"What are you telling me?"
Huyu sat confidently in the chair.
Lin Long gripped his teacup tightly before releasing it. "What exactly is going on between you and Cui'er?"
Huyu retorted, "What do you mean by 'what's going on'?"
Lin Long tightened his grip on the teacup, the faint sound of friction echoing. "When did you two meet?"
Without hesitation, Huyu answered, "The night of the wedding, yesterday."
Lin Long, irritated, slammed the teacup onto the table, producing a sharp clink. "Tell me the truth."
Huyu rolled his eyes. "That is the truth."
Lin Long's face darkened instantly, his expression so grim it could almost drip with water. "Don't test my patience."
The sunlight slanted through the window, bathing the otherwise dark room in a golden hue.
Huyu sighed helplessly. "I've told you the truth. What else do you expect me to do if you don't believe me?"
Lin Long crushed the teacup in his hand, releasing an overwhelming pressure, his strength like an unstoppable wave. "You dare hide the truth? Who gave you the courage to act so recklessly in the Lin family?"
"If the Lin family leader has doubts, he should provide evidence. Though my Li family has fallen, we are still one of the three great families."
Huyu remained unmoving, his expression unchanged.
Lin Long's face shifted slightly. Indeed, even though the Li family had suffered greatly from the invasion of the demon clan, it remained one of the strongest powers in Linjiang. If anything happened to Huyu for this reason, how could Li Zhen let it slide?
That would trigger a terrifying chain reaction.
"Hmph, we'll leave this matter unresolved for now. Don't think this will end here."
As the head of the Lin family, Lin Long weighed his options and, after a moment of hesitation, reluctantly compromised before slamming the door behind him.
Once he left, the room felt emptier. Huyu's expression softened as he muttered, "If only I had my peak power, I wouldn't be so constrained."
A long silence followed.
"Delays will lead to trouble; the issue with my dantian must be resolved before things get out of control."
With nowhere else to go, Huyu closed his eyes to rest. By the time dusk approached, the limping butler finally returned, his mouth stained with blood and his clothes in disarray, suggesting he had just endured a beating.
"Master, is there anything you need from me?"
The butler's eyes flashed with anger when he noticed Huyu, but he quickly masked it with a humble expression.
Noticing the fleeting anger, Huyu sneered. "I need a quiet house, the fewer people the better."
The butler nodded slightly. "There are many houses, Master, when would you like to move in?"
Huyu thought for a moment. "The sooner, the better."
"Then please follow me now, Master."
The butler bowed and suggested.
"Fine."
Huyu followed the butler to a secluded courtyard overrun with weeds.
Inside, there was a dilapidated house, its walls and roof covered in moss and ivy. The door stood wide open, dust accumulating inside. A memorial tablet was placed solemnly in the main hall, an ominous air hanging over it.
"When the previous head of the family was alive, a concubine committed suicide here. Many people avoided living here because of bad luck, and over time, it fell into disrepair. It's very quiet, but…" The butler seemed to hesitate, unwilling to explain further.
"If there's a problem, just say it."
Huyu urged.
After a brief hesitation, the butler continued, "The servants who stayed here previously all went mad the next day, saying that the spirit of the hanged woman wouldn't leave."
Huyu scoffed. "Doesn't matter. This will do."
He had defeated countless opponents to sit on the throne, and if the dead could turn into vengeful spirits, his own life would have long been claimed.
The butler stood behind him, an uncontrollable disdain showing in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. "Please make yourself at home, Master. I'll go find someone to clean up."
"No need. You can leave now."
Huyu stood near a dry well in the yard, looking around.
"If you need anything, Master, just call for me."
The butler took two steps back and hesitated. After a moment, he asked, "Master, about my condition…"
Huyu had completely forgotten about this matter, and casually responded, "Come find me tomorrow night."
"Understood!"
The butler's face lit up with joy as he slowly backed out of the courtyard. However, once his back was turned, his expression became cold again.
Huyu was fully aware of the butler's hidden thoughts but had no particular interest in them. He had already given the man plenty of chances, and if the butler didn't want them, at least he could serve as a sharpening stone.
Entering the main hall,
Huyu noticed a memorial tablet placed on the table. It read: "For Lin Guinian's beloved concubine, Jiang Xinzhi."
Two yellowed and partially torn couplets hung on either side, their origin unknown.
The floor was covered in white cloths, and pulling them back stirred up a cloud of dust. Beneath the cloth, the furniture was still pristine after a quick cleaning.
But one thing struck Huyu as odd. The memorial tablet for Jiang Xinzhi was spotless, even shining slightly, as if it had been regularly cleaned or touched.
"Jiang Xinzhi… I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before."
Huyu stared at the memorial tablet for a while, but when nothing came to mind, he stopped dwelling on it. There were too many things to do, and he wasn't interested in investigating the Lin family's past affairs.
After checking out a few more things, Huyu sat on the wooden bed, but it felt strangely cold, as though there was an ice block under it.
He knocked on the bedframe a few times and bent down to peer under the bed.
The sound of dripping water echoed from somewhere nearby.
Yet, there was nothing under the bed.
"Why is it so cold?"
Huyu pinched his chin, pondering for a moment before his eyebrows raised.