Yu Yichong and Huang Doudou exchanged a glance.
Huang Doudou instantly understood, her figure nimble as she slipped silently into the nearby forest.
A moment later, she emerged, carrying two burly men on her petite shoulders, both seemingly lifeless.
Huang Doudou set them on the ground.
“Sigh, these two big guys are really unlucky. When I found them, they had just breathed their last.”
She said.
Yu Yi swept his gaze over the corpses and turned to Wei Ying.
“Do you recognize these two?”
He asked.
Wei Ying shook her head.
But worry still clouded her face.
“I haven’t returned to Jintang County in many years. These two might be commoners who moved into the county. If even innocent people are being harmed… then my family…”
She said.
“Don’t overthink it.”
Yu Yi replied calmly.
“Let’s move quickly.”
The three picked up their pace toward Jintang County.
Martial cultivators’ strength far surpassed that of ordinary people.
In less than half an hour, the trio covered ten miles and arrived outside Jintang County.
They entered the city, stepped onto the bluestone road, and, led by Wei Ying, quickly reached the Wei Family Residence.
The residence wasn’t large, but it counted as a prominent household in Jintang County.
At the moment, the gates were tightly locked, the courtyard silent and lifeless.
Wei Ying produced a key she had carried for years but never used, unlocked the door, and pushed it open.
Inside, everything was in order, as if nothing had happened—no signs of fighting anywhere.
Wei Ying rushed forward but was immediately held back by Huang Doudou.
“Hey, why are you so impulsive? Stand here and don’t move!”
Though small, Huang Doudou’s cultivation surpassed Wei Ying’s, and her strength was enough to hold her in place.
“Calm down.”
Yu Yi also spoke to Wei Ying.
“It looks like Doudou has found something again.”
As Yu Yi said, Huang Doudou sensed something odd in the seemingly tidy courtyard.
“This place… isn’t it a bit too clean?”
She squatted down, pressing half her little face to the ground, scrutinizing the floor.
“There’s not a trace of footprints, and the surface is too smooth and even. Almost as if…”
“As if someone deliberately cleaned up after a fight.”
Yu Yi said lightly.
“Exactly!”
Huang Doudou climbed to her feet, frowning in confusion.
“But why go to such lengths?”
“Su Cheng never appears directly when dealing with me. Though she’s clever and can roughly estimate when I’d reach Jintang County, to be precise, she’d still have to send people to gather information.”
Yu Yi narrowed his eyes at the re-arranged courtyard.
“Simply resetting the scene here is enough to gather our information?”
Wei Ying was puzzled.
“Su Cheng would send people to check every so often. If they saw footprints in the courtyard, they’d know we’d arrived.”
Yu Yi explained.
“They’d also consider the possibility of thieves entering and leaving footprints. That’s why they’d check the surrounding walls first, then the courtyard. If they found no signs of climbing but saw footprints inside, they’d be certain it was you, since only you have the key to enter through the main gate.”
Wei Ying finally understood, exhaling in relief.
“Phew… Thank goodness Doudou Senior stopped me. If I’d rushed in, I’d have exposed our presence.”
“Master, what should we do next?”
Huang Doudou asked Yu Yi.
“We leave for now and wait nearby—set a trap.”
Yu Yi replied.
“Set… set what pig? Bring what rabbit?”
Huang Doudou tilted her head.
“……”
Yu Yi looked into Huang Doudou’s curious eyes, sighing deeply.
“Just follow me.”
“Okay.”
Huang Doudou responded, following alongside Wei Ying.
The truth was, when Huang Doudou sensed something wrong in the courtyard, it was simply a “professional habit.”
She’d thought, with her Master’s cultivation now, it wouldn’t matter even if they were discovered—they could just drag Su Cheng out directly.
But she didn’t expect Yu Yi to be so cautious!
“Is it because Master was ambushed by Sixth Junior Sister before? Or is Master worried for Wei Ying’s family and doesn’t want to cause trouble?”
She wondered.
Whatever the reason, ever since her Master’s breakthrough, he’d become more careful than ever—flawless in every move.
If it were anyone else, after a breakthrough they’d probably get cocky and end up in trouble.
Like a certain Broken Shadow Demon Lord.
“No wonder Master is more reliable than anyone!”
“But still… What’s this ‘set pig bring rabbit’ business?”
She silently admired Yu Yi, unaware that Yu Yi was simply “forced” to be cautious.
Perhaps if Yu Yi’s power were complete, he could have dragged Su Cheng out directly.
But as things stood, he didn’t have that strength.
***
The three of them lay low near the Wei Family Residence.
Luckily, they didn’t have to wait long before two figures, dressed as commoners but moving with remarkable agility, vaulted over the wall into the courtyard.
“Mm, no traces here. How about your side?”
“Same. Let’s go.”
After exchanging reports, they prepared to leave.
But when they turned around, they saw three strangers standing behind them, and immediately froze in shock, retreating several steps.
“Who… who are you? When did you get here!?”
They demanded warily.
“Your footwork isn’t very impressive.”
Yu Yi smiled.
“Doudou.”
“Disciple present.”
“Take them. Leave them alive.”
“Yes.”
The moment Huang Doudou responded, only a blurred afterimage was left where she had stood.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared before the two intruders.
“S-so fast!”
“Dammit, just a little brat—Ahh, spare me! Not so rough, don’t hit—”
Before they could resist, Huang Doudou’s swift fists had already reduced them to swollen faces and thrown them to the ground.
She stopped when it was enough, pulled out some rope, and bound the two unlucky men to a tree.
“Who’s behind this?”
Yu Yi walked up to them.
“Behind? What are you talking about…?”
“We don’t know anything! We just wanted to steal some things—”
“Looks like the beating wasn’t hard enough.”
Yu Yi frowned.
“Doudou.”
“Wait! Let’s talk! Please—don’t hit us again! That girl’s punches are deadly…”
Huang Doudou pouted.
“Peh, you two just can’t take a hit. I held back plenty, as Master ordered!”
Though the two put on a tough front, they caved instantly under threat, confirming Yu Yi’s suspicions.
“You two aren’t members of the Evil Tiger Gang, are you?”
She smiled, her expression gentle as ever.