Large pumpkins weren’t rare in Tian Shui City, which was accustomed to growing various fruits and melons. But the one before them was as large as a small room, extraordinarily enormous, and unusually square and symmetrical in shape.

Young Master He’s face lit up with a smile. “Indeed it is! My family will surely win first place this year!” It wasn’t just about size—the melon needed to be aesthetically pleasing. His family cultivated according to the judging standards.

Little did he expect the squad leader’s unexpected change of tone: “A melon this large could fit not just one person, but two or three inside.” He waved his hand. “Come on, cut this melon open!”

Young Master He was stunned only briefly before lunging forward to grab the squad leader’s arm, stuffing a gold ingot into his hand. “Please show mercy! Without this melon, what will my family enter in the competition? My father will surely cut me open instead!”

The squad leader snatched the gold and hurled it at his nose bridge. “Blatant bribery and obstructing my pursuit of a rebel—does your He family not wish to remain in peace?” This fool dared to slip him gold in front of everyone; was he afraid not enough people would see? Thinking of his superiors’ emphasis on capturing this rebel, he shuddered.

Calling him a rebel was putting it lightly—supposedly, they were hunting a traitor!

With blood streaming from his nose, Young Master He suddenly became clever, finding inspiration in his desperation. “Left Qiu Yuan is also here to attend the Water Festival, traveling with me and staying at this very Gan Lu Inn… He can vouch for me that this melon is innocent. Please, make an exception!”

“Left Qiu Yuan?” The squad leader was startled. “Which Left Qiu?”

Young Master He straightened his back. “How many Left Qiu families could there be in the Great Yao Kingdom?”

“Is that so? He’s here too?”

“He’s taking tea in the front hall.”

The squad leader pondered briefly. “I’ll wait here; go bring him to meet me.” His superiors’ orders were important, but neither he nor even his superiors could afford to offend someone from the Left Qiu family.

Seeing the squad leader hurry to the back hall after receiving a report from his subordinate, and not long after, Young Master He rushing over with his people as well, Feng Miao Jun knew the climax of the drama was about to unfold. Yet she felt somewhat concerned for her own man’s safety.

But she had forgotten that she was a pretty young girl from out of town, without any adult companions.

At that moment, a middle-aged man approached her with a face full of smiles, intending to sit in the chair opposite her. “Little girl, who are you waiting for?”

“Waiting for…” She looked up, her dark eyes brightening as she smiled sweetly. “Uncle!”

This little girl was quite vigilant, apparently trying to discourage him. Still, the middle-aged man sat down. “Uncle will buy you some candy…”

Before he could finish saying “eat,” he suddenly received a kick to his buttocks, causing him to fall forward and land face-first on the ground.

The person who had attacked him had used tremendous force. He jumped up angrily, saying, “Who dares…” But turning around, he saw someone glaring at him fiercely—not tall, but sturdy in build.

This person commanded in a low voice, “Get lost!”

He was someone who had seen blood on his blade, and his gaze carried a terrifying killing intent. The middle-aged man’s legs trembled twice before he scurried back to his seat without looking back.

Feng Miao Jun, however, laughed with relief. “You were gone for quite a while. Are you alright?”

He nodded.

This was, of course, her mountain bandit subordinate, though he had now removed his disguise and restored his original appearance, not forgetting to wash away the fake mole at his temple. Upon seeing him, Feng Miao Jun truly relaxed, knowing their plan had succeeded.

There was less than half an hour left until Mo Ti Zhun’s twenty double-hours would be up. The guards had been delayed here too long and would be unable to catch him before he awakened.

Her gaze casually swept across the hall, and suddenly she noticed something amiss.

Someone was missing.

“Brother Zi Yao,” who had been sitting at Young Master He’s table, was gone.

This person had been leisurely enjoying tea just moments ago, but during the time when the lecherous middle-aged uncle was harassing her, which coincidentally blocked her view, she hadn’t noticed when he had left his seat.

Her powers of observation were typically keen, and now she noticed that all the colorful fruits on Young Master He’s table had been eaten, and moreover—

Moreover, only one teacup and one set of bowls and chopsticks remained on the table.

Interesting. It seemed that more than one drama was being staged at the Gan Lu Inn today. She stroked her chin, not minding that this gesture might appear too mature to her subordinate.

After a while, Young Master He was brought back by two guards. As soon as he saw his table, he was dumbfounded. “Bro-Brother Zi Yao, where did he go?”

The guard impatiently asked, “What person?”

“He was sitting right here!” Young Master He, unwilling to give up, led the two guards back to search the upper rooms, even checking the latrines, but there was no sign of his “Brother Zi Yao.”

After being led around in a fruitless circle, the two guards angrily retorted, “Are you toying with us? There’s only one set of utensils on this table. Where is this second person?”

Only then did Young Master He notice the state of the table, causing his face to pale.

By now, even someone as obtuse as he could tell something was wrong. The guard happened to be standing next to Feng Miao Jun and bent down to ask her, “Little girl, did you see two people sitting at that table?”

Feng Miao Jun looked in the direction he pointed, thought for a moment, and then shook her head. “I didn’t pay much attention. Were there two people sitting there? I think I only saw this young master.”

The guard’s face immediately darkened. Young Master He also recognized her and pointed accusingly at her nose, beside himself with rage. “You’re getting revenge on me! No, wait—are you involved in all of this? So young yet so vicious…”

Before he could lunge forward to grab her, the guards dragged him away. Seeing him repeatedly looking back with venomous glares, Feng Miao Jun winked at him, smiling with feigned innocence.

Naturally, there was no one hiding inside the enormous pumpkin, so after the guards cut it open to confirm, they lifted the lockdown on the Gan Lu Inn and continued their search for the rebels in the western part of the city.

By this time, the last rays of sunlight had disappeared beyond the rooftops across the street.

The time had come.

She had successfully delayed for two double hours, completing her task of protecting Mo Ti Zhun.

The Grand Preceptor should be awake by now—if he still hadn’t regained consciousness, then it would be heaven’s will to deal with him.

Feng Miao Jun stuffed the last piece of pastry into her mouth, then stood up and patted her skirt. “Let’s go back for dinner. We’ll have a feast tonight.”

As she left the Gan Lu Inn, her gaze swept past Young Master He’s table, a doubt lingering in her mind. “Strange, where did that person go?”

That person had existed; she wasn’t seeing things. But how did he disappear when no one could enter or leave during the Gan Lu Inn’s lockdown?

Never mind. This matter had nothing to do with her.

She already had enough troubles of her own and shouldn’t indulge in additional curiosity.

When she returned to her lodging, Mo Ti Zhun was indeed nowhere to be seen.

Peng Bai said that the man had awakened on schedule, thrown a fit of temper, and then left.

A fit of temper? She didn’t understand. “I saved him, yet he still threw a tantrum?”

Peng Bai instinctively touched his cheek, reminding her: “His beard is gone.”

He would never forget the expression on Mo Ti Zhun’s face when he woke up and felt his cheeks. It was truly… indescribable.