Wei Changle immediately became interested. "How extraordinary?"

Fu Wenjun thought for a moment before slowly saying, "He Gui died from a horse fall. Many people, like you, found it suspicious. Less than a month after his death, the new county magistrate Su Changqing took office. He was reportedly appointed directly by the Jiedushi and arrived extremely quickly."

"Could the Jiedushi have found He Gui's death suspicious and sent Su Changqing to investigate?"

"I'm not sure," Fu Wenjun shook her head. "However, after arriving in Shan Yin, this Su magistrate rarely appeared, and no one knows what he was doing. He took office in June and reportedly hadn't even met all the local gentry. By early October, he suddenly disappeared."

Wei Changle was astonished. "The county magistrate suddenly disappeared?"

"The government office mobilized many people to search, even using the city foxes and rats from the Western City's underworld, but found no clues whatsoever," Fu Wenjun spoke slowly and softly. "Not just Su Changqing himself, but his wife and two personal attendants also vanished simultaneously without a trace." She added, "You are the third county magistrate in Shan Yin within a year."

Wei Changle was inwardly shocked, secretly thinking that within less than a year, two county magistrates - one dead and one missing - was definitely unusual.

If his sworn brother, the ghost fox Hu Yaoshi, were to investigate, he might find some clues. But given Hu Yaoshi's status, he certainly wouldn't travel to Shan Yin for just two county magistrates.

"What's your last question?" Fu Wenjun asked, as Wei Changle was pondering the magistrates' fate.

After thinking, Wei Changle stared at Fu Wenjun and asked, "Why did over twenty Night Crying Men leave Shan Yin to capture you in Anping County? Who are you?"

Fu Wenjun remained composed, speaking casually, "I killed some of their people. They see me as a thorn in their side."

Wei Changle was surprised, examining Fu Wenjun carefully. "You killed Night Crying Men? They might be scoundrels, but they're still official runners. You dared to kill official personnel? Who exactly are you?"

"That's a fourth question," Fu Wenjun said lightly.

"Chest big, but brain smart!" Wei Changle chuckled, glancing at the unconscious Song Kun. "He's yours now."

"I owe you a favor today, I'll repay it later!" Fu Wenjun was also someone who clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges.

Wei Changle understood that the favor she mentioned wasn't about handing over Song Kun, but his intervention today that saved her from a major disaster.

If not for Wei Changle, Fu Wenjun would have faced certain death against the twenty well-equipped Night Crying Men.

"Repay later, repay later!" Wei Changle nodded repeatedly.

At this moment, Zhi Nu had already led a horse over, telling Wei Changle, "Second Master, all the horses ran away. Only your gray Shadow hasn't gone far."

It was an ordinary-looking horse, not particularly strong. But for those who understood horses, this was definitely a rare, excellent steed.

The Night Crying Men had set fire to the wine shop. There was a horse shed on the side for travelers to rest their horses.

The big fire burned, destroying the horses' reins. Naturally, all horses were spooked and ran away.

Their original party of three had each had a horse, but two had run off, leaving only Wei Changle's fine horse.

"Your horse has probably run away too," Wei Changle glanced at the horse shed, now a mess with no horses in sight. "Zhi Nu, give a horse to Lady Fu."

Besides Wei Changle's gray Shadow, only two horses from the Night Crying Men remained. Zhi Nu looked troubled, "Second Master, only three horses are left."

"You and the old fool can ride together. That way, you'll be warmer," Wei Changle didn't waste words, mounting his horse and then telling Fu Wenjun, "Tonight's wind and snow are strong. It's freezing. Good luck."

Fu Wenjun just nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

The master and two servants didn't delay, riding north through the wind and snow.

The north was already extremely cold. At night, the wind was even more biting.

Fortunately, the snowfall had lessened, and all three were wearing thick cotton clothes, barely able to withstand the cold.

They all carried wine pouches. When feeling too cold, a swig would warm their bodies somewhat.

The road was deeply covered in snow. The horses couldn't run fast. Even if they tried to gallop, such terrain would exhaust the horses quickly.

So they moved slowly.

"Second Master, what does 'old fool' mean?" Zhi Nu was young and eager to learn, humbly seeking guidance.

"Means useless," Wei Changle said directly.

Old Wei didn't feel ashamed, chuckling, "Second Master is right. This servant is indeed useless."

"Old fool, you've been carrying that wooden box. What's inside?" Wei Changle, seeing Old Wei treasuring the long wooden box, couldn't help but ask. "It's not a weapon, is it?"

"Second Master, it's not a weapon," Old Wei replied.

"What is it if not a weapon?" Wei Changle smiled slyly. "The mansion sent you with me. You can't really be completely useless, right? Old fool, if you're actually skilled, tell me, and I'll treat you respectfully in the future."

"It's a painting," Old Wei helplessly said. "When I was young, I loved a girl. This painting is her portrait. I've carried it with me all these years."

Wei Changle asked, "Why didn't you marry her? Why are you still alone?"

Old Wei just sighed, not answering.

"Second Master, that Fu surname is following behind," Zhi Nu looked back and saw a figure riding behind them, recognizing it as Fu Wenjun.

Wei Changle also looked back. In the night, the view was blurry, but the silhouette was indeed Fu Wenjun.

"She's also going to Shan Yin," Wei Changle said. "This is the only road to Shan Yin. Nothing strange about following."

Zhi Nu said, "Is she following because she saw how brave and kind you are? Those people are chasing her, and she might feel safer with you around."

"You speak so nicely," Wei Changle thought this kid had potential. "Even if she were a female ghost, and a beautiful one at that, following would be fine."

"How do you know she's beautiful when she's wearing a veil?"

Old Wei chuckled, "Trust the second master's eye for women. It's never wrong. Her figure is definitely top-notch, you couldn't find another like her in a thousand."

"You old lecher, quite experienced!" Wei Changle rolled his eyes.

Zhi Nu laughed, "The Night Crying Men are after her, yet she still dares to return to Shan Yin. What courage!"

"The second master offended the Night Crying Men and still dares to go to Shan Yin. His courage is even greater," Old Wei muttered, seemingly unwilling about this trip.

Wei Changle ignored him, slightly shaking the reins to make the horse move faster.

After about half an hour, in the pitch-black landscape, Zhi Nu suddenly said, "Second Master, horse hooves!"

"Horse hooves again?"

Zhi Nu had already looked back, his delicate face showing wariness: "Coming from behind, several fast horses!"

Wei Changle also looked back but couldn't see Fu Wenjun, knowing she might have fallen behind.

He thought for a moment, then turned his horse to go back.

"Second Master, what are you doing? Why are you looking for trouble again?" Old Wei helplessly advised. "Peace is a blessing. Let's not meddle."

"Fu Wenjun owes me a favor. If she dies here, she can't repay her debt," Wei Changle shook the reins and rode off.

Old Wei shook his head, bitterly smiling, "The second master is truly foolish! Zhi Nu, follow."

Zhi Nu immediately turned his horse to follow.

Wei Changle rode swiftly, quickly spotting Fu Wenjun's figure, with the horse hooves Zhi Nu mentioned becoming increasingly clear, seemingly just ahead.

"Why did you come back?" Fu Wenjun was somewhat surprised.

Wei Changle looked towards the dark front, glancing at Fu Wenjun and saying, "I'm not sure if the Night Crying Men have returned. I told them to go back to Shan Yin. If they don't listen and come looking for trouble, that means they're disregarding my words. I'll cut off Song Kun's arm right in front of them."

Song Kun was currently tightly bound and laid across the horse's back like a sack, showing no signs of consciousness, seemingly still unconscious.

In the night, the horse hooves grew closer, and several shadows indeed appeared.

The other party clearly saw their situation and quickly spread out in a half-arc formation.

Wei Changle looked carefully. There were four riders, not many, but their attire was quite strange.

All four were wearing black robes, and in the dim light, they could be seen wearing grotesque masks.

The four riders slowed their horses, stopping a few steps away. The central rider, wearing a fanged mask, raised his hand and threw two objects in front of Wei Changle's horse.

Heads!

They had actually thrown two blood-covered heads.

Wei Changle stared at the heads on the snow, suddenly feeling breathless.

Despite the bloody, mangled faces, he recognized them.

The wine shop's shopkeeper and assistant!

He had given them silver and horses, hoping they would ride south and escape the trouble.

But they ultimately couldn't escape this calamity.

Wei Changle had lived two lives and seen much, but had never seen severed heads so realistically.

However, looking at these bloody heads, he felt no fear, only anger.

His fists clenched, his gaze as sharp as a knife, fixed on those people.

Whoever kills must die!

[--------------------------------------------]

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