Vengeful spirits? Let's get out of the dungeon first!

Chapter 23 Bloodstained Sleeves

"Brother, do you think they'll believe you if you just advertise like that?"

He took out an old-fashioned brass lock key from his bag, and with a click, the door of Aokido opened.

"You have to trust your master's reputation. He has been in Jinchuan City for more than ten years, and he is known not only by people working at funeral stalls."

Inside the room, two paper-figure employees were using planes to smooth willow planks, a task assigned by Ma Ye before he left.

There were supposed to be rest periods, but this employee number three seems to have picked up the bad habits of management.

"Liu Gan, it's not time to start work yet, you should take a break."

Upon hearing his boss's concern, Liu Gan, who had just been pretending to be focused on his work, quickly put down the plane in his hand, stood up, and smiled obsequiously.

"We've all become ghosts, so we're not tired anymore. There's no need for us to rest."

Mr. Ma, what have you thought about what we discussed before?

"Xiao Liu, we're still a startup company, so our cash flow isn't high and cash rewards will take some time to arrive."

"As long as you work hard, once Qingmutang's business grows bigger and stronger, all your requests will be fulfilled!"

Qin Qing had heard of this kind of flatbread more than a hundred times in his life, but now he was living under someone else's roof and had even caused trouble, so he could only be "slaughtered" by others.

"Yes, yes, yes, do you and Miss Zhu have any other instructions?"

We couldn't go out of the house either; we could only go to the back to chop bamboo after dark.

Ma Ye didn't have anything for the two of them to do, and turned to look at Zhu Jin, who, as the second employee, didn't have any new instructions either.

"I don't need to chop too many bamboos in the back, I can't weave them all."

Has anyone been here today? I didn't see this thing on the table before I left.

When Zhu Jin went to rummage through the cabinet for mosquito repellent, she noticed a new package on the table that didn't look like a delivery they had ordered.

When asked about the things on the table, Liu Gan told the truth.

"This was brought by Lord Day Wanderer. He said that you two should be very interested in what's inside, and told us not to touch it."

It was a very ordinary kraft paper package. Ma Ye didn't see any stamps or express delivery slips, only the three characters "Qingmutang" written in one corner.

Without needing a knife, Ma Ye pulled hard with both hands, revealing a letter and a cardboard box.

There were no markings on it, so he had no choice but to open the box and take a look.

As soon as he lifted a corner, Ma Ye's hands trembled, and the cardboard box fell onto the table.

"What's wrong, bro? Another one of those amazing tools the City God gave you?"

"No, come and see for yourself."

Having just applied floral water to her legs, Zhu Jin didn't think too much and slowly walked towards the table.

As soon as she opened the box, her mouth involuntarily gaped open, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Inside the cardboard box was a bloodstained sleeve.

Authentic Shu brocade was my teacher's wife's favorite fabric. When she left without saying goodbye, this dress also disappeared from her wardrobe.

The once-shine fabric was now covered in dust, snags, dirt, and even a few holes.

"Brother! Where did Master's wife and the others go?!"

"Couldn't you go ask the City God? We've both risked our lives, and we still can't find out where our master and mistress are!"

Tears streamed into her mouth, and even sobs couldn't suppress Zhu Jin's resentment.

Ma Ye was already sitting in a chair, holding the envelope.

"Before you even started your vacation, I went to the City God Temple to ask him. The City God looked very troubled. I felt like he definitely knew something."

"Then just ask!"

Even after using three or four tissues, Zhu Jin couldn't hold back her tears. Her eyes were red and her fists were clenched.

She had tried her best to imagine that her master and mistress were just going on a long trip, but this piece of sleeve shattered her dream.

"I asked, and he said the time wasn't right yet."

"When will we arrive?!"

"Wait until we are both able to protect ourselves."

Not getting the answer she wanted, Zhu Jin hugged the cardboard box and ran back into the house.

With a loud bang, the small door slammed shut, and silence fell instantly inside and out.

Squatting on the ground, Qin Qing didn't dare to provoke bad luck, so he quickened his movements even more.

Liu Gan walked over to Ma Ye with a cup of jasmine tea and carefully expressed his concern.

"Mr. Ma, please don't worry too much."

"To have taught two such outstanding juniors like you, I believe your master and mistress are blessed with good fortune and will surely be safe and sound."

"Go do what you're supposed to do and don't bother me."

Taking the teacup, Ma Ye didn't even drink from it, but placed it directly on the table, tearing open one side of the envelope in his hand.

"Xiao Ma, this thing was discovered by our colleagues in the west. I guess you've already recognized what it is."

Don't worry, the blood on it isn't your master's wife's or your master's, but it's not human blood either.

Based on current information, your master and mistress seem to be fine, and no other traces have been found at the scene.

I will help you investigate the matter afterward, but don't be too hasty. After all, your master acted too extremely when he was young and made a lot of enemies.

Right now, your safety in Jinchuan City shouldn't be greatly affected. You should still focus on mastering the skills your master taught you.

The peaceful days won't last long.

Before Ma Ye could even show Zhu Jin the contents of the letter, it quickly floated into the air and spontaneously combusted, leaving not even ashes behind.

"Now I'm in a real bind, with no way to defend myself."

The sobbing inside the small house gradually grew louder; it was time for Ma Ye, as the older brother, to do something productive.

"Xiao Jin, I'm coming in."

He knocked lightly on the door. The sobbing inside stopped for a moment, then resumed. There were no angry words of refusal. Ma Ye slowly pushed the door open.

The afternoon sun shone into the room, and Ma Ye could see Zhu Jin's shadow curled up on the bed through the curtains separating the room.

Pulling back the curtain, Zhu Jin was clutching the sleeve, letting her tears fall onto her pillowcase.

Just as Zhu Jin was about to smell the lingering odor, she couldn't help but vomit before she could even bring her nose close to it.

"Ugh, no! This isn't human blood! It stinks!"

"The City God said that the blood on it is not from my master and mistress, so we can rest assured."

But the letter spontaneously combusted, so I can't show it to you.

Upon hearing the news that her master and mistress were unharmed, Zhu Jin became increasingly annoyed as she looked at the things in her hands.

I was about to throw it into the trash can when I felt a little reluctant.

"Let it spontaneously combust."

"So you believe what I said?"

"You're my brother, who else should I trust if not you?"

Brushing the dust off his pants, Ma Ye sat down on the edge of Zhu Jin's bed. Just as he was about to turn his head, he felt the warmth of her embrace.

Gently stroking the little girl's head, Ma Ye felt Zhu Jin's tears slowly stop.

"Brother, why do you think Master and Mistress adopted us in the first place?"

"How would I know? Maybe they're afraid of doing too many bad things when they were young, and raising two children is a way to accumulate some good karma."

Upon hearing Ma Ye's words, Zhu Jin couldn't help but giggle.

Tears and snot from her face smeared directly onto Ma Ye's short-sleeved shirt, making it sticky.

"Is Mr. Ma here? I'm the noodle shop owner!"

"Yes! Just a moment!"

Zhu Jin, who was wiping her face with her head tilted to the side, was stunned when she heard the greeting. Why did this person come at this time?

But Ma Ye had no choice but to go out. He picked up a clean short-sleeved shirt from the bedside; the one Zhu Jin had just thrown on the floor as a tissue.

Opening the small door, Liu Gan and Qin Qingyou were already lying on the ground as required. When Ma Ye passed by, Liu Gan even nodded slightly to him.

"Please come in. What brings you two here today?"

The noodle shop owner, who was leading the way, walked in carrying a black bag, followed by the chef who had recognized Ma Ye earlier.

"Mr. Ma, I was blind to your greatness before, and I hope you will forgive me for my offense."

I'm here again because of my dad's matter.