The Martial Artist Turned Movie Mogul
Chapter 1000 - 999.Ah Cui?! (At the third watch of the night)

Chapter 1000: 999.Ah Cui?! (At the third watch of the night)

"What’s wrong?"

"We just interrogated the village chief. He was originally from this village. He said that six years ago, an Ah Ge brought a group of friends here for business, and ever since, strange occurrences have frequently happened in the village."

"So the village chief really does want us gone. He doesn’t want us falling into the hands of the people here in the village."

Wen Nuan nodded and then paused. "That leader, the Ah Ge, is named Jin San. He’s the village’s healer. They say his medical skills are decent, and we even found utensils in his house used for cultivating Gu insects. Among the friends he brought, some were very active around Yun Province, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something off about this Jin San."

"I’ll go take a look."

Tang Shu followed her through the crowd and spotted the Ah Ge Jin San at the very center of the village. His facial features do lean towards those of a local, and he carried a strong scent of herbs, the kind someone submerged in herbal work for years would emanate.

His eyes were sharper and more ruthless than others’, and his entire demeanor exuded a powerful, ominous air. A typical child would surely be terrified into tears upon seeing him.

Tang Shu withdrew her gaze and looked toward the nearest building.

"This way."

Wen Nuan led her into Jin San’s house, where they indeed discovered a secret room. Inside, there were quite a few medicinal materials and glass utensils. Rather than resembling a pharmacy, the room felt more like a laboratory.

Tang Shu carefully observed the glass utensils for a moment and ultimately identified their purpose.

"These are definitely items you brought out from the secret passage. This appears to be the central hub for producing Gu insects. Pretty well-equipped, I’d say."

They wandered around the room for a while, sweeping their gazes over every decoration, but couldn’t pinpoint anything useful.

"Have the villagers been brought under control?"

"Yes. At least half of the people in this village have been convinced by Jin San and joined in the drug trafficking. Of course, they’ve indeed made quite a bit of money over the past six years."

The two of them stepped out of the room and once again stood before Jin San. This time, Tang Shu scrutinized him more carefully. She had barely begun before distant arguing drew her attention away.

"Ah Da, Ah Da, what’s wrong with you?!"

"What’s the matter?"

"It’s Miss Ah Cui. Her Ah Da was accidentally shot during the firefight just moments ago. The gunshot wound isn’t fatal, but the military doctor said that the old man’s age, excessive blood loss, and shock are proving too much for him to endure."

Wen Nuan and Tang Shu followed Shang Xiaoyan to Ah Cui’s house, where they found her clutching an elderly man and crying uncontrollably. The silver ornaments that had adorned her hair were nowhere to be seen, and the bright smile she once carried had vanished without a trace. Two others were attempting to console her.

"Miss Ah Cui, you still have your mother to take care of. Don’t get too worked up."

"I know, but Ah Da will never come back. Waaaaah—"

The young girl cried so hard that even snot threatened to drip from her nose. Several women who were close to her were equally disheartened, forming a circle and speaking comfortingly among themselves.

Tang Shu suddenly asked, "What about the children in this village?"

"Good question. Haven’t found them yet. I asked the villagers earlier; they said the children all went to school nearby."

What kind of bizarre school could admit children ranging in age from a few years old to their teens?

Clearly, this was a lie.

Wen Nuan was naturally aware of this fact, yet the mothers insisted it was true, and their faces betrayed no sign of deception. Everything seemed oddly plausible.

Tang Shu: "..."

"I think there’s something mentally wrong with them. Like they’ve been deeply hypnotized, which is why I contacted external backup earlier. They should be here in two hours."

Wen Nuan whispered to her, "But you once mentioned that Gu poison’s second type could control people’s minds. I actually lean more toward the idea that they’ve been manipulated into saying such ridiculous lies."

Tang Shu took a step back, her scrutinizing gaze landing on the mothers. Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, she pushed her way through the crowd to Miss Ah Cui, grabbing her right hand and rolling up her sleeve.

In the next instant, a small streak of red came into view.

"So, it was you all along."

Ah Cui raised her head, her sorrow unhidden in her eyes. "Wh-what? Sister Tang, what are you saying?"

Tang Shu chuckled lightly, resting her idle hand near her waist. Amid the crowd’s curious gazes, she drew out two silver needles and inserted them into Ah Cui’s arm. Then, she released her wrist, pressing a few points on Ah Cui’s body before stepping away.

"What are you doing? Why are you using needles on Ah Cui?!"

"Yeah! Such long needles—how could you poke them in like that?!"

"Come on, isn’t that unbearably painful? How can you just jab her like this?"

Accusatory voices rang out from all around, but Tang Shu replied, "Why don’t you ask her directly instead?"

The crowd hesitated, then turned their attention to Ah Cui, who was clutching Ah Da’s lifeless body. They found her tear-stained face replaced with a cold indifference, her eyes now filled with unprecedented... stillness.

A complete absence of warmth—an utter void.

This kind of stillness differed from any coldness they’d ever encountered, resembling a stagnant pool, as if she’d never been moved by anything at all.

"Who are you?"

The Ah Cui before them was a far cry from the lively girl they’d known, stripped of all vitality, as if she were merely an emotionless puppet.

Wen Nuan raised a hand, prompting everyone who was idle to aim their guns at Ah Cui.

Tang Shu remained silent, her gaze fixed steadily on the uncanny Ah Cui. Unexpectedly, Ah Cui seemed unusually fixated on the question.

"Who are you? How do you know about Gu insects? I always thought my Gu poison was unparalleled, that no one could detect it so quickly."

She showed no anger or dejection at being discovered, only a detached calm.

Tang Shu addressed the crowd encircling her, "You planted Gu poison in them to manipulate their minds, and you possess the Mother Gu. However, since your Mother Gu hasn’t yet matured, they can’t stray too far from you, or their minds would completely collapse."

"You’ve figured it out, huh."

A hint of intrigue flickered in Ah Cui’s eyes as she stared at Tang Shu, seemingly studying her as though inspecting a novel specimen.

"I’ve never met anyone capable of uncovering my Gu insects before. Fascinating. And how did you know my Mother Gu isn’t fully grown?"

"Those two needles I just used were a test. Your lack of significant reaction was all the proof I needed."

As Tang Shu finished speaking, Ah Cui glanced down at her arm. The needles were now gone, but she did indeed feel distinctly disconnected from her Gu insect within.

"You killed it?"

"No, I just quieted it down."

"With those taps you made on me earlier? What were they?"

Ah Cui’s passion for research ignited, her focus narrowing entirely on this question. Her singular obsession unnerved everyone around her, sending chills down their spines.