"My surname is Lu. Miss Dong Qi, please tell us about the Tea Sect." Lu Sheng didn't introduce himself in detail. As the sect master, he naturally couldn't divulge his identity.
"Dong, dong, dong."
Fallen leaves piled up on the ground in the courtyard, rustling in the wind.
"It's like this." Dong Qi sank into her memories, a hint of sadness on her face. "More than a year ago, at the beginning of spring, something happened in our sect. It was also this incident that caused my father, my uncle, and many of the higher-ups in the sect to meet with misfortune. "
"… I peeked. Father and Zhuo Qingyang weren't chatting at all. They were in the room, kneeling together in front of a glass mirror that was as tall as a person." At that time, I was very afraid because I saw Zhuo Qingyang and Father kneeling and muttering to each other. Their faces were pale. So I quickly ran away.
Xu Chui glanced at Lu Sheng. After receiving his approval, he drove the carriage to catch up with the men. They walked along the streets of the town for a while and saw a huge four-story red attic.
Lu Sheng asked about a few more details and roughly understood what had happened.
"The glass mirror is much weaker than the bronze mirror, but it can reflect people very clearly. This kind of mirror can only be obtained from Ju Rong Nation, and it's extremely expensive. Have you asked the apothecary how he got it? "Xu Chui couldn't help but interrupt.
"It's in the sect … He didn't leave, and no one dares to let him leave. There are some higher-ups in the sect who would go to his room every night. I don't know what they're doing. Everyone is normal during the day, but at night … "Dong Qi's face showed a trace of fear and worry. "I'm worried that the entire Tea Sect will be destroyed like my father. That's why I had no choice but to invite the High Ambassador to investigate this matter …"
Dong Qi communicated with the two guards at the door before turning to Lu Sheng.
"Let's go in directly." Lu Sheng walked into the courtyard with his hands at his sides.
"Father and I are very close. Because I lost my mother when I was young, he raised me alone. That's why I'm very familiar with all his habits and details." Dong Qi explained, "I can clearly tell that he really doesn't remember what happened."
However, the corners of his mouth curved downwards, as if he was very unhappy.
There was a corridor in the courtyard that led to the bedroom in the inner courtyard.
"I really … really don't want to recall the scene of that day …" As she spoke, she also began to cry softly.
"May I ask how I should address you? I am Dong Qi, the daughter of the Tea Sect's leader. He's currently the Head of the Sect. "Her tone was solemn as she asked.
The three of them passed through a pitch-black corridor and quickly entered a spacious courtyard. From this courtyard, they passed through an arched door to the left. After passing through three arched doors, they arrived at a remote and deserted courtyard.
"Yes, now."
"Then let's wait for that person to come." Lu Sheng naturally wouldn't just listen to Dong Qi's side of the story. This kind of investigation naturally required multiple sources of verification. Otherwise, if Dong Qi was also suspicious and tried to frame Apothecary or someone else in the sect, wouldn't he be targeting the wrong person if he made a move without any verification?
He knocked again, but there was still no response.
"I've seen it. It's in Apothecary Zhuo Qingyang's bedroom. Apart from going to the toilet, he doesn't leave that mirror when he eats or sleeps. I sneaked in to take a look once when he went out to the toilet. It's no different from an ordinary glass mirror, but I feel that the reflection is quite clear, "Dong Qi answered quickly.
"Perhaps he went out to the toilet?" Dong Qi whispered from behind.
The eaves and walls were quite old, and many places revealed mottled walls. The stone tiles on the ground were also covered in thin moss.
"Then what about Apothecary?" Lu Sheng interrupted.
"At that time, my father, who was also the Tea Sect's leader, Dong Shengping, met the current Apothecary of the sect, Zhuo Qingyang, when he was inspecting the tea mountain. My father and Zhuo Qingyang hit it off the moment they met. The two of them often talked by candlelight, night after night, without sleeping. At first, my uncle and I thought that the two of them were really just chatting. But one time, I accidentally woke up at night and passed by my father's room. That's when I heard something strange. "
Lu Sheng said nothing. He gestured to Xu Chui beside him, who immediately began comforting Dong Qi.
Dong Qi hesitated for a moment before slowly rising to her feet.
"Do you have the key?" Lu Sheng turned and asked.
"Yes. You must be Tea Sect's Young Miss, Dong Qi?" Xu Chui replied with a smile. "My lord has come personally to settle this matter. Please lead the way."
There was more than one willow tree in the house. Willows were of the shade, which was rare in ordinary homes.
"May I ask if you're the Crimson Whale Sect's High Ambassador?"
Through his black hair, his face could be seen. Two of his eyes and one of his mouth had been painted with cinnabar. His eyes were drawn very vividly, as if he was smiling.
Outside the main door, a long-haired girl with a slim waist and a well-proportioned figure was waiting there. She was dressed in a light green chiffon gown and carried a long sword on her back.
The entire courtyard was very quiet. The maidservants standing guard at the side all looked dispirited and listless, with dark circles around their eyes, as if they had been severely lacking in rest and were in a daze.
"You really don't remember?" Lu Sheng narrowed his eyes and slowed his breathing. He glanced at the willow trees in the courtyard out of the corner of his eye.
Dong Qi nodded and said, "From that day onwards, I would peep outside my father's room every night. Sometimes, I would even call the others along. But every time I saw him sleeping normally, nothing out of the ordinary. As time passed, this matter slowly faded away. "
Passing through the central room, a large table of food and wine had already been laid out in the side courtyard. Clearly, it was used to entertain the two.
Lu Sheng looked towards the winding corridor. His gaze followed the corridor, but all he could see was a stretch of pitch-black gloom. Gusts of cold wind blew out, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.
Dong Qi nodded. She calmed down a little and continued speaking.
After greeting Lu Sheng and Xu Chui to take their seats, she recounted everything that had happened in Tea Sect up to this point.
But even in his current state, Dong Qi felt a murderous aura rushing towards her at first glance.
Only then did Xu Chui nod and walk to the side warily.
Under such circumstances, it was naturally impossible for him to have the key to the Apothecary's room.
"You don't remember? Are you pretending, or do you really not remember? "Lu Sheng asked with narrowed eyes.
"Oh, right. Have you seen the glass mirror that your father and the Apothecary knelt to? "he asked in a low voice.
She led Lu Sheng and Xu Chui into the Holy Fame Plaza behind them.
Lu Sheng took the opportunity to size up the layout of the building.
There was a doll hanging under the eaves, seemingly made of linen. The palm-sized doll had two small hands and two small legs that were grayish-white. It even wore a head of messy black hair that covered most of its face.
The maidservants' eyes were lifeless and their movements weak, as if they were seriously lacking in sleep. Their expressions gave one the impression that they were wooden puppets.
Behind the loft was a large courtyard that was stacked on top of one another.
"My father went out on patrol and returned with corpses … Even the corpses were badly mutilated … After that, I cried for a few days and swore to find the real culprit, so I went to look for Apothecary Zhuo Qingyang. But that person had a strange expression on his face. Although he said many comforting words, they sounded very awkward. I had my suspicions then. After that, I asked my uncle and uncle to keep an eye on him. But I didn't expect them to disappear not long after … "At this point, Dong Qi could no longer hold back her tears. They flowed down her cheeks like pearls from a broken necklace.
Lu Sheng shook his head. "I'll do it. You keep an eye on your surroundings."
Just by looking at the two crossed sabers on Lu Sheng's back, one could tell that he was the one who would solve the problem.
Seeing Lu Sheng and Xu Chui, the girl's eyes lit up and she hurried over.
The loft had a white roof and red walls. A pair of large bronze scissors hung on the door. The scissors were as tall as a person and looked unusually sharp. But upon closer inspection, one could tell that they were just decorations. They were patterns embedded on the door.
"Dong, dong, dong."
Just then, Lu Sheng walked out of the carriage slowly. His figure was much more normal than before. He no longer had those exaggerated muscle lines. A thin layer of short hair had grown on his bald head. At least he didn't look as fierce and violent anymore.
"Continue," he gestured for Dong Qi to continue.
Two yawning men in martial attire stood guard at the entrance of the courtyard. Seeing Dong Qi, they hurried over to greet her.
"What's the matter? Miss Dong, please speak, "Lu Sheng took the seat for two and took a sip from his wine glass.
Lu Sheng knocked on the door. After a while, there was no response.
"The next day, I went to ask Father again. But he actually … actually …" Dong Qi lowered her head and paused. "He actually doesn't remember anything about this and even said that I was talking nonsense."
"So it's the Emissary of the Way. Please follow me," Dong Qi heaved a sigh of relief. She had been tormented by nightmares every night. Now, her savior had finally arrived. It wasn't the first time Crimson Whale Sect had dealt with such matters. Tea Sect had also requested for Crimson Whale Sect's experts to come and resolve the matter satisfactorily. Hence, she was still confident.
Lu Sheng glanced at the puppet for a moment, then ignored it and walked straight to the door of the bedroom.
"Until one day …" Dong Qi's expression suddenly turned to one of extreme agony. She lowered her head and clenched her fists tightly. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Alright, bring me to that Apothecary Zhuo Qingyang now. There's no time to lose. "
"What's wrong?" Lu Sheng asked. Ever since he entered Holy Fame Plaza, he had felt something amiss. It felt like it lacked some liveliness.
"Master, let me do it," Xu Chui rushed up to stop him.
As Lu Sheng followed, he glanced back at the serving girls who had gone to clean up the dishes.
Lu Sheng nodded and stood up.
Six willow trees were planted in the middle of the courtyard. Their branches drooped and their catkins swayed in the wind.
"No … nothing," Dong Qi shook her head. She was scared to death. Most of the sect members only listened to Apothecary. Now that the situation had become extremely strange, she had finally used her authority to send a letter to Crimson Whale Sect.
"This is Apothecary's courtyard. Both of you …"
Dong Qi shook her head.
Lu Sheng walked over and looked at the puppet.
"I'll bring you there … Apothecary's room is in the furthest corner of the inner courtyard. Please follow me," she stood up slowly and led Lu Sheng and Xu Chui towards the corridor leading to the inner courtyard.
"That Apothecary is very strange. You'll know when you meet him. I don't dare to meet him alone. "
"Now?" Dong Qi did not expect Lu Sheng to be so swift and decisive. He had only heard the whole story and was already heading off to investigate.
Xu Chui consoled her for a while before Dong Qi seemed to recover.
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