That evening, Lin Yuntian and Lin Rui sat in their room, quietly discussing the clues each had uncovered. The atmosphere was heavy with silence. Lin Yuntian's investigation revealed the deeper family interests behind the arranged marriage, while Lin Rui suspected there might be personal grudges involved between him, Wang Ruohan, and Lin Yueyao. At first glance, the two clues seemed unrelated, yet intertwined, hinting that the truth was far more complicated than it appeared.

The following day, Lin Yuntian received an urgent family summons. He was assigned to take care of some external matters and would need to leave for a few days. Though reluctant to part, he could not disobey the family's orders. Before leaving, he sternly reminded Lin Rui to be cautious and avoid rash actions. Lin Rui nodded in agreement, but a faint unease lingered in his heart. He knew he couldn't afford to stop his investigation—he had to press forward.

In the afternoon, Lin Rui sat alone on a wooden chair in his courtyard. A cool breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, producing soft, soothing sounds. Although the scene was tranquil, the doubts in his mind spread like creeping vines, wrapping tightly around his thoughts. He knew he couldn't sit idly by—after all, "certain people" could take action at any moment.

"I need to strike first. Waiting passively won't get me anywhere," Lin Rui thought, deciding to return to Drunken Immortal Tavern. With its bustling crowd of cultivators, he might overhear some chatter that could reveal Wang Ruohan or Lin Yueyao's movements.

He changed his robes and headed directly for Drunken Immortal Tavern.

Inside the tavern, the air was thick with the aroma of fine wines, and the place buzzed with activity. Lin Rui walked to the counter, and as soon as he saw him, the waiter's face lit up with a welcoming smile. Although the young man's robes were simple, they bore delicate spiritual patterns, signifying Drunken Immortal Taven's wealth and abundant spirit energy.

Lin Rui pulled out a spirit stone and placed it gently on the counter, offering a polite smile. "Brother Xiao Er (Waiter), I'd like to ask you a few things."

When the waiter saw the spirit stone, his eyes lit up. He eagerly accepted it, his face beaming with a broad smile. "Ah, Young Master Lin! Here again, are you? How about I find you a good spot and brew a pot of Greenleaf Tea to help you relax? We can chat at ease." His tone was flattery—after all, a single spirit stone was more than enough to cover a day's work.

Lin Rui nodded, secretly amused. "Well, this beats standing around fishing for information," he thought. He followed the waiter's lead to a private room on the second floor by the window. From there, the bustling streets of Zhu Yun Town stretched out before him. In the distance, the mountains and bamboo forests formed an endless green sea, with spirit energy lingering gently in the air. A faint spiritual mist veiled the town, giving it the serene beauty of a hidden paradise.

Soon, the Greenleaf Tea arrived. Wisps of spirit energy spiraled above the teacup, the delicate aroma slowly spreading through the room. Lin Rui picked up the cup and took a small sip. The spirit energy glided down his throat, settling comfortably in his Dantian, leaving him feeling refreshed throughout his entire body.

The waiter stood respectfully by his side and asked, "Young Master Lin, what would you like to know?"

Lin Rui took another sip, thinking for a moment before asking, "I was wondering—does Young Master Wang Ruohan visit here often?"

The waiter's eyes brightened subtly as if he'd just stumbled upon the plot of a "romantic drama" playing out between betrothed lovers. Though young, he was well-informed—who in Drunken Immortal Tavern didn't know about the high-profile marriage between the "five-element waste" of the Lin family and the powerful Wang family? The town was abuzz with gossip—some claimed that Wang Ruohan agreed to the marriage willingly, while others believed the Lin family had pressured him into it. But deep down, the waiter preferred to believe that true love could still blossom in this world. Seeing Lin Rui so curious about his fiancé's whereabouts, he couldn't help but feel touched: "Looks like there's a spark of real affection in this marriage after all!"

"I'd say I know Young Master Wang better than anyone," the waiter answered earnestly, his tone carrying a hint of emphasis, almost as if clearing Wang Ruohan of suspicion. "He comes here a few times every month. Sometimes, he's alone, and other times, he dines with friends. But I've never seen him with any woman or man in... suspicious company."

Lin Rui frowned slightly as he listened but soon realized what was happening and found it amusing: "So, I look like someone here to catch my fiancé cheating?" he thought. Keeping his expression calm, he gave a slight nod. "And what about Lin Yueyao? How is their relationship?"

"Oh, Miss Lin occasionally comes here to meet her female cultivator friends," the waiter recalled. "She didn't use to visit much, but she started coming about a year ago. Sometimes, Young Master Wang happens to run into her and joins their meal, but there's never been anything out of the ordinary. I assume she's mentioned Young Master Wang to you before, right? They seem pretty close."

Lin Rui chuckled coldly to himself but maintained a faint smile on the surface. Playing along, he said, "Yes, Yueyao has mentioned Ruohan to me a few times. But you know, I just wanted to ask a little more and see what my future husband is like on ordinary days. I wouldn't want to marry the wrong person, after all." Although his tone carried a playful air inwardly, he grew even more cautious. "What a snake. I'll expose him sooner or later."

Leaning back into his chair, Lin Rui fell into deep thought: "So Lin Yueyao started coming to Drunken Immortal Tavern about a year ago, right when she and Wang Ruohan began meeting frequently. Looks like their relationship probably began around that time."

Lin Rui pondered his next steps. He doubted he would get much more helpful information here—at best; he had only confirmed that Lin Yueyao and Wang Ruohan knew each other well and had been meeting regularly for the past year. It was likely that their relationship had started even earlier.

"Alright, thanks. That'll be all for now. You can get back to your duties. I'll sit here for a while and finish my tea—no need to check in on me again," Lin Rui instructed the attendant.

As the waiter left, Lin Rui resumed sipping his tea, looking at the busy streets below. Cultivators moved back and forth like a steady stream, the faint ripples of spirit energy flickering around their figures. Bamboo Cloud Town looked like a serene pearl within the vast cultivation world. Yet beneath its peaceful surface, an unseen current of intrigue flowed, waiting to be uncovered.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

After sitting for a while and finishing his tea, Lin Rui was just about to leave when a familiar voice sounded behind him.

"Young Master Lin, long time no see."

Lin Rui turned around, only to be greeted by Wang Ting. From the original host's memories, Lin Rui knew that he had crossed paths with Wang Ting a few times before, but their interactions had been little.

"So it's Young Master Wang," Lin Rui responded with a polite smile, carefully concealing the alertness in his heart. "Indeed, it's been a while."

Wang Ting stepped closer, exuding a natural charm tinged with a hint of playful arrogance. His posture was upright, his demeanor relaxed, and his eyes carried a subtle hint of amusement. "What brings Young Master Lin to Drunken Immortal Tavern today? It doesn't seem like you came here to drink."

A flicker of irritation crossed Lin Rui's heart. "His smile always seems halfway between friendly and mocking—really not my type," Lin Rui thought.

Wang Ting raised a brow, the smile on his lips growing slightly deeper. "Why don't I join you here instead of finding another table? Let's continue enjoying this tea together, shall we?"

Before Lin Rui could respond, Wang Ting had already seated himself. Seeing no way out, Lin Rui reluctantly poured a cup of tea for him, inwardly hoping the man would leave soon.

Wang Ting sipped the tea, casually reclining in his chair, his gaze never leaving Lin Rui. His relaxed posture was challenging to ignore, radiating a natural allure. After a moment of silence, Wang Ting spoke slowly. "It's rare to see Young Master Lin venture out alone. What brings you to Drunken Immortal Tavern today? And from what I've heard, you've been asking about Ruohan?"

Instead of answering immediately, Lin Rui smiled, using the moment to gauge Wang Ting's intentions. "Oh, I just saw Ruohan recently and realized that although we've been engaged for quite some time, we've barely spent time together. I thought it'd be nice to learn more about him—like his favorite foods—so I can send him some gifts in the future. The attendant told me he often joins my cousin Yueyao's gatherings here, enjoying some bamboo-leaf osmanthus cake."

Lin Rui felt satisfied with his clever response, which he believed was innocent and informative.

Wang Ting's eyes flickered, and his smile deepened as if Lin Rui's response didn't surprise him in the slightest. Slowly, he placed the teacup back on the table and leaned forward slightly, casually closing the distance between them. "As for Ruohan... Well, he's currently being punished by the family head. I asked around a bit and found out that he bypassed some family rules—he didn't get approval from the core members and went straight to take some valuable items. Just this morning, they finished the ten-day inventory of the family's treasury and hidden vaults. Some things were discovered missing, and through the records, they traced it back to Ruohan."

Wang Ting's voice carried a playful undertone, as though he was enjoying teasing Lin Rui. "Of course, you probably didn't know that. The family head ordered that no one should speak of it. But, seeing how much you care about Ruohan… I suppose a little gossip won't hurt."

Lin Rui's heart skipped a beat, sensing that there was indeed something important hidden within Wang Ting's words. He decided to probe further. "What exactly was taken? Ruohan won't get into any serious trouble, right?" Lin Rui feigned concern for Wang Ruohan.

Wang Ting chuckled softly, with a hint of feigned disappointment in his voice. "No idea. The family head forbade us from asking."

Lin Rui thought for a moment and concluded that even if Wang Ting did know, he wouldn't likely reveal it easily. Regardless, Lin Rui pressed on, hoping to extract more information. "Do you know when Ruohan took the item?"

"That, I do know," Wang Ting said thoughtfully. "It was around last autumn. And wouldn't you know it? This just so happened to coincide with the family's triennial inventory check, which is how they found out."

Lin Rui's mind raced with possibilities. Last autumn? That would mean nearly a year had passed since then. And it was also around that time that Lin Yueyao and Wang Ruohan began frequently "coincidentally" meeting at gatherings in this very place.

"If the item Ruohan took was precious," Lin Rui mused silently, "there's a good chance it ended up in Lin Yueyao's hands."

Lin Rui searched through the original host's memories from last year, afraid he might overlook any critical detail. Suddenly, his brows furrowed slightly. "Last autumn was when I broke through to the first Level... It was also the same time Lin Yueyao and Wang Ruohan began meeting frequently. Isn't that too much of a coincidence?" he thought.

Wang Ting noticed Lin Rui's contemplative look and smoothly changed the topic, his lips curving into a teasing smile. "Speaking of which, how you and Ruohan interact doesn't seem quite like the rumors suggest. I assume there's no need for me to interfere in your relationship with him, right?"

Lin Rui snapped out of his thoughts, momentarily confused. "What does he mean by interfering? Is he planning to help them grow closer or to assist in breaking off the engagement? Also, where is he even getting these rumors?" he grumbled internally, but his expression remained calm.

"Young Master Wang, you must be joking," Lin Rui replied coolly. "By the way, since Ruohan has gotten himself punished and is confined at home, I won't see him for a while. I'd better head back soon and focus on my cultivation."

Wang Ting's smile deepened, and he leaned in slightly, bringing himself closer to Lin Rui. His gaze carried an intense, mysterious quality, and his low, magnetic voice seemed to hum with subtle meaning. "A person like you, Young Master Lin—if Ruohan doesn't know how to treasure you, wouldn't that be a real shame? After all, a fine match like you won't come around too often. Others might not miss their chance to snatch you away."

Lin Rui frowned slightly, sensing the flirtation and teasing in Wang Ting's tone. Like an almost imperceptible aura, the subtle closeness between them seemed to coil around him. This unspoken pressure made Lin Rui all the more vigilant.

Feeling the discomfort creeping in, Lin Rui forced an awkward smile. "It seems Young Master Wang has quite the insight into matters of marriage. But I'm just a nobody with five spiritual roots, not exactly what you'd call a 'great match.' I'll focus on training hard and ensuring I don't embarrass my father."

Wang Ting chuckled softly, not answering immediately. Instead, he leisurely picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and smiled as he said, "Train well, Lin Rui. Keep working hard."

By the time Lin Rui returned home in the evening, he couldn't help but feel that this had been the longest cup of tea he'd ever endured. He had failed to extract any crucial information, and Wang Ting's words had been nothing more than a web of roundabout conversations. The man's slippery way of speaking made Lin Rui feel like he needed help to keep up with his rhythm.

Lin Rui reflected, realizing that Wang Ting shared certain traits with some men from the modern world—those who always seemed to speak in riddles, their words carrying hidden meanings, charming smiles that hinted at mischief. They would subtly close the distance between themselves and others, but when it came to revealing anything significant, their words were merely playful flirtations without any substance.

However, Lin Rui also knew he had still gleaned something useful despite needing the direct answers he sought. He now knew that Wang Ruohan had secretly taken some valuable items from the family's possessions, and this incident happened to align with the time of his poisoning.

"Wang Ruohan took something from the family treasury last autumn, and that's also when he and Lin Yueyao began meeting more frequently. Then, a few months ago, I was poisoned and nearly died. There has to be a connection between these events."

With this realization, Lin Rui's mind became clearer, and he knew what he needed to do next: delve deeper into the investigation.