"Xiao Lan, I think we have a solution to our problem now" the text Detective song had provided Fu Hua with was written in a language so ancient that Fu Hua doubted that anyone else but him could read it.
It was all thanks to his bloodline that allowed him access to these ancient texts and helped decipher them when he needed to.
That was the only reason he could look past the wards on the text and see what lay beneath its web of deceptions.
And there was a lot of things to uncover, the most important of all was the tracking spell being pointed out by the detective.
Fu Hua had to wonder if this was a coincidence that the other had opened this page or was it deliberately done on the other. Both were likely options that had different annotations attached to them and made Fu Hua want to rethink the other person in the room.
"What is it? All I see is gibberish" Xiao Lan leaned above Fu Huaá shoulder, this was only made possible by the fact that Fu Hua had grabbed a seat to sit as he looked through this document.
"This is a tracking spell left by the ancestors. All it needs is a small energy sample of the person or thing we are looking for and a drop of my blood. We will need to construct the array from the scratch though, but this should work" The younger looked impressed, if only marginally.
Fu Hua, who could read the other like a book instantly noticed this change.
"Good work detective song. I will look into your promotion once we go back home" the detective flinched but his expression instantly showed hope.
Fu Hua felt a deep sorrow as he saw his 'friend' show such hope.
He knew that the detective had been working hard for this promotion but he had fallen short again and again. Being in the position he was in, it was clear to see that not many noble people liked him and thought of him as beneath them.
His cowardly nature did not help him any and he has pushed around again and again.
Fu Hua had once asked Detective Song if he resented the others for how they dealt with him but the other had not replied and the matter had been dropped.
So had the request to bring this matter up to Xiao Lan and ask for his help. Detective Song had wanted to do this on his own, by gaining his own merits but the crushing effect of his decision was clear to be seen on his face now.
He was tried and the offer was so tempting that he finally took it. The fact that it was his contribution that was getting him this promotion must have also helped him a lot and Fu Hua was happy for the other.
As the other two talked it out, Fu Hua focused his attention on the text in his hand.
The spell was not dangerous but it was complicated and required great craftsmanship. His first instinct had been to commission the royal smith to make the device but this would surely be recognised in the court.
Xiao Fei would ask questions and things would go out of hand.
Ever since they had come here, Fu Hua could not help but feel as if they had been following a well-written script.
It felt as if they were dancing at the fingertips of someone else and doing their dirty work. Even the Hinoe Uma's calling, as weird as it had been, did not feel natural.
Not to mention those two agents who looked to be the instigator for their origination had given away too much.
Fu Hua knew how that organisation worked and there was no way they would have found their involvement in the whole thing if it had not been pre-planned.
So it left the question of who could have done it all? Who had the power and resources to lead them here but wanted the benefit of keeping his name out.
The only one who made any sense was the crown prince, Xiao Fei who might want to keep his cover while also controlling this whole scene.
Fu Hua would check with him once he got the chance to do so. And if not him then Xiao Fei would make sure to contact him.
"Should we go back to the capital? The supplied would be easier to find" Xiao Lan and Detective Song finally made their way toward Fu Hua who was still clutching the same page of text as before.
"No, I don't think it's wise. It would take us too long to go back and then to depart for another place. The commissioned object would also take time to be made and so would the preparations. It would be better if we find someone nearby to make the tool for us"
The excuse looked plausible on the surface so the other two did not question much.
But the look Detective Song gave him clearly said that he had guessed the real reason but was not going to say anything about it. The other had strong self-preservation instincts which had kept him alive this long.
Fu Hua did not doubt that the one who was most well-versed with the filth in the royal capital was Detective Song.
"Is that so. Yes, I can see your point but we don't have any place to live here. Not to mention, our stay here would put a burden on the people and soldiers who are attempting to get the situation under control"
What Xiao Lan had wanted to say was that 'his' presence would put a burden on everyone.
He had revealed himself as someone from the royal family and as such, most people felt pressured to give his words a lot of weight around here. He had likely considered that in his thoughts as well.
Xiao Lan was a good acting-king, careful of his people and loving in his way. He placed them first before anything else but sometimes that was not what was needed.
Thankfully, Detective Song was the one who offered a solution to their problem.
"There is a famous smith in the next town. The old granny told me so before you arriver back. I think we can commission him to get our work done" that would be a good idea.
The communication network between ordinary people was not that well-versed so small-time traders hardly got their names out, no matter how good they were.
They had lucked out this time and the feeling of being led around came back to Fu Hua. This was a coincidence but it was far too well-timed to not make him nervous. He had to take a few deep breaths to calm himself down before he let something escape his mouth at this coincidence.
"If that is so then we shall leave for the next town. Commander Yuhan can join us when he is finished with his duties here" Fu Hua followed the other two out, his hand still clutching the text in his hand before he remembered something and turned back.
"Let me pack everything in an extendable pouch. We cannot allow it all to remain here anyway" the other two came back as well and worked to pack everything up.
With the Xi family no longer there, the Hua shrine would need to be maintained by the royal family and would directly fall under Xiao Fei's hands.
Fu Hua could not allow these texts to get in his hand. It didn't matter if he could use them or not, it was just too dangerous to allow them to stay back here.
His hands moved to pick up books without him even noticing and his attention finally shifted down. The spot his hand was at looked slightly lighter and dust-free from his surroundings.
The square shape indicated that it was likely due to a book that must have covered this spot but Fu Hua did not remember picking up any.
'Must have been Detective Song or Xiao Lan' he did not pay much attention to it as he continued picking up the books. It took a better part of an hour and two extendable pouched before everything was packed and ready to go.
Fu Hua gave the shed a last look of longing but he knew he could not stay behind. As much as he wanted to stay and discover this place, the place of his mother, he had no right to.
He was a slave, a property and marked as such. This would not change no matter how much he tried to deny it and he had to accept it.
Xiao Lan was his future now, the one he would have to serve till the day he died or the other freed him. But he was not home.
The home was nowhere for him, maybe it never was and it never will be anymore.