Mie Chan was exceptionally fat, like a mountain of flesh.
He wore only an open dark-golden Buddhist robe on his upper body, exposing his chest and round belly. A string of prayer beads hung around his thick neck.
There was none of the usual compassion of a monk on his face. Instead, he bore a distinctly fierce look.
The moment he saw Song Wen emerge from the mountain gate, a sharp glint flashed through Mie Chan's eyes.
"Are you Benefactor Yinshuo?"
"That would be me." Song Wen said. "Buddhist Master Mie Chan has come from afar. Please come inside for a chat."
"No need," Mie Chan said.
"Oh?" Song Wen raised a brow. "It seems Buddhist Master has come today on important business. May I ask what it is?"
"This poor monk has come to find Yu Hua," Mie Chan said.
"Since Buddhist Master is looking for Fellow Daoist Yu Hua, why did you not go to her residence instead of coming here to mine?" Song Wen looked thoroughly puzzled.
Mie Chan's slightly small eyes, squeezed by the fat on his face, narrowed faintly.
"Yinshuo, stop quibbling. More than ten days ago, she entered this Leng Residence, yet she never came out. If she is not here with you, where else could she have gone?"
Upon hearing this, Song Wen immediately understood:
The reason Mie Chan was so certain Yu Hua had not left was likely because the spies concealed around the Leng Residence had told him so.
However, even with witnesses, Song Wen would never admit it.
"Fellow Daoist Yu Hua did indeed visit my humble residence more than ten days ago, but she left that very night. If Buddhist Master is looking for someone, you should ask elsewhere." Song Wen said.
"She left?"
Suspicion flashed in Mie Chan's