"Amang, where is Qingliu?" Li Ying put away her usual gentleness and lowered her eyebrows.
Amang was stunned. She had never seen her elder sister like this before. This Hu girl, with her animal - like sensitivity, vaguely detected a faint aura of killing in Li Ying's calm gaze, which was exactly the same as that of Lu Xunguang.
"Elder sister, Qingliu and the others have already disappeared without a trace. But their luggage is still in the room. I guess they must have fled in a hurry. I've already sent someone with dogs to catch them. With their delicate constitutions, they can't have gone far." Amang gritted her teeth in hatred.
Just as she finished speaking, she saw Shihu leading several black dogs, out of breath, rushing over.
"Amang, Boss Li! I've lived up to your trust!" Behind the black dogs were trailing some wet hemp ropes, on which were tightly bound none other than Qingliu and the others.
All of them had several new wounds. Especially Qingliu, half of her sleeve had been torn off at some point, revealing a snow - white arm with a terrifying gash on it. Presumably, she had been injured during the escape.
Shihu snorted and mercilessly pulled out the rag stuffed in Qingliu's mouth.
Qingliu's once - beautiful face was now covered in blood and dirt, with tears in the corners of her eyes. But there was still a hint of stubbornness in her gaze. As soon as she got the chance to defend herself, she immediately knelt heavily on the ground.
"Boss Li, what are you doing? This is simply bullying!"
As soon as she cried out in grievance, Amang impatiently rushed forward in one quick step, raised her hand without hesitation, and slapped Qingliu hard across the face.
"Bullying? We're going to deal with you! Don't think we don't know your background! Who are you exactly? Where have you abducted Granny Sun to? You'd better confess honestly!"
This slap was so hard that Qingliu's hair became disheveled and her face was turned to the side. Her delicate cheek immediately swelled up.
"Boss Li, my sisters and I came here sincerely to seek refuge. We're just a few weak women. What kind of trouble could we possibly stir up?"
"I, Qingliu, know that you're suspicious. I've been cautious every day, walking on thin ice. But I never thought I'd be unjustly slandered like this!"
Qingliu sobbed uncontrollably, but still held her back straight. Her pitiful appearance was even more heart - rending.
"My sisters and I saw that you've been so worried about the coconut - snail farming business these days. We just wanted to relieve your burden, so we voluntarily prepared the sacrifices of three animals and fruits, planning to find a temple to pray to the gods for your business to go smoothly."
"We're not familiar with this place, and no villager was willing to show us the way. My sisters and I tried our best but still got lost. We were so relieved when we finally saw some lights. But we never thought that Big Brother Shihu would come up and start beating and shouting without even asking!"
She was eloquent. Pouring out all her grievances like beans from a bamboo tube, the villagers couldn't help but have some doubts in their hearts.
Li Ying frowned. She naturally knew this woman's background very well.
"Shihu, tell us what the situation was when you caught Miss Qingliu?"
A villager interrupted. Shihu didn't hide anything and said in a deep voice, "I was so worried about Granny Sun's safety that I just rushed to bring them back for interrogation. I didn't notice anything unusual. These are their luggage, and we haven't checked them yet."
As soon as he said this, an apprentice behind him immediately threw several bulging luggage bags on the ground.
Without waiting for Li Ying's order, Amang rushed forward, took out a small dagger, and quickly cut open the luggage bags.
Incense, candles, tea, and fruits were all there. It was indeed for offerings!
The villagers in the fishing village were stunned. A flash of barely noticeable pride passed through Qingliu's eyes, and then it was replaced by an extremely aggrieved look.
"Boss Li, fellow villagers, now the truth is clear, isn't it?"
"Although I, Qingliu, am from a poor background, I'm a well - educated girl. My personal luggage has been completely ransacked in front of everyone... I really can't bear this great humiliation!"
Before she finished speaking, she suddenly struggled free from the ropes and rushed towards the high rafter pillar not far away, hitting it hard!
"No!"
The villagers never expected that the usually flirtatious Miss Qingliu would be so unyielding. A few villagers with quick hands and feet quickly grabbed her arms and stopped her.
"Aying, this..."
The room was in a complete mess. Some were crying, some were shouting. Li Ying pressed her forehead tightly, with a splitting headache.
This was definitely not a good time to fight with Qingliu. Where on earth had they hidden Granny Sun?
"Aying, there's news!" Just as she was in a dilemma, Zhang Lu's voice suddenly came from outside the door. He led a group of fishermen, with torches in their hands, looking delighted.
"Lord Xiao Su sent me to pass on a message. He posted a notice in the town, and a butcher came to report that he had seen Granny Sun. Besides two fat chickens, she also bought a big pig's head. I heard she was going to offer sacrifices to the gods!"
Offer sacrifices to the gods?
"Where is the shrine in the village?" Li Ying asked anxiously, but the villagers in the fishing village just looked at each other and couldn't say anything.
After a long time, it was the old women who were usually on good terms with Granny Sun who suddenly slapped their foreheads and woke up as if from a dream.
"Could it be the Goddess Temple on Kanshan Mountain?"
"That temple has been out of use for a long time. There are often wolves and tigers there. It's extremely dangerous. Even the best hunters outside the town don't dare to set foot there..."
These women had been friends with Granny Sun for many years. Thinking of all the rumors about Kanshan Mountain, they all shivered involuntarily.
Granny Sun was probably in great danger...
Li Ying didn't have time to think. Regardless of the etiquette, she eagerly grabbed the sleeve of an old woman and asked, "Auntie, where exactly is this Goddess Temple on Kanshan Mountain?"
The old woman's face was covered with turbid tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
"There's no Goddess Temple anymore... That temple... It had already collapsed when we were young girls. Now, there might not even be a single tile left..."
"Poor Granny Sun. She didn't have a few good days... Why did this happen to her..."
Li Ying felt a rush of blood to her head. Her vision suddenly went black!
"Boss Li, don't be too anxious! Lord Xiao Su has already revealed his identity as the Assistant Minister of the Supreme Court of Judicature and led a team of yamen runners to search for Granny Sun in a grand manner! Granny Sun is a lucky person. She will surely be safe and sound!" Shihu quickly said.
Li Ying managed to steady herself. She coldly ordered someone to keep a close eye on Qingliu and then rushed out of the door.
It was already late at night. Granny Sun was a lonely old woman with inconvenient legs and feet. It was extremely dangerous for her to be out alone!
She would dig the whole place up if necessary to bring Granny Sun back safely!