Purple Summersâs movements faltered, and she looked at the old lady anew.
She was a sorceress, but in reality, she was a very ordinary woman in her sixties. Today she wasnât wearing her typical sorceress attire- the black silk and cotton jacket, nor did she have talisman paper on her, just an ordinary elderly woman. If Purple Summers hadnât seen this face just yesterday, she might not have recognized her.
Purple Summers smiled and asked her, âOld lady, how can I help you?â
The sorceressâs expression was eerie, her lips curled in a sarcastic smile as she looked past Purple Summers at the crow inside the room. She grinned, revealing her sparse teeth, âSince the young lady is a fellow practitioner, she should understand the difficulty of nourishing souls. Why bother an old woman like me?â
Purple Summers frowned at these words. She stepped outside, closed the door behind her, and asked, âWhat do you mean by that?â
âWhatever you think it means is what it means,â said the sorceress.
Purple Summers frowned and replied, âStop beating around the bush and get to the point.â
The sorceress lowered her eyes, gathered her sleeves with both hands, âYoung lady, please show mercy, I cannot leave Peachwater, not even for a single step.â
Purple Summers shook her head and refused her, âIllegally selling prohibited drugs is against the law. The exact sentence depends on the judgeâs final decision, and I canât help you with that.â
The sorceressâs face remained calm and unruffled, as if she was neither surprised nor unprepared for what Purple Summers had to say.
In a steady tone, she said, âArenât you good at suing? You can help defend me in court.â
Purple Summersâs eyes widened in surprise!
How did this old woman know about her lawsuits?! In such a remote and secluded mountain village, she wondered how an information-deprived old woman could know about something that happened in distant Clearwater City?
The sorceress saw Purple Summersâs astonishment and sneered, âThis old woman can read fortunes. Many things can be learned just by calculating.â
Purple Summers didnât believe her, and retorted, âIf you can really read fortunes, you can make money from it. Why would you take the risk of selling prohibited drugs?â
âOne who makes money by exposing the secrets of fate wonât live long,â the sorceress maintained her sarcastic smile and said, âI havenât lived enough yet.â
Purple Summersâ tone grew colder, âDo you think your current method of making money will let you live longer? Three lives were lost, and someone has to take responsibility for this.â
The sorceress squinted at Purple Summers and laughed, âThat small dosage wouldnât have killed them; their deaths have nothing to do with me.â
âNo one can prove the exact dosage in the talisman water you gave them,â Purple Summers replied coldly.
At her words, the sorceress nodded slightly, âThatâs why⦠youâre the one who needs to figure it out.â
Purple Summers felt indignant â this old woman was so shameless, certain that Purple Summers would help her!
Purple Summers purposely said, âOld lady, hiring a lawyer for a lawsuit is very expensive. How much can you offer?â
The sorceress chuckled and shook her head, âThe cost of nourishing souls is too high. This old woman has even lost her own coffin money. I donât have any money to pay you.â
She paused and looked at Purple Summers, âYoung lady, although I have no money, I can read your fortune. Youâve been looking for someone, right? I can help.â
Purple Summersâ heart tightened, her throat feeling oddly dry.
She was silent for a while, then said, âThe person I was looking for has been found. I appreciate your efforts, but I suggest you turn yourself in sooner rather than later.â
âHave you really found that person?â The sorceressâs smile was cryptic, âYoung lady, actually⦠deep down, you know better than anyone else that this person is just a smokescreen, right?â
Purple Summers felt as if her deepest secret had been exposed, her expression stiffening and her lips turning pale.
The sorceress leaned close to her ear and whispered, word by word, âIf you help me, Iâll tell you who the person youâre looking for is.â