Volume One, Chapter 126: The Mysterious Man’s Purpose (1)

Qin Yu withdrew her murderous gaze and continued washing her face.

Five minutes later, Qin Yu gave up.

She came out with a blotchy face, and Mu Ling wanted to laugh but dared not.

Qin Yu glanced at the person spitting contempt at the statue of the goddess, her eyes growing cold.

Heaven’s justice is cyclical; no one escapes the will of the skies.

Let these people live out their lives in the torment of cancer!

She wanted to collect the body for Buddha, but found the corpse missing.

There was a faint scent of fox lingering in the air.

Knowing who it was, Qin Yu headed to the small hill at the village entrance.

Sure enough, the girl stood there with a cold face, wielding an iron hoe taller than herself, digging the earth scoop by scoop.

From afar, the large mound made the small hill look insignificant.

Qin Yu approached just as Yadan was emerging from the pit.

Seeing Qin Yu, Yadan’s face, already pale and thin from malnutrition, showed traces of resentment. “She never hurt an innocent soul.”

“I wasn’t the one who killed her.”

Yadan stared blankly at the motionless corpse, something dawning on her, her eyes vacant as she murmured, “I warned her countless times, but she refused to believe.”

“What did you say?” Qin Yu asked.

“That man always looked at her like she was just a tool, but she foolishly trusted him. She knew it was wrong, yet she said I didn’t understand—that her master must have his reasons.”

As Yadan spoke, she wiped her face with a small arm. “Well, now look—her life’s been sacrificed, hasn’t it?”

Qin Yu remained silent, simply watching her. She noticed the faint purple aura around Yadan dissipating, and was slightly surprised.

“Interested in coming with me?”

Qin Yu asked.

Yadan kept digging without pausing, seemingly accustomed to such questions. “Is it because of my special constitution?”

Qin Yu raised an eyebrow. “Yes and no.”

Though Yadan appeared only six or seven, her mind was mature. She looked up calmly and asked, “If I come with you, can you keep me safe?”

Qin Yu beat her chest confidently. “As long as I have one life, you will have one too.”

Though her face was still covered in black marker stains like a little turtle, it carried little weight.

“My life was bought with theirs! I just want to live!”

Yadan looked up from the pit, seeing only a small patch of sky.

“I want to live well in their place!”

She said this to herself.

Qin Yu snapped her fingers—she liked those who cherished life so deeply.

“Alright, but I can’t raise you for free.”

Yadan climbed out of the pit again, dragging the now cold corpse of Buddha.

Though she had some demonic aura and more strength than a typical child, the task still taxed her.

Qin Yu silently formed a hand seal, channeling spiritual energy to support the corpse.

Yadan’s efforts became noticeably easier.

She arranged the body neatly at the bottom of the pit, and Qin Yu climbed up, shoveling earth with each iron scoop.

When the last mound of soil covered the grave, she crouched down and patted the small mound.

“You love sunbathing, don’t you? This is the sunniest spot in all of Pingshui Town.”

She didn’t shed a single tear throughout—Yadan was even stronger than Qin Yu had imagined.

Once everything was settled, Yadan stood and dusted herself off. “Let’s go.”

“Not curious about what I’ll have you do?”

“Anything. I just want to live.”

Qin Yu forgot that the little girl was already used to surviving through bargains.

“Fine, then you’ll be responsible for helping me deliver packages.” Qin Yu thought a moment longer. “And help me buy cinnabar and talisman paper…”

Yadan listened quietly, occasionally responding with a soft “Mm.”

“Also, I think the name ‘Yadan’ is awful. How about I give you a new one? ‘Xingqiao’—what do you think?”

Before Yadan could agree, Mu Ling jumped in first. “Xingqiao is a great name! ‘Xing’ means stars, symbolizing brilliance; ‘Qiao’ means tall trees, symbolizing vitality! A wonderful name, truly wonderful!”

Qin Yu silently withdrew her gaze from the distant bridge under construction.

Yadan didn’t really care about any of this. She nodded perfunctorily, “Mm, fine.”

Unlike Yadan’s indifferent reaction, Mu Ling was ecstatic—more thrilled than if he had just named himself.

Qin Yu pressed her lips, watching him grin from ear to ear, reasonably suspecting he was taking this chance to mock the little turtle face on her own.

—

With the affairs in Pingshui Town settled, Qin Yu removed the talisman from the drone.

A red connection request appeared in the background.

It was the mysterious stranger.

Still a pitch-black screen, the noisy electric hum, and the mechanical voice distorted by a voice changer.

Before the stranger could speak, Qin Yu took the initiative. “What exactly do you want me to know?”