parentshiftbook Chapter 8 There's one more demon
Chapter 8 There's one more demon
Seeing this, Zhang Ping told her that she didn't need to perform such a grand ceremony, and then said, "No need for that, please stand up and speak first, young lady."
Upon hearing this, Liu Lincui slowly straightened up. Perhaps she was thinking about the scene in the secret room again, or something else, and tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably.
Seeing her tears streaming down her face, Zhang Ping simply stood quietly to the side, allowing her enough time to calm down. Only when Liu Lincui raised her hand to wipe away her tears did he slowly ask, "May I ask your name, where you live, and how you ended up in Li Changyun's hands?"
"This humble woman, Liu Lincui, is from Lushui Village in Lingyang City."
"Lingyang City, Green Water Village..."
Zhang Ping went through the place in his mind. He had never been there, but his colleagues had heard of it. It was a small village nestled against the mountains, where people grew crops and raised livestock. Life wasn't particularly wealthy, but it was peaceful because it was close to Lingyang City.
But as soon as she finished speaking, tears started falling again. "I still have my parents and a younger brother at home... My whole family was kidnapped by that Li Changyun."
By this point, her voice was trembling uncontrollably, "My father... my mother... and my brother... they're all... they're all gone..."
She didn't finish speaking, but Zhang Ping already understood.
Among the skeletal remains in the secret room were her family members.
Upon seeing this, Zhang Ping immediately comforted her gently, "Miss Liu, please accept my condolences. I know you have suffered a great injustice. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and make the murderer and that monster pay the price."
Once Liu Lincui had calmed down a bit, Zhang Ping got down to business, "Miss Liu, I know it's painful for you to recall those things, but I need to ask you a few questions."
"For example, did you hear anything in that secret room? For instance, what did that rat demon and Li Changyun talk about? Did they have any accomplices?"
This is a problem that Zhang Ping is somewhat concerned about.
After all, I need to improve my strength now, otherwise I'll be in danger when that Black Granny comes looking for me.
Upon hearing this, Liu Lincui visibly trembled. Just hearing the words "rat demon" made her face turn pale, as if she had returned to that dark and sunless underground chamber.
But she tried to calm herself down, closed her eyes and thought for a moment, then slowly said, "Yes...yes."
"That rat demon, Li Changyun calls it Black Fiend."
"And it was all served by Li Changyun personally, with utmost respect, as if he were serving a master."
As she spoke, Liu Lincui's voice grew weaker, "Once, I heard Li Changyun ask that Black Demon if the rations that had been delivered recently were enough, and if they weren't, he would find another way."
"Then the Black Fiend said that it had recently reached a critical point in its cultivation and encountered a bottleneck in its realm, requiring a large amount of blood and energy to break through the barrier."
"It also said that in another month, it will be its grandmother's 600th birthday, and it must break through its cultivation level before the birthday to make its grandmother happy. It also asked Li Changyun to find more people for it."
Zhang Ping frowned slightly upon hearing Liu Lincui's words.
Li Changyun is quite the lackey, but I'm afraid Grandma Hei won't see the surprise her grandson has in store for her.
Before he could think about it further, Liu Lincui suddenly remembered something and said urgently, "I remember now, besides Hei Sha, there was another monster in that secret room!"
Zhang Ping's eyes sharpened, and he unconsciously leaned forward slightly. "There's another one?"
This is the news he cares about most.
The news of Heisha's death probably hasn't reached the Black Stone Cave yet, which means I still have enough time to cultivate.
But if this message gets back, the situation could become dangerous.
"Yes."
Liu Lincui nodded, speaking with absolute certainty.
"I've heard them talking. The monster's voice is different from Black Fiend's; it's deeper and speaks slowly. Black Fiend calls it Old Gray."
"Old Gray".
Zhang Ping repeated the name to himself, going over it several times in his mind.
Then he pressed Liu Lincui for details, "Miss Liu, do you know what kind of demon it is, and what level it is?"
Liu Lincui shook her head upon hearing this.
"This humble woman...does not know."
"The secret room was too dark; I couldn't see anything, I only heard sounds."
"As for my cultivation level... this humble woman..."
As Liu Lincui spoke, her voice lowered again, as if she felt guilty for not being able to provide any useful information.
Seeing her guilty and helpless expression, Zhang Ping understood and realized that he had been too hasty. He immediately softened his tone and gently comforted her, "Miss Liu, there's no need to blame yourself. This matter has already been difficult for you. The information you provided has already been a great help."
He meant it sincerely.
After all, it is already quite remarkable that a vulnerable woman who has been imprisoned for so long and witnessed the murder of her family could still remember these things under such terror.
If it were an ordinary person, they would probably have been so frightened that they lost their mind.
Having received the news, Zhang Ping did not wish to disturb Liu Lincui's rest any longer. He immediately stood up and instructed her, "Miss Liu, you are safe now. You can rest here in peace. If you remember any other news, you can ask the ladies outside the door to let me know. I will not disturb your rest any longer."
After saying that, Zhang Ping turned around and walked out of the side room, gently closing the door behind him.
By this time, the sun was already setting in the west, casting long shadows in the courtyard.
After a day of running around, he didn't even have time to eat a proper meal.
We're trying to figure out how to find that old gray dog.
Just then, Zhou Zheng came running over from the other end of the yard.
However, compared to the last time he came to see me, he now had a hint of excitement on his face.
"Boss!"
Zhou Zheng ran up to him and, without even catching his breath, said directly, "Zhao Zhen has dropped it."
Zhang Ping raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "So fast?"
He thought this tough nut would hold out for a couple more days.
Zhou Zheng chuckled, scratched his head, and then said, "It's all thanks to your method, boss."
"When I first went to him, he was very stubborn, saying that he could do whatever he wanted to me, acting like a dead pig that doesn't care about boiling water."
"Later, I told him exactly what you had said, explaining that the matter of colluding with demons had been established and, according to the laws of the Great Yu Dynasty, could result in the entire family being implicated."
"Also, Consort Li has already been arrested."
"Upon hearing this news, his face turned pale. He remained silent for a long while, and then asked me if Consort Li would be in any danger."
"I did as you said and told him that he would be treated leniently if he pleaded guilty. He thought about it for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and then he confessed everything."
Zhang Ping nodded, not too surprised.
Zhao Zhen, in the end, still has a weakness.
Li Changyun adopted him and gave him food. He remembered this kindness, which is why he refused to speak up before, wanting to keep it to himself.
But now that Li Changzai is here, things are different, after all, he is his master's son.
However, it must be said that this person is loyal and righteous.
"What did he confess to?"
Zhang Ping asked, wanting to see what the hidden story was.