Chapter 14: An Assassination Attempt

A flicker of murderous intent flashed and vanished in Lu Shijiu’s eyes.

“Ahem… planning to kill this young lord to silence him?”

That voice?

Lu Shijiu froze. How was it exactly the same as that annoying Taoist from her dream?

In that brief moment of distraction, the young man had already gracefully approached her.

“Hm?”

That question brought her back to her senses.

She couldn’t strike him down. If she killed him, how would she be any different from those villains in the Lu family? Moreover...

“I did not kill him!”

“But you didn’t save him either!” The youth’s eyes were as dark as ink.

“He was involved in countless murders. Why should I save him?”

Lu Shijiu lifted her chin, straightened her back, and brushed past him. She took the rope from the tree branch and strode away.

Liu Gongbo watched her frail figure thoughtfully.

“My lord! Should I investigate this young lady?” A man in black suddenly appeared.

Liu Gongbo’s voice turned cold. “Muxin, what exactly are we here for?”

“I admit my mistake!”

“Let’s go.”

His empty, azure robe fluttered fiercely in the wind.

“My lord, it’s windy up the mountain, we—”

Muxin hesitated behind him.

“It’s nothing.”

“My lord, that young lady’s family may not be of good repute. It’s dangerous here. We have enough people to gather the herbs. Please return to the inn and wait for news.”

Muxin persisted in his counsel.

“Scared?”

Liu Gongbo tilted his head, asking him.

“No, I’m just worried someone might harm you, my lord,” Muxin lowered his head respectfully.

“Don’t worry.”

“But—”

Liu Gongbo’s expression darkened as he looked toward the rustling forest in the distance. “I am but a short-lived man. Can I not live recklessly in my final days?”

Upon hearing the words “short-lived,” Muxin swallowed his advice whole.

***

“My lord, don’t lose heart. There must be a way to cure you!”

Liu Gongbo smirked faintly and tapped him on the shoulder with the handle of his fan. “Let’s go.”

---

Meanwhile, Lu Shijiu returned to the Dead Man’s Forest. After tying up a bundle of firewood, she hurried home.

This time, she did not seek food. Exhausted beyond her limits, she collapsed onto her bed and slept.

“Open up! Bad luck, open the door!”

Lu Shijiu awoke groggily. “What now?”

“What now? Didn’t you know your father didn’t come home last night?” Mrs. Xue asked anxiously. “Look at the time. Still sleeping? Are you neglecting the chores?”

“Since when is it my concern when he returns?” Lu Shijiu said impatiently as she opened the door. The sunlight stabbed her blurry eyes, making it hard to open them.

She rubbed her eyes hard. The sky was already bright, and the sun had climbed high.

“Yesterday was exhausting. I overslept,” Lu Shijiu replied coldly.

“Come with me to look for your father!” Mrs. Xue grabbed her hand, ready to leave.

“Are you sure?”

Mrs. Xue hesitated, then let go. She paced anxiously by the wood shed door.

“But your father has never before failed to come home or notify anyone at night.”

“Maybe something else detained him,” Lu Shijiu said as she walked straight to the well in the yard.

“Why do your clothes have so many tears again?” Mrs. Xue asked harshly. “Why do you treat your clothes so carelessly?”

Lu Shijiu froze mid-motion scooping water, then sneered, “If you whip me more often, I’m sure there’ll be even more tears.”

“Then work harder to avoid getting beaten!” Mrs. Xue rolled her eyes.

“From Old Third’s place: if you have time today, prepare more wooden spikes with the bad luck girl! When Old Third comes back, have him fix them on the walls. The wolves were howling too often last night. I fear trouble.”

Old Master Lu stood at his room’s door, leaning on his cane and shouting.

“Father, are you worried wolves will come down the mountain?” Mrs. Xue asked with a worried expression.

“Mm. The last time I heard that many wolf howls was ten years ago, when we first arrived here. The wolf pack stormed the village, many people died, and a lot of livestock was lost,” Old Master Lu said gravely.

More than just deaths, many were injured as well!

Mrs. Xue remembered it too.

“All right, we’ll start sharpening the wooden spikes.”

After washing up, Lu Shijiu was about to head to the kitchen when Mrs. Xue dragged her toward the wood shed.

“Sharpen the spikes! You overslept and still want to eat? Not a chance!”

“I’m too weak!”

“If you don’t want a beating, you better work! No food until noon!” Mrs. Xue’s brows twitched fiercely.

Lu Shijiu glanced sideways. “I can’t work on an empty stomach.”

Mrs. Xue grabbed a whip from the woodpile and snapped it onto the ground. “You’ll work whether you can or not, or I’ll beat you senseless! I don’t believe this won’t cure you!”

There would be no meal this time. Lu Shijiu frowned and sat down by the woodpile to work.

“Lu Xingfa! Lu Xingfa!”

Before she had worked long, the village head Zhao stormed into the courtyard with a group of people.

“Village Head Zhao, what’s happened?” Mrs. Xue stood up, stunned.

Old Master Lu also came out, leaning on his cane.

“Village Head Zhao, what’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter? That wasteland by the river west of the village, isn’t it your family’s new burial ground?”

“Yes! So what? My wife was buried there yesterday!”

“Then why are there over ten corpses there? Weren’t you burying your wife yesterday? How did this happen?” Zhao slapped his hands, demanding an explanation from Old Master Lu.

Old Master Lu’s heart sank. “Village Head Zhao, we don’t know either.”

“Don’t know? Where’s your Old Third? Bring him out!”

Zhao barked orders rudely.

“He’s not home; he’s gone out on some errand!”

“Gone out? Probably hiding from trouble,” Zhao snorted coldly.

“Village Head Zhao, you don’t think Old Third killed those people, do you? That’s a capital offense. You can’t just accuse him without evidence—that could get someone killed!” Old Master Lu trembled.

“Accuse without evidence? From their clothes, those people were funeral workers, probably hired by you. Now that they died in your wife’s burial ground, if it wasn’t you, who else could it be?” Zhao retorted.

“Couldn’t someone else have framed us? I know my wife’s child trafficking made many enemies. But this is a matter of life and death. Without proof, you can’t make wild accusations!” Old Master Lu looked terrified.

“Report it to the authorities! Let the county magistrate investigate!” someone suggested.

Zhao shook his head. “No use. The county magistrate was stabbed two days ago and remains unconscious.”

“Ah?”

Everyone’s anger flared instantly. “Who dares to stab such a good county magistrate?”