Late at night.
In the pavilion outside Shan Yuan County.
On the stone table in the pavilion, three brocade boxes were stacked.
Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er did not speak, just sat quietly waiting on the side.
After a while, it started drizzling.
Light footsteps sounded on the muddy ground in the distance.
Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er almost simultaneously looked towards the direction of the footsteps.
It was a graceful and familiar figure, taller than the one Lin Ji had seen in the previous life's video.
Wearing a light yellow dress, stepping on embroidered shoes stained with mud, and still wearing the same plain mask.
Setting aside appearances, her figure was truly outstanding, making Lin Ji wonder about the aesthetic sense of the people in Shan Yuan County.
What a waste of natural beauty!
Seeing Huang Cui appear, Lin Ji was momentarily lost in thought.
"Lord Lin?" A voice brought Lin Ji back from his thoughts.
"This is my promise to you. The heads of the Jiang family father and son, as well as the one who defiled you, are all here." Lin Ji's eyes sparkled as he stared through the mask at Huang Cui's dim eyes.
At this moment, perhaps because of Lin Ji's words or the three heads on the table, there was finally a glimmer of light in those dim eyes.
Huang Cui walked into the pavilion, already wet from the rain.
She sat down, directly across from Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er.
"I've been following you during the day," Huang Cui's voice rang out.
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er exchanged a glance, each having their own expectations.
"Are you satisfied with this arrangement?" Lin Ji asked.
Huang Cui remained silent for a moment before shaking her head.
"I'm not satisfied because no matter how I seek revenge, I can never go back." Huang Cui continued, "But you've done so much for me, and I am content."
As she spoke, Huang Cui removed the mask from her face.
Just then, a flash of lightning illuminated the dark pavilion for a moment.
Her half beautiful, half fierce face flashed before Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er's eyes.
"Huang Cui is not an ungrateful person. You two are from the Monitoring Heaven Bureau, yet you've gone to such lengths for a lawbreaker like me. Whether it's out of pity for me or upholding justice, I shouldn't be pushing you both any further, causing more entanglement." Huang Cui smiled calmly.
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji subconsciously looked at Lu Zhao'er.
Lu Zhao'er kept her head down, lost in thought.
Lin Ji then turned to Huang Cui, knowing that she was ready to let go.
"Where do you plan to go next, Miss Huang?"
"I don't know, maybe back to the Huang family, or perhaps wander around." Huang Cui's tone was not very enthusiastic.
But at that moment, Lu Zhao'er suddenly raised her head.
"We sought revenge for you out of compassion, but in doing so, we have violated the laws of Da Qin." Lu Zhao'er looked at Lin Ji and Huang Cui.
"What do you mean?" Lin Ji furrowed his brows slightly.
"This matter has been settled for her, but she also owes an explanation to the Monitoring Heaven Bureau and the innocent people of Shan Yuan County." Lu Zhao'er spoke, avoiding eye contact with Lin Ji.
"Is Lu Youxing going to arrest me? Perhaps. Although I have suffered greatly, it has ultimately affected the innocent." Huang Cui smiled calmly.
"If he wants to arrest you, let him. Although I have been greatly wronged, I should not be aggressive anymore, causing further confusion."
With these words, Lin Ji handed three silver notes to Huang Cui. "Here are three thousand taels of silver notes. Distribute them to the innocent people you have affected in their dreams, then leave this place."
This statement left Huang Cui stunned, wondering why the two of them were not on the same side.
Lu Zhao'er, on the other hand, looked at Lin Ji coldly.
"What are you saying?!"
"Compassion should be shown in the law. Since you have already made an exception before, and agreed with my approach, let's go all the way. I will take full responsibility for the consequences."
As he spoke, Lin Ji handed the silver notes to Huang Cui, then gestured for her to leave.
Huang Cui, puzzled, asked, "Why should I leave? What are you waiting for?" Lin Ji whispered, "Hurry, and remember to be more vigilant in the future, don't be foolish again."
Huang Cui nodded, took the silver notes, gave Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er a strange look, then put on her mask, bowed, and quietly disappeared into the rainy night.
Only after Huang Cui had disappeared did Lin Ji turn to Lu Zhao'er.
"Why do I always feel like you are my superior?" Lu Zhao'er tilted her head, looking at Lin Ji with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Lu Youxing is joking. In front of you, I am just a rural demon catcher, nothing worth mentioning."
"A rural demon catcher casually giving away three thousand taels of silver notes?"
"Lord, I absolutely did not embezzle. Do you believe that I found these silver notes?"
"Smooth talker, I'd be a fool to believe you." Lu Zhao'er rolled her eyes at Lin Ji, not pursuing further.
"Lord Lin, what do you think the outcome of this case would be if it were handled according to the laws of Da Qin?"
"You know the answer, you are more familiar with the laws of Da Qin than I am."
"I want to hear the answer from you." Lu Zhao'er emphasized.
Lin Ji shook his head and smiled.
He knew that Lu Zhao'er was looking for reasons, trying to console herself for letting Huang Cui go, clearly showing her sympathy for Huang Cui as a woman.
"According to the laws of Da Qin, even if Jiang Huangshi died in the Jiang family, the government would not interfere."
"Not interfere?"
"Not interfere." Lin Ji nodded heavily. "After marrying into the Jiang family, whether Huang Cui, or Jiang Huangshi, lives or dies, whether she was taken away and sold by the Jiang family, or beaten at home every day, it is the Jiang family's own business."
"In a case like this, even if the Jiang family does not report it, no matter how heinous their actions, the government cannot intervene."
Lu Zhao'er let out a sigh of relief, stood up, walked out of the pavilion, and into the rainy night.
She did not use her spiritual energy to keep the rain off, letting the misty spring rain fall on her.
It seemed like she wanted to use this slightly cool rain to clear her mind.
She stood in the rain for half an hour.
Lin Ji stood quietly in the pavilion, watching her for half an hour.
The drenched Lu Zhao'er unexpectedly had a great figure, not inferior to Huang Cui!
"What am I thinking? What's wrong with me today?" Lin Ji slapped his forehead, no longer entertaining these distractions.
After a long time.
"Perhaps you did the right thing," Lu Zhao'er turned to Lin Ji, "Let's go!"
"Go where?" Lin Ji was puzzled.
"To the next place," Lu Zhao'er replied.
Lin Ji could only follow, taking a few quick steps to walk side by side with Lu Zhao'er.
Neither of them mentioned Huang Cui again.
Just as they had walked for a short while, there was a slight movement above their heads.
It was a pigeon, with a lively air, landing on Lu Zhao'er's shoulder.
"A carrier pigeon?" Lin Ji raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised.
"This is a spirit pigeon raised by the Monitoring Heaven Bureau for communication," Lu Zhao'er explained.
"Is it safe? Can't a second realm cultivator capture such a pigeon?"
"What can they do even if they capture it?" Lu Zhao'er took out her Star Token and waved it in front of the pigeon, "They only recognize the Bureau's token, it's useless if someone else catches it."
The pigeon then opened its mouth and spat out a small piece of paper.
Curious, Lin Ji couldn't help but ask, "What does it say?"
(End of this chapter)