The threat of death made the efficiency of the Song Family extremely high.
When Lin Ji left the Song Residence, the two brothers, Song Da and Song Er, supported the old lady of the Song Family and together they boarded the sedan chair at the entrance.
"Where are you going so late?" Lin Ji was still somewhat puzzled.
"We're going to stay next to your house," Song Da helplessly said, "When you mentioned it just now, I immediately had the servants arrange it. I offered the neighboring family a price they couldn't refuse."
Lin Ji was speechless.
"Impressive, very efficient."
After returning home, Lin Ji first watched as the three members of the Song Family settled in next door, reminding them to be vigilant at night, before returning to his own courtyard.
Late into the night, Lin Ji decided not to sleep, keeping a close watch on the activity next door.
The night passed peacefully, not even a stray cat came out for a stroll.
It wasn't until dawn that Lin Ji prepared to go out to buy breakfast buns, when Song Da also emerged from the neighboring courtyard.
He was followed by a servant from the Song Residence.
"Lin Head Catcher, the breakfast buns and donkey meat from Li's shop are ready for you." Song Da approached with the breakfast in hand.
Lin Ji looked at the breakfast in Song Da's hand, then at his smiling face, unsure of how to respond for a moment.
"Thank you."
Lin Ji didn't refuse, taking the breakfast back to his courtyard. The buns had cooled down, and the donkey meat was just tendon meat, not loin meat.
The taste was passable, but not authentic. He would make do.
After a simple half-filled meal, Lin Ji returned to his room, sitting cross-legged on the bed to begin cultivation.
Ever since he found himself inexplicably involved in some strange matters, Lin Ji's sense of crisis had increased. Even staying in a small place like Qingyang County didn't seem very safe. Clearly, there had been an increase in demonic incidents in Qingyang County recently, with the level of demons becoming higher, prompting him to be more cautious.
This cultivation session lasted for a whole morning.
Two hours passed before Lin Ji finally opened his eyes.
Just as he was about to head to Ruyi Tower for a good meal, he had barely stepped out of the house when the courtyard gate was pushed open.
Seeing the person, Lin Ji felt somewhat disappointed.
He thought it was Song Da and Song Er's men bringing food and wine again.
But it turned out to be Ling Yin.
"Why are you here?" Lin Ji pulled out a chair and sat down, casually asking.
"Senior Brother sent back a message," Ling Yin said.
"So fast? It hasn't even been a day?" Lin Ji was somewhat surprised.
Although the Qingcheng Sect was located on Qinghua Mountain outside Qingyang County, it was still nearly two hundred miles away.
According to Lin Ji's estimation, Guo Yi must have rushed back at full speed, then immediately checked the list of disciples upon returning to the sect to have such efficiency.
"It seems your Senior Brother is quite concerned about clearing the name of the Qingcheng Sect," Lin Ji smiled at Ling Yin.
Ling Yin took out a paper kite, tossing it towards Lin Ji. In mid-air, the paper kite automatically unfolded into a piece of paper.
Lin Ji recognized this item, it was a communication talisman from the Qingcheng Sect.
He caught the communication talisman and activated it with a bit of spiritual energy, and Guo Yi's voice rang out.
"In the past ten years, six people from Qingyang County have joined the Qingcheng Sect. Among them, three have died, one is missing, and the remaining two are still in the sect."
"I have asked, the two in the sect have not left recently."
"The missing person is named Feng Yu, who joined the Qingcheng Sect three years ago. Half a month ago, he went out on a mission assigned by the sect to defend against the siege of ghosts in Liangcheng."
That was all the information on the paper kite.
Lin Ji crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it aside.
Before the paper ball could hit the ground, Ling Yin swiftly moved to catch it.
"What are you doing?" Lin Ji was stunned.
"Do you know that communication talismans can be reused? Each communication talisman costs a few hundred taels, and you just threw it away?"
"So expensive?" Lin Ji hadn't realized.
Seeing Ling Yin's annoyed expression, Lin Ji casually apologized and then sent her away.
After sending Ling Yin away, Lin Ji couldn't sit still, getting up to go to the neighboring courtyard to find Song Da.
"Feng Yu, do you recognize this name?" Lin Ji got straight to the point.
Song Da looked puzzled, pondered for a while, and then shook his head.
"I don't remember, I don't know anyone named Feng," he said.
"Think carefully, I believe Feng Yu is most likely the one who harmed you. He left the Qingcheng Sect half a month ago and is currently missing. Think about it yourself."
"By the way, thinking back three years, he left Qingyang County to join the Qingcheng Sect three years ago."
Lin Ji pulled out a chair and sat down in the neighboring courtyard, gesturing for the passing kids to fetch Lu Cong.
Seeing Lin Ji not leaving, Song Da didn't dare to sit down and could only stand to the side, furrowing his brows in deep thought.
After a while, Lu Cong arrived.
"Boss, what's the matter?" Lu Cong hurried into the courtyard, handing Lin Ji a meat pie.
Lin Ji took a bite of the meat pie, then asked, "Do you know Feng Yu? Someone from the county."
"Feng? I don't remember any families with the surname Feng in the county." Lu Cong scratched his head.
"None?"
"Wait a minute!" Lu Cong slapped his forehead, saying, "There is a Feng surname, but they're not from the county, it's an old beggar."
"A beggar?"
"Yes, he's always squatting across from Ruyi Tower with a group of beggars. The oldest one is surnamed Feng, but because he's not very clear-headed, everyone calls him Crazy Old Man."
"A beggar? Then he shouldn't have any descendants, right?" Lin Ji furrowed his brows slightly.
"What descendants?" Lu Cong asked curiously.
Lin Ji explained the clue he had just received.
Hearing Lin Ji's explanation, Lu Cong said, "That Crazy Old Man took in several young beggars a few years ago, all unwanted children. Those kids probably have the surname Feng."
Lin Ji's eyes widened suddenly.
"Go ask now, see if there's a person named Feng Yu! Left three years ago!"
"Yes, I'll go now."
After Lu Cong left, Lin Ji turned to Song Da.
"Three years ago, a beggar! Can you remember now?"
Song Da was stunned, still shaking his head.
"Three years ago, I was busy dealing with other gangs in the county, where would I have time to bother with beggars... No, even if I had the time, I wouldn't bother with beggars, I have better things to do."
"Alright, you're good." Lin Ji had nothing more to say. Besides, it had been several years, so it was normal not to remember beggars who were not valued.
After about half an hour, Lu Cong returned.
"Boss, there is such a person," Lu Cong said, "Crazy Old Man can't speak anymore, but one of the young men he adopted said that Feng Yu was one of the older ones among them. Three years ago in winter, a group of beggars were starving, so Feng Yu went out to find food and never returned."
"Alright, I understand." Lin Ji breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, there was a clearer target in this case.
As for why Feng Yu wanted to retaliate against the Song Family, as long as he dared to strike again, the reason would eventually be found.
"According to what Guo Yi said, the Yin Sha Talisman is not easily taught to ordinary disciples. It is only passed down to young geniuses who reach the third realm at a young age, or to the offspring of sect elders and direct disciples. The Qingcheng Sect would only impart it to them."
"This Feng Yu reached the third realm in just three years after joining?" Lin Ji was a bit dumbfounded.
(End of this chapter)