Trafford's Trading Club

693: Chapter 106: Mrs.

Witch 693: Chapter 106: Mrs.

Witch The stone steps leading up the mountain, no one knows how long they have existed.

The mottled moss on the steps resembles a special pattern, but Boss Luo and the maid both know, these steps are not made of gems.

After passing through the vermilion torii gate, and climbing about a hundred more steps, this extremely long staircase would finally be completed.

The sun had not yet emerged from the mountains, but the sky was already slightly bright.

Upon reaching this halfway point up the mountain where the shrine was located, Luo Qiu looked back at the village below, which now seemed very small.

The appearance of the shrine was not much different from what Luo Qiu imagined.

Ahead, there was a box, probably used to store offerings from worshippers.

To the left, there was a wooden rack, hanging with many wooden plaques.

New Year’s wishes.

Villagers from Zaodao Village would come here to pray every New Year, write down their wishes for the coming year, and hang them here.

Luo Qiu seemed very interested and walked directly to the wooden rack to take a closer look.

The day gradually brightened.

In the early morning, it was the quietest time.

Yet, some birds dwelling in the mountains would suddenly emerge from the distant mountain forests and fly up into the sky. “So many crows.” You Ye watched them group together and fly away, seemingly displeased.

Because the cawing of crows was ultimately not as pleasant as the song of orioles, and in people’s traditional beliefs, they often represented ominous events.

But for the club’s boss and maid, there was no such thing as ominous, so they could only describe it as unbeautiful.

Luo Qiu merely smiled.

After reading the wishes on the plaques hanging on the wooden rack, he walked directly to the front of the shrine and suddenly remarked with interest, “People worship gods seeking blessings.

If we worship too, I wonder if we could be blessed.”

What blessings?

Even the courage to show up might be a question.

You Ye slightly shook her head, and Luo Qiu dropped the topic.

Then he looked at the bell hanging in front.

After placing offerings, people would earnestly ring the bell here, sometimes following a set number of rings; everything followed a stringent and devout process. “Who are you?”

The voice of inquiry came from the miko responsible for watching over the shrine, who approached from the other side of where the wooden plaques were placed.

There was a stone-paved path on that side that seemed to lead to the back of the shrine.

The miko was young, wearing a simple kimono at that moment and carrying a small wooden bucket in her hand.

Her hair was quite long, almost reaching the ground, but it was still wet.

Boss Luo’s eyesight was excellent, as was the maid’s, so they could easily see the trace of moisture on the miko.

Perhaps she had just finished washing up.

Luo Qiu nodded at the miko and smiled, “Hello.”

A hint of confusion flashed across the miko’s face, but she nodded as well, walking over slowly with the bucket.

She was a bit startled, because the clothing of this man and woman was unusually odd.

But the miko had encountered stranger, even more unbelievable things before.

Thus curious, she was not excessively aghast, “Are you from outside the village?”

As they got closer, aided by the increasingly bright sky, the miko could see the appearance of the man and woman clearly.

Growing up on this land, she remembered everyone from the area well and recognized strangers at a glance. “Sort of, just passing by,” Luo Qiu nodded.

This miko was very young, even younger than he was five years ago, so her body was quite petite, as if she would never grow up.

Yet her hair was incredibly long… because it was washed, it appeared straight, with water still dripping from the tips, making her even more puzzled.

Still, she politely asked, “Here to worship?” “No,” Luo Qiu shook his head, “The blessings I seek, gods may not be able to give.”

The miko was surprised, slightly parting her lips.

Speaking like this in front of the shrine and its guardian seemed like a blatant disrespect toward the deities.

She should have been angry… but she wasn’t.

She glanced at the sky, aware it was still very early.

This made her puzzled about the timing of these two people arriving — it wasn’t a short trek from the base of the mountain, so they probably started climbing before it was light… or even earlier. “If you’re not here to worship, then please go ahead,” the miko eventually decided not to reprimand the pair for their disrespect toward the gods, although her demeanor became slightly cooler.

But she was so young, this hint of coldness appeared less like an icy demeanor and more like a show of temper. “May we walk around?” Boss Luo pondered for a moment, “I won’t touch anything…

I promise.” “As you please,” the miko replied calmly, then unexpectedly added after glancing at Luo Qiu, “But it’s best if you leave this place quickly.” “Is it because we didn’t worship?” Luo Qiu asked apologetically.

The miko shook her head, “It’s dangerous for men to stay in this village, especially since you’re not from around here.” “Dangerous?” “I’ve said enough,” the miko lifted the bucket again and walked into the shrine through the front door.

Luo Qiu exhaled, watching as the door finally closed.

If there was danger, perhaps those wishing plaques hanging on the wooden rack would be even more dangerous? “I wonder how Arex’s preparations are coming along.” Boss Luo suddenly said.

You Ye softly replied, “Arex only requires us to distract one of the people he identified, to preserve more True Souls in this false world.

Since the requirement isn’t high, the preparation he must make would naturally be more intense.”

Boss Luo chuckled, gazing toward the stone steps leading upward, “The first one to arrive… turns out it’s him.” …

A shadow sprinted swiftly up the steep stone steps.

A bright red robe, silver-white hair… it was the Wind-Chaser, a demi-demon of this world.

But Zhuifeng was evidently not alone.

On his back, he was carrying an unconscious woman.

Always running into injured, unconscious folks on outings made Zhuifeng quite helpless — the last one was Zi Xing.

Due to the faint demonic power emanating from Zi Xing, being a monster himself, Zhuifeng couldn’t treat her as an ordinary person and ignore her.

As for this time… this injured, unconscious woman didn’t seem ordinary either. “Is anyone there?”

Upon just reaching the end of the stone steps, Zhuifeng shouted a phrase hastily.

He had come to this place because of some remaining memories from his body. “Is anyone there?” Zhuifeng took a few more steps forward, loudly calling toward the shrine’s door.

At that moment, his ears twitched slightly.

He heard the sound of footsteps — sure enough, shortly after, a young miko wearing a white kimono with still-damp hair opened the door. “Inuyasha…”

The ears were extraordinarily sensitive, so Zhuifeng easily heard the name spoken with a very soft voice by Mrs.

Witch.

Yet, Mrs.

Witch also frowned slightly, seeming somewhat displeased, “Inuyasha, why are you here again?

I’ve already said… who is the person behind you?”

Zhuifeng didn’t know exactly what the relationship was between Inuyasha and Mrs.

Witch; he was merely guided by the memory of his body to come here—of course, he also harbored some thoughts about discovering clues related to the bizarre events this time. “I don’t know her either.” Zhuifeng shook his head, “Picked her up on the road, she’s quite badly injured and unconscious, can you take a look?”

Mrs.

Witch tilted her head and thought for a moment, then nodded, “Bring her inside.”

Hurriedly, Zhuifeng carried the person past the offering box and entered the Shrine.

But just as he put the person down, before he could take a closer look at the inside of the Shrine, he heard Mrs.

Witch’s voice, “Just leave the person here and you can leave.”

The firm attitude of the other party made Zhuifeng inexplicably feel a sense of retreat… a sense of fear that even he found surprising.

Strange.

Even when Mrs.

Witch closed the door, leaving Zhuifeng alone sitting on the wooden steps in front of the door, he felt utterly confused…

Perhaps Inuyasha was originally very afraid of this woman?

Zhuifeng couldn’t figure it out, so he looked around in boredom and noticed many plaques hanging on the wooden railing nearby.

Bored, he wandered over, rubbing his chin as he tilted his head to examine them, “What’s written here… ‘Bountiful Harvest next year’, ‘Hope the newborn is a… son’?

Isn’t this character the word for son?”

After a while, suddenly Mrs.

Witch’s voice came from inside the Shrine, “Inuyasha!”

Zhuifeng hurried to get closer, but the door did not open, so he could only listen through it and asked, “Is there something wrong?” “Where did you encounter this woman?” “On the road.” Zhuifeng thought for a moment: “On the road near the village…

By the way, is this woman beyond saving?” “She won’t die for now, but she’s seriously injured.

Besides, she seems…” “Seems what?” Zhuifeng’s gossiping heart as leader of the Wind-Chasing Juvenile Group was burning intensely.

Yet inside the door, the sound suddenly ceased; instead, footsteps could be heard moving around.

Curiously, Zhuifeng pressed his ear against the door trying to listen more closely, unexpectedly the door opened suddenly, making Zhuifeng awkwardly take two steps back, “I wasn’t eavesdropping!” “You’re still incorrigible and rude.” Mrs.

Witch’s voice carried a trace of anger.

Zhuifeng was greatly shocked—not by the slightly angry tone, but by what the woman was holding in her hand, which made him feel threatened!

The woman took out a long bow from somewhere unknown, and even had a quiver already on her back…

A long arrow was early on nocked on the bowstring, its sharp arrowhead pointing straight! “Wait, what do you intend to do!” “I’ve said before, if you dare step into this place, I will kill you!”

As soon as those words fell, Mrs.

Witch released her fingers, and the sharp arrow shot through the air, swiftly grazing Zhuifeng’s cheek, too fast for him to react. “Hey!

I hold no grudge against you, what do you mean!” Zhuifeng frowned!

I’m perfectly capable of fighting humans, regardless of whether they’re men or women!

Mrs.

Witch snorted coldly and took out another long arrow, nocking it instantly and firing again.

This time Zhuifeng reacted quickly, instinctively reaching out and catching the arrow.

But unexpectedly, heat suddenly surged from the arrow shaft!

It hurts so much!

Zhuifeng quickly threw the arrow aside, glancing at his palm…

Smoke was hissing from it, with the flesh on his hand even scorched, looking bloodied and mangled. “What a foolish guy…

Dare to catch my spirit-breaking arrow with your hand!” Mrs.

Witch said coldly at this time: “Inuyasha, you really are the dumbest monster ever!” “Crazy woman, don’t think I’ll fear you…

Watch me!” Zhuifeng actually was enraged, immediately leaping out!

But just then Mrs.

Witch fired another arrow…

This crazy woman’s arrow seemed even faster than before.

Zhuifeng’s body twisted in mid-air, dodging the shot narrowly…

Though the arrow’s sharp head slashed his clothing, he heard a plop as something fell from his clothes.

A book!

After waking up, this book was already placed on him.

Yet Zhuifeng couldn’t bother with that sort of thing now; the deadly arrows from the crazy woman were incredibly dangerous, so he quickly pulled back, watching the opponent with utmost vigilance.

Mrs.

Witch narrowed her eyes slightly, walked out of the Shrine picking up the book, then looked at Zhuifeng again, coldly asking, “What’s this supposed to mean?” “For you…” Zhuifeng had just finished speaking when he froze—those words slipped out unconsciously, not what he intended to say. “You… do you still remember?” Mrs.

Witch glanced again, her expression weighted with complexity. “Uh… yeah!” Zhuifeng nodded, seeing the opponent seeming to calm down because of the book.

Zhuifeng, not foolish, decisively nodded openly, “Yeah, I’ve always carried it, should… no, just to deliver it to you!”

Mrs.

Witch said nothing more, holding the book while putting down the long bow, turning and heading back into the Shrine. “Wait, what’s that supposed to mean?”

She glanced back and said indifferently, “Leave, and don’t come again…

Otherwise, I’ll kill you next time!” “Hold on, there’s something I want to ask you!” Zhuifeng hurried to ask, “Have you seen someone named Zi Xing?

She’s about your height, oh, and very pretty!” “Scram!”

A sharp arrow instantly embedded itself beside Zhuifeng’s foot, the arrow still emitting a chilling aura that made Zhuifeng’s heart tremble!

Zhuifeng instinctively swallowed, noticing the Shrine door already closed, then quietly moved his foot away…

This crazy woman, how terrifying!

Zhuifeng rubbed his head and simply backed away, quickly fleeing the place—since waking up, there had been a strange notion in his mind, but after delivering the book, the notion vanished entirely.

He felt much more at ease instantly, not minding having been repelled by the crazy woman…

As for the life or death of the woman picked up on the road, he naturally cared less.