Clang, clang, clang!
Just as Yao Ranran was about to make a move, Zhao Lingyi intercepted the sword from the male disciple midway.
"Yun Hui, the Sect Master has said many times, when out in the world, never judge a person's heart by their appearance." Zhao Lingyi withdrew his treasured sword, giving Jiang Shengxiang's face only a brief glance before fixing his gaze on Yao Ranran.
He had known this since the day he was born.
This world had its disparities.
What he had not expected was that these disparities would be so vividly displayed in the case of two ghosts, giving him a sudden moment of clarity.
Zhao Lingyi's words had an immediate effect.
Yun Hui sheathed his sword, turning his gaze away with reluctance.
Although no one had insulted him outright, Jiang Shengxiang still felt as if he had been humiliated.
"..."
"Are you immortals from the outside?"
Light, graceful footsteps approached, growing clearer. The young lady of the Tang family arrived with a gentle sway, her eyes curved in a smile.
Yao Ranran and Jiang Shengxiang stiffened at the same time, neither daring to turn around.
Tang Xiangyin lifted the hem of her crimson gown, her gaze drifting over their backs.
"Ru Meng… Yu Zhu…"
She stepped forward until she stood before them.
Yao Ranran and Jiang Shengxiang remained rooted in place, letting her study them without moving.
This was bad. Their cover was about to be blown.
"Ru Meng looks even prettier than a few days ago. And Yu Zhu… have you eaten yet?" Tang Xiangyin's smile bloomed like a flower, her voice soft and gentle as she looked at the two.
Jiang Shengxiang replied quickly, "Thank you for your concern, Miss, this servant has already eaten."
Yao Ranran shot him a glare.
Could the Tang family's young lady have face blindness?
But this was far too severe.
Aside from their clothes and hairpins, they looked nothing like those two maids.
Jiang Shengxiang was even flat-chested!
Li Qingting, staring at Tang Xiangyin in surprise, asked, "Are you the mistress of the Tang residence?"
Tang Xiangyin nodded obediently. "Are you immortals from outside?"
Li Qingting's group exchanged quick glances.
Zhao Lingyi considered before replying, "Miss Tang, may we enter Tang residence for a visit?"
Tang Xiangyin blinked, her gaze flicking over their clothing before she smiled. "You have come to stay the night, haven't you?"
That question again.
Yao Ranran and Jiang Shengxiang exchanged a silent glance.
Next would surely be a question about the treasure.
Zhao Lingyi said, "We are not here to stay overnight. I am simply curious why a worldly estate would appear in the Eastern Wilderness Secret Realm. Miss Tang, do you have any unresolved grievances?"
Tang Xiangyin froze for a moment, apparently not expecting such an answer.
"Here it comes"… Jiang Shengxiang felt a little thrill. The young lady was about to bring up the treasure.
Tang Xiangyin's eyes reddened slightly, her voice turning soft. "Immortal, you jest. I am living quite well. How could I have any unresolved grievances… It is only that I lost a treasure left to me by my parents a few days ago. I have been filled with guilt and distress ever since, unable to eat or sleep."
"A treasure? What treasure?" Yun Hui asked urgently.
"Scare him. Hurry and scare him!" Jiang Shengxiang's lips curled faintly as he looked at Yun Hui with a touch of smugness. "That's for trying to cut me!"
Tang Xiangyin touched her forehead lightly, her willow brows drawing together. "I cannot remember exactly what the treasure was… but it was very important to me."
Jiang Shengxiang: ?
"How could someone not remember the appearance of their treasure? Are you deliberately lying?" Li Qingting demanded.
Zhao Lingyi stopped her. "Is this a test from Miss Tang? If finding this treasure can help us leave here, then I am willing to assist Miss Tang in resolving her troubles."
Jiang Shengxiang sighed.
So these people were from Yungu Sect. No wonder they were disciples of a prestigious righteous sect—they would not fall into a zombie's trap so easily.
Tang Xiangyin brightened. "Really? If you are willing to help me find the treasure, that would be wonderful. Ru Meng, Yu Zhu, please invite these immortals inside."
"Yes."
Yao Ranran and Jiang Shengxiang raised their hands in a welcoming gesture, leading them into Tang residence.
…
"Senior Brother, they've gone inside. It seems there's nothing wrong with this Tang residence," someone whispered in the mist.
Pu Dingping narrowed his eyes. "Let's follow them."
His group knocked on the Tang residence gates.
A maid with twin buns appeared as if floating, opening the door.
Her dull gaze swept over them. "Are you immortals from outside?"
"Yes," one disciple answered confidently.
Pu Dingping said nothing, studying the maid warily.
The maid asked again, "Have you come to stay the night?"
The same disciple replied, "That's right."
Her pale face suddenly broke into a smile. She turned to look straight at Pu Dingping. "Are you the same as them?"
Pu Dingping's heart skipped a beat. He shook his head. He turned back toward the disciple who had spoken.
That disciple now wore the exact same smile as the maid. As the night wind stirred, he drifted gently to the ground.
The others were shocked. Looking closely, they saw the disciple's soul was gone—only a dried corpse remained.
Rustle, rustle, rustle—
"That's terrifying!" Xiao Rong, disguised as a tree, trembled and shed a few green leaves.
"We are not here to stay the night, we are not from outside!"
Very quickly, the rest of the group denied it in unison.
The maid's smile faded, her voice turning wooden. "My young lady lost a treasure some days ago and has been unable to find it. Could you help me?"
"..."
No one dared answer.
Pu Dingping glanced sideways at someone nearby.
The man immediately understood, stammering, "We… we just want to enter Tang residence. Could you let us in?"
The maid asked again, "Have you come to stay the night?"
"No! No!"
"My young lady recently lost a treasure and wishes to ask for the immortals' help. Would you be willing?"
"..."
After being trapped in this dead loop for a long while, Pu Dingping finally entered Tang residence with the three people left to him.
-
Qinmei Courtyard.
"This is a map of Tang residence. The treasure was definitely not lost here," Tang Xiangyin said, handing the map to Yao Ranran. She quickly memorized the layout before passing it to Zhao Lingyi.
Zhao Lingyi frowned. "Why is Miss Tang so certain?"
Li Qingting said, "Miss Tang cannot even remember what the treasure looked like. How could she remember where she did not lose it? Your words contradict themselves, making it difficult for us to believe you."
Tang Xiangyin tightened her brows, clutching her handkerchief. "It was not here. It could not be here."
Sensing something wrong with her tone, Li Qingting pressed, "Why not here?"
Tang Xiangyin lifted her head, looking sincerely into her eyes. "Because when I play hide-and-seek, I never hide here."
"..."
"Senior Brother, I think this Miss Tang is very suspicious. Should we tie her up along with the two maids?" Li Qingting muttered to Zhao Lingyi.
Tang Xiangyin: "…"
Yao Ranran and Jiang Shengxiang: Are you treating us as if we're already dead?
Zhao Lingyi studied the map in his hands and slowly shook his head. "Not yet. Let's first check the backyard where the locust tree grows. The treasure Miss Tang spoke of might not be an object."