Yun Shining

But Jiang Yehua had not told him why he wanted him to come. He had only said there was something he needed, intending to give him a surprise.

By the time Zhou Youjia arrived, Jiang Nuan had already had some sleep. With the next day's arrests on her mind, however, she had not slept peacefully.

Looking at his friend, Zhou Youjia said helplessly, "Yehua, what is it this time? These past few days, the ten missing-person cases in the Capital City have had me running around like my hair's on fire. I haven't slept properly in days."

Without even thinking, Jiang Yehua said, "Isn't that perfect, then?"

"Huh?"

Zhou Youjia's face was full of question marks.

"Come with me."

Jiang Yehua offered no further explanation for the moment, instead leading Zhou Youjia to the courtyard where they had settled the women and children the day before. They were already up and eating a vegetarian meal.

As he looked at the people eating, Zhou Youjia felt a flicker of recognition. Yet he was certain he had never met them, which left him thoroughly puzzled.

"Is there some reason you brought me here?"

Since he could not figure it out, Zhou Youjia simply asked.

"This is Liu Daya from Stone Village and her child. This is Liu Goudan from Green Fist Village. This is..."

Jiang Yehua introduced them to Zhou Youjia.

Hearing those names, Zhou Youjia slapped his forehead. Weren't these the people who had recently gone missing in the Capital City? Their disappearances had left everyone on edge and put enormous pressure on the Court of Judicial Review.

No wonder they had looked so familiar! Though he had never seen them in person, he had seen all their portraits. He simply had not made the connection right away.

"My good brother, you've really done me an enormous favor!"

Zhou Youjia clapped Jiang Yehua on the shoulder as he spoke excitedly.

"But how did all these people end up here?"

Although he was delighted to have found them, he still needed to understand why they were here.

Jiang Yehua briefly explained what had happened the night before.

Zhou Youjia clenched his fists and cursed under his breath. "That sham monk with a human face and a beast's heart deserves to die."

"Yehua, I'll need to borrow some of your men first."

After learning that the buyers would disguise themselves as worshippers, Zhou Youjia decided to catch them all in one net.

But he did not have enough manpower. He had thought Jiang Yehua wanted to see him because something had happened to him, so he had not brought anyone from the Court of Judicial Review. He would have to borrow some men instead.

Naturally, Jiang Yehua agreed at once.

He had originally intended to summon men from the Court of Judicial Review, but the soldiers he had brought were already conspicuous enough. If the court's men arrived as well, they would draw even more attention and risk stirring the grass and startling the snake.

More importantly, he had not known then that some people would be hiding among the worshippers. Otherwise, he would have kept an even lower profile yesterday.

Only after listening to the two men talk for quite a while did Jiang Nuan, standing nearby, belatedly realize that Zhou Youjia was from the Court of Judicial Review.

[Oh, someone from the Court of Judicial Review is here! Perfect. There's no one better to leave these arrests to.]

People nearby had heard something of the previous day's commotion at Pure Brahma Temple, but those farther away knew nothing about it, so the flow of worshippers had not been greatly affected.

Jiang Nuan scrutinized the worshippers one by one while calling out to Guagua in her mind.

[Guagua, which of these people are here to buy people from Huijue?]

[Host, that bald man up ahead in the lake-blue long jacket, and that square-faced man behind him in the black long jacket, and that one... Those are all of them.]

Guagua pointed out every last one to Jiang Nuan.

Shortly after Guagua finished, monks came to invite those people into the rear courtyard. The moment they entered, the soldiers inside bound them tightly, trussing up their arms and legs.

Jiang Nuan's mouth fell open at the sight. She had just been wondering how to tell her fourth brother about this. How had these people suddenly been arrested?

Jiang Yehua explained to her, "Do you remember those people who were kidnapped last night? These are the buyers who had made arrangements with Huijue. The Court of Judicial Review received word long ago and was just waiting to arrest them as soon as they appeared."

Not wanting Jiang Nuan to rack her brains for an excuse to tell them, Jiang Yehua simply credited the Court of Judicial Review with the whole thing.

"Oh, so that's it. The Court of Judicial Review is pretty efficient."

Jiang Nuan sighed in admiration.

The soldiers took all those people, along with the monks at Pure Brahma Temple whose hands were not entirely clean, to the Court of Judicial Review.

Only the monks who had been kept in the dark and knew nothing were left behind, watching more than half their companions being taken away.

They huddled together, staring at the soldiers in terror. Only when the soldiers left without paying them any attention did they relax.

As for the abducted people, having gone without enough food and water for some time, they lacked the strength to descend the mountain. Jiang Yehua therefore sent soldiers to notify their families and have them come take them home.

After everyone else had gradually left, Jiang Yehua found himself at a loss over the one person who remained.

She was none other than the young woman who had been injured the night before.

Her injuries had improved somewhat, but she still could not get out of bed.

Moreover, although Jiang Yehua and the others waited at Pure Brahma Temple until dusk, no one came to take her down the mountain. Because of her injuries, she could not speak at all.

Jiang Yehua turned his gaze to Jiang Nuan, intending to use her inner thoughts to discover the young woman's identity.

[Guagua, hurry up and tell me what's going on with my fourth sister-in-law, dear!]

Now that she had some free time, Jiang Nuan was ready to continue feasting on the gossip about her fourth brother and fourth sister-in-law.

Hearing that form of address, Jiang Yehua frowned. He had only just met this young woman. Calling her that seemed rather inappropriate.

Besides, the young woman's beautiful face stirred nothing in Jiang Yehua's heart. He did not like having his romantic feelings arranged for him.

Seeing the faint blush on the young woman's face and ears, Jiang Yehua knew that she, too, could hear Jiang Nuan's thoughts.

[Her name is Yun Shining, and she's the daughter of the master of Cloud Cloud Manor in the martial world. Ever since she was little, she's hated evil as fiercely as an enemy. After mastering formidable martial arts, she wanted to venture into the martial world, right wrongs, and uphold justice.

Her first stop was the Capital City. Unfortunately, she was far too innocent and knew nothing of the treachery lurking in people's hearts in the martial world. When Huijue's men spotted her, they thought she would fetch a good price and tried to abduct her. But her martial arts were excellent, and she escaped their first attempt.

Huijue's men refused to give up, though. They had someone slip her Muscle-Weakening Powder and a Knockout Drug. She drank it without any suspicion and was taken to Pure Brahma Temple. After waking up, she tried to lead everyone out, but unfortunately, quite a few people there knew martial arts. In the end, she was beaten down. To kill the chicken as a warning to the monkeys, Huijue had her whipped.

An ordinary person could die after ten lashes, but she endured a full thirty. If she hadn't had such a strong constitution, she would have died long ago.

As for why no one came to pick her up, she actually sneaked out without telling her family this time. It pretty much counts as running away from home. Her parents still haven't found her!

Host, I suggest you take her along for now. She hasn't been away from home long, but she's already been swindled out of every bit of money she had. If you leave her alone, I think she might very well starve to death.]

Listening to that childlike voice recount one embarrassing episode after another from her past, Yun Shining turned red from head to toe.