Chapter 537: This Old Gentleman Is

Lu Wu lowered his head, thought for a moment, and said: "Someone, come!"

"Here!"

A servant pushed the door open and entered, shivering from the cold inside: "Mage, do you need a brazier?"

Lu Wu: "…"

"Go inform the Sir, tell him I have expended too much spirit casting spells and urgently need to close my cultivation for rest."

"Unless I step out of this room myself, no one may come to disturb."

"Yes, may I ask the mage, how long will you be in seclusion? If the Sir asks, I can answer properly."

Lu Wu thought silently that the child is protected by a powerful person; trying to capture her alive and take her away would not be easy.

"Tell the Sir, at least twenty‑one days, at most forty‑nine days."

"Understood."

The servant saluted, left, and shut the door.

Lu Wu closed his eyes and regulated his breath for a long time before slowly opening them.

He flipped the bone mirror that had been handed over, bit his fingertip, and drew a rune on the mirror with his blood.

Fresh blood seeped into the mirror, causing ripples to rise again.

He formed seals with both hands, closed his eyes, focused his spirit, and his fingertips rapidly performed calculations.

After a moment, a flash of blood light flickered in the mirror.

Lu Wu opened his eyes, stared at the faint trace in the mirror, and his lips slowly curled:

"This divination indicates departure, roughly… three days later."

He rejoiced wildly in his heart; the child will leave the Main Camp, and no one will constantly surround her—this is a heaven‑bestowed opportunity!

"Good! Good! Good!"

He said "good" three times in a row and tucked the bone mirror into his bosom.

This time, I will personally create a Shikigami; see who can still protect you!

The next day, Xibei Daying.

Tuan Tuan had just finished listening to Xue Tong explain how to prick people with small needles, and was carefully placing the Silver Needles one by one into a box.

Xue Tong looked at her: "Your mother's body is already unharmed; I plan to set out in a few days to treat the old grandpa's leg you mentioned."

"What I, the Master, have given you must be practiced diligently; do not slack."

Tuan Tuan pouted: "Master, are you leaving already?"

Xue Tong put on a stern face: "Not leaving yet? How many days has it been?"

"Then, Master, after you heal the old grandpa's leg, will you return?"

Xue Tong shook his head: "I won't come back; after this is done I will return to my Hidden Cloud Valley."

Tuan Tuan's little face instantly fell.

She pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and said: "I want to go too!"

Xue Tong was startled: "You too?"

"Yes!" Tuan Tuan said confidently, "I want to go see the old grandpa and Uncle Xie, thank them for telling me that you, Master, are here; that's why I have such a great Master!"

Xue Tong was momentarily stunned, his stern expression softened as his disciple coaxed him into a smile; he reached out and patted Tuan Tuan's little head.

"Alright, alright! Then come with the Master!"

Tuan Tuan shouted, "I'll go tell Father!" and leapt from the chair, running out.

Outside the door, Xiao Er hurried after her: "Miss, where are you going?"

Tuan Tuan grabbed his hand and ran toward the central army's main tent.

As soon as they entered the tent, Tuan Tuan shouted, "Father! Brother!"

Prince Ning and his son looked up together.

Tuan Tuan threw herself into her father's arms, chattering about wanting to follow the Master to the Horse Gang to have Old Xuanwu treat the leg.

Xiao Yuanhang lifted his daughter: "It's appropriate to go, and properly thank them."

"Last time Xun Er fell ill, it was thanks to Elder Xuan's guidance; this time An Er is afflicted by a Gu Worm again."

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "These past two days we haven't had nightmares, and Tuan Tuan need not stay with us while we sleep; letting her go out for a walk is fine."

Xiao Ningchen, rarely agreeing to his sister leaving his sight, said: "The Horse Gang is our own; with Xiao Er and Lu Qi joining, and Daoba accompanying, it's secure enough."

Xiao Ningyuan sighed: "Unfortunately, the sleepy bug is gone."

Tuan Tuan glared at him.

Xiao Ningyuan hurriedly patted his sister's back: "Alright, alright, it's not the sleepy bug anymore."

Xiao Yuanhang pinched Tuan Tuan's little cheek: "Tell your mother, and when you get to the Horse Gang, obey and don't cause trouble."

Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously: "Got it!"

Xiao Er smiled: "Don't worry, Prince. Lu Qi and Daoba are at the Training Ground; I'll go tell them."

Three days later, early morning.

Tuan Tuan handed Little Chubby to Cheng Ru'an: "Mother, feed it plenty of jerky! Don't let it starve."

Cheng Ru'an packed the homemade snack for her, shook his head: "Remember to give it to them as a token of thanks. Rest assured, Mother will definitely feed it plump!"

"You too, I have no idea where you caught such a worm, and you cherish it so much."

Tuan Tuan giggled.

Under Xiao Yuanhang's instruction, everyone refrained from telling her that Little Chubby was actually the Gu Worm in Cheng Ru'an's mind, fearing to frighten her again.

Four swift horses galloped out of the Main Camp toward the Horse Gang's warehouse.

Meanwhile, in Jingcheng.

Lu Wu suddenly flung open his eyes, and a terrifying light burst from them: "Finally, I've been waiting for you."

He rose and walked to the altar, took a blank talisman paper from his bosom, bit his index finger, using his blood as ink, and swiftly drew on the paper.

The runes were intricate and bizarre, each stroke exuding a chilling aura.

When the final stroke fell, the talisman paper moved on its own without wind, hovering in mid‑air.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Lu Wu's mouth.

"Teng Qingxing, that fool, twice used a bird as a Shikigami, and you saw through it."

He spoke while forming a hand seal with both hands, his fingertips fluttering like butterflies.

The blood stains on the talisman emitted a faint red glow that reflected on his face, looking especially eerie.

"But this time," he chuckled lowly, his face full of smugness, "I used your shadow."

"Your shadow only follows you obediently; how could you possibly see through it?"

His both hands snapped shut.

Near dusk, the group entered the Ma Bang warehouse.

Xie Guzhou saw Tuan Tuan and hurried forward: "Little ancestor! Why are you here?"

He reached out, lifted Tuan Tuan from the horse, held her high, and spun her around twice.

Tuan Tuan clutched his neck and giggled: "Uncle Xie! Where's grandpa?"

Xie Guzhou lowered his head and tapped her little head with his forehead: "He's in the backyard. Come, I'll take you there!"

"Brother Xiao Er, Brother Lu Qi, you've come too, wonderful, we must have a few drinks tonight!"

He looked up and saw Daoba: "Daoba! You rabbit‑son!" Only then did he notice another person.

"Who is this old gentleman?"