As Zhou Xuan quickly connected with Bone Teeth, a crisp laugh suddenly reached his ears.
"Oh dear, Mr., my Lao Yu was destined for this, why trouble yourself with expenses."
Turning his head, Zhou Xuan saw that the slippery hands earlier did not co from Yu Guisheng’s fake death but from a greeting by "Hua Niang."
Hua Niang was Yu Guisheng’s young wife,
Yu Guisheng was already over fifty-five, while Hua Niang was only about twenty-five or twenty-six.
Since ancient tis, there were always difficult-to-spoken secrets and flower-like romances between old husbands and young wives. Zhou Xuan had already heard from neighbors that Hua Niang’s personal conduct was sowhat wanton.
At such a mont, Hua Niang did not show the heaviness of a woman whose husband had passed away. She wore red lipstick and powder, clung to Zhou Xuan’s hand, leaning toward him with charming expressions.
Zhou Xuan pointed to the spirit tablet, softly brushing Hua Niang’s hand away, saying, "We are neighbors, Lao Yu has passed, it’s proper for to offer my condolences. However, you don’t seem to care much about Lao Yu’s death?"
"Oh dear, Mr., isn’t it just this Mingjiang Prefecture being strange? Life and death are capricious these days. The other day, during the Xianhuo disaster, Lao Yu died, but it was after East Market Street was rebuilt that he ca back to life,
I shed all my tears for Lao Yu when he died the first ti, now he’s dead again, I couldn’t cry anymore."
Zhou Xuan released his perception, scanning Lao Yu’s body inside the coffin. There were no external injuries nor signs of poisoning; he truly died of old age rather than being a victim of a scandalous affair between a young wife and her lover.
Zhou Xuan further inquired, "Hua Niang, how did Lao Yu pass away?"
Hua Niang, a seasoned figure among n, understood Zhou Xuan’s serious expression ant suspicion over Yu Guisheng’s unusual death.
Everyone on East Market Street now knew Zhou Xuan’s status was exalted. Whether it be the governnt office or Divine Departnt, everyone must heed his gestures,
Hua Niang feared being wrongfully accused and sent to the governnt office, so she restrained her seductive deanor and adopted a business-like manner, solemnly stating,
"Last night, wasn’t there lanterns all over Mingjiang Prefecture? I told Lao Yu I wanted to see them, so he closed his business and took to the street,
After seeing the lanterns, we returned ho. Lao Yu went to find the Waterman and bought hot water, took a bath, and then fainted in the tub. When I went in and checked his breath, I found he was gone,
then I started mourning, Lao Yu’s nephews dressed him."
Zhou Xuan found no apparent problems; the death process seed detailed enough, but he asked once more, "During that ti, nothing strange happened?"
He never expected his casual question to make Hua Niang’s face turn pale.
Imdiately understanding there was more to the story, Zhou Xuan reproached, "Still trying to hide?"
Never did Hua Niang expect Zhou Xuan’s anger to manifest so fiercely, she trembled in fear, tears streaming out as she replied,
"Mr., yes, there was sothing eerie, but it had nothing to do with Lao Yu’s death. Lao Yu didn’t die because of ; he genuinely died on his own. I, Hua Niang, don’t have the guts to kill."
"Speak clearly."
Zhou Xuan relaxed a little.
"After Lao Yu was dressed, he was laid on the bed, covered with a black cloth, according to our customs. The bedroom must be empty. As his wife, I had to guard him until most of the relatives arrived to begin the spirit ceremony."
"While I watched over Lao Yu, he awoke, lifted the black cloth, and told he was hooked by an iron hook; his body hurt a lot, and soon he’d be dismbered and thrown into a furnace. He was very afraid; then, while saying this, he lost his breath again."
Hua Niang added, "That’s the strange part — I feared it was his flash of awareness before dying, didn’t ntion it to you earlier."
"Indeed, his death seems unrelated to you."
Zhou Xuan remarked calmly, but his mind was buzzing with thoughts.
Lao Yu had seen his death scene, being hooked by an iron hook, dismbered, and finally thrown into a furnace, matching what Zhou Xuan saw during "Mistaken Dreams."
"That Mistaken Dreams might not be a hallucination after all."
Upon this thought, Zhou Xuan walked around the coffin once more, finishing the customary ritual, and told Sister Hua "My condolences to you" before stepping out of the paper horse shop.
He did not imdiately speak of the connection between Yu Guisheng and Mistaken Dreams, as it was crowded here. He wanted to find a quiet place and speak softly.
"Lao Yu’s passing is a pity; I’ve offered my gift; now let’s go for breakfast."
Zhou Xuan proposed to everyone.
Li Changxun added, "Mr., we should wait for Grandmaster Yun."
"Where’s Lao Yun gone?" Zhou Xuan asked.
"He’s over there offering a gift." Li Changxun gestured towards the ceremonial table.
Looking over, Zhou Xuan saw Yun Ziliang pulling out a small notebook, flipping through pages while counting fingers, puzzling over calculations.
"What’s Lao Yun doing now?" Zhou Xuan asked.
Zhao Wuya replied, "Brother Xuan, you know us Dragon Seekers like accumulating luck, often intentionally losing at cards, deliberately missing lottery tickets, wagering on the last horse in races..."
"Wait... intentionally losing, or genuinely trying and never winning?" Zhou Xuan interrupted Zhao Wuya.
"Brother Xuan, ignore such tangential details." Zhao Wuya said, "Grand Master said death is a significant event. With the usual losses to Lao Yu, now he’ll triple the offering, ensuring luck flows thicker."
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