Chapter Forty-Four: Searching for Little Bai

Night, in a refined chamber of the He family.

“Xiaobai is missing.” Qin Yi had just returned from his grandfather’s place when he saw Jiang Yao waiting for him at the courtyard gate, greeting him with this unsettling news.

Since the events of yesterday, the maid Chun Cao had not taken them back to their original quarters, but instead led them to a truly superior room.

Hearing this, Qin Yi asked, “Weren’t you watching over it all the time?”

Jiang Yao blushed for a moment before stammering, “I just went to bathe. How could I keep an eye on her?”

“Maybe Xiaobai got bored being controlled by you and went out to play?” Qin Yi sighed helplessly, dismissing it as trivial, and prepared to lie down on the bed. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened as if struck by a thought, and he turned abruptly to look at Jiang Yao, who was also struck by the same realization.

With that thought, Qin Yi could no longer sit still. He stood up immediately and said, “Let’s go, call Zhang Chen, and head to the dock.”

Qin Yi took Jiang Yao to Zhang Chen’s door, finding him still drowsy. Without waiting for him to come to his senses, Qin Yi dragged him along.

At the gates of the He family estate, Steward Ge spotted the trio approaching from afar and hurried over, saying, “Young Master Qin Yi, if there’s anything you need, just let us handle it for you.”

Qin Yi replied with a smile, “We’re new to Nanhai and want to see the dock’s night scene. There’s no need to trouble you, Steward Ge.”

Steward Ge was skeptical, but dared not openly bar Qin Yi’s way. He stepped back with a smile and said, “Let me arrange some guards for you, lest someone without sense cause you trouble, Young Master Qin Yi.”

Qin Yi smiled, “With Jiang Yao by our side, I doubt even the He family would dare act rashly.”

Steward Ge had nothing left to say, so he simply stepped aside, laughing, “You’re right, I hadn’t thought it through.”

Seeing Steward Ge move away, Qin Yi and his companions strode out of the gate without another word.

Steward Ge watched the three receding figures in silence for a long time.

“Steward Ge, should we notify the old master?” a maid hurried over and asked.

Steward Ge paused briefly, then nodded slowly, “Yes, notify him.”

The maid retreated and turned away.

...

“They went out?” In the main house of the He family, He Anjian, who was preparing to go to the dock, heard the maid’s report and thought he’d misheard.

“Yes, old master,” the maid confirmed.

“Alright, you may go.” After the maid left, He Anjian murmured to himself, “Why are they heading to the dock? Could it be...?” The thought was instantly dismissed. “No, he couldn’t possibly know about these matters.”

He Anjian left his room alone and set out toward the dock.

...

The dock wasn’t far from the He family estate, so Qin Yi and his companions arrived nearby in no time. However, the dock was now heavily guarded, making it impossible for them to approach unnoticed.

—

“What now?” At the corner of an alley branching from the street to the dock, Zhang Chen observed the situation and asked. The security was even tighter than they had expected; within a mile of the dock, sneaking in was nearly impossible.

Qin Yi was silent, the extent of the precautions surprising them.

Jiang Yao narrowed her eyes at the guards near the dock, “They all seem to be from the Chen family.”

Qin Yi and Zhang Chen followed her gaze. Sure enough, the soldiers wore matching red armor, and the large Chen family flag fluttered prominently in the dock square, confirming their identity.

Thinking of the Chen family, Zhang Chen remembered Chen Yuxuan. He asked absentmindedly, “I wonder if Uncle Chen is there tonight?”

“He probably is!” Qin Yi answered instinctively. With the Chen family putting on such a display, Chen Yuxuan, whose cultivation ranked among the best in the clan, was surely present. Suddenly, an idea struck Qin Yi. He turned to Jiang Yao with a mischievous smile, “I’ve thought of a way in.”

Jiang Yao, uneasy under his gaze, asked, “What method?”

Zhang Chen listened attentively.

Qin Yi’s smile deepened, “We can enter openly. Let Jiang Yao bring us in. With her reputation, Uncle Chen will trust her. Judging by the setup, the Chen family is expecting trouble tonight, and Jiang Yao’s strength is a great asset to them.”

Jiang Yao hesitated, “Isn’t that a bit improper?”

She disliked deception and owing favors.

Qin Yi hurriedly said, “There’s nothing wrong with it. We’re not stealing anything. They’d be grateful to have you! Besides, Xiaobai has only been with us a few days, but you always keep her close. I doubt you’d let such a pitiful creature get caught and... snap—” He mimed a throat-slitting gesture for emphasis.

Sure enough, Jiang Yao was distressed by his words and gesture. “There’s no time to lose—let’s go in now!”

Qin Yi and Zhang Chen exchanged a knowing smile. Women, after all, could not resist such persuasion.

With Jiang Yao leading, the three approached the Chen family’s guarded perimeter.

“Halt! Who goes there?” Before they could enter, two armored soldiers raised their spears and called out.

Jiang Yao remained calm, “Jiang Yao of Mount Taiyi.”

The two soldiers exchanged glances, then lowered their spears, each gesturing toward the dock with a smile, “Welcome, Immortal Jiang Yao. If you please, the master and third lord are inside.”

Qin Yi was surprised. He had expected no resistance, but not such an enthusiastic welcome. It seemed they wanted them inside more than he did!

Such were the guards of the Chen family, one of the three great clans of Nanhai, who recognized Jiang Yao’s name.

Jiang Yao’s expression remained stoic as she led Qin Yi and Zhang Chen across the dock square and to the Chen family’s ship. The guards paid little attention to the two men, trusting Jiang Yao and considering Qin Yi and Zhang Chen as unlikely troublemakers before the clan master and third lord.

Unimpeded on the square, they did not rush to find Xiaobai, but sought out Chen Yuxuan first.

Soon, they reached the Chen family’s large ship and met Chen Yuxuan.

“Uncle Chen,” all three greeted him respectfully.

—

Chen Yuxuan was curious to see them here. “Jiang Yao, Qin Yi, Zhang Chen—why are you here?”

Jiang Yao replied, “We came to pay New Year’s respects to the He family.”

Chen Yuxuan was puzzled, “Pay respects to the He family?”

Qin Yi smiled, “Perhaps you didn’t know, Uncle Chen, but my mother is He Wanting.”

Realization dawned on Chen Yuxuan, “I didn’t expect you to be Wanting’s son.”

He recalled that He Wanting had married an ordinary man from Yulong Fort. Four years ago, at the mountain’s grand ceremony, he’d known Qin Yi was from Yulong Fort, but hadn’t imagined this connection.

Chen Yuxuan continued, “So what brings you to me?”

He didn’t believe they were here simply to greet him.

Jiang Yao explained, “It’s like this, Uncle Chen: my little pet is missing.”

Chen Yuxuan asked, “You suspect your pet is here?”

Qin Yi smiled, “Yes, Uncle Chen. We left something special on her, so we can sense her presence.”

Chen Yuxuan said, “But the area is sealed off by our family.”

Jiang Yao responded, “Uncle Chen, my pet was born with spiritual powers—it’s not surprising she has her own tricks. I failed to watch her, after all.”

Chen Yuxuan seemed troubled, but seeing Jiang Yao's earnest expression, he relented, smiling, “Go ahead, little one. Uncle Chen trusts you.”

Jiang Yao beamed, “Thank you, Uncle Chen.”

Chen Yuxuan waved his hand, “No need. Go find her.”

Without further pleasantries, Jiang Yao led Qin Yi and Zhang Chen aboard the Chen family ship.

Once they were out of sight, Chen Yulei voiced his concern, “Third brother, you really let them search on their own?”

Chen Yuxuan smiled, “Don’t worry, second brother. I trust Jiang Yao completely. She’s not that kind of person.”

Chen Yulei was still uneasy, “What about the other two?”

Chen Yuxuan laughed, “Relax. I know Jiang Yao—she won’t let Qin Yi and Zhang Chen misbehave.”

Hearing this, Chen Yulei could only drop the matter.