Cousin Arrives (Chapter Ten)

The next day, Shui Mei, phone in hand, came running excitedly to He Lingyu. “Lingling, Li Qing and A Feng have been transferred to the county detention center.”

Compared to Li Qing, He Lingyu was more concerned about A Feng.

Li Qing’s fraud was clear-cut, with ample evidence and a huge sum involved; there was no hope of him causing further harm for several years.

But A Feng was different.

“Sister Shui Mei, can you find out A Feng’s statement?” After all, Shui Mei was the victim, the one who reported the crime, and she would be the plaintiff in the future.

Shui Mei immediately called the officer handling the case at the police station. The officer did not withhold information—Shui Mei had a right to know the case’s progress.

After a while, Shui Mei hung up, a trace of disappointment in her expression. “Lingling, it’s very likely A Feng won’t even be considered an accomplice. He claimed Li Qing had blackmailed him—Li Qing found out he was being kept by an older woman in the metropolis and threatened to tell his rural parents unless A Feng cooperated. The police found chat records on Li Qing’s phone that matched A Feng’s testimony.”

In this situation, even if Li Qing accused A Feng of killing Qian Hui, there would be no evidence, but Li Qing’s blackmail of A Feng was irrefutable.

He Lingyu couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. That Li Qing was truly foolish. Now that she thought about it, her chance encounter with A Feng, his drunken confession of the truth from years ago—it was likely all orchestrated by A Feng.

Still, Qian Hui’s appearance must have been a coincidence, but it provided A Feng with a new opportunity.

“Sister Shui Mei, let me borrow your car.” He Lingyu grinned.

“The keys are at the front desk, go get them yourself. Oh, and don’t forget to fill up the tank when you return. Are you heading into town?” Shui Mei was direct—others might not know, but she did. He Lingyu was a little heiress, slaying monsters and exorcising devils, her fortune growing by the day.

“I’m going to the county seat. Anything you want me to bring back?” He Lingyu asked.

“To the county? I want roast chicken from the shop in the west, and meat pies from the east side. Wait a moment, let me ask Aunt Zhao what she wants.”

As Shui Mei hurried off, He Lingyu soon received a message from Aunt Zhao.

Aunt Zhao: “Ten jars of chive blossom from the old brand in the north, one Jinwei ham from Main Street, ten jars of spicy bean sauce from White Alley, fifty pounds of Li’s dried rice noodles, thirty eggs (preferably from free-range hens).”

He Lingyu...

Half an hour later, He Lingyu was about to set off in the Jinbei van when Shui Mei came chasing after her. “Almost forgot. Pick up the mail from the town post station on your way—just over thirty parcels, ten of which are yours, so don’t slack off.”

Last time they’d returned from town by taxi, so they hadn’t stopped at the post station.

Now, at last, He Lingyu set off for the county, carrying everyone’s errands with her.

She arrived in the county seat after nine in the evening, bought two meat pies, and found a small inn for the night.

After eating and taking a shower, she summoned Ah Shu and the Little Bald One.

Ah Shu emerged, face full of disdain. “You’re so stingy, this place is a dump.”

“Oh, come on, be grateful. There’s no business lately, I’m surviving on my meager wages as a shop assistant.” He Lingyu was helpless—ever since her trip to Falling Immortal Slope, her luck had vanished. Just like this time—she had to pay for everything out of pocket.

“Besides, I’m only staying here for you two. If I didn’t need to let you out, I’d stay at a hostel—cheaper still! But for your sake, I’m spending over a hundred yuan for a twin room with a TV. Over a hundred! I don’t even make that much in a day.”

Ah Shu finally stopped complaining and silently watched TV.

He Lingyu had driven for four hours, half of it on mountain roads, nerves taut. Now exhaustion washed over her, and she drifted off on the bed.

Two hours later, He Lingyu opened her eyes and said to Ah Shu and the Little Bald One, “Come on, let’s go for a walk.”

This was the county; it couldn’t compare to a big city. There was hardly any nightlife, and before eleven, the streets were already deserted. The streetlights were spaced far apart, leaving many areas in darkness.

He Lingyu wandered alone along the empty streets. Occasionally, night birds fluttered overhead.

Not far ahead, a small convenience store was still open. He Lingyu walked over quickly.

Inside was a young man in his early twenties—dark-skinned, sturdy, with a brilliant white smile.

“Hey, girl, looking to buy something?” He greeted her warmly as soon as he saw her.

“Do you have incense sticks?” He Lingyu asked.

“Sanitary incense okay?” he replied.

“That’s fine, as long as it’s stick incense.” He Lingyu wasn’t particular—so long as it smoked when lit.

Sanitary incense was cheap. She bought a large box for six yuan; the young man threw in a box of matches. She also bought a bottle of nutritional drink, sipping as she walked.

Past this street, there were no more streetlights. Looking around, He Lingyu spotted an alley ahead. She finished the last drop of her drink, shook the empty bottle, then fished a Swiss Army knife from her cargo pants. She sliced the bottle in half, discarded the top, and kept the bottom half.

She entered the alley.

Above, a waning moon hung in the night sky, casting a pallid light on the ground.

As soon as He Lingyu stepped into the alley, the silver bells on her wrist jingled, crisp and clear.

She tapped the bells with her fingers, signaling that she’d understood. The bells quieted a little, but their excitement remained.

He Lingyu squatted down and searched for a patch of soft earth. Using her Swiss Army knife, she dug up some soil and packed it into the half-bottle.

She opened the new box of incense, pulled out a stick, struck a match, and lit it, inserting it into the bottle.

The incense was low quality and would burn quickly. She had to hurry.

She formed a hand seal, murmuring incantations. Suddenly, the half-bottle with the incense rose into the air and floated deeper into the alley.

He Lingyu followed, the glowing tip of the incense bright in the darkness.

She chased after the ember. Suddenly it stopped moving. He Lingyu smiled, let her ponytail fall loose, and now held a Soul-Piercing Needle in her hand.

The glowing ember, which had hovered motionless, suddenly moved again. He Lingyu leaped forward, kicking the incense tip. The half-bottle flipped through the air and veered to one side. In the darkness, she heard a muffled grunt. Her Soul-Piercing Needle shot out, and in an instant, a yellowish blur dropped to the ground.

He Lingyu sighed. Another Yellow Page Ghost—was she about to strike it rich, running into two in such quick succession?

The cause of a Yellow Page Ghost’s death was always money. Take Qian Hui, for instance—had it not been for greed, she wouldn’t have fallen into Shi Jing and A Feng’s trap and lost her life.

“Mercy, passing master, I’ve never harmed anyone,” came a childish voice—it was actually a half-grown child.