Xiao Muyu didn’t have time to think too much. Moreover, Shen Qingqiu was obviously deeply involved in the act, so she couldn’t force anything. The most urgent task was to find Zuo Tiantian and Su Jin.
Although this mission was quite difficult, Xiao Muyu always believed that a perfect mission could be challenging but shouldn’t be unreasonable.
At present, besides herself, everyone else had lost their memories, which meant that the task of reuniting the whole team fell solely on her.
However, Xiao Muyu had no memories of this mission. In an unfamiliar city like Yingzhou, there were only two ways to find two people: one was to make a big fuss and have her subordinates search for them, and the other was if they had a connection to her, just like how Chen Kaijie happened to be placed in the Shen family. Xiao Muyu decided to first get a grasp of the situation.
Upon returning home, Xiao Muyu bumped into a middle-aged man doing some exercises in the courtyard.
The man had a full beard and was dressed in short, sturdy clothing. He showed a trace of reproach when he saw Xiao Muyu, “Why did you suddenly go to Uncle Shen’s house? And where did you get those cumbersome clothes?”
From his tone and age, Xiao Muyu quickly deduced who he was. She lowered her eyes slightly, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, “I happened to see Shen Qingqiu getting spooked by a horse today and rescued her. I had a meal at her house and changed clothes since mine got dirty.”
Xiao Qian scrutinized her and frowned, “What, you can’t even call me ‘father’ now when you talk to me?”
Xiao Muyu remained silent, sensing that the original owner had a poor relationship with Xiao Qian, judging from her own demeanor and the previous change in An’er’s address to the second lady.
Her silence annoyed Xiao Qian, but he held back his anger. He reminded her, “No matter what, as a junior, you must show the proper attitude. Your mother… your second mother treats you like her own. She always thinks of you. Even if you don’t care for my sake, you should have some conscience and not always be so cold to her.
“She’s magnanimous and doesn’t hold grudges against you, but you should behave like a daughter. Also, the city has been unstable lately. Don’t wander around recklessly; stay safe.” Xiao Muyu nodded slightly and agreed, sparing her words and retreating.
Xiao Qian watched her, full of worry, and couldn’t help but sigh.
Once inside, Xiao Muyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. Not having any memories was indeed inconvenient.
She didn’t want to spend points on the Shen family’s memories earlier because, knowing the system’s nature, she felt it wouldn’t be that simple.
Now that she confirmed Shen Qingqiu and Chen Kaijie were in the Shen family, the memories of the Shen family were dispensable. Once they regained their memories, they would know everything about the Shen family.
However, it was necessary to unlock memories about the Xiao family. As she thought about this, the system immediately opened a virtual control panel, displaying: “Do you want to spend 50 points to unlock memories related to the Xiao family?”
Xiao Muyu felt a bit suspicious about the system’s sudden kindness. She hesitated but clicked ‘yes’. After deducting 50 points, a progress bar appeared, showing fluctuating numbers before settling at 10%.
Xiao Muyu looked at it expressionlessly and glanced down. It read that 90% was left to unlock successfully.
There were also two buttons, one for spending 50 points to draw again and another for a five-times draw for 200 points.
Xiao Muyu’s mouth twitched slightly. She extended her middle finger expressionlessly, hesitated for a moment, and then clicked the ‘X’ in the upper right corner.
Xiao Muyu decided to leave it for now. She called An’er over and chatted with her casually, finally asking nonchalantly, “Where are Su Jin and Zuo Tiantian? Why haven’t I seen them around?”
An’er looked puzzled, “Miss Biao went home. Su, Miss Su, why would she come to our house? Isn’t she Shen family’s close friend? Did Miss misspeak?”
Xiao Muyu felt a surge of joy in her heart. They did know each other. It was like finding what she was looking for effortlessly.
She glanced at An’er and said casually, “I just saw her at the Shen family today. I misspoke. There’s nothing else. You can go now.”
An’er was a bit surprised. Everyone knew that since childhood, Miss was always indifferent to Miss Shen. When they were younger, Miss Shen often followed Miss around, and they were often seen together.
But as they grew older, probably due to hurt pride, Miss Shen hadn’t spoken to her own Miss for a year, and her own Miss rarely visited the Shen family. Today, unexpectedly, she went to the Shen household.
However, An’er didn’t dare ask about this. Though curious, she nodded and left.
After An’er left, Xiao Muyu felt more at ease, knowing at least the whereabouts of the other two.
She was puzzled, though. The system clearly targeted her, but despite the unfavorable start, it provided many conveniences and opportunities.
Because she had no memories of her role and her teammates had no memories of their players, the assigned roles were intimately connected. Cousins, all complete. This was beyond Xiao Muyu’s expectations.
Judging by the current situation, she hoped that the role of Zuo Tiantian as a cousin would be easy to handle. Otherwise, dealing with each person individually would consume a lot of energy.
Just as she thought this, Zuo Tiantian appeared. While Xiao Muyu was in her room contemplating her next move, she heard a soft voice from the courtyard, “Cousin, cousin.”
Xiao Muyu watched a girl in a pale yellow dress come in cheerfully. When she saw Xiao Muyu, she smiled brightly and hopped around, “Cousin, where did you go today? I came to find you, but you weren’t home.”
Xiao Muyu looked at the young girl, who indeed was Zuo Tiantian, though she still had a bit of baby fat and looked around fourteen or fifteen years old.
This lively Zuo Tiantian was new to Xiao Muyu, who felt a bit tender towards her.
In reality, Zuo Tiantian was still in college, just a young girl. The sudden incident had forced a child, who should have been cherished by her parents, to navigate a dangerous world alone. It was tough.
Since teaming up, Xiao Muyu found her heart becoming more active and softer.
So when Zuo Tiantian ran over excitedly, Xiao Muyu patted her head, “What are you looking for me for?”
Zuo Tiantian was a bit surprised. Usually, her cousin was strict. Although she treated her well, she never patted her head like this.
But being a young girl, she quickly immersed herself in the joy, smiling and looking at Xiao Muyu with curiosity, “I heard people say that you saved Sister Shen today on the street, is that true?”
Xiao Muyu found the plot a bit strange. Although it was a game, the storyline was incredibly detailed.
She even thought that if this wasn’t a game, her and Shen Qingqiu’s roles in this mission might qualify them as star-crossed lovers with a tale of unresolved “grievances and vendettas.”
However, the most important thing now wasn’t the entanglement of the characters but completing the mission. So she glanced at Zuo Tiantian, “Is that so strange? Did you come just to ask me this?”
“Not really, I’m just curious. Besides, Sister Shen and you have been on bad terms for almost a year. You can’t say you don’t care at all. Today you played the hero saving the beauty. Did Sister Shen change her attitude towards you?”
The more Xiao Muyu listened, the more wrong it felt. It seemed like her character and Shen Qingqiu had some kind of relationship. If not for the gender difference, this would be the trope of childhood sweethearts and star-crossed lovers, right?
Was this mission so intelligent that it included a romantic subplot with Shen Qingqiu?
“Not at all. She thinks I’m feverish and not clear-headed, otherwise I wouldn’t have risked saving her.” Xiao Muyu said, feeling inexplicably heavy-hearted.
She couldn’t understand why. Although she had been indifferent to Shen Qingqiu before, it shouldn’t have made her feel this uncomfortable in the mission because of the plot.
However, this storyline, which is not shown but exists in the mouths of other characters, seems as if it actually happened. It feels as if she had truly treated her this badly.
This strange feeling had already appeared once in the Shen family. Xiao Muyu shook her head, forcefully suppressing it. She looked at Zuo Tiantian and said seriously, “You’re staying at my house today. Don’t run around. The city has been unsafe lately. A little girl like you is the easiest target, understand?”
Zuo Tiantian had heard about this matter and immediately shrank her neck in fear, nodding quickly.
But after Xiao Muyu finished speaking, she walked up to her, lowered her head slightly, and looked seriously into Zuo Tiantian’s eyes, saying softly, “Tiantian, do you trust me?”
Zuo Tiantian looked at her deep, dark eyes and nodded seriously, “I trust you.”
Xiao Muyu looked at her with relief and said solemnly, “You know about the girls disappearing in the city. I went to the Shen family today and found out that Shen Qingqiu’s father had already arranged a marriage for her in private. You know, all the missing girls had arranged marriages, so now Shen Qingqiu is in great danger.
My father is afraid something will happen to me and will definitely not allow me to get involved. But I can’t just sit by and do nothing. You are the closest to me, so Tiantian, you have to help me.”
Hearing that Shen Qingqiu was in danger, Zuo Tiantian’s face changed. She nodded, but then asked anxiously, “But they all say that it’s the White River Lord taking new brides. He’s… he’s not even human. How are you going to deal with him? And I… I can’t do anything. How can I help you?”
“Are you very scared?” Xiao Muyu noticed her expression. When she mentioned the White River Lord, Zuo Tiantian’s face turned pale and she started to stammer.
Zuo Tiantian nodded very honestly.
“I just asked if you trust me, and you said you do. Then I will tell you the truth. I will definitely get involved in this White River Lord matter, no matter how dangerous it is. If you trust me, will you dare to follow us when I need you?”
Zuo Tiantian was stunned, not quite understanding, “Do you mean that Sister Shen can’t escape? Cousin, do you know something? And I can’t do anything, I’m timid. How can I be of any use?”
Actually, Xiao Muyu was straightforward with her because she was taking a gamble.
As Zuo Tiantian said, Xiao Muyu’s request and actions were very strange. Normally, no one would choose such a little girl to do something so difficult.
But Zuo Tiantian’s reaction did not disappoint Xiao Muyu. Unknowingly, her teammate had already become very excellent.
“Yes, you are timid, but you are not useless. Tiantian, you have many moments of brilliance and will give me many surprises.”
Xiao Muyu smiled at her. When she mentioned “moments of brilliance,” she clearly saw Zuo Tiantian’s pupils contract and a look of inexplicable confusion and conflict appear on her face.
Xiao Muyu’s goal was achieved. She patted Zuo Tiantian on the shoulder, “Alright, let’s go have dinner first. You’ll stay in my courtyard tonight.”
Zuo Tiantian followed Xiao Muyu, her mind repeatedly thinking about the words “moments of brilliance,” feeling increasingly confused.
Zuo Tiantian and Su Jin had been found, so Xiao Muyu was now most concerned about Shen Qingqiu. Although the so-called common points didn’t really explain anything, and it might not necessarily happen tonight, Xiao Muyu couldn’t take the risk.
So under the cover of night, Xiao Muyu used her body’s natural agility to climb over the courtyard wall and stealthily headed towards the Shen family in the dark.
The Shen family was only about three miles from the Xiao family. Xiao Muyu walked along the long street, turned a corner into a small alley, and continued forward.
After another six hundred meters, she would reach the main road of Yingzhou City. The west side led out of the city, and walking three more blocks east would lead to the Shen family.
Although the game was set in the first month of the lunar year, the temperature was very pleasant. Although it was cool at night, it wasn’t cold at all. Even wearing only two layers, Xiao Muyu didn’t feel cold.
But because the Lantern Festival was approaching, the moon in the sky was very realistic, already as round and bright as a jade plate.
The night sky was clear and high, even at night. One could faintly see the clouds.
The entire Yingzhou City was quiet, bathed in the clear glow of the moonlight, peaceful and serene.
Under the moonlight, Xiao Muyu could vaguely see the intersection in the dimly lit stone street alley.
At this moment, the sound of the night watchman’s clapper came from a distance, approaching. It should be coming this way.
It was already the second watch, which meant it was between 9 and 11 PM. The night watchman diligently knocked on his clapper a few times and shouted, “The night is dry, be careful of fire, guard against thieves—” A middle-aged man’s loud voice, followed by another clapper sound, but this one stopped abruptly, as if it was interrupted before it was finished.
Xiao Muyu had been on alert all along. Hearing this, she almost immediately stopped. Her toes touched the ground gently, and she held her breath.
On the originally silent and windless street, a cold wind swept from the main road where Xiao Muyu was heading, then split at the intersection and hit Xiao Muyu.
Almost instantly, Xiao Muyu felt the hairs on her body stand up. This wind was bone-chilling.
At the same time, the wind grew stronger, and within it, Xiao Muyu felt a moist mist and a stronger smell of blood.
The wind began to howl as if a group of little ghosts were impatiently trying to rush out.
Sensing danger, Xiao Muyu quickly scanned her surroundings. There was a corner at the intersection where a pile of baskets was stacked. She quickly hid behind them, bending down to conceal herself.
Through the gaps in the baskets, Xiao Muyu could see the outside. She heard the sound of a suona, followed by the noise of gongs and drums.
These joyful and noisy tunes were clearly for a wedding procession.
But appearing on a street at night, the joy was gone, leaving only strangeness and terror. Xiao Muyu was very nervous, thinking of Shen Qingqiu. Could she really have been chosen?
The wind mixed with the music drew closer. In the end, the drumbeats disappeared, leaving only the suona, its sound heart-wrenching, resonating in the night with only sorrow and eeriness.
Ding-ding, the suona’s sound lowered. Heavy footsteps mixed with the sound of a bell shaking, coming closer and closer.
By the moonlight, Xiao Muyu saw a wedding procession appear at the intersection.
The procession had more than a dozen people, all dressed in bright red. Leading were two people playing the suona, followed by two men carrying red wooden plaques with the words “迎亲” (wedding procession).
In the middle was the groom on a horse, looking spirited and full of joy, with a big red ribbon on his chest. Even in the dim light, his handsome features were visible.
Behind him, eight men in red outfits carried the bridal sedan, followed by servants carrying dowries. The whole group was jubilant, completely unconcerned about being out on an empty street at midnight.
The groom even smiled and waved as if greeting a crowd.
They seemed to exist in another dimension, living in a different time.
The procession moved towards the Shen family. Xiao Muyu, sweating from fear, turned and ran. She had just seen a side road she could take.
As Xiao Muyu turned to leave, the groom on the horse slowly turned his head. With a crack, he twisted his head at an unnatural angle, his gaze falling on the alley Xiao Muyu had just passed. He grinned and chuckled.
As he opened his mouth, a brown liquid continuously flowed out. Under the moonlight, the wedding procession left a glistening trail.
