"This sir, that's right, my name is Nian Dabao."
Nian Jiaojiao quickly spoke up to interrupt whatever the other person was about to say. Seeing their momentarily stunned expression, she simply smiled calmly:
"Sir, if you're looking to inquire about Zhao Mazi's affairs when he was alive, I actually know a little."
The yamen runner looked somewhat surprised:
"Oh? I'm eager to hear about it."
She could tell that this Nian Tongshou didn't want others to know she recognized her.
Some people just didn't want to get involved with officials.
Regardless, since she wanted to appease the other party, why expose them?
Thus, her tone became businesslike.
Nian Jiaojiao replied respectfully:
"Sir, although this Zhao Mazi wasn't a good person, there was a group of people who had a conflict with him just yesterday."
"A group?"
The yamen runner's heart stirred; they hadn't expected there to be a lead.
Nian Jiaojiao nodded and continued:
"It's quite a coincidence, but my husband was acquainted with Zhao Mazi's husband. Unexpectedly, his handsome life was short-lived, and he died so suddenly."
Upon hearing Nian Jiaojiao refer to Zhang Jie as a "handsome life," the surrounding villagers twitched their lips in unison.
This Nian Dabao's preferences were still so peculiar...
Unaware of their thoughts, Nian Jiaojiao truthfully recounted their encounter with Zhang Mu.
The yamen runner fell into thought after listening.
In this light, Zhang Jie's mother had the motive, and the timing of looking for Zhao Mazi also matched. It seemed she was currently the biggest suspect.
Thus, she said to Nian Jiaojiao:
"Nian... well, you've done well. If this case is solved, I will certainly report it to the magistrate! Oh, right, where is that Zhang mother?"
...
Linyuan Village.
After happily distributing the silver to everyone, Zhang Mu, carrying Zhaoya on her back, said to Mr. Ma Xiu, "Mr. Ma Xiu, there should be herbs in the forest, let's go find some for you." She left Ma Xiu alone in the clearing.
Not long after, the three heard a commotion behind them. Xiao Jie, carrying Zhaoya, immediately went to find Ma Xiu, only to see him confronting a rhinoceros.
Xiao Jie had just calmed the rhinoceros when Leorio, who had arrived, attacked the rhinoceros's head without a word, provoking its pursuit.
Zhaoya: This clown...
After a while, the rhinoceros left. Xiao Jie suddenly noticed that Ma Xiu's leg had healed and congratulated him.
Ma Xiu instantly felt what it was like to be in a socially awkward situation.
Zhaoya also took the opportunity to get down from Xiao Jie's back.
Ma Xiu pointed at Zhaoya and said, "Didn't you say you couldn't walk? How are you standing again?"
His words implied Zhaoya was faking her illness.
Kurapika, standing beside them, sneered, "Since Mr. Ma Xiu's leg can heal, it's natural that Xiao Ya's leg can heal too. Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Ma Xiu?"
Cornered, Ma Xiu could only shut his mouth.
...
Not long after, the five people arrived at a desolate village. The surroundings were filled with unfinished buildings, showing no signs of habitation, and various colored rags hung overhead.
As soon as Leorio arrived, he started complaining, "What a desolate place, do people live here?"
However, Xiao Jie said, "But there are many people living around here."
Gradually, as an old woman with a mask, colorful hair, and a white cloth draped over her emerged, a group of unknown creatures followed, continuously mumbling:
"dokidokidoki"
"dokidokidoki"
"dokidokidoki"
"..."
Zhaoya thought, this must be that famous "choose one of two" scenario.
Indeed, the old woman standing at the front said, "Only the designated answer is acceptable; all other answers will be considered incorrect."
Leorio quickly asked, "Wait, are the four of us answering one question?"
The old woman replied, "Wouldn't that be faster?"
Leorio continued to press, pointing at Kurapika, "But if he answers incorrectly, won't it implicate me in answering incorrectly?"
Zhaoya sweatdropped: Hey, hey, hey, Leorio, Kurapika's intellect crushes yours, where do you get your confidence from?
Ma Xiu eagerly wanted to distance himself from the four: "Can I answer the question first?"
The old woman agreed.
When they learned that the other party was merely using them to reach this place safely, Leorio became enraged.
Zhaoya smiled at Leorio, "Leorio, let's let Mr. Ma Xiu, who is so confident, answer first." He's about to meet his end soon.
Ma Xiu answered that he would save his mother and not his lover, stating that he only had one mother and could find another lover. The old woman then allowed him to pass.
Leorio became angry, saying there couldn't be a correct answer, and turned to leave, but was stopped by Kurapika.
The old woman continued to ask, "If both your son and daughter were captured, and you could only save one, 1 for daughter, 2 for son, which would you save?"
Soon, the answering entered a countdown. When the countdown ended, Leorio, thinking he had been eliminated, was about to act but was held back by Kurapika and Zhaoya.
Kurapika explained the reason, and the old woman revealed the true path. The four then proceeded towards the cedar tree on the mountaintop, finally reaching their destination at night.
Below the cedar tree was a wooden house, with no lights on inside.
Sigh... another scene awaits... I'm so hungry~
Zhaoya touched her emaciated stomach and sighed silently.
Kurapika comforted her, "Xiao Ya, look, there's a house ahead. If we find the owner, we should be able to get something to eat."
Zhaoya was not comforted.
She really wanted to tell Kura that there was no food ahead, only the wolf family waiting for them.
Leorio knocked on the door. When there was no response after a while, he apologized and pushed the door open.
The three were startled by the monstrous figure and immediately attacked to save the person they found lying on the ground.
The wolf, taking the female owner with it, escaped. Kurapika and Xiao Jie immediately pursued, while Zhaoya and Leorio remained to tend to the injured male owner.
Leorio took out the medical supplies from the box to treat the wound, comforting the injured party as he worked.
Zhaoya quietly watched the male wolf perform.
She needed to let Leorio utilize his skills, as this was an assessment, and exposing it now might cause Leorio to fail.
Zhaoya, suspended in mid-air, felt awkward.
Oh no! Too much force!
Reaching the apex of her ascent, she had no support and quickly began to fall freely.
Soon, upon reaching the ground, due to the height and the enhancement from the "Force" card, she created a large crater.
"Boom—!!!"
A deafening sound erupted, and from Zhaoya's center, the ground cracked outwards, sending dust flying.
"Xiao Ya?" Kurapika's voice came from behind.
Zhaoya turned around and saw the surprised Kurapika, and froze... It's over, it's over! Her image as a weak girl is about to be ruined!
Just as she was filled with regret, she suddenly felt herself being lifted from behind, and a perverse voice reached her ears: "Mmm~ what have I caught here~♤♢." Because they were so close, she could clearly feel the breath emanating from the other party.