The moment those words were spoken, the gazes of all three immediately gathered on Qian Jinye. Qian Jinye fell into deep thought, then looked uncertainly toward Chen Yue’er and asked, “Miss Chen, are you certain you still heard my father crying?
Chen Yue’er was extremely confident in her hearing. She nodded without hesitation.
Of course she was certain. They had secretly planted a listening device on Master Qian. It was just that for a long while it picked up no sound at all, only the faint sound of him crying earlier.
Qian Jinye’s expression instantly turned ugly. “My father is a pearl cultivator. A pearl cultivator must not cry, otherwise it could endanger his life. Lu Xiao, we need to go. My father might be in danger.”
Not crying?
That was information the three from the Pearl Institute had never uncovered. None of them had ever expected that Master Qian would dare to be so bold that he actually made himself a pearl cultivator as well.
There was no time to lose. The tragedy had already begun, and the most they could do was minimize the damage.
Leaving the guest room, they headed straight for the main entrance of the Qian residence. The Qian family estate used a layout somewhat similar to a traditional three courtyard structure, but mixed with all kinds of clashing architectural styles. One could not describe what style it was supposed to be at all.
The main gate was tightly shut. Li Xianguan went forward and pushed it, but unsurprisingly, it was locked from within.
Seeing him rush forward so recklessly, Chen Yue’er strode over and punched him. “Li Xianguan, what are you charging ahead for? Brother Jinye has not said anything yet and you are already messing around. He knows this place better than you.”
Chen Yue’er finally accepted reality. She and the others were now grasshoppers tied to the same string as Qian Jinye. Instead of constantly butting heads, it was far wiser to get along with him. After all, this was his home, and no one knew the terrain better than he did.
Qian Jinye was indeed receptive to the gesture. He looked at Lu Xiao with a somewhat embarrassed expression. Chen Yue’er called Lu Xiao “brother”, and now she was also calling him “brother”. If one rounded up the numbers, it practically meant that Lu Xiao and he were already a family.
Watching the delighted sparkles practically bubbling out of the young master’s eyes, Lu Xiao silently sighed. Chen Yue’er’s methods were truly skillful. Winning over this young master would definitely work in their favor.
But what Lu Xiao wanted to know even more was what Chen Yue’er really thought. Earlier she pretended not to care, clearly coaxing him. Now she was coaxing Qian Jinye. What exactly was going on in her mind? He genuinely had no idea.
Since breaking through the main gate was impossible, their only alternative was the smaller side door, which opened toward the stables. However, because of Qian Jinye’s firm objection, Lu Xiao and the others temporarily gave up on trying to break in from outside.
“My intuition tells me we should not go to the stable.” Qian Jinye spoke with certainty. Ever since he transformed the pearl earlier, Lu Xiao trusted his judgment immensely.
Though the young master had forgotten many important things, it was not complete amnesia. His memories were simply blurred and indistinct, which made his intuition all the more valuable.
Since the outer route was unavailable, they could only move inward.
Passing through the first door brought them into a small courtyard, the very place where the banquet earlier had been held. Yet the golden wine cups and jade dishes were gone, the tables had vanished, and the entire courtyard felt cold and empty.
It was too clean. Suspiciously clean.
Because of the banquet, Master Qian had stuffed all the family’s decorative corals, the fighting fish gifted by the emperor, and the black market peacocks into the space, making the celebration appear lavish and lively. But now, everything has disappeared without a trace.
Or perhaps, not quite everything.
Although all the messy decorations had been cleared out, the shrubs and flowers that normally grew in the courtyard should still have been there. Qian Jinye loved Lotus, so he had a small pond dedicated exclusively to growing them.
They should have been in full bloom at this time of year. Yet now there was not a single blossom in sight. Instead, the pond was filled entirely with lotus pods.
A strange feeling rose within Lu Xiao. He reached out and plucked one, cracking it open to reveal the seed inside. He stared quietly at what lay in his palm, his expression unreadable. Just as he was about to step back, a massive snake surged out of the water, its jaws wide open, lunging straight at him with the clear intention to swallow him whole.
Lu Xiao’s nerves tightened to the extreme. A wave of regret washed through him. Why had he never bothered to train more? In his current state, he was absolutely destined to end up in the belly of the serpent.
Terror made him squeeze his eyes shut as a foul, fishy liquid splattered across his face. Was this his own blood? Was this how he was going to die? Lu Xiao thought numbly. It did not even hurt that much. And he had not even left a final message for himself.
He felt himself fall into a warm embrace. He instinctively rubbed against it, almost clinging to the comfort.
“You trying to die, you idiot named Lu? Why are you rubbing that disgusting monster blood all over me? Do you even know I am wearing red today? This green blood is revolting.”
Qian Jinye cursed nonstop while pushing Lu Xiao away from his arms. He looked down at his stained clothes, heartbroken enough that his eyes turned red. Lu Xiao stared blankly at him, then at Li Xianguan and Chen Yue’er standing nearby.
He was not dead? Lu Xiao turned toward the pond. The enormous snake was already lying lifeless on the ground, no longer moving.
What happened? He had shut his eyes the moment the snake attacked and had no idea what occurred. The only things he remembered were falling into Qian Jinye’s arms and being splashed with snake blood.
“Li Xianguan prepared weapons long ago.” Chen Yue’er lifted the wooden crossbow in her hand. “I coated the arrows with poison. Luckily this was just an ordinary water snake. If it had been anything else, you might already be inside its stomach.”
Li Xianguan also held a crossbow. He only lowered it after making absolutely sure the snake was dead. “Yue’er and I were terrified. The arrow had just been loosened when the young master charged forward. If it had hit either of you, I would not dare go home and face my father ever again.”
It seemed Lu Xiao had underestimated his colleagues’ abilities, and also underestimated Qian Jinye’s footwork. Why would a wealthy young master train in light footwork? Lu Xiao was full of bewilderment, but there were far more important matters waiting.
Lu Xiao brought out the thing he had risked his life to grab. The three looked at it and immediately fell silent.
It was a black pearl.
A snake growing to such a monstrous size was already strange beyond belief, but now that they saw the lotus seeds were actually black pearls, everything suddenly made sense.
Lu Xiao looked at Qian Jinye. “So the pearls actually grew from inside lotus pods?” He was not expecting Qian Jinye to remember much, but at the very least, he hoped this matter had nothing to do with him.
Qian Jinye did not notice the faint suspicion and unease hidden in Lu Xiao’s gaze. He was truly and earnestly thinking it through.
“That is not right. If all of these are black pearls, the production cost is far too high. My father would never do such a losing business. There must be another method. I just did not expect that Father would not even spare my Lotus.”
A fleeting sadness brushed across Qian Jinye’s eyes, disappearing as quickly as it came. His gaze drifted to the pond where lotus should have been blooming but was now bare.
It seemed that the pearl production method was actually something that could be chosen, and the pearls produced also had varying grades.
As for the process of transformation, it was similar to refining. Excess impurities were removed to enhance the quality of the raw material. But why did the refined pearls end up larger than the raw ones? Could the pearls be absorbing some kind of trace element in the air?
Just as Qian Jinye said, if every pearl required conversion into black pearls first, the cost would indeed be overwhelming, and the yield extremely low. There must be a simpler method to produce complete white pearls directly.
But judging from Qian Jinye’s expression, he probably would not remember it anytime soon.
“Keep them well. If another monster pops out, these might save your life.” Lu Xiao divided the black pearls into four parts and handed one portion to each person.
Chen Yue’er hesitated ever so slightly. The thing was simply too strange. Pearls growing inside lotus pods. No matter who heard that, they would find it unsettling.
Seeing her hesitation, Qian Jinye reached into Lu Xiao’s arms and took out the fully refined white pearl. “Miss Chen, this one is fully transformed. Wrap it in black cloth and monsters will not be able to tell what it is. Keep it on you for protection.”
Chen Yue’er considered it for a moment. She did not know much about white pearls, but at least they looked less ominous than the black ones. She accepted the cloth bundle Qian Jinye handed her.
On the western side was the nanny’s room, the caretaker who looked after the young Miss Qian. When they went to check, there was no one there. However, there were no burn marks, no signs of a struggle, and no pearls either. She was likely unharmed. Perhaps she had escaped.
The nanny was a good woman, diligent and gentle. She and the old granny, Lu Xiao, had seen earlier in the marketplace used to care for the young Miss together. She had always treated Qian Jinye kindly as well.
When Qian Jinye saw the familiar arrangement of the room, he felt a moment of dazed nostalgia. Everything looked exactly as it usually did, as though nothing had happened, as though everyone was still here.
As long as there was even a sliver of hope, everyone wanted to believe the nanny was still alive.
But this was not the time for wishful thinking or sentimental sorrow. The more normal the nanny’s room appeared, the more suspicious it became, as if deliberately arranged to make them lower their guard.
Lu Xiao scanned the surroundings. It was full of the classic decorations of the Qian residence. They had seen plenty of such rooms today, and nothing seemed amiss.
Except for one thing. In the middle of the room was a carpet that did not belong, woven from bamboo strips. It did not fit with the room at all.
Everyone looked at it and felt a faint, shared sense that something was wrong. Yet none of them could quite put it into words. Lu Xiao, already traumatized by sudden monster attacks, absolutely refused to investigate.
Seeing his timid appearance, Qian Jinye began to doubt his own judgment. Was this man genuinely reliable?
Still, someone had to take the first step. Li Xianguan and Chen Yue’er had excellent aim and could provide support from the back. Qian Jinye had quick reflexes and agility, perfect for close examination.
As for Lu Xiao, he felt completely useless in any physical fight and figured he should stick to logistical support.
Qian Jinye moved efficiently. Within a few swift motions he lifted the carpet, and fortunately, no monster appeared this time. Lu Xiao could only admit that his luck really was terrible.
The carpet itself was ordinary, woven from bamboo. The craftsmanship was slightly rough, which clashed with the overall aesthetic of the Qian estate.
Even Qian Jinye frowned at it. Something like this sitting in his home felt like an insult to the family’s taste.
Lu Xiao circled the spot where the carpet had been, going around twice before finally detecting the problem.
“Brother, do you have water?” he asked.
Qian Jinye pointed toward the pond outside. The memory of almost being swallowed alive flashed through Lu Xiao’s mind and he immediately decided to rely on his brother for the rest of his life.
“Brother, you saw it. I almost died just now. Please, please help me.”
Li Xianguan and Chen Yue’er watched his shameless, spineless behavior and silently pressed their hands to their foreheads. He could easily have asked either of them for help.
Why was he insistent on clinging to one single person and tormenting the two of them emotionally?
Qian Jinye, however, responded well to this behavior. To Chen Yue’er, the two men were like a turtle and a green bean staring at each other with instant understanding. A broken pot could always find its broken lid.
Why could these two not be affectionate with each other? The only problem was that watching them flirt was a little painful to the eyes.
Lu Xiao took the water and splashed it onto the bamboo mat, the corner of his lips raising slightly as something began to reveal itself.
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Nycreth
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · The beginning of the tragedyChapter 2 · Don’t forgetChapter 3 · Look at it directlyChapter 4 · Whom are you trying to seduce?Chapter 5 · TeaseChapter 6 · Sleeping in the same bedChapter 7 · Internal locksChapter 8 · Tampering The rules…Chapter 9 · Black LotusChapter 10 · FledglingChapter 11 · There are no horses in the stable.Chapter 12 · Water-oil separationChapter 13 · The cost of backtrackingChapter 14 · It got biggerChapter 15 · Was it a mouse?Chapter 16 · Too fieryChapter 17 · Administer medicineChapter 18 · Tracing the PearlChapter 19 · A KissChapter 20 · Ge, Kiss meChapter 21 · Ten Thousand Deaths Without RegretChapter 22 · Endless CorridorChapter 23 · CowardChapter 24 · GoodbyeChapter 25 · Back toChapter 26 · It’s is me, Not MeChapter 27 · VictimChapter 28 · Crossed CupsChapter 29 · IntuitionChapter 30 · ChangeChapter 31 · DifferentChapter 32 · ErrorChapter 33 · Mind Your Own BusinessChapter 34 · WanderingChapter 35 · EmbraceChapter 36 · LoveChapter 37 · UnrestrainedChapter 38 · Asking Over a DrinkChapter 39 · As BeforeChapter 40 · SatiatedChapter 41 · A Change in the WindsChapter 42 · A’SuChapter 43 · Welcoming the BrideChapter 44 · GossipChapter 45 · WeaknessChapter 46 · Wedding NightChapter 47 · Brother QingChapter 48 · FadingChapter 49 · Lying LowChapter 50 · CaressChapter 51 · OnceChapter 52 · The Hidden PassageChapter 53 · MotherChapter 54 · FlawlessChapter 55 · ProphecyChapter 56 · EtherealChapter 57 · DecipheringChapter 58 · The TrapChapter 59 · Stone StatueChapter 60 · ChessChapter 61 · AssassinsChapter 62 · The National Preceptor?Chapter 63 · Please return my belongings to me.Chapter 64 · I’m not that desperate.Chapter 65 · No wayChapter 66 · No turning backChapter 67 · I told you, get out of the wayChapter 68 · Still became a monsterChapter 69 · Let’s end thisChapter 70 · Why do you look so much like him?Chapter 71 · One wanted to kill, two stopped himChapter 72 · Unless, the people at Mingzhu Academy are keeping it from himChapter 73 · FraudChapter 74 · Don’t look back, Lu XiaoChapter 75 · It’s coldChapter 76 · Kill MeChapter 77 · We are even marriedChapter 78 · Gege… I Love YouChapter 79 · “It” had arrivedChapter 80 · Wake Up!Chapter 81 · How Nostalgic….Chapter 82 · You already Promised meChapter 83 · Their TerritoryChapter 84 · Jokes were JokesChapter 85 · What you dream was realChapter 86 · Did you cry?Chapter 87 · What’s wrong, young Master?Chapter 88 · No, I only ever said it to youChapter 89 · Honey, Please let me go.Chapter 90 · What are you pretending to be, a gentleman?Chapter 91 · It’s just a shoddy trick to fool people, but I like it anywayChapter 92 · Ge, I did it voluntarily, it’s no useChapter 93 · You little BratChapter 94 · Gege~ please have mercyChapter 95 · Hearing Lu Xiao come in, he patted the seat next to himChapter 96 · Stop fooling around, let me kiss youChapter 97 · “I want…” “Want what?”Chapter 98 · Gege, watch closely how I get youChapter 99 · Little Eleven, how about we talk to ‘it’ first?Chapter 100 · Had it gone mad?Chapter 101 · I will make my decisionChapter 102 · Tsk, how indecentChapter 103 · You are the creator of my original worldChapter 104 · The world is not your toy, go back to where you came fromChapter 105 · He was a boy with snow-white hair and a handsome faceChapter 106 · Haven’t seen you for a long timeChapter 107 · TYRBL Extra: 1Chapter 108 · TYRBL Extra: 2Chapter 109 · TYRBL Extra: 3Chapter 110 · TYRBL Extra: 4