It was nightfall. Xiao Fan, He Hou, Luo Lan and Li Wang were in a private room on the upper floor of the tavern, while the soldiers were stationed downstairs. They were all having their dinners, after their dinners the four of them started to discuss the case, whereas the soldiers were chatting away happily.
" Lady Xiao Fan have you found anything? I'm sure Luo Lan was of big use and have helped you a lot. " Li Wang asked Xiao Fan then looked at Luo Lan with a smile on his face, Luo Lan just rolled his eyes at his brother.
Xiao Fan was thinking back, come to think of it, he never talked to her or said anything. He only stared at her, " Sure, Bing Bing was very useful and helpful. He doesn't need to say anything at all. " Xiao replied with a smile on her face as she took a sip of tea.
" B-BI-BING BING! AHAHAHAHAHA! " Li Wang and He Hou couldn't hold in their laughter much longer, so they let it out, Li Wang started patting Luo Lan on the back so hard that he spit out his tea. Luo Lan glared at the both laughing idiots, who ignored him.
Soon then they had calmed down, hopefully. " Hav-Have you found anything, Xiao Mei? " He Hou spoke, but as soon as Li Wang and He Hou made eye contact laughter filled the room again. Then two pebbles were shot at their heads, the two of them who were previously on the floor laughing their butt off and now next their sitting still and up straight.
" I've discovered that there were very thin red lines on their joints, this could have been done by the same person because their cuts are all the same. Around the same area, all clean cuts. It's unlikely to be a resentful soul, they would taunt their kills. Whatever this is, it didn't. " She said and took another sip of tea, then looked at them as in asking if they had found anything.
" If I may say, I heard from the soldiers that they felt as if they weren't alone in that house. It felt cold which it shouldn't because it's the middle of summer and this place is located in the northern part of the Qing Empire. " He Hou added.
" Maybe we should go patrolling tonight and see if anything happens, He Hou gather your troop and start later on. Xiao Fan and Luo Lan will see everything from the top of buildings, keep your eyes open. " Li Wang said as he stood up went downstairs to round up his troop for the patrol.
After Xiao Fan had finished her tea, then Xiao Fan and Luo Lan had started to jump on buildings to find a nice rooftop that could oversee everything.
It didn't take them a long time to find a nice spot, Xiao Fan sat down on the rooftop of the building. She started to concentrate on the surroundings with her eyes closed, a sudden but light energy wave was released by Xiao Fan.
This allowed her to focus on the environment, the slightest movement or resentful dark energy would be detected, it doesn't take eyes to be seen. Luo Lan was reading the wind directions in the nearby forests. Perhaps they might make a great team after all if they placed their differences aside.
Xiao Fan opened her eyes and saw her brother and Li Wang patrolling, she moved her hand which sent out some wind knocking down the barrel, it dropped and roll on the ground. She saw Li Wang and his troop tensed up and turn around but nothing was, she giggled slightly. Luo Lan saw what she did and shook his head, he signalled to his first brother that it was nothing, it was just Xiao Fan wanting to mess around.
Li Wang got the notice and continued to patrol, but Xiao Fan picked up some small movement, something dark. She stood up and walked the edge, Luo Lan saw her movement. " What is it? " Luo Lan asked her, as he went over to see what had caught her attention. But was puzzled because he saw nothing.
" Bing Bing, I will go to that place for awhile you continue to see if anything is coming from the forests. " Xiao Fan informed Luo Lan then she jumped down from the building when she did that she gave Luo Lan a heart attack at the same time.
The minute she stepped foot on that street, she felt the environment change, the air was thick and heavy. Xiao Fan felt a sudden uneasiness in her gut as if telling her to turn back now and quickly. The scent of metallic scent filled the air, it wasn't coming from anywhere specific, but it came from every single part of the street.
' Smart, they are covering their location, but why can't I sense where are they around? ' Xiao Fan thought as fog and mist started to fill the place, she used her sleeve to cover her nose. Then her head started to throb with a huge amount of pressure, she held her head as she fell on one leg.
Then she saw a black deformed figure ran pass in front of her, " Who are you? " She shouted, she only heard teeth chattering and a distorted sound as it appeared in front of her and started to move closer. She fell on her butt Before this could continue any further she heard her brother's voice, " Xiao Mei! " She saw the figure looked at the direction of where the voice came from before is whispered " I'll come for you soon, princess. " Then it turned into dark mist and then dispersed. He Hou came into view, he picked up his sister from the ground. " Are you ok? " He asked concerned, not like the usual self that he was normally when he was around Xiao Fan. She nodded her head and quickly replace her horrified face with a calm one.
" I'm fine, let's head back to the tavern. " She said softly, He Hou wasn't buying one second of it that she was fine. But decided not to pry on the matter and leave her alone for now, since she seemed slightly shaken up.
Xiao Fan returned to her room, she quickly went through all of the documents. She remembered that voice, it was the voice of her mother's close servant. After going through everything she found nothing, not a single question was answered.
Then she heard a knock on the door, " Come in. " She muttered tiredly under her breath, then the door opened. " Xiao Mei, go to sleep you can continue tomorrow. " He Hou told her then proceeded to pack her things, she nodded her head sleepily. He smiled then left the room, Xiao Fan then looked at her window. She stood up and closed the window, ' It's better to be safe than sorry, after what I just saw. It's mostly to be still here, in this part of town. ' She said to herself and got to bed after blowing out the candle to settle in for the night.
It was way past midnight when Xiao Fan's window slowly creaked open. Then the same disfigured creature entered the room, it's head-turning right to left along with a soft chattering noise come from its teeth. At times jolting slightly, " Princess. " It said, as it closed the window then left her room into the hall.