Imperial Treasure

Chapter 515 - 339 Fuan

Chapter 339

"Hmm," Yhan Qingwu nodded. She didn’t need Sui Yi to remind her to do so—she had already planned to. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I often go to Rainy Tea House, but today they introduced some premium teas, and that reminded me of you... And Tao Xinkai seems to have come here recently... and he sought me out right from the start. I’m afraid there might be some people behind this, and as for that person, he’s probably not far off."

Zhuang Ziliu’s target is you.

That was what Yhan Qingwu meant. Sui Yi tilted his head, looked at the clear sky after the rain, and said, "What’s interesting is that I don’t know him... It’s only our second meeting."

"And before our first meeting... he sent me not a small amount of money."

Yhan Qingwu: "That is indeed interesting... Be careful. Are you going back to Yujiang Mountain now?"

"No, I need to go somewhere else... See you tonight."

"Okay."

Just as Sui Yi turned around, Yhan Qingwu also turned to head towards her car but suddenly looked up to see a large tea house window above, with a person standing there... looking down at them.

Zhuang Ziliu.

Even from such a distance, Yhan Qingwu seemed to see the other’s cold, eerie smile, creepy and remote, like a pair of eyes hidden in a dark alleyway... chilling to the bone.

——————

After getting in the car with Ah Guna, Sui Yi contacted Uncle Fu to get the old lady’s home address...

"Miss Sui, you’re not thinking of going there, are you? That place isn’t great," Uncle Fu said sensitively, advising her.

"I’m just going to take a look, and someone is with me. No need to worry..."

Uncle Fu could only helplessly think that the person accompanying her was that tall, sturdy young man, who seemed to have a high combat power. There shouldn’t be any problems, right?

By then, Sui Yi had already driven back to the villa to pick up the Demon Que.

Since Sui Yi had retrieved the Demon Que, Ah Guna had taken up carrying the longbow.

Even without his index finger, he was an archer.

Sui Yi knew this person had not been well for long before he started adapting to shooting arrows without an index finger and did not say anything, taking it as an agreement.

Once they were ready, they drove toward Fuan.

Although the term "desolate" had often been heard, seeing it with their own eyes, the word they should use was... barren.

Yes, barren. It was uninhabited, lifeless, filled with a sense of death, separate from the trash area away from Provincial City, across a river, where even weeds did not thrive, a yellow hillside, the earth parched...

Their vehicle was stuck on a road, unable to move forward, blocked by a withered tree. This old tree was indeed robust, possibly three to four hundred years old. Normally, such a tree would be protected anywhere else but it lay miserably on the ground, blocking the road, its branches and leaves already rotted...

Sui Yi looked at his GPS after surveying the roadblock, realizing there was no other path.

"The car can’t get through... It’s not far from that village, let’s get out,"

The two retrieved a sword and a bow, got out of the car, and intended to step over the old tree when Ah Guna suddenly stopped and called out to Sui Yi.

"What is it?"

Ah Guna stood at the base of the old tree and pointed, saying, "This tree... is a bit strange."

Sui Yi saw it too- the base of the old tree was very peculiar, with many root tendrils. The large holes in the ground where the roots were exposed were evident. The base of the tree should have been very robust, but now it seemed emaciated, as if rotting into decayed vegetable leaves, clinging to the base and the rot spreading to the trunk, pitch black...

"Normal plant decay isn’t like this..." Being naturally attuned to nature, Ah Guna’s tribe was particularly sensitive to such anomalies, he dabbed his finger on some of the decayed black residue at the base and sniffed it at his nose.

"The vitality has been sucked dry."

Such a mystical explanation might be taken as a joke by others, but Sui Yi frowned slightly. Vitality, in agricultural terms, could also mean life force or be analyzed as plant nutrients...

Plant vitality, like human flesh and soul.

Sui Yi took out his phone, took some pictures, and walked ahead with Ah Guna.

Due to the barrenness, the several dozen cottages stood out clearly. They could see it from afar, but in the cold air after the rain, the place seemed eerily silent and solitary.

Standing on this intersection, Sui Yi could see a building about three to four hundred meters away on the flat ground. It was a four-story building covering a substantial area, resembling a large factory, but the architectural style was European. If not for the ravages of time that marred its beautiful facade and the fire that burned its face, extinguishing its vitality, it would have been a striking building even in Provincial City.

Sui Yi stood on the hill and looked down for a moment, then walked down towards the group of cottages.

Ah Guna, knowing from the moment Sui Yi took the Demon Que that this trip would be dangerous, had already raised his guard after arriving in Fuan. His hands unconsciously gripped the bow he carried on his back.

Sui Yi actually kept her composure much more than he did, showing no fear or caution as she walked into this eerily silent abode with all the doors and windows sealed, wearing a long sword at her waist.

Or perhaps, the word "composed" had already been ingrained in her bones... for so many long years.

Ah Guna suddenly frowned, wondering what this person was thinking. She was not from the Imperial Crown; why did she always...

Gah~~

The sudden harsh noise made Ah Guna’s nerves tense instantly, and he reached for the longbow on his back...

Sui Yi waved her hand, and his movement stopped abruptly. He looked toward the last house in the corner ahead. The door of this house was open, and an old woman about to pour something from a bowl was just staring at them, dumbfounded.

——————

"Oh, you two, what brings you to this place!" The old woman’s initial expression was a mix of fright and unease, but then she busied herself offering tea and water, very warmly...

This change in emotion was probably because she feared the ominous atmosphere here tainting Sui Yi and her companion, but esteemed guests should always be received with hospitality.

Sui Yi did not dwell on the woman’s change in attitude. Now sitting on a chair, she glanced around the room, then back at the old woman. Calling her an old woman, in fact, she was only in her forties, but her face looked more like that of someone in their fifties or sixties, very worn.

"Just taking a look. No need for formalities," Sui Yi said with a smile. After taking a sip of water, she stood up. "Auntie, we will be leaving now."

"Leaving? Oh, good... you aren’t going to that orphanage, are you!!!" The old woman first nodded, then her expression changed.

Sui Yi did not deny it, and the woman immediately came over and grabbed Sui Yi’s hand, pleading, "Oh please don’t go, miss. You really shouldn’t go there, it’s not a good place... You young folks fear neither heaven nor earth. Over the years, some young people have come here seeking adventure...and then..."

Her expression became obscure and it seemed she regretted bringing it up again.

Sui Yi held her hand in return, softly asking, "Then what happened?"

"Six people went, five died, and one went mad... after that, nobody knew where he was taken. A lot of cars came then, even the police arrived. They investigated but found nothing. Everyone said it was the work of a fierce ghost, and since then, no one dares to come here..."

"Miss, please don’t go, don’t you go..." the old woman implored, holding Sui Yi’s hand tightly as if fearing that if she let go, Sui Yi would meet with disaster.

Sui Yi patted her shoulder and turned around...

Only to see a young man standing at the doorway, holding a garbage bin, very astonished to see them. He was momentarily flush-faced and unsure what to say. However, being educated, he quickly grasped Sui Yi’s intentions and tried to dissuade them, but they left anyway...

It wasn’t long before Sui Yi and her companion heard something and turned to see the young man running up to them.

"Miss Sui, I..." he panted, saying, "Miss Sui, it was you who resolved our family’s difficulties, and thus you have our gratitude. Morally and logically, my family cannot ignore this, so I will go with you..."

Sui Yi glanced at him, "Does your mother agree?"

The young man smiled, "She agrees... plus, my father was the same... As his son, I also wish to see for myself, and I don’t believe in ghosts or spirits. As long as we’re careful, there shouldn’t be any problems."

That smile was indeed naive.

Sui Yi noticed the old woman peering after them, her gaze shallow, and said, "Then come along."

"Alright!"

He walked beside Sui Yi, with Ah Guna following behind, frowning at the young man.

————————

Fuan Orphanage, the main gate was firmly locked, perhaps officially sealed to prohibit entry, but for those determined to enter, it wasn’t much of a barrier; climbing the wall or coming down from the back mountain was easy...

"I know of a particularly low wall over there, we can climb over it...even you can, Miss Sui,"

During their conversation, this young man had revealed his name as Liew Yun. Liew Yun, an average college student, had a certain pride but was somewhat more naive and reserved. Perhaps it was related to his environment. He had a lot of courage but was particularly cautious around Sui Yi...

It was only natural, considering she was such a striking and distinguished person. In his humble surroundings, encountering someone like her was both novel and unnatural... If not for that 2 million RMB, he would likely never have had the chance to interact with someone like her.

But he knew his place, never overstepping bounds. Now, he led them to the low wall, saying, "Miss Sui, let this... let this gentleman and I help lift you up."

Sui Yi shook her head and lightly leaped onto the two-meter-high wall...

Ah Guna glanced at him and jumped over as well.

Liew Yun was taken aback, but soon realized, no wonder these two dared to come here...

His agility not lacking, he grabbed the iron rail and hoisted himself over the wall.

Sui Yi had already turned to face the orphanage...

Fuan Orphanage, how many years had it been since she left? (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please cast your votes at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)