Everything arranged, Xue Song entered to report to Xue Jingyun, "Your Highness, your subordinate has understood the situation."
Xue Jingyun looked up at Xue Song and asked, "Are there any special circumstances?"
Xue Song shook his head and said, "The village chief said only one couple had come here two months ago, but the lady was pregnant. Your subordinate doesn't think it's His Majesty."
Xue Jingyun fell into thought. Could An Ping be lying? Was A Ning not here at all?
Thinking of this, he ordered, "We rest tonight and leave the island early tomorrow morning."
Xue Song nodded.
A Ning, where exactly are you?
The sky gradually darkened. The villagers by the sea slept early. As soon as it got dark, all the households extinguished their candlelight, and the island was completely dark.
Xue Jingyun walked out of the room and looked at the sea not far away, his melancholy and longing growing stronger.
Suddenly, he heard a faint sound nearby. Although it was very weak, he could hear it clearly. It seemed to be on the other side of the island, where Xue Song had said there was a bamboo forest.
He leaped up and headed towards the bamboo forest.
Following the sound, he arrived at a cave. There was a presence inside, a human presence. "Xue Li," he called out.
Xue Li landed. "Your Highness."
"Light a torch," Xue Jingyun said.
Xue Li took out a tinder from his pocket, blew on it twice, found a piece of wood, and lit it. The fire gradually illuminated the entire cave.
Xue Jingyun saw someone deep inside who appeared to be tied up. "Xue Li, save him."
Xue Li carried the old man out on his back and said, "Your Highness, the elder is a bit weak and will likely need rest."
"Carry him to my room."
Xue Li nodded.
Carrying the elder back to Xue Jingyun's room, Xue Feng took the elder's pulse. "Your Highness, he is just a bit dehydrated. Once he wakes up, feeding him some thin congee will be enough."
Xue Jingyun nodded. "Alright."
The next morning, Xue Feng came to report to Xue Jingyun that the elder had woken up.
Xue Jingyun quickly entered the room. The elder seemed unwilling to speak, only quietly drinking the congee.
Xue Song persuaded from the side, "Elder, please don't be afraid. My master is here to find someone."
The elder remained silent, only drinking the congee. He had probably not eaten for several days, and had already consumed three bowls of thin congee.
Xue Jingyun stepped forward and said, "Elder, we will not harm you. My wife was taken hostage here, and I have no news of her at all. I am very worried. I traced her last known location to this place. If you know any information, please tell me. You can name your price."
"Master, the village chief wishes to see you," Xue Song called from outside.
As Xue Jingyun was about to get up to meet the village chief, he suddenly heard a noise. The elder, who was still drinking congee on the bed, suddenly burrowed into the covers and refused to come out, no matter how Xue Feng called him.
Xue Jingyun's gaze turned cold. He stepped forward and said, "Elder, the village chief wishes to see me. Why don't you accompany me?"
Upon hearing the words "village chief," the elder trembled.
Xue Feng was startled. "Master, this..."
"You take good care of him. I will be back shortly." Xue Jingyun said and walked out of the room.
He was led to the village chief's house by the village chief. The village chief obsequiously took out his collected tea leaves and brewed a pot, pouring him a cup. "Please have some tea."
Xue Jingyun did not take the tea and said calmly, "Why does the village chief wish to see me?"
The village chief smiled upon hearing this. "I heard the young master rescued an elder in the bamboo forest last night?"
Xue Jingyun smiled faintly, his smile not reaching his eyes. "I recall it was not yet dark last night, and everyone in the village was resting. I didn't expect the village chief to know everything I did when I went out?"
The village chief smiled awkwardly. "The young master misunderstands. This morning, the young master's servant came to borrow tools for cooking congee, and I unintentionally asked a question, which is how I found out."
"That is indeed the case, but he is unwilling to speak, so I don't know his name. What is it?"
The village chief visibly relaxed and said, "Young master, this elder is the grandfather of Qixiu. Before Qixiu left, he specifically asked me to take good care of his grandfather. A few days ago, Qixiu's grandfather ran out, and I couldn't find him no matter how hard I searched. It's all thanks to the young master. Thank you, young master. May I take Qixiu's grandfather back?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Jingyun looked at the village chief and smiled faintly. "Of course, you may. However, he is still unable to get out of bed at the moment. I happen to have a physician here. Perhaps after the elder has recovered, you can take him back?"
The village chief hesitated, then was stopped by the village chief's wife.
"If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave," Xue Jingyun said and turned to leave.
The village chief suddenly said, "Did Qixiu's grandfather say anything?"
Xue Jingyun turned and looked at the village chief, asking, "What do you think the elder would say to a stranger like me?"
The village chief smiled. "The young master is right, the young master is right."
After leaving the village chief's room, Xue Jingyun's expression turned cold. He went straight back to his room. Xue Feng saw him and walked over, bowing. "Master, the elder has fallen asleep."
"Xue Feng, you will stand guard here tonight," Xue Jingyun instructed.
Xue Feng was startled. "Master, has something happened?"
"I suspect the village chief does not wish for this elder to stay here. I am concerned the village chief might harm the elder. Be sharp tonight."
Xue Feng nodded. "You can rest assured, your subordinate will protect the elder."
Xue Li left the room and flew towards the bamboo forest he had visited last night. He re-examined the cave where he had found the elder, finding no anomalies.
"Your Highness, your room is on fire," Xue Li, who was following behind, suddenly said.
Xue Jingyun was taken aback. He looked up and saw that the room he was staying in was engulfed in flames.
"Quick, go back and put out the fire," Xue Jingyun urged.
Xue Li nodded and left first. As Xue Jingyun was about to leave, he noticed something beneath the bamboo near the cave. He walked over and brushed aside the bamboo leaves.
He saw a bamboo raft.
Suddenly, he heard faint footsteps nearby. He quickly hid the bamboo raft and left the area.
Xue Jingyun returned to the village and found that the fire was now very large, making it impossible for anyone to escape from inside.
Xue Feng was still inside. Xue Li was anxious, but with the fire so fierce, he couldn't rush in. He hoped Xue Feng could make it out.
"Extinguish the fire quickly," Xue Jingyun ordered.
None of the surrounding villagers offered to help. Only those brought by Xue Jingyun were fighting the fire, but it was negligible and of no use.
"I'll go find the village chief," Xue Song said angrily.
Xue Jingyun stopped Xue Song. "Where is the money pouch?"
Xue Song didn't understand why His Highness needed a money pouch at this moment, but he obediently handed over his own.
Xue Jingyun weighed the money pouch. "There's not much."
Xue Li also handed his money pouch to Xue Jingyun. He opened the pouch, revealing the gold inside, and casually tossed the pouch's contents into the fire.
Seeing this, the villagers' eyes turned green. They had seen generous givers, but never someone who distributed wealth so freely.
Xue Jingyun, while scattering money into the flames, said coldly, "Whoever grabs the gold gets to keep it."
Under the great reward, there were brave men. Upon hearing this, the villagers no longer cared if there was a fire and rushed towards the gold. However, the fire was fierce, and they were scorched back as soon as they approached.
Some clever villagers had already grabbed water and were pouring it onto the gold. More and more villagers joined in, and the fire gradually lessened.
Xue Song couldn't help but admire, "Your Highness, you are truly capable."