Chapter 261: Are you and those who just came in cahoots?

The sky had long since turned as black as ink.

At midnight, Jiang Yunchu's tightly closed eyes snapped open; she seized the soft whip beside her, stepped to the door, and listened to the corridor's stir.

Just moments ago someone had trodden on her roof; though the noise was slight, only a faint stir, she was always a light sleeper, especially having fallen asleep outdoors.

"This is the room."

Suddenly, a tiny voice said.

Jiang Yunchu's eyes narrowed; opposite her……

It was that grandparent‑grandchild pair!

"Has the Deluding Mist been released?"

"Released!"

"Pry the door open."

In that moment, a dagger's tip scraped the door seam; Jiang Yunchu listened closely, her heart conflicted over whether to intervene.

Better to avoid extra trouble; being out and about, she needed to stay hidden, so discretion was essential.

But……

She closed her eyes, recalling the little girl's voice and smile, and the old lady's kindness and indulgence.

Now that she knew, how could she remain aloof?

Whether one calls her meddlesome or a saint, it's all the same.

She……

All she wanted was to follow her true heart, to do nothing she'd regret, to be no one uneasy in conscience!

"Who are you? How can there be people here?"

"Help! There's a ghost!"

She seemed half‑asleep, opened the door, and saw four black‑clad sturdy men opposite—not the three from before; these three moved lightly, dressed in night‑clothes, masks on their faces.

At a glance they were clearly habitual do‑gooders of this sort—definitely not upstanding folk.

"Shut up!"

The leader's face shifted; he lunged forward, bowing, intending to clasp a hand over Jiang Yunchu's mouth and then knock her out for convenience.

This time their sole target was that grandparent‑grandchild pair.

Who would have thought Jiang Yunchu, by ill luck, would step back and trip; as the leader went to cover her mouth, he lost his target.

After Jiang Yunchu crouched, she extended her hands and feet, crying, "It hurts so much!"

"Who exactly are you? Do you fancy this young master? What's your motive? You…… wouldn't secretly abduct the young master, would you?"

Amid her repeated urgings, footsteps echoed in waves from downstairs.

Han Bing heard Jiang Yunchu's voice, had been waiting inside the door, ready to adapt on the fly.

Yet Jiang Yunchu remained silent and gave no signal, meaning he should hold his position.

His hand gripping the doorknob showed bulging veins; his palm sweated from nerves for the first time, and now he had no idea what was happening outside.

But he knew these people weren't after them; judging by the sound's direction, they were aiming for that grandparent‑grandchild pair.

Yesterday those three weren't after them either; their target was also that pair.

It seems the identities of that grandparent‑grandchild duo aren't simple either!

"Withdraw!"

The plot's been exposed; they can no longer secretly abduct anyone.

The leader gave Jiang Yunchu a fierce stare; she blinked rapidly, then stepped back, looking frightened.

"Young master, what's going on?"

The innkeeper looked at this ancestor, already feeling a headache; though genuinely generous, his talent for stirring up trouble was really more than he could handle.

"Open this room."

Jiang Yunchu pointed to the opposite room; these people hadn't entered, but they'd released the Deluding Mist—who knows the dosage, whether it might impair one's wit?

"Young master, this is the grandparents' room; two ladies inside—it wouldn't be proper."

Although it's just an old lady and a little girl, they're all men, so entering wouldn't be appropriate either.

Jiang Yunchu's eyes widened; "What if I said they'd been drugged?"

"Well then…"

"Are you in league with those who just came?"

The innkeeper's face turned pale; he hastily waved his hands, on the verge of tears.

"I'm not involved; I just run this inn honestly, young master—I really am not."

At a glance their attire screamed wealth or nobility; if we can't clear this up, not only this inn but even his very life might be forfeit.

"Not?"

"Then hurry up and open the door," Jiang Yunchu snapped.

Although she knew the innkeeper acted for guests' safety, the urgency now left no choice.

"Madam, please go in first to check; inside are the two grandparents, both ladies—inspect their attire, and if all's well I'll follow."

Since she was dressed as a man, to avoid leaving any stain on the two inside, she had no choice but to do so.

Fortunately, the lady was sensible; she nodded at once and said, "All right, I'll go."

The waiter was swift, soon bringing the key and handing it to the innkeeper.

The innkeeper's trembling hand slowly pushed the door open.

"Thank you for the trouble," Jiang Yunchu said, clasping her fists.

The lady, however, shook her head and said, "Wait for me."

She entered the room first, and immediately smelled a pungent odor. She fanned the air with her hand and saw that on the bed were indeed an old man and a girl; although both were wearing only inner garments, they were completely intact.

She covered the two with the blanket, then opened the door, saying, "The old man and the child are both wearing inner garments and are covered with the blanket."

"However, there is a very pungent smell in the room; after I went in, my head felt a bit dizzy."

Upon hearing this, the innkeeper's legs went weak; if something happened to this person in his inn, he would be finished.

Just a moment ago he thought Jiang Yunchu was the ancestor of the matter; now he feels Jiang Yunchu is his ancestor, come to protect him.

This is like saving his life!

"Madam, please trouble yourself to come in with me."

"I know medicine; I can take a pulse."

In this remote wilderness, finding a doctor is already difficult, let alone at the middle of the night, which makes it even harder.

"Good." The madam immediately nodded; given the recent situation, she felt even more convinced of Jiang Yunchu in her heart.

"Let's go in."

The two nodded, and Jiang Yunchu pushed the door open, entering the room first; she smelled the low-quality Deluding Mist, which is used by lowly people to do shady deeds—she never expected to encounter it here.

"I'll open the window first; the room is filled with Deluding Mist, and we need to disperse it."

For safety, although the room had windows, everyone would close them tightly before sleeping; unexpectedly, this also gave those people an opportunity.

"Good."

The madam nodded; she naturally knew her purpose in coming in was merely to witness.

She knows nothing about medicine.

However, she felt a bit curious about this girl.

While out and about, she had never seen anyone like this.