After Zuo You left, Zhang Xing sat staring into the curtain of rain for a long time, suppressing the urge to use the Compass again.
This was not because he feared any backlash from the Compass. By now, he had truly grown increasingly unconcerned about its dangers, because every escape from peril had confirmed one principle: as long as he, Old Zhang, could practice self-strengthening and ample virtue, just as the Compass's two inscriptions said, and keep his conscience clear toward others and himself, its negative effects would ultimately vanish.
But even thinking with his feet, he knew this absolutely did not mean he could abuse a treasure of this caliber. Especially in his present predicament, after Zuo You's visit, he, Zhang White Ribbon, seemed capable of determining the truth through direct action, probing, and thought.
After considering for a moment, Zhang Xing ultimately suppressed the idea of taking a shortcut. Instead, a simple yet bold plan suddenly rose in his mind.
With that thought, Zhang Sanlang turned straight toward the stairs and called to Little Zhou, "Go fetch Eldest Zuo. While you're at it, ask around and find out whether anyone conspicuous has approached the two of them recently, aside from Li Zida and his people."
The order was entirely aboveboard and reasonable. Zhou Xingfan immediately nodded his assent and went to carry it out.
Some time later, Little Zhou brought the man over, only to discover to his surprise that his White Ribbon was not there. A few questions revealed that while he had been fetching Eldest Zuo, the White Ribbon had suddenly gone downstairs as well, apparently because something else had come up.
Of course, this was nothing. Zhou Xingfan saw no problem with making Eldest Zuo wait a while for Third Brother Zhang, nor did he