Wufu didn’t ask why Ah Jiu returned to Maofeng Town and even generously treated her to dinner. After a meal with plenty of drink and food, Wufu said she was off to visit an acquaintance and left early.
"Master, Lady Wu had the waiter give her a small jar of tung oil," Yuan Ye reported to Ah Jiu quietly.
Ah Jiu, who was about to sip his tea, paused and looked at him, "Tung oil?"
Ah Jiu pondered for a moment and said, "This girl isn’t planning to go commit murder and arson, is she?"
"Master, what do you think?"
"Follow her and see," Ah Jiu set down his tea and stood up.
Wufu rode her horse slowly toward Wozi Village, with a small jar of tung oil in the saddlebag, gently swaying.
The night was clear and the stars shone brightly; the cool moonlight poured over the earth, casting a clear light on the path.
Wufu halted her horse and slightly turned her head, "Come out."
Ah Jiu rode out from a group of trees, chuckling heartily, "The moonlight is really nice tonight!"
Wufu rolled her eyes, "Why are you following me?"
Ah Jiu urged his horse forward, his eyes glancing at the saddlebag on her horse, and said, "And what are you up to?"
"I’m off to do some mischief. Ninth Master wants to come along?" Wufu’s eyebrows arched sharply.
Ah Jiu’s laughter was genuine, "Great, there’s nothing I love more than committing murder and arson!"
Wufu snorted and urged her horse forward. Ah Jiu hurriedly followed, engaging her in casual conversation.
Not far behind, Hoo Die asked Su Luo, "Those two, aren’t they close to being Demon Kings?"
Yuan Ye said, "Careful, if Master hears you, your whole monthly salary for next year might be deducted."
Hoo Die yelped in alarm.
The group followed, neither lagging behind nor getting ahead.
In Wozi Village, the dogs started barking as if warning their owners of an intruder.
Some people came out to take a look, quieted the dogs, and went back to sleep; others didn’t bother at all.
But a perceptive person would have noticed someone passing through the village, heading toward the mountainside.
Under the moon, Wufu looked at the dilapidated house, dismounted, and picked up the jar of tung oil.
Ah Jiu was surprised, thinking she was headed somewhere else but turned out to be back to burn this house, her former home?
But he didn’t ask much, just watched her actions.
Wufu circled the house, scattering tung oil around it and pouring it inside, inside and out, until the jar was empty and only then did she step back out.
"Hey, you’re up to no good," Wufu called Ah Jiu over with a flick of her finger, "Lend me a flint."
Ah Jiu raised an eyebrow, dismounted and walked over, handing her a piece of flint, "Decided to start a fire but don’t have a flint?"
"Dropped it," Wufu shrugged.
She lit a dry twig, tossed it into the house, and as the sparks met the tung oil, the fire roared to life, engulfing the structure in flames.
Wufu stood there, the firelight reddening her face, yet she remained completely calm.
Ah Jiu was somewhat mystified, but asked nothing, figuring she must have her reasons.
Wufu certainly had her reasons; it was laughable that the Old Zhou family thought they could force her to comply.
It was her decision to leave, not because they chased her away.
And even though she had left, the Old Zhou family still fantasized about taking back the house; she wouldn’t live there, so better to burn it. Did the Old Zhou family think they could take advantage and feel at ease?
She would rather be a shattered jade than an intact tile.
On the mountainside, the fire raged, and the whole house was enveloped in flames, crackling and popping. In the village below, dogs barked in unison, and someone spotted the fire, beating drums as people’s voices surged toward the blaze.
"People are going to be here soon!" Ah Jiu warned her.
"Let’s go!" Wufu mounted her horse, cast a cold glance at the house collapsing in the fire without a hint of regret, and galloped away.