Long Aotian’s Beautiful Butler Has Run Away chapter 108

Chapter 108: Caught Up

“Don’t!” Ling Long immediately lunged at Shen Bingsi, but he dodged effortlessly, leaving her clutching at empty air.

The small Eagle-Headed Falcon stared blankly at Ling Long, seemingly unsure of what was happening or why its master was so agitated.

“Speak!” Shen Bingsi shook the small falcon’s head back and forth in mid-air.

“Sword Saint Shen, please have mercy! We’ll tell you!” Zhao Dajiang shouted.

“Big Brother Zhao!” Ling Long turned around, looking at him in disbelief.

“It doesn’t matter; we’re almost there anyway.” Zhao Dajiang nodded slightly to comfort Ling Long, then turned to look at Shen Bingsi, who was smugly celebrating his victory. Zhao Dajiang’s voice turned serious. “Sword Saint Shen, I can tell you, but you must promise me not to go ahead alone and ruin Fellow Daoist Rong’s plans!”

“What…?” Now it was Shen Bingsi’s turn to look incredulous. “Me? Ruin Rong Xie’s plans? I only ever do things that benefit Rong Xie, alright!”

“Promise me first.”

“…Fine! Okay! I promise, alright? Can you tell me now?”

Zhao Dajiang looked at Ling Long, who shook her head vigorously. Zhao Dajiang sighed and said, “Fellow Daoist Rong went to Qinghe County.”

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“Qinghe County?” Shen Bingsi paused for a moment before realizing, then looked puzzled again. “The county next to my hometown is also called Qinghe County.”

“It is that county.” Zhao Dajiang nodded.

“What is he doing there?” Shen Bingsi was perplexed. “That remote corner has no treasure, only the Lu family… Wait!”

Shen Bingsi lost control of his strength, and the small falcon in his hand screeched sharply, flapping its wings and struggling ceaselessly. It twisted its head and pecked viciously at Shen Bingsi’s finger with its hard, sharp beak.

Shen Bingsi had body-protecting spiritual energy, so he wasn’t afraid of the peck, but feeling the creature struggling in his hand made him subconsciously let go. With a shriek, the falcon flew into Ling Long’s arms.

Shen Bingsi’s face turned gloomy. “What is he doing at Lu Yingqi’s hometown! You said he left first—he didn’t leave with Lu Yingqi, did he?!”

Zhao Dajiang and Ling Long both fell silent. Silence was an admission.

Shen Bingsi gritted his teeth. With a flash of golden light from the Shengxie Sword, he flew off into the night sky.

“It’s over.” Ling Long stomped her foot. “We shouldn’t have told him. Now there’s really going to be trouble!”

“…” Zhao Dajiang’s expression was also grim. “Let’s not panic. Maybe it won’t be that bad. Sword Saint Shen abhors evil; perhaps his presence will actually help Fellow Daoist Rong.”

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Ling Long rolled her eyes. “Do you believe he’s going there to help?”

Shen Bingsi was like a rampaging lion, charging wherever he pleased. He didn’t even know what they were investigating; how could he possibly help?

Both fell silent, immersed in the frustration of a mission compromised before it began.

Suddenly, a golden beam shot back from the distance.

Shen Bingsi appeared before them just as abruptly as he had left.

“Whoa.” Zhao Dajiang leaned back slightly.

Ling Long also took a half-step back, hugging her bird tightly.

Shen Bingsi’s gaze swept over their faces. “You just said ‘ruin Rong Xie’s plans’… exactly what plans?”

Ling Long raised her eyebrows in surprise, and Zhao Dajiang did the same. They exchanged a glance, seeing the unexpected turn in each other’s eyes.

Shen Bingsi actually came back to ask what was going on. The irritable sword cultivator, who usually disregarded everyone and left on a whim, had actually changed his nature this time.

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Zhao Dajiang immediately told Shen Bingsi that Rong Xie was going to investigate a well in the Lu family estate, and that his previous contact with Lu Yingqi was also regarding this well. However, he explained that it was inconvenient to reveal specific details. Until the investigation was clear, every additional person who knew was an additional trouble that could cause turmoil in the cultivation world.

“A well?” Shen Bingsi was puzzled. “Why don’t I know of any well in the Lu family?”

Zhao Dajiang chuckled honestly. “Sword Saint Shen left his hometown very early, so perhaps you aren’t familiar with these matters.”

“True, I have zero interest in the messy affairs of my hometown,” Shen Bingsi muttered. “But how did he know…? Was it from that trip back earlier?”

Shen Bingsi couldn’t understand why Rong Xie would know about these things, let alone mobilize a Treasure Hunting Team to investigate. Didn’t Rong Xie want to live an ordinary life? Why get mixed up in such inexplicable matters?

Shen Bingsi thought for a moment, then pulled out his Gold-Light Fish-Patterned Pouch. “How much is he paying you? I’ll pay it.”

Hiring a formal Treasure Hunting Team like this would cost a fortune. Shen Bingsi didn’t think the financially strapped Rong Xie could produce that much money.

“No charge,” Zhao Dajiang smiled. “We aren’t taking money.”

This time, Shen Bingsi was surprised. “You’re actually working for free?”

“Yes, we can work for free for a case of sufficient value,” Zhao Dajiang said solemnly.

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“…” Shen Bingsi narrowed his eyes. “Exactly what case is so valuable? Does the Lu family have some cultivation manual I don’t know about? A sword technique manual?”

Zhao Dajiang coughed. “Sword Saint Shen should ask Fellow Daoist Rong when you see him. We promised him not to leak it until the case is clear. We haven’t even told all our own team members.”

“…” Shen Bingsi remained silent for a moment and, true to form, did not press further.

He paced back and forth on the dragon’s head a couple of times before returning.

“What else did you agree on?” Shen Bingsi asked. “Did you agree on an arrival time?”

“Oh, not really. Fellow Daoist Rong asked us to get there as fast as possible. We are already moving quite fast; we should arrive around noon tomorrow,” Zhao Dajiang said.

Shen Bingsi’s brow smoothed out. “That’s perfect. Fastest speed, right? I’ll give you a boost.”

“Sit tight!”

Twilight was sinking, and a few stars punctured the vast dome of the sky.

Rong Xie followed the laborer, winding through dirty paths until they finally arrived at a mysterious courtyard enclosed by a circular wall.

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Unlike other courtyards where rooftops were visible, nothing could be seen from the outside of this one. It looked just like a giant well erected on the ground.

Rong Xie thought to himself that with such a distinct landmark, it would be easy to find just by flying into the air.

The laborer walked to the gate and scratched his head. “Master, the well you are looking for is inside, but without the keys from Madam Mei or the Old Master, no one can enter.”

Rong Xie looked at the gate. It was an iron door secured with seven or eight iron bars. Each bar had a lock, totaling over a dozen locks at a glance. It was hard to imagine how long it would take Madam Mei or the Old Master to open them all.

It didn’t look like a place that was used frequently.

“If Master wishes to enter… please wait a moment. This lowly one will report to Madam Mei…” the laborer said subserviently.

“No need,” Rong Xie said. “Can you tell me what this place is?”

“Huh? It’s… just a well.” The laborer didn’t quite understand Rong Xie’s meaning.

“Nothing else besides the well?” Rong Xie observed the laborer’s expression. “For instance… roses or something?”

“R-Roses?” The laborer’s eyes went slightly unfocused.

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“Yes, the scent of roses here is very strong, just like the scent on your Madam Mei,” Rong Xie said.

“This lowly one doesn’t know. If Master wants to see, this lowly one will go report to Madam Mei now,” the laborer repeated. Without waiting for Rong Xie to speak, he turned to head back.

Rong Xie glanced at the high courtyard wall, then at the tightly sealed iron door.

This wall wasn’t particularly high for him; he could get over it with a Flight Talisman.

Should I go up and take a look?

A strong attraction kept Rong Xie’s gaze fixed on the top of the wall.

It was as if an invisible force was pushing him, making his heart pound.

As long as he reached into his pouch and took out a Flight Talisman, he could know the secret of the Spirit Spring Well.

He could save countless pitiful attendant boys like Little Ya, allow Little Zhi to escape the fate of being controlled by the Lu family so he could live freely, and reduce the risk of Lu Yingqi encountering a great calamity in the future.

And there was his own selfishness. He had always wanted to prove himself—that even without Foundation Establishment, acting separately from Shen Bingsi, he could accomplish something.

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Leaving Shen Bingsi, leaving the Treasure Hunting Team… needing nothing but his own ability, he could solve this attendant boy case.

“Wait.” Rong Xie shook his head, muttering to himself. “Since when did I have such strange thoughts? It only matters that the thing is done; does it matter if I do it alone?”

Rong Xie’s mind cooled down instantly, but his heart was still pounding, and his hand was already gripping a Flight Talisman.

Wrong! He suddenly raised his left hand and pinned down his acting right hand, his body twisting violently as if another person were fighting him for control.

Startled, Rong Xie hurriedly recited the Ice Heart Mantra. The compulsory mental cultivation method for inner sect disciples of the Lingjing Sect—designed to expel evil thoughts and clarify one’s true nature—took effect at that moment. His heartbeat slowed to normal. His twitching right arm fell limp, heavy at his side, muscles sore and numb as if he had just undergone intense exercise.

Rong Xie quickly deployed the Flight Talisman and left the place rapidly, not daring to look back at the “Well” courtyard even once.

The night was as black as ink.

Using the position of the stars, Rong Xie walked all the way to the open courtyard in front of the main hall.

He breathed a sigh of relief. Once at the main hall, he knew how to get to Lu Yingqi’s courtyard.

On the way to Lu Yingqi’s quarters, Rong Xie took out his Sound Transmission Jade Token to contact Captain Zhao.

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Soon, Captain Zhao connected.

“Fellow Daoist Rong!” Captain Zhao said urgently. The sound of wind came from his side; presumably, they were still flying. “Have you arrived?”

“I have. I’ve found the well. It’s a structure enclosed by a circular wall. I didn’t see what was inside, but the wall is very distinctive and easy to identify from the air. Tomorrow, you all… find a place to stay nearby first. Try not to stay in Qinghe County city,” Rong Xie lowered his voice. “Also, there is a male ‘Madam’ here named Madam Mei. He is very strange. He carries a strong scent of roses that seems capable of disturbing one’s mind and controlling the body. If you smell it, you must be on high alert!”

“Okay. When do we act? Uh—” Captain Zhao stopped. Someone seemed to be talking to him on the other side.

A familiar voice came through. It was Shen Bingsi: “Hey, what is this? A Sound Transmission Jade Token? Who are you contacting? Rong Xie? He didn’t even want my jade token; how could he use a pair with you! Let me see!”

Then, the main voice on the other end became Shen Bingsi’s: “Rong’er, don’t be afraid. We’ll be there right away. We can already see Qinghe. Where are you? We’ll fly over immediately. If you see a silly-looking kite-dragon, just wave at the sky!”

Shen. Bing. Si.

Rong Xie gripped the jade token tightly, and it let out a creak of protest under the pressure.