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墨書 Inktalez
"Coming out of that temple, I felt like a different person," Yan Shunqing recounted his memories of A-Chun, his eyes revealing an unimaginable tenderness. "From that moment on, I lived my life with great effort, doing countless things. I returned home and claimed my small inheritance. I worked as a helper, ran boats, did hard labor, and eventually, I opened my own shop. I tried everything new and challenging; life truly is interesting."
"I traveled far and wide, witnessing the warmth and coldness of the world, but there was one thing I could never imagine—getting married, having children, and settling down. You might find it laughable because during those thirty years, I myself didn't know what was real, yet even now, I can't forget."
I heard a soft sobbing sound and turned to see Han Meilan crying again. She was trying hard to hold back her tears, but her eyes were already swollen like peaches.
Yan Shunqing seemed to hear nothing; he was lost in another world as he continued, "I also find it strange; I don't know if it was just a dream. Because when she held the Camellia, that Camellia was her name, but wasn't her name A-Chun? Chuan is something entirely different. Over the years, I've traveled across the land, inquiring about her wherever I went. No one knew her; they only asked about Seven Spice Chili Pepper. In the end, no one even knew what Seven Spice Chili Pepper was or had tasted anything that resembled the flavor of the noodles she made until now. And the clay plate you chose is the very one I brought back from Mountain God Temple and have treasured ever since."
Yan Shunqing gazed at me intently. "The bowl of noodles you made is exactly like the ones she used to make."
As I listened to his story, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. It struck me that fools exist everywhere; I truly wasn't alone in this world. But thinking about his experiences made me feel a bit disheartened. As a fellow obsessive person, he had searched for fifteen years without finding his beloved—what terrible luck! Surely I wouldn't be so unfortunate!
It wasn't that my heart was hard; while listening to the story, I found myself distracted by the details within it and failed to fully immerse myself in the emotional drama.
"Master Yan, I'm truly sorry. My Seven Spice Chili Pepper came from an encounter with an unusual person; that person has nothing to do with this A-Chun girl." After some thought, I spoke up to him. "However, I do have a lead; if Master Yan is interested, perhaps you could follow this clue."
Yan Shunqing was taken aback but suddenly looked delighted and quickly said, "Please enlighten me!"
"This A-Chun girl is likely from Japan... no, from Fusang Country."
"Fusang Country?" Yan Shunqing pondered for a moment before saying, "I seem to have heard of it before; it seems that during the previous dynasty, a prince sent envoys from there to establish friendly relations with the Chinese. Is it also known as Fusang Country?"
"Exactly," I explained to him. "Seven Spice Chili Pepper is indeed written in Fusang Country's script, and Chuan means Camellia in their language. Isn't that quite a coincidence?"
In truth, there were darker aspects of my thoughts that I hadn't shared with him yet. If there really had been such a devastating fire fifteen years ago, then regardless of its source or how strong the wind was blowing, it would be impossible for it to suddenly spread across seven main streets unless someone had set multiple fires simultaneously. And a stranger appearing in your home with sword wounds? Just thinking about it with your toes would suggest she must be connected to that fire!
The worst possibility is that you might unknowingly be searching for the perpetrator behind the Yan Family tragedy for fifteen years?
Sigh, various painful tragedies tell us that not all truths should be spoken aloud. I glanced at Nie Qiuyuan and Luo Dachun; both wore calm expressions. I believed that whatever I could think of, they surely could as well, yet they both chose to remain silent.
"Thank you, miss." Yan Shunqing paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled and bowed to me solemnly. "Although I may not have time to continue searching for her, this way, my heart is much more at ease, knowing it wasn't just a dream."
It was then that I realized there was something amiss.
"The shopkeeper has previously mentioned being in a precarious situation with little time left. May I ask what difficulties the shopkeeper is facing? Would it be convenient to share?" Nie Qiuyuan kindly voiced my concern.
Yan Shunqing sighed and said, "Do you not know, sir? Recently, the most famous shops in Chang'an and Luoyang have seen their owners die tragically one after another, and no one understands why. My Tongfu Hall is one of the largest Silver Houses in the capital, so I am likely a target as well; when misfortune will strike is still uncertain."
"What?! How can this be happening?!" I couldn't help but exclaim.
What could be the motive behind killing the main merchants near the capital? To disrupt the nation's economic lifeline? Yet these large businesses have been operating for years with highly scientific management; killing the owners wouldn't cause the shops to collapse. They could simply find someone to inherit and continue operations. So what does this murderer truly want? It was perplexing.
"Listen," Yan Shunqing continued, "the deaths of these shopkeepers have been particularly gruesome. It's not just about killing them; their bodies are often reduced to mere bones. Some are not fully dismembered but only have an arm or a leg removed. The places where they died are splattered with blood and flesh, a sight too horrific to bear."
Seeing him remain composed, I couldn't help but admire him quietly. This man had foreseen such a brutal fate potentially awaiting him yet remained so nonchalant. If it were me, I would have already curled up in fear.
Upon hearing this, Luo Dachun suddenly stood up abruptly. Nie Qiuyuan also sprang to his feet, moving like lightning to grab one of Luo Dachun's hands.
Nie Qiuyuan's expression was serious as he held onto Luo Dachun's left hand and shook his head. Luo Dachun withdrew his gaze and exchanged a quiet look with Nie Qiuyuan for a moment before suddenly raising an eyebrow and smiling lightly. They both released their hands and sat back down.
The exchange between these two immediately left me feeling perplexed; there seemed to be an inexplicable atmosphere of extreme ambiguity between them. What exactly were they hiding from each other?
"Has Shopkeeper Yan reported this to the authorities?" Nie Qiuyuan asked.
"How could I report it?" Yan Shunqing chuckled lightly. "All the major merchants in the capital believe they are next. There are no warnings, no clues; the Official Authorities lack the resources to protect each one individually."
Nie Qiuyuan nodded and sighed, "Indeed. We are all nameless wanderers in the rivers and lakes, weak and powerless. I'm afraid we can't be of much help."
Yan Shunqing chuckled lightly, "Life and death are fated. I am truly grateful for your concern."
Just as he spoke, there was a firm knock at the door; my prize had arrived.
One thousand taels of silver, neatly sealed, was placed in an exquisite ebony box. And that priceless gem, Autumn Scissors, was presented to me in a gilded lacquer box.
It was stunning. The gem wasn't large but had a deeper color than amber, smooth and delicate like beeswax. In the center of the gem was a deep brown vertical line, resembling a cat's pupil under sunlight, making it hard to resist its allure.
"A small gift, not a token of respect," Yan Shunqing said with cupped hands. "Thank you for giving me a glimmer of hope."
I accepted the items without hesitation. This was precisely why I participated in the competition; I wouldn't even bother with polite words before taking it. As for the one thousand taels of silver, to Boss of Silver House, it was merely a drop in the bucket—how could I refuse such an easy gift?
"Shopkeeper Yan, may I trouble you for some writing materials?" I asked. "Though I have little talent, after hearing your story earlier, I felt inspired and composed a poem that I'd like to present to you. May I?"
The air suddenly felt a bit stagnant; Nie Qiuyuan and Han Meilan stared at me in surprise, while Luo Dachun's jaw dropped. They must have thought something had possessed me because writing poetry seemed so far removed from my world.
But for this poem, I had stayed up until the fourth watch last night. For someone like me who wasn't particularly sentimental, writing a poem was no easy feat!
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