Hanying Tower was of course sealed. The Yamen had no way to claim the charred bodies, but asked anyone to report any missing persons. But there are naturally not many decent people who come in and out of Hanying Tower. Either no one recognizes them, or no one can recognize them. Even though the seals were posted and guards were standing there, there are still some good-hearted people standing nearby to watch.
Naturally, they couldn't squeeze through. I could only listen to the discussions outside the crowd.
From those small discussions, a few people probably understood something. This Hanying Building was a theater in the past few years when opera could still be performed. The original owner was named Qinggui.
Aoki is not a ghost, but a woman in her thirties. In the past, her parents took the troupe and built buildings on a lot of land. Later, she ignored her parents' dissuasion and ran away with the man she liked. A few years later, the city lord succeeded and began to rectify the situation. His parents were persecuted to death because of the family's great business and jealous people. Who would have thought that just when everyone thought their land and buildings were going to be swallowed up, their daughter would come back.
With half a broken face.
At that time, people had almost forgotten her face. Many officials accepted bribes and said that she was just pretending and was not the real heir - especially her face, which looked nothing like the girl from a few years ago. But there are many things on her that were taken from her home back then, as the neighbors can attest. Her personality has changed a lot, she no longer likes to talk, and her voice has become hoarse, perhaps because of her disfigurement. But her family had too much land, and there were many jealous people. Even the neighbors took the money and stopped talking. Coincidentally, that year, the inspector and censor came to visit, and she kept making trouble, and finally took back all the land.
She became too much, too cruel, too cold. Sometimes relatives, friends and neighbors wonder whether she is real, or whether someone else's soul has taken over this body. She indeed no longer mentions her previous name. She wears a half-scary mask all day long, and people call her Aoki. After the city lord refused to let the opera perform, she rented out all the land and collected rent to make a living.
She also rented Hanying Building to an old man. After this incident, I haven't seen her come out to see her until now. There was a prosperous restaurant in the middle of the city. Although it was not built by her family, the land was hers. She stayed in the attic there all day and night, living above the glitz that never saw the light of day.
As for the Hanying Building, it looked like it was almost burned through from the outside, and the wall tiles were so rotten that the structure inside could be clearly seen. The beams and pillars collapsed, and the whole building was as brittle as a piece of paper. The most common theory at present is that someone saw a lightning strike from a distance that night, igniting the place. Although the burning was severe, people could still see the traces of lightning strikes from the roof of the building, and this statement was generally believed.
It's just that the people here have done something wrong and have been punished by God. If you continue to listen, you will hear some of the "glorious deeds" that the deceased old man did, but I don't know whether they are true or not. His body was not found either - there were many humanoid corpses in the building, like firewood, and it was impossible to tell which ones were his. There may be many corpses up there, but no one dares to go upstairs for fear of collapsing.
"There is indeed a possibility of lightning strikes," Shan Hai thought, "but I generally don't believe in the theory of divine punishment..."
"Why don't we go find the green ghost and ask her?" Mu Wan said, "She may know something about the old man who rented the house."
Others also agree with this method, not to mention that they have not been to the most prosperous area of Wule City. When the sun passed its highest point and noon passed, they arrived at the center of Wule City. The hustle and bustle here is indeed the same as in many cities, with cries coming and going. It's just that compared to other places, no matter how noisy it is here, there really is no music at all.
Shi Wuqi pointed to a high-rise building. The attic window at the top was very small and there was no light. It looked like it was dark inside, and it obviously didn't look like anyone was living there. But after a little inquiry, they were convinced that the woman known as Qinggui lived in that place. They took a step forward, ready to have a meal and go upstairs to take a look.
As soon as they got closer, the smell of makeup hit my face, and the smiling and graceful women waved their handkerchiefs, beckoning them in.
"...I don't think this place is suitable for children."
Saying that, Mu Wan covered Dai Luan's eyes. She repeatedly stressed that she was an adult while struggling to hold her hand. Shan Hai frowned and thought for a moment, then said:
"I think this place... just for eating is also very expensive. Let's save money and go to other places to eat and then visit the Aoi Girl."
Mu Wan pointed to the side: "I recommend that simple shaved noodles."
Shi Wuqi laughed at her because she was still too young. No matter how simple and unpretentious things were, they would be extremely expensive in this area. But Mu Wan didn't believe it. How much did she think a few bowls of noodles would cost? So they went in and sat down.
As soon as Mu Wan took a look at the price, he had the idea of turning around and going out, but his face didn't allow it.
Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, where there are rivers and lakes, there is business, and where there is business, there is a market. Being slaughtered is an indispensable step in walking in the world, so accept your fate.
Mu Wan's lifeless eyes were silently accusing: If I add some green onions, he will pay for it.
After all, there is an old saying that goes, what comes comes comes.
After eating the most painful sliced noodles ever, they walked out of the store, clutching their chests that were even more heartbreaking, and walked into the restaurant opposite. There are three big characters "Fangchunyuan" hanging on the door of the building. As soon as they entered, they ignored the crowd of girls and went straight to the accounting room to inquire about the attic. The bystanders sounded strange and couldn't help but secretly look at their clothes and deduce their identities. The accountant said with some embarrassment that there was no man in sight. The government officials who came to ask questions earlier were sent out by her, and a woman was forced to come.
Shi Wuqi and Lin Shanhai looked at each other tentatively, looking at the two girls. They thought it didn't matter, they just felt strange about it, so they asked a few more questions. The cashier said she just didn't like men.
——They all speculated that their feelings might have been hurt in some way. However, it is said that the top is her boudoir, and it is indeed inconvenient for outsiders to enter.
In the end, Shi Wuqi asked Miss Qi to follow him, so that it would be easier to deal with any accidents.
They climbed the stairs carefully. There are accommodations on both floors, and there is a smell of Chinese medicine on the upper floor, which seems to be the warehouse of the medical center. Going up to the top floor, it was really dark, even though it was afternoon, it should be bright outside. But no light came in at all. They knocked on the door tentatively, but no one answered, but the door was unlocked, so Mu Wan pushed the door open and went in. The room was slightly brighter than the corridor, and a candle was lit on the table. There was a bed set up near the window, and someone was looking out the window with his face raised sideways, not knowing what he was looking at.
Not surprisingly, it was Aoki.
"Excuse me..." The two of them whispered, with Miss Qi standing behind them.
The green ghost didn't move, but his eyes were slightly tilted toward them, and his complexion was cold. The face on this side is peaceful and moving, but it looks a little haggard, with eyes like a dead person. The other side must be wearing a mask, because they saw a ghost horn protruding from it with a red belt tied on it.
That belt gave Mu Wan a familiar yet uneasy feeling.
The two old men just waited from dawn to dusk. It was unbearable to stay in this place surrounded by well-dressed and handsome people - mainly because of my wallet. They ate at a noodle shop once for lunch, shamelessly ordered a pot of tea, and stayed at the window seat for the whole afternoon under the waiter's eyes, until the sky was completely dark and the lights on the street were lit. , just waiting for them to come out.
"It's been so long...what did she say?"
Mu Wan shook his head heavily, indicating that there was no valuable information. The good news is that Aoki may seem scary and inarticulate, but he's actually quite talkative. She was actually very interested in the outside life, but she was afraid that her appearance would scare women and children. Usually when someone comes to see her, she likes to pester them and ask questions.
On the way back, Mu Wan elaborated on the topics they had discussed.
"But...she said that her face was ruined by her man. Later she found out that the man was the Laughing Wolf. She was frightened at the time and smelled medicine that she shouldn't have. She couldn't move and let others slaughter her. Then When her face was half peeled off, someone suddenly broke in, knocked over the lampstand, and fought with him. Only then did she save her life. But to this day, she still doesn’t know the name of her savior. When it came to the man’s torn strips of clothing, he wore them from then on.”
Dai Luan lay on Miss Qi's back and felt sleepy. The other two were very surprised when they heard these three words.
The streets were a bit chaotic and they could hardly find their way back. Unconsciously, they came to a somewhat remote place. Shi Wuqi pointed to the bricks on the ground and said that many places have established rules: if the bricks on the ground are laid vertically, it proves that the road is open; if the bricks are laid horizontally, it means there is a dead end ahead. Just follow the vertical bricks and you can get out.
After walking for a while, Shi Wuqi stopped when passing by a dark alley.
"What's wrong?" Mu Wan asked, "Didn't you say that the road with bricks on it is a dead end?"
Shi Wuqi slowly raised his hand, pointed to the alley and said, "...there is a strong smell of blood there, it's fresh."
As soon as these words came out, Shanhai and Mu Wan rushed over at the same time without hesitation. The instinctive "goodness" in their bodies makes them so desperate - if someone loses their life when they can save it, this is definitely not what they want to see.
In the deepest part, a dim lamp hung on the wall. The light cast the wall at the end into a miserable gray color, and the figures of the two people were projected on the wall. One is lying down and the other is half-kneeling.
Hearing the messy footsteps, the man was startled and immediately stood up, raising his hands reflexively as if to prove his innocence. They caught up and stopped. Mu Wan glanced at his face and called out his name in surprise.
"Duan Yuesheng?!"
Then, her eyes moved to the person lying down.
For a moment, she felt dizzy and the strength in her legs was taken away. She staggered forward, her face suddenly turning pale.
Why do you prefer...
