“It’s very strange. No one has been seen entering or leaving that manor. No one cleans it during the day either. I originally thought it was abandoned…” Duan Meng’an lowered his voice as he explained.
“Stay sharp. We’re here to investigate the recent disappearance. Let’s wait and see what happens tonight. Most of the victims vanished after dark. I want to see what could make even a master like Wu San disappear without a trace,” Lu Sheng said, gripping the hilt of his sword. He sat down quietly, eyes half-closed.
Seeing their leader’s calm demeanor, the other two men, though initially nervous, began to settle down as well.
“With the young master here, we’ll be fine,” Duan Meng’an muttered, more to reassure himself than anyone else. He glanced at Ning San.
Ning San still looked uneasy, but those words gave him a small measure of comfort.
Lu Sheng remained seated on the bed, maintaining his internal energy while appearing calm and at ease—just as he would at home. Outwardly, he looked composed, but his heightened senses remained alert, quietly surveying their surroundings.
Duan Meng’an appeared to be resting too, but like Lu Sheng, he was vigilant beneath the surface. Ning San, following their lead, found a chair and sat down. The three chose to remain in the same room for safety, keeping watch over one another.
After a while, the faint sound of movement came from outside.
It seemed a group of people had entered—mostly women, judging by the voices.
“Little sister, where are your parents? Why don’t they come out?” a woman asked clearly.
“My eldest brother is refining elixirs. He doesn’t have time to come out. You should keep quiet and don’t use any lights, or else my brother will get angry. He’s really scary when he’s mad,” Song Yunjuan replied in a hushed tone.
“Don’t worry, we’re just staying the night. A landslide blocked the mountain road, so we have no choice. We’ll be gone in the morning,” another woman said gently.
“Thank you for understanding,” Song Yunjuan responded with a hum, as if she were guiding the newcomers to their rooms.
Lu Sheng rose, opened the door slightly, and peered outside. Under Song Yunjuan’s guidance, a group of men and women carrying torches were heading toward the rooms across the courtyard.
Among the group, there were four young women. Judging by their refined clothing and demeanor, it was clear they didn’t come from ordinary backgrounds. Their style resembled the well-dressed girls Lu Sheng used to see in his own social circles—likely daughters of wealthy families from small towns.
Each woman was accompanied by a guard, totaling four strong men armed with swords. However, Lu Sheng could tell from their footwork alone that these were not true experts. Perhaps they had practiced some basic sword forms, but their actual strength was limited.
The only one who held Lu Sheng’s gaze for more than a fleeting moment was a delicate and charming young girl among the four. Her beauty stood out, but more than that, her presence exuded a gentle, harmless aura—like a soft and timid white rabbit. She stirred a brief memory of Qiao’er back home.
Both parties noticed each other. When the four guards caught sight of Lu Sheng and his companions, their expressions changed subtly. They stiffened with caution, and one of them leaned in to whisper something to the girl he was escorting.
At that, the four young women glanced toward Lu Sheng’s group. Their looks were not of fear or concern—in fact, one girl, elegant and composed, seemed oddly excited.
“Sir, that woman has a blade hidden in her sleeve,” Ning San whispered, nodding toward the poised girl holding a small flag.
“Oh? You can tell?” Lu Sheng raised his eyebrows, intrigued.
“Yes. I suffered a serious loss once because I didn’t notice this kind of trick. After that, I started observing and figured out some patterns,” Ning San replied quietly.
It impressed Lu Sheng. In a world where book knowledge was controlled by the elite, the fact that Ning San had developed such observational skills on his own explained how he’d risen to a leadership role in the Red Whale Gang, even if only a small one.
“They must have learned a few techniques. Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to travel through the wilderness with just a few girls and some half-trained guards,” Lu Sheng said lightly. “If they really encountered danger, those guards might not be reliable—and in some cases, might even become the danger.”
He didn’t notice the subtle gleam in the elegant girl’s eyes. Her bearing didn’t suggest inner martial training, yet her movement and composure weren’t consistent with someone weak either. Her frame was far too light and graceful to be a practitioner of external martial arts.
“Forget them for now. But there's another person we should pay attention to,” Lu Sheng said, eyes narrowing as he looked toward the back of the group.
Trailing behind was a young man with striking features and an air of quiet confidence. He held a white oil-paper umbrella and wore robes as white as freshly fallen snow. His long black hair fell neatly behind him, enhancing the elegance of his appearance. He stood out, not just for his looks—but for something else.
What caught Lu Sheng’s attention was the young man at the end of the group. Unlike the young women before him, this man’s eyes were sharp and brimming with inner strength—clearly a practitioner of internal martial arts.
“That one’s trained in internal arts. Keep an eye on him,” Lu Sheng said calmly before returning to his bed to rest.
Duan Meng’an and Ning San exchanged glances, studying the young man carefully. They committed his appearance to memory, then quietly closed the door and settled down in their respective spots.
…………
A cold wind stirred outside, and the wooden door creaked open slowly.
Song Yunjuan coughed lightly and turned back to the refined young man behind her.
“Brother Li, this room is for you. Everything’s in place, though it’s a bit old. I hope you don’t mind,” she said politely.
The young man named Li offered a gentle smile, his voice warm and smooth with a faint magnetic tone that made Song Yunjuan’s cheeks flush.
“It’s perfectly fine. I’m grateful just to have a place to stay. It looks like it might rain tonight. Thank you for your kindness, little sister.”
Caught off guard by his charm, Song Yunjuan lowered her gaze, slightly flustered.
“Then… then I’ll leave you to rest. Good night.”
“Good night,” Young Master Li replied with a soft smile.
As she turned to leave, he added casually,
“By the way, may I ask… the three men in the room across—are they also staying here tonight?”
“Yes,” Song Yunjuan nodded. “They arrived earlier today. It's strange… Why are there so many people here all of a sudden?”
Mr. Li’s eyes glinted with a flicker of sharpness, though his expression remained warm.
“Those three don’t look like ordinary travelers. In fact, they don’t seem like good people at all.”
“You noticed it too, Mr. Li? I was a little scared at first. But now that more people have come, I feel a bit safer.” Song Yunjuan smiled faintly. “Alright, I’ll go sleep now.”
“Mm. Rest well, you’re still young—take care of yourself.” Mr. Li gave her a kind look.
“Okay.” Song Yunjuan gave a small skip as she turned away.
Only after watching her enter the large central room and close the door did Mr. Li finally turn back and close his own.
“Interesting,” he murmured.
In the dark room, he slowly pulled out a flint and lit a thick yellow candle. The flame cast a warm glow, which he quickly softened with a small lantern, dimming the room to a gentle ambiance.
From next door, he could hear the chattering voices of the other women. Shaking his head slightly, he muttered to himself:
“This manor is strange. No lights allowed, no one wandering at night. They claim there’s an older brother refining elixirs, but send the little sister out to welcome guests?”
Li Shunxi’s curiosity stirred. He had only come out for a bit of leisure and had gotten stranded on the mountain road due to a sudden blockage. Forced to find shelter here, he hadn’t expected to stumble into such a curious situation.
“And those three men… strong, coordinated, clearly not ordinary folks. Probably gang members. They even share the same insignia on their cuffs. It’s too dim to see which gang exactly… but judging by their behavior, they’re here for something. They must suspect something about this manor.”
Li Shunxi’s eyes gleamed as his interest deepened.
Li Shunxi was, by birth, the young master of an esteemed official family. Yet, unlike most nobles sheltered by their status, he had secretly learned the arts of ghost-expelling and demon-hunting. Blessed with talent and a strong foundation in martial arts since childhood, he had quietly solved several supernatural incidents, accumulating a wealth of experience—all without his high-ranking father ever finding out.
By day, he played the role of a refined young noble. But on certain nights, donning disguises and slipping out in secret, he would boldly put his hidden skills to use.
“Seems like this trip might be more interesting than I thought,” Li Shunxi murmured, amused.
Sitting by the table, he opened his waist pouch and began taking out various tools one by one. With practiced care, he wiped and inspected each item, preparing for what might come.
…………
Midnight.
Lu Sheng sat cross-legged on the bed, his breathing steady, when his eyes suddenly opened. He watched as Ning San crept toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Lu Sheng asked, voice calm but firm.
“Young Master... I, uh, need to use the toilet…” Ning San muttered awkwardly, clearly nervous.
“Take Duan Meng’an with you. Don’t go alone,” Lu Sheng instructed without emotion.
Duan Meng’an was slumped in a chair, fast asleep, a thin line of drool sliding down his chin.
Ning San sighed, then shuffled over and gave him a nudge.
“What the hell? You looking to die?!” Duan Meng’an snapped groggily, rubbing his eyes. His irritation flared—until he caught sight of Lu Sheng’s cold, penetrating gaze. In an instant, he sobered up completely. It felt like being stabbed by needles.
“Go with him. Don’t let him go alone,” Lu Sheng said again, tone leaving no room for argument.
“Yeah, yeah…” Duan Meng’an grumbled, wiping the drool from his mouth as he stood up reluctantly.
“Sorry, Brother Duan…” Ning San apologized sheepishly, only to receive an annoyed glare in return.
The two of them opened the door and stepped out together. With a quiet creak, the door closed behind them.
Lu Sheng exhaled and shut his eyes once more, returning to his silent vigil.
Time passed—about as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Then—
Creak…
The door slowly pushed open again.
“Back?” Lu Sheng asked without opening his eyes. “Get some rest. I’ll keep watch for now.”
There was no reply.
Lu Sheng opened his eyes. The door was ajar, and a cold wind poured into the room. Yet—there was no one there.
It looked as if the wind had simply blown it open.
He frowned, got to his feet, and walked over quietly to close it.
“Why haven’t those two come back yet?” he muttered.
Just as he pushed the door shut, he felt sudden resistance—something was blocking it from the outside. Someone was there.
His expression darkened. In an instant, he shoved the door open with force and rushed outside.
Chi!
His straight sword slid halfway out from its sheath as he stepped out into the courtyard. But…
There was no one.
The area was completely empty.
“Playing tricks!” he growled under his breath.
Glancing around warily, he saw nothing suspicious. After a moment, he sheathed his sword and returned to the room.
He was about to sit down again when a sense of unease settled over him. The two men had been gone for far too long. After what just happened, his instincts flared.
“I’d better go look for them.”
Grabbing the candlestick, he lit it. The lampshade would help shield the flame from the wind. He opened the door once more.
Whoosh!
A sudden gust snuffed the flame out immediately.
The room plunged into darkness, leaving only a faint glow of moonlight spilling in from outside.
Lu Sheng quickly pulled out his flint and tried relighting it—but the wind kept blowing it out every time.
After several attempts, he gave up. Leaving the candlestick behind, he stepped into the cold night and moved toward the toilet area.
The courtyard was silent and still. Not a single lamp glowed in any direction. It was as if the entire manor had fallen into a deep, unnatural slumber.
No voices. No footsteps. No life.
Lu Sheng walked slowly along the corridor. The toilet was likely in the rear part of the manor.
He passed the guest rooms, rounded the corner by the side of the bedroom, and made his way deeper toward the backyard—every step treading further into the unsettling quiet.
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