Yu Dabou rose from the mountain of files and walked to the window, pushing it open to look at the sun hanging overhead.
He stretched, humming a little tune.
At this hour, that annoying Cheng Zimò should have been headless, shouldn't he? Brother Cheng, oh Brother Cheng, it's not that I'm heartless, but your son is truly too detestable. For the daughter of a mere commoner, why must he be so persistent in searching for her? Fortunately, Brother Cheng, besides this son, you have an elder son with a bright future. You won't be without heirs, and I feel somewhat at ease.
...
The cave floor was chillingly cold, the frigidity seeping into his body through the gaps in his knee bones. The escorts from Hengyuan Merchant Guild shivered, both in heart and in body.
"Get up!"
Nan Shiying said to the escorts, "Take the sacrificial offerings back. If anyone asks why you're late, do you know what to say?"
"There were some issues with the sacrifice, which delayed us!"
"Incorrect!"
"We encountered some fools blocking our path; killing them took some time!"
The escorts from Hengyuan Merchant Guild looked at each other. So, this person intended to detain these two as well?
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, we understand!" The escorts, not daring to hesitate, quickly replied.
They obeyed and did not ask further questions. After indicating their understanding, they turned and pushed the cart out of the cave.
Cheng Zimò and Shouyi didn't quite understand.
"Amitabha, since the benefactor is unharmed, this humble monk shall return to the temple."
"Master, you cannot return for a while."
"Why?"
"Because the moment you and Young Master Cheng left the city, in the eyes of some, you were already dead."
"This humble monk does not understand!"
"Then I shall explain it simply!"
"Master, do you see these people? These black-robed figures, how long have they been hiding in Wucheng, how many people have they trafficked? How is it that this time, a beggar was able to see them?"
"It wasn't a beggar who spotted their tracks; it was some people who found you an eyesore. They deliberately leaked your movements, leading you out of the city, only to slaughter you outside the city!"
"This is the first time this humble monk has left the temple. I have not made enemies with anyone, why...?"
"Master, investigating this matter is precisely making an enemy. However, Master, you are merely a fish caught in the crossfire. This Young Master Cheng is the thorn in someone's side, the bone in their throat!"
"Me?"
Cheng Zimò pointed at his own nose in surprise. However, he immediately understood and couldn't help but sneer, "Indeed, if the mastermind is truly hidden within Wucheng, they would have wanted to kill me long ago."
"I heard that Young Master Cheng has been recruiting people?"
"Yes!"
Cheng Zimò nodded, his expression somewhat grim as he asked Nan Shiying, "So, can you tell me where the trafficked people ended up?"
"The Hell of Reincarnation!"
Nan Shiying did not spin a well-intentioned lie to comfort him. As the son of Cheng Chongyu, he should know the cruelty of the situation even better.
"Did you see their fate? The reason I gouged out their hearts and drained their blood is because this is what they intended to do."
"Blood sacrifice, have you heard of it?"
"You mean, all, all the abducted people were eventually treated like livestock and became sacrifices?" Cheng Zimò's eyes turned bloodshot, a mist forming in his eyes as he spoke, behind which a monstrous beast seemed to be roaring and raging.
Nan Shiying nodded: "Yes!"
A single word shattered all of Cheng Zimò's hope!