Chapter 377: Find People

The voices faded into the distance; Wang Cong and Tao Yanbai pretended not to hear. Inside the carriage, Pan Yun and the others sat quietly, waiting until the vehicle crossed the bridge and moved far away, before quietly lifting the curtain to glance outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of those chasing them.

No sooner had they stuck their heads out than Wang Cong on the carriage pole coughed lightly and peered in, fixing his gaze on them.

The three immediately sat up straight.

Wang Cong gave them one final warning glance before lowering the curtain and returning to his seat.

Only after passing through the city gate did the three people, the fox, and the ghost inside the carriage grow lively, pulling back the window curtains to lean out and look.

Hong Yan, too lazy to take human form, remained a fox and also leaned out to look.

Even Xiao Hong couldn't resist emerging from the gold hairpin, avoiding the sunlight, and turning her head to gaze out the window.

Wang Cong also relaxed, leaning against the carriage door and swinging the rope in his hand.

Pan Yun leaned out and asked, "Cong'er, will they interfere in Master Lu and Young Master Chen's affairs?"

"Unless one side offers a huge reward, Daoist Priests of the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion won't meddle in mundane affairs," Wang Cong said. "The Changzhou branch of the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion isn't short on money—I don't think they'll interfere."

The Daoist Priests of the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion indeed had no intention of intervening in the dispute between the Lu and Chen families; they only hunted demons and sorcerers who used magic and disturbed the common people.

As for the Lu and Chen families, their earthly quarrels never ceased—the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion stood above it all and didn't care about such matters.

The Daoist Priests didn't know that precisely because of this attitude of theirs, combined with their determined stance to capture the five who had caused chaos on the boat last night, made everyone on the boat refuse to utter a word.

Even the greedy and power-hungry Xue Yi instructed her girls and staff: "The high cultivators saved us; we must not forget our debt. From this moment on, no matter who asks or what their motives, you must not describe their appearance. Forget everything you saw and heard on the boat last night."

Everyone responded in unison.

Thus, when the Daoist Priests finished their inquiries and returned to confirm again, the girls would clutch their foreheads as if suffering headaches, swaying like willow branches: "Reverend, I truly don't remember. Last night I was terrified—first fire, then falling into the water. Just thinking about it gives me a splitting headache; how could I recall anything?"

"Didn't you say earlier last night that the high cultivator carried you onto the boat and that you saw his long eyelashes and glowing face?"

"Did I say that? I don't remember. Maybe I was terrified, choked by the water, and hallucinated. When I'm in trouble, I always imagine a hero descending from the heavens to rescue me from suffering. Last night it might have been real—or perhaps it was a dream as I neared death."

The Daoist Priest stepped back two paces, sidestepping her. The girl stumbled sideways, nearly falling.

The girl grew annoyed, angrily flicking her silk handkerchief at him and huffing as she swayed away.

The Daoist Priest's face darkened; he could only go ask another girl.

The girl in pale yellow still wore her gown. Seeing him, she burst into tears, rolling up her sleeve to show him: "Last night someone stepped on me—I'm bruised and broken. All I saw were feet; how could I remember any high or low cultivator?"

The Daoist Priest angrily drew his sword: "When I questioned you at dawn, you were excited saying the high cultivator was under your care. Only half a day has passed, and you've forgotten?"

The girl in yellow pressed her eyes, her face flushed red as she whispered: "I—I made it up. The other girls on the boat all claimed it was them who served him, so I said it too—I thought once we're free, I could use this story to earn more money."

She immediately grabbed the Daoist Priest's sleeve, eyes glistening with tears as she coaxed: "Reverend, I didn't mean to deceive you. Our madam is in deep trouble, and rebuilding the pleasure boat will cost a fortune—we'll all likely be sold off."

"Look at my face, my figure—where could I possibly be sold for a good price? I just wanted to use the high cultivator's name to get a better deal. I didn't know you'd ask so carefully… I won't dare lie anymore."

The Daoist Priest looked at her and thought her plain-looking and too old—the cultivator certainly wouldn't have chosen her. His gaze shifted toward the prettier girls.

The other girls: …

Others didn't know, but didn't they know?

The most powerful one was the one she and another girl served together—just thinking of it made her jealous.

The Daoist Priest questioned everyone but found nothing useful; even what he'd been told last night and at dawn was now denied.

Further questioning revealed nothing but misidentifications or outright lies.

The Daoist Priest grew increasingly irritable: "You were burned alive—don't you even remember how the fire was put out?"

The girl covered her face with her handkerchief and wept: "When I was burned, I was only terrified, desperate to extinguish the fire—how could I pay attention to how it was put out?"

"I've even forgotten how the fire started. Whenever I think of last night, my mind goes completely blank."

Furious, the Daoist Priest kicked over the stool and walked away.

Young Master Chen also smashed his stool in rage: "You surrounded Master Lu's mansion from early on and still don't know where the people went? What are you good for?"

"Young Master, Master Lu's servants insist Master Lu didn't return home last night."

"Young Master, the magistrate's gate is packed with people—all from last night's pleasure boat—begging the Prefect to intervene. The Prefect has ordered you to the front courtyard."

Young Master Chen's mouth twitched with rage. He suppressed his anger and asked: "Have you found Hong Yan and Xiao Hong? They can testify that it was Lu Jiannan who smashed the lantern."

"Young Master, we've searched everywhere—we couldn't find them."

"Check every inn. I refuse to believe we can't find them. Those three… Young Master Chen gritted his teeth: "The high cultivators are just green boys, accompanied by two others—one a teenager, one barely of age. Very noticeable. They have such power yet still sneaked onto the pleasure boat—clearly poor. Search the small inns. Find them."

Young Master Chen sneered: "Xue Yi refuses to testify. Everyone on the boat, hoping to gain favors from my father, are blaming me. I must find them as witnesses. If they think they can destroy me, they're dreaming."

He said: "Find them first, don't make a fuss. Tell me. If I can't come myself, send the steward to negotiate with them. Make them swear it was Lu Jiannan who struck first—that he started the fire!"

"Yes." The servant hesitated, then asked: "Young Master, how much money should we offer them?"

Young Master Chen glared at him: "What money?"

The servant immediately fell silent, bowing and withdrawing.

Sigh. The Young Master wants to crush them with power—but last night's five high cultivators didn't look like men who could be crushed by authority.

From my thirteen years of reading people's expressions, those five—they respond to softness, not force.

At this moment, the servant actually hoped they couldn't find the five.

Because the steward had said: the Prefect had investigated thoroughly—though it was Lu Jiannan who provoked first, it was the Young Master who struck first, and the lantern was knocked over by the Young Master after shoving Lu Jiannan aside…

Three people died. The courtesan didn't matter, but He Young Master and Su Young Master were prominent local gentry sons. The He and Su families would not rest until justice was done.

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Simply making the pleasure boat owner the scapegoat won't satisfy either family. Either the Young Master or Master Lu must be handed over.

But Master Lu holds considerable local power—not only in the gentry's esteem, but even among officials in the Prefect's office, many oppose blaming Master Lu, demanding the Prefect uncover the truth, deliver justice to the He and Su families, and restore fairness to the people.

They merely open and close their lips, enjoying peace and ease—while we, the ones doing the work, suffer.

Sigh…

Being a servant is so hard.

The servant trudged off to search, inspecting every small inn in the city. He passed several times by Fuan Inn, Changzhou's finest, its grand facade always ignored.

We already checked once—Fuan Inn had no one. And rightly so—if they had money to stay at the best inn, how could they have lacked money to openly board the pleasure boat?

The servant led the retainers away through another alley, where a crowd had gathered ahead, blocking more than half the road.

The servant frowned, pushed through the crowd, and asked, "What happened?"

The onlookers chuckled maliciously: "Little Licentiate Zhou got his face scratched by a cat—oh my, covered in blood! Zhou's husband and wife are screaming in the street, vowing to find the cat's owner."

Hearing this, the servant lost interest and asked, "Brother, have you seen a young man accompanied by one older boy and three younger ones pass by?"

"The three younger ones were about this tall." The servant held his hand beside his ear to indicate.

The onlookers shook their heads. "Didn't notice. There are plenty of people on this street—so many come and go every day, how could we remember? If they're outsiders, they'd stay at an inn. Ask the inns."

The servant slumped his head. "I've asked them all. None have seen them."

"Then you'll have to look for people renting private houses—especially in Chengnan. There are many privately rented homes there, cheaper than staying at inns."

But those are backdoor deals, sometimes even involving illicit prostitution—ordinary travelers dare not stay there.

The servant's heart tightened; he felt Su Dashan on his shoulders grow heavier, yet he had no choice but to go.

He headed toward Chengnan, moving farther from Fuan Inn, farther from the truth.

The Daoist Priests of Tian Yixin's sect, unable to find Pan Yun and the other five, went to the Prefect's office to question Chen Han.

Chen Han did not indulge them: "Can you resolve this calamity for me?"

The Daoist Priests refused—it was a matter of the mortal world, and they did not interfere.

Chen Han sneered: "If you won't help me, why should I risk angering five high-level experts for you?"

Did he think he was dying too slowly?

Chen Han directly served tea and dismissed them.

The Daoist Priests were furious and stormed out.

Once outside the Prefect's gate, one Daoist Priest grumbled: "The disaster started because of them. If not for those five appearing by chance, at least thirty people on that boat would've died. I went to check on them today—the black aura on their faces hasn't fully faded; they truly were pulled back from the gates of death."

"He shows no remorse, only cares about his own interests."

"Senior brother, if that's true, then those five did good—even if they broke rules, they saved the people on the pleasure boat."

All fell silent.

After two weeks of chaos, trying every bizarre method, today we finally made some adjustments—hoping to keep it up tomorrow. If I can stick to it for a week, my sleep schedule will be fixed. Good night.

(End of Chapter)