Beauty Born with Pride

Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 6

Wei Changle immediately became interested. "How extraordinary?"

Fu Wenjun thought for a moment before slowly saying, "He Gui died from a horse fall. Many people, like you, found it suspicious. Less than a month after his death, the new county magistrate Su Changqing took office. He was reportedly appointed directly by the Jiedushi and arrived extremely quickly."

"Could the Jiedushi have found He Gui's death suspicious and sent Su Changqing to investigate?"

"I'm not sure," Fu Wenjun shook her head. "However, after arriving in Shan Yin, this Su magistrate rarely appeared, and no one knows what he was doing. He took office in June and reportedly hadn't even met all the local gentry. By early October, he suddenly disappeared."

Wei Changle was astonished. "The county magistrate suddenly disappeared?"

"The government office mobilized many people to search, even using the city foxes and rats from the Western City's underworld, but found no clues whatsoever," Fu Wenjun spoke slowly and softly. "Not just Su Changqing himself, but his wife and two personal attendants also vanished simultaneously without a trace." She added, "You are the third county magistrate in Shan Yin within a year."

Wei Changle was inwardly shocked, secretly thinking that within less than a year, two county magistrates - one dead and one missing - was definitely unusual.

If his sworn brother, the ghost fox Hu Yaoshi, were to investigate, he might find some clues. But given Hu Yaoshi's status, he certainly wouldn't travel to Shan Yin for just two county magistrates.@@@@

"What's your last question?" Fu Wenjun asked, as Wei Changle was pondering the magistrates' fate.

After thinking, Wei Changle stared at Fu Wenjun and asked, "Why did over twenty Night Crying Men leave Shan Yin to capture you in Anping County? Who are you?"

Fu Wenjun remained composed, speaking casually, "I killed some of their people. They see me as a thorn in their side."

Wei Changle was surprised, examining Fu Wenjun carefully. "You killed Night Crying Men? They might be scoundrels, but they're still official runners. You dared to kill official personnel? Who exactly are you?"

"That's a fourth question," Fu Wenjun said lightly.

"Chest big, but brain smart!" Wei Changle chuckled, glancing at the unconscious Song Kun. "He's yours now."

"I owe you a favor today, I'll repay it later!" Fu Wenjun was also someone who clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges.

Wei Changle understood that the favor she mentioned wasn't about handing over Song Kun, but his intervention today that saved her from a major disaster.

If not for Wei Changle, Fu Wenjun would have faced certain death against the twenty well-equipped Night Crying Men.

"Repay later, repay later!" Wei Changle nodded repeatedly.

At this moment, Zhi Nu had already led a horse over, telling Wei Changle, "Second Master, all the horses ran away. Only your gray Shadow hasn't gone far."

It was an ordinary-looking horse, not particularly strong. But for those who understood horses, this was definitely a rare, excellent steed.

The Night Crying Men had set fire to the wine shop. There was a horse shed on the side for travelers to rest their horses.

The big fire burned, destroying the horses' reins. Naturally, all horses were spooked and ran away.

Their original party of three had each had a horse, but two had run off, leaving only Wei Changle's fine horse.

"Your horse has probably run away too," Wei Changle glanced at the horse shed, now a mess with no horses in sight. "Zhi Nu, give a horse to Lady Fu."

Besides Wei Changle's gray Shadow, only two horses from the Night Crying Men remained. Zhi Nu looked troubled, "Second Master, only three horses are left."

"You and the old fool can ride together. That way, you'll be warmer," Wei Changle didn't waste words, mounting his horse and then telling Fu Wenjun, "Tonight's wind and snow are strong. It's freezing. Good luck."

Fu Wenjun just nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

The master and two servants didn't delay, riding north through the wind and snow.

He thought for a moment, then turned his horse to go back.

"Second Master, what are you doing? Why are you looking for trouble again?" Old Wei helplessly advised. "Peace is a blessing. Let's not meddle."

"Fu Wenjun owes me a favor. If she dies here, she can't repay her debt," Wei Changle shook the reins and rode off.

Old Wei shook his head, bitterly smiling, "The second master is truly foolish! Zhi Nu, follow."

Zhi Nu immediately turned his horse to follow.

Wei Changle rode swiftly, quickly spotting Fu Wenjun's figure, with the horse hooves Zhi Nu mentioned becoming increasingly clear, seemingly just ahead.

"Why did you come back?" Fu Wenjun was somewhat surprised.

Wei Changle looked towards the dark front, glancing at Fu Wenjun and saying, "I'm not sure if the Night Crying Men have returned. I told them to go back to Shan Yin. If they don't listen and come looking for trouble, that means they're disregarding my words. I'll cut off Song Kun's arm right in front of them."

Song Kun was currently tightly bound and laid across the horse's back like a sack, showing no signs of consciousness, seemingly still unconscious.

In the night, the horse hooves grew closer, and several shadows indeed appeared.

The other party clearly saw their situation and quickly spread out in a half-arc formation.

Wei Changle looked carefully. There were four riders, not many, but their attire was quite strange.

All four were wearing black robes, and in the dim light, they could be seen wearing grotesque masks.

The four riders slowed their horses, stopping a few steps away. The central rider, wearing a fanged mask, raised his hand and threw two objects in front of Wei Changle's horse.

Heads!

They had actually thrown two blood-covered heads.

Wei Changle stared at the heads on the snow, suddenly feeling breathless.

Despite the bloody, mangled faces, he recognized them.

The wine shop's shopkeeper and assistant!

He had given them silver and horses, hoping they would ride south and escape the trouble.

But they ultimately couldn't escape this calamity.

Wei Changle had lived two lives and seen much, but had never seen severed heads so realistically.

However, looking at these bloody heads, he felt no fear, only anger.

His fists clenched, his gaze as sharp as a knife, fixed on those people.

Whoever kills must die!

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