I Can Devour Spirits

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu, naturally, were returning to Xianggu County.

Shen Mizi’s father is now serving as the Inspector General in Ruyang Prefecture, so she was no longer going to Xianggu County and instead planned to head to Ruyang Prefecture from here.

This way, Shen Mizi’s route coincided with Liu Shushan’s.

And Ximen Kankan was also not returning to Xianggu County.

Over the past three years, Ximen Yong had already shifted the focus of his business to the Prefecture City. Both the shop and residence had been moved to this Yuanyang Prefecture.

However, Ximen Kankan had not yet returned to this new home in Yuanyang Prefecture.

The few of them bid farewell at the city gate of Yuanyang Prefecture.

Shen Mizi and Liu Shushan rode west, while Duan Rong and Xiao Yu headed east.

Ximen Kankan warmly invited Duan Rong and Xiao Yu to stay at his home for a night before leaving, and he held onto Duan Rong’s horse reins without letting go.

But Xiao Yu, eager to return home, hadn’t seen Xiao Zongting and Zhu Xiaoqi for three years, and seeing that Xianggu County was not far, how could she stay?

It took Duan Rong repeated persuasion before Ximen Kankan finally let go.

The two rode east as Ximen Kankan stood at the city gate, watching them until they were far away before entering the city gate.

Over the past three years, having been together almost every day, to Ximen Kankan, they were just like his family.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu galloped along the official road, their whips leaving streaks of blood on the horses’ rumps.

That day, by the afternoon at 3 p.m., they finally reined in their horses in a cloud of dust.

They had reached the East City Gate of Xianggu County.

Seeing this familiar city gate, a surge of warmth and guilt welled up in Xiao Yu’s heart. Xiao Zongting was getting old, yet she had not served him for three years, nor visited her father during the festive seasons.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu dismounted their horses and led them through the city gate.

The two horses were foaming at the mouth from the run, and both Duan Rong and Xiao Yu were covered in dust. Moreover, having returned from the sect, both were dressed in Daoist robes.

Walking along West Main Street, even if there were acquaintances, they wouldn’t dare recognize them at a glance.

Leading the horses, the pair headed straight for the Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

Seeing the familiar storefronts on West Main Street, Duan Rong and Xiao Yu both felt as if they had been away for ages.

The two arrived at the entrance of the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, slightly surprised to see that the agency’s door and plaque had been replaced.

However, they didn’t mind; it was only natural for some changes after being absent from Xianggu County for three years.

Hadn’t the whole Ximen Yong family moved to Yuanyang Prefecture? Three years was indeed a significant amount of time!

The two stepped up the stone steps and entered the door directly!

After all, the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, being an agency that welcomes guests from all directions, usually left its doors open as long as it wasn’t nighttime.

As soon as the two walked in, the gatekeeper Ma Wentao appeared, eyeing them suspiciously and asked, "Are you here to request an escort?"

Duan Rong patted Ma Wentao on the shoulder and said, "Uncle Ma, it’s me, Duan Rong! What, don’t you recognize me?"

Duan Rong, who was only sixteen or seventeen, had grown taller and appeared somewhat more physically developed over these three years, seemingly more well-proportioned.

Initially, Ma Wentao didn’t recognize him. Moreover, the two had been away for three years and suddenly returned, which didn’t immediately come to Ma Wentao’s mind.

"Duan... Duan Rong..." Ma Wentao stammered.

Upon seeing Xiao Yu to Duan Rong’s right, although Xiao Yu’s face was covered in dust, her height and build hadn’t changed much, and Ma Wentao immediately recognized her, his expression changing drastically as if he’d seen a ghost. "You! You... why are you back?"

"If we didn’t come back, would we have to sleep on the streets?"

Duan Rong patted Ma Wentao’s shoulder, smiling as he and Xiao Yu walked into the escort agency.

They didn’t mind Ma Wentao’s astonished face. After all, they had been away for three years, and their sudden return was naturally surprising to Ma Wentao. Not to mention Ma Wentao, even they themselves felt a bit apprehensive nearing their hometown.

The two walked along the familiar path, encountering many people dressed in escort master’s attire, yet they were all unfamiliar faces.

Duan Rong’s expression slightly furrowed, and a hint of vigilance arose in his heart.

Three years had passed, and it was normal for the escort agency to have new recruits. But seeing only unfamiliar faces along the way seemed somewhat odd.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu glanced at each other, both feeling a hint of doubt in their hearts.

Xiao Yu said, "In just three years, so many newcomers have joined? Does our escort agency train escort masters so quickly?"

Duan Rong replied, "Something seems off. Let’s go, we should first go and see Elder Xiao."

The two of them followed the path, bypassed the Martial Arts Arena in the central courtyard, and arrived in front of the Xiao family’s compound.

As soon as Xiao Yu saw the courtyard gate, she was immediately shocked; the joy in her heart about reuniting with her family vanished in an instant.

The two wooden doors were smashed and hung crookedly on the hinges.

"Dad! Xiaoqi!"

Seeing this, Xiao Yu knew something had happened. She and Duan Rong almost simultaneously launched themselves forward, darting into the courtyard like phantoms.

The two quickly surveyed the interior and exterior of the Xiao family compound.

Every room was in disarray, yet there was no sign of Xiao Zongting or Zhu Xiaoqi.

Xiao Yu’s face showed urgency, and out of worry and anxiety, the veins on her forehead slightly bulged.

Duan Rong touched the dust on the table in the main hall and found only a thin layer. After a slight pause in thought, he said, "This must have happened not long ago. At least half a month ago, someone should still have been wiping this table."

Xiao Yu knew very well that as long as Zhu Xiaoqi was at home, the table in the main hall would be wiped every day.

"Duan Rong. My dad and Xiaoqi, they must have met with trouble, right?"

"Not necessarily, maybe they just moved away?" Duan Rong, seeing Xiao Yu in such a state of anxiety and worry, tried to comfort her, though he, too, felt a vague sense of unease. "Come on, let’s find someone to ask and see what exactly happened."

Duan Rong’s comfort evidently had little effect on Xiao Yu. With all the boxes and belongings still in the house, how could it be a move?

The two came to the Martial Arts Arena. It was 3 p.m., and quite a few people were practicing there.

As soon as they emerged from the alleyway, they saw someone standing in a stance there. Duan Rong immediately approached him and asked, "Hey there, sorry to bother you. Has anything happened recently at Chief Tutor Elder Xiao’s place?"

The person, upon hearing this, gave Duan Rong a once-over, then waved him away.

"I don’t know."

Duan Rong turned his head, swept his gaze, and saw under a large elm tree a few tens of feet away stood Zhang Xinping, an Escort Master from the Fifth Escort Team, practicing.

When Duan Rong looked over, Zhang Xinping happened to see him, too. Their eyes met, and Zhang Xinping immediately turned and sprinted away, disappearing into a nearby alley in a flash.

At this point, on the Martial Arts Arena, many figures were seen quickly leaving.

When Duan Rong and Xiao Yu looked again, only unfamiliar faces remained on the Martial Arts Arena.

Xiao Yu’s hands and feet went cold, her voice trembling slightly, "Duan Rong, my dad and they must have met with trouble. Otherwise, those people wouldn’t be avoiding us. Let’s go find Ruan Fengshan."

At this point, Duan Rong could almost certainly say that something had happened to Xiao Zongting. He just hoped it wasn’t a matter of life and death. As long as it was something else, there was still room to maneuver, but once a person is dead, there’s no coming back.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu went directly from the Martial Arts Arena to the backyard.

But they were stopped by the guards at the entrance from the central courtyard to the backyard.

The guard told them that Ruan Fengshan was not there.

Standing there, Duan Rong’s mind flickered, and suddenly, his divine sense was released, projecting through walls and over the courtyard.

Three years ago, when Duan Rong was in Xianggu County, the release of his divine sense could barely reach the vicinity of the entrance to Juyi Hall.

However, now he had achieved the Eleventh Layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture, and his Divine Soul was incredibly powerful!

At this moment, under the coverage of his divine sense, the entire backyard of the Escort Agency was fully visible.

Ruan Fengshan was indeed not there!

Seeing that Ruan Fengshan was indeed not in the backyard, Duan Rong retracted his divine sense.

At this time, Xiao Yu was already flipping her hand, preparing to reveal her Taiyi Order.

This time, when Duan Rong and Xiao Yu returned to Xianggu County, their identities had already changed.

Now, they were outer disciples of the sect and held the Taiyi Order, granting them summary execution rights.

Even if they wanted to enter the backyard, it would be justified under the law, let alone if they wanted to capture and interrogate Ruan Fengshan.

But just as Xiao Yu was about to show the Taiyi Order, Duan Rong grabbed her hand.

Xiao Yu frowned, looking at Duan Rong in puzzlement.

Duan Rong said, "Since Ruan Fengshan isn’t here, why don’t we find a few familiar Escort Masters? I remember Zhao Mu’s house is nearby."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu felt a stir in her heart. Her father had been the Chief Tutor at the Escort Agency for many years, and many of the Escort Masters had been personally taught by him. These people’s words would indeed be more trustworthy than Ruan Fengshan’s.

Thus, Xiao Yu changed her mind and, together with Duan Rong, left the Escort Agency to head to Zhao Mu’s house.