Following a kind stranger's directions, Xing Yan led the two girls through countless streets and lanes before finally arriving at Magistrate Peng's residence, where practitioners were being recruited to cleanse the house of spirits.
The gatekeeper at the Peng Residence evidently had his master's instructions. As soon as the youth explained why they had come, he ushered them straight inside without waiting to announce them.
They passed the towering screen wall and followed a blue-brick walkway a short distance. After a turn, the three were shown into the West Wing Reception Room, where the Peng Residence received its guests. Once they were seated, a maid brought them fragrant tea, while another went to report their arrival to the rear hall.
Just as the hot tea had cooled enough to drink, Xing Yan heard the tinkling of jade ornaments approaching from afar. Before long, a dignified, comfortably plump middle-aged woman entered with measured steps.
The ensuing exchange between hostess and guests made Xing Yan feel as though he had returned to Jieyang County and his first meeting with Commandant Bao Chuxiong. There was one difference this time: with the calm, composed Xueyi attending behind him, the magistrate's wife did not suspect that these youngsters were wealthy children who had sneaked away from home to make mischief.
Having learned from their previous experience, little Qiong Rong had received instructions from her hall master brother beforehand. She no longer looked about, but stayed obediently beside him, eyes lowered to her nose and thoughts drawn inward.
After the lesson of his failure in the arena that day, Xing Yan had resolved not to reveal his Highest Clarity affiliation in advance when investigating the supernatural disturbance at the Peng Residence. Yet faced with the magistrate's wife's suspicious gaze, he nearly lost patience several times and