Volume One, Chapter Twelve: How Could This Be Possible?

Silence is tonight’s Cambridge!

Cheng Xi forced a smile. “Lord Jiang, what a coincidence.”

Jiang Boyu’s mouth twitched slightly. Now he somewhat understood why the Master’s expression was always so complicated whenever Cheng Xi was mentioned.

He had a hint of comprehension now.

“Aren’t you supposed to have gone home?” Jiang Boyu asked out of curiosity.

Cheng Xi immediately shifted to a serious expression. “Lord Jiang, Baohua was captured and taken to the Prefect’s Mansion by them. I’ve come to reclaim her.”

Baohua?

Jiang Boyu recalled the paper doll Cheng Xi once used to subdue the four-eyed demon fox. His expression grew grave as he turned to Cheng Fenglian. “Miss Cheng, may I ask if this is true?”

Cheng Fenglian wasn’t clear about the relationship between Cheng Xi and Jiang Boyu, but seeing how close Jiang Boyu was to her, she grew suspicious. Out of respect for the Tongtian Department, she replied cautiously, “That’s impossible. Why would we arrest Baohua?”

“This morning, you led the soldiers to raid my home and took Baohua away,” Cheng Xi said, turning to Jiang Boyu and complaining, “They even used binding ropes!”

Cheng Fenglian blushed. “I only did that to ask for your help in saving my brother. It was a last resort.”

“So when you couldn’t get help, you resorted to kidnapping?” Cheng Xi snapped. “Lord Jiang, you heard her admit it!”

Cheng Fenglian was speechless. “Cheng Xi, don’t slander me. What did I admit to?”

“Lord Jiang, see? She’s flustered! She’s flustered!” Cheng Xi insisted.

Cheng Fenglian: …

“Cheng Xi, I’ll fight you!” Cheng Fenglian had never met someone so shameless, stubborn, and unreasonable.

Jiang Boyu sighed in amazement, drawing his long sword to block Cheng Fenglian’s sudden advance. “Miss Cheng, the Tongtian Department handles cases based on evidence. Whether Baohua is here or not will soon be clear.”

Cheng Fenglian retorted angrily, “Do you have proof Baohua is in our mansion? Evidence? Is this what you call evidence?”

Biased evidence, perhaps?

Jiang Boyu nodded without changing his expression. “Miss Cheng, there is a contract bond between the paper doll and its owner. Miss Cheng must have sensed the doll’s presence here, so she wouldn’t lie.”

At this, Jiang Boyu’s gaze toward Cheng Fenglian became subtle. “I forgot — although you have talent, you haven’t officially become a talisman master, so naturally you wouldn’t know this.”

Cheng Fenglian was hit hard and was barely holding on. Her expression shifted repeatedly.

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Jiang Boyu looked a bit pitying but said firmly, “Miss Cheng, we were ordered to investigate the whereabouts of the Ghost-faced Bird. The Seeking Demon Pearl showed that your mansion might harbor a demon.”

“What?” Cheng Fenglian’s legs weakened. Although talented, she had not yet enrolled in the academy or formally studied talisman mastery and had never encountered a demon. Summoning her courage, she asked, “Sir, is that true?”

Jiang Boyu remained silent, holding the Seeking Demon Pearl in his palm. It flashed a piercing red light.

Cheng Fenglian dared not resist further. “Open the door.”

As she led the way, Cheng Fenglian instructed her servants to immediately send messages to the backyard and to summon her father. If not for her worry that her brother guarded the front yard, she wouldn’t have heard the commotion.

Who would have thought things would escalate like this? Seeing Cheng Xi following closely behind, she bit her lip and didn’t drive her away.

With Jiang Boyu present and protecting Cheng Xi, she dared not force her out and pretended not to see her with great frustration.

Cheng Xi cared nothing for Cheng Fenglian’s frustration and followed Jiang Boyu inside, carefully sensing Baohua’s location. Strangely, once inside the Cheng residence, the sensation became faint and elusive—she wondered why.

Cheng Zhouxing arrived swiftly, glanced at Cheng Xi as if ignoring her, then faced Jiang Boyu directly. “Lord Jiang, what brings you to visit at such a late hour?”

While Jiang Boyu and Cheng Zhouxing conversed, Cheng Fenglian stepped back and eyed Cheng Xi warily. “No wonder you’re so brazen—you’ve got Lord Jiang’s backing. But don’t get your hopes up; the Tongtian Department values talent and aptitude. Someone like you will never enter the Jiang family gates.”

Cheng Xi looked at Cheng Fenglian. “You think only of status, talent, and marriage, but I’ve never seen you dance with the wind or soar ninety thousand miles.”

Cheng Fenglian frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

“You’re so impressive—why don’t you fly to the heavens?”

Cheng Fenglian: …

Cheng Xi, I’ll tear your mouth apart!

Jiang Boyu overheard the remark, suppressing a laugh as he said to the equally twisted-faced Cheng Zhouxing, “Prefect Cheng, please proceed.”

The Seeking Demon Pearl in Jiang Boyu’s palm flashed continuously. Following its guidance, the group soon stopped before Cheng Yunjian’s courtyard gate.

Cheng Zhouxing was shocked, immediately pushing open the gate as the group surged inside.

Cheng Xi halted, glanced westward, but saw nothing. Was she mistaken?

Cheng Fenglian, noticing Cheng Xi’s hesitation, asked cautiously, “What are you looking at?”

Cheng Xi ignored her and followed.

Outside Cheng Yunjian’s room stood a servant boy. Hearing the noise, he bowed respectfully.

“Where is the young master?” Cheng Zhouxing asked.

The servant replied quickly, “Still asleep. Madam Yang is inside watching over him, and I’m guarding outside.”

Madam Yang was Cheng Yunjian’s wet nurse and trustworthy. Cheng Zhouxing relaxed slightly and was about to speak when Jiang Boyu strode past him and entered.

“Lord Jiang…” Cheng Zhouxing hurried after him.

Cheng Xi’s expression darkened; she caught a faint scent of blood.

Inside the inner chamber, they found Madam Yang collapsed on the floor, blood pooling beneath her, her fate unknown. Two maids lay unconscious nearby.

Jiang Boyu’s face hardened. “Search immediately!”

“Yes, sir.” The Tongtian Department guards split up to search.

Jiang Boyu traced the bloodstains and leapt through a window. Cheng Xi turned and chased after him from the doorway.

Cheng Fenglian, despite her fear, gritted her teeth and followed.

At that moment, Madam Li arrived, supporting the matriarch. Looking up, she saw Cheng Xi rushing past. Thinking she must be mistaken, she grew angry and was about to call for help, but then saw Cheng Fenglian run after her.

“Fenglian…”

Before Madam Li could finish, Cheng Fenglian’s figure disappeared around the corner. What was going on?

Madam Li then saw Cheng Zhouxing emerge from the house in pursuit and grabbed her husband’s arm. “Master, I swear I saw Cheng Xi here. Was I mistaken?”

The matriarch scowled. “What is that wretched woman doing here? Did you soften your heart and bring her back again? Get her out at once!”

Cheng Zhouxing was frantic, shaking off Madam Li’s grip. “Stop this nonsense! Yunjian is missing!”

The matriarch and Madam Li were terrified. “Master, what do you mean missing? Wasn’t he home just tonight?”

Cheng Zhouxing had no time to explain. “Watch over Mother. I’m going to find my son!”

Leaving Madam Li behind, Cheng Zhouxing took off in pursuit, shouting for the constables to come immediately and assist.