Chapter 560: Chapter 560: A Frightened Bird

Seeing Qin Yao merely smiling and not speaking, Zhen Yubai couldn’t gauge her intentions and tentatively asked:

"What does the village chief think about starting classes later this month?"

"It’s getting colder, starting classes now may make the children sick from the cold. We’ll need to prepare more charcoal for heating."

"I’ve been walking around the village these days, and each household’s situation is better than I thought. It shouldn’t be an issue for each family to provide some charcoal for the children to use at school, but it’s best if the village chief brings it up."

Qin Yao could tell Zhen Yubai had thought it over seriously before coming to find her.

The charcoal issue was no problem; Qin Yao nodded with a smile, "The teacher’s considerate, don’t worry about the charcoal, the families will not be stingy for the children’s schooling."

"As for starting classes later this month, as long as you are sure your health is fully recovered, I’ll notify the villagers right away; the kids will surely be happy."

Zhen Yubai breathed a sigh of relief, put down his tea cup, stood up and clasped his fists together, "Then it’s settled, I’ll trouble the village chief to take care of it."

"And thank you for saving my life!" He then solemnly bowed deeply to Qin Yao, paused for a moment, and only then stood up.

Qin Yao politely helped him up. Zhen Yubai smiled gratefully, saying that next time if Qin Yao needed anything, she could instruct him freely. He then departed.

Qin Yao escorted him to the riverbank, and only returned after seeing him enter the village.

Just as she turned around, an unexpected sight of a man with a gaze full of resentment appeared before her, and Qin Yao almost punched him away.

"What are you doing, Liu Ji!" Qin Yao’s fist swept past Liu Ji’s cheek, and as she pulled back, she couldn’t resist giving him a slap on the back of the head, "Who are you trying to scare with your silence!"

Liu Ji didn’t care about what she said; he covered his head and tiptoed to peer ahead.

Unfortunately, the man had already gone far, and only the glow of a torch could be seen. He scoffed, "Still calling him teacher, has no sense of decency, visiting people’s houses in the middle of the night!"

Qin Yao, speechless, glanced at him and walked forward briskly.

Liu Ji eagerly caught up, sniffing her up and down like a dog eyeing meat, irritating Qin Yao who turned and gave him a kick, "Do you have a problem in your brain? Is the album finished?"

Liu Ji couldn’t dodge the solid kick, fell flat on his rear, but quickly got on his feet, smirking shamelessly, "Don’t worry, my dear, this little time didn’t delay me, I heard the noise from that Mr. Zhen and thought I’d come to see if he might be hiding some undisclosed secrets."

Qin Yao scoffed, "So did you find anything?"

"No," Liu Ji replied boldly though lacking logic!

Qin Yao: "..."

Realizing her anger was almost brimming over, once they got home, Liu Ji immediately ran back to his studio to continue his unfinished painting work.

Unbeknownst to him, as soon as he entered the room, Qin Yao climbed over the wall and concealed herself in the darkness, heading to the school site in the village.

Liu San was right, this Zhen Yubai was indeed somewhat peculiar.

Zhen Yubai had just returned to his residence at the school, lit up the candlestick, extinguished the torch, closed the doors and windows, moved the charcoal basin to the table, spread out paper and pen, and sat at the table to begin writing the course schedule.

Qin Yao tightened her collar and crouched under the window for a full half-hour before he set down his pen, seemingly preparing to go to bed.

Could it be that Zhen Yubai was up to nothing?

Was she influenced by Liu Laosan’s nonsensical talk and overthinking it?

After squatting for nearly another half-hour, there was no movement inside, as if he’d fallen asleep.

Qin Yao’s eyelids felt heavy, she silently yawned, thinking about finishing for the night, yet unwilling to concede.

At this hour, all the candles in the village were extinguished, and even the chickens began announcing the time. Just as Qin Yao was about to leave, there was a sudden rustling sound from inside.

As she was about to stand up, she quickly paused, crouched down, and retreated to the back of the house.

Soon, there was the sound of the door opening, a lantern first poked out, followed by a pair of thick-soled black cloth shoes.

Those feet walked directly towards Qin Yao.

Qin Yao leaped up, grasped the eaves, and climbed onto the rooftop.

Zhen Yubai, clad in black, appeared under her gaze. She saw him carrying a lantern, illuminating the area in front and behind the house, pausing briefly at the spot she had stayed before.

Qin Yao dared not reveal a single breath, though excited and agitated inside. Her suspicion was correct, Zhen Yubai indeed sensed someone was secretly watching him.

Qin Yao felt immensely relieved for not leaving many traces behind, and for being patient enough that Zhen Yubai thought she’d already left.

The black-clad Zhen Yubai checked around the entire house, furrowed his brows, then suddenly raised the lantern to the upper part.

He saw nothing unusual, only rows of blue tiles, but he remained unassured, calling out in a probing manner, "Come out now!"

"..."

The response to Zhen Yubai was the chilly wind howling through the night.

After a long while, he exhaled lightly, muttered softly, "Who would come to this small mountain village? Seems like I’m a bit jumpy."

He blew out the lantern, closed the door leisurely, and walked step by step towards that courtyard deep in the village.

He walked not slowly, yet no footstep could be heard, even his breathing was hidden in the wind’s howl.

If Qin Yao hadn’t witnessed it herself, she wouldn’t have discovered his presence at all.

It was truly remarkable; his manner was indistinguishable from that of an ordinary person, and he’d even tumbled into a ditch, which shows he can’t have martial arts skills; so how did he acquire such stealthy, counter-surveillance abilities?

Watching Zhen Yubai halt by the outer wall of the Lotus Courtyard, Qin Yao, trailing far behind him, also quickly stopped.

Since arriving in this world, it was the first time she had seriously concealed herself.

Strangely enough, Qin Yao’s mind was exceptionally exhilarated, she felt a thrill and tension she hadn’t felt in ages.

Black-clad Zhen Yubai paused for a while under the Lotus Courtyard, then suddenly soared gently like a swan, entering the courtyard.

The guards, including Shi Tou, noticed nothing; Qin Yao thought of Qi Xian and Gongliang Liao inside, took a deep breath, then climbed onto the courtyard wall.

She lay atop the wall, witnessing Zhen Yubai bypass the patrolling Ah Gu, entering Gongliang Liao’s room unobstructed.

Just at the moment Zhen Yubai entered the room, Ah Gu’s entire body shook, leaned against the corridor’s stone pillar, swiftly fainting away.

A hand reached out from the door, supported Ah Gu’s head, and gently laid him on the ground.

Qin Yao fanned lightly near her nose with her hand, faintly catching a whiff of a distinct fragrance, which when inhaled caused a brief blankness in her mind.

Zhen Yubai even knew how to use sedatives!

Things were becoming more and more interesting.

Watching the unconscious and asleep Ah Gu, Qin Yao was somewhat concerned about the old man’s safety; she jumped into the courtyard intending to enter the room and catch Zhen Yubai in the act, but just as her palm touched the door, she suddenly heard a "thud" of someone kneeling inside.

Respectful words from Zhen Yubai echoed from inside, "If I’ve offended, please forgive me, sir."

Qin Yao halted her intended action to push the door, hesitated not at all, and retreated to the side, sticking to the wall to listen.