Shang Hongye walked out of the Escort Agency and followed West Main Street to the County Government Office.

At the main entrance of the County Office, two dim lanterns shivered in the night breeze...

The two armed government constables at the door crossed their hands, dozing off...

The sect rules of the Taiyi Sect dictate that the county-level office cannot close at night and someone must keep night watch.

Because, the county-level office oversees lawsuits, criminal affairs, and finances, in case of any urgent matter, there must be a place to address it.

Unlike the prefecture-level, where finance is managed by the Governor’s Office, and criminal affairs by the Inspectorate...

Shang Hongye walked to the entrance and said, "Lord Official, I’m here to file a report! Someone from our Escort Agency has been abducted."

The dozing government constables lifted their eyelids, glanced at Shang Hongye, and said, "Go inside and register."

Shang Hongye stepped over the threshold and saw a shabby table not far from the door, with a constable lying on it asleep, his saliva soaking a patch of his sleeve.

Shang Hongye approached and called twice, waking the constable who blinked at Shang Hongye, saying, "What do you want?"

"Lord Official, I’ve come to file a report."

The constable squinted, reaching for a register and asked, "What’s the case? Another New Year’s dispute?"

"No, this case is urgent. Someone from Yuan Shun Escort Agency has been abducted."

"Who was abducted?"

"Xiao Yu."

"Profession?"

"Escort Master at Yuan Shun Escort Agency."

"You? Profession?" The constable wrote and glanced at Shang Hongye, asking.

"My name is Shang Hongye, and I’m a guard at Yuan Shun Escort Agency."

The constable wrote while repeating, "Reporter, guard at Yuan Shun Escort Agency, Shang Hongye."

"Alright, go back and wait for news." The constable put down his pen and closed the register, ready to resume sleeping.

"Lord Official, this is an urgent case..."

"What urgent case?" Shang Hongye hadn’t finished speaking before the constable interrupted, "Our Chief has gone to the Inspectorate in the Prefecture City for official business, any urgent case must wait until he returns."

"It’s all registered, don’t stand here making an eyesore."

The constable clearly disliked Shang Hongye standing there, disturbing his sleep.

Shang Hongye had no choice but to sigh and leave the County Government Office.

Every end of the year, the Chief Constables of each county report the year’s gains and losses in criminal affairs to the Inspectorate in the Prefecture City. Two days ago, Jie Daohan already went with Yang Zhen to Yuanyang Prefecture.

After Duan Rong left the Escort Agency, he went through alleys and courtyards in the night, quickly stopping in front of a residence.

This residence belonged to Luan Jingfu, not far from the Escort Agency.

Duan Rong stood in a shadow of a tree outside the yard, his Divine Sense suddenly opened, confirming no one was inside, then he leapt into the yard.

Along the way, he pondered Luan Jingfu and Sun Huang going to Lin County to escort together.

Why did Luan Jingfu specifically choose Sun Huang? And he just went on an escort mission in the afternoon, and Xiao Yu was abducted that night, it seemed to Duan Rong that Luan Jingfu was undoubtedly involved in Xiao Yu’s abduction.

Duan Rong opened his Divine Sense, cautiously probing the courtyard, his figure ghostly.

Duan Rong had just swept the rear rooms when his heart suddenly jumped.

Because, at this moment, the Artifact Spirit of the Flying Saber he had devoured, lodged in Zhu Xiaoqi’s shoulder, was fully digested, and Duan Rong saw a silhouette.

That silhouette wore a loose white robe, very familiar. In the dim light, Duan Rong’s eyes flickered as he remembered the silhouette he saw when devouring Fang Jingbao’s Jadeite Ring in Weiyang Square.

The two silhouettes instantly echoed.

"It’s Wei Yutian!"

Duan Rong bent his body, then flipped and leapt out of Luan Jingfu’s yard, the Cloud Serpent Step of Minor Success Realm fully exerted, leaving a shadow racing through the alley...

Duan Rong knew clearly, every second he delayed, Xiao Yu might face danger...

Wei Yutian abducted Xiao Yu and in the deep night flipped into his own yard. Once he landed, his tiptoe touched the ground, his body shot out like an arrow!

As an expert of the True Qi Realm, Wei Yutian’s full exertion, even with someone abducted, was far faster than Duan Rong!

Wei Yutian’s body whistled through courtyards rushing back to his bedroom.

Wei Yutian placed the unconscious Xiao Yu on the bed, then ripped off the black cloth from his face, panting heavily, he picked up the cup on the table, gulped down the remaining tea.

After setting down the cup, Wei Yutian immediately turned around and from the stack of white robes at the bedhead, took out a copper bell. He then shook the bell in his hand, its crisp sound echoing throughout the quiet courtyard.

After several moments passed, footsteps sounded in the courtyard.

Su Di, with a tired look on her face, walked in; she clearly was awakened from sleep by the bell.

Su Di entered the bedroom and saw Wei Yutian sitting at the carved wooden table. Her heart skipped because Wei Yutian wore night clothes and his forehead glistened slightly with sweat, indicating he had just returned home.

Wei Yutian glanced at Su Di and said, "Prepare the ritual, tonight I will again sacrifice to the Five Spirit Gods!"

Su Di’s eyes widened.

Holding the ritual to sacrifice to the Five Spirit Gods two consecutive nights, this had never occurred before. Moreover, the offerings in the secret chamber were exhausted; even if they prepared the ritual items, what could the master use for sacrifice?

Xiao Yu was unconscious on the bed at that moment, but the bed was draped with curtains and blocked by a screen, so Su Di standing there could not see.

Despite the questions in her mind, Su Di never dared speak too much before Wei Yutian, she simply bowed respectfully and left the room.

As soon as Su Di left, Wei Yutian’s gaze fell upon the screen; he knew Xiao Yu was unconscious on the bed behind it.

A tremor stirred in Wei Yutian’s heart, he stood and walked behind the screen slowly.

Xiao Yu lay quietly on the bed in her light blue dress, appearing as if she were sleeping.

Wei Yutian had been busy all night, yet hadn’t properly looked at Xiao Yu. He lifted the curtain and sat at the bedside, his gaze magnetized by Xiao Yu’s face.

Xiao Yu’s fair face had a faint blush, her nose shimmered lightly, like carved jade, and those red lips resembled delicate blooms within snow...

A restless heat surged in Wei Yutian’s abdomen, his gaze initially struck by beauty turned gradually twisted, blazing with desire...

Wei Yutian clenched his teeth, turned sharply away from the screen, stood before the carved wooden table, gasping heavily; a moment longer he would have pounced...

The beast-like desire was consuming him bit by bit...

Throughout his life, he had been trapped by lust.

Duan Rong, quick as a phantom, dashed into a small alley. Within this alley, he had already seen a tall, white-walled residence.

He knew it was Wei Yutian’s mysterious residence.

Since possessing the Divine Sense Projection ability, Duan Rong periodically took time to drink tea at teahouses, sitting on the second floor and gazing over Xianggu County’s street scenes.

While doing so, enclosed by his Divine Sense, he could clearly hear all the conversations of the patrons.

By this means, Duan Rong understood the public’s opinions and sentiments within the county.

Within these fragmented informations, Duan Rong had known a high-walled residence in Stone Monkey Lane owned by Weiyang Square’s master, Wei Yutian.

He could almost be certain that Wei Yutian must have abducted Xiao Yu to that place!