and Si Xi left Chong’an Gate and waited in a sheltered spot.

“You said he’s generous, but after working so hard all night, we didn’t even get a tip. What’s up with that?” Sanfu complained, rubbing his hands together.

Si Xi took something out of his chest and waved it in the wind.

Sanfu’s eyes lit up. “Is that… a banknote? Let me touch it.”

He had never seen a banknote before, having only handled small silver coins before.

Si Xi made a hushing gesture and pocketed the banknote. Looking around, he whispered, “I’ve never lied to you. Just because you weren’t honest.”

“You see the young master. With just one thing, he knows when you’re lying. We can’t fool someone like him. If you want to follow the young master and do things like me, you have to listen carefully and keep your mouth shut. No more stealing and cheating.”

Sanfu thought that if he could really work with the young master, he wouldn’t have to worry about money anymore. Why would he still want to grab small gains like before?

“Why didn’t we have a way before?” Sanfu asked, bumping Si Xi’s shoulder. “Who is this young master anyway? He’s so generous.”

Si Xi shot him a frustrated look. “Just now, I told you to keep your mouth shut, and now you’re asking around. The young master doesn’t want you to know certain things. Even if you find out, you have to pretend you don’t know.”

“Do you know?”

“I don’t.”

As they spoke, the sound of hooves echoed near the city gate.

They peered out and saw about a dozen people on horseback surrounding a large carriage.

The heavy city gate slowly closed behind the procession.

Si Xi grew anxious. “The gate is closed. What if the young master doesn’t come out?”

“I always thought he was unreliable. Who goes to the Potter’s Field in the middle of the night?”

Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the air.

They both looked up to see a massive hawk flying overhead, its wings blocking half the moon.

“Wow!” Sanfu exclaimed. “That’s a huge bird.”

“It’s an eagle.”

Shen Yu rode alone on horseback, galloping over to them, pulling the reins in front of them. The horse’s hooves rose and fell high, and the guards behind her also rode up.

Shen Yu looked down at them. “Lead the way to the Potter’s Field.”

The Potter’s Field was a few miles from Chong’an Gate, nestled in a mountain hollow.

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the wind whistled through the hollow at night, making it especially eerie.

Inside the carriage, incense was lit, but it couldn’t mask the stench of rotting corpses.

Earlier, Shen Yu had informed Xie Tingzhou, but upon hearing it, Xie Tingzhou insisted on coming too.

There were many capable individuals under Xie Tingzhou’s command, including Feng Yang, who was once an inquisitor.

Feng Yang handed Shen Yu a bottle. “Let the master smell this. It’ll make you feel better.”

Before Shen Yu could say anything, Feng Yang had already turned and left, giving orders to the other guards.

Crushed garlic and ginger soaked in vinegar and wrapped in cloth may not smell good, but it can resist the stench of corpses and diseases.

Shen Yu had no choice but to board the carriage herself. Her face was covered with a scented cloth, leaving only her bright eyes visible.

Xie Tingzhou sniffed the bottle and immediately couldn’t smell anything.

Shen Yu said, “The wind is strong at night, and you’re not fully recovered yet. It’s better if you don’t come down.”

“You shouldn’t go either,” Xie Tingzhou covered the bottle, “There’s nothing good about seeing a pile of corpses.”

“But I still want to go and take a look. Maybe we’ll find something.”

Xie Tingzhou knew he couldn’t stop her. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. “Let Feng Yang go, and don’t get involved.”

Shen Yu nodded and pushed open the carriage door, preparing to get off.

“Come back, Xie Tingzhou.

    Shen Yu turned around and caught what Xie Tingzhou threw in the air.

    “Smell it.” Xie Tingzhou said, “It will make you feel better.”

    Each guard had a torch, lighting up the mass grave as bright as day.

    The corpses dumped before spring were frozen in the snow, and began to rot and stink as soon as the weather warmed up and the snow melted. Adding in the corpses dumped recently, the huge corpse pit was almost filled.

    That scene made people feel frightened.

    Shen Yu looked at the corpse pit, and the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood at Yanliang Pass came to mind.

    Sanfu hugged a tree and vomited wildly.

    Sixi stuffed two pieces of cloth into his nose and asked him: “Didn’t you come here once?”

    “I vomited like this last time, vomit-” Sanfu took advantage of the opportunity to vomit and said: “Right now, after vomiting, I will Okay.”

    That medicine was precious, and it cost thousands of taels of silver to prepare such a bottle, so Feng Yang couldn’t bear to give it to them.

    “Come here and take a look. Who are the people you see?” Shen Yu said in a deep voice.

    Sanfu wiped his mouth and stepped forward to take a look.