Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

Xiao Yi stared at the faded signboard in front of him, his brows furrowed into a knot.

"The Inn That Charges Tolls"?

What kind of inn has such a name?

It doesn't sound like a legitimate business; it sounds more like a bandit's den.

He mentally marked the inn wrong and was about to turn around and leave, but when he looked back at the deserted street, he realized that it was the only inn in the entire county, with its doors tightly shut and not a soul in sight.

If Tao'er and Ayan really came here, there would be nowhere else to stay besides this place.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yi raised his chin: "Qingfeng, knock on the door."

Qingfeng stepped forward and pounded on the heavy wooden door.

"Is anyone there? Shop owner?"

After taking pictures for a long time, there was no response from inside.

"Alright," Xiao Yi raised his hand to stop them. "Stop knocking, there's no one inside."

Dongkui looked around, her little face full of confusion: "It's broad daylight, and the inn is closed, but why isn't there anyone to answer the door?"

This is so strange.

Qingfeng also sensed something was wrong and took two steps back to look at Xiao Yi: "Master, this inn is indeed not quite right."

"How about... we just leave?"

"Brother Shi Qi, if the owner isn't home, won't we be mistaken for thieves if we just barge in like this?"

Dongkui felt it wasn't right that her owner wasn't home!

Xiao Yi did not answer immediately, his gaze slowly sweeping over the area around the inn.

Suddenly, his gaze froze.

On the bluestone slab by the threshold, there were a few dark brown stains, which had dried and turned black, but could still be vaguely seen as bloodstains.

His heart skipped a beat.

"Qingfeng, something happened here last night."

We need to go in and take a look.

Xiao Yi lowered his voice.

Tao'er and Ayan...

Hopefully it wasn't them.

Qingfeng understood, reached out and gently pushed, and the courtyard gate creaked open.

The gate to the courtyard was damaged, but Tao'er was afraid that the government officials would see it and investigate them.

So before leaving, they had someone install the door again.

The three of them stepped into the courtyard one by one, and a mixed atmosphere hit them.

"I smell blood..." Dongkui sniffed and then sniffed hard. "And the aroma of noodles."

Hey? Brother Shi Qi, doesn't this noodle dish taste strangely familiar?

Like...like the kind that Sister Peach makes?

Xiao Yi felt a chill run down his spine.

Yes, the aroma of these noodles does indeed resemble Tao'er's cooking.

She liked to add a little fennel when she made noodles; he remembered that unique flavor.

Tao'er must have lived here.

What about the bloodstains at the door?

She had Ayan with her, a girl and a child; if something really happened...

Xiao Yi dared not think any further, feeling as if something was clenching his heart.

"Qingfeng, go search the guest rooms and see if you find any clues."

"Dongkui, go to the kitchen and look carefully. The smell of noodles is coming from the kitchen. Tao'er may have been there."

I'll go check the other rooms.

The two responded and went their separate ways.

Xiao Yi walked through the courtyard and casually pushed open a half-closed door.

This is an ordinary room. There are a few wine jars piled up in the corner, and a few peanuts scattered on the table, some of which have rolled onto the floor.

He bent down, picked one up, and squeezed it—it was still fresh, indicating that someone had been there not long ago.

His gaze fell on the ground.

On the dust-covered blue brick floor, there was a clear drag mark, stretching from beside the table all the way to a large earthenware vat in the corner of the room.

Xiao Yi walked over quietly, bent down, and pressed his ear close to the side of the jar.

Thump...

A muffled thud came from below, as if something had hit something.

Are Tao'er and Ayan locked up down there?

Without thinking, Xiao Yi used both hands to move the large earthenware jar, which was half the height of a person.

A wooden board was exposed at the bottom of the tank, with fresh pry marks on the edges.

He kicked the wooden plank aside, and a square opening appeared before his eyes; it really was a cellar.

There was another muffled thud, this time clearer.

Xiao Yi took out a tinderbox, blew on it, and jumped down without hesitation.

The next second, he almost died from the fumes.

It was an indescribable smell—the stench of urine, feces, mold, and sweat, combined with the damp, putrid odor unique to cellars. The various odors fermented together, creating a truly...

Xiao Yi felt a churning in his stomach and almost vomited up his dinner from the night before.

He covered his mouth and nose tightly and held up a tinderbox to shine inside.

The cellar was small, with a few broken baskets piled in the corner, and two men tied to two chairs in the center.

He's called a man, but he's hardly human anymore.

His hands hung limply at his sides, clearly indicating that the tendons in his hands had been severed.

His foot was also twisted at an odd angle, clearly indicating that his Achilles tendon was severed.

Each person had only one eye left, the other eye socket was hollow and sunken, their mouths were stuffed with rags, and they were desperately making "mmm" sounds. When they saw Xiao Yi, their single eye suddenly burst out with wild joy.

Xiao Yi frowned.

To use such a cruel method...

It must be a huge grudge!

He had no interest in staying in this stinking place for even a moment longer, so he stepped forward, grabbed one of them by the collar, and threw them out of the cellar.

"Qingfeng!" he called out, "Come here, I've found something."

Qingfeng had just come down from the second floor empty-handed when he heard his master's shout and rushed over. As soon as he stepped into the room, a stench hit him, and he was caught off guard and immediately bent over and dry heaved.

"Ugh... Master, these... why do these two smell so bad?"

Dongkui heard the commotion and ran over, but Qingfeng stopped her before she even entered the door.

"Miss Dongkui, don't come in!" Qingfeng's face turned bright red.

"The people inside aren't Peach Girl and the others... they're... they're two men."

It stinks inside, and...

Besides, their clothes are indecent, and it's inconvenient for a young woman like you.

Dongkui paused for a moment, then nodded in understanding: "Then I'll wait for you in the yard."

Watching Dongkui's retreating figure, Xiao Yi glanced at Qingfeng with a half-smile.

Qingfeng felt extremely uncomfortable under her gaze: "Master, why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing." Xiao Yi withdrew his gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"It just suddenly occurred to me that Qingfeng is at the age where he should get married."

Qingfeng's ears instantly turned bright red: "Master, what nonsense are you talking about!"

You're not even married yet, I'm way ahead of you...

"By the way, Master, where did these two people come from?"

He hurriedly changed the subject, squatted down and looked at the two dying men on the ground, enduring the stench.

"Found in the cellar."

His tendons in his hands and feet were severed, and he went blind in one eye.

Xiao Yi took two steps back to maintain a safe distance.

"I suspect they know the whereabouts of Tao'er and Ayan."

You should ask them properly.

"Yes, Master." Qingfeng pulled the rags out of their mouths.

"Who are you two?"

"Ahem... I, I'm the manager, he's the employee... We're brothers..."

The man who called himself the shopkeeper spoke with difficulty, his voice weak and feeble.