The Old Ram Was Exposed

The next two days passed peacefully. An Yue, the village loafer, seemed to have quieted down as well.

Yu Ziqing could tell that although he appeared the same as a few days ago on the surface, he seemed to have lost the intention to continue investigating anything.

He still greeted people whenever he saw them and still chatted with them, but the topics gradually shifted toward food. He even somehow produced some snacks and handed them out to the villagers.

Even Er Han was willing to chat with him for a few words.

Yu Ziqing knew his feeling was not wrong. Er Han looked simpleminded, but when it came to certain matters, he was more focused than anyone else, and more sensitive, too.

He thought that after An Yue went to the Back Mountain and inspected the dead elderly people, he had probably given up.

Yu Ziqing did not know who Old Yang really was. Old Yang had already said that he might be in danger if he dared to reveal his identity, but that did not stop Yu Ziqing from making his own guesses.

Putting himself in their place, if he were one of the people searching for Old Yang, he would not focus the search on the Wasteland either. Too much time had passed.

At most, for the sake of caution, he would include the Wasteland, while Jinlan Village would merely be swept through as an afterthought, as part of the routine search.

Daylight had fully broken, and breakfast today was exceptionally sumptuous.

Today was the day the goods were delivered. It was also the village's collective day of rest. None of the miners had to risk going deep underground to dig for ore.

Yu Ziqing relaxed a little as well. The oil pressed from Jinlan Mushrooms had been tested, and even after so many days, it had neither developed toxins nor spoiled. They could afford to be more extravagant and make quite a few fried delicacies.

With the successful experience of pressing oil, he had experimented for several more days and washed out some starch. He used the starch to make bean-thread noodles, which still did not spoil.

This wasteful abuse had nearly ruined the medicinal value of the Jinlan Mushrooms and most of the nourishing substances they contained, leaving them with basically only their value as food. But there was a benefit: after being ruined in this way, the bean-thread noodles could be dried and preserved for a long time without spoiling or developing toxins.

If this method were used outside, people would beat him to death for it. But the villagers loved it to death. What they cared about had always been nothing more than filling their stomachs.

The aunties in the kitchen were extremely principled: whenever someone helped them with one task, they taught him a dish in return. They even promised on the spot that Yu Ziqing would never have to carry Jinlan Mushrooms again. If he had not hurriedly stopped them, they would have relieved him of the chopping work as well.

The open space in the middle of the village was packed with people, a lively scene rarely seen. Some even used a little of the clear water they normally could not bear to waste to wash their faces and hair.

As the head chef, Yu Ziqing was frantically busy. Er Han squatted to the side, constantly twitching his nose as he sniffed the delicious aromas.

The Village Chief hobbled over with his cane. Looking at the large basin of fried delicacies, he clicked his tongue in amazement, his eyes full of smiles.

Like everyone else in the village, he did not care how valuable the Jinlan Mushrooms were. He only cared that everyone could eat their fill and, above all, not starve to death. This most basic need had become the village's most important hope.

Yu Ziqing had used the things already available here to make food that could be preserved for a long time. How could the Village Chief possibly dislike him?

"Er Han, you need to teach Young Master Yu how to practice boxing properly and try to build him up as soon as possible. If you slack off, I'll break both your legs."

"Grandpa, don't worry. Don't worry."

A smile rested on Yu Ziqing's face as he listened to the affectionate reminders from the grandfather and grandson. Every now and then, his gaze swept over the crowd.

An Yue had remained among the crowd, chatting with a group of villagers about something. From a distance, everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.

The area was bustling with activity, people coming and going. No one noticed that two new villagers had slipped away from the crowd at that moment and headed toward the Earth Den. Even if someone had seen them, no one would have cared.

"Are you sure this will work?" One of them was sallow and emaciated, with a hint of hesitation on his face. "If that fellow surnamed Yu finds out, he'll definitely turn against us. The Village Chief thinks very highly of him."

"Do you want to stay here for the rest of your life? Digging underground for ore all day long? What if the tunnels collapse one day and you die down there?" The other man gritted his teeth, his expression twisted. The resentment in his heart was practically written across his face.

"But at least we can eat our fill here. You know what life is like outside. I think it's pretty good here. At least if we work honestly, no one will withhold so much as a bite of food from us." The yellow-faced man was still hesitating.

"What do you know? Didn't you hear what that man said? In the Great Qian where he lives, it isn't cold at all. They grow so much grain that when the wind blows, it rolls like waves. No one starves to death there. As long as we can go with him to the Great Qian, it'll be much better than here no matter what. Don't you want to go?"

"I do want to, but I feel that what we're doing is wrong."

"Then let him be offended. In any case, once today is over, we might be able to leave. That man said that the fresh mutton he ate in the Great Qian was a supreme delicacy after being rinsed in clear water. Since he was out on official business, he hadn't been able to eat it again. Don't you understand what that means?"

"What? He wants us to steal that sheep from Young Master Yu?"

"No." The twisted-faced man let out a cold laugh. "What do you know? Young Master Yu was captured along with us, yet he was the only one who didn't fall victim to the evil art. The sheep he keeps is probably a human transformed into a sheep as well. If it wasn't a transformed human, why would he keep it all this time?"

"Uh, I don't understand."

"There's only one living sheep left in the whole village. That person from the Great Qian has hinted at it several times over the past two days, as though he was afraid we wouldn't understand. He's also been asking about this and that in roundabout ways. Does he really think we're ignorant and stupid? He's looking for someone. Since he hasn't found them, he wants to see whether Young Master Yu's sheep is that person."

"Did he say he could take us with him?"

"He didn't say so, but are you willing to bet? If you bet, you might get the chance to leave and go to the Great Qian. If you don't, you'll dig ore here for the rest of your life and die in the mine one day." The twisted-faced man's expression grew even more savage, like a gambler whose face had flushed red from gambling. He was unwilling to let even the slimmest possibility pass him by.

"I..."

"If you won't come with me, I'll go myself!" He tossed out the words and turned to leave.

Seeing the other man walk away, the yellow-faced man hesitated for a moment. Then he gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and chased after him.

The two arrived at Yu Ziqing's Earth Den. When they crawled inside, they saw Old Yang lying quietly in the hay, all four hooves tucked beneath his belly. His eyes were slightly open, and his rectangular pupils reflected the newcomers.

The twisted-faced man grinned when he saw Old Yang. He took out a belt-rope and carefully slipped it around Old Yang's neck, looking as though he was afraid of hurting him. As he worked, he muttered to himself.

"Hey, whether us brothers die miserably or soar to the heavens and feast on rich food, it all depends on you. General An, if you're the one he's looking for, you won't have to suffer here anymore. We brothers are only doing this because we have no choice. Please don't take offense."

The two led Old Yang out of the Earth Den and skirted along the foot of the mountain until they reached the place where the crowd had gathered.

An Yue was there, chatting happily with a group of people about who knew what. When he saw the two brothers leading an old ram over, the smile at the corners of his mouth grew even wider.

In the distance, Yu Ziqing was still cooking. He occasionally looked up and swept his gaze over the scene. Seeing that An Yue was still there, he continued stir-frying. But when he looked up again, he saw the two bastards leading Old Yang into the gathering.

Yu Ziqing's body went rigid, as though someone had poured a basin of ice water over him in the dead of winter. His entire body went numb, and countless thoughts crashed into his reason like collapsing mountains and raging seas.

He had calculated everything, guided An Yue into searching through a wide area, and made him give up on continuing to look here. Never had he expected that some big-mouthed bastard would actually tell An Yue that he had another sheep.

An Yue had probably also remembered that he had not seen Old Yang for several days and grown suspicious. Yet he had remained composed for two days, only ordering someone to act right before leaving.

Even if it was only a sheep, he still had to personally confirm it.

If it was not the one he was looking for, then it would not count as turning against them. At most, it would be a minor interlude that would not affect the later transaction or anything else.

But if it was, then things might not end so well...

"Er Ganzi, I'll skin your grandfather alive! How dare you touch my sheep!"

Yu Ziqing was stunned for only a moment before roaring. He threw down the spatula, grabbed the Bone-Cleaving Knife beside him, and charged toward them.

The noisy crowd froze slightly, then all looked toward the two brothers leading Old Yang.

The smile on the Village Chief's face vanished instantly, and his eyes sharpened. He glanced at Er Han beside him and said softly,

"As long as that fellow surnamed An dares to act, kill him, no matter what method you use."

"Right away, Grandpa." Er Han chuckled foolishly and clenched his fist. His bones cracked loudly.

Seeing Yu Ziqing charge over, the two brothers hurriedly sped up and moved closer to An Yue.

An Yue also rose and approached while calling out,

"What are you doing? Hurry and return him to Young Master Yu."

In the space of one or two breaths, An Yue had already snatched Old Yang from the two brothers' hands. At first glance, it really did look as though that was what had happened.

He untied the long belt around Old Yang's neck, and one hand naturally brushed against Old Yang's body. But in that instant, his expression froze slightly, a trace of confusion appearing in his eyes.

Old Yang's eyelids drooped, utterly calm. His rectangular pupils reflected An Yue's appearance, while his mouth slowly chewed a few strands of dry grass.

In the blink of an eye, a look of understanding surfaced in An Yue's eyes. He chuckled and shook his head slightly.

Supporting Old Yang with one hand, he looked at the charging Yu Ziqing and said with a smile,

"Young Master Yu, don't get excited. It's only a misunderstanding."

As he spoke, he pushed Old Yang toward Yu Ziqing.

Yu Ziqing rushed up and hugged Old Yang. The hand gripping the knife trembled.

He truly had the urge to kill someone.

Countless doubts surged through his mind, but at this moment, he could only force them down.

With a dark expression, he said nothing and led Old Yang back. He no longer had the mood or appetite to eat this meal.

The customary explanations meant to resolve the misunderstanding were already meaningless. He did not particularly want to hear them. If he stayed any longer, he feared he would reveal a flaw.

After bringing Old Yang back to the Earth Den, the hot blood rushing to Yu Ziqing's head gradually cooled, and his face even turned slightly pale.

Old Yang, meanwhile, remained as calm as ever.

Er Han followed them back. Seeing that Yu Ziqing was fine, he stood guard nearby.

After noon had passed, someone came to call Er Han, saying that the Village Chief wanted him. Only then did Yu Ziqing learn that the transaction had been completed and An Yue had already left. His tense body finally relaxed, and only then did he feel the soreness in all his muscles. His back was drenched in sweat.

He sat on the ground and looked at Old Yang in confusion.

Old Yang's eyelids drooped, a smile still lingering in his eyes.

"Didn't I tell you long ago? Nothing would happen, so there was no need to worry."

"How was I supposed to know it would turn out like this..." Yu Ziqing was utterly bewildered. Even now, he still did not understand why An Yue had acted as though nothing had happened after examining Old Yang.

"Didn't you say I had never taught you anything? What have you learned now?"

"I don't understand. I really don't."

"I told you long ago that I have four stomachs." Old Yang found a comfortable position and lay down, speaking leisurely. "With the third-rate Art of Beast Creation practiced by those few Shepherds, could they have transformed me into something with four stomachs? Even though you've never read the canonical texts on the Art of Beast Creation or studied it deeply, did it never occur to you?"

"This..." Yu Ziqing was deeply shaken.

"Remember this: what is false will always be false. No matter how much effort is spent scheming, it remains false. Only what is real is completely flawless."

Without realizing it, I updated nearly seven thousand words again today. And it's still the public-release period. I'm on a roll...