TGCFNM -Chapter 25 Someone Is Watching

Night gradually fell.

Everyone sat directly on the ground—after all, when traveling outside, there was no need to be particular.

But Sun Yang couldn’t bear it. After searching for quite a while, he finally carried back a fairly flat stone. Just as he set it down and lifted his head, he saw Chu Ling gazing at him leisurely.

Sun Yang let out an awkward laugh. “My lord, would you like to sit on this stone? It’s not very steady.”

“Yes.”

With a single word, Chu Ling shattered his hopes. Sun Yang had no choice but to obediently move the stone over to her. Then, with a long-suffering look, he found another spot for himself, picked up a piece of wood to pad the ground, and sat down.

Xiao Hua took out the prepared dry rations. Zhang Dong built a small fire and boiled a pot of hot tea. Supper was simple and casual.

After eating, the group huddled together to rest, while Chu Ling sat alone by the fire.

Shen Lizhou sat cross-legged to one side, staring blankly at the dancing flames. That day had been the same—everyone gathered around a fire, chatting happily. He had even felt a trace of joy, happy that he had found kindred spirits.

And then…

“What could you possibly have that would make mountain bandits want to rob you?” Cui Xi couldn’t understand. He looked even poorer than she was.

Shen Lizhou gave a bitter smile and shook his head. Let alone this little maid—he himself couldn’t figure out why the bandits had suddenly rushed down the mountain and stormed into the Mountain God Temple.

The Ghost Scholar spoke, “There were five of you in your group at the time, and one of you brought a book attendant. So that makes six people, correct?”

Shen Lizhou nodded.

“The bandits suddenly came down the mountain and charged into the Mountain God Temple, demanding that you hand over all your valuables. If you refused, they would take your lives. Is that right?” the Ghost Scholar asked again.

Shen Lizhou hummed in agreement, giving him a wry smile. “All of us were staying at the Mountain God Temple. How could we possibly have any money? Besides, whatever little we had left had to be saved as travel funds for the capital.”

The Ghost Scholar sighed. “So the bandits began a massacre. You failed to dodge in time and were stabbed in the back, the blade piercing straight through you and killing you?”

“Yes,” Shen Lizhou said. “But when I fell, I noticed the others were gone. They must have managed to escape by luck. Truly fortunate.”

“How many bandits were there?” Chu Ling asked silently.

“Three.”

“What kind of blades did they use?” Chu Ling asked softly from behind her sleeve.

Shen Lizhou thought for a moment and gestured. “Short knives, about the length of a forearm, slightly curved, gleaming with a chilling light.”

The Ghost Scholar turned to Chu Ling. “Since it was bandits who killed him, then the ones who escaped should have reported it to the authorities. By the time we reach the prefectural office, they should have already sent troops to suppress the bandits.”

“If that’s the case, what’s there to solve? Why go to such trouble to bring you all the way here? Be careful—there may be a trap!” Bai Su said with her arms crossed.

Chu Ling lowered her gaze. On the surface, it seemed Sun Yang had strongly recommended this trip and had benefited from it. But it was hard to say whether it was actually Zhang Yuanwai using Sun Yang as a pretext to lure her to Chengyang.

Sishui County was impoverished and offered little profit. As county magistrate, she didn’t have much to skim from in the first place, so Zhang Yuanwai likely wasn’t after that. And Magistrate Zhang had never met her before—he wouldn’t dare scheme against a court official over something as trivial as a wild horse.

So what exactly was the reason?

The night grew deep. Chu Ling felt no trace of sleepiness. She merely closed her eyes and leaned against the leg of the table, resting.

“Miss!”

“My lord!”

Chu Ling suddenly opened her eyes and saw several ghosts standing guard around her. Bai Su even pulled her straight up.

By the broken main door, the moonlight stretched a long black shadow across the ground. The shadow crept closer cautiously, a hand slowly reaching forward.

With sharp reflexes, Chu Ling quietly sat up, using the darkness of the corner as cover, narrowing her eyes as she watched the doorway.

Sure enough, a figure gradually appeared. It was likely a man—thin and scrawny like a monkey. He tiptoed inside, glanced around, counted the number of people present, then hurriedly withdrew.

Chu Ling kicked Wan Sanjin awake and made a shushing gesture at him.

Wan Sanjin jolted alert at once. He quickly roused the men beside him, warning them to stay quiet and be careful not to make any sound.

Soon, the scrawny man returned, standing outside the door.

From the shadow cast on the ground, it was clear he was pointing inside, seemingly speaking to someone. There must have been others outside.

Before long, Chu Ling realized who those people had come for. The man leaned in to take a look—and Shen Lizhou abruptly sprang to his feet.

“Brother Ziqi!”

Pei Yuan, courtesy name Ziqi, was one of the five traveling companions.

Pei Yuan leaned in and looked around, hesitation on his face. Shen Lizhou had already rushed forward. Whether Pei Yuan could see him or not no longer mattered; Shen Lizhou felt as though ages had passed and desperately needed to speak.

“Brother Ziqi, that day the situation was urgent—”

“Those people are here to investigate the case. What could they possibly uncover?” Pei Yuan asked with a frown.

The scrawny servant immediately said, “Rest assured, Young Master. He’s just a magistrate who bought his post. The prefect ordered him here—he’s probably useless.”

“So troublesome. Even in death he’s still making people hate him.” Pei Yuan flicked his sleeve and strode out of the temple.

“Young Master, shall we not act tonight?” the servant asked ingratiatingly. “This servant is willing to do anything for you.”

Pei Yuan paused, but after a moment’s thought, shook his head. “Forget it. Better not stir up trouble at a time like this. Besides, those cowards won’t show themselves and instead push me out to handle it. I’m not falling for that.”

“This servant was foolish. Fortunately, Young Master’s words have enlightened me. With your brilliance, Young Master, you will surely take first place in next year’s spring examinations!” the servant flattered at once.

Pei Yuan let out a soft chuckle. No emotion could be read in his eyes as he led his men away.

Shen Lizhou, who had followed them outside the temple, stood as if struck by lightning. His entire body froze in place, his face even more terrifying than when he had first become a ghost.

Chu Ling had already reached the doorway. Lowering her voice, she said, “Tell me every single word you just heard. Quickly.”

Shen Lizhou seemed to awaken from a dream. He didn’t even have time to process the bitterness of betrayal swelling in his heart before Chu Ling shot him a sharp look.

“My lord, I… I died so unjustly.”

“I know you were wronged. What exactly did you hear? Tell me immediately,” Chu Ling urged.

Shen Lizhou had no choice but to repeat Pei Yuan’s words.

Chu Ling walked back inside with a helpless sigh. If Shen Lizhou had followed his own corpse, he might have learned more. Remaining here, clinging to lingering attachments, was of no help to the case.

In fact, if Pei Yuan hadn’t foolishly come here tonight, she might have believed Shen Lizhou’s claim that all his classmates and friends were good people.

“My lord, who was it?” Wan Sanjin asked in a low voice.

“A scholar, dressed in fine silk, with a scrawny, monkey-like servant by his side. They were likely plotting something, but they’ve already left,” Chu Ling replied. She crossed her arms and leaned against the leg of the table, frowning at the nearly extinguished fire.

“Most likely one of his traveling companions,” Wan Sanjin said with certainty.