Wang Laoqi was the seventh child in his family. He had six older sisters, all of whom had been sold to such places of pleasure because their parents wanted to exchange them for heart-clearing pills to suppress his fire poison.
Aside from his fourth sister, who had now changed her name to Wang Hongqiao, his other sisters had long ago chosen to end their own lives, unable to endure their miserable existences.
The only reason Wang Hongqiao had not chosen the same path as her sisters was because of Wang Laoqi.
While entertaining guests, her eyes were always vacant, like a puppet moving through a set routine. She said what she was supposed to say and did what she was supposed to do.
But in Wang Hongqiao’s heart, a single string was always pulled taut — saving money, waiting for her brother’s visits, and asking for news of her nephew.
This was her only reason for living.
She knew clearly that it was her parents who had sold her, not her brother.
Furthermore, as Wang Laoqi grew up, every time he came to see her, he would secretly give her the coarse rice, white flour, and even the occasional small packet of heart-clearing pills he had stolen while mining.
He had knelt and begged the Madam to call a doctor and buy medicine several times when she was gravely ill or beaten by guests. He had also asked more than once how many spirit stones it would take to redeem her.
Wang Hongqiao always felt she was a useless sister. Not only could she not help her brother, but she had become a burden to him.
Her happiest moments were when her brother brought her young nephew to see her. She would then give the child all the relatively clean food she had hidden away, which had been given to her by her guests.
“Young Master Yun, what is written in this letter… are you joking?”
Thus, when Wang Hongqiao rushed to stand before Yun Heng, clutching the short note that briefly stated the news of Wang Laoqi’s death, a trace of denial still lingered on her face.
She did not know Yun Heng and had never heard his name from Wang Laoqi, so she suspected this was a prank played by her brother or her nephew.
After all… she had only just met with their family during the Lantern Festival.
“A gentleman does not speak in jest.”
Yun Heng looked at Wang Hongqiao, his expression darkening slightly.
From her appearance alone, she actually looked younger than Wang Laoqi, but this was merely the effect of a face-preserving pill. Wang Hongqiao’s actual age was already over 90.
If she could not successfully reach the foundation establishment stage, her time would certainly come within 10 years at the latest.
“I don’t think this joke is funny — “
Before she could finish, Wang Hongqiao saw Yun Heng take out a memory stone.
Recorded within were the images of Yun Heng questioning over a dozen villagers who all gave the same answer, as well as the sight of Wang Laoqi’s simple, shabby grave.
Wang Hongqiao felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her hand trembled, and the letter fell to the ground.
But she did not cry.
Ninety years had passed; her tears had dried up long ago. Wang Hongqiao simply crouched down slowly, curling into herself, her shoulders shaking violently in silence.
After a long time, she asked in a raspy voice, “How… did he die?”
After Yun Heng briefly recounted the conclusions drawn from the scenes at the grave, Wang Hongqiao did not get angry at Xuan Sun’s actions.
She only muttered to herself, “At least he was buried… Once buried… in this world, being returned to the earth is a blessing.”
After a long while, Wang Hongqiao slowly knelt down. She lifted her head and offered Yun Heng a smile that looked more painful than crying. “Young Master, I am not in the right state of mind today. I’m afraid I cannot serve you…”
Having said that, she performed a very standard submissive bowing rite.
When she finished, Wang Hongqiao prepared to get up and leave.
Cultivators were not like mortals. While they certainly sought pleasure, it was more often for the purpose of ‘Dual Cultivation’. However, even those used as cultivation vessels were divided into different grades.
Because she was tainted by illness, she had already fallen to the lowest tier as a woman of the Red Tent, responsible only for receiving the lowest-level miners and destitute rogue cultivators.
Even if Yun Heng had not told her the news of Wang Laoqi’s death today, Wang Hongqiao would not have been qualified to receive him.
But at this moment, Wang Hongqiao had already forgotten such trivial matters. She only wanted to return to her room and be alone.
“My condolences.”
Yun Heng did not try to make her stay. After watching Wang Hongqiao leave, he stood up to find the Madam and took out 30 high-grade spirit stones. “Don’t let her do anything foolish.”
“Does the guest wish to redeem Hongqiao?”
The Madam had just finished soliciting other guests and did not know what had happened between Wang Hongqiao and Yun Heng.
However, she didn’t delve into the meaning of “doing anything foolish.” Her eyes lit up at the sight of the money, and her face was filled with unmistakable joy.
The Madam counted the number of spirit stones and then held up two fingers. “If you add just this much more, I guarantee that when you come to take her, there won’t be a single scratch on her body!”
“20,000? That’s quite — “
Yun Heng had not visited brothels much. In his past life, he had never even cared about matters between men and women except for Ling Yao, so he truly did not understand the market price for this industry. However, 20,000 high-grade spirit stones was still within an acceptable range.
“Oh, it doesn’t need that much.”
The Madam nudged Yun Heng’s shoulder and teased, “Just adding 20 more is more than enough!”
In reality, even that wasn’t necessary, because the listed price was actually 100 low-grade spirit stones. In other words, just what was in Yun Heng’s bag was enough to redeem thirty Wang Hongqiaos.
Yun Heng stood dazed for a long time, then remained silent for a while longer. Finally, he packed another 100 high-grade spirit stones and handed them to the Madam.
“I will return in 3 days. I’ll have to trouble you, Fellow Daoist, to look after her during this time. Additionally, if Lady Hongqiao’s mood stabilizes a bit, please pass a message for me. Tell her that I have a way to help her drag out the mastermind behind the scenes.”
Yun Heng left the spirit stones and his instructions, turned, and walked out of Qimeng Pavilion.
Outside, the red sands and winds of Flowing Fire Prefecture continued as before.
“Young Master, here, this is the gift A Xiang bought for you. She originally wanted to give you the candied haws she bought on the road when you left home a few days ago, but she was too hungry and greedy, so she ate them herself.” Jiang Keke sighed helplessly.
“Unfortunately, this place is a bit strange. we looked for a long time and couldn’t find anyone selling candied haws. There are only these small sugar dolls, but they’re quite sweet. Want a taste?”
After handing the sugar doll to Yun Heng, Jiang Keke and A Xiang huddled together and began whispering to each other, laughing softly from time to time.
Yun Heng smiled silently, but his smile quickly vanished.
He took a bite of the sugar doll.
It was indeed sweet — almost cloyingly so.
Xuan Sun was the blade, but who was the one holding it? Beneath the red mud of this Flowing Fire Prefecture, just how many invisible hands were still buried?
If they didn’t find out as soon as possible why the monster leech had attacked Shidong Village, there would be a next Wang Laoqi and Wang Hongqiao, and another after that.
‘I should collect as many clues as possible during these three days.’
Late at night, at the Shaming Inn.
A Xiang was already fast asleep. Jiang Keke was busy absorbing her cultivation, having unexpectedly broken through to Level 8 Qi Refining after slaying the monsters earlier that day.
Yun Heng was carefully reviewing the information he had gathered while setting up the formations at Shidong Village.
There was nothing wrong with his formations, but the way Xuan Sun had handled the aftermath was simply too perfect.
Not only were there no corpses, but not even a trace of demonic Qi remained. This made it as difficult as ascending to heaven for anyone coming after to gather evidence.
Yun Heng rubbed his temples and began to wonder if it would be better to start with the Red Fire Sect instead.
Just then, a figure flashed past the window.
Yun Heng’s divine sense did not capture it, but the protective formation he had habitually set up saw this sudden “night raider” clearly.
‘Talk of the devil.’
Yun Heng stood up from his seat and gently placed the ring on his right ring finger next to the meditating Jiang Keke.
This was a ninth-rank magic tool that could instantly teleport designated living beings within a certain range to a safe location.
“I’m going out for a bit. I’ll leave A Xiang to you.”
After speaking, Yun Heng stood up and left the inn.
The cold wind blew in gusts.
***
After walking for about 3 miles, Yun Heng turned into an alleyway.
“I wonder why Sect Master Wu has come so late at night?” Yun Heng asked softly.
The air remained silent for a full 20 breaths. Just as Yun Heng was about to turn toward the place where Wu Kui was hiding, the burly man stepped out from the shadows with a face full of smiles.
“Young Master Yun is truly — “
“Spare me the pleasantries. I am in a bad mood today and have no ear for such things for the time being.”
Yun Heng waved his hand, interrupting Wu Kui’s flattery.
Wu Kui remained silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. “To come and disturb you tonight, Young Master, I indeed have important matters to inform you of.”
He took a memory stone from his robes and looked at Yun Heng with sincere but weary eyes.
“I do not dare to hope for your assistance or understanding. I only ask that after you have finished listening, you can give my family a chance to live.”
Yun Heng looked at this “Sect Master Wu,” who had appeared as a soul transformation stage expert during the day but had now cast aside his disguise to reveal himself as an ordinary golden core stage cultivator.
At least seven methods to silence him if necessary flashed through Yun Heng’s mind, but after a moment of deliberation, he said, “That depends on whether what you have to say is important enough.”