Dark Blue Frost - Chapter 14
Chapter 14: Encountering an Acquaintance
The end of the road to the netherworld was the City God Temple.
Stepping out of the main gate, Qingxuan felt the sunlight of the late autumn morning fall upon him.
Although faint, it carried an inexpressible warmth.
Then, seeing his shadow cast on the ground, faint though it was, he still felt it was better than nothing.
He let out a long sigh, feeling that his recent experiences in the Nine Hells were like a vague, ethereal dream.
Arriving at the entrance of the Zhao residence, he saw Zhao Fugui, who had committed murder but thought he had gotten away with it, arrogantly scolding a plainly dressed woman.
His curses were harsh and his manner extremely overbearing.
The woman looked very frail.
She kept her head lowered, involuntarily twisting the corner of her clothes with her hands, silently enduring the abuse without saying a word in return.
Seeing the woman silently taking the scolding, Qingxuan instinctively thought that Qianse might have once suffered such humiliation.
He was instantly filled with righteous indignation.
Then, remembering that this Zhao Fugui had shamelessly abused Gu Huiniang, his anger became uncontrollable.
Without thinking, he rolled up his sleeves and prepared to rush forward.
“Wait a moment.”
Qianse grabbed his collar, seeming to have no intention of letting him interfere.
Qingxuan turned back in confusion, only to see Qianse looking indifferent.
She slightly raised an eyebrow, gazing from afar at Zhao Fugui and the woman, her expression thoughtful.
“What a pity. If the son she bore hadn’t been simple minded, this Qiuniang would probably be treated like an ancestor by Old Master Zhao, right?”
A small footed old woman with a winnowing basket stood nearby, shaking her head.
It was hard to tell if her sigh was due to sympathy or curiosity.
Seeing Qianse and Qingxuan standing far off watching, she familiarly sidled up to them and began to gossip with great intimacy.
“You two masters are from out of town, so you wouldn’t know the scandalous affairs in our town…”
After the old woman’s embellished and effusive explanation, Qingxuan’s contempt for Zhao Fugui grew even deeper!
It turned out that the woman being scolded was Fu Qiuniang.
Her nature had always been gentle, and her looks were among the best in the town.
However, because her elderly father was seriously ill, she had to work outside the home as an embroiderer in the Zhao residence’s embroidery workshop to earn a living.
Her life was a constant struggle, financially strapped and miserable.
Zhao Fugui was the kind of person who, upon seeing any woman, regardless of beauty, would try to take advantage of her first.
Since his original wife died, he had successively taken several concubines, but perhaps because his actions were so immoral, none of them bore him children.
Now, upon seeing Fu Qiuniang, he adopted the air of a wealthy bully, harassing her repeatedly.
He offered to cover all her father’s medical expenses if she would marry him.
Since Fu Qiuniang consistently refused, and Zhao Fugui would not easily give up the fat he saw right near his mouth, he took advantage of his liquor when Fu Qiuniang was alone in the workshop and forcibly violated her.
Little did he know, this was the beginning of his woes.
Fu Qiuniang, having been violated, had no one to turn to for solace and secretly cried.
However, an anonymous gossiping woman who loved to spread misfortune learned of the matter and publicized it, making it known throughout the entire town.
Fu Qiuniang was pointed at and whispered about whenever she went out, causing her immense suffering.
She was forced to hide at home, unwilling to see anyone.
Unexpectedly, her neighbor later discovered that she seemed to be pregnant and informed the Zhao residence.
Zhao Fugui was naturally overjoyed when he found out.
He forcefully brought Fu Qiuniang and her dying father to the Zhao residence.
Upon confirming Fu Qiuniang was indeed pregnant, he immediately decided to propose marriage and take her as his official wife.
As the saying goes, fortunes are unpredictable, and calamities strike without warning.
The day before the wedding, Fu Qiuniang’s father passed away, turning the joyous occasion into a funeral.
Because she had to observe mourning rites, Fu Qiuniang could not wear a wedding dress for five years.
Although Zhao Fugui was not happy about the delay in marrying his wife, seeing Fu Qiuniang’s belly grow rounder each day, he patiently said nothing.
Finally, ten months later, Fu Qiuniang gave birth to a fair, plump son, making Zhao Fugui even more delighted.
However, Zhao Fugui’s happiness did not last long.
The son Fu Qiuniang gave birth to gradually grew older, but something seemed increasingly wrong.
He reached the age of three but could not speak, and spent his days staring blankly, drooling, and giggling foolishly.
Later, a doctor was called in to examine him and determined he was congenitally simple minded.
It turned out that the simple minded young master of the Zhao residence was the illegitimate son born to the unmarried Fu Qiuniang!
The rest of the story was perhaps a cliché that did not need further recounting.
Qingxuan felt a great deal of emotion.
Looking at Fu Qiuniang, he remembered Gu Huiniang who was locked in the City of the Unjustly Dead, and he couldn’t help but sympathize with the unfortunate experiences of these women.
Qianse remained silent, her expression indifferent.
Seeing Fu Qiuniang leave dejectedly after the scolding, she walked ahead, leaving Qingxuan behind.
Zhao Fugui was thirsty after scolding the woman.
Seeing Qianse, his arrogance immediately shrank by half.
He quickly put on a flattering smile. “Master, that monster in the dye house… look, can this be settled quickly…”
He spoke evasively, seeming to hope that Qianse could resolve the troublesome matter soon.
Although Qianse knew his countless wicked deeds were unforgivable, she did not show any discomfort when facing him.
Instead, she maintained her usual coldness.
Her eyes, as cold as autumn water, shot out two chilling beams.
She answered very flatly and concisely, “It has been collected.”
Zhao Fugui was unprepared for this response.
He wasn’t sure if Qianse was lying, feeling half joyous and half suspicious.
Still, he squinted his small eyes, feigning a look of cunning, turning them left and right.
He asked uncertainly, afraid he had misheard, “Master, are you telling the truth?”
At that moment, Qingxuan had quickly caught up.
Seeing the glistening fat on Zhao Fugui’s cheeks, he felt a wave of nausea.
He wished he could punch him, instantly transforming his already indistinct features into a colorful mess.
“If you don’t believe us, then we’ll just release it again!”
Straightening his back, he slightly curled his lip, deliberately speaking in a rough, sarcastic voice, his eyes filled with icy coldness.
“Ai…, no need, no need!”
Zhao Fugui panicked, waving his hands frantically and sweating profusely.
Although he was still skeptical, he thought that since these two masters did not ask for money for catching monsters and demons, only a few bolts of cloth, they were probably not deceiving him.
He quickly nodded his head repeatedly, like a chicken pecking rice.
“I believe you, I believe you!”
Seeing Zhao Fugui’s demeanor, Qianse slowly and deliberately spoke one word after another.
“Time to take our leave.”
At this moment, her cold expression conveyed not an ounce of ordinary human emotion.
Her eyes were icy and severe, sending shivers down one’s spine.
Zhao Fugui involuntarily shuddered.
Even standing right in front of him, he felt like there was a hazy barrier between them.
He could never clearly see her face.
If he tried to recall her afterward, he could only clearly remember every word she said, but his impression of her was extremely vague.
Beyond vaguely recalling that she was a woman, nothing else remained.
Thus, every time he thought of her, he was inexplicably terrified, feeling that this woman was even more mysterious and frightening than the monster in the dye house.
Interpreting her concise statement as a request for payment, Zhao Fugui shouted for a house servant while respectfully replying, “I will send someone to take the two masters to the cloth shop to find Steward Zhao. Just tell him whatever fabrics you need, and he will arrange everything properly.”
Only when he saw Qingxuan and Qianse leave with the servant did he dare to let out a long sigh, letting the fear that had been lodged in his throat finally settle.
He did not know that the one causing trouble in the dye house was Gu Huiniang’s soul, only thinking that the dye vat could not suppress Qi Ziru, thus leading to the commotion.
Regardless, he hoped that this matter was truly over, so he would no longer have to worry about anyone finding out his secret.
He hoped…
…
The Zhao family servant led Qingxuan and Qianse to the cloth shop.
As fate would have it, they ran into Fu Qiuniang again.
At this moment, Fu Qiuniang was facing Steward Zhao, her head bowed, looking embarrassed.
“Steward Zhao, I…”
She seemed very hesitant, stopping and starting, and only after a long moment did she summon the courage to say, “I would like to draw some silver.”
“You want to draw silver again?”
Steward Zhao frowned, but he did not look disgusted.
He only sighed with a slight difficulty, speaking the truth.
“The master has been watching the accounts very closely lately, and specifically told me not to give you any more silver.”
Even as he said this, he felt a little heartache.
He knew the unfortunate circumstances of the woman before him very well and wanted to help, but his ability was limited.
“Then…” Fu Qiuniang’s eyes suddenly reddened.
Her hands were still nervously twisting the corner of her clothes.
She looked so anxious that she was about to cry.
“What should I do? My brother’s illness…”
Earlier, she had gone to Zhao Fugui to ask for some money, but instead was met with cold sarcasm and ridicule, which was already deeply humiliating.
Now, having exhausted all other options, she thickened her skin and came to Steward Zhao for help.
The voices of the two were originally very low and their conversation would not have been noticed.
However, because Qingxuan and Qianse entered the cloth shop with light steps, Fu Qiuniang and Steward Zhao did not notice them and continued their discussion, allowing Qingxuan and Qianse to clearly hear this part of their conversation.
Steward Zhao was highly alert and did not reveal any more details of the conversation to Qingxuan and Qianse.
He quickly pulled a packet of silver fragments from his pocket and slipped it into Fu Qiuniang’s hand.
It looked like his accumulated private savings.
“Use this for a few days, and I’ll figure out another way!”
He finished his brief instructions and immediately turned around, adopting a respectful expression to greet Qingxuan and Qianse.
“Two masters, what can this humble one do for you?”
Qianse looked at Fu Qiuniang.
She saw the woman wipe her eyes, quickly put away the packet of silver fragments, lower her head, and swiftly exit the cloth shop, disappearing outside the door.
Turning back, Qianse glanced indifferently at Steward Zhao and opened her mouth with a deliberate tone.
“The matter is finished. The reward should naturally be honored.”
Having expressed what she needed to in the shortest possible words, she paid attention to Steward Zhao’s expression while continuing, “Zhao Fugui told us to select the cloth.”
In that instant, an indescribably strange look flashed across Steward Zhao’s face, quickly appearing and then vanishing instantly.
What remained was his calm, dutiful composure.
Qianse lowered her eyes, understanding in her heart, but she showed no emotion, keeping her face perfectly serene.
…
Qingxuan carried several large bolts of cloth, following behind Qianse, wondering all the while.
Hadn’t Master clearly said that the Zhao family matter was not over? Why was she now leaving in such a hurry after selecting the cloth? Zhao Fugui was still at large, the person who murdered Gu Huiniang had not yet appeared, and the motive for the murder was still unclear.
Was Master not planning to pursue the matter anymore?
As he pondered gloomily, he suddenly heard a noisy commotion ahead.
He couldn’t help but look up.
A thin man in worn clothing, who seemed to be suffering from a serious illness, was slightly hunched over.
He was leaning against the entrance of the medical clinic, his back bent, desperately pleading.
“Doctor Chen, please be kind and lend me some more medicine! I will bring the money to you immediately once I have it!”
Perhaps despising the man immensely, Doctor Chen impatiently stepped forward, wanting to push him away, but fearing that his hands would get dirty.
He casually grabbed a broom nearby and started chasing the man away haphazardly.
“Go, go, go! You are covered in pus and foul blood. Who knows what brothel you ran out of. Don’t dirty my shop and scare away my patients!”
Seeing that the man endured several strikes of the broom but still refused to leave, Doctor Chen became even more exasperated.
He aimed a hard sweep of the broom at the man’s face and cursed even more harshly.
“Get lost, you shameless male prostitute! I don’t treat your filthy disease here!”
The man took the full force of the broom strike, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his lip.
Seeing his hope extinguished, under the gaze of the crowd, he lowered his head and eyes.
His complexion was deathly pale, a bleak bluish gray.
He walked with great difficulty, step by step, down the clinic steps.
Everywhere he went, people quickly avoided him for fear of contamination.
Feeling that the voice and figure were both extremely familiar, Qingxuan paused blankly.
He suddenly set down the bolts of cloth he was holding by the roadside, walked quickly, and got ahead of the man. When he clearly saw the man’s appearance, he was stunned!
“Master Yunchuan?!”
He cried out in astonishment!
