I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 137: Ruan Jing

Sun Huang led the crowd to the backyard, to the Chief Accountant Xu Shouxian, and handed over the final payment and receipts for the escort mission to Xu Shouxian.

This was the first time Duan Rong met "Minister of Finance" Xu Shouxian from Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

Xu Shouxian, a slim figure, his hair already graying but neatly combed, dressed in a moon-white robe with buttons, his eyes keen and restrained, giving an impression of deep wisdom.

Sun Huang saw Xu Shouxian had sorted the accounts, so he smiled and asked, "Old Xu, is the Shopkeeper here?"

"He is, at Juyi Hall!" Xu Shouxian replied while writing in the accounts, without even lifting his head.

Duan Rong frowned slightly, this Chief Accountant is quite proud! Sun Huang is at least a Leader of an Escort Team; Xu Shouxian talks to him without raising his head, which seems overly aloof.

But Sun Huang’s expression remained unchanged, he briefly cupped his fists and led the group out.

Since the Shopkeeper is here, as usual, he must bring the Escort Team to pay respects to the Shopkeeper and report on the journey.

Sun Huang led the crowd towards Juyi Hall, but along the way, only saw a few sporadic guards.

"Leader, there seems to be half as many guards in the backyard!" Yao Liangrong grumbled behind Sun Huang.

Sun Huang did not respond, but he also noticed, along with the silence of the Martial Arts Arena in the middle yard, he could almost conclude something must have happened at the Escort Agency.

Sun Huang led the crowd to the door of Juyi Hall, where there was only one guard. They stood at the entrance, able to see inside, where Ruan Fengshan, Luan Jingfu, and Xiao Zongting were all seated.

Moreover, usually attending outside was personal servant Zhou An, but even he was nowhere to be seen.

Sun Huang saw they seemed to be in a meeting inside, so he refrained from entering abruptly and waited at the door with the Escort Masters.

"Is it Leader Sun returning? Come in!" The group stood outside for several breaths before Luan Jingfu’s voice sounded from inside the hall.

Sun Huang immediately led the crowd, stepping into the hall.

The crowd entered the hall and successively paid respects to Ruan Fengshan, Luan Jingfu, and Xiao Zongting!

After the crowd finished paying respects and raised their heads, they felt the heavy atmosphere in the air, Ruan Fengshan, Luan Jingfu, and Xiao Zongting’s expressions were all sullen.

Ruan Fengshan seemed to sigh deeply before looking at Sun Huang and asking, "Leader Sun, was the journey smooth?"

Sun Huang replied, "It was relatively smooth. However, while in Wancheng County, Escort Master Liu Ao suddenly left the Escort Team on his own, and his whereabouts are still unknown!"

"Liu Ao?" Luan Jingfu reacted with anger, his voice suddenly raised, his gaze swept back and forth, already spotting Duan Rong in the corner of the crowd, his pupils shrank abruptly.

Sun Huang quickly cupped his fists towards Luan Jingfu and said, "Liu Ao is naturally unruly, but after years of honing, he has restrained a lot! This matter is odd, there might be other inside information!"

Sun Huang thought Luan Jingfu was angry because of Liu Ao, so he immediately explained.

Luan Jingfu remained silent, his face fluctuating between light and dark.

Duan Rong stood among the crowd, naturally observing Luan Jingfu’s expression keenly...

"Mr. Luan, you will handle the matter of Liu Ao!" Ruan Fengshan said with a solemn expression, his tone carrying a hint of weariness.

Luan Jingfu immediately affirmed.

Duan Rong noted that although Luan Jingfu was proud, he was always extremely respectful when facing Ruan Fengshan, and it wasn’t a superficial courtesy, but a deep-seated reverence.

Duan Rong couldn’t help but glance at Ruan Fengshan, seated on a tall, broad chair; Ruan Fengshan’s face showed worry, and his eyes were more filled with a complex, weary look.

Sun Huang clearly noticed Ruan Fengshan’s demeanor too, coupled with the abnormality within the Escort Agency, he hesitated but still inquired, "Has something happened within the Escort Agency?"

Upon hearing Sun Huang’s question, Ruan Fengshan merely furrowed his eyebrows tightly, seeming somewhat fatigued, leaning his body against the armrest of the tall, broad chair.

Luan Jingfu saw Ruan Fengshan had no intention of speaking, so he said, "Yesterday during the Dragon Lantern Festival, Young Master Ruan Jing liked the excitement and insisted on seeing the Dragon Lantern Festival! Chun Ying couldn’t refuse and took him along with some maids and guards to see the festival. Unexpectedly, Young Master was lost in the market!"

"Lost?" Sun Huang was full of shock.

The crowd in the hall was also alarmed.

Young Master Ruan Jing is Ruan Fengshan’s precious!

Ruan Fengshan was over forty years old, married several concubines but remained childless, unexpectedly, one of his handmaidens got pregnant and gave birth to a boy named Ruan Jing.

The maid’s name was Ma Chunying; Ruan Fengshan was delighted at the time, freed her from servitude, and took her as a concubine.

He even appointed her father as the gatekeeper of Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

The phrase "mother is honored through her son" quickly turned Ma Chunying’s family into prestigious figures.

Ruan Jing is only three years old this year, born intelligent and lovely, winning Ruan Fengshan’s affection. Though Ruan Fengshan still maintained composure, his heart was already knotted with anxiety.

"At the time, the crowd at the Dragon Lantern Festival was large; Chun Ying stood at the perimeter holding Young Master Ruan Jing, with three guards around, it seemed unlikely anything would happen. But suddenly, the crowd began to push and trample, and in the chaos, Young Master was forcibly taken from Chun Ying’s arms."

"Chun Ying cried out immediately; the guards tried to push through, but one guard closest was suddenly stabbed from the dark and died on the spot!"

The crowd was secretly shocked hearing Luan Jingfu’s account.

This incident was evidently premeditated to abduct Young Master Ruan Jing. Moreover, it was obviously a group crime, with some causing chaos in the crowd, others abducting Young Master, and others dealing with the surrounding maids and guards.

The crucial question is who did this and what’s the motive? Could it be Ruan Fengshan’s enemy?

Even if it was an enemy, targeting a child just over three years old is a bit despicable.

"Everyone who could be dispatched from the Escort Agency has been sent out. We searched from yesterday evening till now, roughly ten hours, but still haven’t found any information." Luan Jingfu said, sighing as he shook his head.

The Second Escort Team finally understood why there was no one at the Martial Arts Arena and why the guards in the backyard were reduced; apparently, they were all sent out to find Young Master Ruan Jing.

Except, it’s been ten hours with no news... a three-year-old child with no resistance...

It seems everything points to a dire situation!

At this moment, suddenly a figure came running and shouting, charging into Juyi Hall.

Juyi Hall has always been solemn, but this person shouting and rushing inside was exceedingly reckless.

But upon seeing who it was, everyone dared not speak; the person running in was the gatekeeper of the Escort Agency, Ma Chunying’s father, Ma Wentao.

Ma Wentao shouted while he ran, "Shopkeeper! My little grandson has been found..."

Ruan Fengshan heard that there was news on Ruan Jing, he jumped down immediately, supported Ma Wentao, and said, "There is news on Jing’er? What news, quickly tell!"

Ma Wentao’s eyes reddened, handing the silk letter in his hand to Ruan Fengshan, saying, "Shopkeeper, look!"

Ruan Fengshan took the silk letter.

Ma Wentao continued, "This was just shot onto our Escort Agency’s gate with an arrow!"

Ruan Fengshan opened the silk letter and immediately felt his heart clench.

On the silk letter were crooked characters, exactly the handwriting of Ruan Jing, who had just learned to write. Even as Ruan Fengshan was deeply wise, seeing this handwriting, the usual obedient and cute image of Ruan Jing appeared vividly before him.

He had a son in middle age and normally cherished him dearly, Ma Chun Ying spoiling him even more than he did; this child, only three years old, fell into the hands of violent criminals, the extent of his suffering and humiliation uncertain. As Ruan Fengshan looked at those crooked and blotted-pencil marks, his lips trembled as he murmured, "Jing’er..."