Chapter 4.4 the Jinxiu Workshop
Inside the Jinxiu Fang secret room, Wu Niangzi stood in front of a table, looking at the embroidered shoes, bellybands, handkerchiefs, and clothes of the children placed on top of it.
"Daughter, your birthday is coming soon. Mother has prepared so many gifts for you. Do you like them? Just wait patiently. This time, nobody can separate us again," Wu Niangzi said, her eyes filled with tears, as if she saw a little girl walking towards her wearing the clothes she had embroidered herself.
The scene of a past life seemed to be replaying before her eyes...
That day, the little princess twirled around happily in her newly embroidered dress.
"Mother, the birds on this dress are so beautiful. When I grow up, I want to be as skillful as you," the little princess said.
Wu Niangzi touched her daughter's forehead and looked at her with affection. "Mother only hopes for you to grow up safe and sound, and for us to never be separated."
The little princess took out a pendant from around her neck, which had a sparkling and translucent pearl on it.
"Daughter was born with a mermaid pearl in her mouth. I will always wear this pearl, and as long as mother sees a child wearing a mermaid pearl, she will surely recognize me. Then, we will be together forever, never to part again," the little princess said.
Wu Niangzi sternly said, "Put that away quickly! Didn't mother warn you? You must never reveal that you have a mermaid pearl, no matter what."
Suddenly, a voice interrupted them from behind, "Sister, you really have a tight mouth. If it weren't for the maid by your side revealing the truth, I wouldn't have known that you were hiding a monster in the palace. If it weren't for this monster, born with a mermaid pearl, the king would not have suffered repeated defeats in his battles against the traitor Ji Chang. Take the monster away and throw her into the insect pit!"
...
Inside the Jinxiu Fang, the mirror on the table and the windows around it reflected the hideous figures of the snakes and insects in the insect pit. The sound of Daji's laughter echoed around the room.
Wu Niangzi went insane and rushed to the mirrors, shattering them on the ground.
"Don't be afraid, child, mother is here to save you! Mother is here to save you! Centipede! You ate my child, and even if I become a ghost, I will not let you go. Let's go to hell together!" Wu Niangzi said, with a male voice cursing inside her.
She looked at the shattered mirrors on the ground, and then regained her senses. She looked at the children tied up with embroidery threads and smiled hopefully, with tears in her eyes. "Don't be afraid, you should feel honored to help me open the path of reincarnation. This time, mother and daughter will be together forever, never to be separated!"
She didn't notice a small mouse squatting quietly in the corner, watching everything. The scene in the Jinxiu Fang was reflected in the eyes of the little golden mouse, and ultimately projected into Jing Song's eyes.
Jing Song exclaimed, "Oh no, the centipede will eat these children tomorrow night. We must stop her before she acts!"
Bai Suzhen stood up, clenching her fists and asked, "Where is the centipede?"
Jing Song recalled the scene that the golden mouse had seen, "She hid the children in the cellar of an embroidery shop in the Imperial Street. We should try to save the children at noon tomorrow. It's when the centipede is at her weakest, and we might have a chance to fight her."
Bai Suzhen nodded resolutely and said, "Okay, we will save the children tomorrow at noon."
Xiao Qing said eagerly, "I'll go with you!" Jing Song shook his head, seeing that both of them were approaching the battle with the spirit of life and death. He said, "The three of us joining forces will not be able to match the centipede demon’s cultivation. If we act recklessly tomorrow, it will be no different than sending ourselves to death."
Xiao Qing's eyes twinkled and she smiled. "If the three of us can't do it, let's find another helper! Haven't you forgotten that there is a laborer readily available here in Lin'an City?"
As the sky approached noon, Fa Hai was meditating in his Zen room. Suddenly, the bells on the roof of the temple rang and the windows automatically opened and shut. The Pestle of Reversal of Evil next to him trembled slightly, and the bell rang incessantly. Fa Hai was disturbed, experiencing intense pain in his chest. He placed his hand on his chest and pointed a finger, the wooden window closed and locked. He continued to meditate with his palms together.
A transformed green snake slithered in through the window, approaching Fa Hai while spitting out its tongue.
"Such a high monk, are you content with idling around here?" said the green snake.
Fa Hai suddenly opened his eyes and exclaimed, "You demon, how dare you provoke a disciple of the Buddha!"
Fa Hai was about to take action when the green snake transformed into the form of Xiao Qing and suddenly broke through the window. Fa Hai, incensed, picked up his Pestle of Reversal of Evil and chased after her.
At Li Mansion, inspired by Xu Xian, Li Gongfu prepared to search all the brothels to capture the kidnapper of the children. Xu Xian walked out from the inner room, handing him a bag of powdery substance.
"Brother-in-law, wait! Bring this with you," Xu Xian said.
Li Gongfu took it over and looked at it, showing a puzzled expression. "What is this?"
"I heard that the kidnapper often uses Sky Dragon Powder. I inquired at several pharmacies in Lin'an City and was told that no one had bought any Sky Dragon Powder during this time. So, I suspect that this person has a large number of centipedes in his home. This is a powder made from wormwood and camphor leaves, which is the most effective way to deal with centipedes. It's better to carry it with you just in case.”
Li Gongfu casually stuffed the powder into his pocket. "Han Wen, you’re so thoughtful."
After joining the group of constables, they searched every brothel one by one. Li Gongfu pushed open the door of the Exquisite Brothel, and the constables rushed in.
Li Gongfu said to everyone, "Madam Wu of the Exquisite Brothel is skilled in Bian embroidery. Two months ago, she moved from Bianliang to Lin'an City and since then, children have been missing from the city. She is highly suspicious! Search thoroughly!"
"Yes."
Thinking that they were about to solve the case, each constable was full of enthusiasm. They were about to spread out and search when suddenly, the door of the Exquisite Brothel closed automatically.
Madam Wu came out from inside, looking at everyone with a sinister expression.
Her vicious expression was revealed, she sneered, "I originally planned to spare your lives, but I didn't expect you to come and die."
Li Gongfu unsheathed his sword and shouted, "Attack!"
The constables immediately charged forward, but countless flower needles with colorful threads flew into their bodies when Madam Wu waved her hand. She effortlessly held the threads and tied up the constables like a bundle of rice dumplings, writhing on the ground.
Madam Wu said triumphantly, "Since you like to meddle in other people's business so much, I'll leave you to feed the centipedes!"
As soon as she finished speaking, countless centipedes swarmed in from all sides of the wall, quickly surrounding the entire Exquisite Brothel.
The centipedes crawled up the constables' pants, and they immediately screamed and fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth.
A constable gasped, "Th-these centipedes... are poisonous!"
Li Gongfu looked around him, horrified. In an instant, all his comrades had been poisoned by the centipedes, but there were no centipedes around him.
Li Gongfu realized that he was the only one left and swiftly took out the paper package Xu Xian had given him. He threw the powder into the air, and the centipedes immediately retreated like a tide. Li Gongfu seized the opportunity to escape from the Exquisite Brothel.
Madam Wu was just about to chase him, but her body suddenly stopped moving, as if she had been grabbed by someone.
"What are you doing?" she said.
The centipede demon said in a rough voice, "What kind of medicine is this! Do you want to kill me?"
Madam Wu snorted disdainfully, "Shut up! These mortals came to our door. How can we let them leave alive?"
Li Gongfu heard Madam Wu talking to herself, and he heard two other voices coming from her body. He sensed something was strange and ran even faster.
Just as Li Gongfu was about to escape from the Exquisite Brothel, Madam Wu blocked him at the door.
Li Gongfu drew his sword to strike again, but his body was entangled by numerous threads. His whole person was lifted up by the threads.
Madam Wu played around with him, throwing him back and forth a few times with the threads before pulling him in front of her.
Li Gongfu looked at her, scared. Her face had turned into that of the centipede demon, and he asked in astonishment, "Who... Who are you?"
Madam Wu smiled arrogantly. "Me? I'm not human." She tightened the threads, and Li Gongfu was gasping for breath.
"Stop!" Just as she was about to do more harm, Bai Suzhen and Jing Song arrived. A white light flew towards Madam Wu.
Madam Wu was forced to let go, throwing Li Gongfu out. Bai Suzhen then used her technique to protect Li Gongfu's heart. Li Gongfu's eyes half-opened, and he saw a fairy in white clothes arrive. In a flash, he fainted.