I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

The man with the tooth hunched his neck and looked around to make sure no one was around before lowering his voice to speak.

"It's that well in the backyard. Some people say they heard strange noises coming from it in the middle of the night, like... like someone crying down there, or like a cat meowing, but sharper than a cat's meow."

Others claimed with absolute certainty that they had personally witnessed something crawling out of the well—a dark, indistinct mass that moved incredibly fast, darting along the wall into the kitchen and storeroom.

After he finished speaking, he shrank his neck again, as if afraid that thing would suddenly jump out from some corner.

Su Man stood next to Xu Qing and subconsciously took a half step back.

Although Xiao Mingyuan did not retreat, he closed the fan in his hand and gripped it tightly.

After hearing this, Xu Qing's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

He wasn't afraid; on the contrary, he found it somewhat interesting.

He had never seen a ghost in his two lifetimes, let alone needed to go to the kitchen to rummage through things.

If it's really haunted, what would a ghost be doing in the kitchen? Stealing oil to eat or looking for a late-night snack?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that there might be some living creature hiding in this courtyard, which had been mistakenly spread as ghosts and gods.

However, he didn't rush to conclusions, nor did he make any grand promises like, "I'll go take a look."

He understood the principle that a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall.

Just then, the man with the tooth began to move towards the door, his words somewhat incoherent.

"Gentlemen, let's hurry, it'll be completely dark soon, and that thing might come out..."

Before he could finish speaking, a noise suddenly came from the direction of the backyard.

"Bang!"

It sounded like something had knocked over metal, and it was especially clear in the quiet courtyard.

Xu Qing quickly went over.

Xiao Mingyuan wanted to back away, but seeing Xu Qing leave first, he gave his guards a look, and the two of them followed.

Seeing this, Su Man also called her attendants over.

The man with the tooth saw that he was the only one left, so he had no choice but to follow.

The group arrived at the back gate and simultaneously looked in that direction.

The shadows in the backyard appeared deep and long in the fading light of the day.

The location of the well was mostly covered by a tree, making it impossible to see the specific details.

Xiao Mingyuan's hand trembled, and the fan almost fell to the ground.

"Damn, that's a really loud commotion."

Xu Qing turned and glanced at him, then looked at the followers beside him.

Xiao Mingyuan's bodyguard was tall and broad-shouldered, clearly a skilled martial artist.

The two attendants Su Man brought, though not particularly large, had extremely stable stances and calm gazes, clearly indicating that they had also practiced martial arts.

With himself and so many others around, aren't they afraid that thing might really cause some trouble?

Xu Qing looked at the broker and asked a question.

"If this yard is sold, how much of the proceeds will you get as a middleman?"

The broker hesitated for a moment with a pained expression before answering.

"To be honest, young master, this is an extremely high score, five points."

Xu Qing's heart skipped a beat. Five percent is only five percent. Usually, brokers only take two percent. This courtyard's commission is indeed outrageously high, which also shows how much the seller wants to sell it.

Seeing this, Xu Qing said.

"How about this, you come with me and see if you can solve this problem. If you can, we'll buy the yard, okay?"

The bitterness on the man's face deepened.

He wanted to leave, but he couldn't bear to part with the five percent commission.

Between money and fear, money is definitely more important.

What's there to be afraid of if you're poor?

He shuffled his feet on the ground a few times, and finally gritted his teeth and stomped his foot.

"Okay, I'll go with you."

As he spoke, he shrank behind Xiao Mingyuan's bodyguard.

They hid themselves very well.

Several people walked through the hanging flower gate and went inside.

The sky was a few degrees darker than before.

The shadows of the trees were cast on the blue brick ground, leaving a thick layer of ink stains.

They had just stood by the well when a sound came from the bottom of it.

The noise wasn't the sound of the wind; it seemed as if something was stirring the water underwater.

Immediately afterwards, there was a soft clucking sound, like the sound of some kind of animal.

Su Man unconsciously clenched her sleeve.

Xiao Mingyuan took half a step closer to Xu Qing, but didn't say anything.

But that way, it was clearly a gesture to have the brothers take the lead.

Xu Qing gestured for Xiao Mingyuan's guards and Su Man's entourage to come forward with him.

Several people gathered around the well, listening intently for a while.

The sound was intermittent, sometimes like flowing water, and sometimes it was a sharp, short cry.

Xu Qing straightened up and said:

"The sound of flowing water, the calls of monkeys."

One of them stretched out his hand, then suddenly realized, "I know, it must be a water monkey."

He noticed people staring at him and touched his head sheepishly.

The other two nodded at Xu Qing.

The guard added, "That's right, there should be a waterway in the well, and running water should be flowing through it."

One of Su Man's attendants chimed in.

"Oh no, the cries are getting closer, it sounds like they're climbing up."

As soon as he finished speaking, a series of rapid whooshing sounds suddenly came from below the well.

It seemed as if something was stepping on the well wall and quickly climbing up.

"Get out of the way!"

The attendant stepped forward and blocked Su Man from falling back.

The guards also shielded Xiao Mingyuan behind them.

In that instant, the bluestone slab covering the well opening was suddenly pushed open from below, creating a crack.

A dark shadow emerged from the crack.

It was incredibly fast, like a black arrow.

The dark shadow flipped in the air and landed silently.

The four limbs landed on the ground beside the well platform.

But it was hunched over, and its round eyes gleamed with a dark yellow light in the twilight.

Because of the darkness of night, it was impossible to see what it was.

All you can tell is that it's entirely grayish-black, not very tall, about three or four feet high, with long and agile limbs.

It crouched down slightly by the well and was clearly startled to see so many people standing in the yard.

After baring its teeth, it suddenly shrank back and darted towards the kitchen.

However, the kitchen door was locked. It tried to break it open twice but failed, and then let out a sharp, urgent cry.

When the group reached the kitchen door, the dark figure had already given up trying to break down the door.

It darted to the side and quickly climbed up the old crabapple tree next to the kitchen.

It perched on a branch, its two front paws outstretched, hugging a twig, looking down at the people below, and making a dissatisfied grumbling sound.

Xu Qing glanced back at the guards and attendants, then winked at the wellhead.

"Go and block the wellhead, don't let it run back."

The two understood each other and turned around, tiptoeing back to either side of the well platform.

Xu Qing turned back and looked at the dark shadow.

It picked a few crabapples from a high place and held them in one arm.

Then he jumped down and rushed toward the well opening at an extremely fast speed.

Even with one forelimb free, the shadowy figure remained incredibly fast, completely unrestricted.

Xu Qing shouted upon seeing this.

"Quick! Now, stop it!"

Before the words were even finished, the two of them had already started simultaneously, blocking the well opening.

Seeing that its way back was blocked, the dark figure jumped onto a nearby rooftop in frustration.

The shadowy figure relaxed only when it realized that the group wouldn't be chasing it from the rooftop.

It picked up the crabapple and ate it with all its might.

Then, as if he had mentally prepared himself, he opened his mouth.

but……

After taking a bite of the crabapple, the dark figure clicked his tongue in disgust.

Clearly, the crabapples were too sour.

Even if you mentally prepare yourself, it's all in vain.

Upon seeing this, Xu Qing suddenly had a flash of inspiration.