The Festival Begins

Meng Dao's answer was flawless, leaving everyone speechless.

The good news was that no one had died the previous night. Those whose life force had been severely drained had also recovered most of it with their offerings or items after a brief period of extreme weakness.

The wounds caused by the festival robes were temporary. Meng Dao's injuries could have been healed with special means, too, but he was a tough guy. Relying on his strong regenerative ability, he flat-out refused treatment.

After they'd compared notes, they packed the severed limbs into bags, stowed them in their backpacks, and left the inn.

The closer they got to the outside world, the more the atmosphere of the Snow Festival made itself felt.

As soon as they pushed open the door, a waft of fragrance reached them before the view did.

Yu Xing stood at the back of the group and glanced to the side. A faint dusting of snow drifted from the sky, while lanterns and decorations adorned the far end of the alley. Overnight, Baibao Street had been transformed into a festive scene.

The townsfolk passing by wore joyful smiles and red clothes. The shopkeepers who had sold flatbreads and buns before were now dressed in red festival robes, and their food seemed even more fragrant than before.

Gao Yiling's figure seemed to be right at the mouth of the alley.

The Deductionists exchanged glances and started walking. Only Yu Xing stayed behind after giving Zhang Yu a reassuring look.

That was because two figures were closer to him than Gao Yiling, waiting for him in the alley.

One was Fang Xiao, dressed in a Fenglong robe. The other was... a blurry Doctor, whose red clothing and face were impossible to make out.

Fang Xiao leaned against the wall with