Chapter 210

Chapter 210

When Jiang Yunsui returned, she found the chief and his eldest son discussing important matters with Ji Yan’an. She did not disturb them. Quietly entering, she quietly found a stool and sat down.

“Those bastards fled ahead of time, just as expected.”

Ji Yan’an was not surprised that the search for the Human Gu refiners had yielded little.

“We didn’t catch anyone, but they left in such a hurry that we found a few things.”

The chief produced a medicine bottle and several sheets of paper.

“This should be what they fed the Human Gu. These papers appear to record their changes, and there’s a list of names.”

“I’ll have everything sent to Doctor Shen,” Ji Yan’an said. “Your son and the other injured men should leave for the city tomorrow.”

The chief agreed.

“They must have released the Human Gu from the cave. I need to warn the other stockades to be careful.”

With that, he hurried away.

Only after he left did Jiang Yunsui inch toward Ji Yan’an.

“What do you want to tell me?” he asked, seeing her conflicted expression.

She stared at him imploringly. “Ji Yan’an, I’m going to find honey tomorrow.”

“Again? Have all those stings taught you nothing?”

“But the other children are going. They aren’t scared, so I’m not scared either.”

“Not being afraid doesn’t make an action right. You know the mountains are dangerous, yet you intend to hide this from the adults and risk your lives. Do you think that’s right?”

Jiang Yunsui shook her head. “But I don’t want to be a tattletale.”

Adults had their principles. Children had their own loyalties and logic.

Ji Yan’an pinched her nose. “Enough. I’ve already sent word back. Ji Si should arrive tomorrow. Have him accompany you, and don’t run off.”

Jiang Yunsui’s ability reduced her presence until people overlooked her. If someone kept staring at her or held on to her, she could not make herself disappear from their notice.

But no one could watch her every instant. Look away once, and the little girl vanished.

Jiang Yunsui nodded happily. “Got it.”

That night, while soaking her feet, she emptied the little treasures she had collected in the mountains onto the table.

This leaf was pretty, and so was that flower. Pressed inside a book, they would eventually become flat, beautiful bookmarks. They could also be hung on strings to make a wind chime.

As for this stone…

“Where did you find this?”

A long, slender hand removed a silver-black stone from the table.

It was not large. Jiang Yunsui had picked it up only because its color looked unusual.

There had been larger pieces nearby.

“In the mountains.”

She did not mind Ji Yan’an taking it and continued playing with the others.

She particularly liked a smooth pebble shaped like a little bird. She thought she could paint on it.

Ji Yan’an studied the dark stone for a long moment.

“Nanshu, Nanmo, come here.”

They approached, and he passed it over.

“Take a look.”

It was night, and the candlelight made details difficult to see.

But Ji Yan’an already had a guess.

Nanmo said, “Young Master, it resembles silver ore, but the light is too poor to be certain.”

“Then we’ll examine it tomorrow.”

Ji Yan’an put the stone away. Thoughts kept him awake that night, so he finally took one of the pills Shen Qingzhu had made from Sleepy Mushrooms. With Jiang Yunsui sprawled beside him in a ridiculous sleeping position, he eventually fell asleep.
At dawn, a rooster’s crow woke Jiang Yunsui.

Wait. Why did that enormous voice sound so much like Qianqian and Houhou?

She sat up sleepily, rubbing her eyes.

“Woof! Woof!”

Zuozuo and Youyou had been guarding the bedside. The moment she woke, they wagged their tails and barked happily.

If Ji Yan’an had not repeatedly forbidden them from climbing onto beds since puppyhood, both dogs would already have pounced on her.

“Huh? Zuozuo! Youyou!”

Jiang Yunsui was delighted. Without even putting on her shoes, she scrambled down and hugged the two enormous dogs.

“You came too! That’s wonderful!”

“Come play in the mountains with me today. We’re going to harvest a beehive.”

“Woof, woof!”

“Did Qianqian and Houhou come too?”

With that thought, Jiang Yunsui dressed, put on her shoes, and ran outside with the mastiffs.

Ji Yan’an and Song Jin were in the main room, excitedly discussing yesterday’s stone.

“Young Master, it really is silver ore. Judging by its quality, the silver content is high.”

The moment Jiang Yunsui appeared, every eye turned toward her.

Jiang Yunsui blinked under all those stares.

What was wrong?

“Heh, heh, heh… Little Yunsui…”

Song Jin approached with the smile of a hungry wolf. Jiang Yunsui immediately circled around him and ran to Ji Yan’an, watching Song Jin warily.

“What do you want?”

“Ji Yan’an, is he possessed by a ghost?”

So strange.

Song Jin’s smile stiffened.

He rolled his eyes. “I was obviously smiling kindly.”

Little Mushroom spoke bluntly. “You look like a great villain who wants to kidnap children.”

Everyone laughed.

Ji Yan’an’s lips curved. “Let Nanshu fix your hair first.”

Nanshu had become adept at styling a little girl’s hair. He finished quickly.

Only then did they ask about the stone.

“I picked it up where we met the boars. What is it?”

“Silver ore,” Ji Yan’an said.

Jiang Yunsui blinked. She took a silver piece from her little embroidered pouch and compared it to the stone.

Then she reached a conclusion.

“They don’t look alike at all!”

Silver was bright and much whiter.

The stone was dark, though admittedly brighter and more unusual than ordinary rocks.

“Silly. Silver is extracted from silver ore. It doesn’t look like this from the beginning.”

Jiang Yunsui nodded, only half understanding.

Now that Ji Yan’an knew where the ore came from, he intended to send people to search the area.

That had nothing to do with Jiang Yunsui. She summoned Qianqian, Houhou, Zuozuo, and Youyou, tucked Little Pink into her clothes, and set out magnificently to find Lin Shitou. Ji Si followed from the shadows.

One child and four animals made an astonishing procession.

“What magnificent roosters.”

“And those two dogs are enormous – bigger than wolves in the mountains.”

“Isn’t that the child who helped catch the boars yesterday? The children said she was the first to lead them away. She looks so small and frail, but she’s quite brave.”

Jiang Yunsui’s expression went blank.

Small and frail? If they wanted to praise her, why include words she disliked?