Chapter 185: The Mortuary

Chapter 185: The Mortuary

The palace arrangements are in place, and with the old monk there, Ruo Xi Baby is very relieved.

Her heart, however, is anxious because Elder Brother Jingyu is missing.

After all, she’s only a few months old and should be sleeping soundly by now.

Instead, she’s being held by her uncle, riding on a horse, as they search for Elder Brother Jingyu.

Her uncle’s embrace is strong and steady, and the horse, trained by her uncle, moves very smoothly.

So, Ruo Xi Baby eats and drinks while observing her surroundings.

"Elder Brother Jingyu left a trail of fluorescent powder on the vendor. But it’s not dark enough yet to see the fluorescent powder clearly!"

Hearing Ruo Xi Baby’s thoughts, Xiao Yin frowned slightly, then turned his horse around and headed back to the place where Jingyu had bought the lantern.

"Your Majesty, Jingyu bought the lantern here, but when we were in the eastern part of the city, he was still with us," Yuan Hui, who had also come along, said to Xiao Yin.

"Jingyu was with us and wouldn’t have been confused. If his disappearance is related to the lantern seller, then he must have deliberately left a mark to follow that person and find their lair," Xiao Yin said.

"Hmm, Uncle is right, but it’s still too bright outside, and we can’t see the fluorescent powder!" Ruo Xi Baby looked around, her little brows furrowed.

"Why are your little brows furrowed like that? Don’t worry, Xiao Xi'er, Uncle will figure out how to find Elder Brother Jingyu!" Xiao Yin gently patted the little girl and said.

"People like that usually don’t hang around decent places. Let me think... where would someone like that hide?" Ruo Xi Baby relaxed her little brows. "Gambling dens, brothels, graveyards, and mass burial grounds..."

Xiao Yin’s lips twitched, realizing his little niece knew far too much for her age.

A wave of sadness washed over Xiao Yin.

Xiao Xi'er has truly endured so much.

He couldn’t help but wonder what she had gone through to know such things.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yin suddenly raised his eyebrows, recalling that after finishing matters in the eastern part of the city and chaining up the Beiling Emperor, Jingyu had told him that he needed to go north.

To the north of Beiling’s capital were the execution grounds, the mortuary, and the cemetery.

So, had Jingyu really gone to the cemetery?

"Search to the north!" Xiao Yin looked around at the surroundings for a moment, then turned to give orders.

"Your Majesty! Have you discovered any clues?" Yuan Hui asked.

"Jingyu only left my side this morning, and he told me he needed to go north," Xiao Yin said.

"Emperor of Great Wei, please help us! Our children have been missing for several days!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, can we still enter the palace? I heard that the damned old man in the palace has been using children for alchemy!"

"I will go and investigate the northern part of the city immediately. You should continue searching near your homes, and also discuss and think about whether you've noticed anything unusual recently."

After speaking with the townsfolk, Xiao Yin immediately galloped towards the northern part of the city.

The townsfolk gathered together, racking their brains.

"I remember there were always rumors of ghosts haunting the mortuary. Could it be that the Emperor of Great Wei really knows there’s something fishy going on there?"

"If the mortuary is really haunted, it’s no big deal for the Emperor of Great Wei to go, but why did they bring the little princess along? I think the rumors spreading all the way from Great Wei are true; this little princess is indeed a very powerful little fairy!"

"Are you kidding me? How could you forget so quickly? You just experienced the Thunder Summoning Art yesterday!"

"Let's go, we should also head to the northern part of the city, just in case the Emperor of Great Wei needs people!"

Many townsfolk went back to their homes and found makeshift weapons; some grabbed sickles, others took kitchen knives. They gathered outside their homes and headed toward the northern part of the city.

Xiao Yin brought Ruo Xi Baby to the northern part of the city, and Yuan Hui stepped forward to stop him.

"Your Majesty, I've heard that this area is notoriously haunted. Many townsfolk have seen ghost fires at night, and there have even been people killed here by evil spirits who feasted on their flesh. The malevolent energy here is too strong; allow me to go in first," Yuan Hui said.

"Xier isn’t afraid of anything like this," Xiao Yin said, looking down at little Xier with a smile. "Xier, isn’t that right?"

"Yes!" Ruo Xi Baby responded.

"This little princess sure keeps us on our toes!" Ever since the little princess had subdued her and brought her down from the mountain, all the events along the way had convinced Yuan Hui that this world was not so ordinary, and the little princess was certainly no ordinary girl.

Since the emperor had said so, Yuan Hui had no reason to stop them. He led the way, heading toward the mortuary.

The sky slowly darkened.

A cold wind swept through, causing the broken door of the mortuary to creak, sending shivers down everyone’s spines.

Ruo Xi Baby scanned the area, her excitement growing.

"Glowing powder, sure enough, Elder Brother Jingyu came here." Her eyes lit up as she saw the faint glowing powder on the withered grass.

Xiao Yin also saw the glowing powder and let out a long sigh of relief.

"I heard there's a caretaker here at the mortuary?" Xiao Yin said, looking at the large, quiet courtyard.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this place was previously looked after by Old Man Li and his family," a deputy of Zhao Yiwen who had come along stepped forward and said. "I'll go knock on the door."

"Knock knock knock!"

The deputy, Zhao Mang, stepped forward to knock on the door, but there was no response for a long time.

Ruo Xi Baby continued to observe the surroundings.

It had to be said that in such a place, encountering ghosts and spirits was quite normal.

However, there were no ghosts or spirits here, only a very strong malevolent energy.

"A hatred-filled malevolence, which only the living could possess. Why are there no ghosts here? Could it be that there are no bodies in this place?"

Hearing Ruo Xi Baby's thoughts, Xiao Yin frowned and said, "Let’s head in."

Behind them, Yuan Hui and Baiyu protected the emperor from the front and back, while Zhao Mang and the Black Armor Guard followed along, pushing open the courtyard gate and entering the mortuary.

"Creak, creak!"

A figure slowly emerged from the side, holding a yellowed lantern.

"Are you the caretaker of this mortuary?" Zhao Mang stepped forward and asked.