NOVEL WEB Chapter 14 - I'm Sure You Wouldn't dare to Do It
Having consumed a bowl of porridge, he regained some strength and inquired, “What has been happening outside these past few days? Has the First Prince and his entourage departed?”
The steward, offering a pair of chopsticks for him to eat, responded when he found a moment, “It appears they left the day before yesterday. Before departing, the First Prince dispatched a box of gifts, specifying they were for you.”
“What were the contents?” Yin Xu inquired.
The steward's expression twisted as he lowered his gaze, replying, “Three blankets.”
Yin Xu's lips twitched slightly as he sighed, “Tsk tsk, it seems His Highness the Prince isn't as magnanimous as one might hope.”
That evening, Yin Xu intentionally made his move. With the vastness of the villa, finding four or five rooms wasn't a challenge, nor was it impossible to secure a single bed for each blanket.
He simply detested intruders on his territory.
“Keep those thoughts to yourself. Be cautious not to voice them aloud.”
“Rest assured, I'm well aware,” Yin Xu responded abruptly, then instructed the butler to change into cleaner attire.
Extracting three banknotes, Yin Xu handed them to the butler. “Take these; utilize the funds to refurbish the estate thoroughly and construct a sizable hot tub. I've had my fill of the cramped bathtub.”
The steward stared at the banknotes with widened eyes, his trembling hand clutching them. “But… where did this money come from?”
Yin Xu offered a quizzical look, replying with silence to the barrage of questions.
After a prolonged gaze at his young master and receiving no further explanation, the butler stowed away the money. Silver, after all, was always better than nothing.
With this sum, they could enjoy a comfortable existence for the next year.
For the past three days, Huo Yiloong had endured restless nights, evident in the deep black circles beneath his eyes, accentuating his weary appearance.
“Still not found?” he asked coldly.
Before him, four sturdy men knelt, their heads bowed even lower at his words.
“Young master, we've thoroughly interrogated him. No outsider entered the main courtyard that night,” one guard reported.
Huo Yiloong crushed the teacup beside him in frustration. “Never entered by myself before? Could it be that I, with all my silver notes, would abscond? Or perhaps… It's you fools who were negligent on watch?” he seethed.
“We wouldn't dare, young master,” the four guards replied in unison.
“Humph! Likely not!” Huo Yiloong muttered. He didn't truly doubt his loyal guards; they had served him for over a decade.
Yet, it remained a fact that the three thousand taels of silver he kept close was missing. He was certain it vanished that night.
The situation was puzzling. If theft occurred, how could he remain oblivious?
His vigilance was high, his skills formidable. How could someone access his money unnoticed?
Unless he was drugged, rendering him unconscious.
Contemplating his state that day, such a scenario seemed plausible. Yet, he pondered the intruder's origin, able to navigate the heavily guarded magistrate's court undetected.
“Young Master, perhaps we shouldn't involve County Magistrate Chen. It happened under his watch; he should compensate you,” a guard suggested.
Huo Yiloong shot him a glare. “You seek to embarrass me? To let others mock my unawareness of a thief in my own home?”
The guard bowed, acknowledging the misstep.
After a moment of anger, Huo Yiloong relented. “Forget it. It's just silver. Lost, it's lost.”
Huo Yiloong valued his life above all else; he wasn't recklessly brave.
He wouldn't risk his life without assurance of victory.
Yet, an unsettling feeling lingered within him.
“Is the First Prince still immersed in Buddhist scriptures?” Huo Yiloong inquired indifferently. .c(o)m
“Yes, the guards report His Highness has resolved to fast for seven days.”
Despite finding the actions of the First Prince unnecessary, Huo Yiloong refrained from foolishly challenging the Prince's decision.
Their destination for the journey was Riverside County, where rumors circulated about a spectacular event. It was said that one night, the northwest of Riverside County suddenly illuminated, witnessed by thousands as a magnificent dragon shadow adorned the skies, accompanied by the resonant echo of its roar.
However, this phenomenon was fleeting and did not recur thereafter.
Huo Yiloong harbored disbelief, yet given the recurrence of such rumors annually, he found their persistence unsurprising.
Nevertheless, the First Prince, preoccupied with the Emperor's impending birthday, became restless upon hearing the news. Whether true or false, he deemed it imperative to investigate firsthand.
Hence, their journey to Riverside County commenced.
Huo Yiloong had anticipated that rumors would naturally spread upon their arrival in He He County, but he was taken aback by the locals' embellished tales.
Fortunately, no royal presence graced the palace at present, for such a rumor alone could have proven fatal for the child many times over.
“It's been three days already. Patience, there's no urgency for the coming days,” Huo Yiloong gestured for the guards to withdraw, then settled onto the bed in meditation.
During his cultivation sessions in recent days, concentration eluded him. Initially attributing it to potential drug effects, medical examinations reassured him of his sound health.
Huo Yiloong calmed his Qi, circulating it through his meridians. Ordinarily, he would sense a dense influx of Profound Spirit Qi in his Dantian, imbuing his body with comfort. However, this time, after completing a full cycle, he felt nothing.
Could it be that his Flame Yang Spell had already reached a plateau?
With the Flame Yang Spell comprising five tiers and having recently surpassed the second, he deemed it improbable to reach a plateau so swiftly.
Unease gnawed at Huo Yiloong as he pondered his concealed association with the First Prince, envisioning the inevitable consequences should his father uncover the truth.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from .𝐜𝐨𝗺