Chapter 695

Tuan Tuan left Jade Belt Alley unhappy and returned to the secret chamber.

Chen Hao looked at her wilted little appearance: "What's wrong, Tuan Tuan? What happened?"

"You little squirt, your dad's abilities are great!" Xiao Ran thought the formation wasn't working, hurried forward, scooped Tuan Tuan off Xiao Er's back, and poked her little nose.

"Even if the Return-to-Origin Formation is useless, you don't need to pout so high!"

Feng Zhou kept nodding: "Exactly!"

"No way! Ninth Brother," Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around Xiao Ran's neck, her little head resting on his shoulder, "the Return-to-Origin Formation is great! They've stopped digging that broken ditch."

"But Master said, the teacher is sick."

"Song Gong?" Chen Hao always remembered the words Song Gong spoke when he rescued him from trouble at the Fu Yun Teahouse.

"Although you are far from home, a thousand miles away, and seem to be in a predicament, you are actually precisely the furnace that tempers one's mind and nature. One day, after being forged a hundred times into steel, you will surely have your own world."

"Do you know what illness it is?" he asked anxiously, his face full of worry: "Is it serious?"

"The National Preceptor said it's not a serious illness," Xiao Ningyuan sat down and took a sip of tea, "no need to worry."

Xiao Er glanced at Chen Hao; he was indeed grateful and repaying kindness—Song Gong had only said a couple of words back then.

"I want to go see him, but Master said the teacher's house is full of bad people." Tuan Tuan buried her little face in the crook of Xiao Ran's neck, her voice muffled.

She pressed softly against Xiao Ran's embrace, her voice also soft, making his heart turn to mush.

He instantly felt that even if Tuan Tuan wanted the moon in the sky, he should build a heavenly ladder to climb up and pluck it for her.

"Want to go? Then go! Your older brother won't go, but Ninth Brother will accompany you, okay?"

Tuan Tuan lifted her head and lightly kissed his cheek: "Ninth Brother is really nice!"

"Who said I don't want to go?" Xiao Ningyuan looked at his sister nestled in Xiao Ran's embrace, even having kissed him, and his eyebrows shot up instantly.

"When did I ever say I wouldn't go? I'm just worried about Tuan Tuan's safety."

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up, she turned to her brother: "Older brother, then can I go see the teacher?"

"Of course! Come here, let big brother hug you."

Tuan Tuan stretched out her little arms toward her brother.

Xiao Ran rolled his eyes, but had no choice but to carry Tuan Tuan to Xiao Ningyuan's front, still firmly holding her two little legs.

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around her older brother's neck and kissed his cheek: "Older brother is really nice!"

Xiao Ningyuan beamed, wanting to pull her over, but Xiao Ran stepped back and drew Tuan Tuan back into his arms.

Xiao Ningyuan stared, bewildered: "What's with all this fuss?"

Everyone burst out laughing.

"The Little Princess is truly beloved by all," Eunuch Cheng's wrinkles piled together, "if the Little Princess is willing, she wouldn't need to leave the ground all day."

Xiao Feifei kept hopping up and down at Xiao Ran's feet, anxious and chirping "eng eng eng" nonstop.

"Ninth Brother, I want to hold Xiao Feifei." Tuan Tuan loosened her arms.

Xiao Ran resignedly put the fragrant, soft Tuan Tuan down.

Tuan Tuan picked up Xiao Feifei, stroking from the base of its ears to the tip of its tail: "Be good, Xiao Feifei."

Xiao Feifei comfortably narrowed its eyes and grinned at Xiao Ran.

"Hahahaha——" Everyone burst into loud laughter upon seeing that.

"The Ninth Prince has been outdone by Xiao Feifei this time!" Lu Qi showed no mercy.

Xiao Ran glared at Xiao Feifei: "Fox spirit!"

Although Tuan Tuan was anxious, under everyone's insistence she still rested properly for two days, and only then, late that night, did she come to the roof of the civilian house beside the Song Residence.

Xiao Er whispered: "Brother Lu, the Miss and the Eldest Young Master are in your care; I'll go ahead to scout."

Lu Qi nodded: "Alright, if we encounter people from the Eastern Sea, hurry back; don't engage them head-on, their martial arts are too strange."

"Understood." Xiao Er set Tuan Tuan down, handed her to Lu Qi, then leapt up and, in a few bounds, vanished into the shadows of the Song Residence.

Tuan Tuan lay on Lu Qi's shoulder, unblinking, staring at the direction Xiao Er had disappeared.

The night wind stirred the loose strands of hair on her forehead, yet she didn't move a muscle.

Xiao Ningyuan reached out, brushed the stray hairs from his sister's little face behind her ear, and whispered: "Don't rush, your Second Uncle will be back shortly."

Tuan Tuan gave an "en" and rubbed her little head against Lu Qi's shoulder.

After about the time it takes to finish half a cup of tea, Xiao Er returned: "There are really quite a few people watching, but they're all ordinary folks; I didn't see any Eastern Sea people."

Lu Qi narrowed his eyes slightly: "I'll lure them away; you take the Miss inside."

"Eldest Young Master," Lu Qi turned his head to look at Xiao Ningyuan, "you stay here and wait."

Xiao Ningyuan opened his mouth, "I came all this way just to lie on the roof and catch a breeze?"

But given the circumstances, there's nothing else we can do.

He nodded: "Alright, you guys be careful."

Lu Qi's body leapt, drifting toward the Song Residence like a falling leaf.

Moments later, shadows shifted inside the Song Residence: "Someone! They went that way!"

"Chase! Don't let him get away!"

Seven or eight black shadows leapt up simultaneously, sprinting toward the outside of the Song Residence.

Xiao Er waited a moment, watched those silhouettes gradually fade, then hoisted Tuan Tuan onto his back: "Miss, hold on tight."

"En!" Tuan Tuan clung tightly to his neck.

Xiao Er tapped his toes, shot out from the roof, and slipped into the Song Residence along the ridge's shadow.

He lay prone on the ridge, scanning all around: where is Lord Song's bedroom?

As a rule, in a wealthy household the master usually resides in the main hall, while the children and grandchildren live in the east and west wings.

This way! He moved stealthily along the ridge, passed two courtyard walls, and arrived at a certain compound.

In the courtyard there were five main rooms, with a projecting wing in front; the dougong beneath the eaves was more elaborate than elsewhere—this must be the place.

Xiao Er did not hurry down; instead, he lay on the roof and carefully lifted a tile.

The room was pitch black; by moonlight, one could faintly see the calligraphy and paintings covering the walls, and the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk, everywhere exuding a tranquil scholarly air.

On the bed, an old man lay still.

Xiao Er felt relieved—he had found him.

He gently replaced the tile, looked around—no one in sight—and then silently descended from the roof to the window.

He drew out the dagger, lightly lifted the latch, pushed open the window, slipped inside, and closed the window behind him.

Tuan Tuan slid down from his back and tiptoed to the bedside.

She gripped the edge of the bed and gazed at the old man lying on it.

On Song Jingxian's pale face, his eye sockets were sunken, his frame gaunt.

Tuan Tuan's nose tingled, her eyes instantly reddened, and she softly called: 'Teacher! I've come to see you!'

Song Jingxian slowly opened his eyes and turned his head toward her.

After a moment, his gaze suddenly brightened: 'Tuan Tuan?'

He strained to sit up, his heavy breathing especially clear in the quiet room: 'How did you come here?'

He poked his head toward the window: 'Hurry and leave! Someone's outside!'