Holding a lantern, guiding souls across, Lady Hou comes from the underworld.

Yu Lang stood next to the vendor selling paper umbrellas, craning his neck to look at the other two people across the street.

Just then, Ren Fengjue handed something to Xia Ximo.

But I couldn't see what it was...

He narrowed his eyes, clicked his tongue in amazement, and said, "I was right."

Yan Zhengchu, standing behind him, joined in the fun, but remarked, "This young marquis is far too stingy. How can he choose a place like this to give a gift to a young lady?"

Yu Lang glanced at him, then laughed and said, "You just don't understand, do you?"

"People of their status only care about two things when choosing items: 'elegance' and 'interesting'."

"This place may not be 'elegant,' but it's quite 'interesting.'"

Yan Zhengchu genuinely didn't understand: "It's just a pile of junk, enough to fool you suckers."

Yu Lang was about to argue with him when he saw that Ren and Xia had already left the market and turned to leave.

On the other side, Xia Ximo naturally took the silver comb and said something this time.

"You've thought of everything."

She stuffed the silver comb into her purse, and immediately heard Wuyou's teasing voice.

"Oh my, this silver comb should be easier for you to throw..."

"Why does it feel like the young marquis gave us a hidden weapon instead of a comb?"

"..."

Ren Fengjue tried hard to suppress the corners of his mouth that were about to turn up, carefully considering what to say.

The other party accepted the gifts, turned around, and left.

Lord Ren was about to follow her when he keenly sensed that there seemed to be eyes watching him from behind…

So when I looked back, I only saw a vendor selling umbrellas.

Just as the peddler said, after the street ended, a narrow river appeared, and the surroundings gradually became deserted.

A stone slab bridge spanned the river, while on the opposite bank lay a network of streets and alleys, scattered houses, and sparse population.

Xia Ximo was standing on the bridge, about to cross, when Ren Fengjue suddenly spoke up from behind, "Wait a minute."

"What's wrong?"

"With just the two of us, it probably won't be easy to find someone in this eastern part of the city."

He only said it wasn't easy after getting all this way?

I don't even know what they're going through...

Xia Ximo said calmly, "Then I'll go myself."

"..."

Ren Fengjue couldn't help but reach out and grab her, "Don't rush."

Xia Ximo glanced down at his hand, a strange feeling stirring within her.

I did manage to... be patient.

A gentle breeze blew across the bridge, and the sunlight stretched the shadows of the two people, reflecting them on the shimmering river surface.

Her gaze paused for a moment.

After waiting for a short while, footsteps came from behind. Xia Ximo turned around and saw Yan Zhengchu and Yu Lang.

Ren Fengjue then subtly released his grip.

When Yu Lang saw the two standing on the bridge from afar, he guessed that his whereabouts had definitely been discovered.

They stopped hiding and pulled Yan Zhengchu up directly.

"Yu Shaoqing's ability to track people hasn't improved at all."

Yu Lang chuckled awkwardly.

He muttered to himself—didn't he even consider who he was following?

He said, "Lord Ren, you misunderstand. I wasn't following you; I was just afraid of spoiling your enjoyment."

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Xia Ximo and winked at Ren Fengjue.

Ren Fengjue, of course, understood the meaning behind his words, but pretended not to understand: "What refined interest? We are just about to go and find Minister Zhong's whereabouts."

Yu Lang said "Oh," drawing out the last syllable.

"That's exactly what we were thinking. Master Yan and I had the same idea."

Yan Zhengchu was still fiddling with his compass when he heard this, and said in a serious tone, "I'm mainly worried. We don't know where this evil spirit comes from. If it harms innocent people, things will go wrong."

Ren Fengjue asked, "How is it? Can Master Yan pinpoint the exact location?"

Yan Zhengchu shook his head, a look of doubt on his face.

"It's strange, the compass needles started going off-track as we got closer to the eastern part of the city..."

Yu Lang stood on the bridge and looked around. Suddenly, he said, "I think I see someone from the Zhong family..."

"It's right over there."

He pointed in a direction, and everyone looked in that direction. Sure enough, they could vaguely see Zhong Dingyan's figure downstream.

Yu Lang then asked, "My lord, shall we go and see what's going on?"

Ren Fengjue knew that Zhong Dingyan might not want him to get involved, so he nodded and said, "Let's see how things go first, and if necessary, I'll show myself."

-

At this time, the Zhong family, together with the constables of Beiding County, split into several groups and searched the entire eastern part of the city.

However, after an hour or two, Zhong Ming's whereabouts were still unknown.

The head constable, harboring some doubts, couldn't help but ask Zhong Dingyan, "Young Master Zhong, why are you so certain that the Minister will be here?"

The area in the east of the city is inhabited by poor people.

Seeing such a large commotion, they were too scared to even leave the house.

In this situation, the only option is to ask door-to-door, which is not only time-consuming and laborious, but also doesn't guarantee any progress.

Most importantly, how could someone like Minister Zhong possibly come to a place like this?

Just as Zhong Dingyan was wondering how to explain, a dilapidated wooden door next to him suddenly creaked open a crack.

A woman stood in the doorway, hesitatingly asking, "Are you... looking for someone?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Dingyan immediately stepped forward.

Only then did they realize that the woman's eyes were lifeless; she was blind.

He asked cautiously, "Yes, have any strangers been here recently?"

The woman hesitated for a moment, then opened the door a crack and groped her way out of the room before saying, "Come in and see if this is the person you're looking for..."

Zhong Dingyan harbored a selfish motive, leaving the constables and the Zhong family members outside while he went in alone.

Upon entering the room, the light was dim, but one could vaguely make out that a person was sitting inside.

Judging from his physique, he does indeed resemble his father, Zhong Ming, somewhat.

Zhong Dingyan felt a surge of nervousness and couldn't help but take two steps forward. When he realized that the person in front of him was indeed his father, he froze on the spot.

"Father?"

Zhong Ming was leaning back in a chair, looking blank and with lifeless eyes.

Even when he heard his son's voice, he didn't react at all.

Zhong Dingyan stepped forward and grasped his father's hand, then was startled again.

His hands were frighteningly cold.

"Father…"

Realizing something was wrong, Zhong Dingyan cried out repeatedly, "Father, it's your son Dingyan! What's wrong?"

"Son...son will take you out now!"

He intended to carry Zhong Ming directly off the chair, but as soon as he turned around, he heard a sigh.

"Yan'er..."

"I have something to tell you..."

The father was already on his last breath.

Zhong Dingyan grew increasingly anxious: "Whatever you want to say, let's talk about it when we get back..."

He was about to call the people outside in when a cold hand grabbed his wrist.

"Yan'er, I don't have much time left..."

"Let me explain first..."