I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

Have you ever carefully observed how your child sleeps when he's sound asleep?

Xi thought about it carefully and realized that it really hadn't happened.

The little devil would only go back to rest after she fell asleep, otherwise he would rather stay with her, nodding off than go to rest first.

With her fingertips gently touching the intact amber horn, Xi stared at the little face that was full of smiles even in its sleep, its tail gently patting the wooden planks on the ground, making a soft tapping sound.

Today, I guess I'm really tired from playing.

Do you really like being carefree that much?

Despite being afraid of heights, she refused to let go of Zizai's hands.

After spending some time with Bai Zhou, Xi slowly stood up to turn off the lights and rest.

Tomorrow, I'll have to keep a closer eye on the kid.

■

"Auntie, please give me two servings of xiaolongbao, no spice, and one serving of shumai, less spicy."

After paying for breakfast to Aunt Kuranta, Bai Zhou carried the steaming hot buns and shumai back to wake Xi up.

But two voices that followed made him stop in his tracks.

"Old Du, another steamer of buns, please?"

"No, I have no appetite... But I'll have some anyway."

That exhausted voice, that haggard face with dark circles under the eyes, that familiar Pello and Philin.

Bai Zhou smiled and strode towards the table where the two men were sitting.

"Brother Du, Brother Meng, how come you look so haggard after just one day?"

When Bai Zhou spoke to them, the two, exhausted and isolated from the outside world, were surprised to discover his presence.

"Brother Bai, to be honest... alas..."

Du Heng picked up the bowl and drank a mouthful of porridge, trying to cheer herself up to respond to the daytime.

“We have been investigating the details of our mentor’s death all day, but unfortunately the perpetrators are very ruthless. All we know is that someone used a wide-ranging deceptive Originium Arts technique, and that the thugs who kidnapped our mentor are skilled in a smoke-based Originium Arts technique. We know nothing else.”

Meng Li ate five small steamed buns one after another before drinking a large mouthful of porridge to wash them down. Then, he explained Du Heng's words:

"The current prefect of Boyun Prefecture, Lu Boyun, is the son of our mentor and also a classmate and friend of ours. We entrusted him to ask us to investigate this matter. But unfortunately, so far we have few clues, the case is complicated and we have no way to find a way out."

"But these aren't the strangest things."

Meng Li took a sip of porridge and continued:

"What's strange is that my mentor died so peacefully, as if he had died willingly."

He frowned, looking quite puzzled.

"Brother Bai, you don't know, our master is Lu Yun, a living legend who fought for over thirty years on the Northern Plains battlefield, slaughtering the invading demons until they were left utterly defeated and crying out in agony. He even returned alive, received an imperial reward from the late emperor, and offered advice to the current emperor. I really can't think of anyone else besides the current emperor who could make someone like our master willingly die. Oh, by the way, Brother Bai, have you ever heard of our master's name?"

Seemingly afraid that Bai Zhou wouldn't understand the true value of the legendary story of the Northern Frontier, Meng Li planned to tell him the story of Lu Yun defeating the evil spirits, otherwise he would feel like ants were crawling on his body.

"Alright, stop interrupting and stop bringing up our mentor's deeds."

Du Heng couldn't stand it anymore and slapped him.

"Well, I just noticed that Brother Bai doesn't seem to know much about this, so I thought I'd explain it to him."

Meng Li rubbed his head and argued unwillingly.

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Meng, but I know Lord Lu quite well."

Bai Zhou chuckled and shook his head, then pulled out a stool, sat down, and raised his left hand with a mysterious smile.

"Gentlemen, isn't it a coincidence? You are just worrying about the identity of the murderer who killed Lord Lu, and I have a great gift to give you."

"A grand gift?"

The two looked at each other in confusion, then at Bai Zhou's arm.

"Hey! Little Bai, you're injured? Who did this? Tell me, and I'll definitely give him a good beating to avenge you."

When Meng Li saw the bandage on Bai Zhou's arm, a surge of anger rose in his heart. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to hear Bai Zhou name the villain and then beat him up.

"Could it be?!"

Du Heng shuddered. He looked at Bai Zhou, who was all smiles, and then thought about the grand gift Bai Zhou had mentioned earlier. He had a vague answer in his mind.

"Brother Bai, have you perhaps encountered that thug... no, one of the thugs?"

Bai Zhou first thanked Meng Li for his loyalty, and then told the two of them what he had seen and done the previous night.

"As expected... that thug is truly despicable, not even sparing innocent people."

Meng Li angrily denounced the assassin's absurd actions.

Du Heng then said, "Brother Bai, I understand what you mean."

He picked up the bowl, drank the porridge, and bowed slightly to the daytime.

"Brother Bai, please return to the inn to rest first. We will go back and report to the prefect, and then we will come to find you to discuss countermeasures together. Brother Bai, rest assured, we will never allow the villains to wantonly endanger the lives of the people in Boyun Prefecture."

"Yes, Brother Bai. Let us take you back. It's too dangerous for you to go back alone."

Although the two knew that Bai Zhou was accompanied by a powerful "gentleman" who could protect him, that "gentleman" was not with Bai Zhou at the moment. Moreover, Bai Zhou had provoked a vicious assassin last night, and now he was alone on the street buying food. If the assassin came and went, wouldn't Bai Zhou be in grave danger?

"Then I'll have to trouble you two. I can't use Originium Arts in my current state, and it would be very troublesome if I really ran into that guy again."

Bai Zhou raised the breakfast he was carrying in his right hand to thank the two for their kindness.

"What are you saying? You call us brothers, so of course we have to protect you."

Meng Li gently rubbed Bai Zhou's head, showing no concern whatsoever for their behavior.

"Let's go then, Brother Bai."

Du Heng got up, paid the old lady, and then led the way towards Suyu Pavilion.

Returning to the Twenty-Second Day to Catch the Thief

"That's right, sir. Du Heng and the others will be here in a little while."

Baiyue recounted everything that happened in the morning without concealing anything.

"..."

Xi stood upright, looking at the painting on the table, her face cold as she didn't speak to him.

"Sir, please have a bun."

A steaming white bun was handed to him by Bai Zhou with a fawning smile.

Xi turned her head to look at the other side of the painting.

Bai Zhou thought for a moment, picked up his chopsticks, removed a small piece of dough, dipped a steamed bun in vinegar, and brought it to Xi's lips again.

"Sir, please have a bun."

The sour smell of vinegar filled her nostrils, and the aroma of aged vinegar made Xi involuntarily sniffle, her adorable, cat-like expression drawing attention.

"Sir, it won't taste good when it's cold."

Daylight was still urging Evening on, and he pushed the meat bun in his hand forward a little further.

"Humph."

Xi finally couldn't resist the urging and closed her eyes and opened her mouth.

"Hey, sir, be careful, it's hot."

Bai Zhou chuckled and carefully fed Xi.

Xi slowly chewed the bun, savoring the chewy dough and the savory meat filling, while thinking about the events of the day.

The little devil carries a bit of freedom, so he won't face any fatal danger unless he encounters some ancient, undead beings. But she just thought of keeping an eye on him yesterday to prevent him from running around, and now he's brought back trouble. Isn't this a slap in the face?

“Sir, you don’t need to worry. That thug will be arrested soon. I won’t let him bother you.”

Upon hearing Bai Zhou's words, Xi opened her eyes, glanced at him, and slightly raised her hand.

Xi originally wanted to let him know what pain felt like, but after her finger landed, she only lightly flicked his forehead.

"Ouch~, that hurts, sir."

Heh~.

Xi smiled.

The way that little devil pretended to be in pain was really... both silly and clumsy.

"Eat quickly, the people you mentioned will be here soon."

Xi didn't want to expose her private life to outsiders.

Of course, she never intended to let them in in the first place.

"Ah."

■

"Brother Lu, this is the place."

At the appointed time, Du Heng indeed brought the newly appointed prefect over. Because Xi disliked seeing outsiders, Bai Zhou specially came downstairs at the inn to wait for their arrival.

Upon meeting, without introducing themselves, the group went to a restaurant opposite the inn, ordered a few dishes, and then began to discuss business.

"Is this the victim who encountered the thugs?"

"Young man, how are you feeling? Is there anything wrong with your injury?"

Lu Boyun, the current acting prefect of Boyun Prefecture, is a seven-foot-tall man with an elegant appearance, impeccable manners, and a reputation for integrity and honesty among the people. He is truly a model official. He is only acting prefect because the official orders from above have not yet arrived. Once those orders are issued, the title of "acting" will be removed.

Although the young man from Liboli had a general understanding of Bai Zhou's situation from his friend, when he actually met the twelve-year-old boy who had escaped from the hands of the vicious thugs and heard him recount his experience, he couldn't help but loudly praise his courage and wisdom.

Bai Zhou looked up and scrutinized the prefect, his small face showing no fear of the important figure.

"Thank you for your concern, sir. My wound has been treated and will heal in a few days."

"Don't be so formal, young man."