About half an hour had passed since the incident at the yamen.
Chief Constable Tie believed their speculations but didn't act immediately.
In his view, to search East City's foremost sect with great fanfare, or even to arrest Xiang Tianlin with proper justification, the current evidence was still somewhat insufficient.
If it came down to a dispute, the Ninefold Gate Sect might even manage to muddle through.
Precisely because of this, after some discussion, they decided to infiltrate the Ninefold Gate Sect after nightfall to see if they could find decisive evidence to thoroughly arrest and convict Xiang Tianlin.
Luo Residence, Pharmacy.
Yang Shifei sat on the bed with practiced ease, the faint scent of medicine permeating the air making him chuckle inwardly.
He and this place, they certainly had some fate together.
"Young Master, how are you feeling now?"
Tanxiang's inquiry came from beside the medicine shelves. She was on tiptoe, reaching for medicine, her small skirt swaying.
"Much more comfortable, it's no bother."
Yang Shifei rotated his arm and said with a light laugh, "Although I'm not too sure of the reason, I'm quite resilient now. All my injuries heal very quickly."
"…Your constitution is indeed different from ordinary people."
Tanxiang walked over with a bowl of medicinal paste, her expression cool.
She stirred the paste with a pestle, her delicate brows furrowing slightly again. "Since this matter has been entrusted to Chief Constable Tie, do you still need to go personally?"
"I'm not very familiar with Chief Constable Tie; I'm not entirely at ease."
Yang Shifei smiled. "Besides, Xiang Tianlin recognized that you and I are from the Luo Residence. If he manages to escape this time, it might be detrimental to us in the future. I'm a very cautious person and don't want to leave such a massive hidden danger. Naturally, I want to personally eliminate this trouble."
He didn't think he could defeat Xiang Tianlin in a direct confrontation.
But with the help of the cold energy, he could enter an extremely calm state. Merely infiltrating the Ninefold Gate Sect's interior to gather intelligence wouldn't be difficult.
Moreover, with Chief Constable Tie providing cover, even if an accident occurred, there would be a chance to escape.
Tanxiang was silent for a moment, then slowly sat down to the side.
"For the sake of the Luo Residence, is it worth all this?"
"What kind of words are those, Miss Tanxiang?"
Yang Shifei pointed to himself, his face full of solemnity. "Although I haven't passed your observation period yet, I am, at least nominally, the Luo family's fiancé. Of course, I have to side with you all."
Speaking to this point, he couldn't help but laugh again. "If everyone in the Luo Residence were trying to push me out, I certainly wouldn't ask for trouble. But whether it's Miss Luo or you, Miss Tanxiang, you've both been so gentle and considerate. I can't be a shameless, heartless man."
"…I am merely a servant. Why mention me?"
"I don't care about any superiors or inferiors; celestial beings or dragon people, it's all the same."
Yang Shifei said with a chuckle, "In my eyes, you are also a part of the Luo Residence."
Tanxiang pounded the medicinal paste, her lips pressed together, saying nothing.
The image of Yang Shifei shielding her from the arrows flashed through her mind, and her gaze fell upon the still-unhealed scratch on his arm.
Even if those arrows couldn't have harmed her, still…
Tanxiang sighed softly.
"Alright, take off your clothes. I'll help you apply the medicine."
"Ah?" Yang Shifei said drily, "Perhaps I should do it myself?"
Tanxiang looked at him coolly. "Still worried I'll take advantage of you?"
"…As long as you don't mind."
Yang Shifei felt helpless inwardly but could only remove his robes, revealing a well-proportioned and firm upper body.
Although he was once so weak he couldn't even truss a chicken, he had bulked up somewhat in Niu Family Village.
The cold energy suffusing his body hadn't drastically changed his physique, but it had made his muscles considerably more prominent; he no longer looked like a rack of ribs.
Tanxiang merely glanced at him, then, expressionlessly, scooped up a spoonful of medicinal paste and applied it to his chest.
"…"
The cool, fine sensation made Yang Shifei's entire body tense up.
The young woman's slender, tender little hands stroked back and forth, making his expression turn even more peculiar. He could only keep his face taut and say nothing.
These little hands, unbelievably tender, like tofu.
But in the silence, recalling the scene at the yamen, Yang Shifei hesitated for a moment before finally speaking:
"The saber you threw at that time, it had considerable force. That's not the skill of an ordinary person."
"…Correct."
Tanxiang replied without lifting her head. "I just felt there was no need to tell you."
But as soon as she finished speaking, the young woman's medicine-applying movements paused slightly. "Hearing me say this, you still intend to venture into danger for the Luo Residence?"
"Is there anything improper about it?" Yang Shifei's lips curved slightly. "Everyone has their secrets, myself included. If you wish to speak of yours in the future, Miss, I will, of course, listen attentively."
Tanxiang took a deep breath and shot him an exasperated glare.
"If you hadn't come to our Luo Residence, I dread to think what a sorry state outsiders might have deceived you into."
"At least my judgment of people isn't bad, right?"
Yang Shifei laughed openly. "Seeing that both master and servant of your Luo Residence are so understanding, that's why I was willing to stay here. If it were a malicious master and wicked servants, I would have run off immediately without a second look."
"…"
Tanxiang lowered her head and snorted softly.
After a moment of silence, she finally calmed down again. "The medicine is applied. How much longer do you intend to stay bare-chested?"
Yang Shifei quickly put on his robes, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation.
He didn't even know who had taken advantage of whom.
Although, those little hands stroking him back and forth felt so comfortable it made half his bones feel like jelly.
"You should go back and rest first."
Tanxiang washed her hands, stood up, and instructed, "I'll go report this matter to the Eldest Miss shortly; she will help us handle the subsequent troubles. When the night grows a bit deeper, I'll call you to go together."
"You're coming too?"
"I am not weaker than you. Going with you will also prevent you from getting into trouble."
Tanxiang left the pharmacy without lingering, a light sentence floating back, "If you get injured again, it will be difficult for me to explain to Miss."
Yang Shifei stood rooted to the spot, scratching his head, thinking to himself that this servant girl indeed had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
As night gradually deepened, the candles in the residence were extinguished.
Yang Shifei, dressed in the night-traveling clothes Tanxiang had prepared for him, clenched and unclenched his hands.
He had wanted to absorb a little more of Yue Rui's cold energy before setting out, as a precaution. But Yue Rui had gone out at some unknown time today, so he could only give up the idea for now.
Fortunately, the cold energy within his body was still abundant and wouldn't affect the plan for this excursion.
"Ready?"
Tanxiang emerged silently from beneath a tree. Her already slender and petite figure, wrapped in the night-traveling clothes, revealed a surprising curvaceousness.
Yang Shifei nodded slightly and, together with her, tied on their face coverings and gloves.
They couldn't afford any carelessness on this trip; after all, they were going to East City's foremost sect. The slightest mistake would lead to trouble.
"What did Miss Luo say?"
"Miss will help keep an eye on those people from other provinces, to prevent any secret collusion."
Tanxiang's tone was even, a glint of coldness flashing in her eyes. "That Xiang Tianlin hastily met with the heroes from various sects at noon. His entire arm was wrapped in cloth, claiming he injured it during practice. Not long after, he declared he was unwell and returned home."
"He moves quite fast."
The two confirmed their direction and set off towards the Ninefold Gate Sect under the cover of night.
The streets of East City were already dark and silent, every household's door tightly shut. Only the faint, echoing sound of the night watchman's rounds could be heard.
After passing through the streets, a vast manor came into view not far away, with faint lights flickering under the moonlight.
"—You've arrived."
Tie Hanyang appeared silently at the agreed location, his hands behind his back, his voice heavy. "I'll go in first to engage them. Are you confident you can uncover the truth within the Ninefold Gate Sect?"
Yang Shifei nodded calmly. "If we really can't find any clues, we'll still have to trouble Chief Constable Tie to take action and apprehend him first."
Tie Hanyang sighed helplessly upon hearing this. "Our cultivation levels are about even. It won't be that simple to determine a victor."
Despite saying so, he quickly walked to the sect's front gate, knocked heavily, and announced in a clear, projected voice:
"I am Tie Hanyang from the yamen! I have matters to discuss with Sect Leader Xiang!"
Yang Shifei and Tanxiang exchanged glances, then simultaneously crept towards another corner of the manor, vaulting over the wall and into the compound.
Lights began to illuminate within the manor, and figures hurried towards the main hall.
Yang Shifei hid beneath a tree. Using the light, he vaguely spotted Xiang Tianlin's location, quickly pointed in a direction, and the two of them slipped into a corridor, moving swiftly while concealing their presence.
"Don't go too far; this is his bedchamber here."
"Is anyone inside?"
The two leaned against the door, conversing in hushed tones. "I remember the Ninefold Gate Sect's leader has a wife and daughter, and also a concubine. He himself has gone to the main hall to meet guests. Inside the room…"
Tanxiang was just about to take out some knockout powder.
But after pressing her ear to the door and listening for a moment, she quickly shook her head. "There's no one in the room."
Yang Shifei's eyes flickered. He carefully pushed the door open.
The two slipped into the room and closed the door behind them without making any unnecessary sound.
Yang Shifei quickly walked to the bedside, lifted the quilt, and indeed, there was no one there.
"The bedding is cold. No one has lain here recently."
Tanxiang went to the desk to search, while Yang Shifei scouted around the area. Soon, his expression froze, and he quickly looked down.
There seemed to be some granular objects under his feet. He picked up a bit with his fingers and examined it closely…
It was dried, fragmented black blood flakes.
"Xiang Tianlin's finger was cut by me today. Could it be from then?"
Yang Shifei touched the floor and quickly dismissed this guess.
Only a few hours had passed. Even if this blood had dried and clotted, it wouldn't have been trampled so finely, let alone scattered everywhere.