Ling Xi was anxiously following Lin Xiao and Liu Hai through the town, searching every street and alley for any sign of Zhang Nu and Zhao Yang. They combed through the bustling crowds until the sky began to darken, but there was still no trace of them.
Just as Ling Xi was about to ask Lin Xiao whether they should keep looking, a servant boy suddenly ran up to them, blocking their path with a respectful bow.
“Are you the companions of Master Zhang Nu?” the servant asked cautiously, his tone humble yet urgent. “Master Zhang Nu ordered me to search for you nearby. He said if I found you, I must bring you back at once—Master Fu has requested your presence.”
Ling Xi froze for a moment in surprise, then a wave of relief washed over her tight chest. Lin Xiao only cast the servant a cold glance. Though the suspicion in his eyes did not fade, he still gave a slight nod.
“Lead the way,” Lin Xiao said flatly.
And so, with the servant guiding them, they wove back through the narrow lanes and busy streets until at last they arrived at the grand front gates of Patron Fu’s residence.
When Ling Xi heard Lin Xiao’s words, she nodded and had no choice but to follow his lead.
Together with Lin Xiao and the others, she followed the servant’s lead and went to the front hall. Once there, someone immediately went to notify Zhang Nu and Zhao Yang.
Before long, Zhang Nu and Zhao Yang appeared. The moment Ling Xi and the others saw them, they finally felt at ease.
“You and Zhao Yang nearly scared us to death! Where did you go? Why didn’t you tell us beforehand?”
“Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?”
Liu Hai, looking very anxious, said this to Zhang Nu. Zhang Nu listened carefully, not daring to interrupt him at all—after all, Liu Hai was fierce when upset. Besides, Zhang Nu knew this was partly his and Zhao Yang’s fault. They had indeed worried everyone.
“I’m sorry. It all happened so suddenly, and I forgot to tell you,” Zhang Nu explained sincerely. “Zhao Yang and I ran into it by chance—on the way here, we met Patron Fu’s wife. She was in trouble, so we helped her, and she brought us here.”
After Zhang Nu’s explanation, Liu Hai’s expression finally eased a little.
But Lin Xiao still felt there was something off about this Patron Fu’s household. There was a faint scent that he couldn’t describe, as if there was a smell of corpses hidden under layers of perfume or incense.
“How long have you been here? Have you looked around carefully?” Lin Xiao asked.
Hearing Lin Xiao’s question, Zhang Nu suddenly realized Lin Xiao might have sensed something.
“I haven’t really checked this place thoroughly. We’ve only been here for a day, and there are still many parts I haven’t seen.”
Lin Xiao nodded slightly. So that was it, which meant Zhang Nu might not know what was really going on either. He could very well be kept in the dark.
Lin Xiao’s interest in this Patron Fu’s household deepened. He wondered if the rumors the little YaoGuais had mentioned earlier were about this very place. If so, they need to be extremely cautious from now on.
“Just now, Ling Xi and I found out something important. I’ll tell you all later,” Lin Xiao said quietly.
Hearing this, Zhang Nu nodded too. His instincts told him Lin Xiao’s information probably had something to do with Patron Fu.
“You’re right, this isn’t a good place to talk. The walls may have ears.”
Zhang Nu fully agreed with Lin Xiao.
Just then, as they were speaking, Patron Fu arrived with his family in tow. When he saw Zhang Nu and the others chatting together, he immediately realized these people were indeed Zhang Nu’s friends.
Since they were Zhang Nu’s friends, they were also his guests—Zhang Nu had saved his wife, so he naturally owed them gratitude.
“You all must be Master Zhang’s friends,” Patron Fu said with a warm smile. “Since you’re new here, I’m sure there’s much you don’t know yet. Please, rest here first.”
“I wonder if you’ve had dinner yet. If not, I’ll have the servants prepare something right away.”
Hearing this, Ling Xi shyly touched her stomach. They really hadn’t eaten yet because they’d been out looking for Zhang Nu and Zhao Yang all this time. Their energy was long spent.
When Patron Fu’s wife saw Ling Xi’s adorable gesture, she couldn’t help but laugh softly.
She truly wished she had a daughter as lovely as Ling Xi. But she couldn’t bear children anymore, and honestly, she no longer wanted to. She feared that if she did, any new child would fight for inheritance against the one already here.
It was rare for a woman in her position to think like this. Most women wanted to have a son and fight for every bit of wealth, but not her.
“This young lady looks so blessed, and pretty too,” Madam Fu said kindly. “You must be starving. Come with me to the dining hall—I’ll have the servants prepare food right away.”
Ling Xi’s eyes lit up at her words. In her mind, anyone who fed her and kept her company was a good person. Besides, who would expect a YaoGuai to be living inside a woman’s body? Surely this woman was harmless.
Just as Ling Xi was about to step forward toward Madam Fu, Lin Xiao suddenly reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her back at once.
He would never let Ling Xi come into contact with anyone from this house. Everyone here seemed far too strange.
“Madam, I think it’s best if we don’t,” Lin Xiao urged.