"Look!"
Sha Linghai and the others were still in the Pavilion, sorting through a pile of clues that offered no clear leads, when they saw Steward Zhao, whom they had listed as a suspect, running toward the Front House with an odd expression. His steps were so hurried that he nearly stumbled.
Although they had no idea what had happened, the four Players sensed a lead and followed without hesitation.
The four of them followed the Old Steward all the way back to the Front House, then through its open front door into the Front Courtyard. There, they saw Steward Zhao pressed against the estate's main gate, straining to push it open. But neither the wooden gate nor its locking bar budged, just as when they had tried earlier.
"Steward Zhao, what happened?" Sha Linghai asked cautiously.
Steward Zhao did not turn around. Almost involuntarily, he muttered to himself-
"This is retribution, retribution. You really mustn't do evil. It really does come back to haunt you..."
"Grandpa Steward, what's wrong?"
Only after hearing this second question did Steward Zhao turn around. Perhaps he had not expected the four new servants, who should have been resting by now, to be following him, for an angry expression appeared on the Old Steward's face. But once he got a clear look at Wen Wen's innocent, childish face nearby, perhaps the magic of children worked once again: his somewhat ferocious expression gradually regained a trace of calm.
"You... you're all still young." For some reason, Steward Zhao sighed. "You'd better help me find a way out of here. Something strange has appeared in this house."
"Something strange?" Wen Wen could tell that the Old Steward seemed willing to reveal some information when he looked at her, so she continued asking with an innocent expression,