Chapter 3: I Have A Secret
Mo Zheng sat down on a stone by the roadside, placed the wild rabbit in front of her, and called out to passersby, asking if they wanted a fresh wild rabbit.
Of course, at this time, no one was interested in buying mountain goods.
Yang Luo huddled in the shadow cast on the ground by Mo Zheng.
The soldiers guarding the town entrance saw these two not leaving, but since they did not approach, they ignored them no longer.
Mo Zheng waved the bamboo pole to drive away the insects and flies gathering around the wild rabbit on the ground.
Ever since she said that sentence in front of the leader of the soldiers, Yang Luo had not spoken again, huddling there without moving.
Mo Zheng broke the silence first: “You don’t want to be seen as whose family’s?”
The huddled girl did not speak.
Mo Zheng narrowed her eyes and looked toward the town entrance. As the news spread, more civilians gathered, and more relatives and friends who rushed over upon hearing the news crowded the town entrance impenetrably.
“You can have someone pass a message inside.” Mo Zheng continued to offer ideas.
“No, no need.” Yang Luo finally spoke, her head buried in her knees, her voice muffled, “My whole family is dead.”
Mo Zheng looked at the wild rabbit corpse on the ground, indeed…
“Those mountain bandits first killed my family yesterday, then came to pursue and kill me.” Yang Luo continued.
At this point, she lifted her head and looked at the youth sitting beside her. Under the sunlight, his face was gray and dusty, his eyes downcast, showing no emotion.
“Moreover, there’s something I hid from you.” Yang Luo said, “They are not ordinary mountain bandits; they came specifically to annihilate my family.”
Mo Zheng turned her head to look at her, her brows slightly furrowed: “You mean, it’s not mountain bandits plundering, but someone disguised as mountain bandits to commit the crime?”
Yang Luo nodded, tears sliding down again: “Sorry, I hid it from you.”
This was far more dangerous than accidentally encountering mountain bandits; this was a vendetta leading to annihilation of a family, and getting involved was terrifying.
The hunter youth showed no terror or resentment, only shaking his head: “This is nothing. Whether they are mountain bandits or not, if I encounter someone committing murder, I naturally have to save someone.”
Truly a simple and kind youth. Yang Luo looked at him and shed tears again.
Her gaze also became complicated once more.
Joy, gratitude, sorrow, confusion.
The other emotions were easy to understand, but confusion? Why? Mo Zheng coughed lightly: “So what are your plans now? Your family met with disaster; you can’t just ignore it.”
Yang Luo was about to say something when the sound of galloping horses rang out urgently, and another group of riders sped in—over a dozen soldiers escorting a man in official robes, his expression very stern.
Seeing this group, the soldiers guarding the town entrance immediately dispersed the gathered civilians, and the leading soldier, as well as the officials in the town, all came forward to greet them.
“It’s the inspector.”
“The inspector has arrived.”
……
…….
“That official, I heard about him before; he came from the capital city and arrived near Lu County last month.”
Mo Zheng said, looking at the escorted official.
“He’s the one sent by the emperor to inspect; he’s a very high-ranking official.”
Yang Luo also looked over and saw the official gazing at the devastated White Horse Town, very angry, berating the local officials and soldiers, helping up and comforting the surviving civilians who knelt weeping.
Though far away and unable to hear the exact words, from his expression and lip movements, it was clear he was promising the civilians that he would definitely exterminate the mountain bandits and seek revenge for the dead.
“Such a high-ranking official can surely make decisions.” Mo Zheng continued, “You can go explain the truth to him and thoroughly investigate the villains who killed your family.”
But Yang Luo lowered her head and fell silent again.
Unwilling to see her disaster-stricken relatives, and unwilling to report to officials? Mo Zheng looked at the girl huddled on the ground: “I’ve brought you to White Horse Town. I can’t sell mountain goods here; I’m going into the county town. The wild rabbit can’t stay overnight, or it won’t be fresh.”
For the hunter youth, no matter how tragic the scene, it had nothing to do with him; selling the prey for a good price was what mattered for his survival.
Seeing the youth, true to his word, re-hanging the wild rabbit on the bamboo pole and walking toward the county town, Yang Luo hurriedly followed.
Mo Zheng turned her head somewhat helplessly: “Why are you still following me?”
Yang Luo looked at him, tears welling in her eyes: “I, I have nowhere to go; I’m afraid.”
Seeing the girl’s state, Mo Zheng could understand; a fledgling that escaped death and lost its nest would be extremely dependent on its savior.
Mo Zheng softened her tone and looked toward White Horse Town, where the soldiers at the town entrance were maintaining order: “No need to be afraid; the government will handle it. With such a high-ranking official here, go report to officials quickly.”
Yang Luo shook her head, biting her lip hard, as if steeling herself for something.
“There’s one more thing I haven’t told you.” she said.
More? Mo Zheng frowned at her.
Yang Luo leaned close to him and lowered her voice: “The villains who killed my family are connected to the government.”
After saying this, she saw the hunter youth’s originally somewhat wooden face change abruptly, his slightly narrow eyes widening.
“What?” he said.
He stepped back, his gaze toward her becoming complicated—with shock, suspicion, bewilderment.
“You, don’t talk nonsense.” Mo Zheng said.
Villains murdering was one thing; the government involved in murder was entirely different.
This was too terrifying.
Yang Luo took a step after him: “I’m not talking nonsense. If you don’t believe me, just wait and see—in two days, the government will arrest some people and announce at the city gate that they are the mountain bandits.”
Mo Zheng stepped back again, his expression seeming to doubt if she had gone mad from the shock: “For such a big case, the government will surely arrest the mountain bandits. With this high official from the capital city overseeing, what’s strange about catching mountain bandits?”
Yang Luo looked at him, emphasizing each word: “Those are not real mountain bandits; they are death row prisoners the government drags out from death row prison to pass off as them, just to close the case.”
Mo Zheng seemed not to understand: “What?”
Yang Luo continued: “You’ve fought mountain bandits hand-to-hand; you’ll see it then—the mountain bandits the government slays will be weak and frail, with limp limbs, nothing like the ones you fought.”
The hunter youth looked at her and slowly asked: “How do you know what the government will do in two days?”
Yang Luo’s expression stiffened, and for a moment she said nothing.
Mo Zheng turned and walked away, looking like he knew she was talking nonsense.
Yang Luo grew anxious and hurried after him: “A Sheng, listen to me; I’m not deceiving you—”
……
…….
A Sheng.
Mo Zheng stopped abruptly.
Yang Luo, rushing to catch up, collided with him unexpectedly and nearly fell.
Mo Zheng grabbed her wrist and pulled her close in front of him.
The hunter youth’s narrow eyes gleamed darkly.
“How do you know my name?” he said. “I don’t remember telling you what I’m called.”
Yang Luo’s face, already mostly wiped clean of the ash and dirt, turned instantly pale. The next moment, she was yanked forward as the hunter youth grabbed her and headed toward White Horse Town.
“I’m handing you over to the government right now. I don’t understand what you’re saying; you tell the government.”
That wouldn’t do. Yang Luo reached out and hugged the hunter youth’s arm: “Listen to me; I’ll tell you—I have a secret.”
Mo Zheng did not stop walking and said with a hint of mockery: “Young lady, you have quite a few secrets.”
First the villains were there to annihilate her family, then the villains were colluding with the government—now what?
Tears fell from Yang Luo’s eyes: “Because I didn’t dare say it; even if I did, you wouldn’t believe me. Actually…”
She looked at the youth and gritted her teeth.
“I can prophesy.”
Prophesy? Mo Zheng stopped walking and looked at the girl hugging his arm.
Real or fake?
