The Northern City Patrol Office.

Third Master Xie smiled so broadly that both dimples appeared.

“Two elder brothers, marriage is a serious matter requiring parents’ decree and a matchmaker’s word. It’s not something I can decide on my own.”

“Bullshit!”

Elder Master Du slammed the table. “Who doesn’t know that you, Xie Laosan, can have whatever you want in the Xie family—wind when you want wind, rain when you want rain. If you truly wanted to marry someone, who would stop you?”

“Elder Brother Du, you can’t say it like that!”

“Then how should it be said?”

Second Master Du sneered coldly. “You’ve been intimate with my sister all these years, and today you talk about parents’ decree and matchmaker’s word? Xie Laosan, who are you trying to humiliate?”

“Second Brother Du!”

Though Third Master Xie was still smiling, his gaze sharpened.

“Du Yiyun and I have always observed propriety. Far from being intimate, we’ve rarely even been alone together. When she came to the Xie residence, my eldest sister-in-law always accompanied her.”

Elder Master Du shot up from his seat, glaring.

“Xie Laosan, are you saying my sister is shameless and desperate to marry into your Xie family?”

“You son of a bitch, this is too much!”

Second Master Du flew into a rage and rushed forward, grabbing Xie Zhifei by the collar. “Today I must on behalf of my sister—”

“BANG—”

The door was kicked open.

Li Buyan looked as if she’d been pulled from water, her chest heaving violently.

“Third Master, the young miss has disappeared.”

“What?”

Xie Zhifei’s voice cracked.

With that exclamation of “What,” he instinctively shoved Second Master Du aside and rushed to Li Buyan.

“How could she disappear? What were you doing?”

“I…”

“You still have the nerve to stammer? Zhu Qing!”

Zhu Qing came running over. “Master?”

“Yan Sanhe has disappeared. Have the men search for her immediately.”

Zhu Qing froze. “Master, the capital is so vast. At least tell us where Miss Yan went missing.”

Xie Zhifei extended his long arm and grabbed Li Buyan’s collar.

“Where did she disappear? Speak!”

“At the intersection from Fourth Lane going toward the Xie residence.” Li Buyan glanced at the hand on her chest and forcefully suppressed her anger.

Fourth Lane?

He looked at Li Buyan, his face turning pale.

Xie Zhifei’s hand released, and he staggered backward several steps.

They had just started investigating the Zheng family case, and now Yan Sanhe had disappeared. Could it be that…

“We reached that intersection and heard someone crying for help. The young miss told me to go look, so I went first.”

“If she told you to go die, would you go?”

Xie Zhifei roared furiously, veins bulging one by one on his neck. “Whose maid are you? What business is it of yours whether others live or die?”

Li Buyan: “…”

Zhu Qing: “…”

“This is a classic diversion tactic.”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes were bloodshot, his heart pounding in panic.

“Xu Sheng—it must be that bastard. It couldn’t be anyone else. What are you all standing around for? Let’s go to the Xu family and demand her return!”

“Third Master!”

Zhu Qing blocked his path firmly. “Without any evidence, if we storm the Xu family demanding someone and it turns out not to be him, there’ll be no way to resolve the situation.”

Xie Zhifei suddenly froze.

“Master is usually so calm. Last time when Miss Yan had trouble…” Zhu Qing noticed others were present in the hall and swallowed the rest of his words.

Seeing the two Du brothers were still there, Xie Zhifei said impatiently, “Brothers, please leave!”

Elder Master Du ground his molars. “Xie Laosan, who is Yan Sanhe?”

“Elder Brother Du, I don’t have time to explain right now, and I can’t explain it clearly either.”

“BANG!”

Second Master Du’s fist came crashing down toward Xie Zhifei’s face, landing squarely on his right cheek.

“Can’t explain clearly? You’re abandoning my sister because of her, and you think we’re all fools? My sister has waited for you all these years!”

After saying this, Second Master Du threw another punch.

Xie Zhifei’s body shifted, dodging it. His hand caught Second Master Du’s arm. “I’ll let you have that punch for Du Yiyun’s sake. Someone, see the guests out.”

See them out?

Not a chance!

Second Master Du had a fiery temper. Though his arm was held, his feet were free—he kicked toward Xie Zhifei’s knee.

Xie Zhifei was already anxious and frantic inside. With things having reached this point and Second Master Du still being relentless, he threw a punch that landed hard on the other man’s nose.

Blood spurted out.

Second Master Du was completely stunned, covering his nose and staring at Xie Zhifei in disbelief.

Xie Zhifei couldn’t believe it either—that punch had actually come from him.

“Xie Zhifei, your conscience has been eaten by dogs.”

Elder Master Du said through gritted teeth, “Second brother, we’re leaving.”

“Elder brother?”

Elder Master Du yanked hard. “Leave!” he roared.

The two men stormed out. Xie Zhifei slumped into a chair, his face deathly pale.

Zhu Qing was right.

Last time when Yan Sanhe was in trouble, he hadn’t panicked—he had planned carefully before acting. But this time…

Damn it!

Could this time be the same?

We’ve weathered storms together, endured hardships, faced dangers—we have a life-and-death bond.

“Zhu Qing, have someone investigate that alley thoroughly, then find those little beggars and spread the word.”

Xie Zhifei said with a dark expression, “The first person to find her—Third Master will reward with five hundred taels of silver.”

“Yes!”

Seeing his master calm down, Zhu Qing immediately turned to handle the matter.

“Li Buyan.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Yan Sanhe was most likely abducted by Xu Sheng.”

Xie Zhifei looked at Li Buyan. “Xu Sheng has a villa in Pear Blossom Alley in the western district. Your martial skills are good—find a way to investigate. If she’s not there, return immediately to report.”

“What if she is there?”

Xie Zhifei’s gaze swept coolly over Li Buyan’s waist. “If Yan Sanhe is unharmed, leave him with his miserable life. But if Yan Sanhe has been hurt…”

A cold light flashed in his eyes.

“Third Master will back you up—take his dog life.”

“That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear!”

Li Buyan gritted her teeth and turned to leave.

Xie Zhifei also stood up.

This arrangement wasn’t enough. He needed to make a trip to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to mobilize their intelligence network to help search.

Just as one foot crossed the threshold, his heart suddenly began racing wildly. Xie Zhifei quickly grabbed the door frame and sat down on the threshold.

A young guard responsible for serving tea at the patrol office saw this and hurried over. “Chief, what’s wrong? Why does your face look so terrible?”

Xie Zhifei clutched his chest, saying weakly, “Get the porcelain bottle from my drawer.”

The young guard ran off and moments later, ran back.

“Chief!”

Xie Zhifei took the porcelain bottle and poured out a black pill. Too lazy to take it with water, he swallowed it directly.

Just then, Zhu Qing returned. About to speak, his gaze fell on the porcelain bottle in Third Master’s hand, and he turned pale with shock.

“Master, you…”

“Shut up!”

Xie Zhifei braced himself against the door frame and stood up. “Is there news?”

“Not yet!”

“Then why did you come back?”

“I came back to tell Master that I’ve also sent someone to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Zhu Qing looked deeply at Xie Zhifei and emphasized his words. “Master, just wait here for news. Don’t go anywhere. If the Eldest Master finds out…”

“Enough, Steward Zhu. Go handle things and don’t make me anxious!”

“Master should have some sense and not make things difficult for those of us who serve you.”