Maodou could not speak, so naturally it could not answer Zheng Qing's question.
Left with no choice, Zheng Qing picked up the green pea.
From behind the door atop the steps came a long sigh, like the night wind brushing through treetops—shadowy and indistinct, impossible to hear clearly. Zheng Qing weighed the green pea in his hand, glanced at the still tightly shut door, then at the innocent-looking Maodou before turning back to his companions.
"How was it?" Zhang Jixin asked impatiently. "Did you figure out how to get up the mountain?"
Zheng Qing shook his head.
He had not sensed even the slightest magical fluctuation from the green pea.
"Maybe we should eat it." Fatty Xin's suggestion did not surprise Zheng Qing in the least. In fact, the young publicly funded student had been considering that possibility as well.
Jiang Yu raised a hand, stopping the suggestion.
"If you don't want to end up like Maodou, covered in tentacles and flesh buds, don't eat something of unknown origin," the witch warned. "Elder Atal reminded us that the owner of this old house is a Dark Wizard."
Zheng Qing hesitated and could not help glancing at Xiao Xiao.
Youzui's diviner was holding his black notebook, frowning as though pondering some difficult problem.
"What do you think?" Zheng Qing asked the hunting team's strategist.
Xiao Xiao's eyes remained fixed on the black notebook. His voice sounded like sleep-talk, drifting and uncertain. "Find that Gold Bean. It will take you home."
"What?" Zheng Qing raised his brows. His tail slipped down from his waist and poked the seemingly distracted diviner. "Explain yourself... What do you mean?"
"Home." Xiao Xiao looked up, clarity returning to his gaze, and answered seriously, "The owner of this old house said before, 'Find that Gold Bean. It