Chapter 21 The White-Clad Immortal Maiden

At the time, when I heard Jiang Yongguang say that, I thought he was joking. But looking back after many years, I suddenly realized that as an outsider, he could see clearly that Xiao Liang was interested in me.

It was my fault for being so dense back then. I never thought about it in terms of romance and just assumed Xiao Liang's feelings for me were purely comradely. If I had realized it sooner, Xiao Liang wouldn't have had to suffer so much for me later.

Of course, that's all in the future.

After Jiang Yongguang and the others arrested Shopkeeper Wang and asked some simple questions about the ancient tomb, Xiao Liang took me and Uncle Mei to a nearby hospital.

With that white-clad immortal maiden drawing water to flood it, this tomb was probably beyond saving. Not to mention that the cultural relics and ruins inside would all be destroyed, even the ancient tree that had turned into *yin chen mu* (submerged wood) would be difficult to salvage.

As for the remains of the ancient Shu king, which Mr. Liao had only partially retrieved and then left in the Ming Dynasty tomb raider's tunnel, they must have been smashed to pieces by the flood.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but lament the white-clad immortal maiden's wickedness.

But this tomb raid wasn't a complete loss. At least I found Xiao Mei's whereabouts and retrieved one of her garments.

I suspected that Xiao Mei had been kidnapped by that white-clad immortal maiden. The person who killed Aunt Mei was definitely this strange woman.

Of course, I didn't know her motives yet and needed to investigate further.

At the hospital, Xiao Liang meticulously treated the wounds of Uncle Mei and me. Because we didn't know if the piranhas and *xi shu* (a kind of rat) in the ancient tomb carried any bacteria or viruses, we also had to undergo a series of strict tests.

Jiang Yongguang was a good guy. He didn't immediately interrogate Shopkeeper Wang, but instead came to the hospital to comfort Uncle Mei and me.

After all, the two of us had made a great contribution this time. Our infiltration was the key to successfully arresting Shopkeeper Wang.

After bandaging my wounds, I suddenly realized that Sister Hong might also be treated in the same hospital.

I quickly asked Jiang Yongguang if Sister Hong was here and how she was doing.

Before Jiang Yongguang could answer, Xiao Liang said sourly, "You seem pretty concerned about that female tomb raider. What's wrong? Did you develop feelings for her after being underground for a whole day and night?"

I quickly explained, "You don't know, Sister Hong's background is very sad."

Then, I told her the story of how Sister Hong treated her younger brother's illness and was deceived by her own father. After listening, Xiao Liang couldn't help but sympathize, saying, "No wonder she took this crooked path. If life wasn't really unbearable, no woman would be willing to do this."

Seeing that I was worried about Sister Hong, Jiang Yongguang quickly told me that Sister Hong's condition was stable, and her life had been saved. However, because her right leg was seriously injured, she might not be able to walk so smoothly in the future.

I breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's good that her life was saved. It doesn't matter if her legs are not so nimble. That's just as well, it will make her behave and stop raiding tombs."

Then I asked, "By the way, will Sister Hong be severely punished for disturbing a tomb as grand as the Duck River Ancient Shu tomb? Surely she won't get the death penalty?"

Jiang Yongguang quickly smiled and shook his head, "Not to that extent. Only people like Shopkeeper Wang, whose crimes are particularly serious, will get the death penalty. Sister Hong was just a lookout, according to your intelligence, she didn't even participate in the tomb raiding. This was her only time in a tomb. In this case, she will be sentenced to a maximum of three to five years. If she behaves well inside, she might be released in two or three years."

Hearing this, I was relieved. I felt that Sister Hong wasn't the kind of vicious person. She deserved a chance to reform.

Later, as Jiang Yongguang said, Sister Hong was given a lighter sentence because her crime was minor, and she had a good attitude and actively cooperated with the investigation. She was only sentenced to three years in prison.

Sister Hong performed excellently inside and received a six-month reduction in her sentence, so she was released after two and a half years.

My fate with Sister Hong wasn't over. I was the one who picked her up on the day she was released. I never expected that because of this undercover operation, I would gain a sister with no blood relation in this vast world.

Of course, as for the story between her and me, now is not the time to tell it. I will slowly tell it when there is a chance in the future.

After inquiring about Sister Hong's matter, I suddenly thought of the white-clad immortal maiden again and quickly asked Jiang Yongguang, "By the way, did your Xiaoling Guard find another group of tomb raiders nearby? There's a woman dressed in white who is good at using flying knives."

Jiang Yongguang was stunned when he heard this and asked blankly, "What? Another group of tomb raiders? There's another group of tomb raiders in this Duck River Ancient Tomb?"

I said, "It's not exactly a group, to be precise, it's just one person—the white-clad immortal maiden. She was ahead of us, killed one of Shopkeeper Wang's laborers, and also took the Ancient Shu Jade Tablet."

When Jiang Yongguang heard this, he couldn't help but frown and say, "Just one person acting alone? She can actually kill people and seize treasures, and snatch the Ancient Shu Jade Tablet from Shopkeeper Wang? This white-clad immortal maiden is wild enough!"

I nodded and said, "Yes. And I suspect that she is the mastermind who killed Aunt Mei and kidnapped Xiao Mei."

Then I told the story of the white-clad immortal maiden in detail. Jiang Yongguang and Xiao Liang listened in stunned silence. After I finished, Jiang Yongguang guessed:

"Could this white-clad immortal maiden be a subordinate of Master Gao? Master Gao doesn't trust Shopkeeper Wang, so he specially hired an expert to help him retrieve the Ancient Shu Jade Tablet from the Ancient Shu tomb. Otherwise, why would this white-clad immortal maiden be able to find the main tomb chamber so accurately? And get the Ancient Shu Jade Tablet so accurately?"

When I heard this, I couldn't help but slap my thigh and say, "There is indeed this possibility! This white-clad immortal maiden knows more about the Ancient Shu tomb than Shopkeeper Wang. If Master Gao didn't provide her with intelligence, how could she have done this? She is very likely Master Gao's man!"

At this time, Uncle Mei said in a deep voice: "No matter what, the most important thing right now is to find this white-clad immortal maiden. An'an is in her hands, that's for sure!"

I also nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, we must find her."

Jiang Yongguang patted my shoulder and assured me: "Don't worry, from any point of view, our Xiaoling Guard will investigate this matter to the end. You guys take good care of your injuries, I'll go interrogate that old fox, Shopkeeper Wang, first."

After saying that, he got up and left, instructing Xiao Liang before leaving: "Xiao Liang, take good care of your man."

When Xiao Liang heard this, her pretty face flushed red, and she said depressedly: "How annoying! Don't talk nonsense! The mission is completed, we don't have to pretend to be that… that couple anymore!"

Jiang Yongguang laughed loudly and slipped away.

After a long while, I saw that the blush on Xiao Liang's cheeks hadn't faded yet, so I smiled and said to her, "Xiao Liang, Officer Jiang was just saying it casually, don't take it to heart."

"I know, I didn't take it to heart." Xiao Liang said stubbornly, but that girlish shyness couldn't be hidden.

At this time, she suddenly remembered that Uncle Mei and I had been trapped in the tomb for half a day and a night, and we must be hungry.

She quickly asked me, "Chen Rongsheng, you've been tossing around for so long without eating, you must be hungry, right? What do you want to eat? I'll go out and buy it for you."

I thought for a while and said, "I want to eat a bowl of noodles, with some beef and an egg, is that okay?"

Xiao Liang readily nodded and said, "Of course, I'll add more beef and eggs for you to nourish your body."

When Uncle Mei next to him heard this, he quickly leaned over and said, "I also want a bowl of noodles, just like Rongsheng's."

Xiao Liang nodded and immediately set off to buy noodles.

After she left the ward, Uncle Mei suddenly coughed and looked at me, as if he had something to say.

I asked Uncle Mei, "What's wrong? Uncle, is there something?"

Uncle Mei hesitated for a while, but in the end, he just lit a cigarette and shook his head, "It's nothing, you rest."