Exploring the path in the dark

Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Qian Fei, instead of going with the flow, asked, "Can I start scouting locations in the next couple of days?"

Wu Liang: "Tomorrow, let Butler Zhang show you around the yard first. After we sign the contract, we'll hand over the keys to you."

A tall, thin man walked in through the door. "Mr. Wu, are you going out again tonight?"

"This is my bodyguard, Wu Feng," Wu Liang introduced him, then said, "We're not going out. You and Zhang Shang should lock the door and rest."

As Wu Feng nodded and prepared to leave, the little girl who brought in the dishes stood at the door with a smile on her face, which Jiang Chuan Gu happened to see.

He smiled indifferently and continued drinking tea and chatting with Wu Liang.

Butler Zhang's attitude gradually warmed up, and he personally prepared soup for them. When Lin Chaoying took the bowl, she asked directly, "Butler Zhang, do we have wind chimes in our yard?"

She adjusted her glasses with one hand, thought for a moment, and said, "Yes, Miss likes the sound of bells. Madam bought a lot. What's wrong, Producer Lin? Did it disturb you?"

Lin Chaoying shook her head. "It's nothing. I just heard it and thought it sounded nice, so I asked."

Housekeeper Zhang thoughtfully said, "If you feel uncomfortable in your living situation, please let me know and I will make adjustments."

After dinner, the rain outside was getting heavier and heavier. Even with umbrellas, it was impossible to avoid getting our shoulders and trousers wet. Butler Zhang escorted us back to the courtyard and said, "The rain is heavy and the ground is slippery tonight. If you need anything, just send me a message and I'll have someone bring it over. Please don't leave the courtyard."

Qian Fei casually patted the water off himself, and as she left and closed the courtyard gate, he said with a hint of resentment, "Can't we do anything tonight?"

Kong Yue: "Everyone's abilities are limited, so let's be careful."

Lin Chaoying: "I'll try again tonight to see if I can have an out-of-body experience."

Qin Ming: "How about I go scout ahead tonight? A director who's into art can enjoy sightseeing tonight. After all, how many artists are mentally sound?"

Jiang Chuan Gu: "I just noticed that the bodyguard Wu Feng and the girl with the ponytail who was serving dishes exchanged glances? Their relationship seems unusual."

"I'm really curious." Qian Fei crossed his arms and leaned back on the sofa, complaining, "That Wu Feng is like a little chick, how did he become a bodyguard? Did he learn from Ip Man? Did he rely on skillful techniques?"

Kong Yue: "Anyway, based on what I've observed today, Madam Tang doesn't have much say. Butler Zhang keeps watching Wu Liang's expression. On the surface, it seems that Wu Liang has the most say."

Qian Fei was troubled: "This is so annoying, what should I do to find the three of them?"

Where could they be locked up? Lin Chaoying stood under the pavilion at the entrance, looking up at the square sky. A few raindrops hit her face, flowing down her neck and into her clothes, cold and sticky... This villa was nestled against the mountain, with 11 small courtyards scattered about. Its huge and complex structure made it too easy to hide secrets.

Her thoughts were in complete disarray.

To find the three missing people, they either need to search every inch of the familiar terrain or force them to reveal their true colors. Normally, with her special abilities, she could have explored the entire manor in one night, but now she's truly trapped in this confined space.

Jiang Chuan Gu walked to her side. "Still thinking about the wind chimes?"

Lin Chaoying: "No, I was thinking about how to learn about all the courtyards as quickly as possible without any special abilities."

As night fell, the lamp in the corner of the house in the courtyard came on, a small halo of light that seemed particularly tiny in the darkness. Lin Chaoying stretched out her hand, and large raindrops gathered in her palm. "You just said that Wu Feng and the girl serving the dishes exchanged glances?"

Jiangchuan Valley: "That's right."

Lin Chaoying: "I remember Cen Ting said that there would be villagers working part-time at this resort. Butler Zhang and Wu Feng seem to be relatives of Wu Liang who have been with him for a long time. If that's the case, the little girl serving dishes today must be a temporary worker. They are the only ones who can break through this barrier."

Jiang Chuan Gu looked at her, "Then should I go and bribe them?"

Lin Chaoying laughed and said, "Have you gotten addicted to acting these past few days? You want to solve everything with money?"

"No..." Jiang Chuan Gu pursed his lips shyly.

Lin Chaoying walked back to her room and asked, "Qin Ming? Are you going out to scout ahead tonight?"

Qin Ming: "Hmm, if we can visit all the courtyards tomorrow, who knows who we might need to move tonight?"

Lin Chaoying found the map Cen Ting had sent and said, "Why don't you go to Qingfeng Temple in the southwest first? It's closest to the back mountain and also closer to the legendary location of the mountain god. You might find something there."

Around nine o'clock, Qin Ming quietly went out wearing a black raincoat. Even though most of his mental energy had disappeared, his teleportation speed was still faster than that of ordinary people, and he could almost become invisible, especially at night.

After the other four took turns washing up, they turned off the room lights and pretended to be resting.

In the darkness, the damp air was filled with the fragrance of plants, and the intermittent sound of wind chimes rang out again in the distance. The group gathered together in the darkness, quietly waiting for news from Qin Ming.

Lin Chaoying: "Is the sound of the wind chimes suppressing supernatural abilities, or guiding them?"

Kong Yue felt extremely insecure in the darkness, gripping Qian Fei's hand tightly as she replied, "Wouldn't the ringtone still serve as a reminder?"

"Kong Yue?" Qian Fei hugged her cold body. "Don't be afraid, I'll be here if anything happens!"

Lin Chaoying approached them, took Kong Yue's other hand, and said, "It's okay."

Kong Yue gradually calmed down, exhaled a few breaths, and said, "I'll be fine in a bit."

The soundproofing of the villa depends on whether you are inside or outside. If you are talking in the yard, you can hear everything clearly. So when the housekeeper and the nanny in the next yard were giving each other instructions, they could hear their conversation when they opened the window.

Lin Chaoying remembered that there were three courtyards to the north, pointed to the last courtyard facing west, and asked, "Isn't there an empty secondary courtyard next to us?"

Jiang Chuan Gu: "That's right. There is a secondary courtyard on each side of this main courtyard for entertaining guests. The one facing east, near the gate, is where Steward Zhang lives. Nobody has mentioned the one facing west."

The courtyard where Steward Zhang lived had just quieted down. They hadn't brought Qin Ming with them, but they could hear new rustling sounds coming from the west-facing courtyard they had mentioned.

A very soft push of the door, accompanied by footsteps, clearly indicated that someone from next door had passed through the main room and entered the inner courtyard. Finally, the door clicked shut, and the courtyard fell silent again.

Qian Fei: "Qin Ming?"

Lin Chaoying: "No, it was the sound of two people walking."

Qian Fei: "Does someone live next door?"

Lin Chaoying stood up, pulled back a corner of the curtain and looked outside. The courtyard was dark and unchanged. She said, "There's no light in the house, which means they sneaked in too."

Kong Yue: "Could it be that someone is also investigating the manor?"

"Could it be!" Qian Fei exclaimed excitedly, "Could it be Cen Ting and the others?!"

Lin Chaoying: "If it really is Cen Ting, why didn't they send us messages? The signal here isn't cut off. I suspect they're temporary workers."

Jiangchuan Gutai, recognizing her inquisitive expression, preemptively said, "I'll go with you!"

Qian Fei: "Huh? What do you mean by 'accompany'?"

Kong Yue smiled and said, "Lin Chaoying wants to go to the courtyard across the street." She took Lin Chaoying's hand and said, "You stay here with me."

Lin Chaoying was even more agile at scaling the wall than Jiang Chuan Gu. The two did not go directly into the inner courtyard, but cautiously climbed over the outer courtyard wall. The door of the main hall was wide open. They carefully passed through the partition, and the inner courtyard was empty.

Jiangchuan Valley discovered that the side rooms on both sides were locked with chains, only the door of the main house was not locked.

Lin Chaoying leaned against the wall, beckoned him over, and whispered, "There's not a sound from inside."

Jiang Chuan Gu raised his chin, indicating whether he wanted to go in. Lin Chao Ying nodded. He stood at the door, turned sideways, and gently pushed the door open. Inside, there were various display stands. The dark environment made it impossible to see the specific items on display, but one thing was certain: there was no one inside.

The two were groping around in the room when they suddenly heard voices coming from the floor inside the inner room.

Lin Chaoying pointed to the floor and said in a low voice, "There's a secret passage underground!"

They pressed their ears close to the ground and heard a man and a woman talking. Lin Chaoying took out her phone and clicked to record.

The woman said sweetly and coquettishly, "When can we be open and aboveboard?"

Man: "Didn't I say? I'll wait until I find the real entrance to the underground parking garage! Stop flirting with me in front of outsiders and Mr. Wu!"

Jiang Chuangu looked at Lin Chaoying and typed on his phone: [Bodyguard Wu Feng?]

Lin Chaoying nodded.

Woman: "Oh dear! I just couldn't help it! Butler Zhang was so fierce during the day! I'm exhausted after working all day!"

Wu Feng: "Let's be patient a little longer. I've already ruled out Haitang Courtyard. I'll try to find Qingfeng Courtyard this week when I have some free time!"

Woman: "I heard that this film crew is going to rent the Wu family's space to shoot a movie!"

Wu Feng sneered: "Heh, have you forgotten how those three people disappeared before? Weren't they liars too?"

Woman: "Look! The man sitting next to Wu Liang today is a real celebrity! Do you think if we really rent that room, it will affect our ability to find the entrance?"

Wu Feng: "Don't forget, I'm a superhuman! I'm super fast!"

The woman said coquettishly, "You're not fast enough!"

Wu Feng: "Then you give it a try!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Chuangu pulled Lin Chaoying away.

When Lin Chaoying climbed back into the yard, she looked completely bewildered. "We haven't finished recording yet! Why did you drag me back!"

Jiangchuan Gu stammered, "That's enough! Recording any more will ruin your ears!"

Qian Fei leaned closer, "Do you have any useful information?"

Kong Yue closed the door. "Yes, what did you hear?"

Lin Chaoying played the recording in detail, "Does everyone in the villa know about the disappearance of the three? Is Wu Feng an esper? And why are they looking for the entrance to the basement?"

Just then, an unusual noise came from the doorway. Qin Ming quietly pushed the door open and entered by the moonlight. "Someone has stayed at Qingfeng Courtyard! There are servants cleaning up the remaining daily necessities!"

Lin Chaoying played the audio message for him again.

Qin Ming said in surprise, "I think I know where the entrance to the underground parking garage is."

Everyone: "Huh?"

Qin Ming took out a map and pointed to the empty courtyard next door, saying, "It's right here! The six servants were chatting while they were packing up. They said that the northwest courtyard next door is a forbidden area that Steward Zhang has repeatedly forbidden outsiders from entering. Last year, a servant accidentally went in and said that he saw a monster hiding in the courtyard!"

Qian Fei clicked his tongue. "Why is it getting more and more bizarre?"

Kong Yue: "Yeah, if there really are monsters, would Wu Feng choose this place for his affair?"

Qin Ming: "There's no such thing as an unfounded rumor. Maybe there's something hidden under the basement?"

Lin Chaoying: "Do you know who lives in Qingfeng Courtyard?"

Qin Ming: "It seems to be Wu Liang's son. They call the main house of Qingfeng Courtyard 'Young Master's room.' I haven't had a chance to go to Haitang Courtyard yet. There are people cleaning there, probably to prepare for us tomorrow."

Lin Chaoying asked in confusion, "Son? Qingfeng Courtyard is the furthest courtyard, isn't it? Why would you let your child live so far away?"

Qin Ming: "I'm not sure either. I was eavesdropping on their conversation from a certain distance, so I was climbing over the wall."

Kong Yue found it strange, "Today, Madam Tang doted on her daughter, holding her close all the time. If it really was a son, how could she have thrown him so far away?"

Lin Chao-ying: "There is a place that can prove this."

Qin Ming: "Where?"

Lin Chaoying: "Ancestral hall!"