"No." Rokuya raised his brows imperiously. "It's for the Gratitude Points... ahem, I mean, that's over a hundred lives. Going too far, pulling tricks like this right under my nose. That demon had better pray its neck is tough enough to take a slash from me first."
Kanae covered her mouth and chuckled. She knew that deep down, this seemingly brutal, profit-minded boy had a stronger sense of responsibility and protectiveness toward his own than anyone else.
"Then let's head back to Tsurumi Teahouse and exchange information with Corps member Reiko."
The two turned away from the farmhouse and disappeared into the pitch-black mountain path once more.
About two hours later, the night was still deep, with a long time to go before dawn. Rokuya and Kanae returned to Tsurumi Teahouse in Withered Leaf Town.
The entire town lay deathly silent. Only a dim yellow oil lamp still burned on the second floor of Tsurumi Teahouse.
Rokuya went upstairs and headed straight for Guan Tinglingzi's private room. Without even knocking, he pushed the door open.
Bang.
The room was empty, the bedding neatly folded, without even a trace of warmth. A cup of tea that had long since gone cold sat on the table.
"Corps member Reiko isn't here." Standing behind Rokuya, Kanae leaned forward slightly to take a look, her delicate brows knitting again. "Where could she have gone alone this late? Demons could appear outside at any moment."
"Who cares where she went?" Rokuya pulled the door shut behind him and turned toward their own private room next door. "Running out in the middle of the night, she's either off to get herself killed or has something else to do. Either way, let's fill our stomachs first."
Rokuya walked to the stairs and bellowed at the owner, who