Chapter 4: The Three People

Chapter 4: The Three People

Qin Cang turned to see an old woman with a withered appearance approaching, her gaunt face with sunken eyes, her body hunched, leaning heavily on a walking stick.

The crone pointed her cane at the most exquisite-looking set of clothes and croaked, “That one.”

Eager for information, Qin Cang approached her and stooped to ask, “Grandmother, is this a garment ordered for your daughter?”

The old woman glanced at him and cackled, “My daughter? I am no mother-in-law to the River God.”

Ordinary folks wouldn't claim to be the River God’s mother-in-law; Qin Cang forced a smile and ventured, “Then you are...?”

The corners of the old woman’s mouth twisted into a grimace as she said, “I am the River God’s matchmaker, tasked with arranging his marriages.”

Arranging marriages? Qin Cang caught her gaze drifting and subtly shifted aside, placing Hu Gu-niang behind him.

The wrinkles on the crone’s face deepened with her grin as she stepped forward, peering closely at Hu Gu-niang, “Such a fair face, the River God will surely favor you.”

She reached out to grasp Hu Gu-niang’s hand, insisting, “Marrying the River God brings wealth and honor, would you consider it?”

Hu Gu-niang showed no fear; she stood a head taller than the old woman, her feet planted firmly, her gaze coldly locked with the crone’s, who fell silent, her eyes bewitched, leaning ever closer.

Qin Cang couldn't stand it any longer; he snatched Hu Gu-niang’s wrist and led her a few steps aside, “Ignore her.”

Only when the babbling old woman had departed did Qin Cang turn to the shopkeeper and inquire, “Who was that old crone?”

The shopkeeper shivered, “I've never seen her before either.”

As Qin Cang was about to press for more information, a feeble voice came from the door, “Shopkeeper, I've come for my clothes.”

Qin Cang looked towards the door as if in a trance; this time it wasn't the old crone, but a young scholar whose face was wan and eyes swollen, holding a straw effigy oddly adorned with a pair of hairpins on its head.

Qin Cang asked, “Do you recognize this person?”

The shopkeeper swallowed hard, “I do; he used to come here with a young lady.”

The scholar’s eyes brightened at the sight of his order, he pulled it over, held it up against the straw effigy, and with a smile whispered, “The style you chose is indeed lovely, Ah Liu, truly beautiful.”

Qin Cang interjected, “Brother, you...”

The scholar seemed not to hear, unfastening the garment and draping it over the straw figure, causing straw to scatter all over the shop.

"Let's go." The scholar, his eyes only for the straw effigy, walked away in a daze.

Before Qin Cang could speak, a woman's voice from the doorway interrupted, “Shopkeeper, I'm here to collect a garment.”

This is never-ending! Qin Cang's scalp tingled as the newcomer kept talking, complaining, “Where is everyone? Madam is in a hurry.”

It was a young woman dressed in a red short outfit with a ponytail, thankfully looking like someone from this world.

Turning around, Qin Cang noticed the shopkeeper had scurried under the counter in a panic.

Now that he was there, he cleared his throat, "The shopkeeper is indisposed, so he’s asked me to mind the shop for a bit.”

“Oh,” the woman frowned, “I haven't seen you before.”

Qin Cang gestured to the clothes, “They’re all there, help yourself.”

The woman rifled through the pile, examining one garment and then discarding it. Qin Cang inquired, “Isn’t this your clothing?”

The woman replied, “No, I'm picking it up for my sister.”

"Has your sister been chosen for the River God's sacrifice?"

"Yes."

"And you... aren't you sad? There was a scholar earlier, looked like he'd lost his soul."

The woman scoffed, “I saw him. With that pathetic look of his, he’s hardly fit to be my brother-in-law.”

Her hands kept moving, picking up a garment, “This is my sister’s. I’ll take it now.”

Qin Cang said, “But as you saw, the scholar has already picked up clothes for your sister. It's on the straw effigy.”

He cautiously added, “Or was he picking up another girl's clothes?”

“He wouldn’t dare!”

Qin Cang: "So you just picked up any dress..."

Qin Cang: "It doesn’t really matter, the shopkeeper put them up for sale anyway.”

“I’ve already bought one! Where would I get so much money?”

"So you intend to just brazenly take it..."

The woman glared at him intently.

Qin Cang coughed discreetly, "Here's what we'll do: you tell me, and I'll buy it for you."

The woman asked, “Who are you, exactly?”

Qin Cang confessed, “To be honest, I am a collector of extraordinary tales from the martial world, crafting them into storybooks.”

The woman narrowed her eyes, “Can you really provide silver?”

"Naturally."

The woman extended her hand, “Money first, then. I’ll tell you all I know.”

Qin Cang fumbled in his pocket, pulling out several silver ingots and placing them in her hand.

Seeing the genuine silver, the woman gave him a suspicious glance before pulling him aside, “Alright, treat it like a story. The reason why Qingshui Town got its name was originally due to a river that nourished the whole town. But years ago, two gangs from the mountain forts fought fiercely by the river, leaving many dead. It’s said their blood enraged the River God. Since then, Qingshui River floods every year after the ice melts, followed by outbreaks of plague. A tale emerged out of nowhere, claiming that if a young woman were sacrificed to wed the River God, his anger would be quelled.”

Qin Cang wondered, “And every year young women are sent, do the townspeople not revolt?”

“Of course they do. But then, families who lost daughters began finding letters at their doorsteps, along with damp sacks of silver mixed with sand, as if dredged up from the river. Some started to believe the tale of the River God’s marriage.”

"What's written in the letters?"

“Just the names of those girls, barely legible handwriting.”

The story was perplexingly mysterious. Qin Cang stroked his chin, looking at the woman, “So why do you seek to buy another garment?”

Without answering, the woman turned to leave, but Qin Cang caught her arm, “Hey, are you planning to save your sister?”

"Mind your own business."

"How can this be none of my business?" In desperation, Qin Cang blurted out, “I am a man of stature!”

He produced a corner of a black iron token from his bosom, flashed it briefly, then tucked it away, whispering, “See this? It's a token from the imperial army, which has been stationed in Qingshui Town for months now, you know that, right? The deputy general personally sent me to gather intelligence. Tell me, and perhaps I can help you.”

The black iron token was exquisitely made and quite substantial. Coupled with Qin Cang’s distinguished air, the woman found herself unable to spot a lie at that moment.

Qin Cang asked, "Was your sister taken away?"

The woman nodded.

"Where are they being held?"

It seemed the woman did not know. Qin Cang said, "Look, taking a chance on trusting me can't make things any worse."

The woman was persuaded.

It was inconvenient to speak amidst the crowded and watchful public, so the woman led the two back to her own residence.

The house was connected to an old dwelling next door. Although it had a roof and walls, it was somewhat low and didn't look like it was meant for living. Instead, it resembled a place for keeping livestock.

Inside, it wasn’t dirty or disorderly. To be precise, it was bare; it couldn't get messy even if it wanted to.

The woman said, "My surname is Bai, Bai Yang. My sister is Bai Liu."

Qin Cang asked, "You live here?"

She didn’t seem as though she should be living in such dire circumstances.

Bai Yang nodded, and Qin Cang asked, "What about your parents?"

Bai Yang scoffed coldly, "Don’t get me started on those two who sold their daughter."

"Are you saying they willingly sent their daughter to be sacrificed for some silver?"

"My sister was born mute, but other than not being able to speak, there’s nothing wrong with her. They had arranged for her to marry the butcher’s son, but A-Liu was unwilling. Only then did we find out about last year’s Moon Festival, where she caught the eye of that worthless scholar."

Her gaze shifted between Qin Cang and Miss Hu as she spoke, "Are you two also planning to attend the Moon Festival?"

Qin Cang nodded slightly.

Bai Liu turned to Miss Hu and said, "You're lucky; he's got some courage at least."

Qin Cang continued, "Go on, then what? You separated from your parents and lived on your own?"

"Exactly." Bai Yang opened the door, pointing towards another old house not far away, "There's an old priestess there; she selects the people for the annual sacrifice. I couldn’t afford the rent next door, so I chose to live here to keep an eye on her. I don't believe she has no contacts."

Qin Cang recalled, it must have been that old crone who first came to collect the clothes.

He pondered for a moment before asking, "If you do find where your sister is being held, there will surely be guards. How do you plan to rescue her? If even one person is missing, it will certainly be noticed."

Bai Yang replied, "I’m not foolish enough to stir the grass and startle the snake, fleeing momentarily only to live in unrest afterward. The sacrifice usually takes place at night; I’ll find an opportunity to swap A-Liu out. Once they throw me off the boat, I'll swim back by myself."

On a moonless and windy night, the prospect of swimming back in the winter river seemed incredibly slim.

Bai Yang, as if reading his thoughts, said indifferently, "I’ve escorted valuables with a security company in the past few years and traveled by water several times. If I can't make it back, she has even less of a chance."

Qin Cang nodded in understanding. He had almost all the details he needed but couldn’t take action alone. He needed to report back to the old general.

Before leaving, Qin Cang asked, "Right, do you have something of your sister’s, preferably something she always carries with her?"

Bai Yang shook her head, "Her belongings are all at home. I need to keep an eye on this old priestess and can’t go back to get anything for you."

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she added, "You could ask Qian Yi, that scholar. Just go to the sixth house from the West Gate Arch; he's staying next to my place."

On the way back, the cold wind whistled through the dried wild grass by the roadside, and the two were somewhat silent.

Miss Hu suddenly spoke up, "Are you going to help her with this?"

"Hmm."

Miss Hu asked, "Why?"

Qin Cang replied casually, "That old priestess and the whole sacrifice business—it all just sounds like it needs a good thrashing."

Miss Hu probed, "If you really help, there will be dangers. Aren’t you afraid?"

Qin Cang turned and smiled, "Afraid of what? If I dare to be involved in these affairs, I must have some skills to protect myself. Hey, are you worried about me?"

Seeing that Miss Hu remained silent, Qin Cang said, "Don’t worry. If it really comes to danger, I certainly won’t involve you. Don't fret over it; we'll each take care of our own business."

Miss Hu looked at him for a moment, then averted her gaze and nodded, "I understand."

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