Chapter 15

Chapter 14: Changming Town 14

It seems that Ye Yunfeng really is a key NPC.

Earlier, so many NPCs came, and they were terrified of Jiang Wan’er, swearing to reveal everything they knew—but not a single one mentioned Ye Yunfeng. Why?

Could it be they feared it would provoke my murderous intent?

Thinking this, Shi Zong returned the photo to Li Simei and looked at the newly arrived NPCs.

Having arrived a bit late, they all appeared extremely frightened.

When they heard Shi Zong ask about Ye Yunfeng, they all fell to their knees, faces pale, bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Whispers ran through the crowd—

“Has she really remembered everything?”

“Are we doomed?”

…

Hearing this, Shi Zong stepped forward, a sharp expression in his eyes. “Tell me everything you know about Ye Yunfeng. Whoever speaks the most, I’m more likely to spare.”

One NPC quickly spoke up: “I heard my mother mention him… He’s elegant and charming, many girls liked him!”

Another NPC followed immediately. “My father was once his tutor and accompanied him to the outside world. Father said he gave alms to beggars every day and did many good deeds.

“One time my father drank too much and missed signing a contract, causing Young Master Ye to lose a lot of money. But Young Master Ye never blamed him and instead comforted him.

“He’s kind and generous, a true gentleman, and rare in that he doesn’t look down on the slums.

“That’s why he met you and fell in love with you!”

“The Ye family’s population dwindled, and in his generation, he was the only son. His father was seriously ill, so he took on part of the responsibilities of the Ye family head early…”

…

A cool breeze brushed across, and the weak sunlight reflected off the slightly glossy plaza floor, forming tiny sparkles like stars scattered on the ground.

Standing quietly in this scene, Shi Zong listened to the words of the people, suddenly feeling a strange sensation—

I once loved someone, but I forgot him.

Now I can only piece together fragments about him from what others say.

Like doing a jigsaw puzzle, the image of Ye Yunfeng gradually became clear in Shi Zong’s mind.

Ye Yunfeng’s father was ill, and he was an only child. Compared with heirs of the other three major families, he was exposed to the outside world earlier.

Perhaps because of this, he understood equality better than the townspeople, didn’t discriminate against slum residents, and treated staff and servants politely.

He was upright, kind, had an excellent temperament, and his words and actions were refreshing. On top of that, he had a handsome appearance, admired by countless girls.

He was almost a “perfect” person.

How did he die?

As Shi Zong was about to ask, an NPC pushed through the crowd and came straight to him.

She was a woman of about thirty.

Silver letters floated above her head.

Clearly an important NPC.

【Identity: NPC】

【Name: Wang Yinyin】

【Role Information: Older sister of Young Master Wang. Displeased that Young Master Wang married you, she has never returned to the Wang family to see you since you joined the family】

“Everyone move aside. You’re afraid of her, I’m not!

“At worst… at worst, I’ll go to the underworld to be with Yunfeng!”

Tears still streaked her eyes. Clenching her fists, she glared at Shi Zong. “You forced us, threatened us, and that was bad enough. Now you dare to ask about Yunfeng? I can’t bear it!

“No one dares tell you the truth? I dare!!!

“Yunfeng was killed by you!

“He was killed by you!!!

“Are you satisfied?! Come on! Kill me if you can!”

Tears poured from her eyes as Wang Yinyin accused, “It’s your vile character, your wanton nature—you deserve to be executed!

“When you were executed, his mother couldn’t bear for him to see it, so she made excuses for him to go to the outside world. He didn’t even know about your execution… but you thought he wronged you.

“The one who made mistakes was you. Your resentment at being executed, your hatred for the whole town—that’s also you!

“You couldn’t accept it, and after death became a vengeful spirit. You were insane, nothing could reach you…

“You thought Ye Yunfeng was heartless, so you killed him recklessly! And that wasn’t enough… you killed him and the entire Ye family! That’s why we fear you so much!!!”

Shi Zong stepped closer to the tearful woman. “Where was I executed?”

Wang Yinyin said: “Right here, in front of the Saintess Statue! The three major families held a vote against you, and the entire town agreed you should be burned to death! Even your parents consented to it!”

Ten years ago, the town voted to execute Jiang Wan’er, and she was burned alive in front of the Saintess Statue.

Ten years later, these people kneeled before Jiang Wan’er in her vengeful spirit form, crying and begging for mercy.

Truly ironic.

Shi Zong turned to look at the Saintess Statue in front of him.

The woman in the statue wore conservative clothing, a standard smile, her brows and eyes completely harmless. She looked virtuous and obedient, a model for all women in town, an image far from the rumors about Jiang Wan’er.

Squinting, Shi Zong asked Wang Yinyin: “Exactly what did I do to make you think I deserved death?”

“Do you even have the nerve to ask? You didn’t follow a woman’s path! You were Yunfeng’s fiancée but seduced other men while he was busy in the outside world!”

“Other men?

“You mean… Young Master Li, Second Young Master, Wang Zhien, and Zhang Ye, right?”

“Surprisingly, you still remember! You’re a malicious and selfish woman! Born in the slums, yet trying to climb high through men, seducing every wealthy man!

“Yunfeng was a perfect man. You didn’t deserve his love!”

After saying the last sentence, Wang Yinyin glared at Jiang Wan’er with extreme resentment, then unexpectedly ran toward the Saintess Statue.

“Bang—!”

Her forehead hit the stone statue hard, and she collapsed, motionless.

Seeing this, the crowd in the plaza scattered immediately.

The NPCs, worried about angering Jiang Wan’er, all fled.

It seemed impossible now to repeat the trick of threatening them into giving information.

The system deliberately designed Wang Yinyin to exist… how devious.

Still, Shi Zong had obtained enough information.

To the ordinary townsfolk, Jiang Wan’er was the root cause of all tragedy.

She was wanton, loved to attach to wealthy men, and after falling in love with Ye Yunfeng, she seduced other men.

When her actions were exposed, they enraged the town. Everyone agreed she deserved death.

Ye Yunfeng’s mother couldn’t bear for him to know this and found every excuse to keep him away from the town.

Thus, when Jiang Wan’er was burned alive, Ye Yunfeng had no knowledge of it.

After death, Jiang Wan’er became a vengeful spirit, cursing the townspeople not to live past thirty-five.

She believed Ye Yunfeng betrayed her, so she killed him—and the entire Ye family.

Shi Zong raised an eyebrow and looked at Zuo Sanqiu, Li Simei, and Young Master Li.

“What are your thoughts now?”

Zuo Sanqiu pondered for a moment and exhaled. “The story is clear, but some details are strange. You were right, the entire town performing this drama isn’t just to save us four men about to turn thirty-five; it must be to completely lift the curse and save the town.

“But why… why does marrying Jiang Wan’er break the curse for us four?”

Shi Zong reminded him: “Don’t forget, in the original story line, I was the deceased. This means my vengeful spirit is too strong for them to kill directly. But—”

“But after four weddings, they can kill you!”

Zuo Sanqiu’s eyes lit up, finally catching the key logic.

Jiang Wan’er didn’t marry Ye Yunfeng successfully, creating an obsession with marriage.

Also, she carried deep-seated hatred.

Her obsession and hatred became so strong that she transformed into a vengeful spirit with terrifying power.

What Elder Gong and the three major families are doing now is probably using repeated weddings to gradually weaken Jiang Wan’er’s obsession and hatred.

After the four special wedding ceremonies, her hatred and obsession will vanish. Then, she won’t be a vengeful spirit, just a fragile wandering soul afraid even to see light.

At that point, anyone could easily exorcise her using common ghost-fighting tools like peachwood swords.

Once she dies, the curse ends, and the younger generation can surpass thirty-five.

Zuo Sanqiu immediately shared his thoughts. “The logic holds! The four weddings are actually four ceremonies to weaken Jiang Wan’er’s grudge and power!

“The ultimate goal of the four major families is to completely erase her!”

“Correct,” Shi Zong said. “However, the way to eliminate a wanton woman’s grudge is to have her marry each man she once sed

“She hates the most… those four men. That’s why the four ceremonies are each related to these four men. As for the root of her hatred, I guess—”

Shi Zong walked step by step in front of Young Master Li.

The moment he met Shi Zong’s gaze, he immediately lowered his head, his expression showing a trace of guilt.

Shi Zong looked at him and said, “Ten years ago, the four of you took advantage of Ye Yunfeng being away and raped Jiang Wan’er.

“Not only that, after the incident, you turned it around, saying Jiang Wan’er seduced you, calling her a wanton, which ultimately led to her execution. Isn’t that right?”

Young Master Li moved his lips, but in the end, his face was pale, and he couldn’t say a word.

At this point, most of the truth finally surfaced.

Jiang Wan’er had never betrayed Ye Yunfeng, nor had she ever been wanton or frivolous. Yet Elder Gong altered her memories, leaving only the obsession with “desiring marriage” in her heart.

She had always hoped to marry Ye Yunfeng. This desire was cunningly transferred by Elder Gong to the four men who had once raped her.

She despised those four men who had taken her body by force and then falsely accused her, causing her death.

Elder Gong, together with the three major families, made her—after losing her memory—develop feelings for these four men, so that she would no longer hate them.

Ten years ago, the entire town burned Jiang Wan’er alive.

Ten years later, they wove a dream for her.

In this dream, lust was beautified as love at first sight; rape was disguised as true love.

Unknowingly, Jiang Wan’er was guided step by step to develop real feelings for the men who had humiliated her, and married them one by one…

After sorting everything out, Zuo Sanqiu broke out in a cold sweat down his back.

He even felt relieved that his character was still in a state of amnesia; otherwise, he would have been disgusted with himself.

He couldn’t help saying, “How can one forgive someone who raped you? Just fall in love with him and marry him. That’s Elder Gong’s solution?

“This is disgusting. If you ask me… Elder Gong really deserves to die!”

A moment later, Shi Zong turned and left the plaza.

Zuo Sanqiu called after him. “Where are you going?”

“To the Eternal Burial Inn.”

The so-called “wanton” and “seduction” were lies fabricated by those four men.

The so-called “Jiang Wan’er wiped out the Ye family” was likely a lie fabricated by the three major families.

The Ye family’s heirs dwindled, and the only capable successor, Ye Yunfeng, died. The other three major families seized the opportunity, destroyed the Ye family, divided their gold mines, and blamed everything on Jiang Wan’er.

That should be the truth.

So now, the only thing uncertain is this:

Did Jiang Wan’er really kill Ye Yunfeng?

“Why are you going there? That’s very dangerous for you!” Zuo Sanqiu warned.

But Shi Zong said lightly, “I’m going to see if I might run into Ye Yunfeng.”