"Pei Guanli, is this the gift you prepared for me?"

"A dudou??"

"Ah? No, no, that’s mine, Brother-in-law! I grabbed the wrong one."

Pei Guanli snatched the bag back in a flurry, her face flushing red as she rummaged through it before finally finding a box and handing it to Chen Yi.

"This is your gift, Brother-in-law."

Chen Yi shot her a look, then opened the box. Seeing it was a fan, he nodded. "Not bad."

Pei Guanli stuck her tongue out. Then, as if remembering something, she pointed at him and said:

"Brother-in-law, that means your guess was wrong."

"..."

’This Tiger Girl’s train of thought is certainly different from most people’s.’

After some lighthearted banter, the group finished dinner.

Chen Yi had Xiaodie take Xiao Wuge to rest. After asking Pei Guanli about her day, he sent her off to bed as well.

Xiao Jinghong was currently away, but Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang were still at the estate.

He still couldn’t go to the bamboo forest with Pei Guanli like before, so he could only stay in his wing and practice the Four Symbols Skill.

Soon, six hours had passed.

Chen Yi slowly withdrew his practice, waiting for the True Essence circulating in his body to return to his two Seas of Qi. Once his mind and body had settled, he stood up to stretch his limbs.

The Martial Arts Seventh Grade, unlike the Ninth and Eighth Grades, didn’t require tempering one’s Power or clearing meridians. It was simply a Realm for accumulating True Essence.

He just needed to cultivate diligently, gradually filling the True Essence within his two Seas of Qi.

Once his True Essence condensed from liquid into a mercury-like state, he could begin to break through to the next Realm.

As Chen Yi considered these things, his gaze shifted to the rain falling outside the window.

The rain had lessened, but the wind still blew strong.

The flowers, plants, and trees in the garden swayed, leaning in every direction.

But because the doors and windows were shut tight, the only sound that reached his ears amidst this scene was the PITTER-PATTER of the rain.

Unconsciously, Chen Yi’s thoughts drifted to the events of the past few days.

The first sentence that surfaced in his mind was what Xiao Wan’er had said: "I was, in fact, waiting for you."

Starting with that fairly straightforward sentence, and combining it with what he had heard and discovered during the day, he could easily deduce the Xiao Family’s response to Liu Jing’s death.

’The Old Master and the Xiao Family must have prepared for the worst,’ 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

’otherwise, he wouldn’t have specifically instructed Xiao Wan’er not to leave the estate these days.’

Of course, this was also the most prudent course of action for now.

After all, the incident had just occurred. More information was needed to formulate a more precise response.

However, if Chen Yi were in the Old Master’s position, the first thing he would do is conduct an internal investigation to see if the Xiao Family Punishment Hall or some other affiliated party had killed Liu Jing.

Only after confirming that it wasn’t the Xiao Family’s doing would he proceed to the next step.

There were two possible approaches here.

One was to cooperate openly with the Liu Family or the Imprisonment Department to catch the killer, allowing tensions between the two sides to ease.

The second was to take a more aggressive stance and force the Liu Family to back down.

The general idea was something like, ’Never mind that the Xiao Family didn’t do it—even if we did, you’d still have to bow your head.’

Evidently, given the Old Master’s current cautiousness, he would likely choose the first approach.

’Catch the killer, huh? I have no intention of rotting in a cell.’

Chen Yi muttered to himself, thinking, ’I still need to see how the Liu Family reacts.’

If the Liu Family exercised restraint, there would still be room for maneuver.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for the Old Master to smooth things over, even if he wanted to.

Just then, the hour of Zi arrived—

[Daily Intel | Profound-rank Lower Grade: After the midpoint of the hour of You, Hidden Guards will be discussing important matters inside Fengchun Building. A small Opportunity may be obtained.]

’Tomorrow night at Fengchun Building, the Hidden Guards are meeting?’

Chen Yi frowned slightly as he looked at the content on the glowing screen.

’Xiao Dongchen, Ge the Third, Liu Si’er, Uncle Gui... these are the four Hidden Guards known to be in Shu State right now.’

First, Liu Si’er could be ruled out.

His injuries hadn’t healed, and he was still bedridden.

Next was Uncle Gui. As a servant of the Xiao Family, he would be too conspicuous at Fengchun Building.

Ge the Third...

His identity didn’t seem quite right either, but it wasn’t impossible for a member of the Xiao Family’s Personal Guard to visit Fengchun Building occasionally.

The most likely candidate was Xiao Dongchen.

At this thought, Chen Yi glanced in the direction of the Four Directions Hall, his expression shifting slightly.

’At a time like this, if it really is him... that’s not a good thing.’

After a moment of thought, Chen Yi turned, returned to his bed, and sat cross-legged to resume his cultivation of the Four Symbols Skill.

Regardless of whether Xiao Dongchen was at Fengchun Building, he had to make the trip.

...

The night passed without incident.

Before dawn the next day, Chen Yi rose early and, with Xiaodie’s help, washed up and dressed neatly.

Because he was going to Guiyun Academy to visit Mr. Yue Ming, he had deliberately changed into a more formal long robe.

He checked his reflection in the mirror and, once satisfied, went downstairs.

Pei Guanli was already sitting at the dining table in the living room. When she saw him, her eyes lit up.

"Brother-in-law, are you going out today, too?"

Chen Yi grunted in affirmation. "I’m making a trip to Guiyun Academy."

Hearing this, Pei Guanli couldn’t help but think of what she had done at Guiyun Academy before, and a mischievous grin spread across her face.

Chen Yi saw her expression and raised an eyebrow. "I almost forgot. You’ve been to Guiyun Academy before and even attended a poetry gathering."

"How was it?"

Pei Guanli quickly lowered her head, covering her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. "It was fine. There were a lot of people."

’She didn’t dare mention that she had drugged and knocked out Chen Yunfan. Otherwise, her brother-in-law would surely rap her on the head a few times.’

Chen Yi knew she was dodging the question, so he didn’t press further.

After breakfast, Pei Guanli ran off to Jiaxing Garden as usual to drag Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang out for a stroll around the city.

According to her, they had visited the west and north sides of the city the past two days, and today they were going to wander around the East Market.

Chen Yi paid her no mind. In any case, he needed her to keep Ge the Third occupied.

After taking Xiao Wuge to Jiaxing Garden, he told Xiao Wan’er he was going to Guiyun Academy.

Xiao Wan’er didn’t forget to remind him, "Remember to take a Personal Guard with you, so you don’t get lost in the alleyways."

Chen Yi nodded. "I’ll see who’s free later."

Inwardly, however, he was unconcerned.

The Xiao Family’s Personal Guards were all in the Lower Three Grades Realm. Even if one followed him, they would be useless if he encountered any real danger.

Seeing his attitude, Xiao Wan’er couldn’t help but nag him some more, telling him not to be careless and so on.

Chen Yi smiled as he watched her, the words going in one ear and out the other, but he did notice a change in her appearance.

"You’re not wearing your heavy cloak today. Don’t you feel cold?"

Xiao Wan’er was currently dressed in a pale yellow long skirt with a short jacket, looking like a young lady from a wealthy family at the start of winter.

Compared to her usual attire of a heavy cloak, her figure was no longer so bulky.

Her elegant, gentle, and quiet temperament now further accentuated her stunning beauty.

Xiao Wan’er smiled and shook her head at his words, a hint of color returning to her normally pale face. "I drank some medicinal soup this morning, so I feel warm."

This was the first time she had felt this way, so she was naturally in a good mood.

But because of this, not wearing her heavy cloak felt a little strange.

It was like... like...

like going out in winter wearing only undergarments; it felt like something was missing.

Especially under Chen Yi’s gaze, Xiao Wan’er felt a bit uncomfortable and quickly gestured that it was getting late, urging him to go and return soon.

Chen Yi knew she was thin-skinned, so he smiled, bid her farewell, and left Jiaxing Garden.

When he reached the front courtyard, he happened to run into Ge the Third and his men, who were preparing to leave.

He vaguely overheard an Armored Warrior call out:

"Third Brother, Master Dongchen just said he’s hosting a banquet at Fengchun Building tonight. He wants you to go straight there and wait for him outside when you get back."

"Got it."

As he watched the carriage drive away, Chen Yi glanced around, didn’t ask any of the other Armored Warriors to follow, and walked toward Guiyun Academy alone under his umbrella.

’So it really is Xiao Dongchen and Ge the Third?’

’It seems my having Pei Guanli keep Ge the Third occupied for several days has made Xiao Dongchen anxious.’

’Otherwise, given the Hidden Guard’s usual methods, he never would have resorted to such a poor tactic to arrange a meeting with Ge the Third.’

But what concerned Chen Yi was that if these two were meeting at a time like this, they were probably discussing more than just the "Dingyuan Army grain" matter.

It was highly likely the situation between the Xiao and Liu Families would be part of the conversation.

’Is Xiao Dongchen planning to stir up trouble and play the spoiler?’

’If the Hidden Guard gets involved, I’m afraid...’

As Chen Yi thought about this, a cold, harsh glint appeared in his eyes.

’I truly despise those who betray their own.’

Instantly, a piece on the chessboard in his mind moved—it was the black stone representing Xiao Dongchen.

’Looks like Xiao Dongchen will have to be grouped together with Liu Hong.’

"Brother Qingzhou?"

Just then, a voice called out from behind him. Chen Yi turned to look, a little surprised.

"Brother Fang Gui, what a coincidence."