The Red and White Fiends, Part 2

The yamen was now deserted; the constables had vanished. Zhou Yi arrived at the yamen's prison and found Liu An, Shopkeeper Liu's son, on the verge of death. Zhou Yi's mind was already brewing a plan that involved him.

After severing the chains binding Liu An and carrying him like a dead pig, Zhou Yi murmured, "Now, where can I find Scholar Xu's mother?"

Zhou Yi thought of Li Yuanfang, but where could he find Li Yuanfang now?

Unable to figure it out, Zhou Yi decided to first bring Liu An to the village entrance to test his theory.

Upon arriving at the village entrance, Zhou Yi noticed someone new. It was none other than Chief Constable Li from the yamen.

Zhou Yi directly threw Liu An out of the village entrance. As expected, it unfolded just as Zhou Yi had predicted.

The previously calm scene was shattered. Upon sensing Liu An, the mist around the Red Fiend surged violently, instantly engulfing Liu An. As the mist devoured him, the half-dead Liu An let out a deafening scream.

Half-consumed by the mist, Liu An's eyes widened as he stared at the four people at the village entrance. He opened his mouth and cried, "Help! Save me! I swear, I'll never harm anyone again!"

Seeing that the four people remained unmoved by his pleas, the light in Liu An's eyes gradually faded. His expression then turned ferocious as he glared at Zhou Yi, who had thrown him out. "I won't let you go even as a ghost!"

"I'm afraid you won't even become a ghost," Zhou Yi said dismissively to Liu An.

"What's going on?"

"Zhou Yi, do you know the origin of the Red and White Fiends?"

Qu Yong and Old Qin spoke up simultaneously, inquiring.

As for Chief Constable Li, although he didn't speak, he turned his questioning gaze toward Zhou Yi.

Seeing everyone's eyes turn towards him, Zhou Yi began to explain, "These Red and White Fiends were a pair of childhood sweethearts from the village."

After saying this, Zhou Yi turned to Old Qin. "Old Qin, do you remember Shopkeeper Liu's case?"

Old Qin nodded at Zhou Yi.

"These are Scholar Xu and Jiang Yu'er, who were killed by Shopkeeper Liu!" Zhou Yi explained to everyone.

"What?" Old Qin was greatly alarmed, while Qu Yong and Chief Constable Li were bewildered.

Seeing the confused looks on his master's and Chief Constable Li's faces, Zhou Yi recounted what had happened back then.

After listening, the two men sighed deeply, helpless, for those who deserved to die were already dead.

However, they still couldn't understand why the White Fiend was blocking the Red Fiend. Old Qin, on the other hand, showed a knowing smile and explained to Qu Yong and Li Zhengqing, "Scholar Xu also had a mother who was still alive."

Hearing this, the two finally understood why the White Fiend was holding back the Red Fiend.

After devouring Liu An, the Red Fiend grew quiet. The mist began to thin, but it still lingered at the village entrance.

Seeing this, Old Qin turned to Chief Constable Li and said, "Zhou Yi used Liu An to resolve the Red Fiend's resentment. However, if the White Fiend's resentment isn't resolved, the Red Fiend won't leave. Please trouble Chief Constable Li to bring Scholar Xu's mother here."

"Alright!" Chief Constable Li nodded at Old Qin, turned, and walked back into the village.

"Chief Constable Li, Li Yuanfang should know where Scholar Xu's mother is," Zhou Yi shouted to Chief Constable Li.

"Got it!" After replying to Zhou Yi, Chief Constable Li vanished from their sight at lightning speed.

At this moment, Old Qin said to Zhou Yi, "Fortunately, it's daytime. If it were night, with the mist's enhancement, even throwing Shopkeeper Liu's entire family out might not have resolved the Red Fiend's resentment."

Hearing this, Zhou Yi couldn't help but feel curious and asked Old Qin, "Old Qin, what is the origin of the mist?"

Old Qin shook his head and replied to Zhou Yi, "I don't know either. When I was young, the mist already existed. The ancient texts I've read don't have any precise records either. I only know that the mist brings Yin Energy, and when Yin Energy combines with resentment and spirits, it forms Weirdness and enhances their abilities."

Zhou Yi was somewhat disappointed. He had thought he could learn the origin of the mist from Old Qin, but he didn't expect Old Qin to be unaware.

Old Qin saw Zhou Yi's disappointment and said to him, "As you grow stronger, you will know more. When your master and I were not out in the world, we also knew nothing. It was only after we joined the army that we began to understand the outside world."

Qu Yong also said to Zhou Yi, "When you go to Luoshi City, you will know and learn more than us. Your master, I, can only stop at the Vitality Realm, but you are different. Your talent is enough for you to witness higher vistas. Staying in Qingzhu Village will ultimately hold you back."

"I understand, Old Qin, Master." Zhou Yi nodded at the two.

While the three were chatting, the Chief Constable Li, who had left earlier, returned to the village entrance, followed by Li Yuanfang and an old woman with white hair.

It seemed this old woman with white hair was Scholar Xu's mother, Zhou Yi thought to himself.

The moment the old woman arrived, the white mist outside the village began to stir restlessly, wanting to spread into the village but fearing it would harm the old woman.

The old woman at the village entrance naturally noticed the white mist outside. She was so frightened that she hid behind Chief Constable Li and asked, "Why have you lords brought me here? Why is there so much Weirdness outside?"

Zhou Yi opened his mouth, wanting to explain to the old woman that the Weirdness outside was her son, but he couldn't utter a sound.

Old Qin, seeing Zhou Yi, said, "I'll explain it to her."

Old Qin walked towards the old woman.

Standing beside the old woman, Old Qin recounted Shopkeeper Liu's affair. After finishing, Old Qin stepped aside, and Li Yuanfang supported the old woman.

After hearing Old Qin's explanation, the old woman was stunned. It took her a long while to recover. Then, tears streamed from her eyes, and she staggered towards the outside of the village, her mouth opening and closing, unable to make a sound for a long time. It wasn't until she walked out of the village that she finally cried out, "My... my son!"

Zhou Yi, standing nearby, wanted to stop the old woman, as the spirit was emitting Yin Energy. However, Old Qin stopped him and said, "Look."

Zhou Yi looked towards the old woman. He saw that with every step she took, the white mist retreated, as if afraid of touching her. At the same time, the white mist began to thin, until finally, it dispersed, leaving only a coffin.

The mist around the Red Fiend also began to dissipate, revealing the sedan chair and the sedan bearers within.

The old woman started walking towards the coffin, but the coffin began to move backward.

Seeing this, Zhou Yi walked out of the village and stopped the old woman. "Madam, please don't go closer. Your son is emitting Yin Energy now, and he's afraid of harming you."

The old woman stopped upon hearing this and asked Zhou Yi, "Sir, I know you are from the Patrol Team. Can you spare my son? I'll kneel for you."

Zhou Yi helped the old woman up and said with a wry smile, "It's not about whether I let your son go anymore, but whether your son and daughter-in-law will let us go."

"I understand, sir," the old woman said to Zhou Yi.

Immediately, the old woman reached out and wiped the tears from her face. She turned her head, as if speaking to herself, or perhaps to the coffin, saying, "Tian Lin, you take Yu'er and go. Mother doesn't need your care anymore. You two must be well!"

After speaking, the old woman took one last look at the coffin, then turned and walked hunched towards the village.

As the old woman left, the coffin and the sedan chair became increasingly transparent until they completely vanished, leaving behind a broken brush on the ground.

Zhou Yi stepped forward and picked up the broken brush. Old Qin and the others stood silently in place, lost in thought.