Chapter 197: Entering the Inner Courtyard

At the Red Rainbow Hall headquarters, Zhu Gaoxi looked around.

He slowly arrived at a deserted corner.

Seeing no one around, Zhu Gaoxi used a boost of momentum and immediately vaulted over the inner wall.

He arrived inside the inner courtyard.

The Red Rainbow Hall was, after all, one of only two martial arts sects in Huangshan Town.

It had existed in this Huangshan Town for ten or twenty years.

At the very least, it could be said to have deep roots in Huangshan Town.

In this inner courtyard, rockeries and artificial lakes, small bridges and flowing water, small pavilions and corridors—everything one could expect was there.

Fortunately, Zhu Gaoxi was a person who had seen things before.

He was not startled by the scene before his eyes.

After a brief glance, Zhu Gaoxi withdrew his gaze and got down to business.

First, one must be extremely careful in this inner courtyard.

He could not let servants, maids, or guards see him.

If he were seen, although he had long since prepared an excuse.

He would certainly be thrown out.

If that happened, it would be extremely difficult to get back in.

Avoiding everyone's line of sight, Zhu Gaoxi still had to find the old Hall Master's residence.

Having determined his target, Zhu Gaoxi carefully crept toward the interior.

Along the way, he indeed encountered quite a few servants, maids, and the like.

But fortunately, Zhu Gaoxi was agile, and with the enhancement of his Internal Energy, his hearing and reflexes were greatly increased.

Under normal circumstances, he could manage to cope.

During this time, Zhu Gaoxi also checked a few bedrooms.

A glance was enough to tell they could not possibly be the residence of the Red Rainbow Hall's old Hall Master.

As he walked and stopped, Zhu Gaoxi suddenly discovered two guards standing outside one of the bedrooms.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxi narrowed his eyes, and his heart understood: the old Hall Master most likely lived here!

Although he had some guesses in his heart and felt it was almost certain.

But in the current situation, unless the old Hall Master came out.

Otherwise, in broad daylight, with guards standing watch at the door.

It would be extremely difficult to figure out the old Hall Master's situation.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxi looked at the sky; it was already afternoon.

Zhu Gaoxi planned to go back first and consider it again later.

In any case, he had now roughly confirmed the old Hall Master's location; at worst, he would just think of a way tonight.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxi turned around, carefully returned the way he came, and walked out of the inner courtyard.

Arriving at the front courtyard, Zhu Gaoxi walked back.

On the way, he happened to run into the maid Yu Feipeng had arranged to look after him.

When that maid saw Zhu Gaoxi, she was visibly relieved.

"Oh my, where did you go just now, little one? You made me look everywhere for you."

As she spoke, she hurried forward and took hold of Zhu Gaoxi's small hand.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxi did not speak; he pretended to be pitiful and lowered his head.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxi looking so pitiful, the maid immediately felt that what she had just said was a bit too harsh.

Subsequently, her tone became much gentler.

"Don't blame me; you don't know how worried I was when I lost you just now."

The maid said softly to Zhu Gaoxi, and after hearing this, Zhu Gaoxi replied in a small voice: "I won't dare to do it again..."

Seeing Zhu Gaoxi being so obedient, the maid did not have the heart to scold him further; instead, she began to explain the reason for looking for him.

"Vice Hall Master Yu just sent someone to say that, looking at today, it's unlikely your family will be able to find you, so if you're willing, just stay here for now."

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxi had no reason to refuse and immediately nodded in agreement.

However, a question immediately arose in Zhu Gaoxi's mind.

The maid's words had actually reminded him: the Embroidered Uniform Guard would be coming soon.

If he didn't give them a heads-up in advance, he was afraid they would find this Red Rainbow Hall.

By then, he certainly wouldn't be able to stay here any longer.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxi wanted to go out first to find a way to locate the Embroidered Uniform Guard or leave some kind of signal.

But just at this moment, the maid took Zhu Gaoxi's hand and started walking.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxi had no choice but to follow the maid first.

But as they walked, Zhu Gaoxi looked at the direction and was suddenly stunned.

Then, he revealed a wry smile.

Before long, just as Zhu Gaoxi had expected, the maid brought Zhu Gaoxi directly into the inner courtyard.

And this time, the guards at the archway did not stop them in the slightest.

This made Zhu Gaoxi smile wryly again and again.

He had racked his brains to get in, and never expected that after only a short while, he could enter openly and aboveboard.

Helplessly, Zhu Gaoxi shook his head, then followed the maid to a room.

He led Zhu Gaoxi into the room.

The maid instructed Zhu Gaoxi, "This is the room where you will stay. You must not run around in this inner courtyard; just stay honestly in the room and play. I will bring your meals when it is time to eat."

Saying this, she closed the door and left.

Clearly, the maid still had her own matters to attend to.

Zhu Gaoxi was actually very satisfied with this.

If that maid were bored and followed him every single moment, that would be troublesome.

Now that no one was watching him, he could take this opportunity to find a way to go out and give instructions to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxi waited in the room for a while longer.

Only then did he push open the door and walk toward the outside, familiar with the path.

Carefully making his way to the wall between the inner and outer courtyards, Zhu Gaoxi jumped up and vaulted over it.

Afterwards, he walked openly out of the outer courtyard and arrived at the street outside the headquarters of the Red Rainbow Hall.

Zhu Gaoxi looked left and right, then went to a corner of the courtyard, bent down, and picked up a small stone.

He drew a pattern on the outer wall of the courtyard...

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