"Brother Lu, seeing your expression, could there be some unusual discovery?" Li Shunxi couldn't help but ask again.

The group had searched around for a while without finding anyone, so they started gathering under the withered tree in the central courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Lusheng just glanced around.

In the pitch-black courtyard, there was only their group, with the surrounding rooms completely empty without lights or sounds.

"Are there still people who haven't come? What about Miss Gong Ruyue?" He suddenly said.

Everyone was startled, only now realizing that Gong Ruyue was missing from the group, while Gong Ruqing's expression froze.

"Isn't my sister right behind me?" She said in astonishment. All along the way, she could feel someone following behind her, and had even exchanged a few words with her sister earlier.

"Are you sure?" Lusheng looked at her.

Everyone now also looked towards Gong Ruqing.

A woman in a white dress stood behind her, her cheeks covered by Gong Ruqing's hair, so they didn't see her face at first and assumed she was Gong Ruyue.

The woman now stood quietly and motionless behind Gong Ruqing with hands hanging down.

"But my sister was clearly..." Gong Ruqing's face turned ghastly pale as she saw the strange, horrified gazes everyone cast towards behind her.

If this wasn't her sister Gong Ruyue behind her, then who exactly was this woman who had followed her all along!

Goosebumps covered Gong Ruqing's entire body as terror seized her.

Trembling, she slowly turned around.

"Don't turn your head!!" Li Shunxi suddenly leapt forward, grabbing Gong Ruqing's shoulders and pulling her towards himself.

Puff!

The two collided.

At the same time, a flash of silver light shot out from Li Shunxi’s hand, seemingly a flying dagger, precisely striking the white dressed woman.

At this moment, everything before their eyes flickered as the woman in white vanished without a trace in a blink.

The silver light fell to the ground, circled a few times before stopping - shockingly a palm-sized silver top.

Li Shunxi was pressed under Gong Ruqing, their posture rather questionable with Gong Ruqing frightened out of her wits, clinging onto him tightly like an octopus, not daring to let go one bit.

"Miss Qingqing, nothing's wrong, relax your grip on me." Li Shunxi said in a mix of laughter and tears.

Only then did everyone react with two guards quickly pulling them apart and helping them up.

Lusheng's brows were tightly knitted while Duan Meng'an beside him was scared witless, sweating all over and trembling nonstop.

"B-boss... le-let's lea-leave first th-then ta-talk..."

Lusheng glared sharply instantly silencing Duan Meng'an's stuttering.

Just now no one clearly saw that woman in white's face, nor how she disappeared.

Li Shunxi's item seemed to indeed work.

"That was a lingering spirit. Everyone, don't separate...hard explaining dangers but please don't leave 10 meters from me starting now." Li Shunxi solemnly instructed after getting up. "If I'm not wrong, very likely these withered trees are the key."

He pointed at the one in the yard.

Lusheng looked at this man.

"What ideas does Brother Li have?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Li Shunxi calmly said, "To find those previously missing, perhaps we should first destroy all the withered trees in this village."

"Withered trees?" Lusheng's expression was still unchanged.

"I suspect those are the foundations of this village's formations. So we need to destroy them while finding a golden object from the earlier central room, likely the true eye." Li Shunxi continued.

"We can try walking towards leaving the village." Lusheng suddenly cut in.

Li Shunxi paused, carefully eyeing Lusheng.

"Seems Brother Lu thinks differently. No use leaving now."

"Let's try." Lusheng calmly replied.

Li Shunxi gazed at Lusheng for a while before slowly nodding.

"Fine, since Brother Lu says so, we can first send the unhelpful ones out, ensuring their safety first."

"But my sister!" Gong Ruqing's charming face turned ghastly worrying.

"We'll return for her." Li Shunxi smiled reassuringly before naturally putting his arm around and embracing her.

Gong Ruqing blushed but was also currently losing her mind, with Li Shunxi the sole reliance. And judging from his looks, likely extremely wealthy, perhaps wealthier than herself. Somewhat stirred, getting embraced also seemed normal.

Gong Ruqing struggled slightly before ceasing resistance, letting him gently hold her.

"Don't worry. With me and Brother Lu, your sister will be fine." Li Shunxi smiled promisingly.

"Mm!" Gong Ruqing frowned, lightly nodding.

The other escorts also greatly relaxed. This village was rather bizarre. Now unwilling separating alone, they would have ditched the young miss to flee first if not for fear. Now able leaving, was precisely what they hoped.

And Duan Meng'an rejoiced even more, breathing out heavily in relief.

After unifying opinions, the group began walking towards the exit.

Halfway there, everyone sensed something wrong.

The exit was clearly near yet walking hundreds of steps, still over ten meters away.

Li Shunxi's eyes narrowed, gazing at Lusheng. See, guesses were right indeed.

"Young Master..." Duan Meng'an also stuck tightly behind Lusheng, trembling all over. "Could we...have met...a ghost..?"

Lusheng's expression darkened without speaking.

"Sure enough problematic!"

Li Shunxi coldly stood at the side. "The cellar still has tricks. Planning on checking again. With me Brother Lu?" That should be this village's lair."

Lusheng shook his head.

"I'm staying here."

Li Shunxi was astonished.

"Brother Lu is serious?"

"Of course." Lusheng seriously answered.

Li Shunxi carefully observed Lusheng before faintly smiling.

"Then so be it. Everyone, see who to follow. I'll go downstairs while Brother Lu stays."

Gong Ruqing and the two escorts looked at each other.

Li Shunxi stood to the side, elegant as jade with extraordinary temperament. Lusheng stood to the other side, gloomy with an indifferent expression.

"This young lady will accompany Mister Li." Gong Ruqing decisively chose Li Shunxi.

"Us too with Mister Li!" Those two escorts hurriedly said. Li Shunxi previously revealed numerous methods, clearly more convincing and reliable than the always reticent Lusheng.

Duan Meng'an also swayed, wanting to follow. But seeing Lusheng before him, also not daring to move.

Now Li Shunxi had four people while Lusheng had two.

Both sides dressed like rich scions but the difference was extremely clear.

"Then I wish Brother Lu peace staying here." Li Shunxi's tone carried unknown meanings before bringing everyone towards the backyard.

Gong Ruqing and them revealed slight contempt. This Lusheng was clearly cowardly, thinking to play it safe while Li Shunxi cared about saving others with benevolence and righteousness, incomparable by far.

Lusheng wordlessly watched their departure.

...

Li Shunxi walked alongside the houses, in deep thought with seemingly aware eyes. He couldn't understand why Lusheng suddenly decided to remain at the entrance.

Useless in that situation, only wasting time.

"Don't know what Brother Lu thought, actually..." Before finishing, he suddenly felt an icy sensation rushing from behind, fiercely turning back.

Pitch darkness behind without the slightest sound. Quiet and empty. Gong Ruqing's group earlier at his side now completely gone?!

"Miss Qingqing?" Li Shunxi's expression tightened loudly yelling out.

His voice echoed within the night village without response.

"Illusions?" He swiftly took out a yellow talisman from his waist pouch, lightly flicking it forward with his index finger precisely piercing through.

Vision instantly cleared with Gong Ruqing and them reemerging stiffly around him, eyeballs rolling wildly and pupils dilated without focus.

Li Shunxi knew they had fallen for illusions. Similarly taking out talismans, lightly tapping everyone.

"Miss Qingqing, alright?" He swiftly supported the somewhat soft Gong Ruqing.

"F-fine..." Gong Ruqing's charming face was deathly pale, seemingly frightened quite a bit.

But supporting Gong Ruqing brought doubts to Li Shunxi. If someone nearby used illusions, he should've noticed. Yet that instance even evaded him without the slightest feeling!

"Mister, if not for you just now..." Gong Ruqing looked teary-eyed, almost fully leaning against him with her voluptuous body.

That soft sensation instantly fogged Li Shunxi's mind, almost uncontrollably reaching out to grope Gong Ruqing's vital regions.

Chi!

His expression fiercely changed, forcefully shoving Gong Ruqing away.

A silver flash shot between them as Gong Ruqing astonishing held a short sword, ferociously slashing at his chest.

Fortunately noticing in time, resulting only in a cut while bleeding badly but non-fatal.

"Miss Qingqing, you!?" No time pondering as he saw Gong Ruqing wielding the short sword, piercing a guard's stomach.

"What's wrong with me?! Mister Li, save me!!" Gong Ruqing paled, seemingly uncontrolled, madly flailing the sword and fiercely shoving that caught off guard guard before pouncing at Li Shunxi again.

Li Shunxi frantically dodged left and right but Gong Ruqing's skills seemed extremely formidable, gradually overwhelming him after exchanges.

He gnashed his teeth, taking out a dark golden awl from his pouch covered in intricate patterns.

But seeing Gong Ruqing's tearful look, he still couldn't do it. After all the woman was only possessed. This would be equal to killing her himself!

After hesitating, he got fiercely slashed again.