Chapter 651: Go Back

Liu Guiyan was overjoyed: "Great! Finally there's some movement!"

She carefully supported Cheng Jing as he got off the carriage.

The two entered the front hall of the Guoshi Residence.

Chu Yuan sat as steady as Mount Tai.

Cheng Jing clasped his fists and said: "National Preceptor, I am an honored guest of the two Regent Kings."

"Having lived in Da Xia for many years and being familiar with its customs, I was ordered today to join them in hunting Da Xia spies."

Chu Yuan lifted his eyes to glance at the two, felt something stir, and smiled: "My apologies, please proceed."

Liu Guiyan supported Cheng Jing as they walked further inside.

They met soldiers who had just returned from a search.

The leader bowed and said: "Sir, we have searched everywhere; there is nothing unusual."

Cheng Jing nodded: "Search again."

The soldiers: "……"

The young Taoist beside them: "……"

"Is this person ill? They already said there's nothing unusual, yet they keep searching?"

But the soldiers could only obey: "Yes!"

Having said that, they turned and dispersed, beginning the search again.

The young Taoist sprinted to the front hall to report to Chu Yuan.

A moment later, Cheng Jing suddenly shouted: "Stop!"

Everyone inexplicably halted.

Cheng Jing turned and ran outward: "It's not here; it went east! Quick! Follow!"

Liu Guiyan held him firmly: "Slow down! Don't rush!"

The soldiers followed the two, hurrying out of the Guoshi Residence.

Chu Yuan, whose brow was furrowed as he heard the report, watched their backs: "……"

The young Taoist, surprised, said: "They just said they'd search again; how did they leave so quickly?"

Chu Yuan twitched his fingers a few times, relaxed his brow, and said: "You go first, follow them. Order that the residence gates remain open today."

"The gates won't be closed? Just left wide open?"

"Leave a one‑person‑wide gap."

"Understood."

In Jingcheng's streets and alleys, countless townsfolk witnessed the soldiers searching for spies and a carriage, running back and forth nonstop.

"Weren't those people just here a moment ago?"

"Yes, yes! I thought I was seeing things."

"Weren't we supposed to capture Da Xia people? They ran so fast; why didn't I see anyone being chased?"

They kept running from morning straight until the sun was already in the west.

Cheng Jing collapsed into a seat in the carriage, rubbing his forehead with his fingers, his complexion as pale as paper.

Liu Guiyan, anxious, said: "Brother Cheng, rest a bit; we've been searching all day, how can your body endure this?"

Cheng Jing shook his head, his voice hoarse: "Can't rest; I can feel it, it's nearby!"

"But why is it running so fast? I can't understand."

Liu Guiyan clenched her teeth: "No need to waste thought; no matter how fast it runs, it will eventually stop, and we'll follow."

Finally, the carriage stopped by the riverbank.

Cheng Jing suddenly opened his eyes, lifted the carriage curtain, and pointed to the riverside: "It's right there!"

Liu Guiyan hurriedly helped him out of the carriage.

The soldiers surged forward, sealing off the reed thicket on the riverbank.

Cheng Jing pushed aside the reeds, approaching cautiously.

"Gah—"

A plump female wild duck flapped its wings, burst from the reeds, and pecked at the nearest soldier.

"It's a wild duck!"

"Ouch! Don't peck me!"

Two soldiers hurriedly shooed it, but the mother duck persisted, chasing them along the whole riverbank.

The remaining soldiers bent down and cleared the reeds: "Sir, is this it?"

Deep within the reeds lay a nest of round, plump duck eggs.

Cheng Jing stared at the eggs, his complexion alternating between green and white.

Liu Guiyan gently urged: "Cheng, have we made a mistake? We…"

"No mistake!" Cheng Jing interrupted her, turned toward the carriage, "It ran again, headed west, hurry! Keep chasing!"

The carriage continued onward, stopping at the doorway of a pharmacy.

Cheng Jing stepped out, raised his hand toward the shop: "It's inside!"

The soldiers rushed in, following Cheng Jing's direction, overturning boxes and cabinets.

Eventually, everyone's gaze fell on an old grayish tile jar.

"Sir, we found it; there's only this jar here."

The soldiers carefully lifted the jar to Cheng Jing's front.

Cheng Jing inhaled deeply, slowly lifted the lid.

It's empty.

There's nothing.

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment.

The assistant beside them, his face full of doubt, said, "Officials, this jar was what we used before to store medicinal toad gall, and it's long been used up."

"What are you looking for it for?"

The soldiers: "…"

How would we know!

Cheng Jing gave no answer, staring fixedly at the empty jar, his fingers trembling slightly.

Liu Guiyan said softly, "Cheng Lang, let's go."

The carriage moved forward again and arrived at Suijin Pavilion.

Cheng Jing entered with a light step, raised his hand and pointed, "There, behind!"

The soldiers, like wolves and tigers, rushed through a hall and charged into the back kitchen.

The cooks stared dumbfounded, halting the wok in their hands.

Shopkeeper Du Qing came in, waved his hand and said, "Let them search."

The soldiers turned the back kitchen upside down.

They even dismantled the chicken cages; a dozen live chickens ran wildly around the courtyard,

The soldiers had no idea what they were looking for; a few of them simply grabbed some chickens, raised them and asked, "Sir, is this it?"

Cheng Jing stared at the plump Lu‑hua chickens in their hands, motionless.

The chickens tilted their heads at him, cluck cluck cluck, squawking wildly.

Cheng Jing's mouth twitched.

Suddenly, a shout came from the backyard, "Fox! A fox is stealing chickens!"

Cheng Jing spun around sharply, stumbling toward the back door.

In the dim light, a completely snow‑white fox crouched on the wall, its mouth holding a shiny roasted chicken.

It turned its head to glance at Cheng Jing, its fluffy tail flicking lightly in the dusk, then leapt down from the wall.

The soldiers, panting, said, "Sir, is the fox you're looking for this one?"

"That creature's fur is so bright; it must often come here to steal chickens, right?"

"Shall we chase it now?"

Cheng Jing froze in place, unmoving for a long while.

He looked around with a bewildered expression, suddenly realizing he himself didn't know what he was searching for.

Why does that fat white Gu Worm run so fast? How can we never catch it?

Even if Princess Jiayou were running while holding it, it would be impossible to chase it all day; we wouldn't even see a shadow!

"Cheng Lang?" Liu Guiyan called softly.

Cheng Jing slowly withdrew his gaze, raised his hand and pressed his throbbing temple.

He was completely drained of strength, saying, "Let's go back."

Guoshi Residence, in a secret chamber.

Tuan Tuan was glum, barely taking a few bites of dinner, pouting and leaning on the table alone.

The adults knew she missed Xiao Feifei, and all were secretly anxious, yet powerless.

The sky turned completely dark.