After breakfast, Lin Xuan didn't hurry to look for news about Prince Zhennan's Manor.
He decided to take a walk around the town first, get familiar with the surroundings, and see a little of the Kingdom of Dali's local customs and culture.
The town nestled between mountains and water. People streamed along its streets: peddlers carrying their wares, merchant caravans driving horse-drawn carts, and local men and women dressed in brightly colored traditional clothes. It was a peaceful yet lively scene.
Lin Xuan wore a blue robe and had an air of distinction about him. With an adorable snow-white Lightning Ferret perched on his shoulder, he naturally attracted plenty of attention as he walked.
The lovestruck young women in particular kept looking back at him, their pretty faces turning pink.
He strolled leisurely, enjoying scenery so different from the Central Plains, and felt more and more at ease.
However, when he reached the edge of town and approached a secluded path near the foot of the mountain, the Lightning Ferret on his shoulder suddenly grew restless.
It sat upright on Lin Xuan's shoulder and sniffed the air intently with its little nose. Then it let out several urgent squeaks.
"What's wrong, little one?" Lin Xuan stopped and looked at it in confusion.
The Lightning Ferret didn't answer. Its bright black eyes were fixed on the brushwood in the mountain forest not far ahead.
The next moment, it sprang off Lin Xuan's shoulder and shot toward the spot like a streak of white lightning!
After running a dozen yards or so, it stopped and looked back at Lin Xuan anxiously, letting out another series of insistent cries. It seemed to be urging him to follow.
Lin Xuan saw this and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
The little creature was