Chapter 13: There's Something Wrong with the Water!

An Luo pounded the sofa heavily.

"Why does it have to level up at a time like this!"

"The mountain path twists and turns seven or eight times—can the Cheng Family find the right direction?"

She first tried scratching the ground twice, but failed to leave any mark.

"Does this function only work on people?"

She reached out and poked the constable's calf; the constable on the screen pitched forward abruptly.

"Ouch!"

"Are you alright? Why did you suddenly fall?"

The constable climbed up from the ground and shook his head.

"Pitch dark—probably tripped on a tree branch."

Neither of the two paid this small matter any mind and kept walking. They hadn't gone far when, passing through an intersection, the constable fell again.

Just like that, every two or three hundred meters, or whenever they passed an intersection, An Luo would make the constable take a tumble.

"This is really bizarre. I've walked this road back and forth eight hundred times—how come I never noticed so many branches and loose stones before?"

After falling several times, the dust-covered constable patted his already torn clothes and looked at his companion.

"We're walking the same road—why am I the only one falling, and you're fine?"

The constable carrying Yu'an was also baffled.

"That's truly strange. How about you go burn some incense at the Daoist temple later."

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the Daoist temple's back door.

After two knocks, the door was quickly opened by a middle-aged Daoist, who complained.

"Why are you only arriving now? Any later and I wouldn't have been able to keep it hidden."

The two constables wore ingratiating smiles.

"Got a bit delayed on the road—this one is definitely top-quality goods!"

The middle-aged Daoist looked her up and down.

"She does look like she was carved from pink jade—hurry and send her to the Pure Thought Court!"

Seeing Yu'an being sent into a room with several other little girls wailing at the top of their lungs, An Luo was frantic.

"Why haven't the Cheng Family people arrived yet?"

Meanwhile, halfway up the mountain, Cheng Qiuyun and the guards stopped at an intersection with three small branch paths.

"Miss, which way should we go?"

Then, Cheng Feng suggested:

"How about splitting into three groups?"

"No!"

Cheng Qiuyun carefully observed the surroundings and shook her head.

"The mountain is full of small paths. If we split up here, what do we do at the next fork?"

Suddenly, she noticed something, and her eyes lit up.

"Look!"

She stepped forward two paces, crouched on the ground, and rummaged through the grass to examine.

"These look like marks left from a fall."

Doubt flickered across Cheng Feng's face.

"But could those people have left these on purpose to mislead us?"

Cheng Qiuyun thought for a moment, then pointed firmly at the small path with the marks.

"We go that way!"

At this moment, she desperately hoped the Immortal Yu'an spoke of was real.

Following the marks all the way, they spotted the Daoist temple in the distance beyond the steps. The few exchanged glances, then found a corner and climbed over the wall.

Just then, several Daoists walked past carrying leftover scraps of food.

Cheng Feng quietly stepped forward and, at the corridor corner, sealed the acupoints of the last Daoist and dragged him away.

Yet the Daoists ahead noticed nothing at all.

Cheng Feng dragged the man to a corner, first pressed a dagger to his neck, and threatened in a cold voice.

"Answer whatever I ask. If you dare yell and startle me, and my hand happens to slip, your life is done for!"

"Blink if you understand!"

Seeing the fear in the Daoist's eyes and his frantic blinking, Cheng Feng finally unsealed his mute acupoint.

"Where are the little girls you brought back being kept?"

The Daoist stammered: "Most of them are locked in the woodshed, but…"

Cheng Feng pressed the dagger directly against his Adam's apple.

"But what?!"

The cool blade resting on his Adam's apple frightened the Daoist so badly he didn't dare breathe.

"A big shot came tonight. The temple master picked a few good-looking ones and sent them to the Pure Thought Court!"

Cheng Qiuyun's heart lurched, and she hurriedly asked.

"Where is the Pure Thought Court?!"

"Head northwest, pass through a long corridor, and you'll see it."

Cheng Qiuyun gave Cheng Feng a look. Understanding, he suddenly raised his hand and knocked the Daoist out with a single hand-chop.

Cheng Qiuyun gave rapid orders.

"To be safe, we split into two groups. You go to the woodshed, Cheng Feng and I will go to Jing Si Courtyard!"

Meanwhile, in the largest room of Jing Si Courtyard.

Cheng Yu'an slowly came to. The moment his consciousness returned, he heard soft sobs rising and falling around him.

Yu'an rubbed his groggy head.

"Where is this?"

Hearing his voice, a little girl nearby walked to the table, poured a cup of water, and handed it to him.

Yu'an took it and smiled at her.

"Thank you, miss."

The little girl's face changed slightly. She forced a smile.

"This is the National Preceptor's bedchamber."

Hearing this, Yu'an, who had been lowering his head to drink, raised it.

"The National Preceptor?"

The big villain who harmed them!

Yu'an angrily hurled the water cup onto the ground.

"Bah, bah, bah!"

He absolutely refused to drink a villain's water!

"Boo hoo hoo, Sister Xiao Yu, are we going to die?"

A little girl with two bun hairstyles sat on the floor, wailing loudly.

Xiao Yu hurried over to comfort her.

"Stop crying. The National Preceptor will be here soon. If we cry and annoy him, we're done for."

Just then, the door creaked open, and a middle-aged man walked in — reeking of alcohol, short and scrawny, with a lecherous face and two tufts of hair on his upper lip.

"Hehe, little darlings, same old rules today. Let's play hide-and-seek. Whoever gets caught, then…"

As he spoke, the National Preceptor rubbed his hands together and flashed a lecherous grin.

That smile thoroughly disgusted An Luo, who was watching from outside the screen.

"You sick pervert, you dirty old man! Why haven't the Cheng Family people arrived yet?"

【Zaituan, run! Hide first!】

Hearing the voice and knowing Fairy Sister was by his side, some of the fear in Yu'an's heart faded.

He was just about to move when he felt his hands and feet go limp and weak.

What was going on?

He looked at the shattered water cup on the floor.

There was something wrong with that cup of water!

Why would that girl try to harm him?!

Now An Luo sensed something was off too. She quickly checked Yu'an's status and saw it displayed:

Zaituan is currently in a poisoned state (Muscle-Relaxing Powder).

Oh no!

After counting to twenty, the National Preceptor opened his eyes and just happened to see Yu'an, who was struggling along the wall corner.

"Oh? You didn't manage to hide?"

Seeing that exquisite little face, as if carved from pink jade, a flash of delight crossed the National Preceptor's eyes.

"Who would have thought, in such a remote, backwater place, there'd be a child raised so well."

An Luo hurriedly sent a message.

【There's a small white pill in the box. Take it quickly!】

Then she stretched out a finger and tripped the National Preceptor.

Outside, Cheng Qiuyun and Cheng Feng had just passed through the moon gate when they heard a clatter of crashing sounds.

The two exchanged a glance and hurried toward the noise.

Inside the room, the National Preceptor kicked aside the obstructing tables, chairs, and benches, then continued walking toward Yu'an.

An Luo tried to trip him again, but a prompt suddenly popped up saying her available balance was insufficient.

She scratched her head in frustration.

"How am I out of money again!"

【Yu'an, quickly take out the weapon Elder Sister prepared for you. Do you remember how to use it?】

"Little darling, uncle is coming."

The National Preceptor grinned lecherously and reached out to touch Yu'an's fair, tender little face.

But the next moment, a buzzing sound rang out in the room.

Immediately after came a shrill scream, mixed with crackling and sizzling sounds.

"Ah—"