Chapter 652: I

Chu Yuan sat in the front hall, waiting silently.

The young Taoist who went out this morning returned: "Master!"

Having said that, he reported Cheng Jing's whereabouts for the day.

Chu Yuan's lips twitched slightly: "Go rest."

"Yes."

Before long, Xiao Feifei sneaked in through the door crack, running straight to his feet.

The young Taoist stared and said, "Isn't that the Little Princess's fox? When did it run out?"

"Why is it still holding something? Roasted—roasted chicken?"

Xiao Feifei dropped the slick, gleaming roasted chicken onto the floor, shook off the dust on its body, latched onto Chu Yuan's robe hem, and kept chirping "Ying—ying—ying—" as it tugged inward.

Chu Yuan bent down, scooped it up, patted its little head, and said, "You've done a great deed today, such a good girl! Come, I'll take you to see her."

Xiao Feifei nudged within his arms and let out a "Ying."

"Bring that roasted chicken up."

"Yes."

Chu Yuan walked to the secret room doorway and concealed Xiao Feifei behind him.

The secret room, usually bustling, was silent as a tomb at this moment.

Tuan Tuan was still perched on the table.

Hearing the movement, she lifted her head, glanced, and called weakly, "Master, why haven't you come all day today?"

Chu Yuan walked to the table, smiling, "Tuan Tuan, look, who I've brought for you?"

He placed the hidden Xiao Feifei in front of Tuan Tuan.

Xiao Feifei's amber eyes rolled once, landed on Tuan Tuan's face, and let out a plaintive "Ying—."

Tuan Tuan sat up sharply, eyes widening to circles: "Xiao Feifei!"

She snatched Xiao Feifei from Chu Yuan's arms, clutching it tightly, "Where did you go? Have you eaten? Did anyone bully you?"

Everyone gathered around.

Xiao Ningyuan let out a long sigh: "Finally you're back! Tuan Tuan has been missing you all day."

Xiao Er's Adam's apple bobbed, and Lu Qi grinned widely.

Feng Zhou patted his chest: "Xiao Feifei, if you don't come back, the young alliance leader will lose another golden bean!"

Eunuch Cheng hurriedly carried the plate of meat strips from the chair to Tuan Tuan: "Little Princess, quickly feed it; it's been out so long, it must be starving."

Tuan Tuan picked up a meat strip and handed it to Xiao Feifei's mouth.

Xiao Feifei sniffed, tilted its head, and didn't eat.

"Is this one not good?" Tuan Tuan tried another, but Xiao Feifei still didn't eat.

Tuan Tuan patted its round belly, frowned, "Your belly's so swollen, what have you been eating outside?"

The young Taoist, hearing that, hurried forward, laid a sheet of paper on the table, placed the roasted chicken on it, and said with suppressed laughter, "Princess, it even brought this back."

Everyone's eyes widened: roasted chicken?

Tuan Tuan's little nose twitched: "Wow! It's the Suijin Pavilion's roasted chicken!"

"Xiao Feifei, you're amazing! You even know which place is the tastiest! No wonder your belly's so big!"

Xiao Feifei let out a "Ying," rolled over in her arms, revealing its white belly, its four short legs kicking upward, looking completely satisfied.

Tuan Tuan lifted her own collar and wiped its fur: "So much dust!"

Eunuch Cheng quickly handed her a handkerchief: "Don't use your clothes, Little Princess; they'll get dirty. Use this."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Tuan Tuan took it, carefully wiping all the dust off Xiao Feifei.

Everyone sat down, smiling as they watched her.

Chu Yuan said, "You fox, you accomplished a great deed today."

Everyone stared at him in unison.

Xiao Ningyuan asked, "A great matter? National Preceptor, what happened?"

Chu Yuan sat down: "Two people arrived today, saying they were honored guests sent by the Regent King, to jointly search my Guoshi Residence."

Xiao Ningyuan frowned: "The Regent King's honored guests? Who are they?"

"One man and one woman, both elderly; they look like a married couple."

Xiao Er's brows knit: "A couple? What couple would come to search the Guoshi Residence?"

Chu Yuan looked at Xiao Feifei: "Interestingly, on that man I saw a karmic link related to Xiao Feifei."

Everyone was stunned.

"Xiao Feifei's karmic tie?" Xiao Ningyuan asked, "Could it be that mother gu?"

Chu Yuan nodded: "Xiao Feifei was once a sub‑gu; although it turned against its mother gu, the bond between them never disappears."

"Today, it must have known the mother gu was nearby, so it ran out to lure that person away."

"If not for it, your movements would have been impossible to hide."

Everyone suddenly understood why Xiao Feifei was so eager to run out.

Tuan Tuan planted a firm kiss on Xiao Feifei's forehead: "You're so awesome, Xiao Feifei!"

Xiao Ningyuan sprang to his feet: "The one who came must be Cheng Jing! That mother gu is inside his head!"

Lu Qi nodded: "So that woman is Liu Guiyan."

Xiao Er's face darkened: "They actually came in person?"

Chu Yuan laughed: "Today they were chased by Xiao Feifei all over; they nearly ran across the whole Jingcheng."

He gave a brief recount of today's events.

Everyone heard hearty laughter.

Xiao Ningyuan said: "Serves him right! Let him give mother a Gu worm!"

Xiao Er said: "This is what's called reaping what you sow!"

Tuan Tuan felt sorry and gently rubbed Xiao Feifei's paws and legs: "Turns out you ran so far today; I'll give you a good rub—are you tired?"

Xiao Feifei purred contentedly as she rubbed it.

Xiao Ningyuan stared at Xiao Feifei, his face growing solemn: "Although Cheng Jing was distracted by Xiao Feifei today, what about tomorrow? The day after?"

Feng Zhou said: "Isn't that easy to handle?"

"From now on, as long as Xiao Feifei wants to go out, just let it go out—isn't that enough? Then we'll keep walking them!"

Chu Yuan mused: "Unsuitable; this is tantamount to standing there and taking a beating."

"Not bad," Xiao Ningyuan nodded, "we must absolutely not implicate the Guoshi Residence."

Chu Yuan waved his hand: "Implication? Where do we even start?"

"But if we lose this secret chamber, we also lose the secret passage into the Palace; thereafter, entering the Palace again would be as hard as climbing to heaven."

Everyone exchanged a glance.

Xiao Ningyuan rubbed his forehead: "Indeed, the Guoshi Residence is now of great importance; we must not suffer any loss."

"Alas, we have to think of another plan."

Tuan Tuan snorted: "They want to use Xiao Feifei to find us; why can't we let Xiao Feifei lead the way to find them?"

"That Cheng Jing is so wicked; Father and Mother were both infected by his worm spawn; when we find him, Uncle Er, you must give them a good beating!"

"How wonderful!" Xiao Ningyuan was about to lift his sister, but Tuan Tuan clung tightly to Xiao Feifei, refusing to let go: "Mmm~, big brother, you must not put Xiao Feifei on the ground; I want to hold it!"

Xiao Ningyuan gave an embarrassed smile, pinched her little cheek: "Okay! Not letting go! Tuan Tuan, your idea is really wonderful!"

Lu Qi slapped his thigh: "Exactly! Since we can't stand there and take a beating, let's just go attack them head-on!"

Xiao Er's eyes flashed, his fists clenched, joints cracking: "Rest assured, Miss, I will surely give them a good beating!"