Chapter 789
Searching and Searching
After merging with most of the corpses and having the Soul-Suppressing Nails removed, many chaotic images did flash through Xiao Hong's mind, and she recovered some memories. However, they were not connected, and after the pain subsided, many of the fleeting images disappeared and could no longer be recalled.
She gets very distressed whenever she thinks about it too deeply.
Xiao Hong stood there for a long time, then finally murmured, "Xi Yan..."
Pan Jun perked up and asked, "Who is Xi Yan?"
She never mentioned Ji'an to Xiao Hong, nor did she mention Xi Yan.
My head was throbbing with intense pain, as if a huge boulder was weighing down inside, making my head feel like it was about to explode.
She shook her head in anguish.
Hongyan immediately stepped forward and hugged her, coaxing, "Alright, alright, if you can't remember, then we won't think about it anymore."
She glared at Pan Yun: "Why do we have to remember? If investigating a case requires the voices of the wronged, what's the point of having officials? Just go to the yamen and ask!"
Pan Jun nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, don't think about the pain. Let's go find your bones first."
Golden sand flashed in Pan Jun's palm; this was merit, which she bestowed upon Xiao Hong.
She discovered this morning when she removed the Soul-Suppressing Nail. As long as she has a compassionate heart and sincerely gives merit to Xiao Hong, Xiao Hong will benefit and will not be harmed by the golden light of merit.
She had a vague feeling that it was just like her descendants being blessed by her and inheriting her merits.
Although it shouldn't be, Pan Yun's gaze towards Xiao Hong now carries a hint of kindness.
Not to mention Xiao Hong, even someone as oblivious as Miao He noticed the change in her junior uncle's gaze and then shuddered.
Wang Cong hurried away, saying, "Hurry up and look for it, it's already past noon."
Pan Yun pulled the mallet out of the spiritual space, shook it to turn it into a human, and then shoved it into Tao Yanbai's hands: "You two keep each other company. Alright, now split into pairs and search separately. No matter what method you use, do a thorough search and make sure you find Xiao Hong's bones!"
Everyone agreed in unison, and the ten people divided into five groups to search downwards in a fan shape.
Xue Shao had little knowledge of magic, but as an imperial censor and the nephew of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he knew quite a few methods of gathering evidence.
So he took Xijin with him and began searching using his own methods of evidence gathering.
Pan Yun and Wang Cong were left behind, and the two of them walked around while observing their surroundings.
Xiao Hong said that she was captured by Zhang Weiliang three years ago and kept by his side.
Before being caught, she fled in panic, but was eventually caught by Zhang Weiliang's magical artifact.
They fought, and even though three years have passed, the marks will still be there if you look closely.
Especially in remote forests, traces from three years ago can still be preserved.
The two walked a short distance, and Wang Cong saw a pile of droppings on the withered leaves. He immediately squatted down to take a look and said to Pan Yun, "It's a wolf."
Pan Yun: "Find it!"
Wang Cong followed the trail to find the wolf for her, while Pan Jun looked up at the tree branch, shushed twice, and asked the bird on the branch, "Do you know where the wolf is?"
The bird, which had just landed on a branch after flapping its wings, peered down, shook its head from side to side, and chirped in bird language, "Fool, fool, talk to me..."
Pan Xiaohei chuckled, then quickly jumped off Pan Jun's shoulder, silently climbed up the tree, and quietly moved behind the little bird, pulling it under its claws and pinning it down.
Pan Yun grinned, revealing her teeth: "That's right, I'm talking to a silly bird."
The silly bird looked completely dazed.
Pan Jun asked, "How old are you? Do you know where this inconsiderate wolf that urinates and defecates everywhere is?" The silly bird flapped its wings and struggled, but Pan Xiaohei held it down tightly. It then screamed, "Over there, over there, in the tree hole of the big banyan tree."
Pan Jun nodded in satisfaction and casually asked, "How old are you? Did you see a Taoist priest chasing a female ghost here three years ago?"
The silly bird's brain capacity was obviously not enough to understand such a long sentence, and Pan Xiaohei directly released it, licked its paws and said, "It's only a little over a year old, and it's at the perfect time to be plump and delicious."
Pan Yun praised it, saying, "You are indeed insightful. You actually dared to release such a plump and silly bird."
Pan Xiaohei grinned at her: "Stop feeding me fish, I want meat tonight!"
"no problem!"
Pan Yun gestured with his chin towards Wang Cong and said, "Let's go find that wolf."
In broad daylight, the wolf was sleeping in its den. It was too cold, so it had stockpiled some food. There hadn't been any prey around lately, so it didn't leave its den unless absolutely necessary.
It was fast asleep when it heard the footsteps of its prey coming softly from the ground, and it suddenly rolled over and sat up.
The wolf stood on its forelegs, its back arched, staring intently at the entrance to the cave, a hint of unease in its expression.
No, what's coming isn't prey, it's an enemy, and the enemy is very powerful.
The thought had barely crossed my mind when I heard footsteps stop at the entrance of the hole, and then a handful of dry grass was stuffed in. Soon after, sparks flew up, and smoke rushed into the tree hole with the wind.
The wolf paused for a moment, then became restless and uneasy. Finally, it made a desperate gamble, suddenly pushing aside the burning hay and leaping out. But before it could even see its enemy clearly, it was kicked away.
Its body slammed against the tree with a thud and then slid down.
It growled softly, quickly got to its feet, and turned to face its enemy.
Pan Jun unleashed his full power, suppressing it. After looking it up and down, he nodded slightly: "An old wolf that has been separated from its pack or driven out, how long have you lived in this forest?"
Its green eyes stared at her intently, without a trace of anger, only a thirst for life. Its pupils twitched slightly, eagerly searching for a way out.
Pan Yun raised her hand, and a sword appeared out of thin air in her hand. She pointed the sword at it and said, "I know you understand. Answer me!"
The wolf stared intently into Pan Jun's eyes and let out two whimpers from its throat.
"Two winters? What a pity. Then let me ask you, who stayed in this forest the longest?"
A moment later, the wolf led the way, taking Pan Yun and Wang Cong through a forest and finally to a patch of grass.
Wang Cong stepped forward and lifted the cover, quickly finding the hole hidden under the weeds.
Wang Cong dutifully grabbed a handful of dry grass, stuffed it in, and lit a fire.
A moment later, a wisp of smoke rose from a clump of wild grass not far away, and a figure in earthen yellow rushed out along with the smoke.
Pan Jun flashed in front of it, kicked it away, and it crashed to the ground next to the wolf with a thud.
The wolf stood motionless, its eyes slightly darting around as it stared at the weasel that had been kicked down and was unable to get up for a long time, a gleam of pleasure flashing in its eyes.
Pan Yun walked up and, together with Wang Cong, blocked them from the front and back.
When the weasel realized that playing dead was useless, it quickly rolled over and stood up. Seeing the wolf with its tail hanging down obediently, it took two steps back in fright and stared intently at Pan Yun with its big eyes.
Animals have a better intuition than humans; it knew that this human was very capable.
Pan Jun: "Don't worry, I don't have a hobby of killing wolves. I just have a few questions for you. I heard from the old wolf that you've lived in this forest for a long time?"
The weasel lowered its head and squeaked in submission, but its eyes swept upwards, filled with hatred. (End of Chapter)