The two servants outside the Yi residence exchanged bewildered looks, while that clear, ringing voice also drew the attention of those inside.
Although everyone in the hall was rather anxious, A Bao and Yi Xuan came out first, with Wu Yuantao following them.
Once they reached the courtyard gate, A Bao and the others got a clear look at the person who had called out.
"A child?"
Yi Xuan, standing beside A Bao, voiced his surprise. The child outside was pretty and fresh-faced, yet there was something decidedly strange about her.
Besides the blue-green tint in her hair, the eyebrows above her eyes seemed unusually long, rather like the long brows of a venerable elder, yet they did nothing to diminish the little girl's lively charm.
Seeing the people emerge, the little girl smiled and spoke again.
"Master Yi, Master of the Wu Household, Grandpa Pine invites you over!"
A Bao frowned slightly, vaguely sensing something amiss about the little girl. Instinctively, he looked a little farther beyond the entrance to the Yi residence. Where the flagstone path joined the town's streets and alleys, there stood a Land God Temple.
Of course, the Land God Temple was no longer a tiny, squat shrine, but a proper temple people could enter, though it was still not particularly large.
"Little girl, which household sent you? There are no prominent families surnamed Pine in West River Town or nearby, nor, as far as I know, anywhere in Yuanjiang County."
"Oh, Father, why waste so many words? We need to hurry and find Grandfather and Great-Granduncle!"
Yi Xuan was anxious and had no time for idle talk. Yet as soon as he mentioned Yi Yong'an and Yi Shuyuan, the little girl outside reacted, flashing another toothy smile.
"Mr. Yi and Old Master Yi have