Chapter 427 - 202: The Person in the Well
Chapter 427: Chapter 202: The Person in the Well
A quarter of an hour passed quickly. Miao Feichan got dressed and came out, drying her hair.
A faint warmth still radiated from her body.
She had just finished drying and arranging her hair when she heard Chen Zhong at the door, summoning them.
Holding two oil-paper umbrellas, they followed Chen Zhong. They wound their way through the grand residence for a while before finally entering the main hall of the Chen Residence. A chubby, middle-aged man hurried over to greet them.
"Greetings, you two great heroes."
Fang Shuwen sized the man up. He was stout and plump, with soft, doughy hands. One look was enough to tell he was a wealthy man who lived a life of luxury and comfort.
He offered a faint smile and exchanged a few words with him.
The words were full of flattery, and naturally, the more they spoke, the happier their host became.
This Landlord Chen told Fang Shuwen that he had yearned for the Jianghu since he was a child. He had pestered his father to hire several Martial Artists to teach him Martial Arts, but after half a month, he found he simply couldn’t endure the hardship of training and reluctantly gave up.
Though he had failed to learn Martial Arts, he still admired the high-flying heroes of the Jianghu.
He just hadn’t had the chance to meet many.
So, when he heard that Fang Shuwen and Miao Feichan had come seeking lodging, he had immediately prepared fine wine and food, eager to have a good chat with Fang Shuwen.
Fang Shuwen inspected the food and wine. After confirming there were no issues, he nodded at Miao Feichan.
Then he began to chat with Landlord Chen.
Fang Shuwen was worldly and experienced, and with the memories of his past life, he knew how to talk to anyone—saying the right things to the right people. This was second nature to him.
Back when his Martial Arts were still undeveloped, he had relied on this very skill to win others over.
Using it now was effortless, a matter of practiced ease.
In the middle of their idle chatter, Fang Shuwen found an excuse to grasp Landlord Chen’s wrist. He stealthily sent a sliver of his Inner Breath into the man’s body. After a quick circuit, he confirmed that Landlord Chen truly didn’t know any Martial Arts.
But this didn’t resolve his suspicions. In fact, he found the situation even stranger.
After several rounds of drinks and courses, Landlord Chen was thoroughly drunk. He was sprawled on the table, completely out of it.
Fang Shuwen stood up and told Chen Zhong to take good care of his master. Then he led Miao Feichan back to their courtyard to rest.
Watching Fang Shuwen and Miao Feichan depart, Chen Zhong finally moved to help the drunken Landlord Chen up.
"Master, it’s time to go back and rest."
"Don’t touch me... I’m not drunk yet!"
Landlord Chen’s eyes were hazy with drink. He pointed at Chen Zhong and slurred:
"I know you... Let me tell you, I’m a... a Jianghu... hero!"
"Yes, yes, you’re a Jianghu hero. Let’s go. Even Jianghu heroes have to sleep."
Chen Zhong seemed to want to hoist this ’great’ hero up by himself, but he nearly threw out his old back in the attempt. He had no choice but to wave over two young servants in green robes to help. With all of them straining together, they finally managed to get Landlord Chen on his feet.
They noisily escorted him to the inner residence.
At the same time, beside a rockery some distance from the main hall, Fang Shuwen and Miao Feichan stood, each holding an oil-paper umbrella, listening intently.
Finally, Miao Feichan looked up.
"It seems there’s no problem."
Fang Shuwen gave a noncommittal laugh.
"Let’s go back and rest."
The two turned back toward their small courtyard. But just as they reached the entrance, they suddenly froze.
The night rain was a clamor of sound—raindrops pattering against everything, the continuous gurgle of flowing water.
Yet amidst this cacophony, a "CLICK, CLACK" sound stood out, abrupt and strange.
Fang Shuwen and Miao Feichan exchanged a glance and followed the sound to its source.
They crossed three courtyards. The sound was coming from this one.
The pair leaped over the courtyard wall, their gazes locking onto a well almost simultaneously.
The layout of this courtyard was identical to the one Fang Shuwen and Miao Feichan were staying in.
The well was also under a tree.
The clicking and clacking sound was coming from there.
Fang Shuwen approached the mouth of the well and peered inside. It was pitch-black and bottomless, making it impossible to see what was within.
He said to Miao Feichan:
"I’ll go down and take a look."
Miao Feichan nodded.
"Then I’ll stand guard here."
With a slight nod, Fang Shuwen leaped into the well.
He descended along the well wall, quickly reaching about two-thirds of the way down.
The sound was coming from one side of the well wall.
Fang Shuwen looked over and saw a small door, only about three feet high.
After a moment of thought, Fang Shuwen shifted his body to the same side as the door. He reached out, gripped the door, and pulled. With a CREAK, the door swung open.
The next moment, a scrambling sound came from within.
It was clearly a person, who had scrambled deeper inside the moment Fang Shuwen opened the door.
Fang Shuwen then peered inside and found a hidden chamber.
A disheveled figure was pressed against the far wall, peering out cautiously, his eyes filled with terror.
Fang Shuwen frowned slightly. With a twist of his body, he slipped inside.
"Don’t... don’t come any closer!"
The man was aghast, gripping a short knife with both hands and pointing it at Fang Shuwen. But his hands trembled so violently that the blade was almost a blur.
Fang Shuwen walked over and casually snatched the knife away.
Though the chamber was dark, Fang Shuwen’s eyes and ears were sharp. The faintest sliver of light was enough for him to see clearly.
The man’s hair was graying and disheveled, his face deeply wrinkled. He was clearly quite old.
His gaze swept around the secret chamber. There was a bed and a table, but nothing else seemed out of the ordinary.
Fang Shuwen then grabbed the man. Ignoring his cry of alarm, he carried him out of the chamber and, with a single leap, sprang from the well.
He casually tossed the man to the ground.
The man scrambled to his feet again. He looked like he wanted to bolt, but some hesitation held him back. He ended up shrinking back into a corner.
Miao Feichan was puzzled.
"Why is there a person in there?"
"We’ll have to ask him."
Fang Shuwen glanced at the man.
"Who are you? Why were you in the well?"
"Stay away!"
The man, filled with terror, ignored Fang Shuwen’s question completely.
Fang Shuwen’s brow furrowed. Miao Feichan spoke in a gentle voice:
"Don’t be afraid. We aren’t bad people.
"Tell us, who are you? Why are you here?
"Did something happen to you?"
"Dead... dead people. Everywhere... there are dead people everywhere."
The man said in a trembling voice:
"Everyone is dead!!"
"Slowly, there’s no hurry."
Miao Feichan soothed him softly.
"First, tell us about yourself. What is your name?"
"I... I... My name is Chen Zhong. I’m the... the head steward of the Chen Residence."
Miao Feichan’s expression froze. She couldn’t help but look at Fang Shuwen.
’If this man is Chen Zhong, then who was the person we were drinking with?’