Instant kill

Xie An noticed the moisture glistening in Daoist Master Yusu's eyes. "Dao... Elder Sister, are you all right?"

Xie Yu wiped the corner of her eye. "I just remembered a younger brother I once had. He was as exceptional and thoughtful as Young Master Mingxi."

Since it concerned someone else's private affairs, Xie An asked no more.

"Mingxi's plan to lure the snake out of its hole is excellent. I'll leave this matter entirely to Mingxi and Daoist Master Yusu." Having made his decision, Xie Zhengtang led Uncle Shui away.

After stepping outside, Xie Zhengtang glanced back at Xie An and Xie Yu in the study, unable to keep his old eyes from overflowing with tears.

Uncle Shui's eyes grew wet as well. "In a way, the brother and sister have finally reunited. With the eldest young lady guiding Mingxi from now on, you can rest easy, Master."

Inside the study.

Xie An kept feeling that there was something odd about the way Daoist Master Yusu looked at him.

It was as though she had known him for a very long time.

Yet he searched his memories and found nothing about this Daoist master.

Had Daoist Master Yusu visited him at home when he was little?

Xie Yu studied Xie An closely. "I visited the Xie Residence years ago and met you then, Young Master Mingxi. You were only five or six at the time. Who would have thought you'd grow so tall?"

So that was it...

Although Xie An was desperate to learn martial arts capable of dealing with Specters, he knew the crisis facing the Xie Residence had yet to be resolved.

Zhou Yun, the grain shop manager who had planted the Yin Cloth Doll, and the Monster Strain boy who had escaped from the Zhao Residence... Until those two matters were settled, Xie An could neither eat nor sleep in peace.

With that in mind, Xie An went straight to the point. "How do you intend to handle what happened today, Elder Sister?"

Xie Yu tucked her hands into her sleeves. "Your plan to lure the snake out of its hole is excellent, Young Master Mingxi, but you don't understand Specters. I've seized two Yin Cloth Dolls, and the villain behind the Nightmare Suppression Technique will certainly have sensed it. If I'm right, whoever is behind this will arrange for Zhou Yun to leave the city tonight. We must move immediately to intercept him."

Xie An was alarmed by what he heard.

He became even more curious about the person behind it all.

He followed Elder Sister out of the study. Outside, the downpour had eased, with only an occasional drop of rain falling.

Xie An had Cai Xia bring an oil-paper umbrella and took it upon himself to hold it over Xie Yu.

The two left the Xie Residence without taking a carriage, walking straight to the Xie Household's grain shop.

The shop stood on Yongping Lane, not far from the Xie Residence. They only needed to pass through two alleys to reach it.

Night had fallen. The curtain of rain was dark, and the world lay shrouded in gray. Business was sparse at the shops still open along Yongping Lane.

In the busiest stretch of the street, however, a store called the Xie Grain Shop was doing brisk business. Many people were queuing in the rain to buy firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

Regardless of how market prices rose or fell, the Xie Grain Shop's prices were always ten percent lower than its competitors'.

Xie An had barely reached the entrance when a sharp-eyed, skinny shop assistant hurried out with an umbrella to greet him warmly. "Oh! What brings you here in such heavy rain, Young Master? Come inside and warm yourself by the stove."

Xie An wasted no words. "Is Manager Zhou Yun inside?"

The assistant shook his head. "He was keeping the accounts behind the counter just a little while ago, but then a maid came from his house with a message saying his wife wasn't feeling well. He hurried home."

It was exactly as Daoist Master Yusu had predicted.

An expert really did know a thing or two.

Xie An pushed his stray thoughts aside. "How long ago did Manager Zhou leave?"

The assistant glanced at the copper water clock by the wall. "Less than half an hour."

Xie An's expression darkened. "Take me to Manager Zhou's house."

"Right away!" The assistant cheerfully stepped out of the shop to lead the way. "He lives just around the corner up ahead. It's very close. Watch out for the puddles, Young Master."

As they hurried along, Xie An asked, "Has there been anything unusual about Manager Zhou over the past month?"

The assistant answered readily. "Not really... He's just been looking miserable ever since he remarried a month ago."

Before long, they reached the corner of Yongping Lane, where a house bearing a plaque that read "Zhao Residence" stood before them.

After dismissing the assistant, Xie An walked slowly beneath the eaves and glanced at Xie Yu beside him. When she nodded, he raised his hand and knocked.

Knock, knock, knock.

A moment later, a maid in a blue padded jacket opened the door. "Who are you looking for?"

"I'm Xie An, the eldest young master of the Xie Residence. I'm here to check the Xie Grain Shop's accounts with Zhou Yun. Is he inside?"

Upon hearing that he was the Xie Residence's eldest young master, the maid immediately curtsied. "Oh, it's the young master. My master is inside. I'll call him out to welcome you."

"No need for the trouble," Xie An said. "Just lead the way."

"Yes." The maid dared not disobey and led them inside.

Xie An followed her through the entrance.

It was a courtyard residence with three sections. They passed the spirit screen and went through the decorative inner gate to reach the reception room in the central courtyard.

Through the wall, Xie An heard rustling from the bedroom as someone rummaged through chests and cupboards to pack luggage. Then came the maid's voice as she went inside to announce them:

"Master, Madam. The young master from the Xie Residence is here. He says he's come to check the grain shop's accounts."

The rustling in the bedroom stopped abruptly, followed by the murmuring of a man and a woman.

Just as expected...

Zhou Yun was planning to flee.

Just then, Xie Yu leaned close to Xie An's ear and whispered a few words.

Xie An was deeply shocked by what he heard.

A short while later, Zhou Yun emerged in a gray robe, all smiles. "What an honor to have you here, Young Master. Please, take a seat."

Xie An took the seat of honor on the right, while Xie Yu stood beside him like an attendant.

Zhou Yun sat opposite him on the left, his fleshy face wreathed in smiles. "What made you think of checking the grain shop's accounts, Young Master?"

Xie An accepted the lidded teacup the maid brought him. "Father wants me to learn more about business. The shop assistant just told me your wife wasn't feeling well. Is it serious?"

Zhou Yun glanced at the bedroom door to his left and smiled. "Her monthly courses are a few days late, and she hasn't had much appetite. It's nothing serious."

Xie An lifted the lid of his teacup and skimmed the tea leaves aside, speaking casually. "You should still have a physician take a look. Poor health is no small matter. Take me, for instance. Ever since returning from my inspection of Li Family Village, I've been having nightmares. Today, I even found a white cloth doll beneath my bed. Uncle Shui said some villain was using the Nightmare Suppression Technique to harm me..."

Zhou Yun's expression visibly stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "With your father and Uncle Shui protecting you, Young Master, you'll surely come through unharmed. As for that villain, sooner or later, he'll meet a miserable end."

Xie An gripped the lid of his teacup tightly. "Naturally, I'm fine. But Zhao Hu and his entire family were killed by that villain. Tell me... shouldn't I seek justice for Zhao Hu?"

Zhou Yun smiled stiffly. "Yes! Of course you should!"

"Well said!"

With a crack, Xie An crushed the teacup lid in his hand. Gripping half of the sharp porcelain, he suddenly drove it into Zhou Yun's forehead.

Thud!

The tremendous force drove the porcelain shard deep into his skull. Blood and brain matter sprayed out together.

The maid beside them covered her mouth and screamed in terror.

Xie An felt the sticky blood coating his palm and smelled the foul stench of brain matter. His stomach churned.

It was his first time killing someone, after all, and his heart was still racing.

Forcing down his nausea, he slowly rose and looked toward the bedroom. "Madam, I know you were the one who told Zhou Yun to put that Yin Cloth Doll beneath my bed. Come out!"