Chapter 66: Village Affairs, a Midnight Call!

The mother and son, having reached an unspoken agreement not to trouble Sui Yi, became much more at ease. Sui Yi, astute as she was, noticed everything but chose not to comment.

During dinner, Sui Yi answered several phone calls. One was from Elder Tang, who mentioned there had been a turn of events with Han Tianshou—those handling the case seemed to have shifted their stance. Though most of the main culprits would be brought down, it appeared Han Tianshou might escape unscathed.

Sui Yi recalled encountering Li Run at the school gate and asked Elder Tang about him.

“Li Run? Han Tianshou’s cousin? I remember hearing years ago that Han Tianshou had an extensive network; most of his siblings and relatives have made something of themselves. The most notable is his younger sister, who married into a prominent family in the provincial capital. I believe she’s in business... her connections are vast.”

In business? No wonder his son is so arrogant.

After exchanging a few more words, Sui Yi ended the call. For Elder Tang and his associates, taking down the others was already mission accomplished. Han Tianshou was a small fry to them, but to Sui Yi, he was a target. His survival still affected her.

So Elder Tang had called specifically to inform her.

Sui Yi didn’t press the matter. No sooner had she gathered her thoughts than another call came in—this time from Ah A.

“Sui Yi, I’ve found a place—are you interested?”

“Hm?”

“A martial arts school that teaches my style of boxing.”

“Your style isn’t anything special.”

“...” The youth, sipping beer in his small provisions shop, choked, imagining the indifferent look on the girl’s face on the other end. He replied irritably, “Can’t you be a bit less blunt?”

“I’m worried you won’t get it otherwise.”

“...All right, the truth is, I’ve just joined this school myself and haven’t mastered it yet, but the boxing is actually pretty good—it’s not just empty theory.”

“So you mean you’re not skilled because of yourself, but the style itself is great?”

“...” Sui Yi, you always manage to focus on things others overlook.

“From what I’ve seen, your moves resemble Jeet Kune Do. Want to join me?”

One shouldn’t talk while eating or sleeping, so Sui Yi was on the balcony outside the dining room when she answered. Her fingers rested on the railing and her brow was slightly furrowed. A martial arts school? Did Nanxun really have such a place?

Though she hadn’t clarified, she trusted Ah A’s judgment—he wouldn’t introduce her to something unreliable.

“All right, this Saturday I’ll come with you to check it out.”

“Great!” Ah A hung up, took a swig of cold beer, and felt a rush of satisfaction. To be trusted—what a feeling!

That evening, Wang Pu and Sui Yi retreated to their own rooms to study. The former diligently hit the books, while the latter balanced school assignments on one side and a stack of old books about antiques and historical biographies on the other.

By the time Wang Auntie entered with a bowl of lotus seed soup, Sui Yi had already finished her homework and was engrossed in the reference materials.

Wang Auntie didn’t know what she was reading, only stood in the doorway and watched her illuminated by the lamp. She looked as though she’d just bathed, hair jet-black with damp ends, dressed in loose shorts and a sleeveless, soft cotton shirt. Simple as her clothes were, she exuded an unmistakable elegance.

It was the same unease and inferiority she’d felt when she saw Yan Qingwu—a kind of beauty not commonly nurtured in ordinary families.

She had once thought, if her own son couldn’t find a good wife when he grew up, perhaps he could marry the Ye family’s granddaughter. But now, even a random bathroom in their current house was worth several times more than her own home...

Ah well.

“Auntie Wang?”

Sui Yi, having heard the door, turned her head.

The light cast a soft, snowy glow across her face; her eyes were gentle as jade but carried a hint of chill.

Wang Auntie shivered, quickly approached, and handed her the soup, saying, “Ah Yi, you’re reading?”

“Mm...” Sui Yi answered, inviting her to sit. She didn’t intend to discuss Wang Pu; that matter wasn’t urgent yet—she still needed a favorable wind. She had another question in mind.

“Auntie Wang, over in the village... how are the people there?”

Wang Auntie’s expression shifted slightly, her eyes flickered, but she soon replied, “They’re gone—those bad people left ages ago... didn’t dare stay...”

Oh?

If Sui Yi hadn’t caught that fleeting look, she might have believed her. But now...

“Auntie Wang, do you think that since Grandma and I left the village, we’re no longer part of it?”

Sui Yi was a naturally cool person, her speech always measured and definite. Now, with a gentler tone and the fresh, crystalline scent lingering after her bath, she seemed even more fragile, like glass that could shatter at a touch.

Wang Auntie trembled inside, her face growing troubled. “Ah Yi, it’s not what I think, but Granduncle forbade us from talking—he said there’s no need to put more worries on you and your grandmother. But you’ve done so much for our family, I’ll risk a scolding and tell you...”

It turned out that after Sui Yi and her grandmother left, Feng Sha and his group did not completely leave. On the third day, they returned with more men to the cemetery. The villagers tried to intervene, but something happened—two more people died... Their bodies weren’t recovered, and everyone was terrified.

“I saw that tough young man looking grim, constantly on the phone. Finally, he seemed to steel his resolve and left with his group. Before leaving, they collected the blood of the dead in bottles—weren’t even afraid of bringing bad luck upon themselves.”

Sui Yi remembered Feng Sha—bold, meticulous, ruthless, and cunning. She hadn’t expected him to be so persistent. Perhaps it was the influence of the person behind him—a certain young lady, if she recalled correctly.

Thinking the story finished, Sui Yi noticed Wang Auntie hesitating, her thumb twisting nervously, but in the end she said nothing more and left.

Watching her go, Sui Yi fell into thought.

Something else must have happened at that cemetery...

By the time she finished her reading, it was midnight. Thirsty, she rose to get a drink. As water gurgled into the cup, she frowned, her mind torn between the troubles at school with Han Yuanzhong and the mysteries back in the village... and then Wang Pu.

Water poured, but Sui Yi didn’t drink it immediately. Instead, she tapped the stone counter with her fingers, deep in thought. Only after a while did she make up her mind, take a sip, and glance toward the kitchen door. Light spilled down the corridor.

Cold and empty. No one there.

No one?

Sui Yi closed her eyes briefly, placed the cup in the sink, and returned to her room.

--------

By the lengthening lamplight, pressed against the dark wall, Wang Pu placed a rough, calloused hand over his heart and exhaled slowly.

He looked down at his work-worn palm, but what lingered in his mind were those slender, alabaster legs, the delicate wrist holding the glass cup, the graceful arch of her neck, the way clear water slipped between her lips and down her throat...

He could hear the rise and fall of his own breath, thundering in his chest.

Suddenly, he stiffened, his face a little unnatural.

The kitchen light was still on.

Sui Yi would never be that careless—unless... she knew he was there.

----------

That night, Sui Yi once again plunged into that endless dream, unable to extricate herself. Her legs ached, her very bones seemed to be growing.

Every moment, the pain persisted!

Bathed in cold sweat, Sui Yi saw that blurred face again, the figure reaching out to her...

That hand, tinged with green, as were the eyes!

A sudden gust, a rush of wind.

Sui Yi snapped awake, staring at the snow-white ceiling. She turned her head.

The window was open.

A cold wind howled through, chilling her body.

After a long moment, she rose, standing by the window, gazing at the distant, brightly lit riverside town.

Her phone suddenly rang.

An unfamiliar number.

“Miss Sui Yi, I’m sorry to disturb you so late.” The voice was urgent, cold, unsteady. There was background noise.

“Feng Sha... what is it?” Sui Yi frowned instinctively.

“I...”

Bang!

A loud crash, accompanied by screams—the line descended into chaos.

The uproar was coming from Feng Sha’s end.

Suddenly, with a muffled thud, all fell silent.

The cold wind continued to blow—this was the sound on Sui Yi’s side.

“You fired a gun,” Sui Yi remarked.

“...Fifteen of our people who returned have died. This is the sixteenth.”

Feng Sha’s voice was colder than the wind.

“...”

Sui Yi said nothing, recalling Granduncle’s words that night, and the darkly humorous tales Elder Tang liked to tell...

Corpse mutations... the living dead... zombies... greenish liquid...

“You shouldn’t have brought that corpse blood back.”

“If we hadn’t, we’d never know the truth.”

“And do you know now?”

Silence followed, then a low, wry laugh. “Miss Sui Yi, you are the strangest and most forthright person I’ve ever met.”

“Disturbing someone’s sleep at midnight isn’t gentlemanly. If you only called to tell me this, may I hang up now?”

“...Miss Sui Yi, you and I are alike. I imagine you’re curious about that tomb as well.”

“So?”

“Work with us...”

“Is this your lady’s idea?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not interested.”

“...”

She hung up. Sui Yi gazed out the window in silence for a while, then closed it.

Before getting back into bed, she wondered if she had ever opened the window herself.

----------

Elsewhere, in a large laboratory, Feng Sha looked helplessly at his phone, glancing at the chaos behind him.

“She refused,” he reported.

“I could tell from your face,” came a voice—husky, with the luster of pearls and jade, the ending note laced with a faint, enigmatic charm.

------(To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, please support it on Qidian with your votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)