Madam, you wouldn't want others to misunderstand, right?

As the night deepened, Steward Li arranged a guest room for Li Yan. Li Yan also met other martial artists who had gone out searching, but without exception, they had all returned empty-handed.

Listening to them recount their findings to each other, Li Yan finally understood the meaning behind the words of the two people who had spoken to him when he arrived that day.

Being able to abduct someone so silently and without leaving a single clue suggested that the perpetrator was not only highly skilled in martial arts but also had an unusual backing.

However, after half a day of investigation, Li Yan discovered something amiss.

Although Steward Li and the others appeared very anxious, and the household servants all had furrowed brows, in such a chaotic situation, everything within the estate remained orderly.

In fact, even the food and lodging for those of them who had come to offer assistance were taken care of meticulously.

This was hardly the behavior expected of a household whose master was missing!

Furthermore, why weren't the household's several madams desperately pleading with everyone they knew to find the missing person, instead of having the leisure to change their residences?

Something felt very wrong!

When the surrounding guest rooms fell silent, Li Yan quietly slipped out of his room and, following Steward Li's instructions, headed directly to the residences of the magistrate's madams.

A three-courtyard residence not far from Duobao Town's magistrate's estate looked no different from other dwellings from the outside. However, upon entering, one would discover it was a place with hidden wonders.

Walls built from intricately carved bricks and stones, pavilions and courtyards constructed from hundred-year-old rosewood, and gardens, rockeries, and fish ponds built according to the natural contours of the land, all intertwined in an orderly fashion.

Though merely a private residence, it possessed the opulence of a royal dwelling.

At this moment, in a small room within one of the courtyards, several women were comfortably soaking in an indoor hot spring.

Lotus lanterns floating on the water illuminated their beautiful faces and proud figures.

"Sigh, living here instead of our own homes. I really don't know what Eldest Sister is thinking," said the youngest of the women, resting her head on the edge of the pool.

"Shush!" A woman beside her made a silencing gesture. Seeing that the others remained silent, she chided, "You little girl, don't think just because the Master dotes on you the most now, you can say anything you want."

"Don't be fooled by the Master's usual bluster. If Eldest Sister doesn't approve, do you think the Master would dare?"

"Exactly, Xi'er. You've been part of the household for a while now, how can you still lack such basic judgment?"

"If Eldest Sister overhears these words, no one can protect you!"

Scolded by the older women, Xi'er pouted. With her main support gone today, she let out a small burst of anger.

"Speaking of which, what exactly are Eldest Sister and the Master up to?"

"I don't know, and I don't want to know. I advise you all not to be curious either."

A woman who appeared to be the eldest among them scooped up some water and poured it down her neck, murmuring, "Although her voice was soft, the others immediately became as dejected as frost-bitten eggplants and stopped speaking."

On the rooftop, Li Yan looked down at the scene inside through the lifted roof tiles, his heart remaining undisturbed.

The scene was sensual, but he had seen everything in his past life. Moreover, he hadn't awakened his old Cao attributes yet, so he had no particular interest.

Instead, the Eldest Sister mentioned by the women had piqued his interest.

Perhaps, regarding the whereabouts of Duobao's magistrate, this First Madam might have some clues.

Avoiding the servants patrolling the courtyard, Li Yan quietly entered a room in the deepest part of the courtyard.

He quietly pushed the door open, and the wave of steam that hit him made him frown.

What the heck, is a dedicated hot spring room not enough? They need a private bathhouse too?

At this moment, in the water pool inside the room, a woman was lazily leaning against the edge, raising her hand to pick up a grape and pop it into her mouth. The scene was quite alluring.

After chewing twice, her movements suddenly stiffened, and a small knife on the side, used for cutting fruit, was subtly placed at her throat.

"First Madam, hello there~"

Li Yan lowered his voice, speaking in a rough, cold tone. He could clearly feel the woman tremble in a daze, clearly startled.

But soon, the woman calmed down.

"Who are you? Don't hurt me. Whatever you want, I can agree to."

Li Yan raised an eyebrow. As expected of the magistrate's First Madam. She calmed down so quickly and her response was appropriate.

Although she was the magistrate's First Madam and held a very high status within the household, in the eyes of the outside world, in the eyes of martial artists, she was still nothing.

"Madam, please rest assured. As long as you cooperate obediently, I will not harm you in the slightest."

"What do you want?"

"May I ask, where is Duobao's magistrate?"

As soon as he spoke, the First Madam's body stiffened again. Then she continued, "The Master has been missing for many days. Everyone in Duobao Town knows this. How could I..."

Before she could finish, the needle-like sensation on her neck intensified.

"Madam, since I can appear here, it means I already know the full story."

"Please rest assured, Madam. I am merely entrusted by someone to deliver an item personally. I will not do anything to harm your husband."

"You... are you telling the truth?"

Her voice trembling slightly, the First Madam asked uncertainly.

"Heh, I have no past grievances or recent grudges with your esteemed household, so I naturally wouldn't make an enemy of you without reason. After all, with your household's financial power, if you were to seek revenge, it would be quite troublesome for me."

Li Yan's words were like a devil's whisper, slowly dismantling the First Madam's mental defenses. Under duress and temptation, the information was already at the tip of her tongue.

Just then, a knock echoed from outside the door: "Knock, knock, knock!"

"Madam, it's time to scatter the flower petals."

The door opened, and two maids entered carrying two basins of fresh flower petals.

They approached the water pool, bowed to the First Madam, and then began scattering petals into the water.

Once the petals were all scattered, the two maids stood by, awaiting further instruction.

"Ah~"

A soft gasp sounded, and the two maids quickly stepped forward: "Madam, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing, you may leave for now."

The two maids exchanged glances. Though puzzled, they bowed and withdrew.

As soon as the door closed, Li Yan, who had been hidden in the pool, quietly surfaced.

"Madam, please don't make a sound. You wouldn't want others to misunderstand, would you?"

"You!"

The First Madam gritted her teeth, her face filled with shame and anger. Not only had this little scoundrel stayed hidden in the water, but he had also touched her!

However, remembering the sharp object in his possession, she could only grit her teeth in frustration.

Before long, Li Yan obtained the information he wanted from the First Madam.

Just as he had suspected, Magistrate Duobao hadn't disappeared at all; he was merely in hiding!

As for why he was hiding, that would have to wait until he found the man himself for a detailed explanation.

"Thank you, Madam, for the information. I apologize for the offense today. If the opportunity arises in the future, I will personally apologize to you."

With an insincere apology, Li Yan quietly slipped out of the room and made his escape.

However, the moment Li Yan left, the First Madam's expression of shame and anger slowly faded. She then raised her hand and wiped her face, removing a delicate human skin mask to reveal a young and alluring face.

"Heh, Wan Sanhuo, Li Huo, which one is your real name?"

Then, the woman's expression gradually turned cold: "How dare you disrespect me! The next time we meet, I will send you to my Demon Sect's Soul-Shattering Cave, where you'll wish for death but find none... Hmph!"