Shen Zhuo turned back toward the fork in the road where he had parted with Pei Chuan and hurried to catch up. Before long, he spotted the familiar figure ahead.
“Why have you followed me?” Pei Chuan asked, turning his head as he heard the approach.
Shen Zhuo reached his side in a few quick strides. “I thought about it and decided to come with you. I am curious to hear what Master Jian has to say.”
Pei Chuan gave a slight nod. “As you wish.”
The ten courtyards of the Jian family estate were named after the Ten Friends of Flowers. They were staying in the Pavilion of Pure Friends, while Xie Yuan resided in the Pavilion of Special Friends. Master Jian’s primary residence, the Pavilion of Zen Friends, featured those very three words hanging prominently above the vermilion gates.
Shen Zhuo looked up at the flamboyant Zen character on the plaque, pausing to study it for a moment before following Pei Chuan over the threshold.
A servant hurried inside to announce them, and soon, footsteps echoed from the corridor.
“You two must be the esteemed disciples from the Xuanyun Sect,” said the newcomer, a man in his fifties. Though his hair was tinged with frost at the temples, his stride remained steady. “My name is Chen. I humbly serve as the head butler of the Jian residence.”
Pei Chuan cupped his fists in return. “Butler Chen.”
The old man extended his hand and stepped aside to lead the way. “The master is waiting in the study. Please, follow me.”
Shen Zhuo suddenly felt the surrounding airflow become sluggish. He watched Butler Chen closely, noticing that the air around the old man was strangely chaotic.
As if sensing something, Butler Chen turned back and smiled at him. “Does the young hero have something to ask?”
“I was wondering how long you have served the Jian family, Butler Chen?”
Without stopping his pace, Butler Chen replied, “In answer to your question, I have been a study companion to the master since childhood. It has been over forty years.”
“Then you must know the Jian family inside and out,” Shen Zhuo pressed, taking a step closer. “I wonder if Master Jian has been in good health lately?”
Butler Chen paused almost imperceptibly, his expression remaining respectful. “The master has always been healthy. However, he has been overwhelmed with affairs over the past two years. I believe the exhaustion has made his temperament a bit irritable. If the master says anything offensive shortly, I hope you two will be magnanimous and show patience.”
Shen Zhuo remained expressionless, suppressing his doubts for the moment.
Soon, the closed wooden door of the study appeared before them. Butler Chen stepped forward and knocked lightly three times, his voice reverent. “Master, the two young heroes from the Xuanyun Sect have arrived.”
“Let them in! Quickly, let them in!”
Butler Chen pushed the door open, stepping aside to clear the path while retreating into the shadows by the door with his hands down.
As Shen Zhuo brushed past him, his eyes narrowed. A sliver of spiritual power coated his pupils as he stole a glance at the old man’s brow.
Inside the study, Master Jian rose from behind a large red sandalwood desk to greet them, his gaze scanning the two men.
“I assume you two are here regarding the matter of the jade pendant?”
Shen Zhuo shifted his gaze to Master Jian, and his heart sank. The air around the master was even more chaotic and abnormal than that surrounding the butler.
Pei Chuan remained calm, stepping forward to present the missive. “The Sect Master has specifically sent me to handle this matter.”
Master Jian studied Pei Chuan’s face intently, inquiring, “Forgive my poor eyesight, but you look somewhat familiar. May I ask your name?”
“I am Pei Chuan of the Xuanyun Sect.”
“Pei Chuan?” Master Jian’s eyes lit up, his face instantly filling with undisguised joy. “Among the younger generation of cultivators today, who does not know that Young Hero Pei is the only one worthy of being called the ‘Top Talent’?”
He rubbed his hands together, his voice trembling with relief. “Ever since that jade pendant vanished into thin air, I have been worried day and night. Now that Young Hero Pei has personally taken the case, I can finally set my heart at ease.”
Faced with the praise, Pei Chuan remained unruffled, merely arching his hands. “Master Jian overpraises me. As a matter of urgency, please detail the circumstances of the pendant’s loss.”
At the mention of the pendant, Master Jian’s expression turned sorrowful. “The pendant was lost a month ago. I used to wear it every day, and then it simply vanished without a sound. I have searched every corner of this estate and found not a single trace.”
Shen Zhuo noticed that as Master Jian spoke, his fingers unconsciously stroked the empty space at his waist.
“Master Jian,” Shen Zhuo began, “was this jade pendant of great significance to you?”
Master Jian gave a bitter smile. “To be honest, it was a deathbed entrustment from an old friend. It not only wards off evil and protects the body, but it is also a memento.”
Pei Chuan asked in a heavy voice, “Do you have any leads on how it was lost?”
“I originally thought it was the work of a thief within the house, but days of searching yielded nothing,” Master Jian’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I fear the pendant ran away on its own.”
“Ran away on its own?” Pei Chuan questioned. “What makes you say that?”
Master Jian replied, “That pendant is no ordinary item; it was born with spiritual resonance! So many skilled individuals have failed to find it. It must have grown legs and run off.”
Shen Zhuo added, “It is common throughout history for natural treasures to develop spiritual resonance. However, if the spirit of an object wishes to leave its master, there must be a reason.”
Master Jian sighed again. “This pendant has a defiant nature. Even when I performed the blood-binding ritual, it injured me in return. I suspect it does not recognize me as its master and is determined to escape.”
Pei Chuan countered, “That may be so, but even with spiritual resonance, it is nearly impossible for an object to flee on its own without external help.”
Master Jian said, “That, I do not know. That is precisely why I sought help from the great immortal sects.”
Shen Zhuo observed Master Jian’s expression and suddenly shifted the topic. “If the pendant refused to recognize you as its master, why did you wear it every day?”
Master Jian was momentarily silenced by the question, stammering, “Because, because it is a treasure after all. I thought that keeping it on me would bring some benefit.”
Shen Zhuo did not look away, keeping his eyes fixed on the man. Under the scrutiny, Master Jian avoided his gaze, hurriedly picking up a teacup and turning back to Pei Chuan. “That is the long and short of it. I am counting on you, Young Hero Pei, to recover it.”
Pei Chuan accepted. “Since the Xuanyun Sect has taken this commission, we will do our best.”
Having received this promise, Master Jian took a sip of his tea. Before he could swallow, Shen Zhuo spoke again. “I have one more thing to ask.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“I noticed a three-story building behind the woodshed to the west. I was wondering which member of the family resides there.”
As soon as he finished, the teacup slipped from Master Jian’s hand and shattered on the floor, porcelain shards and tea splashing everywhere.
Butler Chen, who had been standing by the door, immediately rushed forward to support the swaying Master Jian, wiping the tea from his clothes. Two servants rushed in to clear the mess.
The butler said to Master Jian, “Be careful, Master. Shall I help you change your clothes?”
Master Jian regained his composure, standing steady with the butler’s help. His chest heaved violently for a moment before he caught his breath. He waved them off and asked, “Why do you suddenly ask about that?”
Meeting his suspicious gaze, Shen Zhuo replied, “I noticed the estate has very few three-story buildings, and that one happened to be so dilapidated. It caught my eye.”
Master Jian wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. “It is just an abandoned old tower. It has fallen into disrepair and has not been inhabited for years. It is only natural that it looks ruinous.”
Pei Chuan glanced at Shen Zhuo before turning to Master Jian. “Since it is a place where no one goes, is it possible the pendant is hidden there?”
Master Jian could not answer immediately. The butler stepped forward respectfully. “When I searched the entire estate under the master’s orders, I personally led the investigation of that old building. There was no sign of the pendant.”
“I see,” Shen Zhuo said, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic air surrounding both men before he looked away. “In that case, it seems the old building truly has nothing to do with the pendant.”
Master Jian looked as if he had been granted a reprieve. “Exactly so.”
Seeing that no more leads could be unearthed, the two took their leave. Once they were outside the Pavilion of Zen Friends and alone, Pei Chuan spoke in a low voice. “You suspect Master Jian?”
Shen Zhuo pondered for a moment. “I am not certain he is orchestrating a farce, but this master and servant are definitely hiding something from us.”
“As expected,” Pei Chuan said flatly, his eyes scanning the courtyard. “In these prestigious families, there are always old secrets buried beneath the walls.” He looked at Shen Zhuo. “What do you think of the pendant matter, Xiao Zhuo?”
“Regardless of anything else,” Shen Zhuo continued, seeing Pei Chuan’s calm expression, “if something was stolen, why did Master Jian not report it to the authorities instead of seeking out various cultivators?”
“You mean the problem is not ‘theft’, but the pendant itself?”
Shen Zhuo agreed. “Exactly. It is unlikely the pendant really grew legs.”
Pei Chuan’s lips curved slightly. “Xiao Zhuo, you have truly changed. You can hold your own now.”
Shen Zhuo’s heart skipped a beat. What does Senior Brother mean by that? Has he realized I am not the original occupant of this body?
He saw that Pei Chuan was merely looking at him with clear eyes, devoid of suspicion. Shen Zhuo met his gaze and smiled. “You overpraise me, Senior Brother. I have simply learned by watching you.”
Pei Chuan habitually reached out to pat his younger brother’s head but said nothing more.
The two chatted as they returned to the Pavilion of Pure Friends. The courtyard was quiet, with the guest rooms assigned to cultivators from different sects. Pei Chuan and Shen Zhuo lived side by side. It was noon, and the only person visible was a young servant with a youthful face sweeping the ground.
Seeing them enter, the boy stopped his broom and said to Pei Chuan, “You have returned, Young Hero. The white porridge you asked me to keep warm has been simmering on the stove. Would you like it now?”
Pei Chuan looked at Shen Zhuo and asked warmly, “Would you like to eat now, Xiao Zhuo?”
Shen Zhuo realized Pei Chuan had prepared this specifically because he had not eaten that morning. His heart warmed. “I will follow your lead, Senior Brother.”
“Then let us have some.”
In the Xuanyun Sect, they were used to doing everything themselves. Neither was comfortable being waited on. Pei Chuan signaled for the servant to stay back and went to the kitchen to fetch the porridge himself. This left the boy standing there awkwardly with his broom.
Shen Zhuo sat on a stone chair in the courtyard and asked casually, “I have something I would like to ask you.”
The boy immediately scurried over. “Ask away, Young Hero! I will tell you everything I know!”
“Do you know anything about that three-story building behind the woodshed to the west?”
The boy scratched his head, looking troubled. “I am not really sure. I only joined the household two years ago. Since then, the butler has strictly forbidden us from going near that place.”
“Oh?” Shen Zhuo probed. “The butler explicitly forbade it?”
The servant nodded vigorously. “No one is allowed inside except Butler Chen himself. If we even get close, we get a scolding!”
As they spoke, Pei Chuan returned carrying a clay pot. When he opened the lid, the fragrance of rice porridge filled the air.
“What are you talking about?”
The boy blurted out, “Young Hero Shen was asking me about that old building to the west.”
Shen Zhuo took a bowl of porridge from Pei Chuan. “Thank you, Senior Brother.” He stirred the warm porridge; the rice had been simmered until soft and delicate. The steam carried a familiar scent; it was exactly like the porridge Pei Chuan had made for him in his past life.
Pei Chuan sat on the stone bench opposite him. “Still thinking about that building?”
Shen Zhuo swallowed a mouthful, the warmth spreading through his body. He answered slowly, “Yes, I am a bit curious.”
The boy suddenly chimed in, “Do not blame me for speaking out of turn, but that building is not a place you should be curious about.”
Both men looked at the boy. “Why do you say that?”
The servant licked his lips nervously. After glancing around the courtyard, he lowered his voice and covered his mouth with one hand. “That building, it is haunted!”
“Haunted?” Pei Chuan’s expression did not change as he added more porridge to Shen Zhuo’s bowl. “Did you see it yourself?”
“I would not dare go near it! Butler Chen keeps a very tight watch!” The boy shrunk his neck, his voice even lower. “It was Auntie Liu from the kitchen who said it. Every night, the sound of a woman crying comes from that building. It is miserable and terrifying! A brave maid did not believe it a while back and insisted on going in to take a look.”
Shen Zhuo continued to eat while asking, “What happened?”
The boy made a throat-slitting gesture. “The next day, they fished her body out of the abandoned well!”
Pei Chuan noticed Shen Zhuo’s hand pause. “It sounds like any other ghost story one hears in the streets.”
The boy shook his head while holding his broom. “Ai, you heroes have great skills, so of course you are not afraid. But that building is truly wicked. Why else would Butler Chen give such a death order? You two must be careful.”
Shen Zhuo’s thoughts drifted briefly before he regained his focus and quietly finished his porridge. He put down the bowl and gathered the utensils. “It seems that building is indeed unusual.”
Pei Chuan said, “Our task for the Jian family is to find the pendant. Furthermore, since the master has made it clear he does not want us inquiring about the old building, it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
Shen Zhuo knew Pei Chuan well; after a century of knowing him in his previous life, he understood his brother’s temperament. The implication was clear: do not dig into these deliberately buried secrets. More than the truth, Pei Chuan cared about Shen Zhuo’s safety.
Shen Zhuo also understood that with Pei Chuan’s upright and disciplined character, he would never trespass if Master Jian had explicitly refused. So, Shen Zhuo lowered his eyelashes and nodded obediently. “You are right, Senior Brother.”
Seeing his obedient manner, which was no different from usual, Pei Chuan felt relieved. He took the dishes from Shen Zhuo. “Go back to your room, change, and rest for a while. I will handle these.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother.”
“Between us, there is no need for thanks.”
Shen Zhuo watched Pei Chuan’s back as he walked toward the kitchen and sighed. Pei Chuan was wonderful in every way, except for this stubborn adherence to rules, which could be frustrating.
Some things have to be done behind his back.
He looked at the sky. The shadows were lengthening; there was still half a day left before nightfall.