Chapter 181: Borrow Your Waist Token

Xiao Er stared at the girl's face, carefully distinguishing her, and indeed it was the son of the Holy Medicine Grain Grain Master: "How are you here? Where's your father?"

Xue Zhiyou lifted his head, glanced at Xiao Er, then at Tuan Tuan, and recognized them: "It's you? Quick, come with me to save my father!"

He turned around intending to lead the way, but stopped, looking left and right; ahead was a fork, he had only thought of fleeing, running all the way, not knowing where he came from, and burst into tears with a "waa".

Tuan Tuan walked up to him: "Don't cry, first come back to the inn with us; my brothers are there, they'll help you."

After buying a large pile of roasted meat and buns, Xiao Er led the two kids back to the inn.

He asked the shopkeeper for a clean set of boys' clothes for Xue Zhiyou to change into, then washed away the dirt on his face, revealing a pale but delicate little face.

Having eaten his fill, he held a cup of hot water, the small child sat obediently, and under the gaze of everyone in the room, he trembled slightly.

Tuan Tuan sat beside him, resting her elbows on the table, tilting her head to support her cheek: "How did you come here? This place is far from the Sacred Medicine Valley."

Xue Zhiyou said softly: "After you left last time, Father used the spiritual herb you left me to make a red pill. After I took it, my health improved greatly; I can now travel far with Father."

He paused, his voice dropping: "I know, Father says he's out to buy medicine, but actually, having heard news of Mother from somewhere, he came out to find her."

Tuan Tuan blinked: "Then what? Did you find her?"

"We found her!" Xue Zhiyou's eyes brightened for a moment, then dimmed: "A few days ago, when we first arrived here, we saw Mother on the street! Father rushed over and shouted her name."

"But Mother clearly saw us, yet ignored us! And insisted we had mistaken her."

Xue Zhiyou's tears fell: "Father grew anxious, went up and grabbed her, saying: 'I know it's you! Thank you for giving You'er the Nine-turn Crimson Pattern Rebirth Pill; his body is now fine.'"

Saying this, Xue Zhiyou's thin body shuddered, his face full of fear: "Then suddenly a crowd rushed out from the side! They were fierce! They covered our mouths and abducted us together with Mother!"

"They locked us in a dark, cold room."

"They also gave Father something to eat; he refused, so they beat him several times."

Xiao Ningxun asked: "Do you know what it was?"

Xue Zhiyou shook his head: "I don't know, but after Father ate it, his whole body went limp and he had no strength."

Xiao Erdao said: "It should be something like Tendon-Softening Powder."

Tuan Tuan pursued: "Then how did you escape?"

Xue Zhiyou's tears fell in big drops, sobbing: "It was Mother who suddenly came!"

"She changed me into girls' clothes and sent me out through a small door onto the street."

"She said, imitating Ji Wanrun's tone: 'You'er, listen, run toward the city gate, keep running, never come back to look for us!'"

"Then she went back, waa— I don't know how Mother is now, or how Father is."

Tuan Tuan patted his shoulder: "Don't be afraid! My brothers are awesome! And Second Uncle! We'll definitely rescue them!"

Xiao Ningxun thought: "Which direction did you run from? From when you came out to seeing us, about how long did it take?"

Xue Zhiyou looked bewildered: "I don't dare look back; I don't remember which way I ran out. I also don't know how long it took."

"I—I only remember that shortly after I ran out, there was a small yellow dog by the roadside, standing there watching me."

Xiao Ningxun immediately asked: "Which shop's entrance? Any sign?"

Xue Zhiyou shook his head: "I didn't see a shop; it was just standing by the roadside."

Hearing this, everyone exchanged speechless glances, a feeling of helplessness washing over them.

This clue is really too vague.

Only Tuan Tuan's eyes flashed "swish" and lit up, her face full of excitement: "Great! Let's go find that little yellow dog now!"

She jumped up, took out her own little cloak, tiptoed to drape it over Xue Zhiyou, then found a soft cap to put on his head, looked him over from top to bottom: "Not bad, this way the kidnappers won't recognize you."

She waved her little hand: "Come on! Let's go together! To find that little yellow dog!"

The adults first stared, then wondered: "Really?"

But seeing her already pull Xue Zhiyou and stride off eagerly, they had no choice but to follow helplessly.

Xiao Er quietly asked Xiao Ningxun: "Third Young Master, can we find it?"

Xiao Ningxun smiled: "No problem, just take it as a post-meal digest; since Tuan Tuan wants to try, let her have her way."

Xiao Ningchen walked behind, shaking his head helplessly: "Nonsense!"

But in the end he didn't speak to stop it, merely scanning the surroundings warily.

Xiao Ze, however, found it rather interesting, a hint of amusement at the corner of his mouth, leisurely bringing up the rear.

At this time the street, compared to the daytime bustle, had quieted considerably, with few pedestrians.

After walking a few steps, they reached a three-way intersection, with three roads ahead: forward, left, and right.

"Which way should we go first?" Xue Zhiyou quietly asked Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan stood at the intersection, her big eyes scanning the three roads, then raised her little hand and pointed right: "This one!"

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they turned two more bends, and the road gradually grew secluded.

Then, by the roadside, a tiny figure actually appeared.

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up, she pointed ahead: "Is that it?"

Following her direction, Xue Zhiyou looked closely and saw only an earth-yellow small dog squatting by the roadside, quietly gazing at them.

He jumped up happily: "Yes! That's the one! Look! It's been sitting like that all daytime! I didn't remember wrong!"

The adults exchanged glances: "Dogs can run, though!"

"What kind of dog is this, just standing there like a signpost waiting for someone to come look for it?"

"We found it? No way! This is too child's play!"

Xiao Er stepped forward quickly, his gaze going past the yellow dog to what lay behind it—a narrower, more secluded alley.

In the depths of the alley, a tightly shut black door could be faintly seen.

Xiao Er and Xiao Ningchen exchanged a glance, no words needed; they moved—Xiao Er leapt onto the roof, Xiao Ningchen climbed the wall, like two wisps of smoke, silently merging into the shadows on either side of the alley.

Xiao Ningxun stayed where he was, looking at the small yellow dog, then at his sister with a face saying "I told you we could find it," feeling a mix of laughter and tears.

He gently rubbed his sister's head, saying softly: "Tuan Tuan, you really always manage to surprise Third Brother."

A moment later, the two turned around: "This is the place! Both the front and back doors are guarded, it's certainly not an ordinary residence."

Xiao Ningxun looked at Xiao Ze: "Seventh Prince, may I borrow your waist badge for a moment."