Seeing Tang Nian's ambiguous expression, Ji Shuhe continued.

"Secondly, I've always had a good relationship with the Golden Toad, and his death points to Jingning, so I came back. But now I can't get into the Fuyou Opera House, and I need Master Tang's help."

"Where did you learn about our relationship with the Golden Toad?" Lou Mu asked.

In the past two days, he has completely adapted to life without hearing, and has even learned to read lip movements.

The fact that he saved the golden toad should only be known to the two of them. Later, when the golden toad became attached to him, he never seemed to make any friends.

unless……

It was that man in black in Lancheng.

“I not only know about your relationship with the Golden Toad, but I also know your identity,” Ji Shuhe said with a smile. “However, I don’t understand why you would be willing to be with her. You are not human, but she is human. Humans and demons are different.”

It was rather strange to hear those words coming from the mouth of a half-human, half-demon.

"Don't be curious about things you shouldn't know."

A murderous glint flashed in Lou Mu's eyes. The cup he was holding suddenly turned to powder, and the scalding tea burned his hand until it turned bright red, but Lou Mu did not notice at all.

Ji Shuhe acted as if he hadn't seen them at all, still smiling as he looked at the two of them.

The tense atmosphere between the two forced Tang Nian to speak first.

She took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to Lou Mu, then said, "My help? That requires payment, that's the rule."

Even without Ji Shuhe, she would have investigated everything thoroughly.

But whenever someone comes looking for her, she always tries to rip them off.

After all, she never does business at a loss.

Not to mention, he also displeased Lou Mu.

Although she wanted to get rid of Lou Mu, he was ultimately hers now.

“I know where Princess Huaining is.” Ji Shuhe’s words immediately changed Tang Nian’s expression.

What do you want us to do?

"Does Master Tang know what the drum of the Fuyou Opera House is made of?" Ji Shuhe asked, seemingly unrelated to the question.

Seeing that Tang Nian did not answer, Ji Shuhe did not feel that there was anything wrong, and answered on his own.

“It’s human skin. The reason they haven’t reopened for so many years is because I stole all the human skin from before.” He proudly raised his head as he said this.

Human skin?

The people of Nanyu City!

Seeing Tang Nian's shocked expression, Ji Shuhe nodded: "It seems that Master Tang also guessed that the drum and drumsticks this time were made from the skin of the people of Nanyu City."

"You want me to steal them?"

"No, they've gotten smarter now. You guys figure out how to find their storeroom before the opera ends today, and I'll take care of the rest."

"Why?"

“There’s a powerful demon in the theater. He can use a drum made of human skin as a medium to control the people, and even other demons.” As he spoke, Ji Shuhe looked at Lou Mu. “You have signs of being controlled. Young Master Lou listened to two plays but was not controlled. But that’s precisely why I came to you.”

Despite saying that, his gaze was fixed on Lou Mu, whose face had darkened.

"Is there any other use for this human skin?" Lou Mu asked.

Ji Shuhe shook his head: "I don't know."

Lou Mu stared intently into his eyes, but showed no sign of panic.

Tang Nian nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

She didn't say whether she agreed or not, but simply said, "I need to see Chu Roujia first."

Ji Shuhe clearly knew that his words alone were not enough to convince the two people in front of him.

He finished the tea on the table in one gulp, stood up, and said, "Alright, I'll take you there."

After leaving the teahouse, the two followed Ji Shuhe into a small alley next to it. The wooden doors in the alley were tightly closed, and it seemed deserted.

Ji Shuhe wandered through the alleyways, and after turning countless corners, a low-key yet luxurious door appeared in the narrow alley.

The two were very familiar with the four large characters written on the plaque above the door.

Song's Pharmacy.

There was no latch on the door, and Ji Shuhe pushed it open easily.

In the courtyard, the herbs were still drying, and they didn't look like they had been drying for very long.

The ground was clean, without much dust or trash, which showed that it was regularly cleaned.

But from the moment they entered the courtyard, they did not see another person.

What's even stranger is that the pharmacy here only has a courtyard, while the shop in front is nowhere to be found.

"Is no one living here?"

Ji Shuhe answered almost instantly: "I've been here a few times, and I haven't seen anyone."

Ji Shuhe, familiar with the place, led the two to the woodshed of the pharmacy.

“Go ahead, she’s inside.” Ji Shuhe pointed to the chains hanging on the door.

Tang Nian gave him a deep look, and was about to raise her hand when Lou Mu stopped her.

How did you know Princess Huaining was here?

Ji Shuhe showed no remorse in the face of Lou Mu's questioning, staring directly into Lou Mu's eyes and shrugging.

"How I know is not important. What is important is that if we don't rescue her soon, she probably won't live much longer."

Lou Mu glanced at Tang Nian and saw a wary look in her eyes.

Lou Mu stepped forward and gently tugged at the iron chain. The originally sturdy chain instantly broke into two pieces and fell to the ground.

The door was ajar, and he stood in front of Tang Nian, saying, "I'll go in, you stay outside and keep watch."

"good."

But Ji Shuhe didn't care about all that and followed Lou Mu into the woodshed.

The moment he entered the woodshed, he seemingly casually looked up at the roof beam.

As soon as Lou Mu entered, he saw a woman lying on the pile of firewood, her hands and feet tightly bound, her face covered by a burlap sack.

"Why don't you go pick them?" Lou Mu stood still, without making a move.

Ji Shuhe withdrew his gaze, did not refuse, stepped forward and knelt beside the woodpile, and took off the burlap sack from his head.

The face peeking out from under the sack was Chu Roujia.

Chu Roujia's eyes were tightly closed, her mouth was stuffed with a rag, and her exposed lips were pale.

Lou Mu frowned and walked to Ji Shuhe's side, squatted down, and put two fingers under her nose. When he felt that she was still breathing faintly, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He gave Ji Shuhe a meaningful look, then turned and called out to the outside, "Come in."

After Tang Nian walked over, Ji Shuhe slowly began to speak.

"That day, I was searching for a way to bring down the Fuyou Opera House in Jingning City when I unexpectedly saw several servants dressed in opera house costumes sneaking out of the back door of the opera house. They were carrying a sack that looked quite heavy. Out of curiosity, I followed them and ended up at this mansion."

"In my memory, Song's Pharmacy has always had a good business in Jingning City, and it would never have fallen to the point of opening in such a small alley."