Hong Dou understood Qian Yuanbao's intention: to throw the incense ball into the village's water source.
"This incense ball has a strong fragrance..."
"It smells fragrant, doesn't it? It dissolves in water, or it's odorless when burned," Qian Yuanbao said proudly. "My Ah Nuan is quite talented in the art of incense making. Not only can she easily handle the traditional incense recipes passed down, but she can also create incense that no one has ever concocted before."
"So, the problem is how to get the incense ball into the water source? We are strangers, and we'll be discovered as soon as we enter the village," Hong Dou asked.
Qian Yuanbao's enthusiasm was suddenly stifled. Yes, how to get it in was indeed a problem.
"Feint to the east and attack to the west?"
"Those people can't all be lured out," Hong Dou said helplessly.
As they were thinking, a slender girl carrying a basket walked towards them. Judging by her direction, she was heading into the village.
Qian Yuanbao's eyes lit up. This was truly a case of a pillow arriving just when one was sleepy.
The girl was quickly seized, her mouth covered.
"Don't worry, as long as you cooperate, we won't harm your life," Qian Yuanbao said.
The girl was full of fear and nodded incessantly.
Qian Yuanbao motioned for his men to release her mouth. "Are you from this village? What are you doing out here?"
The girl shook her head.
"Damn it, did we grab the wrong person?" Qian Yuanbao was annoyed.
Upon hearing this, the girl became anxious and quickly gestured with her hands.
"Mute?" Qian Yuanbao was even more bewildered. He couldn't understand sign language.
"She said she's not from this village, but she is in it now. Someone kidnapped her to take care of them. She doesn't dare to escape because someone put worms on her," Hong Dou conveyed the girl's meaning. "Those worms crawl out of her body for a while every night. At that time, the person who put the worms on her gives her smaller worms to feed the worms inside her body. She came out today to buy some food that the person she's taking care of likes to eat."
"Could that person be your wife?" Qian Yuanbao's eyes brightened.
Hong Dou nodded. "It seems likely."
Hong Dou quickly disguised herself to look like the girl and mimicked her gait. She took out a pill from her sleeve, and instantly, she was unable to make a sound.
When Hong Dou entered the village, someone came out to check. She gestured, and the person, with impatience, waved her through. She successfully entered.
Madam Yun was still settled in her previous residence. It seemed Qin Lang was very confident in the village's defensive capabilities.
Unlike last time, Madam Yun was awake now, but her expression was listless, completely lacking energy.
Hong Dou took a plate of pastries and gestured for her to eat.
Madam Yun frowned and said with disgust, "I'd rather starve than eat this. Go tell your master to release me, or I will hate him forever."
Hong Dou dipped her finger in water and wrote on the table, "Madam, if you don't eat, you will become very weak. If someone comes to rescue you, you won't have the strength to escape."
Madam Yun gave a bitter smile. "My daughter is not in the capital, and my son isn't either. After they discovered my disappearance, the household, for the sake of reputation..."
She had been kidnapped by Qin Lang for quite some time. Besides obeying Qin Lang, her only other option was death. But she was unwilling. She had a son and a daughter. She couldn't die without seeing them one last time.
"Madam, please rest assured, it won't be like that. I have made arrangements with the household," Hong Dou wrote quickly. "I have also sent a letter to Miss. Now, many people are ambushing outside the village, waiting for an opportunity to rescue Madam."
Madam Yun's eyes lit up. "Are you Hong Dou?"