Tie Zhu savored the last bite of the ginger scallion lobster, the otherworldly taste still lingering on his tongue. He couldn't help but close his eyes and let out a contented sigh. Tao Keke, who had been silently enjoying the meal beside him, suddenly spoke up.
"That was amazing, Tie Zhu. I can see why you were so excited to cook it."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Next time I will cook you something even better." Tie Zhu replied, happy with her response as he though of what he could cook next time.
As they cleared the plates away and chatted, Tie Zhu's acute hearing suddenly picked up on a faint noise coming from Tao Keke's apartment next door. He excused himself from the table, claiming he needed to use the bathroom, and followed the sound. His heart raced as he confirmed the sounds of shuffling and rustling were not just his imagination.
As he quietly approached his front door, he heard the noise grow louder. Without wasting any time, he hurriedly opened the door, rushing to Tao Keke's apartment.
'What if something has happened to aunt Xuefeng' He thought in a panic.
Upon reaching their front door he immediately noticed that the front door had been forced opened. Without a second thought, Tie Zhu immediately rushed in only to see a mysterious figure clothed in black, fleeing out of the back window. Tie Zhu quickly scanned the house and his heart sank as he realized that everything had been destroyed. Tables and chairs were overturned, and personal belongings were scattered about. Even the personal bedrooms were in complete disarray, with clothing and bedding strewn everywhere. The dresser had been overturned, and its contents had spilled out onto the ground.
"Tie Zhu, what's happening?" Tao Keke called out, sensing that something was not right.
"Quickly, hide in my apartment now!" Tie Zhu said, his voice urgent. "Someone has broken in and ransacked your home."
Tao Keke's eyes widened in shock as she took in the devastation around her. "Who would do something like this?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I don't know," Tie Zhu replied, his eyes scanning the room for any clues, before rushing to the back window where he has last seen the intruder escape. From the corner of his eye he immediately noticed a large van making a quick get away, its tyres screeching as it hurriedly turned a corner before vanishing from his sight.
Tie Zhu's first thought was to immediately run to his own car to pursue the speeding van, however he quickly threw that thought away as by the time he would have started his car, the escape vehicle would have long been out of sight.
He had to act quickly. "Tao Keke, stay here in my apartment," he said, not waiting for a response before jumping out the window and into the street.
With his increased physical body, he knew he could chase down the van. The streets were still somewhat busy, but Tie Zhu deftly weaved through the crowds, his senses honed to the point where he could avoid any obstacles with ease. He soon caught up to the van, and as it turned onto a busier street, Tie Zhu took his opportunity to sneak under the van.
As the van drove faster and faster, Tie Zhu clung on for dear life, his enhanced strength keeping him from falling off. Finally, the van turned onto a highway, and Tie Zhu knew they were getting close to their destination. The wind whipped past him, as his back almost scaped past the asphalt speeding past him at a frightening pace.
Finally, after what seemed to have been an eternity, the van finally approached a large rural house before coming to a stop. Not long after, Tie Zhu heard the door slam shut, followed by hurried footsteps towards the direction of the house. After confirming that there were no other people around, Tie Zhu finally breathed a deep sigh of relief, before hitting the ground with a light thud! Even though he had greatly increased his strength, even for him, clinging onto the bottom of the van had started causing his hands to feel a bit of discomfort. Although it was not to the point of cramping, the experience having to hold on while travelling at over 100 km an hour was somewhat terrifying to say the least.
After confirming that everything was clear, Tie Zhu took time to carefully survey his surroundings. Tie Zhu cautiously approached the large rural house, its imposing facade looming before him in the darkness of the night. The mansion was surrounded by a vast garden, and Tie Zhu could see the silhouettes of tall trees and hedges, casting eerie shadows across the lawn. The moon was obscured by clouds, and the only source of light came from the windows of the mansion itself.
The house was old, its brick walls showing signs of age and wear, and ivy clung to its sides, adding to its haunted appearance. The front entrance was flanked by large pillars, and Tie Zhu could see intricate carvings on the wooden doors, hinting at the wealth and status of the occupants within.
As Tie Zhu made his way around the perimeter of the mansion, he saw that the gardens were unkempt and overgrown, and the few lamps that dotted the lawn flickered dimly, casting long shadows across the ground. He could hear the soft rustling of leaves, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
The mansion itself was dark and foreboding, with only a few windows lit from within. Tie Zhu could see the silhouettes of figures moving about within the mansion, and the faint glow of candles casting flickering shadows on the walls. Just as Tie Zhu was almost done investigating the surroundings Wang Yazhu suddenly spoke.
'Be careful, there are cultivators inside, and they seem to have taken interest in your girlfriends mother."