A group of people carried Lu Sheng to the bedroom and called for the Lu residence's specialist imperial doctor to examine him.

After the doctor entered the room, he came out shortly after.

"Nothing serious, just over-exertion. He was also struck forcefully in the lower abdomen. Young Master has a robust physique so there's no damage to his internal organs, it's nothing."

Only then did Lu Quan'an breathe a sigh of relief.

Lu Sheng was rather rash in taking action personally this time.

As the eldest young master of the Lu family, what would they do if something happened to him?

"Quan'an, it can't be helped in such circumstances." Uncle sighed.

"I plan to personally report this to the imperial court, bypassing the magistrate. Song Duanchi is the parental official of this city, he previously said he would report to the imperial court but until now...." As the Vice Commander, I have requested several times for Commander Yang Duanrui to submit a memorial, but he has evaded."

"Could there be some inside story?" Lu Quan'an said in a deep voice.

"Unclear.... Also, that girl Qing Qing is still missing along with those other missing people, still no news." Uncle shook his head.

The two stood guard outside the door, feeling they had to do something but not knowing what could be done.

This matter had already exceeded their imagination.

Although they had heard of such incidents from other places before, when their own family encountered it, they didn't know what to do.

"Or else...." Lu Quan'an contemplated, "We'll put up recruitment notices and rewards, hiring special people capable of resolving such supernatural matters."

"With generous rewards, brave men are sure to emerge. Perhaps it may work. Anyway with things stirring up like this already, we can't cover it up." Uncle nodded.

After careful discussion, the two decided on this.

Soon, servants from the Lu residence took stacks of red paper and posted them outside the main entrance and nearby public notice boards.

The red notices quickly appeared in several places with high traffic.

Attracting many onlookers as they passed by.

.......

A few days later.

City gates.

The main bustling street filled with coming and going people and heavy traffic.

A merchant group slowly stopped at the gates dragging gray goods, with the caravan leader starting to unload cargo and wait for people to carry them.

The convoy was only passing through Jiu Lian City, only unloading some of their cargo.

As the leader directed between unloads, two people jumped down from one of the convoy's carriages - one tall and one short, both dressed in Taoist robes.

The taller one had a square national character face with ruddy complexion, seeming to be a middle-aged man. He carried a precious sword on his back and wore black based white cloth shoes.

The woman was also dressed in Taoist robes, but had an alluring appearance. Although bearing some faint fatigue, it was still evident she was well-educated. This was only possible for daughters of prominent households in this era.

"Brother Yan, this is Jiu Lian City."

The woman's voice was crisp like a eleven or twelve year old girl.

"Yes, it should be the Jiu Lian City that person mentioned. Rushing here all the way, you worked hard as well Rongrong."

The Taoist nodded, looking left and right around them.

He quickly noticed a posted red recruitment notice paper at the city gates.

The notice attracted a crowd observing it. Even the two city guarding soldiers also squeezed over, casually chatting with the people. Everyone had expressions of astonishment and envy.

"Travelling with Brother Yan, I didn't feel it was hard work at all. That notice over there seems to be a reward notice. Let's go take a look first, perhaps someone has already met trouble and posted a plea for help."

Following Yan Kai south and north, Rongrong was quite experienced with such matters.

They had found the first clues for several previous incidents through such posted notices.

Yan Kai nodded slightly.

"Let's go take a look."

The two entered the gates, soon squeezing through the crowd towards the posted notices.

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"....It's the Lu residence ah.... The city really isn't peaceful lately. Even the Lu family has incidents."

"The Lu family. I saw someone who escaped from there earlier. It seemed to be the former Lu family guards captain. Everyone in the residence was extremely nervous."

"We haven't seen Miss Yu out purchasing for many days either. Could something really have happened?"

The surrounding people chatted intermittently.

Yan Kai listened carefully while raising his eyes to read the posted notice.

'Offering a reward of 500 gold, seeking special talents and eccentrics.

Strange incidents have frequently occurred in the city recently, with occasional disappearances.

Previously the Xu family tragedy, Wang family village well incident. And now crying female voices in my Lu residence at midnight.

To pray for peace in this household, specially offering 500 gold taels, about 5,000 silver taels, to thoroughly investigate this matter. Find the missing people.'

The notice was written very simply with concise meaning.

A sub-notice was also posted below, fully detailing the crying voices incident the Lu residence encountered at midnight.

From beginning to end, all the cases of missing people in Lu residence were written out completely.

Yan Kai read through it carefully with slightly locked brows.

"Let's take this one. We'll go to the Lu residence."

Rongrong at his side also finished reading the notice.

"It works out perfectly. We originally wanted to catch this evil creature and can even earn travel expenses while we're at it."

"As wandering cultivators, we do not undertake tasks for monetary gain." Yan Kai said solemnly.

"Yes yes." Rongrong stuck out her tongue hurriedly shutting up, aware that Elder Brother Yan hated profiting at other's expense.

Without another word, Yan Kai stepped forward and tore down the notice.

The nearby Lu residence steward attending the notice instantly brightened, immediately becoming spirited.

"Esteemed sirs, this way please!"

Yan Kai nodded, bringing Rongrong along to follow the steward towards the Lu residence.

The previously spectating crowd instantly started hushed discussions, with many busybodies following along the whole way.

Wanting to see if they really went to the Lu family.

These two Taoist robe-garbed man and woman seemed to have some capabilities.

Yan Kai remained indifferent despite people following them. Clearly long accustomed to being watched by others.

Whereas Rongrong took the initiative to chat with the steward, asking about the situation at Lu residence.

Soon, the two boarded a carriage. After turning left and right for a stretch, it stopped.

Alighting, someone specially led them and they entered a large residence. Complete with artificial hills and flowing water, small decorative bridges and gardens, fragrant flowers and birds, extremely exquisite and luxurious construction.

Yan Kai took it all in his stride as he advanced with Rongrong, soon arriving at a receiving hall.

"Welcome, welcome."

A careworn middle-aged man with pale complexion sat in the hall.

The man had an abundant figure, wearing a moon-white robe edged with silver and copper coin prints. His chin had a full beard combed tidy and clean.

It was Lu Quan'an who had just came from Lu Sheng.

"Are you two the ones who tore down the city gates notice?" Lu Quan'an sized them up carefully.

Both were Taoists. The man had a ruddy glowing complexion, full smooth forehead, solemn eyes containing vigour. Simply changing into Confucian robes would give quite a refined scholar presence.

The woman had alluring features, hints of innocence and laziness as her lively eyes sized up her surroundings. Looking as if she was some young miss who had snuck out disguising herself for adventure.

"Indeed. This poor Taoist is Yan Kai. Yan as in color, Kai as in open. My Taoist name is Horary Yang."

Yan Kai introduced himself.

"This is junior apprentice sister Duan Rong. We are here regarding the missing people case mentioned in the Lu residence notice."

"Please sit, please sit."

Lu Quan'an gestured for them to sit.

Yan Kai and Duan Rongrong sat down. Handmaidens swiftly served tea and snacks.

"I've already written the details clearly in the notice. If Yang Daoist wishes to take up this reward, you still have to meet my son Lu Sheng."

"For this reward my Lu family issued, the vetting is up to him." Lu Quan'an said gently. "Of course, if Daoist truly has capabilities, regardless of success or failure this time, there will still be 100 silver taels given after."

Hearing this, both Yan Kai and Duan Rongrong agreed.

Lu Quan'an also asked about Yan Kai's background, place of origin, age and location of his immortal abode. Yan Kai answered everything.

After a short rest, quite a few other people who had torn down notices arrived at the hall.

Among them, two were monks from the Red Lotus Temple, one was a Taoist like Yan Kai.

The last was a wandering swordsman with twin sabers hanging at his waist, both of them short blades. He had handsome features and upon closer look was actually a woman masquerading as a man.

After waiting for all the notice answerers to mostly arrive, Lu Quan'an invited everyone to rise and headed towards the separate residence where Lu Sheng was.

The Lu family had extremely many separate compounds, occupying huge grounds extending to directly abutting the city walls, taking up a full one third of Jiu Lian City's most prosperous area, evident of their vast wealth.

The richest within the Five Great Families of the city was undoubtedly the Lu's.

Everyone accompanied Lu Quan'an to the Yellow Crane Institute.

On the way, they could see the guards and attendants all wielding blades and swords standing guard everywhere between the compounds.

These guards were stoutly built with thick waists and backs, strong and robust. Standing tall and straight, evidently having received formal troop training before.

As he observed along the way, Yan Kai's expression faintly grew heavier.

"These Lu's are rather formidable...."

The following Duan Rongrong was puzzled.

"They're just wealthy and influential. No different than the few families we've met before, what's so formidable?"

Yan Kai shook his head.

"Not that, but the Lu's seem to have a military background. Otherwise the attendants and guards here wouldn't have such powerful demeanors and bearings. Strict military rules, only people who have constantly received camp training would maintain such vigor."

"These aren't the attitude retired veterans could have."

"Military background! For such family to even post notices seeking help, the trouble stirred up is no small matter!"

Hearing this, even Duan Rongrong clicked her tongue.

Walking over several hundred steps, the group soon entered the Yellow Crane Institute.

Flanked by the training yard, one could still faintly hear the training calls from within.

Eldest Young Master Lu Sheng of the Lu family was sitting in a lounge chair half-reclined. His face pale bloodless, body wrapped in thick blankets with a noticeable medicinal smell lingering in the air. Clearly not in the best health.

Yan Kai sized this Lu Sheng up. With one look, he saw languishing vigor within those eyes as if the person was still recovering from unhealed wounds.

"Greetings to the distinguished guests."

Lu Sheng coughed twice, cupping his fist towards everyone.

"As you can see, I'm unwell with as yet unhealed wounds so I won't be getting up to welcome everyone."

"Young Master Lu is too courteous." The Red Lotus Temple's monk, Dharma name Real Pond, stepped forward to speak.

"The Lu family has always been a pious patron of our Red Lotus Temple. With this incident, the abbot instructed us to specially come see how we can assist."

"Thanks to the Master, also convey my thanks to the Red Lotus abbot."

Lu Sheng smiled back.

That other Taoist asked about the case details. Lu Sheng answered one by one.

Yan Kai's group listened intently at the side while appraising this Lu Sheng.

"He has suffered an invasion of yin energy. This is a freshly inflicted wound."

After carefully observing him, Yan Kai discerned the abnormalities in the young master's body.