Chapter 3: I Have a Secret

Mo Zheng sat down on a rock by the roadside and laid the wild rabbits out in front of him, calling out to passersby to ask if they wanted fresh game.

Of course, no one was interested in buying mountain goods at a time like this.

Yang Luo curled up in the shadow Mo Zheng cast on the ground.

The soldiers guarding the intersection saw that the two hadn't left, but since they didn't approach, they paid them no further mind.

Mo Zheng waved a bamboo pole to shoo away the flies and insects gathering on the rabbits.

Ever since she spoke those words to the leader of the soldiers, Yang Luo hadn't said another word. She remained curled up, motionless.

Mo Zheng broke the silence first: "Do you not want people to know whose family you belong to?"

The curled-up girl did not speak.

Mo Zheng squinted toward the entrance of the town. As news spread, more people gathered, and more friends and relatives arrived, crowding the town entrance until it was packed solid.

"You could have someone send a message inside," Mo Zheng suggested.

"No, no need," Yang Luo finally spoke. Her head was buried in her knees, her voice muffled. "My family is all dead."

Mo Zheng looked at the rabbit carcasses on the ground. As expected...

"Those bandits killed my family yesterday, and then they came to hunt me down," Yang Luo continued.

At this, she raised her head and looked at the young man sitting beside her. In the daylight, his face was dusty, his eyes lowered, revealing no emotion.

"Also, there is something I kept from you," Yang Luo said. "They aren't ordinary bandits. They came specifically to kill our family."

Mo Zheng turned to look at her, his brow slightly furrowed: "You mean it wasn't a bandit raid, but someone disguised as bandits to commit murder?"

Yang Luo nodded, tears sliding down again: "I'm sorry, I hid it from you."

This was far more dangerous than a chance encounter with bandits. This was a vendetta, a matter of wiping out an entire household; getting involved in such a thing was terrifying.

The hunter youth showed no fear or resentment, only shaking his head: "That’s nothing. Whether they were bandits or not, if I encounter someone committing a crime, I naturally have to save the victim."

What a simple, kind-hearted youth. Yang Luo looked at him and wept again.

Her expression grew complex once more.

Joy, gratitude, sorrow, confusion.

The other emotions were easy to understand, but confusion? Why? Mo Zheng coughed lightly: "So, what are your plans now? You can't just ignore your family's tragedy."

Before Yang Luo could answer, the sound of urgent hoofbeats rang out. Another troop of men arrived at a gallop—a dozen or so soldiers escorting a man in official robes, who looked very dignified.

Seeing this group, the soldiers guarding the town entrance immediately dispersed the gathered crowd. The lead soldiers and the officials inside the town hurried forward to welcome them.

"It's the Inspector."

"The Inspector is here."

...

...

"I've heard of that official before. He's from the capital; he arrived near Lu County last month," Mo Zheng said, watching the official being escorted.

"He was sent by the Emperor to inspect. He's a very high-ranking official."

Yang Luo watched as well, seeing the official look at the devastation of Baima Town with great anger. He reprimanded the local officials and soldiers, and helped up the surviving townspeople who were kneeling and weeping, offering them comfort.

Although they were too far away to hear the specific words, one could tell from his expression and lip movements that he was promising the people he would surely wipe out the bandits and avenge the dead.

"Such a high-ranking official can surely make decisions," Mo Zheng continued. "You can go and tell him the truth, and have him thoroughly investigate the murderers of your family."

Yang Luo, however, lowered her head and fell silent again.

Refusing to see her dead relatives, and refusing to report to the authorities? Mo Zheng looked at the girl curled on the ground: "I’ve brought you to Baima Town. I can't sell mountain goods here, so I'm going into the city. These wild rabbits can't stay overnight, or they won't be fresh."

To the hunter youth, no matter how tragic the scene, it had nothing to do with him; selling his prey for a good price was the priority for his survival.

Seeing the youth finish speaking and proceed to hang the rabbits back on his bamboo pole before walking toward the county town, Yang Luo hurried to follow.

Mo Zheng turned back, looking somewhat helpless: "Why are you still following me?"

Yang Luo looked at him, tears swirling in her eyes: "I... I have nowhere to go. I'm scared."

Seeing the girl like this, Mo Zheng could understand. A fledgling bird that had escaped death only to lose its nest would be extremely dependent on the one who saved it.

Mo Zheng softened his tone and looked toward Baima Town, where the soldiers were maintaining order: "Don't be afraid. The government will handle it. Such a high-ranking official has arrived; go and report it to him quickly."

Yang Luo shook her head, biting her lip hard, as if making a difficult decision.

"There is one more thing I haven't told you," she said.

There's more? Mo Zheng frowned at her.

Yang Luo leaned closer and lowered her voice: "The murderers who killed my family are in league with the government."

As soon as she said this, she saw the hunter youth's somewhat blank expression change instantly, his slightly narrow eyes widening.

"What?" he said.

He took a step back, his gaze toward her becoming complex—shock, suspicion, and bewilderment.

"You, don't talk nonsense," Mo Zheng said.

Criminals killing people is one thing, but the government being involved in the killing is a completely different matter.

This was too terrifying.

Yang Luo took a step toward him: "I'm not talking nonsense. If you don't believe me, just wait and see. In two days, the government will arrest some people and announce at the city gates that they are the bandits."

Mo Zheng took another step back, his expression suggesting he suspected she might have been driven mad by the trauma: "After such a major case, the government is bound to hunt down the bandits. With this high-ranking official from the capital in charge, what is so strange about catching them?"

Yang Luo looked at him, enunciating each word: "Those aren't the real bandits. They are death-row prisoners pulled from the dungeons to act the part, just to close the case."

Mo Zheng seemed not to understand: "What?"

Yang Luo continued: "You fought the bandits. When the time comes, you'll see for yourself. The 'bandits' the government executes will be frail and weak, with no strength in their limbs—they won't be comparable to the bandits you fought at all."

The hunter youth looked at her and asked slowly: "How do you know what the government will do in two days?"

Yang Luo's expression stiffened; for a moment, she couldn't speak.

Mo Zheng turned and walked away, looking as if he knew she was just spouting nonsense.

Yang Luo grew anxious and hurried to catch up: "A-Sheng, listen to me, I'm not lying to you—"

...

...

A-Sheng.

Mo Zheng stopped abruptly.

Yang Luo, rushing to catch up, was caught off guard and bumped into him, nearly falling over.

Mo Zheng grabbed her wrist and pulled her in front of him.

The hunter youth's narrow eyes shone with a cold light.

"How do you know my name?" he said. "I don't recall telling you what I'm called."

Yang Luo's face, already wiped of most of the soot, turned deathly pale. The next moment, she was yanked forward, the hunter youth dragging her toward Baima Town.

"I'm taking you to the authorities right now. I don't understand what you're saying; go tell them yourself."

That wouldn't do. Yang Luo reached out and grabbed the hunter youth's arm: "Listen to me, I'll tell you—I have a secret."

Mo Zheng didn't stop walking, saying with a hint of mockery: "Miss, you have quite a few secrets, don't you?"

First, the criminals were out to wipe out her family, then the criminals were in league with the government, and now what?

Yang Luo's tears fell: "Because I didn't dare say it, and you wouldn't believe me if I did. Actually..."

She looked at the youth and gritted her teeth.

"I can foresee the future."

Foresee the future? Mo Zheng stopped walking and looked at the girl clutching his arm.

Is this for real?

(End of chapter)