Chapter 255: Trouble Again

Lu Zheng looked bewildered, first suppressing the agitation in his body with True Qi, then turning to the black-clad girl, "Who are you?"

From the conversation between the two just now, one was a snake, the other a scorpion, neither sounded easy to get along with.

The girl in black lifted her chin, snorted arrogantly, said nothing, and then flipped her body, quickly disappearing into the white mist.

"Goodness." Lu Zheng smacked his lips, "What’s going on, why am I only meeting female demons?"

"Of course." Shen Ying smiled with the corners of her mouth raised, "Because only female demons would always be thinking about bathing—"

Lu Zheng blinked.

Dong Yong stole clothes when Seven Immortal Maidens were bathing, Pigsy ran into the Spider Spirit bathing, Li Xiaoyao encountered Zhao Ling’er bathing, and in various web novels, it’s common for male protagonists to fall into the heroine’s bath...

It seems, indeed, there are no reverse occurrences?

Maybe in female-oriented novels, but Lu Zheng hadn’t read any.

Hmm, and has no desire to either.

"Qingyan, help Lu Lang detoxify!" Liu Qingyan said to Lu Zheng, then leaned in, ready to expel the Red Pill from her body.

Liu Qingyan had a Red Pill on her, was immune to all poisons, and had already neutralized the toxins in her body. Shen Ying, being a Plant Spirit, was also unaffected by snake venom. Only Lu Zheng, whose face was slightly flushed, was fighting against the toxins in his body.

"Uh... no rush..." Lu Zheng suddenly stopped Liu Qingyan.

"Why?" Liu Qingyan was a bit curious.

"I found the toxin seems like the Snake Demon said, it’s just for fun." Lu Zheng blinked, "Just need to... and it’s solved..."

Liu Qingyan blushed, while Shen Ying’s eyes twinkled charmingly.

...

Rarely getting poisoned by a snake, can’t waste it, must seize the chance to experience it.

...

A pleasant day quickly passed. The three packed up and headed home.

Lu Zheng’s ears twitched, "Is there movement?"

From afar, the sound of someone moving through the woods could be heard, indicating a skilled person swiftly moving towards them.

"Looking for us?" Liu Qingyan asked.

"Probably just a coincidence." Shen Ying turned to Lu Zheng, "Or maybe that girl couldn’t let go and has come after us?"

Before Lu Zheng could speak, a faint trace of Demon Qi wafted in from afar.

Raising an eyebrow, Lu Zheng said somewhat surprised, "It’s really an acquaintance!"

"Oh? Young Master Lu, Miss Shen?" The newcomer stopped, also a bit surprised.

It was Hu Cai Niang.

"Hey? Xiaocai?" Liu Qingyan’s eyes suddenly lit up, asking with some delight.

"Huh? Qingyan?" Hu Cai Niang, seeing Liu Qingyan, also looked surprised.

Lu Zheng and Shen Ying exchanged glances, "You know each other?"

"Knew each other as kids." Liu Qingyan smiled and walked over, "I used to sneak into the woods to play when I was little and met Xiaocai, we used to play together back then!"

Then Liu Qingyan worriedly said, "But later, you suddenly disappeared, Xiaocai, and stopped coming to our meeting spot. I thought something happened to you!"

Hu Cai Niang explained, "At that time, I met a very strong hunter, so I was too busy running away, not knowing how long I ran. Later, I met my elder sister, and after healing, I lost contact with you when I returned."

"Were you hurt?"

"Already healed long ago!" Hu Cai Niang laughed, "I also met a few good sisters and have been living at Five Beauties Manor all these years, occasionally going to the villages and towns to buy some snacks. It’s quite a relaxed life."

"That’s good!" Liu Qingyan happily held Hu Cai Niang’s hand.

"Hehe, who would have thought pure little Qingyan from back then found herself a man." Hu Cai Niang teased.

Though Liu Qingyan was a bit shy, she felt very proud, "Lu Lang treats me very well."

"That’s great!" Hu Cai Niang laughed, "Come to Five Beauties Manor more often when you have time, your husband knows the way."

Liu Qingyan nodded repeatedly, "Sure, and you should come to Tonglin County often, Lu Lang has lots of food you’ve never seen before."

"Sounds good, sounds good!"

After catching up, Lu Zheng and Shen Ying finally came over, "Miss Hu, did you come all this way for something?"

Hu Cai Niang nodded upon hearing this, "Young Master Ji told me he was going to Xiahe Town to collect some debts and would return to Five Beauties Manor in at most three days.

But now it has been six days, and he still hasn’t returned, so I decided to head to Xiahe Town to take a look."

Lu Zheng blinked, it seemed that Ji Zizhen couldn’t escape Hu Cai Niang’s grasp.

But...

Could it be Hu Cai Niang was also caught up in it?

Liu Qingyan asked, "Who is Young Master Ji? Is he your fiancé, Xiaocai?"

Hu Cai Niang shook her head and waved her hands, "No, no, just a casual relationship, we only agreed to have fun for a night when he returned. I got suspicious when he didn’t come back, so I came to check."

Liu Qingyan: (꒪⌓꒪)

"I see..." Liu Qingyan didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

"Yes, yes." Hu Cai Niang nodded, "Are you planning to return? Did you just come back from Hundred Springs Valley?"

"Yes." Liu Qingyan responded.

Hu Cai Niang advised, "There are many strange things in Hundred Springs Valley, and some people there are not nice. We always go together as five sisters. If you’re going, either find me or go with Young Master Lu."

"Okay!" Liu Qingyan agreed.

"Alright, you all head back. I’ll go to Xiahe Town first. Visit Tonglin County when you have time to hang out with you."

Liu Qingyan frowned, "Are you going to Xiahe Town by yourself?"

Hu Cai Niang nodded, "Yes, it’s not my first time. I’ve gone a few times before when searching for a charming young man."

Liu Qingyan, "..."

"But this time..."

It had been more than three days since Ji Zizhen’s return, the likelihood of something having happened was not small. Liu Qingyan, having experienced several incidents, was rather sensitive and worried about Hu Cai Niang.

Seeing Liu Qingyan’s concern, Lu Zheng chimed in, "It’s not late now, and Xiahe Town is on our way, we’ll go with you."

"Hey? Are you sure it won’t be inconvenient?"

"What’s inconvenient?" Lu Zheng laughed, "It’s only a dozen miles of mountain road, and it doesn’t take us off track."

"Great!" Hu Cai Niang nodded.

Thus, the four set off together towards Xiahe Town.

...

"What? Ji Zizhen collected the rent four days ago and left Xiahe Town?"

"What? Strange happenings in Xiahe Town lately, with more than ten people missing?"

"All the missing people are young, and most are scholars and literati?"

"The first incident occurred about ten days ago?"

"Many of the young people in the town have already left to avoid disaster?"

"I heard the constables reported it to the county, but no further updates?"

Lu Zheng and the others looked at each other, surprised to have encountered such a mysterious affair.

"Are they alive?" Lu Zheng asked.

The Innkeeper nodded, "Alive or dead, we don’t know!"

Lu Zheng asked, "Do you have anything he handled here before?"

The Shopkeeper said, "There’s a note of a loan."

"Please lend it to me for a look."

Lu Zheng took the receipt with the words ’paid in full’ written on it and used the Qi Observation Technique.

"Hmm?" Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, looking towards the north of the town, "He’s not dead after all?"