Volume 1, Chapter 60: You Can Run from the Sister, But You Can't Run from the Elder Sister

It rained in the second half of the night, which left Luo Bin sleeping poorly. In truth, the real reason for his restless sleep had much to do with him replaying the matter of the Chen sisters in his mind for a long time.

Roughly speaking, his judgment was that the two sisters possessed names that sounded nearly identical, yet were written differently. Much like their appearance, their personalities and inner natures were vastly different from ordinary people.

The one he had seen and interacted with were indeed two distinct sisters.

Yet, no matter how Luo Bin analyzed it, it felt like the very same person.

Their appearances differed, and their personalities seemingly differed, but upon contacting the details and recalling the sensory impressions of those moments, these two individuals were cut from the exact same cloth. Aside from their hairstyles and that single mole, everything else was identical!

The crowing of roosters and the beating of gongs woke Luo Bin up. He sat up drowsily, pulling his legs in, arching his back, and resting his chin on his knees, before letting out another heavy yawn.

Shaking his head, Luo Bin finally got out of bed.

A single trip to Chen Xianxian’s house would make everything crystal clear.

And he wouldn't go alone; with Luo Feng around, whatever happened, the two of them could look out for each other.

Besides, she was just a fragile woman—no, at most, two fragile women—what could they possibly accomplish?

Even if the world turned upside down, they wouldn't be able to stir up any real trouble!

A knock sounded on the bedroom door. Luo Bin immediately hopped off the bed to open it, and Luo Feng gave a slight nod from outside.

Luo Bin could see the leather belt tied around Luo Feng's waist, weighed down with knives.

"Give me two minutes, Dad."

With that, Luo Bin turned back to the desk, picked up the leather belt Luo Feng had given him, and fastened it around his waist. The heavy weight and the knife handles within arm's reach instantly steadied his mind.

"I originally planned to teach you some skills once I got back, but first the village-wide search, and then the Chen sisters—it got delayed. Once today's business is settled, Dad will teach you how to use a knife." Luo Feng patted Luo Bin on the shoulder.

"Mm, alright!" Luo Bin nodded, anticipation already welling up in his eyes.

"Let's go!" Luo Feng's voice was deep and resolute.

"No need to rush through mealtime by a few minutes, Xiaoshan. You still need to be a bit more steady." A smile appeared on Luo Feng's face.

At that moment, Gu Ya walked out of the kitchen, bringing breakfast to the table.

"Dear, you should go back and catch some more sleep," Luo Feng said, turning his head toward the main room.

"Be safe. If nothing's the matter, come back early," Gu Ya yawned as well.

Without saying anything more, she returned to her bedroom.

Luo Bin followed Luo Feng into the main room. On the table were steamed egg custard and shredded stir-fried potatoes, instantly filling his heart with warmth.

No matter how freezing Guishan Village could be, home was always a warm harbor.

After finishing breakfast, they both felt full of energy.

Luo Bin asked Luo Feng why they didn't track down the person who had gone to search Chen Xianxian's house yesterday.

Only then did Luo Feng explain that the man was named Jiang Shan. Although he usually looked upright and proper, he always liked to leer at the women in the village; his intentions were crooked.

If the Chen sisters had any ulterior motives, the older sister, Chen Xianxian, only needed to employ a few minor tricks, and Jiang Shan would be completely wrapped around her little finger.

Having said that, Luo Feng dipped his finger in a little water and wrote the character "Xian" on the table.

Only then did Luo Bin experience a sudden flash of insight.

"Are they using this method to secretly plot something?"

Luo Bin asked again, wanting to know if Luo Feng had deduced any information.

"No, at least not until you said their sisterly dynamic was problematic. The older sister, Chen Xianxian, was merely considered unchaste, fond of flirting with the village men. Everyone who had ever entered her room called her a living bodhisattva."

The latter half of the night brought rain, which ruined Luo Bin's sleep. Actually, the exact cause of his sleeplessness was likely connected to his prolonged mental playback of the affairs concerning the Chen sisters.

He had roughly concluded that the two sisters shared names that sounded similar but were written with different characters. Much like their appearance, their fundamental personalities were far from ordinary.

The one he had seen and interacted with were indeed two different sisters.

Yet, no matter how Luo Bin dissected it, it felt like dealing with a single person.

Their appearances differed, and their personalities seemed distinct, but upon reviewing the detailed interactions and retracing the tactile memories, these two individuals were utterly indistinguishable in essence. Aside from their hair and that single mole, everything else was an exact match!

The sound of roosters crowing and gongs beating awakened Luo Bin, who sat up groggily.

Drawing his legs up, his back bowed, and his chin resting on his knees, Luo Bin let out another heavy yawn.

Shaking his head, Luo Bin finally climbed out of bed.

A visit to Chen Xianxian's home would clear everything up.

He wouldn't go alone either; with Luo Feng by his side, whatever happened, they could provide mutual support.

Besides, they were just weak women—no, at most two weak women—what could they possibly achieve?

Even if the heavens fell, they could never turn the tables!

A knock rapped against his bedroom door. Luo Bin immediately jumped out of bed to open it, greeted by Luo Feng's slight nod outside.

Luo Bin could see the leather belt cinched around his waist, bristling with knives.

"Give me two minutes, Dad."

With that, Luo Bin turned back to his desk, picked up the leather belt Luo Feng had given him, and buckled it around his waist. The heavy weight and the accessible knife handles made his resolve even firmer.

"I meant to teach you some skills once I returned, but the village search and then the Chen sisters delayed it. Once today's business is finished, Dad will teach you bladework." Luo Feng patted Luo Bin's shoulder.

"Mm-hmm, okay!" Luo Bin nodded, anticipation already gleaming in his eyes.

"Let's move!" His voice carried weight.

"No need to rush through breakfast by a few minutes, Xiaoshan. You still need to cultivate more composure." A smile surfaced on Luo Feng's face.

At that moment, Gu Ya emerged from the kitchen, serving breakfast onto the table.

"Dear, go back and catch some more sleep," Luo Feng said, turning toward the main room.

"Be safe. If everything is fine, come back early." Gu Ya let out a yawn of her own.

Without lingering, she retreated to her bedroom.

Luo Bin followed Luo Feng into the main room. On the table sat steamed egg custard and shredded stir-fried potatoes, instantly warming his heart.

No matter how biting the cold of Guishan Village grew, home remained a warm haven.

With breakfast finished, both of them felt thoroughly invigorated.

Luo Bin asked Luo Feng why they hadn't sought out the man who went to search Chen Xianxian's house the day before.

Only then did Luo Feng explain that the man was named Jiang Shan. While he normally projected a stern and proper facade, he always enjoyed eyeing the village women on the sly; his heart wasn't in the right place.

If the Chen sisters harbored malicious intentions, the elder sister, Chen Xianxian, only needed to deploy the slightest wile to have Jiang Shan wrapped entirely around her finger.

Finishing his explanation, Luo Feng dipped his finger in a drop of water and traced the character for "Xian" upon the table.

Luo Bin experienced a sudden epiphany.

"Are they using this method to secretly scheme behind the scenes?"

Luo Bin asked again, eager to know if Luo Feng had deduced anything further.

"No. At least, before you pointed out that the sisters were suspicious, the older sister Chen Xianxian was merely seen as loose, fond of exchanging glances with the village men. Everyone who stepped foot into her room referred to her as a living bodhisattva."

"I truly don't know what these two sisters are plotting, but based on your analysis, they definitely have issues. Let's go take a look first," Luo Feng said.

Rising to his feet, Luo Feng strode out of the courtyard, and Luo Bin followed closely behind.

It was still early, and the village paths were devoid of pedestrians.

Everything was deeply silent.

In the mountain air after the rain, the fragrance of fresh grass lingered everywhere.

Before long, they arrived outside the Chen sisters' dwelling.

Luo Feng raised a hand and knocked.

The door swung open, and the smile on Chen Xianxian's face stiffened slightly.

"Uncle Luofeng, you're here."

"Yes. I heard you had something to tell me. Xiaoshan was in a rush yesterday and didn't let you finish, so he brought me along this morning," Luo Feng replied.

Luo Bin stood a little further back, nodding repeatedly toward Chen Xianxian.

Judging by her appearance, this was the younger sister, Chen Xianxian? She was also the one he had interacted with the most directly.

Stepping forward, Luo Feng prepared to enter the house.

Chen Xianxian retreated two steps, finally clearing the doorway.

"It's quite dim in here. Why don't you open the door to let some air in?" Luo Feng asked casually.

"The door opens straight into the alley, and neither my sister nor I are used to it," Chen Xianxian answered in a soft voice.

"Where is your sister?" Luo Feng stopped beside the table, his gaze sweeping over the rust-covered oil lamp before returning to Chen Xianxian.

"Sister... she's feeling a bit under the weather and is resting," Chen Xianxian murmured.

"Oh? She's ill? Does she need the village shaman to take a look?" Luo Feng inquired further.

"No... no need for that much trouble," Chen Xianxian hastily shook her head.

"What's this about the outsider? Tell me about that first, and I'll see if it's necessary to inform the village chief." Luo Feng spoke rapidly, rattling off question after question.

Chen Xianxian felt her head spinning; for a moment, she could barely keep up with Luo Feng's interrogation.

She had never expected Luo Bin to return with Luo Feng in tow.

True, she had made a tiny bit of preparation, but all of that preparation had been tailored exclusively for Luo Bin.

With the addition of Luo Feng, she was entirely at a loss as to what to do.

"Hmm?" Luo Feng gazed at Chen Xianxian with a trace of skepticism in his eyes. "Why have you stopped talking?"

"That outsider... he is actually Zhang Li... I saw him head up the mountain..."

"Yes... just like that. I suspect... he's hiding. That madwoman Gu Yiren was rescued by him as well, up the mountain behind the bamboo grove."

"You can go check right now! There's definitely something wrong!" Chen Xianxian said earnestly.

"With just that much to say, did Xiaoshan need to come inside? Couldn't it have been made clear straight away?" Luo Feng's tone suddenly sharpened. "Chen Xianxian! Are you hiding something from us?! Answer me!"

In that instant, Chen Xianxian's face drained of color, and she stumbled back two steps.

Luo Bin's heart leaped fiercely in his chest.

The sheer pressure!

He had intimately and painfully experienced the terrifying magnitude of Luo Feng's pressure when he had first woken up.

If Luo Feng determined something was amiss, even if it were his own flesh and blood, his axe could come crashing down upon his son's head!

If Luo Feng felt something was wrong, he would dig until he reached the bottom of the matter.

Above all, he wouldn't act merely on a vague suspicion.

He demanded proof!

He must have discovered something!

He must have realized that Chen Xianxian was harboring a secret!

That was why he was interrogating her in such a manner!

"I... I don't know... It's my sister... Sister knows everything... Please don't ask me... Ask my sister..."

"Sister is in the cellar..."

Chen Xianxian's face grew increasingly pallid, as though she were on the verge of tears from fright.

At the same time, she pointed toward a bedroom door, trembling as she spoke: "Lift the bed board, and you can go down..."

Luo Bin stepped forward, preparing to march toward that room!

Luo Feng's expression grew grim and concentrated. He suddenly tilted his head, listening intently, and demanded, "If your sister is in the cellar, then who is inside this room?"

Abruptly raising a hand, he pointed at the bedroom door directly behind Chen Xianxian—the one precisely opposite the room she had just indicated!

Luo Bin's heart pounded violently.

Faintly, he actually heard a sound.

From behind the door Luo Feng pointed at came a muffled, tapping noise, as if something were colliding against a surface... accompanied by a very low, stifled whimpering!

The next instant, Luo Feng strode directly toward the door emitting the noise!

"Get aside!" His voice deepened, and with a hand as broad as a palm-leaf fan, he shoved Chen Xianxian out of the way!

Luo Bin followed closely behind Luo Feng in long strides.

The door was kicked open with a heavy thud, crashing violently against the wall!

Yet the room inside was completely empty!

In his peripheral vision, Luo Bin saw Chen Xianxian bolt frantically out of the house, fleeing wildly into the distance!

"Dad! She's running!" Luo Bin snapped to his senses, preparing to give chase.

"Don't chase her! Guard the other doorway! The younger sister might have run, but the older sister isn't getting away, and there's noise coming from that room too," Luo Feng said in a deep voice, striding toward the room's wardrobe.

Luo Bin felt a chill grip his heart, halting his urge to dash out of the house. Instead, he fixed his gaze firmly on the doorway Chen Xianxian had previously pointed to.

Faintly, he indeed heard other sounds, resembling something being pushed aside.

Luo Feng jerked open the wardrobe doors!

Tucked inside the wardrobe was unmistakably a man!

He was bound hand and foot, with a wad of cloth stuffed tightly into his mouth, stretched so wide his cheeks seemed on the verge of splitting.

His eyes dilated in terror as he struggled frantically, but surrounded by thick garments and cotton wadding, he was unable to bang directly against the wall. Because he was trapped inside the wardrobe, his frantic movements caused the entire piece of furniture to rock, creating the muffled tapping sounds.

"Zhang Li?!" Luo Bin exclaimed, turning his head as his expression underwent a drastic transformation. He had only harbored vague suspicions previously, but he never imagined Zhang Li would actually be trapped right here?!

Zhang Li shook his head violently, terror overflowing from his eyes as his muffled groans grew even louder.