"It is very strange. This manor saw no entries or exits with none tidying up either. I assumed no occupants..." Duan Meng'an whispered.

"Just be cautious. We're investigating the prior missing cases. Observe if anything happens tonight since most vanished during nights. I want to see just what could make even someone of Wu San's level mysteriously disappear." Lusheng's hand gripped his saber hilt while calmly sitting down and lightly shutting his eyes.

The other two settled upon seeing his example. Prior unease subsiding quite a bit.

"Nothing to fear with Young Master here." Duan Meng'an consoled himself while also aimed at Ning San.

Ning San still felt somewhat unsettled but gradually eased up after those words.

Lusheng sat upright seeming as if home and cultivating inner qi with closed eyes. Outwardly calm, all five senses stayed vigilant towards environmental reactions for contingencies.

Duan Meng'an also merely feigned rests while retaining wariness. Ning San emulated them finding seats. None separated rooms for mutual protection.

Not much later, faint clamoring sounds came from outside.

Many entered judging by the mostly female chatter.

"Younger sister, where are the elders? How come none came out to greet?" A bright female voice rang out.

"Elder brother's pill forging without time. Please lower your volume lest angering him. He gets very scary aggravated... No exposing illumination outside or else..." Song Yunjuan softly reminded.

"Don't worry. We only need lodging for the night since landslides blocked mountain paths forcing our passing by. Leaving tomorrow morning." Another woman gently assured.

"Thanks for understanding." Song Yunjuan made a sound seemingly directing newcomers towards their rooms.

Lusheng got up and pushed the door open peeking outside.

One man and three women holding torches followed Song Yunjuan's lead towards the opposite wing. The women's attire and appearances marked them non-commoners. Bearings resembled the circles Lusheng frequently operated within. Likely eminent offsprings from countryside towns. Each also had escorts, brawny men wearing blades. But Lusheng easily discerned their mediocrity from bearing and steps. At most brutes who copied some basic saberwork without true ability.

The only woman piquing Lusheng's attention was a beautiful, cute lass with gorgeous looks. That one gave comfortable airs similar to harmless baby bunnies warranting tender affections. Reminding Lusheng of little Qiao'er from home.

Noticing each other, those four escorts revealed wariness towards Lusheng's group. One whispered some sentences to his mistress before all four women peered over somewhat peculiarly.

Not unease but rather a fiery radiance of anticipation from that tender woman.

"Young Master. That woman conceals a blade in her sleeve," Ning San whispered indicating the gentle girl.

"Oh? You can tell?" Lusheng cocked a brow.

"Yes. I bitterly learned in the past motivating careful observations for long periods summarizing some patterns." Even grasping summarization denoted remarkable intellect considering literary knowledge firmly dominated by eminent clans in these times. No wonder he could mix among Crimson Whale Society's sub-chiefs.

"Likely practiced some methods. Otherwise they wouldn't dare venturing out like this. Even escorts are useless against true danger. Who knows if they harbor ill intents instead." Lusheng indifferently said. That woman's spirit lacked internal cultivation brilliance. Physique and bearings also eliminated external arts masters. Such slender grace was impossible.

"Disregard them. That one's more concerning." Lusheng eyed the final elegant youth following behind with hands holding a white oiled paper umbrella. Spotless snowy Changshan(*) contrasting his raven hair further complementing heroic flair.

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Lusheng remained wary by hints of inner cultivation from the bright spirited eyes. "He cultivates internal arts. Stay alert." Then he laid back resting.

Duan Meng'an and Ning San carefully memorized that youth's appearance before also shutting their door to rest in various spots.

Whoosh... Cold winds blew as the wooden door slowly creaked open. Song Yunjuan coughed and spoke to the handsome guy. "Elder brother Li, please take this room. Furnishings are complete albeit somewhat old. Don't mind and rest well."

Li laughed gently. "No problems. Just having lodgings is pretty good. Rains seem inbound tonight. I'm extremely grateful little sister still took me in."

Gentle, attractive tones with light magnetism left Song Yunjuan's face mildly flushing in embarrassment by his praise.

"T-then... I'll take my leave first. Rest well..."

Li smiled again responding. "Hold on. May I ask if the three men across are also lodging tonight?"

Song Yunjuan nodded. "Yeah. Arrived before you. How bizarre so many came at once today right?"

Li's eyes flashed brilliance while keeping his smile. "Indeed bizarre... They seem untrifling. Resembling hoodlums instead of good men no?"

"Elder brother Li thinks the same? I felt afraid too but so many people now, I'm not worried anymore." Song Yunjuan gave a faint smile. "Go rest first. I should turn in too."

"Mm. Sleep. You're still young so guard health." Li watched her with hints of kindness and affection within his eyes.

"Mm!" Song Yunjuan lightly skipped off.

Only after seeing her enter the central wing did Li shut his door. "How interesting..."

Within the darkness, he slowly took out flint striking alight the candle stand inside.

Bathes in faint yellow illumination from the thick fist-sized candle subsequently enveloped by a lampshade softening the glare.

Li heard the chattering women next door unable to resist lightly shaking his head. "This manor feels somewhat off... No lighting allowed outside. A secluded elder brother making his young sister receive us instead?"

Li Shunxi's(*Chinese name order) interests were slightly piqued seeming to have chanced upon something entertaining. He merely aimlessly wandered over forced by the blocked mountain paths into lodging requests. Never expected such coincidences.

"Plus the three men. Sturdy physiques and vigorous bearings definitely belong with some band. Identical markings too but the dim lighting obscured which. Their expressions hint at abnormalities here. Likely intentional arrivals..."

Li Shunxi's curiosity soared.

He was an eminent clan's profligate son. Superficially an official's heir but privately practiced methods for exorcising specters and capturing monsters. Blessed with smarts and outstanding talents mastering impressive martial arts. Covertly resolving several haunting cases externally accumulating ample experience already.

Everything utterly unknown even by his high official father.

Li Shunxi ordinarily concealed things very well. Not an inkling of his skills shown without occasional covert disguises for unrestrained display.

"Seems this trip wasn't wasted." Thick anticipation emerged inside Li Shunxi sitting by the table and individually retrieving his tools from waist pouches for wiping and checks...

.........

Late night. Lusheng sharply opened his eyes towards Ning San by the doors. "What is it?"

"Young Master. I'm going to the lavatory..." Ning San's awkward expression betrayed hints of fear.

"Have Duan Meng'an accompany you. Don't go alone." Lusheng indifferently said.

Duan Meng'an was drooling all over his face against a chair fully asleep. Helpless, Ning San could only nudge him awake.

"The hell you want! Seeking death?!" Duan Meng'an angrily woke up. Obviously nothing felt good from disrupted sleep. Blurry eyes prepared unleashing rage when Lusheng's sharp piercing eyes sobered him up instantly.

"Go together. Don't split apart." Lusheng commanded.

"Oh..." Duan Meng'an wiped his mouth begrudgingly getting up. "Apologies Brother Duan..." Ning San said without choice before earning dark glares from Duan Meng'an. The two then headed out together.

Creak. The room door shut.

Lusheng resumed resting. Around an incense stick of time(*) later, the room door slowly opened again.

Creak... "Back already?" Lusheng calmly said. "Hurry and sleep. I'll stand watch for now."

No responses came.

Lusheng opened his eyes. The door was left wide open for cold gusts to invade yet nobody stood outside. Seems the winds blew it open.

He frowned and got up heading for the door intending to shut it. "How come they haven't returned yet..."

Just as it closed, the door seemed blocked by something. As if pressed outside preventing proper closure. Lusheng explicitly felt something hindering the other side.

His expression chilled. Using sudden force to fling it wide open and bursting outside sword already half-drawn from waist...

Whoosh! Gazing left and right only revealed empty space. "Playing tricks!" Lusheng observed the surroundings lacking indications of anything before reentering the room.

Just as he prepared sitting back down, Lusheng felt their absence somewhat prolonged. Coupled with the earlier scene now sparked concerns over their well-being. "Better go check."

He took a candle stand with lampshade and pushed the door open again beneath the winds.

Whoosh... The surprising intensity instantly extinguished his candle the very moment he stepped out.

Darkness instantly shrouded the room with only faint traces of moonlight seeping inside now.

Lusheng swiftly retrieved flints for several relight attempts but gales kept blowing them out. Helpless, he could only abandon the stand and walked straight into the courtyard basked in jet-blackness towards the lavatory direction without a single light present. Unsure whether others were asleep or otherwise since dead silence permeated everything without hints of humans.

Lusheng slowly strolled along the corridors towards the expected backyard location.

Exiting the corridors entered the grounds. He circled around the entire guest wing structure aiming for the rear yard.