Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2718 - 2719: Eating Human Flesh

"Ayi, why are you here?" Bai Ruozhu asked.

Ayi was somewhat nervous, speaking cautiously, "Sir, I didn’t mean to cause you trouble, but the great elder sent someone to my house during the day and took Yunyun away!"

"So soon!" Bai Ruozhu was a bit surprised.

"Something happened in the clan recently, and although they haven’t officially started selecting the holy maiden, they took Yunyun away. They must be in a hurry, and I really don’t know what they will do to the child," Ayi said, beginning to cry. "I knew you would come here, and I saw there was an entrance to Yuchen Palace here, so I wanted to beg for your help."

"I’m really not familiar with this place, blindly attempting to rescue Yunyun without knowing the direction won’t work. I’d better contact the people at Yuchen Palace and let them help us," Bai Ruozhu said.

Ayi nodded, "I don’t have much ability, but I can see some things. A few days ago, the incidents were related to Yuchen Palace, where a prohibition was activated."

Jiang Yichun frowned, "Did the people from Yuchen Palace awaken the Giant Turtle? That’s impossible, they spilled a lot of blood nearly causing fatalities."

"Perhaps it wasn’t the people from Yuchen Palace, but the place is within Yuchen Palace," Ayi said with certainty.

Bai Ruozhu looked at Jiang Yichun, "I understand now, it’s the woman imprisoned in Yuchen Palace."

She then looked at Ayi, "You should go back first, I’ll send someone to ask you if there’s any news, but don’t take this risk. If discovered by the elders, you’ll be in trouble."

Ayi nodded, "I’ll go back first; tomorrow I’ll request to see Yunyun and observe the situation."

"Be very careful." Bai Ruozhu held her hand.

"Don’t worry, they don’t know about my abilities. When my parents were alive, they forbade me to tell anyone," Ayi said.

"Your parents are wise," Bai Ruozhu nodded.

The merfolk elder and aristocrats have hidden too many secrets; there’s no way they would allow someone like Ayi with special abilities to exist. Ayi’s parents taught her to hide her abilities as a form of protection.

Ayi bid farewell with a bow and hurriedly left.

Bai Ruozhu took out the Golden Feather, pulling Jiang Yichun into Yuchen Palace’s barrier, but he couldn’t follow.

She had to return the same way, seeing Jiang Yichun standing anxiously on the beach, looking unsure of where she had gone.

"Perhaps their barrier has strengthened, I can break through with the entrance, but it only lets me go in alone," Bai Ruozhu said, then handed the Golden Feather to Jiang Yichun. "Try it."

"Alright." Jiang Yichun took the Golden Feather and walked forward as Bai Ruozhu instructed, but the scene before him didn’t change, and he stepped straight into the seawater.

"It seems the Golden Feather only recognizes you as its master." Jiang Yichun returned the Golden Feather to her.

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment and said, "Why don’t you go back first, find your father and Lan Ying, Duannian to meet Duannian’s father, and use medicine for interrogation."

Waiting on the beach is not suitable; with no cover at all, it’s too easy to be exposed.

"Alright, be careful; we’ll meet at the bamboo house." Jiang Yichun watched her disappear into the barrier before returning to find Gao Zhou and the others.

Bai Ruozhu entered Yuchen Palace and quickly found Ma Nai, who was a bit surprised, "You really have some skills, entering without alerting us at all. Come, follow me to meet Master."

The master Ma Nai mentioned was the leader of Yuchen Palace, Yu Chenzi. Bai Ruozhu noticed a resemblance with Elder Xu Chenzi, and she seemed to be a few years older.

"Greetings to the leader of Yuchen Palace," Bai Ruozhu stepped forward and bowed.

Yu Chenzi’s face was pale, dressed in a Taoist robe, making her appear stern, unlike the friendly demeanor of the great elder.

Sadly, appearances can be deceptive. The great elder may appear kind but he isn’t kind in his deeds, a smiling tiger.

"No need for formalities, Sir Bai. I heard you met Xu Chenzi?" Yu Chenzi asked.

Bai Ruozhu thought that this wasn’t the time for small talk.

"I met her in Fusang. Before leaving, she stayed with the Fusang Royal Family to ensure the Emperor’s safety."

Yu Chenzi nodded, "And Shanhu?"

Bai Ruozhu chuckled, "I happened to help her a little."

Yu Chenzi’s gaze softened slightly, "I’m curious how you entered so freely."

"It’s this," Bai Ruozhu didn’t hide it, and revealed the Golden Feather.

"So it’s a token of the Jiuli Clan." Yu Chenzi reflected, "The Jiuli Clan is indeed extraordinary."

Ma Nai was beside herself with impatience, wishing to urge them on, but her master seemed completely unhurried.

Bai Ruozhu didn’t urge either; if she appeared anxious now, she’d seem incapable of composure, and she didn’t want to be too passive in this cooperation.

Finally, Yu Chenzi sighed and said, "Since we’re cooperating, why not lay our cards on the table?"

"Can you speak freely? Didn’t you say that revealing secrets triggers the prohibition, slowly causing your body to rot?" Bai Ruozhu asked.

"You know quite a bit, but I’m not affected; only Yuchen Palace’s leader isn’t subject to the prohibition. Otherwise, negotiations would be impossible. But the Yuchen Palace leader can never leave Merfolk Island," Yu Chenzi looked downcast; she hadn’t even seen the outside sky.

Bai Ruozhu sympathized with them; they weren’t merfolk. Perhaps they were orphans taken for their talent, stolen and forcibly kept, drained to their last drop of blood.

"The woman imprisoned in a cave in Yuchen Palace, who is she?" Bai Ruozhu asked, pulling her distant thoughts back.

Yu Chenzi’s expression changed slightly, "A person even more pitiful than us."

Bai Ruozhu remembered her weakness; her blood must have nearly been drained.

Yu Chenzi suddenly laughed mockingly, "Unlike us, who are outsiders, she is a merfolk. Do you know that merfolk are cursed, unable to live past thirty? Due to their heavy sins, they’re doomed!"

"The merfolk elders do not wish to die so young, and since generations ago, they’ve started finding ways to extend life, experimenting on many people, eventually creating the longevity person."

Ma Nai, beside her, had reddened eyes, "I often go to see her, convey messages to her, but she’s truly pitiful."

Yu Chenzi continued, "Longevity refers to lifespan; eating the longevity person’s flesh allows merfolk to live past thirty."

"What, eating human flesh?" Bai Ruozhu thought they were extracting blood for sacrificial rituals, but it turned out to be consuming human flesh.

"It must be from a living person, so they won’t let her die. Each person wanting to prolong their life must cut a chunk of her flesh for consumption. Eating less won’t work; they need to cut a large piece at a time. Her body is scarred, her bones exposed, yet prohibited from dying. They’re even forcing her to consume merfolk postpartum Purple River Carriage to regenerate more flesh." Yu Chenzi spoke angrily.