Gan Qing wanted to get up to help her pick up the broken dishes, but was unable to get up, so she sighed and said: "Girls believe in these things, just like Gu Yu. Ghosts and gods are always fake. If you don't believe me, ask Mr. Yi. He is a fortune teller." , have you ever seen a ghost?"

Xiangquan ignored him.Ozawa's expression was still not good, and he picked up some snacks silently: "Then my husband... will be fine."

Qianqing asked her to sit down, and said with a smile: "Since you believe in the legend of the water demon, you should know that the water demon only harms women, not men."

Ozawa was annoyed: "Of course I know! I'm just afraid that my husband will be implicated!"

Xiangquan laughed and said, "None of you have explained clearly to me, an outsider, what exactly is a water demon? What happened a few years ago?"

Gan Qing snorted: "What water monster, it's just that some people believe it, it's nonsense."

Ozawa sighed, and said slowly: "Master Yi doesn't know something, this is an old unsolved case. A few years ago, there was a woman named Bixi on West Street. She was in poor health and died not long after. No, no, He disappeared, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month..."

"I told Xiangquan, Ozawa, go and rest," Gan Qing said, "But you definitely won't rest. You should go to West Street to see if there is any news. You can come back early."

Ozawa nodded and hurried out, apparently not wanting to hear.Seeing Ozawa leaving, Ganqing immediately put his head on the back of the chair, lazily closed his eyes and said to Xiangquan: "I was there at the time. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of that year, everyone was admiring the lanterns. The best lantern It is located on the West Street. There are also those who swallow iron swords, perform puppet shows, step on ropes, play cuju, sand book puzzles...the most beautiful one is the Manjusri Bodhisattva decorated with ribbons, isn’t it interesting? There are Bodhisattvas hanging on the fireworks alley At that time, most of the famous people in Yongcheng went, and the common people also went.”

"I want to hear details, not nonsense." Xiang Quan didn't blink.

Ganqing talked too much, he was in a good mood, and he didn't get angry with him, he just coughed lightly and said seriously: "The weather is very cold, it seems that there was a little snow the night before. Around Xu time, suddenly—"

Xiang Quan interrupted: "Who has gone?"

"Many people, powerful and wealthy people will go there, regardless of gender. Only the East Street Market and the West Street brothel can enjoy lanterns. There are many ordinary people in the East Street, and many wealthy people in the West Street. Although it is a youth | Building, but it can't stop the crowd watching the lanterns."

"Yang Fuyin and the others also went at that time?"

"Except for those who have guarding tasks in the government, basically everyone went there. Not only can you watch lanterns and guess riddles, but you can also perform dragon dances and kabuki performances. Casinos and restaurants are full of guests, and many businessmen take this opportunity to hold a big feast. .Fortunately, Yin Yang is here, so there is no trouble."

Xiang Quan asked: "Yang Fu Yin was also present when the accident happened?"

Gan Qing nodded: "Of course, he is right next to me. I remember very clearly that he was a little too drunk at the time, and he and I were standing talking at the door of the restaurant when we suddenly heard a woman scream."

"Where did the scream come from?"

"A small yard behind West Street, surrounded by a dilapidated building. The scream was extremely miserable, and it wasn't just a short time, like... piercing the sky. Don't ask me what it looks like, I can't describe it. "

Xiang Quan frowned when he heard this.

"Yang Fuyin brought people there immediately?"

"Almost, he was half sober after hearing this sound, and hurriedly sent people over. It was chaotic at the time, some people ran back, some people wanted to go to the yard to see what happened-of course I was the latter. I remember... water Mother also rushed down. She was drunk, but her face was pale, and I heard her seem to say to the people next to her, 'Listen to that voice, it's like a tourmaline'."

Xiangquan raised his eyebrows, but Ganqing didn't let him ask: "Bixi is the most talented girl in all brothels on West Street, and she can be regarded as an oiran. She grew up with Shuiniang and was called a sister. Later, she suddenly fell ill and lived in the In the remote building, there are hardly any people."

Xiangquan responded silently, and Ganqing didn't expect any response from the wooden man.

Seeing that Xiangquan stopped asking questions, Ganqing continued: "I followed the officers and soldiers, and saw a small dark courtyard in front of me, which was locked. Everyone surrounded the outside, ready to rush in. Shuiniang was very nervous at the time, She seemed very worried. She said that Tourmaline was seriously ill, and she also said that she should go in by herself, or bring someone in, and let all the government officials stay outside."

Xiang Quan finally spoke again: "That girl named Bixi, what disease did she suffer from? Who healed her?"

"Everyone says it's lung disease. That's the problem," Qianqing sighed, "It was none other than Fu Shangxing who saw her. There are only two doctors in Yongcheng, and the other doctor refused to go to West Street for treatment. It’s hard to be Mr. Shangxing.”

Xiangquan nodded: "No wonder Ozawa was worried. Was Mr. Shangxing there at that time?"

"Not here. My mother caught cold that night, and he came to my house for consultation. After screaming, Shuiniang stopped the guards, but Yang Fuyin didn't say anything. After all, this was in West Street, and Shuiniang wanted to give face. So only Shuiniang The mother went in. Heh, you also find it strange, right? In this case, women, it’s better to bring some people in. I just watched there, the door was dark, and I could glimpse the distant The lake, sparkling but not beautiful, was eerie. It was very quiet at the time, you know, there was no sound after that scream, and it felt eerie."

Qianqing continued to drink tea, only to see that the tea had bottomed out.He shook the teapot and poured out a little more: "After about an incense stick, the water lady came out, and she hurriedly told us that everything was fine, but the tourmaline... was missing. Missing, gone, no one. Yes! Tourmaline has been living in it all the time, never going out, and she can't come out casually, and Shui Niang said she was still there when she delivered dinner."

Xiangquan asked suspiciously: "Tourma is a sick person, is there no one to take care of her?"

"Yes, there is a personal servant girl, but she doesn't live in that courtyard at night. That servant girl will take care of Bixi's food and daily life all day long, and the meals are prepared and delivered outside."

"This is isolation," Xiangquan pondered for a moment, then said, "Ask Mr. Shangxing about this."

"Is it tuberculosis? I also thought it was some kind of infectious disease at the time, and I was a little scared. But how could a good person disappear out of thin air? Yang Fuyin sent people in to look for it at that time—especially in the lake. It seemed to fall into the lake. I followed in."

Gan Qing continued to talk happily: "That courtyard is very small and dilapidated. It seems that no one has been here for a long time, but maybe it is because someone always cleans it, but it is quite tidy. There are a few ginkgo trees in the courtyard, which are very thick. It seems to be old. I saw a lamp hanging under the house. It was a very plain color, as if I had tied it myself. The style was simple but generous and beautiful. I looked at the black lake. Part of it was enclosed in the yard, and the yard was surrounded by Surrounded tightly—one side is a wall, and the other is the Black Lake. Those tall ginkgo trees are right next to the Black Lake. Many government servants went into the house to search, and I wanted to stand by the lake and watch.”

Without raising his head, Xiang Quan suddenly asked, "Why do you want to stand by the lake?"

Gan Qing was taken aback, and then smiled: "The question you asked is really strange, how do I know why I want to stand there? I just feel mysterious. It may be intuition, I think that girl named Tourmaline fell into the lake. But... "

Gan Qing pursed his lips and smiled, but with a bit of embarrassment.

"Xiangquan, do you believe that there are water demons in this world?"

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