Eldritch Horror Theatre

The legendary Silver Mist Manor was nowhere near as imposing as the image he had pictured in his mind.

Although it was fairly grand, strictly speaking, it looked like little more than a few mountain villas, and it clearly showed its age.

It was naturally well-maintained, but it still felt like it couldn't house very many people.

Of course, after Ji Liushuang briefly introduced its boundaries, Fu Qian still recognized its sheer extravagance from another perspective.

Regardless, this place was at most an ancestral home or something similar. With the Ji Clan's industries spread across the globe, there shouldn't be many people left staying here.

Sure enough, he had just begun his partnership with Classmate Liushuang and was already reaping good news.

If there weren't many people on the Ji Clan's side, it meant the number of targets he needed to confirm was greatly reduced—not to mention that not everyone would inherit the family talent.

However, while Fu Qian felt deeply satisfied, the expressions of his two traveling companions were far from good.

Ji Liushuang was already injured. Alongside her haggard expression, not a single trace of joy at returning home could be seen on her face.

And obviously, he had already broadcasted this mood. This was evident in the man and woman leading the welcoming party, who wore the exact same expression as him.

...

"Hello, Professor Andiel."

The man at the front of the group was clearly much older than Ji Mingzhe, and their appearances could only be described as somewhat similar in spirit.

However, he possessed the bearing of several extra decades of refinement, and his demeanor was far more polite.

"I am Ji Xun. Thank you for helping Liushuang."

"You're too kind. It was an effortless favor."

Fu Qian maintained the aloof demeanor of an intellectual, offering no more than a single polite phrase.

Seeing that he had no intention of even taking off the mask on his face, Ji Xun's eyes flickered slightly, and he looked directly at Ji Liushuang beside him.

The capable-looking woman beside him was currently directing a group of people to check Ji Liushuang's injuries.

"How could you run off there alone?"

Following that, Ji Xun didn't even show much concern. Instead, his words fully displayed the strictness of an elder.

"If it wasn't for Professor Andiel, you would have been in danger this time, do you understand?"

Even though the latter sentence was theoretically spoken out of goodwill, it still sounded somewhat off.

"You didn't tell Mother, did you?"

Facing the reprimand, Ji Liushuang's expression remained calm, and she even asked out of concern about her Mother's condition.

"She doesn't know. Her body just recovered, and we didn't want to agitate her. Of course, it seems you don't mind doing so."

At this moment, it was the woman who answered expressionlessly, her tone quite mocking and sarcastic.

Classmate Liushuang, just what kind of status do you have in this family!

Seeing her finally pale slightly at the invocation of her Mother, Fu Qian marveled inwardly.

Although this woman was also a transcendent, her level was clearly quite inferior. From her interactions with Ji Mingzhe, one could tell she was at most acting as a steward. Yet she actually spoke to the young lady of the Ji Clan like this?

Logically speaking, it shouldn't be this bad. Even if she was the product of an elopement, she was still born to the eldest princess of the Ji Clan. Her bloodline was fully guaranteed.

Could there be some special reason?

From the looks of it, if I hadn't come, Old Man Ji Xun might not have even shown up.

As expected, the Academy's name is still useful. After all, it's one of the few research institutions in the transcendent world.

Of course, its effectiveness has just about reached its limit.

"Go treat your injuries first. Come over after you're done; we need to clarify the situation."

Seeing that Ji Liushuang didn't utter another word, Ji Xun didn't press the matter further. Instead, he signaled the group to take her inside to treat her wounds, then turned back to invite Fu Qian for some tea.

However, perhaps due to Fu Qian's somewhat impolite behavior, his expression was much colder than at the start, fully displaying the arrogant pride of a top-tier noble family.

Naturally, he indeed had the qualifications for it. Looking every bit the leader of the manor's affairs, this Brother Ji Xun was a genuine Demigod Realm expert, far stronger than Ji Mingzhe.

With such strength and status, there was no fear of offending an Academy instructor; he was merely giving face to the Academy.

A Demigod Grade Ash Descent, huh? I wonder if it has anything to do with the target parasite of this mission.

Fu Qian naturally didn't mind this at all. While pondering his mission objective, he smoothly shook his head.

"No, thank you. I'm still not entirely at ease, so I'll go check on Liushuang's injuries first."

"Very well."

Ji Xun didn't seem too surprised by his polite refusal.

After all, one couldn't very well drink tea while wearing a mask.

...

Following Ji Liushuang's medical team into the building, just as Fu Qian was admiring the low-key luxury of the top-tier family, he was unsurprisingly asked to wait outside for the sake of propriety while her injuries were treated.

After sitting quietly for a moment under the gaze of several people, the Poker Face woman finally opened the door and came out. She stated that the wounds had been handled, Ji Liushuang was resting, and he could go in.

"Professor Andiel, you've worked hard today."

Ji Liushuang was alone in the room, having already changed into a set of loose clothes.

Furthermore, whether she had requested it or not, the group had even brought out a classically styled Wheelchair for her to sit in.

The moment Fu Qian walked in to visit, the weary girl managed to pull a faint smile on her face and thanked him once again.

Of course, the true purpose of this sentence was to warn Fu Qian that their conversation was being monitored.

"It was the least I could do."

Instantly catching her meaning, Fu Qian walked to the side and sat down.

"...I was indeed careless this time!"

Ji Liushuang sighed softly, though her words carried a faint double meaning.

"After resting for a bit, I still have to go and explain the situation clearly."

"No problem. But isn't this Ji Clan tradition of yours a bit too harsh on the younger generation?"

...

Realizing what Fu Qian meant, Ji Liushuang couldn't help but freeze.

She hadn't expected that even after her warning, the man before her would still speak without any reservations, directly critiquing the prior behavior of Ji Xun's group.

Was he not planning to keep a low profile at all?

"The Ji Clan's restrictions on its descendants have always been rather strict. Coupled with a recent series of accidents, the elders might not be in a very good mood," she explained after a brief hesitation.

"Accidents?"

Fu Qian instantly looked quite intrigued.

"Besides your Mother and you, did something else happen before?"

"...Some time ago, a disciple of the family was murdered in the Wasteland. The killer still hasn't been found."

She clearly didn't understand why Fu Qian was paying so much attention to this, but after a moment's hesitation, Ji Liushuang answered truthfully.

The Wasteland? Then it shouldn't have anything to do with my mission.

Fu Qian felt slightly disappointed, but the very next second, a realization hit him—

A disciple of the Ji Clan, murdered in the Wasteland, and the killer remains at large?

The fat Angel who was martyred with my help, Ji Yicheng?

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