We agreed to seek enlightenment together, but how did you end up seeking enlightenment for my mother

What kind of challenge game is this? Is it a noble version of hide-and-seek?

Xu Zhou immediately thought of the description of the target on the invitation. It was clear that danger would be ever-present on the journey to find the count's daughter.

These challengers not only had to protect themselves during the crisis, but also advance their respective mission objectives, and search for the Earl's daughter's whereabouts in the vast mansion like looking for a needle in a haystack.

What's more troublesome is that you also have to be constantly on guard against sneak attacks from other teams.

The situation is indeed much more complicated than imagined.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the count left with his butler, leaving only the guard standing there like a statue. The freckled maid he had seen before reappeared, pushing a food cart and silently replenishing the long table with new delicacies.

Xu Zhou wanted to take advantage of the situation to launch a sneak attack on Chi Feng, but with so many people around, making a rash move would only make him a target. So he could only watch helplessly as the priest leisurely sipped his wine in the banquet hall, as if he were really there to attend the banquet.

Everyone had their own agenda, and the scene was in a strange balance, with no one willing to be the first to break it.

During this brief moment, Xu Zhou inquired about Wu Lulu's identity and goals.

"I'm a food connoisseur, and I need to find the most exquisite and delicious dish."

"No wonder you've been eating ever since you came in," Xu Zhou said, suddenly realizing.

Upon hearing this, Wu Lulu widened her eyes, swallowed the food in her mouth, glanced at the roasted duck leg in her right hand, paused for a moment, and then nodded her head vigorously.

"Right, right, right! I was looking for my goal, not just craving something. Boss really understands me!"

As she spoke, she eagerly brought the duck leg to Xu Zhou's mouth, and kept urging her companion to eat it with gusto, as if that would erase the guilt in her heart.

However, Xu Zhou remained resolute and did not touch any of the food in the mansion. In fact, among everyone present, only Wu Lulu and Chi Feng took a bite.

However, Xu Zhou observed very carefully. Chi Feng had only been holding the same wine glass from beginning to end, and since he entered the room later, he had no way of verifying whether the red wine in the glass was provided by the Earl.

Based on Xu Zhou's understanding of Chi Feng, this bald man most likely hadn't touched anything in the hall at all; he was just putting on an act.

"What a dirty heart," Xu Zhou commented.

Just to be on the safe side, he patted Wu Lulu on the shoulder, who was engrossed in her work, and whispered a reminder.

"Don't eat too much; these foods may not be safe."

The girl, on the contrary, raised her face, looking arrogant.

"Hehe~ You little fry Xu Zhou don't understand, do you? My powerful digestive system is something that you old humans can't compare to~"

"That's not what I meant... Never mind, whatever makes you happy."

Anyway, this girl has a second personality to back her up, so what else does he have to worry about?

Who knew that after only chatting with Wu Lulu for a short while, when he looked back, Chi Feng was nowhere to be seen in the hall.

It's the Body Melting and Blood Transformation Technique!

Xu Zhou couldn't help but click his tongue and lightly pat his forehead.

"This supernatural power is way too overpowered!"

After Chi Feng disappeared, the Fan brothers also quietly left the banquet hall, leaving only Hao Jia and Lan Zhi standing not far away, watching them expectantly.

Clearly, they haven't given up yet.

Xu Zhou was impatient, but he didn't show it on his face. He walked to the maid's side and gently placed three silver coins on the plate.

"If you're asking for Miss Luo Qiu's location, then please take it back." The maid glanced at the silver coin and said helplessly, "Actually, I haven't seen Miss Luo Qiu for several days either."

"For several days? Doesn't she go back to her room at night?"

"There hasn't been any these past few days. I did ask Madam, but she just said I don't need to worry, that Miss is doing well."

Xu Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly, keenly noticing the anomaly.

If people are truly safe and sound, why insist on saying "everything is fine"?

The Countess was clearly hiding something, but what was her purpose in doing so?

Could it be that this game of hide-and-seek wasn't Luo Qiu's idea at all?

"The Earl of Lionheart's affection for his youngest daughter seems genuine, and the lady's response also confirms this. If Luo Qiu were truly in danger, they would not turn a blind eye."

The numerous clues contradicted each other, and for a moment, doubts surged in Xu Zhou's mind, as if a thick fog had been shrouded in his thoughts.

Since we can't figure out the current situation for now, let's move towards the clearest goal first.

"Actually, I wanted to ask, where is the kitchen?"

"What are you going there for?" the maid asked, puzzled.

Xu Zhou remained silent, then took out three more silver coins and stacked them on top of the original three.

"The kitchen is on the northeast side of the first floor. Go to the end of this corridor, turn left, walk to the end of the corridor, and then turn right. After that, you will know the exact location without anyone pointing the way."

Xu Zhou nodded, understanding dawning on his mind.

He did have a floor plan of the mansion in his mind, but the plan did not indicate the functional division of each area. The maid's guidance filled in this gap.

Before leaving, he casually asked one more question.

"Oh, by the way, who should I contact if I want to learn about the Earl's heroic deeds?"

"You can ask the butler; he'd be happy to tell people about the Earl's history, as if he were a part of that glory. Of course, he doesn't charge a fee."

After answering, the maid pushed the small food cart to the next table and continued her work.

Xu Zhou glanced at the motionless guards on the high platform, gave up the idea of ​​going forward to find out information, grabbed Wu Lulu who was still wolfing down her food by the shoulder, and took a napkin to wipe her mouth vigorously.

"Waaah~ What are you doing~"

"Alright, stop eating for now. If there are any so-called top-quality delicacies here, then there's no point in competing for this challenge championship; you might as well just get it."

"Oh, okay, the boss is right."

Wu Lulu reluctantly put down the steak, slurping the sauce from her fingertips, her face full of reminiscence.

Xu Zhou casually pinched the girl's soft cheeks and found them to be incredibly smooth. How come he hadn't noticed before that this girl was a foodie?

After licking her palms clean and wiping them with a napkin, Wu Lulu grabbed Xu Zhou's arm and pressed herself tightly against him.

"Xu Zhou, those two are still looking at me, and I feel a chill down my spine."

"Since they're targeting you, don't blame us for being impolite."

"Shall we start fighting?" Wu Lulu's eyes lit up.

Xu Zhou did not answer immediately, but led the girl straight to the corridor that the maid had pointed out earlier. On the way, he whispered something in Wu Lulu's ear, which made the girl's cheeks turn red.

Hao Jia and Lan Zhi followed closely behind, their intention to stalk them making no attempt to conceal it.

In their line of sight, Xu Zhou and Wu Lulu did not continue walking together after reaching the end of the corridor. Instead, they split up and went in different directions.

"Huh? Are we going to split up and explore at a time like this?" Lan Zhi asked, puzzled.

Hao Jia frowned in confusion as well. Both sides were now practically out in the open, each understanding the other's purpose.

The decision to divide forces under these circumstances suggests an impending conspiracy.

After a brief silence, Hao Jia's lips curled slightly.

"Interesting, it seems they're planning to attack us."

"Xiao Hao, what do we do?"

"They're too confident." Hao Jia sneered, turning to his companion beside him, "Auntie, you still have 'that' thing on you, don't you?"

"Well, it was Xiao Hao's order, so of course I carry it with me." Lan Zhi smiled shyly and raised her hand to touch the side of her neck that was covered by her collar.

"Auntie, you deal with that guy, I'll go after Wu Lulu, just like before!"

As he spoke, Hao Jia pinched the soft flesh of the woman in his arms, which immediately elicited a soft, trembling sound.

Lanzhi's cheeks flushed crimson, her lips pressed tightly together as she suppressed the tingling sensation in her body. She raised her hand and playfully punched Haojia's chest, her tone softening slightly.

"Okay~ I know... Xiao Hao, you're so mean~"

Hao Jia laughed twice, his eyes narrowed as he looked through the corridor ahead, his eyes gleaming with undisguised wickedness.

"Xu Zhou, is that it? Once you witness firsthand how the chosen one obeys me, I wonder if you'll still be able to laugh?"