Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 387 - 386: Every Crime Has a Culprit

The others listened to Lu Qing’s arrangements, all contemplating returning home, when suddenly they heard someone voice opposition, leaving them momentarily stunned as they turned around to see who had spoken.

Lu Qing was also taken aback for a moment and quickly locked his gaze onto the person who had spoken.

The one who shouted "No way" was a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties. Although he looked quite thin, he was young, and having taken the antidote, drunk honey water, and eaten some pastries, he actually spoke with considerable strength, recovering quickly.

"Why not?" Lu Qing looked at the young man and asked.

"If the others want to leave, let them leave, but I’m not leaving!" The young man seemed to harbor some resentment and said angrily, "Originally, I was just passing through here, with no dealings with anyone, and was inexplicably abducted to this place, made to suffer like this, it can’t just end like this!

Aren’t you staying here to catch those villains? My absence doesn’t make a difference; my presence doesn’t add up to much either, right?

I’m not leaving! I want to stay and help you all out, and only after these villains are captured will it not be too late for me to go home. At the very least, I have to see the revenge happen with my own eyes!"

His words seemed to inspire those around him.

A man slightly older than him also spoke through clenched teeth: "Yes! If he’s not leaving, then I’m not leaving either! My brother and I were farming in the field when we were abducted by those villains. Now, even though I’ve regained consciousness, my brother is nowhere to be found!

I can’t swallow this bitterness! While I might not be able to do much, I can at least lend a hand! Please don’t force me to leave, let me stay and help out!"

Those around started clamoring one after another.

Lu Qing hadn’t anticipated that these people, when told they could leave, would instead insist on staying to help and seek revenge. Surprised, he quickly considered the situation and nodded to them: "Alright, since that’s the case, we’ll go along with it.

Your choice to stay or leave is yours; I won’t insist. However, a word of caution, those villains are ruthless, staying might not be the safest option, so for those who wish to leave, I’ll have provisions and travel money prepared for immediate departure, no need to worry about anything else.

Those opting to stay, please think carefully.

If someone feels their body is still weak and wishes to stay and recuperate for a few days, that is also acceptable."

His concession made the situation livelier.

After a round of lively discussion, almost all of the younger and stronger men opted to stay and offer their help. Some, who wished to assist but faced issues like weak and dependent parents or spouses and children, had no choice but to take provisions and travel money and set off.

Some elderly individuals who didn’t have relatives among these "villagers" were also forced to stay within the castle to recuperate, waiting until their spirit and strength improved to make further plans.

Luckily, the old steward had previously, in an effort to save his life, divulged everything without reservation about where the Silver Coin and grain were stored in Immortal Castle.

The money, initially reaped through the labor of these mindless villagers, was now rightly used as travel funds for them to return home.

Having sent off those who decided to leave and settled the elderly and infirm among the remaining ones, the rest of the strong individuals, after eating two healthy meals, began to recover their spirits significantly. They had vivid memories of their field labor during those dreamlike days and remembered how to undertake the tasks, so they volunteered to continue the work, mingling with Lu Yan’s men during the day to keep up appearances.

This idea solved a problem that had been vexing Lu Qing and Lu Yan—they could face enemies without flinching, like real tough men.

But asking them to put away their weapons and take up farm tools proved to be an issue—while they had the strength, they had no idea where to apply it.

In the past few days, although a team had been pretending convincingly to work in the fields daily, upon close inspection, it was noticeable that something was off.

Now, with these remaining helpers, things looked entirely different, as they knew how to actually work the fields.

With their cover, the soldiers, who were clueless about farming, appeared less conspicuous.

Thus passed another two or three days, and as the sun set, it was again time for the villagers to return to the castle to await the incense delivery. The strong men and soldiers in the fields tidied up their tools, walking back in groups, ensuring everything mirrored the past routine, except for the subtly increased number of people.

Just then, the sound of hooves came from afar, alerting the soldiers with keen hearing, twisting their heads to see a carriage speeding down the distant path, drawn by only one horse. The horse ran extremely fast, as if exerting all its strength, its four hooves kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Something may not be right." A soldier said to his comrade beside him, "Don’t make any moves yet; I’ll rush back to report to the General and Prince Xiaoyao!"

His companion nodded, and the soldier stooped down, blending into the crowd as he quickly dashed forward, racing back to Immortal Castle to report.

Soon after the reporting soldier left, the carriage arrived at the vicinity.

The soldiers in the crowd discreetly eyed the carriage, seeing a driver with a blank expression whipping the galloping horse, the carriage sped past, and the fabric curtains at the windows fluttered outward in the wind, inside the carriage sat a person wearing dark-colored clothes and a veiled hat, the black veil obscuring the person’s appearance entirely.

Who would sit in a carriage wearing a veiled hat in broad daylight?!

The crowd felt a surge of tension and unease from the brief glimpse, silently hoping the reporting soldier would act swiftly, ensuring that the people in the castle would be ready before the carriage reached the gates of Immortal Castle.

Meanwhile, they quickened their pace, both soldiers and the volunteers, steeling themselves for confrontation.

They believed now, this villain who had caused so much harm had finally surfaced, their anger swelling, suppressing their innate fears, eager to settle the scores once and for all.