"So the Liu family ancestral home is a massive nest of resentful spirits."
After listening to Qingmian's description, Fang Ming stroked his chin, contemplating the situation.
He didn't know the strength of the strongest being in this world, and Fang Ming didn't dare to let Nannan act rashly. Nannan was the only one among the three of them with power exceeding that of a fierce spirit. If Nannan were forced to use her second form for more than an hour, she would fall into a deep sleep.
Given the strength of Fang Ming and Qingmian, both half-fierce spirits, they were practically seeking death in this world.
Therefore, Nannan's power had to be used for a killing blow; she absolutely could not waste her resentment by mindlessly killing minor spirits.
"What do we do next?" Qingmian asked.
"Let me think," Fang Ming sat cross-legged on the bed, plans flashing through his mind, only to be quickly dismissed.
The main issue was not knowing whether the fierce spirit in the Liu family was the one constructing this world. If they acted rashly and the Liu family turned out to be just an ordinary nest of fierce spirits, and they exposed themselves to the true mastermind, then things would become troublesome!
"We wait. We'll wait for the Cloud Immortal Poetry Gathering to begin. We need to meet that Young Master Liu and confirm his identity," Fang Ming analyzed. "If the Liu family is hiding the fierce spirit that constructed this world, then he will appear sooner or later."
The world in the White Mist constantly repeated a period of time. This segment was of great benefit to the fierce spirit constructing the world. So, if they waited, and waited for the key events of this period to appear, they would definitely see the fierce spirit behind it!
...
While Fang Ming was discussing how to find the fierce spirit constructing the world, Xiao Nan was walking along the road in a daze, completely unaware of the five gaunt men trailing behind her.
"Who would have thought that that smelly, dirty girl from before would look so beautiful once dolled up," one of the men said, his eyes filled with lust.
The other four were no better, their gazes shamelessly fixed on Xiao Nan's shapely figure.
"Heh heh, once we get to a less crowded place up ahead, we'll grab her and lure out that outsider. We'll get both the money and the person!"
The five men quietly followed Xiao Nan. Before long, Xiao Nan passed through a deserted alleyway. Passing through this alley would lead to a bustling street.
"Now!" The five men quickened their pace. Xiao Nan heard the footsteps and was startled awake. She looked up to see several foul-smelling men already surrounding her!
It's those people from Bitter Man Alley! Xiao Nan's heart sank, and she tried to escape immediately.
But how could the five men allow her to leave? They instantly pounced, grabbing her arms and waist, covering her mouth. A sack was thrown over Xiao Nan's head, and the men, working together, picked her up and quickly fled.
Two hours later.
After Fang Ming, Qingmian, and Nannan had finalized their next plan, they prepared to go out again, to see more of the ancient scenery, and if they could gain some clues, even better.
However, when he went to knock on Xiao Nan's door, he discovered she hadn't returned yet.
"Strange, what did she go to buy to take so long?" Fang Ming wondered, but if she wasn't back, she wasn't back. They could go out a bit later.
With this thought, Fang Ming, Nannan, and Qingmian prepared to return to their room.
"Tap, tap, tap..." Just then, an inn attendant ran over.
"May I ask if you are Master Fang?" the attendant asked.
"Yes, what is it?" Fang Ming asked curiously. Why was this attendant looking for him?
"This is a letter for you," the attendant handed him an envelope. Fang Ming took it hesitantly. He shouldn't know anyone in this world.
After handing over the letter, the attendant turned and left. Fang Ming curiously opened the letter and, as he read its contents, his expression grew increasingly grim.
"What's wrong, Fang Ming?" Nannan asked with concern.
"Xiao Nan was captured by a group of people. They want us to bring one thousand taels of silver to Erli Alley to ransom her," Fang Ming explained.
"Then should we go save her?" Nannan asked.
Fang Ming rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Rescuing her was a small matter; it wasn't difficult for him. But the problem was – where was Erli Alley?!
He had been looking for Xiao Nan specifically for her to guide them, and now they had to ask for directions to save her.
Fang Ming's face was dark with frustration, but at this point, he had no choice but to go out and ask for directions to save her.
Qingmian thought of something and said cautiously, "Could this be the doing of the fierce spirit behind all this?"
Fang Ming paused. It was indeed possible. If the fierce spirit behind it had already discovered their tracks and deliberately captured Xiao Nan to set a trap for the three of them, they had to be wary.
"Let's be careful. Let's go."
Fang Ming pulled Nannan along, with Qingmian following behind. They reached the inn lobby, and Fang Ming walked towards the clerk at the front desk to settle the bill.
"What can I do for you, young sir?" the clerk asked as Fang Ming approached.
"I'd like to ask, how do I get to Erli Alley?" Fang Ming asked.
"Erli Alley?" The clerk was taken aback by Fang Ming's question, clearly not expecting him to want to go there.
"What's wrong?" Seeing the clerk's expression, Fang Ming sensed that Erli Alley was problematic and felt a hint of solemnity.
"Young sir, to be frank, it's truly not a good place. Seeing as you're from out of town, it's best you don't go there," the clerk advised.
"Is there any danger there?" Fang Ming asked.
The clerk nodded and then explained, "It's considered a notorious dark area in our city. Murders, dismemberments, fights, and abductions almost always happen there. Ordinary people are better off avoiding it."
Seeing the clerk's kindness, Fang Ming said directly, "My page was captured by a group of people. I'm going to rescue her."
"Page? That very beautiful little girl?" The clerk remembered Xiao Nan, but lamented, "If she was taken to Erli Alley, her chances are likely slim."
"Please tell me how to get to Erli Alley."
The clerk sighed, "Go straight east when you leave, turn left at the end, and keep going until you reach a tavern. Go into the small alley beside the shop entrance, and you'll be in Erli Alley."
"Thank you," Fang Ming said, leaving a piece of silver, and walked out of the inn with Nannan.
Following the clerk's directions, Fang Ming and his companions soon saw a tavern. They entered the small alley beside it and, after a short while, turned right into a straight, long alleyway with many small doors on either side.
The alley was foul-smelling, not much better than Bitter Man Alley. Patches of dried blood stained the walls and ground, excrement was everywhere, and several stray dogs ran through the alley.
Not long after the three of them entered the alley, a man emerged from one of the doors and appeared behind them.
"Are you here to ransom her?" the man said chillingly.
Fang Ming nodded.
"Follow me." The man turned and pushed open a small door beside him, entering. Fang Ming exchanged a look with Qingmian. Qingmian understood, his figure gradually disappearing as he entered the mirror dimension.
"Nannan, observe your surroundings carefully."
"Yes, Fang Ming." Countless strands of hair flew from Nannan's head, piercing into the void. Every movement within a radius of several hundred meters was under her control.
After making all the arrangements, Fang Ming, with Nannan, followed the man into the small door. Behind the door was a small courtyard.
"Whoosh!" Suddenly, as Fang Ming stepped through the courtyard gate, a wooden club was swung fiercely at the back of his head from behind the door.
"Bang!" The club hit the back of Fang Ming's head hard.
The man who attacked felt his arm go numb from the impact and let out a pained cry.
Fang Ming turned expressionlessly to look at the man. It was barely an attack that tickled him; he didn't even bother to dodge.
"A sneak attack?" Fang Ming sneered. "Is this how you conduct business?"
Seeing that Fang Ming was completely unharmed, the man looked at the wooden club in his hand in shock. This was solid willow wood. Even a cow hit with this club would be dazed, but this... this man...
"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Ha ha ha." The man chuckled, realizing they had encountered a tough opponent. This young master, who looked as if he couldn't even lift a chicken, might be a master of martial arts in hiding!
"A misunderstanding?" Fang Ming's lips curled into a smile, but his eyes were icy cold. "The four inside, come out and bring me my person."
The four people who had been peeking from inside exchanged glances. They looked at the bound Xiao Nan, who had already been knocked unconscious.
"What do we do?" one of them said nervously.
"Let's fight! He definitely won't let us go," another man gritted his teeth. Since they were in this line of work, they had already prepared for the possibility of failure. They just hadn't expected to fail on their first try.
"Then let's fight!" The men drew their sabers and, with fierce expressions, opened the door and walked out.
As the four emerged, they immediately surrounded Fang Ming. Fang Ming watched their movements, not making the first move.
He wasn't sure if these lowlifes were part of a trap, and he dared not act rashly.
Just then, Qingmian's figure suddenly appeared beside Fang Ming. The men stared at Qingmian in shock. What kind of movement technique was this? It was too terrifying!
"There are no ambushes within a five-mile radius," Qingmian said softly.
"I can't sense any fluctuations of resentment either," Nannan added.
Hearing their assessment, Fang Ming breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed this kidnapping was just the act of these hoodlums acting on greed, making him wrestle with the air for so long.
"Kill them all," Fang Ming said indifferently.
Hearing the order, Nannan sent out a few strands of hair. The men lost consciousness before they could even scream, their heads instantly pierced by the hair. Nannan's innate ability activated, melting the five men into a pool of blood. A blood python emerged from the void and swallowed it in one gulp.
"Fang Ming, I have good news," Nannan suddenly said after absorbing the flesh, blood, and memories of the five men.
"What good news?" Fang Ming asked curiously.
"One of these five men used to be a servant in the Liu family. He was expelled for breaking household rules, and he knows a secret passage leading to the Liu family's backyard!"
"What?!" Fang Ming exclaimed in surprise. If they could personally enter the Liu family, they would surely discover much more than if Qingmian simply investigated from the mirror dimension!
It seemed their plan for the next step had to change.
A smile spread across Fang Ming's face. This was the best news he had heard since arriving in this world a few days ago.
"Then we'll head to the Liu family ancestral home tonight."