Xihe Street was vast and long, encompassing several adjacent streets in the surrounding area. With countless homes and shops lining the district, she couldn’t possibly go knocking on doors one by one to inquire. For a while, she had no idea where to even begin. After walking for half a day, her legs were sore and weak, so she entered a small shop at random, ordered a bowl of hot soup, and sat down to ponder her next move.
She was well aware of Samadhi True Fire’s formidable power, but if that demoness truly came from the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, would it be possible to uncover news about Lu Jiu?
Suppressing her excitement, Hong Ning tightened her grip on the golden peach branch.
Just then, a voice nearby caught her attention.
“Uncle Zhang, did you manage to get everything I asked for the other day?”
The voice was deliberately lowered, but even so, it was soft, gentle, and carried a delicate charm. Hearing it, Hong Ning immediately looked up.
A young woman dressed in simple, modest clothing stood at the counter, speaking with the elderly shopkeeper. Her features were delicate and refined, exuding a quiet, virtuous grace.
The shopkeeper quickly took a paper-wrapped package from beneath the counter and handed it to her. “I was just about to send it to you, but here you are.”
The woman accepted it and thanked him.
The shopkeeper inquired with concern, “Has Young Master Qi’s health improved at all?”
The woman lowered her gaze. “It’s still the same. I appreciate your concern, Uncle Zhang.” She thanked him repeatedly before taking the package and leaving.
As soon as she had gone, Hong Ning got up and approached the counter. “Uncle Zhang, is she your relative?”
The old shopkeeper narrowed his eyes and studied her for a moment. She seemed unfamiliar, but since she addressed him so warmly, he assumed his memory was simply failing him. He shook his head. “What relative? That lady’s surname is Hu. Half a year ago, she married the third son of the Qi family. Because of this, Young Master Qi was driven out of the family by his father. But who could have expected that less than a month after the wedding, he would fall gravely ill? No doctor has been able to cure him. Old Master Qi blamed her for being unlucky and refused to help. Poor woman—she never abandoned him, though. She makes a living by sewing for people while taking care of him. It hasn’t been easy. That’s why the neighbors all try to help her when they can.”
Hong Ning fell into deep thought. After a long pause, she asked again, “Where does she live now?”
The shopkeeper saw no harm in telling her—she was just a young woman, not some lecherous troublemaker. “East Third Alley, right next door to Granny Liu.”
—
The alley was deep and quiet, with only a few households. Madam Hu and her husband’s residence wasn’t hard to find—just asking around was enough to confirm it.
The courtyard gate was tightly shut, and the yard itself was eerily silent. Just as the rumors said, Young Master Qi was gravely ill, and Madam Hu kept to herself during the day, shutting her doors to visitors, fulfilling the role of a virtuous wife.
Standing outside the wall, Hong Ning hesitated.
Her spiritual power was sealed, preventing her from sensing demonic energy. There was still no way to confirm whether Madam Hu was actually the fox demon. She couldn’t simply barge in without reason—what excuse should she use?
Just then, a soft, melodious voice rang out behind her.
“What is the young lady doing here?”
Startled, Hong Ning turned around and was surprised to see the newcomer.
“It’s you.”
Lu Yao’s gaze shimmered with intrigue. “What brings the young lady here?”
Hong Ning quickly regained her composure. “The princess consort is an immortal and can freely visit the mortal realm. I, on the other hand, am just a mere mortal. In a world this vast, where am I not allowed to go?”
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