Chapter 45: Unusual Omen on the Journey

  The early morning mist hung over Anping Town, and the gray, overcast weather seemed to reflect the heavy mood of the people. The entire town was eerily silent, with an oppressive, suffocating atmosphere in the air.

  Sanbao and her companions walked along the road, while the townspeople kept their distance, clearly aware of the murder that had occurred at the inn the previous night.

  "I'm so hungry," Sanbao thought about where to get some breakfast, but then saw Tang Mingli approaching with someone.

  "This is the owner of the Anping Town Charity House. I've already bought a coffin for Zhu Ting. I've asked Tang Ping to take people to transport it," Tang Mingli expined as he saw Sanbao.

  Moments ter, Sanbao stood in the courtyard, watching as the guards moved the coffin in and out, her expression serious.

  Zhu Ting y quietly in the coffin. Her face was serene, as if she were merely sleeping.

  "This town isn't big," Tang Ping said in a low voice, "It’s not surprising that the townspeople are avoiding us now that news has spread that 'the guest died unnaturally'."

  Tang Ping, accompanied by two guards, was making arrangements for Zhu Ting’s burial.

  At the moment the coffin lid was slowly lowered, Zhu Chengzhi’s small body trembled uncontrolbly. But he didn’t cry, nor did he say a word. He simply bowed his head, holding tightly onto Sanbao's hand without letting go.

  Tang Ping had bought a ft cart to transport Zhu Ting’s coffin, arranged for two guards to drive it, and reorganized the defensive formation. After everything was prepared, the group set off from Anping Town around noon.

  The sunlight at noon shone on the official road, warm and gentle. But it couldn’t dispel the gloom in everyone’s hearts.

  Inside the carriage, Zhu Chengzhi now sat between Sanbao and Tang Mingli. He had regained the lively energy of a child, no longer the stiff, bnk state he had been in st night. He leaned against Sanbao’s side, resting his head on her shoulder, and softly asked, "Sister, how much longer do we have to travel?"

  "Well, we still have a long way to go. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you're safe," Sanbao gently patted his back.

  Tang Mingli leaned on the side, watching the two of them in a familiar, affectionate manner. He couldn't help but feel a bit sour, his jealousy rearing up. He muttered, "Chengzhi, come over here. Let your brother tell you some interesting cultivation stories."

  Zhu Chengzhi deliberately leaned further into Sanbao’s embrace and teasingly said, "No, I want to sit with the beautiful big sister!"

  "Come here!" Tang Mingli acted as though he was angry and reached out to pull Zhu Chengzhi.

  "What’s the matter? Why are you getting jealous of a kid?" Sanbao blocked Tang Mingli's hand, "Don’t be afraid, Chengzhi. I’ll protect you."

  Zhu Chengzhi burst out ughing and snuggled closer to Sanbao’s chest.

  Sanbao looked at his innocent smile and returned a warm smile, but her eyes held a hint of sadness.

  It was still better to be a child. Zhu Chengzhi had forgotten all about the horrific events from st night. Sanbao couldn’t help but sigh. Unlike us adults, there are so many painful memories we want to forget, yet we can’t.

  Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped. Xiao Lan’s voice came from outside, "Miss, Young Master Tang, the road ahead is blocked!"

  Tang Mingli opened the window and poked his head out to ask, "What’s going on?"

  Wu Yuyu, seated on the carriage, pointed ahead with a pale face. "There’s a rge tree blocking the road... and a dead cow, blood all over the ground."

  Sanbao and Tang Mingli exchanged a look, stepping down from the carriage. Tang Ping and the other guards had already ridden ahead, spreading out to guard the area, their expressions grim.

  What they saw ahead was a rge tree that had been felled, blocking the road. The tree was thick, nearly as wide as three people could hug it. A crude wooden frame made of bamboo and hemp rope was propped up on the tree trunk, with a dead cow hanging upside down from the frame.

  The cow’s eyes were half open, its tongue hanging out, clearly lifeless. What was even more horrific was that its abdomen had been brutally cut open. A long wound ran from its chest to its tail, with its internal organs and blood mixed together, dripping onto the ground, forming a dark red puddle. The stench was nauseating, filling the air.

  The sight of the tree, the frame, and the dead cow hanging like this… Sanbao stared at it, lost in thought.

  Tang Ping nodded to Tang Mingli, signaling him, then raised his hand and issued orders. "Zhao Qi, Zhang Wu, come and move the cow and the tree, the rest of you clean up the road."

  Two guards immediately dismounted and walked over to begin moving the cow.

  "Wait!" Sanbao suddenly shouted, "Don’t touch the cow!"

  Zhao Qi and Zhang Wu exchanged gnces before looking at Tang Ping. Seeing that Tang Ping didn’t stop them, they continued to approach the cow.

  The moment Zhao Qi’s hand touched the cow, he was thrown back as though he had been electrocuted.

  "What’s wrong?" Zhang Wu reached out to steady Zhao Qi.

  "Don’t touch him!" Sanbao shouted, but by the time she spoke, Zhang Wu had already caught Zhao Qi.

  "Ahhh!!" Zhang Wu screamed in agony. He turned around, his face distorted, his complexion turning a sickly green, veins bulging, and his eyes sinking into their sockets. His features and skin melted like wax in a fire, slowly beginning to dissolve.

  "Get back!" Tang Mingli shouted. Tang Ping and the guards finally reacted, quickly moving to the sides of the road, creating distance between them and Zhao Qi and Zhang Wu.

  Zhao Qi and Zhang Wu stopped screaming. They staggered a few steps toward the carriage before colpsing on the ground. Their bodies dissolved at an arming rate, breaking apart into two piles of foul-smelling flesh and blood.

  The warm midday breeze rustled the leaves of the trees along the road, adding a touch of life to the eerie scene. The group stood frozen, staring at the scene, none of them speaking. The air seemed to freeze as well.

  "Did they get poisoned?" Tang Ping’s voice broke the silence. He turned to Sanbao and asked, "Miss Sanbao, do you have knowledge of poisonous substances?"

  Sanbao replied faintly, "I know a little bit."

  Tang Mingli gnced at Sanbao, his eyes filled with a complex mix of thoughts. He silently mused, *Formations, firearm secrets, and now poison knowledge... Sanbao, how many secrets do you have?*

  Sanbao understood what he was thinking but pretended to know nothing. She simply said, "The poison has worn off now. We can move the cow and the tree."

  The guards exchanged looks, unsure of what to do, but Tang Ping signaled them to carefully proceed. They eventually burned the cow’s body and the tree to clean up the area.

  The group returned to the carriage. Tang Mingli leaned close, lowering his voice, "The 'poison knowledge' you mentioned, was that something you read in your family’s miscelneous books?"

  Sanbao pretended not to hear him, instead looking at Zhu Chengzhi.

  "Chengzhi, let me tell you a story. Do you want to hear it?"

  "I want to hear it!" Zhu Chengzhi eagerly pressed closer to Sanbao, gripping her hand tighter.

  Tang Mingli returned to his seat, humming to himself and pretending to look out the window.

  After a while, the obstacles were cleared, and the group reorganized. They slowly set off again, continuing along the official road toward the Capital.