City center, separate residence.

Xie Buhuo sat up from the couch, eyes still drowsy.

This separate residence was private property his father had given his concubine mother—a two-courtyard small residence. His concubine mother rarely came here. Having the habit of afternoon naps, he came here daily to rest for half an hour.

“Second Master.”

Wu Xing lifted the curtain and entered.

“How is it? Has Miss Yan reached home?”

Wu Xing brought over a pot of warm tea. “The gatekeepers said… Miss Yan hasn’t returned yet.”

Xie Buhuo’s hand trembled, spilling a few drops of tea. “How has she not returned? She should have arrived long ago.”

“Second Master, don’t worry. Perhaps she stopped somewhere else, causing the delay.”

“How can I not worry? She left with me. If anything…”

Xie Buhuo stood up, setting the tea pot down on the small table with a thump.

“Immediately send people to search the nearby lanes and see if…”

“See what?”

Xie Buhuo could no longer hear Wu Xing’s voice. His mind flooded with details from today accompanying Yan Sanhe shopping.

Each month mid-month, he accompanied his concubine mother and Wanshu shopping.

Wanshu aside—speaking of his concubine mother, such a person who kept emotions hidden, when rarely going out, her face showed pleasure. She touched this, examined that, wanting to buy everything.

Yan Sanhe maintained a detached expression throughout. No matter how rare the item, she at most glanced at it a few times without any change in expression.

After eating, she refused the Xie residence carriage, walking home with Li Buyan—reason being to aid digestion.

Yet over an hour had passed and she still hadn’t returned home. This made it obvious—

She wasn’t strolling casually but had business to conduct, business she needed to avoid him for.

Avoiding him to do what?

Wu Xing saw his master’s soul seemed elsewhere, worrying. “Master, Second Master…”

“Wu Xing!”

Xie Buhuo suddenly turned to look at him. “Immediately go to the Buddhist Registry Office and inquire where Lord Pei is right now.”

“Second Master, why inquire about him…”

“Go quickly!”

His expression changed again. “Come back. Also inquire where Third Master is right now.”

Though Wu Xing didn’t understand why Second Master wanted to know about these two people, he crisply responded, “Yes!”

Actually, there was no “why”—this was Xie Buhuo’s intuition.

This intuition came from the scene he witnessed entering Quiet Contemplation Residence this morning.

Yan Sanhe and Third Master Xie—one inside the window, one outside, heads close together, obviously conversing quietly about something.

Talking about what?

Requiring such proximity?

Xie Buhuo looked toward the window, his gaze blankly fixed on that piercing sunlight, falling into deep thought.

Unknown how much time passed. Wu Xing, drenched in sweat, ran back.

“Master!”

He panted, “Lord Pei and Third Master both aren’t at their offices.”

“Where did they go?”

Xie Buhuo suddenly reached out and grabbed Wu Xing’s collar, startling him.

“Don’t know—they both left without saying anything and disappeared.”

“What about Huang Qi and Zhu Qing?”

“Also not at the office.”

Xie Buhuo’s grip loosened, his expression somewhat dazed again.

Wu Xing stared at him with particular bewilderment, truly unable to understand why his master showed such an expression. Could it be related to Miss Yan?

“Wu Xing?”

“Master!”

“Tell me…”

A meaningful smile floated onto Xie Buhuo’s face. “If the Old Madam truly wanted to match Yan Sanhe to me, what would happen?”

“…” Wu Xing’s heart pounded with alarm.

…

Former Zheng residence.

“Master!”

Zhu Qing came running frantically from the distance, his expression poor.

Xie Zhifei asked, “What’s the matter?”

Zhu Qing reported, “Elder Master Du and Second Master Du are waiting at the office.”

Xie Zhifei frowned. “What are they doing there?”

“Still need to think?”

Pei Xiao sneered. “Come to defend their sister, of course.”

Xie Wushi glanced at Yan Sanhe. Her face showed no expression. “I’ve heard enough of the story. Do as you please.”

“Go, go. I’ll accompany Sanhe.”

Pei Xiao eagerly shooed him away.

He was delighted inside, wishing Xie Wushi would leave quickly. Though this cursed place wasn’t suitable for romance, the opportunity was rare!

Yan Sanhe saw Xie Zhifei’s feet hadn’t moved, saying flatly, “That’s enough for today. There are too many stories—I need to go back and sort through them, organize them.”

Xie Zhifei secretly breathed with relief. “Good!”

Pei Xiao thought: My beautiful dream shattered just like that?

The four arrived at the dog hole. Xie Zhifei was first to crawl out.

Pei Xiao felt unwilling, looking at Yan Sanhe with longing yet hesitation.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

Pei Xiao blinked.

What does she mean?

Yan Sanhe found this person’s recent behavior quite strange. “Why are you staring at me?”

Blockhead!

Blockhead!

Blockhead!

Pei Xiao ground his teeth.

Do you call this staring?

This is called gazing lovingly!

“You’re not leaving, so I’ll leave first. Remember—after I’ve gone far, then you come out.”

“Hey—”

Yan Sanhe bent her body. She had already crawled through.

The lane front and back was already empty. She nodded to Li Buyan on the wall. One high, one low, they simultaneously stepped forward.

Reaching the lane’s end and turning left, Li Buyan dropped down from the wall. Too late to ask, “How did the Zheng family case go?”

“Difficult!”

“Difficult is right.”

Li Buyan smiled. “Why else would they need you for simple matters?”

Yan Sanhe replied weakly, “This cursed weather is so hot my head is dizzy.”

“The wall corner has shade.”

Li Buyan switched positions with her. “Should have asked Third Master for a horse. By the way, why did Third Master leave in such a hurry?”

“Business.”

Yan Sanhe continued slowly, “The next heart demon is already on its way. I just sensed it.”

“So soon?”

Li Buyan could hardly believe it. “It’s only been a few days since Old Lady Ji’s coffin was sealed!”

Yan Sanhe also felt it somewhat incredible, but just now when crawling out of the dog hole, that sensation was extremely strong.

“What about the Zheng family case then?”

“I can only do my best!”

The two talked while walking. Reaching a corner, they suddenly heard several faint cries for help.

Yan Sanhe started. “What’s that sound?”

Li Buyan’s ears were extremely sensitive. “Seems like someone calling for help.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “Which direction?”

Li Buyan replied, “Northeast.”

Yan Sanhe pressed, “Male or female?”

Li Buyan answered, “Seems to be female.”

Yan Sanhe ordered, “Go look first. I’ll follow immediately.”

“Then hurry over.”

Li Buyan drew the soft sword from her body, her feet racing forward wildly.

Her speed was extremely fast, barely even changing breath, rushing out a hundred zhang in one go without seeing anyone.

Could it be further ahead?

Li Buyan chased forward a while more—nothing.

And those cries for help also didn’t appear again.

She searched back and forth in several surrounding corners—still no one.

Strange!

Could I have heard wrong?

Impossible!

Li Buyan could only walk back in frustration. After a while, she didn’t see Yan Sanhe coming to meet her.

For some reason, she suddenly panicked terribly.

“Yan Sanhe!”

“Yan Sanhe!”

Li Buyan’s feet moved like swift wind, running back desperately for her life.

Reaching the corner—where was Yan Sanhe’s figure? Her expression changed dramatically.