Unlike the chaotic atmosphere in the backyard, the front yard was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses, laughter, and the constant music.

After recuperation, the head of the Yu family's health improved significantly. On the occasion of the New Year, he hosted a banquet for the stewards of the Yu family and the soldiers of the military camp.

As they drank and became intoxicated, the unruly man began to entangle himself with the courtesan and indulge in debauchery.

The atmosphere in the living room was very harmonious.

Yu Shida returned and sat down, raising his glass and taking several gulps.

"Hey, General Yu, you can't hold your liquor, you shouldn't drink so much, lest you have to go outside and throw up again," a subordinate mocked.

Yu Shida was in a good mood, saying, "I can still drink this much."

The head of the Yu family, sitting at the head of the table, looked at him, patted the seat next to him, and waved to him.

"Shida, come and talk to me."

Yu Shida stood up, filled his glass with wine, stood in front of the Yu family head, and said respectfully, "Family head, thank you for your guidance. I would like to offer you a toast!"

"Good! Good! Good!" After saying "good" three times, the head of the Yu family raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp.

The two had just put down their cups when a servant rushed in.

"Master, Young Master Cai has something important to report."

Young Master Cai went to Xihe County to transport goods with Captain Cai. Yu Shida's eyes suddenly lit up, "Has Captain Cai and the others returned?"

The servant shook his head. "I didn't see Captain Cai. It was Young Master Cai and the steward who came with a man."

"Quickly, invite them in," said the head of the Yu family.

If you have any questions, just come in and ask.

Young Master Cai looked haggard, covered in dust, with messy hair and torn clothes; he looked extremely disheveled.

Upon seeing Yu Shida, he broke down in tears, his pent-up emotions from the journey finally erupting. He sobbed and poured out his heart to him.

"General Yu, my brother is dead!"

Yu Shicheng suddenly stood up. "What did you say?"

"My brother is dead!" Young Master Cai repeated, crying incoherently, "Everyone has been killed."

The head of the Yu family's lips twitched slightly, and he asked with a livid face, "Who killed them?"

Young Master Cai shook his head, "I don't know, I don't know those people."

Yu Shicheng looked at the man behind him, "And who is he?"

The man stepped forward, not bothering to bow, and glared fiercely at the head of the Yu family.

"My name is Xinming, and I come from Dongying."

Yu Shida and the head of the Yu family exchanged a glance.

The head of the Yu family cupped his hands in greeting to Xinming and said, "Young Master Xinming, you have come from afar. May I ask what brings you here?"

Xinming said, “Since the second half of last year, none of the ships and people sent out by my family have returned. I was ordered to lead people to Xihe to investigate the situation. I never expected that the dignified head of the Yu family would be such a treacherous villain who not only slaughtered my compatriots but also destroyed several of my family’s ships.”

"If I hadn't been lucky enough to survive, I wouldn't be standing here."

Hearing his wild accusations, Yu Shida sternly stopped him, "Young Master Xinming, stop spouting nonsense. Our Yu family acts with integrity and honesty. When have we ever killed any of your people or destroyed any of your ships?"

The more the Yu family head listened, the more alarmed he became. He pointed at Young Master Cai and demanded, "You! Tell me what exactly happened!"

The young master Cai, who was called upon, recounted everything that happened after they arrived in Xihe County while hiccuping from crying.

"So, you didn't see exactly how your brother and the others were killed?" Yu Shida asked.

Young Master Cai nodded and gestured as he said, "When I was hiding in the woods, I saw them dragging my brother's body to bury it. My brother had such a long gash in his stomach that his intestines were spilling out."

As soon as the young master Cai finished speaking, the bloody scene flashed through his mind again, and he couldn't help but gag.

"That means all thirty-odd people we sent out were slaughtered," the Yu family head murmured.

Xinming continued, "Not only that, but also members of my family, who have disappeared without a trace, neither alive nor dead."

"When did it start?" asked the Yu family patriarch, the Undying Lord.

Xinming shrugged. "I didn't know. This is only the second time I've been to Xihe County in such a long time."

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!"

Overcome with excitement, the head of the Yu family spat out a mouthful of blood onto the delicious dishes on the table after he finished speaking.

Yu Shida rushed forward to support him, "Patriarch!"

The managers and soldiers below dared not be presumptuous any longer and hurriedly released the singing girls who were barely daring to breathe.

The head of the Yu family leaned weakly against Yu Shida and said, “Have someone take Young Master Xinming down to settle him. As for Captain Cai and those soldiers, send your steward to appease them.”

"Okay, I understand. You're not feeling well, go back and rest first."

They summoned servants to help Master Yu to rest.

Yu Xunmei arrived late, seemingly oblivious to the chaos in the living room. She had already overheard the gist of what had happened while standing at the door.

"The doctor is in Aunt Tao's courtyard. Steward, go and fetch him to examine Father."

"Arrange a superior room for this young master."

She arranged everything methodically, and when she saw the scantily clad courtesans kneeling on the ground, she summoned her servants and said, "Give these girls a red envelope. The Yu family has something to attend to today, so we will invite you all to come another day."

The courtesans kowtowed in gratitude, put on their cloaks, and followed the servants out of the hall.

After giving her instructions, Yu Xunmei glanced at Yu Shida, her eyes sparkling with a hidden charm.

"As for the matter in Xihe County, you can arrange for someone to investigate it yourself. I won't get involved."

Yu Shida looked down at her, his eyes burning with intense passion. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, leave everything to me."

After such a major incident, Yu Shida hurriedly left with his men, and the other managers also dared not linger and made excuses to leave.

The huge living room was instantly emptied of everyone.

Yu Xunmei, dressed in gorgeous clothes, stood in the center of the hall, looking at the leftover food scattered all over the table, her brows furrowed with disgust.

She turned and slowly left, and only then did the steward quietly lead the servants inside to tidy up.

Haitang Pavilion

The madam didn't ask any questions about the girls returning so early from the banquet at the Yu family's house; she simply told them to go back and rest early.

Liu Sisi sat in front of the dressing table, removing the hairpins and jewelry from her head. The maidservant serving her was tall and pretty.

She winked at the maid, and the two of them went into the inner room.

"You can go out now. Leave the clothes here and wash them tomorrow. I need to rest." Liu Sisi's voice came from the bed.

"Yes!" the maid replied softly, and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Half an hour later, the city of Nanzhou, which was under curfew, was silent. A ghostly figure, as fast as lightning, leaped out of the city wall.

"There's a ghost, sister, I'm scared!" Lin Chunfang pointed at the black shadow that leaped past, hugging Lin Dongmei and trembling.

Lin Dongmei patted Lin Chunfang on the back, "There are no ghosts in the world, don't be afraid!"

The two sisters left home when the city gates were already closed; they would leave the city at daybreak.

At the foot of a mountain ten miles outside the city, far from the official road, a man and a horse would wait there every night.

They waited all night and returned at sunrise.

The shadowy figure emerging from Nanzhou Prefecture swiftly made its way to the foot of the mountain, where the two sides exchanged a secret signal and made contact.

A moment later, a man on horseback appeared on the official road and galloped south.