Violent night winds sent leaves rustling noisily over grounds.

Lusheng looked left and right without traces before quickening pace around the guest wing reaching the backyard containing two independent thatched lavatory huts.

Approaching them, he glimpsed someone standing outside to his surprise seemingly tensing up after mutual notice.

"Who's that?!"

Lusheng paused realizing it was that same graceful internal arts youth upon nearing.

That guy held a short sword with eyes glinting vigilance. "This friend, are you also searching for the missing?" Li Shunxi heavily asked also recognizing Lusheng.

"Missing people?" Lusheng's eyes narrowed as unease swelled internally.

"What? Unaware?" Li Shunxi was astonished.

"Two siblings went for the lavatory without return for some time now. I came checking out of concern." Lusheng simply explained.

Li Shunxi's expression shifted. "Then two more missing..."

"What does Brother mean?" Lusheng walked closer peering inside the open lavatory. Pungent stench pervaded the cramped space completely empty without occupants.

Lusheng's complexion changed. "You mean all those women and escorts lodging together earlier..."

"All missing without exception." Li Shunxi lowered his voice. "So many people. Perhaps trapped somewhere."

"Let's search. The manor isn't large. Clues may emerge." Lusheng suggested licking his lips. Somewhat furious without even witnessing the perpetrator yet two followers gone.

Li Shunxi nodded. The two cooperated starting from the backyard. Soon discovering the kitchens after a round.

Li Shunxi entered first gripping his short sword.

The wooden doors soundlessly opened revealing the interior's thick layers of dust.

Overturned large woks amidst shattered ceramic bowls. Spiderwebs crawled over the cold stoves. Moldy black remnants of past meals scattered ground one corner.

"When's the last time this kitchen operated?" Li Shunxi frowned glimpsing calmness from Lusheng instead of shock. "Brother previously encountered aberrations before right?" He casually asked.

Lusheng actually felt some surprise that this elegant youth seemed rather experienced. "Correct. Previous bizarre affairs occurred."

"No wonder." Li Shunxi took another look at Lusheng. "I suspect the missing aren't dead yet. Too many people for quick resolutions even if highly capable. No traces of toxins left either during my earlier inspections."

"Certain?" Lusheng heavily questioned.

"Eighty-nine percent likely." Li Shunxi seriously said before squatting down conducting meticulous floor examinations for footprints and traces eventually reaching the cellar entrance.

"Surname Li. Given name Shunxi. May I ask this friend's name?" He viciously grabbed the stone handle and forcefully lifted upwards.

Puff. Foul stench instantly burst out.

"Surname Lu. Name Sheng. Courtesy name Yuesheng." Lusheng tersely responded.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The two waited for dissipation before peering down the cellar. Lusheng took out flints vigorously striking them. Under the bursts of sparks, both glimpsed several prone figures inside.

"Here they are!" Li Shunxi breathed out and swiftly jumped down. "Please watch the entrance Brother Lu."

"Sure." Lusheng also discovered his group plus two women and escorts seemingly unconscious within temporarily easing his mind.

Li Shunxi hauled them out one by one onto kitchen floors after Lusheng drew them up. Soon finished.

"All breathing." Li Shunxi checked one woman's breaths. "No ideas on their conditions Brother?"

Raising his head revealed Lusheng's unchanged complexion brimming with composure. Inwardly comprehending his peer's extraordinariness.

"Solutions Brother Li?" Lusheng heavily asked.

"Naturally." Li Shunxi revealed slight smugness pulling out some black papery item. He bit his finger smearing some blood atop it then pressed onto each unconscious person's foreheads.

Lusheng silently watched wordlessly.

Soon, everyone drowsily awoke.

"Where's this?

"Qingqing, you alright?"

"Mistress, unharmed?"

"Young Master!" Duan Meng'an walked over full of shame towards Lusheng and lowered his head.

"They're fine now." Lusheng heavily asked, "Where's Ning San?"

"......" Duan Meng'an didn't dare meet his eyes.

Lusheng's expression was calm but eyes increasingly dimmed. "We'll talk back."

"Inadvisable separating now." Li Shunxi suggested instead.

"Thanks for saving me and sister. I'm Gong Ruqing with Gong Ruyue." The gentle girl concealed daggers. "Without two sirs, likely catastrophic."

And her sister was that adorable Qiao'er-esque lass.

"Our utmost gratitude nobles. But other companions remain. Requesting further assistance locating everyone. Rewards amount to one hundred gold notes." Gong Ruyue pleaded.

"Oh?" Li Shunxi cocked his brows glimpsing at Lusheng. The peer remained an enigma. Judging from attire, likely offspring of prominent clans akin to himself. A concealed identity belying mastery over arcana.

Numerous minute details impossible altering for nobles. Li Shunxi's observations long noticed discrepancies between Lusheng's group marking the anomaly.

He was perpetually confined by home due to countless competitors. Vastly ignorant of own standing from concealed abilities lacking external exchanges.

Now this peer of identical circumstances, identical disguises and skills appeared. Triggering extreme frustrations over wanting earnest comparisons and exchanges.

"Thoughts Brother Lu? Aid them?" Li Shunxi asked Lusheng.

Lusheng's expression was gloomy. This Li Shunxi truly grasped some skills. Lusheng examined him again after discerning traces. "Fine."

He originally came investigating manor details. Now lacking them and short another subordinate only brought irritations. Naturally no rushed departures.

"Then I'll agree too." Li Shunxi smiled. "Let's return first. Since you were all brought from guest rooms, clues must exist back there. But most vital remains finding that little girl, the manor's other host alongside her pill forging elder brother."

"Right! Must be that wench's tricks! Her brother is shady too! Capture them first!" Duan Meng'an loudly shouted.

Lusheng glared piercingly instantly shrinking Duan Meng'an into muted submission.

Everyone unanimously agreed on Li Shunxi's idea and noisily swarmed into the central wing's rooms seeking the little girl and brother.

The jet-black courtyard was empty. Their noisy group soon reached the master bedroom's doors.

Bang bang bang! Fierce knocking sent plumes of dust scattering everywhere. Gusts swiftly dispersed the irritating particles.

"Open up!" More deafening pounds followed.

Creak. The room door opened on its own.

Li Shunxi entered first as the vanguard clutching something hidden. "Anyone inside!?" He yelled out.

A massive pill furnace on the left. Dust coated dilapidated furniture and bedding on the right without occupants. Icy desolation pervaded.

The slightly bolder Gong Ruqing approached the bed and lifted its curtains.

Puff! A hurtling black mass fiercely pounced out.

"There!" Li Shunxi flung out his arm precisely striking it.

Miserable infantile shrieks resounded as the black shadow crashed onto floors resembling a fist-sized bat. Gong Ruqing badly startled from the bloody fanged sight.

"Why's... there bats?!" She retreated several steps.

"It's a yin bat. Rarely emerges around normal places." Li Shunxi smiled at Lusheng feeling proud.

Lusheng's darkened complexion lacked hints of shock or sympathy slightly disappointing him. "Thoughts Brother Lu?"

Lusheng glanced over. "Nothing. Brother Li's methods are formidable with Lu's admirations. But locating the remaining missing still takes priority. That lass and elder brother likely won't appear easily."

Li Shunxi squinted seemingly affirming Lusheng noticing something without inquiry. "Let's go then. With yin bats around, it draws near."

The group discovered nothing after searching the master bedroom and proceeded checking the rest.

Li Shunxi exterminated five more yin bats along the way. One moved too quick nearly killing an escort with a vicious neck bite if not for his timely intervention.

Now everyone including Gong sisters utterly admired and relied on Li Shunxi. Especially from the charming girls rousing his smugness. Constantly glimpsing at Lusheng elicited no reactions. Just increasingly sullen expressions over the lack of findings.