A surprised voice called out from behind, growing louder with each word.
Li Xiaobai turned toward the sound and immediately recognized the speaker—it was Liu, the county captain of Xiyan Town. Against all odds, he had survived the bandit raid.
"Captain Liu!"
The county officer, responsible for overseeing martial affairs, was in a dire state. His right arm was severed at the elbow, and his pallor betrayed the severity of his injuries from battling the marauders. It was a miracle he was still walking.
"Young man, it truly is you! Thank the heavens you're alive. It wasn't in vain that Master Li sacrificed himself for you and your brothers! Don't just stand here; come, come, let's find a quieter spot to talk."
Liu's gaze swept over the beautiful maiden standing beside Li Xiaobai outside the now-occupied Zhuzhong Mansion gates, and a knowing expression crossed his face.
Turning to the two guards at the gate, Liu forced a smile and said, "This young man here is the rightful owner of this grand estate. My apologies, brothers. I'll take him away now."
One of the guards clasped his fists in a gesture of respect and replied, "The bandit threat still looms. Forgive us for doing our duty."
"Young man, surviving such calamity surely means blessings are in store for you!"
Despite his missing arm, Liu guided Li Xiaobai and the maiden to a nearby teahouse.
Inside, Liu's eyes finally fell upon the stunning young woman at Li Xiaobai's side. Startled, he asked, "And who might this be?"
The serpent maiden had remained inconspicuous throughout their journey into Xiyan Town. Almost everyone's attention was fixed on Li Xiaobai, leaving her presence largely unnoticed.
"This is Miss Qingyao, a close companion of mine," Li Xiaobai replied smoothly, carefully avoiding any mention of her true nature as a shapeshifting demon. Revealing such a truth would plunge Xiyan Town into chaos. Compared to her, the marauding bandits, however destructive, paled in significance. Bandits might kill, but they didn't devour their victims. A demon did both, making her infinitely more terrifying.
"Oh, Miss Qingyao! I am Liu Xiao, styled Zizheng, the captain of this humble town. You may call me Zizheng," Liu said, his admiration for her beauty evident. He attempted to bow but stopped, remembering his missing arm.
Qingyao returned the greeting with an elegant bow, her demeanor flawless. "This humble woman greets you, Captain Liu."
"Captain Liu, I have some questions for you," Li Xiaobai interjected, pulling out a chair for Liu to sit at a square table.
As the teahouse owner approached, the remnants of mourning cloth tied around his waist caught their eyes.
"What can I get for you three?"
"Anything that will satisfy our hunger," Liu said. "And some Biluochun tea. Do you still have any left?"
"Yes, a small amount remains," the owner replied eagerly.
"Good. Bring whatever you have."
As the owner bustled away, Liu turned to Li Xiaobai. "Young man, I know what you wish to ask. Speak freely—I will answer as best I can."
Since losing his arm, Liu had resigned himself to the fact that his days as captain were numbered. This realization had softened him, making him more inclined to form bonds and secure his future.
"Captain Liu, have my father and the two stewards been properly buried? If not, please help arrange their interment. If they have been laid to rest, I wish to pay my respects."
Li Xiaobai refrained from asking about reclaiming his family estate from the soldiers who now occupied it. First, he needed to ensure that his family's remains were not left to decay in the wilderness.
"Master Li… his body…" Liu hesitated, his expression turning strange.
"What is it?" Li Xiaobai's heart sank. Had the bodies been desecrated or stolen?
Liu frowned, as if recalling a bizarre event. "Master Li's body is missing. We searched every corner of the Li estate but found nothing—not even the stewards or the servants. Their bodies have all vanished."
"What?" Li Xiaobai's eyes widened in disbelief.
"In the outskirts of town, someone discovered graves for your two stewards and the servants, marked with tombstones. But strangely, there was no tomb for your father."
The disappearance of his father's body, coupled with the burial of the others, puzzled Li Xiaobai. A glimmer of understanding flickered in his mind.
"Captain Liu, has Widow Jiao returned?" Li Xiaobai asked, steering the conversation.
"Widow Jiao?" Liu chuckled, shaking his head. "Young man, why waste your thoughts on her? Some say she was taken by bandits, others that she was killed. Either way, you won't see her again. A widow with such a reputation is hardly worthy of your concern, especially with a beauty like this at your side," he added, nodding toward Qingyao.
Li Xiaobai smiled faintly. "It's not like that. She abducted Wu Xiangjun, the young lady of the Wu family."
"What?" Liu's laughter stopped abruptly. "You must be mistaken! Widow Jiao may have been alluring, but she lived modestly. How could she abduct anyone, let alone the Wu family's daughter?"
Leaning closer, Li Xiaobai whispered, "Have you heard of the Imperial Secret Bureau?"
Liu stiffened, his face turning pale. He hastily glanced around before lowering his voice. "Young man, be careful! Such words can cost us our lives. Forget you ever mentioned them!"
His reaction confirmed Li Xiaobai's suspicion. Widow Jiao's connection to the Bureau was undeniable.
"Young man," Liu continued, shaking his head, "there are things far beyond our reach. Don't involve yourself in matters that could destroy you."
Before Li Xiaobai could respond, Liu abruptly changed the subject. "By the way, have you seen Bai Ying'er recently? Five days ago, she was in town looking for you but left after two days."
"No," Li Xiaobai replied, casting a sidelong glance at Qingyao. He couldn't help but blame the serpent maiden for the delay that had cost him critical information.