Chapter 480: The Green Silk Horse Is Gone (4/5, Autumn Subscription)

Not taking a horse makes going down the mountain easy, but traveling to nearby villages on foot is long and dangerous.

If you build the stable at the foot of the mountain, it gets attacked by the strange, straight-up lost.

Fang Yue merely thought of this and found it utterly annoying, let alone Ning Laotou, who had lived on the mountain for years.

For a moment, Fang Yue felt a small respect for Ning Laotou, whom he'd never met—he clearly had the true craftsman's mindset.

Uninterested in the world, devoted to refining his craft—no wonder he made so much money and could hire so many experts as servants.

"Excuse me, sir, are you Master Ye Baiyi?"

A woman with a barrel-shaped waist walked forward, smiling, surrounded by over a dozen servants.

"Madam, hello!"

Fang Yue said with great politeness.

The barrel-waisted woman froze for a moment, then covered her mouth and chuckled lightly: "Master Ye has misunderstood—I'm the third steward of the Ning Family; you may call me Liao Guanjia."

Ah… she's not Mrs. Ning Laotou…

Fang Yue's face flushed with embarrassment: "So you're Liao Guanjia—pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Master Ye is too kind."

Liao Guanjia led Fang Yue toward the main hall, saying as they walked: "Master Ye arrived at the perfect time—the master just woke up, heard a guest had come, and immediately asked for you."

"Mm-hmm."

Fang Yue nodded, constantly observing his surroundings, realizing the Ning Mansion had far more servants than he'd expected.

Remember, this is a residence isolated atop a mountain.

Even with high pay, it's still out in the wild, where you might encounter something eerie at any moment.

Plus, one must endure complete isolation, cut off from the outside world.

In such a place, even with high pay, few would willingly stay.

Not to mention… most of the Ning Mansion's servants are still cultivators.

Fang Yue grew even more puzzled and asked: "How much does Ning Laotou pay you each month? Is it a lot?"

Liao Guanjia paused, then smiled: "Master Ye asks an interesting question, but we're not at liberty to answer that."

Though she didn't answer, the natural expressions of others when faced with this question suggested their treatment was far from poor.

Fine, looks like money really does let you do whatever you want.

After passing through several corridors and entering the main hall, Fang Yue finally saw the "legendary" Ning Laotou.

He was an old man with one huge drooping ear, oddly deformed.

He was currently picking at his foot with one hand and yawning with the other—nothing like the image of a master craftsman of strange artifacts Fang Yue had imagined.

"Master, the guest has been brought."

Hearing Liao Guanjia's voice, Ning Laotou stiffened, composed himself, and sat upright.

"The guest can wait. Liao Guanjia, have the chief steward and second steward said when they'll return?"

"Replying, Master—the chief steward rushed home for family matters and left no letter stating when he'd return. The second steward said he'd return once his affairs were settled; likely within ten to fifteen days."

"Mm-hmm… good. Without them, I've felt uneasy sleeping lately."

Liao Guanjia slightly narrowed her eyes and smiled: "Master is just sleep-deprived and overworked. With me here, ordinary strange things can't harm you."

"Mm… good."

After dismissing Liao Guanjia, Ning Laotou turned to Fang Yue.

"Sit. I heard Ye Baiyi came on behalf of the Qing Office—is it Jue Lao who sent you?"

"Yes and no."

Fang Yue sat on the chair to the left of the hall and said: "I came to ask Ning Lao some questions. I found this place only because Jue Lao pointed me here."

"... What do you want to ask?"

"I want to know if Ning Lao has recently made any Fluorescent Bracelets for anyone."

As he asked, Fang Yue fixed his gaze on Ning Laotou, watching every movement.

But Ning Laotou showed no sign of flaw or panic.

He listened calmly, then said: "Yes, I recently made a batch of strange artifacts for the Flame Sect—including Fluorescent Bracelets."

Flame Sect?!

Fang Yue's pupils contracted.

How could this be connected to the Flame Sect?

Could the ones who took Lord Han and Lin Ling actually be from the Flame Sect?

No… maybe they really are!

Fang Yue's expression darkened, his gaze turning icy.

He remembered Lord Han saying that major sects like the Flame Sect had visited him every few years.

Back then, Lord Han's power was unfathomable—no one dared offend him.

Now that Lord Han has lost his power, but still holds all his knowledge.

If the Flame Sect has ulterior motives, this is surely the perfect moment to strike.

As for Lin Ling's disappearance—it's probably just bait, meant to lure Lord Han into a trap…

Wait—no! The Flame Sect acts brutally; if they wanted to capture Lord Han, why go through such convoluted means?

Besides, back in Qingsi County… no outsider should have known Lord Han had lost his cultivation.

Fang Yue grew confused again, and began to doubt Ning Laotou's words.

Regardless, the trail points to the Flame Sect—he'd investigate upon returning.

Unlike Bai Xiaoya, a semi-transparent peripheral figure who drew no attention no matter what she did in the Qing Office.

Like members of the Blazing Flame Sect — no matter what they do in Qingsi County, there will always be pairs of eyes watching them, so tracking their movements and deeds is very convenient.

Fang Yue then went back and forth with Ning Laotou to confirm, making sure that only people from the Blazing Flame Sect had actually bought the Fluorescent Bracelet.

Fang Yue then stood up.

"In that case, I won't impose any further."

Ning Laotou was stunned for a moment.

"Wait, Ye Baiyi is leaving just like that? I've already had people prepare a night meal. Have a meal, rest for the night, and leave tomorrow morning.

If you head back now, even riding a Qingsi Horse, it'll be dark before you reach Qingsi County. How dangerous the wilderness is after dark — your Qing Guard should know that well enough."

What?

You're lecturing me, the Night God of War, about what to do when it gets dark? I'll smash those eerie bastards' heads in, how about that!

Cupping his hands in a salute, Fang Yue said, "No need. Lin Ling's life or death is still unknown — I need to return to Qingsi County immediately to report the intelligence, then investigate the people from the Blazing Flame Sect."

Ning Laotou tried to detain him a couple more times, but seeing he couldn't hold back the determined Fang Yue, he stopped persuading him and only had someone escort Fang Yue to the stables.

But before the man had even walked out of the great hall, Ning Wudian suddenly came rushing in from outside, running and shouting at the same time.

"Ye, Ye Baiyi, terrible news, your horse is gone! Your horse is gone!"

Fang Yue:???

So you're a horse-hunting Zuan-er native too, are you??

Fang Yue's face darkened. He looked at Ning Wudian running over, then at the utterly bewildered Ning Laotou.

"Don't panic, speak slowly — what exactly happened? My… Qingsi Horse, what's wrong with it?"

"Your horse, your horse ate our family's fodder and is lying on the ground twitching like it's been poisoned! Our family's physician is trying to save it right now — go check on your horse!"

"…It's a Qingsi Horse! Forget it, where's the stable? I'll go take a look."

No inspiration today, writing a little less.

(End of this chapter)