Zhao Hu Had Died Long Ago

Xie An said, "Zhao Hu likes the osmanthus cakes from Five Fragrances Studio. Go buy two portions. Also, his wife is about to give birth, so buy two children's bellybands and some shoes and socks from a ready-made clothing shop. Go quickly and return quickly."

"Right away."

Qiu Lan curtsied, then hurried out the door.

Xie An went to the pile of miscellaneous items in the room and found the yellow lantern he had brought back from Li Family Village.

In my nightmare just now, the Li Residence's gate was missing this lantern, and that was why the Grain-Collecting Ghost entered and cut open Zhao Hu's belly. What kind of logic was that? Or had some detail gone wrong?

Before long, Li Dao came in carrying his broadsword over his shoulder, an eager smile still on his face. "Young Master, are we continuing our training today?"

Xie An lifted the yellow lantern and handed it to Li Dao. "No training today. Take the lantern. You'll accompany me to see Zhao Hu later."

Not only did Li Dao know Zhao Hu, he was quite familiar with him. Taking the lantern, he replied, "That kid Zhao Hu is lucky. He started serving at Young Master's side very early on. His wife is about to give birth recently. Is Young Master going to congratulate Zhao Hu?"

Xie An did not expose anything. "You know Zhao Hu well?"

Li Dao smiled. "Of course. His home isn't far from mine. A few nights ago, I even saw Zhao Hu sitting outside his front door, learning from his wife how to mend children's clothes and sole shoes. Becoming a father really makes a difference—he's even started fussing over women's work and household trifles. But it truly hasn't been easy for him. His parents died early, and he's always wanted to carry on the family line and comfort his ancestors. His wife was pregnant twice before, but both pregnancies ended in miscarriages. Those children simply had no fortune to come into this world..."

Xie An frowned after hearing this, his unease growing stronger. "Li Dao, go at once to Yongsheng Martial Arts Hall on Drill Ground Street. Invite the hall master, Chen Lutang, here. If Chen Lutang isn't there, invite his daughter Chen Mo instead. Tell them I have an urgent matter."

Although Xie An had never met Chen Lutang, he knew that Chen Lutang was also a Dark Force expert—though not as formidable as Uncle Shui.

Perhaps because of that nightmare just now, Xie An felt deeply unsettled about this visit to Zhao Hu.

Having another Dark Force expert by his side would put him more at ease.

"Got it, Young Master. Please wait." Li Dao set down the lantern and dashed out the door.

Before long, Qiu Lan hurried back, carrying pastries from Five Fragrances Studio in one hand and a bag of children's bellybands, shoes, and socks in the other.

"They're all the latest styles from the ready-made clothing shop. The material is all finest silk, smooth and soft. It won't hurt a baby's skin."

Xie An nodded and told Qiu Lan to get back to her work.

About half an hour later, Li Dao led a tall woman dressed in green through the door.

It was Chen Mo, whom he had not seen for many days.

Upon entering the main hall, Chen Mo clasped her hands in greeting. "This humble woman, Chen Mo, greets Young Master Mingxi. My father has gone out today. What orders does Young Master Mingxi have?"

Xie An felt slightly disappointed.

Without a Dark Force expert, he would just have to make do.

"Come out with me." Xie An did not waste words. He had Li Dao carry the pastries and clothes, then had Chen Mo carry the lantern.

Xie An left Xie Residence by carriage. After leaving Flower Willow Lane and traveling two li, he turned into the secluded Sheep-Dung Alley.

Sheep-Dung Alley, as its name implied... was a place with poor public security.

Most of the people living here were the city's poor. The environment was bad, but the houses were cheap.

Although Zhao Hu's monthly stipend was not low now, it had not been high in the past. With a family to support as well, he had bought a small courtyard here years ago and lived there with his wife, Liu Fu.

Led by Li Dao, the carriage soon stopped at a corner. After walking a few hundred meters farther, they reached Zhao Hu's home.

The courtyard gate was ajar.

Standing beneath the osmanthus tree outside the gate, Xie An looked through the courtyard entrance and saw a couple sitting under the eaves, listening to their soft murmurs.

Zhao Hu sat on a round stool, holding a red shoe sole in his hands as he clumsily stitched it. The needle went in crooked, and loose threads flew everywhere.

His wife, Liu Fu, stood beside him with her large belly, watching Zhao Hu with a face full of tenderness. A fond smile rested on her lips. "Is that how you sole shoes? It looks more like you're mending a fishing net. Why not just buy the child two pairs from a ready-made clothing shop outside?"

But Zhao Hu smiled. "The shoes from those shops may look nice, but they can never compare to ones made by the father's own hands. Once the child is born, wearing shoes soled by his own father—that's what real warmth is."

After saying that, Zhao Hu lowered his head. "My family has passed down through a single line for three generations, and my parents died early. Before Father passed, he held onto me and earnestly urged me never to let the Zhao family line be cut off. My wife's previous two pregnancies both ended in miscarriage. Those poor children had no fortune to open their eyes and see this world. This time, no matter what, nothing can happen to this child. Otherwise, what face would I have to meet our ancestors?"

Liu Fu walked over and nestled against Zhao Hu's shoulder. "My husband cares so deeply for the child, and the young master treats you so well. The child will certainly be strong."

A few more traces of comfort appeared in Zhao Hu's eyes. "Once the child is born, I'll ask Young Master to give our child a name and add another character to it. With Young Master's blessing, the child will definitely grow up healthy."

A smile hung at the corners of Liu Fu's lips, brimming with longing for the future. "Once the child is born, we'll have him study and practice martial arts. In the future, he'll be as respectable as the young master..."

Watching and listening to the loving couple's murmured words, Xie An felt a wave of envy in his heart.

Zhao Hu truly had a wife, child, and a warm bed.

The next moment, Xie An activated Qi-Gazing and looked at Zhao Hu!

His entire body was covered in deathly qi.

There was also a strand of qi sinking downward.

Xie An's pupils contracted violently.

That meant... Zhao Hu had already died!

Perhaps he had already been dead when Xie An saw him more than half a month ago.

Qiu Lan had mentioned before that Zhao Hu had applied Storax Pill to himself. At the time, Xie An had assumed Zhao Hu used it to ward off evil, since such customs had always existed among the people of Great Qian.

Now that he thought about it... Zhao Hu probably knew he had long been dead. He used Storax Pill to conceal the corpse stench on his body.

Moreover, when Xie An had exchanged blows with Zhao Hu before, he had always felt that Zhao Hu's limbs were stiff and that his ability to withstand attacks was far inferior to Zhou Ji's. Xie An had merely found it strange before, but now he understood... it was because Zhao Hu had long been a walking corpse.

His request for leave was likely not solely to care for his wife, Liu Fu. He also wanted to flee from it all.

Xie An looked at Liu Fu's qi as well.

It was Vital Breath.

But the qi of the fetus in her belly was dead, and it was sinking downward too.

A chill ran down Xie An's spine, and every hair on his body stood on end.

Everything in the nightmare... was real!?

The first nightmare had merely recreated the scene when they entered Li Family Village.

The scene in the second nightmare had changed. Zhao Hu had died. And after the Grain-Collecting Ghost scratched Zhao Hu to death, it slowly turned its head, its mouth full of blood, and looked at him with a bizarre smile: Hee hee... have you paid your Grave Tax?

Was it possible that in the next nightmare... he would die too?

But then came the question: why did Zhao Hu have deathly qi plus sinking, while he had Vital Breath plus sinking?

Had he gone through the same ordeal as Zhao Hu? Had he done something Zhao Hu had not?

Xie An could not figure it out no matter how he pondered it.

What kind of great terror did Li Family Village contain?

Huff!

Xie An let out a long breath, suppressing the heart that pounded like a drum in his chest. He quietly said to Li Dao beside him, "Li Dao, return to Xie Residence. Mobilize every guard to find Uncle Shui and have him come here immediately. Tell him I have a matter of utmost urgency here! Hurry!"