novelapdf Chapter 17 Hidden Story
Chapter 17 Hidden Story
On the green grass and flowers, several beautiful women, dressed lightly, revealed their delicate branches and abundant fruits in the setting sun.
The beautiful women chased and frolicked, picking flowers and hiding, thoroughly enjoying themselves, completely unaware that a Taoist priest was nearby.
Song Quyou coughed lightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Ladies, are you aware that there is a white ape here?"
Hearing the noise, the beautiful women finally spotted Song Quyou.
"What a handsome young Taoist priest."
The women, unafraid, held the flowers they had picked and stepped forward, stretching out their delicate fingers to tug and pull at Song Quyou.
Song Quyou, being young and vigorous, recited the "Supreme Pure Heart Mantra" in his heart again and again.
Despite being surrounded by women, Song Quyou showed no hesitation. He straightened up confidently and stared at the bamboo forest in front of him, saying, "Miss, I have been entrusted by the Commandant of Jiannan to come here to slay demons and save people."
The women put away their frivolous manner and gathered in small groups to whisper among themselves.
At this moment, a woman with her hair tied up in a bun and wearing a red gauze dress stepped forward, clasped her hands together and placed them on her abdomen, leaned forward, and slightly squatted down to greet him, saying, "Young Taoist priest, please don't blame me. My sisters and I haven't seen a man for many years, so we were a bit presumptuous."
"As for the white ape that the young Taoist priest mentioned, it was not, as others have said, the abducted us."
Is there something hidden here?
The woman's eyes were filled with sorrow, her expression somber. She hesitated before saying, "Master, please come with us."
Following the woman through a dense, impenetrable bamboo forest, a vigorous and ancient red bean tree with remarkably thick roots came into view. Its shape resembled a crouching tiger, perched atop a blue stone, its canopy blocking out the sun, and its robust roots, like writhing dragons, cleaved through the rocks and deeply penetrated the soil.
"Young lady, please show yourself."
As soon as the words were spoken, the bamboo forest rustled, and the canopy of the red bean tree trembled. A delicate woman with white hair and dressed in white appeared, her back to the red bean tree, seemingly out of nowhere.
"I know you. You are the Taoist priest brought by that group of people in front."
Song Quyou stiffened slightly, then raised his hand in a bow: "My name is Song Quyou. I have been entrusted by the captain to investigate this matter. Would you be so kind as to show yourself to me, young lady?"
A soft laugh came from behind the red bean tree. The voice was clear and melodious, yet it carried a hint of indescribable weariness.
"Taoist, you are more polite than the others." The white figure slowly emerged from behind the tree, but it was not the old ape that Song Quyou had imagined.
She was a woman with white hair and dressed in white, her face so exquisite it seemed otherworldly, a faint sorrow shrouding her eyes. She walked barefoot on the bluestone, a red rope around her ankle, from which hung a polished wooden plaque. The characters on the plaque were delicate, and the words "Xiao Bai" could be vaguely discerned.
"I am not someone who cannot distinguish between good and evil. If you answer a few questions, I will have a way to evade the government's pursuit."
The white ape woman sat cross-legged on the rock. A woman beside her approached with flowers, each taking a few strands and braiding them together, saying:
"The girl's hair is so beautiful, as clear as moonlight."
……
Why did the girl kill someone by throwing stones a while ago?
The white-haired woman had cold eyes and a somewhat ferocious expression.
"Those three bastards used the poison bird feathers given to them by the prefect to indiscriminately poison the mountains, destroying the water sources and killing countless innocent mountain beasts and spirits. Tell me, should I kill them?"
"Madam Prefect, what brings you into these mountains with the young lady?"
The white ape woman looked up at Song Quyou; her eyes were as clear as a child's, yet as weathered as an ancient well. She didn't answer, but reached out and took the handkerchief handed to her by the woman behind her, tossing it in front of Song Quyou.
Song Quyou took the silk handkerchief, opened it, and read it carefully. The handwriting was delicate and neat, but dark reddish-black, and it had a pungent rusty smell. After a moment, he said:
"Did she commit suicide for love?"
"I was passing by the wooden pavilion when I saw her looking sad, so I hid in the wind and chatted with her for a few words. She begged me to save her and take her to see her lover." The white ape woman spoke calmly and casually.
"But when she arrived, there was only a lonely grave left, and she remained there as well."
The white ape woman sighed and continued, "Furthermore, that Jiannan prefect just took office this year, and that girl is his sixth wife since he took office. What kind of sordid affair do you think is going on?"
Song Quyou didn't reply, but instead looked at the women who were braiding the white ape woman's hair.
They noticed Song Quyou's gaze and stopped braiding their hair. Some looked away, their heads slightly shaking.
"Young Taoist priest, we don't want to go out. We just want to live happily here until we die of old age."
Song Quyou pursed her lips and nodded solemnly.
As dusk deepened, the mountain breeze rustled through the bamboo forest, producing a sound like the tinkling of jade pendants.
Song Quyou turned and looked towards the mountain stream. Cheng Qing and the archers were still waiting on the other side. He knew he couldn't delay any longer.
"How does the Taoist priest plan to report back?" the white ape woman suddenly asked, her tone tinged with a hint of probing.
Song Quyou stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the swaying bamboo tips high above, and said calmly, "I will only speak of what I saw in the mountains, not what I heard."
The white ape woman was slightly taken aback, then smiled, a smile as warm as the first snow melting, a touch of spring warmth amidst the coolness.
"Please return, Taoist priest."
Song Quyou waved his hand without turning around, "After I return, it would be best if you did not show yourself in Jiannan County."
"Rest assured, Daoist, I will not easily reveal myself in Jiannan in the future."
We walked through the bamboo forest and returned to the other side of the mountain stream.
Cheng Qing rushed forward, his face full of anxiety: "Daoist Master, have you seen that demon? Is the Prefect's wife alright?"
Song Quyou's expression remained unchanged, and his bright, focused eyes made Cheng Qing calm down.
"Sir, let's read the letter from the Prefect's wife before we speak."
Cheng Qing took the silk gauze and looked at the dense blood-written letter on it. His eyes darkened. The strange writing about the Prefectural Governor's Office made things even more difficult for him.
After a short while, Cheng Qing's eyes narrowed, and he turned around and said:
"The white apes were shot by arrows and fell off the cliff. The magistrate's wife's body was never found, only a blood letter with illegible handwriting was left behind. Everyone will receive a reward when we return."
Everyone was delighted upon hearing this, but Cheng Qing glared at the two hunters with murderous intent and said, "If today's events are leaked, you two will be beheaded, while I will only receive a minor reprimand for negligence in my supervision."
The two hunters, of course, understood the meaning of these words and immediately knelt down, saying, "We are already extremely grateful for the reward you gave us, Captain. How could we possibly betray you?"
"Good to know. As long as you don't harbor any delusions of 'ants tripping up the blue sky,' you'll certainly get your share of the benefits."
Back at the military camp, Cheng Qing hosted a banquet, which Song Quyou could not refuse and drank a few cups of wine.
The Jiannan roasted spring fruit lived up to its reputation; Song Quyou was already drunk before he had even taken a few bites of the dish.
Song Quyou's eyes were slightly glazed with drunkenness. He waved his hand and said, "I can't hold my liquor. I'll rest for now."
……
The moonlight outside the tent was cold and clear, while the prefectural governor's mansion was ablaze with orange-yellow flames.
The study was cluttered with documents. The overworked prefect's face was flushed, veins bulging on his forehead, and smoke seemed to be billowing from his nostrils. In anger, he tore the documents in his hands to shreds.