Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 324 - 323: Immortal Castle

The song not only had a melodious tune, but the lyrics were also somewhat detached and unrestrained, leaving the group a bit surprised after listening.

Looking again at the brilliant patches of flower fields and the leisurely farmers working among them, it seemed as if they were no longer in the human world, but had inadvertently stumbled into a fairyland.

"Rune, go and ask where this place is and who these people are," Lu Qing instructed the person behind him, Rune.

Rune obeyed, dismounted his horse, and walked quickly over.

He had a kind face and, at this moment, was dressed in ordinary cloth clothing, completely concealing any aura of intimidation.

Yet, even so, his towering height and strong build were unmistakeable, and as he strode over, he still carried an invisible sense of pressure.

However, when he reached the farmers, they did not show any surprise. They simply stopped their work because someone walked up to them and looked curiously at this sudden stranger.

"Sir, sorry to bother you!" Rune cupped his hands and spoke to the old man closest to him, "My master and I got lost on our journey, and hearing the song, we followed the sound here.

Could you tell us what this place is? What do you all do here?"

The old man looked at Rune calmly, and after he finished speaking, the old man also cupped his hands in return: "This place is called Immortal Castle, and these are the flower fields of our castle. We are the farmers of this fort, usually growing flowers and plants to sell as dyes.

Did you get lost? We have a shed over that way, used for resting when we’re tired from work. The sun is quite harsh right now, so if you’re weary from traveling and don’t mind, feel free to rest in the shed!

Having said this, he smiled and pointed at the shed, then turned back to his work.

This reaction left Rune a bit surprised, but since the old man had left, he couldn’t stop him. He returned to Lu Qing and relayed what had been said.

Lu Qing looked up at the glaring sun overhead: "In that case, let’s accept their kind offer and sit inside the shed."

The shed was in the middle of the flower fields, with a wide view. Inside, there were several wooden benches and two wooden tables, all clean and tidy, without any dust.

The group sat there, able to clearly see everything around them.

In this large area of flower beds, about a dozen or so farmers were scattered around working, all humming the song they had heard from afar. Although they weren’t gathered together, the song was strangely synchronized, echoing across the flat, open plains melodiously.

Zhu Yu sat under the shed, resting her chin on her hand, her gaze roving among the people, a slight frown on her face.

The way these people worked looked harmonious, full of a light and joyful air of leisure, complemented by the song, embodying a scene of flourishing peace.

Yet Zhu Yu felt an indescribable strangeness.

After a while, as the singing faded, the farmers came to the shed to rest in twos and threes. There were men and women, young and old, all dressed similarly in neat cloth clothes, hair meticulously groomed, with faces full of satisfied smiles.

As they entered the shed, they sat around a wooden table, the gentle breeze carrying the light fragrance of flowers and plants on them to Zhu Yu’s nose.

She quietly and meticulously sniffed, trying to discern what was hidden within the fragrance.

The people sat happily, curiously observing Lu Qing and the others.

"Where are you all from, and what brings you here?" The eldest of them, after giving them a once over, asked.

"Sir, we are merchants out to get supplies, originally just passing by, but a few days ago we were robbed by mountain bandits.

We had to take a detour to avoid them and accidentally lost our way, ending up here by mistake."

Lu Qing smiled, speaking with gentleness and courtesy, looking every bit the cultured merchant traveling abroad.

The old man, suspecting nothing, showed surprise: "Mountain bandits? Why would there be mountain bandits?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

His confusion didn’t seem feigned, as if genuinely astonished by the mere mention of "mountain bandits."

"Could it be that your Immortal Castle has never been troubled by surrounding bandits?" Zhu Yu asked, puzzled.

The group collectively shook their heads, each wearing a look of confusion, as if "mountain bandits" was a word too unfathomable to comprehend.

"Our castle has indeed never been troubled by bandits," the old man shook his head similarly bewildered, "this area belongs to our castle’s flower fields. We tend to these flowers and plants daily, working from sunrise to sunset in peace, no one has ever gone out to commit crimes, nor has anyone disturbed our lives."

Zhu Yu and Lu Qing exchanged a glance, both a bit perplexed.

On their journey, areas far more barren and treacherous than this were rife with banditry. Why this Immortal Castle, appearing so scenic, with people well-clad and fed, vast flower fields—ostensibly a prime "piece of meat"—remained untouched?

If this fort had organized some capable men to patrol and protect the fort’s residents and fields from bandits, it would make sense.

Yet traveling toward the song’s source, they encountered no obstacles or inquiries from anyone.

The flower farmers before them genuinely seemed like they had never witnessed or been affected by bandits.

This was indeed strange.

Could it be that the bandits only aimed for tough targets, uninterested in easy spoils, preferring to traverse mountains, laying ambush by deserted paths occasionally traveled, for a paltry haul after much effort?

Thinking so, Zhu Yu asked again: "Sir, has this fort been here for a long time, or is it a later gathering?

In all these years living here, have you never encountered any bandit disturbances?"

The old man gazed somewhat blankly at Zhu Yu, as if stumped by her question or perhaps not understanding what she was asking.