Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2698 - 2699: Deranged Old Woman

Bai Ruozhu quietly recounted the conversation she heard between Ayi and her husband to Jiang Yichun, who furrowed his brows, "It seems they don’t want their daughter to be chosen as the Saintess?"

"I feel the same way, like being a Saintess isn’t an honorable status." Bai Ruozhu nodded in agreement.

He turned to Duannian, "Do you know anything about it?"

Duannian shook his head, "I’ve always been hidden away at home and couldn’t interact with the outside world. I only saw the Saintess when I was expelled, and I remember she was very gentle and kind, but I know nothing more."

Bai Ruozhu patted Jiang Yichun’s shoulder, "Achun, don’t think too much about it, maybe we’ll see her soon."

Jiang Yichun nodded, "I’ll go accompany my father."

"I’ll take a look around tonight, you all be careful too." Bai Ruozhu said.

In the evening, Wenyu came to invite them to a banquet, and Bai Ruozhu took the opportunity to chat with Wenyu.

"You’re the Left Guardian, so there’s also a Right Guardian, right? Today, we saw four elders, are there any other elders?"

"You’ll meet the Right Guardian later, her name is Ling Chen, she’s a woman. The elders have always been four generations." Wenyu answered one by one.

Bai Ruozhu nodded, "I brought some gifts from the Jiuli Clan, so I want to make sure I know who the important members are to avoid running short on gifts."

Wenyu had a hint of a smile at the corner of his eyes, "Lady Bai is too courteous, tonight it’s just these people attending the banquet."

"Alright, I understand."

Bai Ruozhu secretly fumed, this Wenyu was very tight-lipped.

They were led to another main hall, where some people were invited to the banquet but not all the Merfolk; clearly, the Merfolk had a strong sense of hierarchy, at least the hard-working Ayi weaving the Jue Lingsha was not present.

Bai Ruozhu had Fo Lanying present the gifts, including simple mechanical storage boxes from Jiuli, the medicine she made, and some jewelry, none of which were too valuable, but all proper in etiquette.

"Young friend Bai is too kind, I wonder what plans you have on this trip and if there’s anything we can help with?" The great elder started the polite inquiries.

Bai Ruozhu smiled, "Not much, really, but having reached this age, I came out to experience the world. Grandpa asked me to seek out Merfolk Island in Donghai to see how you are living now."

The great elder seemed relieved, but there was still a hint of suspicion in his eyes, "This Golden Feather is extremely rare, the Jiuli Clan leader wouldn’t send you with it just to check in, would he?"

Bai Ruozhu laughed, "Without this Golden Feather, how would you know my identity, and how would I have found you to meet?"

This statement certainly put them in a difficult position; at first, when Bai Ruozhu called out, they had no intention of appearing until they saw the Golden Feather and heard her words, deciding to send Wenyu to greet her.

The great elder smiled, raised his glass, and said, "We’ve been too engrossed in conversation, come everyone, let’s raise a glass to toast the esteemed guests from the Jiuli Clan."

Everyone raised their glasses, and Bai Ruozhu and the others did as well, drinking it all down.

Soon after, the great elder introduced the Right Guardian Ling Chen, a woman in her mid-twenties, with an intense aura.

"Young friend Bai and Ling Chen are both women, so it might be easier for you to speak with her." The second elder joked.

Ling Chen lightly acknowledged with an "um," while Bai Ruozhu smiled and said, "Then I’ll have to trouble the Right Guardian more frequently."

The meal ended with hosts and guests enjoying themselves, but in reality, everyone harbored their own thoughts; not a single Merfolk present was simple.

Even Ling Chen, who didn’t seem to say much, had eyes that felt like they could pull you in when you met them. Bai Ruozhu quickly realized that Ling Chen’s special ability might be hypnosis or related to the divine sense; fortunately, Bai Ruozhu’s divine sense was strong, and she wasn’t bewildered.

Just as the banquet was nearing its end, suddenly someone rushed in, saying, "Great elder, Liu Yu’s wife’s about to give birth!"

The great elder quickly glanced at Bai Ruozhu, then said, "Weren’t there still some days to go? Why suddenly now?"

"Apparently the yard was accidentally tripped." The person replied.

The great elder frowned, "According to the old rules, take them over as usual."

As he spoke, he signaled to the informer, evidently not wanting Bai Ruozhu and the others to hear where they were being taken.

"Yes." The messenger hurried out.

Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged a covert glance, a baby was about to be born and the mother was to be taken somewhere; presumably, it was where the Dragon Ball was stored, right?

Since the Merfolk use the Dragon Ball to fully transform into humans, newborns cannot be away from the Dragon Ball, or else the Merfolk wouldn’t have had to deceive the White Dragon for the Dragon Ball.

"My apologies, there’s a tradition in the clan for newborns to receive blessings, the ceremony needs an elder to preside, so I’ll take my leave." The great elder said.

Bai Ruozhu also stood up, "We’ve eaten our fill too, so we’ll head back to rest."

She didn’t pursue the issue or ask to observe, which gave the great elder a great sense of relief.

Upon returning to their lodging, it was as expected that someone began to monitor them again.

Bai Ruozhu wasn’t in a hurry, she pulled Fo Lanying out of the room, saying, "I ate too much tonight, let’s walk to digest."

"Alright." Fo Lanying, acting the part of a maid, responded respectfully.

Childbirth couldn’t possibly be quiet, a woman’s pain would surely make her unable to suppress her cries; Bai Ruozhu, with her keen hearing, might just hear where the sound is coming from and know where the Dragon Ball is hidden.

The two walked, still under surveillance.

Bai Ruozhu feigned indifference, not venturing into any secluded places, just strolling on the main road.

Suddenly, an elderly woman with disheveled hair rushed over; her hair hang loose, she looked somewhat crazed, and her sudden appearance in the night was quite frightening.

The observer was startled, wanting to stop the old woman, but she had already collapsed into Bai Ruozhu’s embrace, and the person in the shadows could only silently watch.

"Shuangshuang, you’re better now? Come, let’s go home. I won’t let them torture you anymore!" The old woman tightly grabbed Bai Ruozhu’s arm, her hands shockingly strong.

Fo Lanying was taken aback, quickly saying, "Who are you? Why are you grabbing our lady?"

"She might be a sick old woman, forget it, I’m fine." Bai Ruozhu gently said, slowly freeing herself from the woman’s grip.

"No, you’re not Shuangshuang, you’re not her!" She cried and laughed, suddenly running off into the distance.

Bai Ruozhu didn’t chase after her, but her heart surged with emotion, Shuangshuang? Could it be Chushuang?

Just now, she used the opportunity to check the old woman’s pulse, she wasn’t poisoned, but mentally deranged, looking about five or six decades old, yet one of the Merfolk survived past thirty.

But judging by Ayi and her husband’s conversation, not all Merfolk can live beyond thirty, surely there’s a special way Merfolk extend their lifespan, but whatever that way is, it must have strict requirements, not everyone is entitled to it.

This old woman seemed around the great elder’s age, living until now, indicating her status is unusual, but how did she become demented?