NOVEL NEXT Chapter 112: Is Song Youwei Dead?
Chapter 112: Is Song Youwei Dead?
Lin Fengmian was now 80% certain that the person the Lin family had been waiting for was himself. He muttered helplessly, “So she wanted us to wait for generations and not leave without any clue as to when?”
Lin Wencheng’s expression became even more strange. “The instructions were: ‘When the sun and moon share the sky and the frost falls in July, the Lin family can leave Ning City.'”
Lin Fengmian almost spat blood. “She might as well have told us never to leave Ning City! “Sun and moon together, frost in July?” That’s nonsense!”
Lin Wencheng nodded solemnly. “Exactly. That’s why none of us ever took it seriously – we thought it was just a joke, and never planned to leave the city.”
Lin Fengmian sighed. “Forget it, Dad. Convince as many clan members as you can. Whatever property we can’t sell, just give it away.”
“And help me find out exactly what that old message was. As the main lineage, we must at least pass it on properly.”
Lin Wencheng scratched his neck in embarrassment. “Alright. I’ll go through the records again in the next few days.”
Turning to Wen Qinlin, Lin Fengmian said, “I’ll have to bother you next.”
Wen Qinlin gave a small nod. “Understood. I’ll send a message asking them to send people, but it will take some time. With all the approvals, it’s bound to be slow.”
Lin Fengmian sighed in resignation. “I understand. Just do it as soon as possible. Anyway, with you here, things shouldn’t get out of control.”
After finishing their meal, the group began to prepare to leave as the evening crept in.
Li Zhuxuan opened his mouth as if to say something, but Lin Wencheng gently restrained him.
“He’s grown up now. He knows what he wants,” Lin Wencheng said quietly.
Li Zhuxuan looked at him curiously. “Why do you seem so guilty today?”
Lin Wencheng chuckled awkwardly. “You saw through me again. The truth is… I lost the message.”
Li Zhuxuan stared at him in disbelief. “You lost it?”
Lin Wencheng scratched his head, deeply embarrassed. “Yes. My father gave me the message verbally, and he didn’t let me write it down. I never thought I’d forget it…”
“But I know it’s related to Fengmian. Every time I saw him growing up, the message flashed through my mind.”
He sighed and rubbed his temples. “Now that I’m old, I just can’t remember it.”
Li Zhuxuan: …
—
As Lin Fengmian stepped out of the house, Wen Qinlin nudged him with his elbow and gestured to a figure standing on the corner.
Following his gaze, Lin Fengmian saw Song Youwei watching the Lin estate from the shadows. When she spotted him, she seemed to exhale in relief before quickly turning to leave.
“Wait for me here!” Lin Fengmian called out to the others before taking off after her.
He moved quickly, catching up with Song Youwei as she rushed through the darkened streets.
“Sister Youwei, did you come looking for me?”
Song Youwei shook her head with a gentle smile. “I heard that you were injured fighting a demon yesterday, so I wanted to check on you. But I was too scared to come in…”
Lin Fengmian froze for a moment, feeling a rare warmth blossom in his heart. He smiled. “I’m fine now. Thank you for worrying about me.”
However, his expression quickly darkened as he sensed that something was wrong. “Who told you that?”
Song Youwei’s expression became uncomfortable. “The whole city knows by now. It spread overnight – everyone is talking about a demon in Ning City.”
Lin Fengmian was shocked. Who could have spread the news?
A thought occurred to him, and he asked with a frown, “Did you open your stall today?”
Song Youwei shook her head quickly. “No, I just overheard it when I went to buy groceries. People were gossiping everywhere.”
She hesitated before continuing, “They’re also saying… that it’s your fault. They claim that Master Huanglong left town because you made him angry, and that’s why the demon appeared.”
Lin Fengmian’s face darkened as he realized what was going on. It had to be Qin Haoxuan stirring up trouble. That bastard clearly didn’t come here with good intentions.
He sighed and warned her, “Stay indoors at night. Put up these talismans to be safe.”
Song Youwei took the talismans and glanced briefly at Xia Yunxi and the others waiting nearby.
“I’ll go back now. Take care of yourself,” she said quietly before leaving.
Lin Fengmian watched her retreat with a heavy heart.
—
The conversation with Song Youwei lingered in Lin Fengmian’s mind as he regrouped with Wen Qinlin and the others to patrol the city.
After what had happened the previous night, they decided not to split up and stayed together in a tight group.
Although patrolling as a group was less efficient, it greatly reduced the risks.
Fortunately, the night was quiet, no demons appeared, and the city remained peaceful.
As dawn broke and the streets filled with the sounds of merchants setting up their stalls, the group finally returned to Lin Manor to rest.
As the morning sun bathed Ning City in soft light, Lin Fengmian couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Today was the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the day he had arranged to meet Luo Xue. Would she come?
When they returned to the Lin Mansion, Li Zhuxuan greeted them with relief and quickly brought out breakfast with herbal tonics.
Just as they finished eating and were about to rest, an unexpected visitor burst in.
Lin Fengmian frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“There’s been another death in the city – just now, in a small alley. The body is still fresh,” Zhao Yazhi said grimly.
Everyone’s expression changed. Without even finishing their meal, they rushed out and followed Zhao Yazhi to the scene of the crime.
As they walked, Lin Fengmian realized with growing unease that the path they were taking led to Song Youwei’s home.
A chill ran through his body and his limbs felt heavy, but he didn’t dare ask the question that was gnawing at his mind. He was too afraid of hearing the dreaded answer.
When they arrived at a familiar gate, a crowd of onlookers had already gathered outside. City guards stood guard over the scene.
Lin Fengmian took a deep breath and asked Zhao Yazhi with a sinking heart, “Who is the deceased?
Zhao Yazhi’s expression was complicated as she replied, “It is… Song Youwei. “
Lin Fengmian’s mind went blank. He pushed his way through the crowd, step by step, until he reached the body lying under a white sheet.
Kneeling beside the body, his trembling hands hovered over the sheet. He was too afraid to lift it.
“Sister Youwei… it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t told you to stay home, this wouldn’t have happened…”
His heart broke as guilt consumed him.
How could someone who had just spoken to him yesterday be gone so suddenly, forever separated by life and death?
Pain overwhelmed him, and he clenched his eyes shut, struggling to contain his emotions.
“Senior Brother…” Xia Yunxi and the others stood behind him, not knowing how to comfort him.
Just then, a familiar voice rang out in disbelief. “Mother!”
Lin Fengmian stiffened, thinking that he must be hallucinating. He turned around to see Song Youwei, dressed in her familiar water-green robe, staggering toward them.
His heart leapt with joy. “You’re alive! But… who is this?”
Without hesitation, he pulled off the white sheet – and underneath was the lifeless body of Old Lady Zhu, Song Youwei’s terrible and notoriously unpleasant mother-in-law.
Lin Fengmian’s sorrow instantly evaporated, along with the tears in his eyes. He stood up with a blank expression as he turned to Zhao Yazhi.
Grinding his teeth, he asked coldly, “What exactly did you say just now?”
Zhao Yazhi shrugged nonchalantly.
“I was trying to say it was Song Youwei’s mother-in-law. But you just ran away before I could finish – how is that my fault?”
Lin Fengmian knew that Zhao Yazhi had done it on purpose. He let out a cold snort and muttered through clenched teeth, “You sneaky little mute! You really are something!”
Zhao Yazhi smirked. “Thanks for the compliment.”