Doubts

As dusk fell, Chen Huan and his companions returned to the City Lord's mansion, their bodies weary.

Xiao Tasha, in particular, looked pale and could barely stand, leaning half her body against Chen Huan. She was practically carried back.

"What happened to the esteemed immortal masters?" the steward of the guest courtyard, who came out to greet them, asked in great surprise. "Should I inform the butler?"

"No need," Chen Huan replied, his own complexion not great. He took a slight breath before saying, "We simply took a long walk today. It's nothing serious. Please just have some water brought for us to wash up... Oh, and where is Junior Brother Pei?"

The commotion of their return had been significant. Even a mortal steward was alerted, so it was unlikely that Pei Ling, a cultivator, hadn't heard. He hadn't shown himself yet; surely he wasn't still sleeping?

Seeing the steward's bewildered expression, Chen Huan immediately said to Chen Mei, "Go and check on him. Perhaps Junior Brother Pei isn't feeling well!"

Chen Mei dared not delay. Forgetting her fatigue, she hurried off. However, upon arriving at the small building and inquiring, her expression changed drastically. "What?! Pei Ling isn't here? Where did he go? When did he leave?"

The maidservant responsible for attending to Pei Ling knelt on the ground, trembling. "Replying to the esteemed fairy, this servant does not know."

"You don't know? You're responsible for serving him here, how could you not know!" Chen Mei's heart sank. In her haste, her voice became distorted as she berated the maidservant. "What use are you then!"

She was filled with dread. Her cousin Chen Huan's Soul Summoning Banner was nearing completion. If it failed now...

"What's all the panic?" Chen Huan, who had rushed over after receiving the news, appeared calm.

He wasn't worried about Pei Ling escaping at all. Over the years, he had refined many fellow disciples into his Soul Summoning Banner. The reason the Disciplinary Hall hadn't come looking for him was his meticulous cleanup! This time, he had personally chosen the mission in Luoshan City. After all, Luoshan City was located amidst towering mountains. Besides the city itself, the surrounding areas were infested with insects and beasts, and filled with miasma. Even Qi Refining Stage cultivators from Luoshan City would face a near-certain death trying to walk out on foot! Moreover, this was Pei Ling's first time here? Even if they let him escape for a few days and nights, they could easily catch up!

Furthermore, it was better if Pei Ling didn't escape. Luoshan City was under the jurisdiction of the Sacred Sect, the territory of City Lord Duanmu. While this City Lord was adept at navigating social circles and wouldn't specifically protect Pei Ling, if they dared to attack Pei Ling within the city, the City Lord might not be willing to help cover it up when the Disciplinary Hall investigated later. The losses would be substantial then! But if Pei Ling voluntarily left the city, hehe...

With that thought, Chen Huan calmly reminded them, "Don't you have the Thousand Mile Scent on him? Use the Tracking Bee to find his location now."

Chen Mei then snapped back to reality. She quickly took out the Tracking Bee and closed her eyes to communicate with it for a moment. A look of joy appeared on her face. "Brother, he's still in the city."

"Still in the city?" Chen Huan gave a cold smile. "In what general direction is he now?"

"It seems..." Chen Mei concentrated for a moment, a look of confusion on her face. "It seems to be... the market in the north of the city?"

"The market?" Chen Huan abruptly turned to the maidservant and shouted, "How dare you! You dare to lie to us! Junior Brother Pei is new here. If he wanted to go to the market, wouldn't he ask you for directions?! And you dare to say you know nothing!"

The maidservant felt bitter. She was just a mortal servant; how could she afford to offend any cultivator? She had initially hoped to muddle through, but now she could only confess honestly. "Replying to the esteemed immortal master, it was Immortal Master Pei who specifically instructed me not to reveal his whereabouts..."

Hearing this, Chen Mei's expression changed. She wondered if he had discovered their intentions? Chen Huan, however, remained calm. A mere fourth level of Qi Refining. Even if he had figured something out, it was too late now!

Thus, Chen Huan immediately looked at Zhang Zhongqin and said, "He might have discovered something, or he might not have. You two go find him in the northern market immediately and bring him back!"

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, in a teahouse in the Luoshan City market.

Pei Ling calmly sipped a pot of tea. The local customs here were vastly different from Luquan City, with more cultivators. He had encountered several rogue cultivators during his stroll.

"It's so late, Chen Huan and the others should be coming to find me soon..." Pei Ling thought to himself. To test if Chen Huan and the others truly had ulterior motives towards him, he only needed to avoid Chen Huan. Of course, if Chen Huan and the others were indeed problematic, to prevent them from acting prematurely out of desperation, Pei Ling had deliberately chosen the marketplace. With many people around and eyes everywhere, if Chen Huan dared to make a move against him, he would surely not escape the investigation of the Chongming Sect afterward! A team struggling for a few dozen Spirit Stones would not be able to pay a fine of tens of thousands of Spirit Stones! Unless Chen Huan and the others killed all the mortals in the market, but would City Lord Duanmu agree to that?

As Pei Ling pondered this, he suddenly heard a shout from behind him: "Pei Ling!"

Pei Ling recognized Chen Mei's voice. His eyes flickered slightly, and then he calmly turned around. He saw Chen Mei rushing forward, with Zhang Zhongqin close behind. They quickly reached Pei Ling and immediately flanked him, one on each side. Chen Mei sternly demanded, "Didn't you say you were resting in the guest courtyard today? Why did you run out?!"

Pei Ling remained unfazed. These two... were indeed acting strangely!

"Senior Sister Chen, I intended to rest, but after lying on the bed for a while, I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk," he thought to himself, explaining casually. "I was worried that Senior Brother and Senior Sister might also be resting, so I didn't disturb you."

Zhang Zhongqin said with a stern face, "Since we are a team, you should inform us when you go out. Otherwise, disappearing without a word, how can we not worry?"

"Senior Brother Zhang is right. This junior brother was inconsiderate this time," Pei Ling replied sincerely.

Seeing that Pei Ling showed no signs of panic and seemed to have merely gone out for a casual stroll, the two breathed a sigh of relief. After exchanging glances, Chen Mei softened her tone slightly and huffed, "We'll let it slide this time. If there's a next time, I won't bother with you."

"Don't worry, Senior Sister. If anything comes up next time, this junior brother will definitely inform you," Pei Ling immediately replied. "It's getting late, shall we return to the City Lord's mansion!"

This suggestion was exactly what Chen Mei and Zhang Zhongqin wanted. Without hesitation, they nodded. "Yes! Let's go back to the City Lord's mansion first!"

So, the three of them walked back together.

The entire way, Pei Ling deliberately stayed very close to Chen Mei, as if he wanted their bodies to be glued together.

Chen Mei's delicate brows furrowed, and she was very displeased in her heart. However, worried that Pei Ling might try to escape midway, she couldn't scold him, nor did she dare to avoid him at all.

After walking for a while longer, Pei Ling, emboldened, took it a step further and put an arm directly around Chen Mei's shoulder!

Chen Mei's body stiffened. After realizing what had happened, she immediately said angrily, "Junior Brother Pei, you..."

"Senior Sister Chen, you've always cared for me so much, doesn't that mean you like me?" Pei Ling asked, feigning confusion.

Chen Mei was instantly choked for words. She subconsciously looked at Zhang Zhongqin, only to see that he was also taken aback. However, after reacting, he not only didn't stop Pei Ling but even gestured with his eyes for her to cooperate!

Seeing this, Chen Mei's face immediately turned ugly. But seeing Pei Ling still looking at her earnestly, she could only reply with great reluctance, "Yes, a little..."

"Then that's settled! We cultivators should be open and honest. Why should we be like mortals, bound by so-called etiquette, acting all coy and hesitant!" Pei Ling retorted decisively. Then, he removed his arm from her shoulder and directly wrapped his arm around her slender waist, swaggering towards the City Lord's mansion.

As they passed a street and brushed past a group of mortals, Pei Ling suddenly pinched Chen Mei's waist hard.

"Ah!" Chen Mei cried out in fright, almost breaking free from Pei Ling's arm.

Zhang Zhongqin's attention was also drawn to them for a moment.

And taking advantage of their momentary distraction, Pei Ling subtly made a move and stole a sachet from one of the mortals.

Seeing that Pei Ling was merely taking liberties, Chen Mei was both shocked and furious. However, Zhang Zhongqin was completely relieved. This brat was brazenly lustful; with his next plan, he wasn't afraid that the boy wouldn't cooperate!

After a while, the three returned to the City Lord's mansion. As they passed through a bamboo grove within the estate, Pei Ling employed the same tactic again. He groped Chen Mei once more. While Chen Mei cried out in surprise and Zhang Zhongqin was distracted, he stealthily tossed the sachet he had just stolen behind a clump of bamboo