The Journey of Immortal Cultivation

Chapter 1033 - 565: Following the Vine to Find the Melon

Then a sharp pain in his throat, he couldn’t even muster a bit of resistance, as the woman in front of him reached out and grabbed his throat.

Ning Xiaoxian kicked and broke his thigh bone, now all five fingers deeply embedded in the skin of his throat. He was originally half a head taller than Ning Xiaoxian, but now, as he tilted down, she could basically look him in the eye.

"It’s you I want to question." She repeated, "Do you have any last words?"

The guard struggled to squeeze out two words from his throat: "Not... me!"

She truly missed Tu Jin! If he were here, reading this person’s memory and discerning the truth in his words would be done in minutes.

At this time, the whistle had finished inspecting the thief’s body in the courtyard, came in and said in a low voice: "He didn’t leave anything to mark his identity, just a little vermillion on the cuffs and corners of his black clothes. It’s hardly noticeable unless you look closely, seems like dye."

Ning Xiaoxian, not bothering to say much, threw the guard in her hand in front of another Hidden Guard and said: "He’s yours now. When you return, I want to hear the truth." Then she pushed the door and walked out. At this time, a group of Hidden Guards climbed over the high wall and landed in the courtyard.

Ning Xiaoxian went to meet them and said: "Did you find any useful clues? Talk as we walk."

Qingluan led the way in front, saying: "After receiving Manager Yang’s report, we started tracking from this courtyard. It seems that a few bags of Spiritual Tea were punctured during the fight in the courtyard, so after being taken away, a faint tea scent could be detected along the way. This kind of smell cannot escape the brothers’ noses. Sure enough, while pursuing all the way, we occasionally saw a little tea leaves falling on the road."

Considering that Manager Yang is quite familiar with this Inner City, they also brought him along.

After walking two, three miles, Qingluan pointed out to her, and indeed there were small tea flecks on the road, almost invisible due to the wind.

Another Hidden Guard interjected, "We also questioned a few drunkards on the roadside, and they all said they saw many large carts passing by here a quarter of an hour ago. Unfortunately, these days it hasn’t been snowy nights; otherwise, it would take more effort to erase the wheel prints, and we would track more easily." Inner City wealthy families often keep many workers in their servants’ quarters, so mortals also often appear here.

Ning Xiaoxian listened in a daze, connecting: "Isn’t it true? So many people are disappointed that it’s not snowing?"

Everyone was stunned, what does this mean? Manager Yang thought, this boss looks young after all, speaking anxiously with his mind in turmoil. But with cargo worth tens of millions of Spirit Stones missing, anyone would be anxious.

After walking a bit further, she suddenly asked: "Where are those drunkards you mentioned now?" It was already midnight, although there were pedestrians on the road, none could be seen quietly sitting idly by the roadside.

Qingluan also found it strange, looked around, and said quietly: "Indeed, none are to be seen on this trip."

The Hidden Guard led her through seven or eight streets, took two quarters, and finally pointed from afar at a house and said they arrived. Ning Xiaoxian frowned and said: "This household?"

This residence had high walls and a vermillion gate, with light blue glazed tiles on the walls and roof. The entrance was cleaned neatly, yet without stone lions guarding, the eaves were also plain, with no Chi Wen gazing from the corners, an average-sized courtyard. In Central City Inner City, where land is precious, the house’s size reflects the owner’s financial power; judging by this, the owner is at most a wealthy merchant.

In the night, this household, like the other residents, had its main gates tightly shut, not a hint of sound could be heard.

Manager Yang, seeing her gaze swept over, promptly said without waiting for her to ask: "This is the Li Family’s house, specializing in silk business. Mr. Li is loyal and sincere, the household very peaceful, always liked by neighbors."

Everyone’s eyesight was keen, having noticed the newly painted red lacquer on the mansion’s vermillion gate still wet. The person killed by the Medicine Ginseng Group’s guard had a red dye on the edge of his clothes, likely when carelessly rubbing against it while exiting the vermillion gate. Qingluan whispered in Ning Xiaoxian’s ear: "When we came tracking, several people pointed out that quite a few large carts had just entered and exited here. They creaked but quickly drove into the courtyard, and the gate closed."

So, are the items still inside? Everyone awaited Ning Xiaoxian’s signal, but she seemed to turn into a wooden statue, just standing in place, staring intently at that mansion, then suddenly sneered: "Such a shallow trick, is it supposed to deceive me?"

Qingluan stood behind her, hesitatingly said: "Mistress, are you saying that the thieves set a trap?"