Chapter 1516: Treatment Given by Shu Yu

Wei Ronghua fell silent again for a moment and then raised his head, asking uncertainly, "Is there any connection between Master Miao's current situation and Lu Xiangjun?"

Shu Yu thought he was indeed very astute and considered her response carefully. She replied, "Well, there is some indirect connection."

Wei Ronghua's pupils slightly contracted, and after a long time, he let out a sigh.

"If I were to work as the store manager for miss Lu, what would be the monthly salary?"

Shu Yu smiled and began to discuss the salary, indicating that she agreed.

"It's ten taels per month, and of course, that's the basic salary. If the business is doing well or there are additional large orders, bonuses will be given based on monthly profits."

Wei Ronghua was surprised. He had always received a fixed salary, whether as a store manager in the capital or in the county, and had never heard of receiving bonuses based on monthly profits.

Moreover, his previous salary in the capital was seven taels, and in Hong Xiang gou, he earned a little less. Initially, it was three taels per month, and after a few years, it increased to five taels, which was considered good.

But now, Lu Xiangjun was offering him ten taels straight away.

However, Shu Yu hadn't finished yet.

"These are regarding the salary. As for other benefits, there will be a health checkup once every six months, and oh, there will be a doctor to check your pulse for your well-being. This is for everyone's health consideration. Gifts will be given on festivals and holidays, which have already been implemented in the workshop. Additionally, those who make significant contributions to the store will be rewarded with things like carriages or houses."

Of course, the last point might be harder to achieve.

But who knows? With such incentives, there might be pleasant surprises.

Wei Ronghua was genuinely surprised. Pulse checkups, gifts on festivals, and even the possibility of rewards like carriages and houses?

"Miss Lu, are you serious about this?"

He had changed the way he addressed her, showing that he was very tempted.

Shu Yu smiled and took out two documents from her sleeve, "These are the contracts with detailed provisions. You can take a look."

Wei Ronghua took the documents and his mouth twitched a couple of times as he read them, his expression complicated.

He wasn't surprised that cake shop new owner had the contracts ready, but how well-prepared she was from the beginning.

Still, he accepted the documents and carefully read through them. The more he read, the brighter his eyes became, and in the end, he smiled, "Boss, I will rely on your care from now on."

Shu Yu was delighted, "It seems that shopkeeper Wei agrees. Alright then, our shop will open on the first of September, so there's still half a month left. For now, shopkeeper Wei can settle down in the city."

As she said this, she paused and smiled, "By the way, the shop comes with a large courtyard at the back. Besides the warehouse and the accounting office, there are four or five rooms. If shopkeeper Wei doesn't mind, you can stay in the backyard."

The shop she purchased was originally two large connected shops, so the backyard was naturally spacious.

However, Wei Ronghua shook his head, "No need, I still have my original house. Although it's two streets away from Fengtao Lane, it's not too far."

Shu Yu smiled. He had left the city for six or seven years but hadn't sold his house, indicating that he had already considered returning.

*** guys please bear with me at the moment. I promise to post 20 chaps today, I just don't know what time

  Chapter 668: The Decision to Accept (1)

The children’s legs were tired, and the mountain path was rough. What was originally a one-hour journey to Liuyang Village took an hour and a half due to frequent stops.

When father and daughter brought the children back home, Li Xiu and the others, who had been anxiously waiting all night and refusing to rest, were finally relieved.

The children were starving, having eaten only in the morning. After walking such a long distance, they were only sustained by the thought of reuniting with their families. Now that they had finally returned to the safety of their village, they were clamoring for food.

Li Xiu and her niece went to the kitchen to prepare a pot of warm dumpling soup, which they served in bowls to each child. While the children ate, Mo Yan and her family went around the village to notify the children’s families.

The families who had lost their children thought they would never see them again and were grieving over the children's clothing. They were unable to sleep. When they heard a knock on the door, they were dazed and thought their children had come home. They hurried to open the door, and to their amazement, the children had indeed returned and were eating dumpling soup at the Mo family’s house!

The villagers almost ran to the Mo house, expecting to see their children’s frightened faces and hear their cries of fear. Instead, the twelve children were in the Mo family’s dining room, arguing loudly about who was the hungriest and had eaten the most dumpling soup. They didn’t look like they had just narrowly escaped danger, which only irritated the worried villagers.

A few villagers, known for their fiery tempers, momentarily forgetting their earlier concern, immediately started scolding and spanking their children with their hands, hitting their bare bottoms while scolding them.

Even after their hands grew sore from the spanking, the children didn’t cry out as usual. When the villagers looked closer, they saw their children’s eyes welling up with tears, gazing up at them with a mixture of sadness and relief. They immediately hugged their children tightly, feeling a wave of fear and regret: they had almost lost this mischievous little troublemaker forever.

Once everyone had calmed down, they expressed their gratitude to Mo Yan and her father in tears, and then inquired about how the children were rescued.

When notifying the villagers, Mo Yan only mentioned that the children had been captured by bandits and were now safe at the Mo house. She didn’t have time to explain how they were found and rescued.

Anticipating the questions, Mo Yan had already prepared her response. Since it was inappropriate to discuss these matters in front of the children, she had her father invite the villagers to the hall adjacent to the dining room while she went to the kitchen to bring the Five Beasts over. As soon as she stepped into the room, she saw the villagers’ faces change instantly. A few timid women even hid behind their husbands in fear.

Mo Yan crouched down, patted Mao Tuan’s head, and softly said to the villagers’ uncertain eyes, “This is the first time you’re meeting my uncles and aunts, so let’s greet them!”

Revealing the Five Beasts today was inevitable. Additionally, the Beast Badge promised by Emperor Hui’an would be arriving soon, so there was no need for further secrecy. It was necessary to let the villagers know in advance.

The Beast Badge would allow the Five Beasts to move freely among people, but it wouldn’t dispel the villagers’ concerns. In the future, if a chicken went missing in the village, they might suspect the Five Beasts. Mo Yan hoped that, since they would be living here, the villagers would be able to coexist harmoniously. Tonight was a good opportunity to establish a positive impression of the Five Beasts in the villagers’ minds.

Mao Tuan, behaving obediently, rubbed against Mo Yan’s hand and then took a couple of steps forward. Standing on its hind legs, it extended its fluffy front paws and, despite the villagers' fear and hostility, made a respectful bow. 

  Chapter 667: The Causes and Consequences of the Five Beasts’ Fury (4)

Mao Tuan's eyes suddenly lit up like two small lanterns in the dark. It let out an excited tiger-like roar and, with eager steps, approached the bandits one by one. Its sharp gaze swept over them, as if assessing which bandit had the hardest bones.

The air around Mao Tuan was charged with an extremely dangerous aura. Each bandit who met its gaze felt as if they would be knocked to the ground and have their flesh torn away layer by layer, exposing their white bones. The mere thought of this scene sent shivers down the bandits’ spines, causing them to instinctively step back in fear.

Seeing Mao Tuan's actions slow, Mo Yan urged, “Hurry up, don’t dawdle. We still need to get home and sleep!” 

Upon hearing this, Mao Tuan no longer hesitated. It headed towards a thin, sharp-faced bandit, who was the most restless, constantly elbowing backward. Such a person, full of scheming thoughts, might not fear much, but he certainly feared death. It was perfect to use him as a lesson to others.

In the space, snowball watched the scene with amusement, but Mao Tuan’s next action made it stop laughing immediately.

The sharp-faced bandit turned pale with fright as Mao Tuan approached step by step. The searing pain from his previously bitten limbs returned, making him shiver uncontrollably. His voice, sharp and desperate, was like a woman about to be beaten: “D-don’t come closer, please don’t…”

Before he could finish, Mao Tuan’s heavy paw pressed him down, and then it struck his groin mercilessly.

Mao Tuan had heard this lewd and shameless human talk about how he intended to deal with Yan’er. By destroying his manhood, Mao Tuan ensured he would never be a male again for the rest of his life.

The paw strike was precise and brutal, directly tearing off the bandit’s genitals. The sharp-faced bandit, unable to endure the pain, let out a horrifying scream. Despite his cries, even if gods descended, he would never be a man again for the rest of his life.

Mo Yan was stunned by Mao Tuan’s ferocity, unable to recover for a while. Once she realized what Mao Tuan had done, she instinctively covered her eyes and pushed Mao Tuan away, who was eagerly coming over to show off.

...

By the time ten shadow guards arrived following the traces, Mo Yan had already identified the mastermind. She was sprinkling medicinal powder all over the bandits, who were writhing on the ground. To an outsider, it might look like a compassionate young woman was tending to the wounded.

Mo Yan was indeed treating the bandits' wounds to ensure they didn’t die before they reached the courthouse, as both she and Mao Tuan would have to bear the karmic consequences. However, she had added extra ingredients to the medicinal powder, making it extremely painful for the bandits.

Each of these bandits had a life on their hands, and Mo Yan never intended to let them go easily.

Seeing the sudden arrival of the ten shadow guards, Mo Yan’s hand shakingly paused for a moment. She then realized that if the guards had malicious intentions, the Five Beasts would have already attacked them. Her anxieties were immediately put at ease.

The ten shadow guards, witnessing the scene, admired Mo Yan. The howls of agony from the bandits made it clear that this seemingly fragile young woman was no pushover. Not only did she scare the vicious bandits out of their wits, but her composure was also something ordinary people couldn’t match.

If Mo Yan knew they were thinking this, she would probably laugh nonstop. Her courage to come here at night to rescue people and her ruthless treatment of the bandits were entirely dependent on her space and the Five Beasts. Without these, even if she had a hundred times the courage, she wouldn’t dare to take such risks.

With thirty to forty bandits still needing treatment, Mo Yan unceremoniously handed the medicinal powder to the shadow guards, saying calmly, “You arrived just in time. Once the medicine is applied, please take these bandits to the courthouse. Of course, if there is a better place for them, you can handle it as you see fit.”

The shadow guards exchanged glances, expecting her to at least ask about their master. Instead, she seemed to know everything and gave orders directly. It was clear why she was valued by the three important figures.

With this thought, the ten shadow guards responded in unison, “Yes!”

Seeing that they truly complied without any dissatisfaction, Mo Yan confirmed her suspicions and couldn’t help but smile. At this moment, she thought all ten were sent by Xiao Ruiyuan to protect her family and was unaware that some were actually from Yan Junyu and Chu Heng.

Leaving the bandits to the shadow guards, Mo Yan and Mo Qingze led the still somewhat frightened children back home through the night.

With so many people, and the Five Beasts being naturally proud, they allowed Mo Qingze to ride only out of respect for Mo Yan. They would never let these young children ride, and Mo Yan naturally didn’t insist, as it would be an insult to the Five Beasts.

Despite the earlier commotion, the children were now aware of the Five Beasts’ presence. Though they were a bit scared, the thought that the Five Beasts had saved them made their fear gradually fade, and they even looked at them with stars in their eyes in admiration.

Watching the Five Beasts leading the way, the children temporarily forgot their fear and excitedly discussed among themselves, no longer finding the mountain road difficult.

Mo Yan and Mo Qingze carried the youngest children who couldn’t walk, listening to their innocent chatter. Their smiles never left their faces.

In times of fear, they cried; in times of joy, they laughed. That’s how simple a child’s world is!

 Chapter 1515: Find It Amusing

When asked this question, Shu Yu paused for a moment and couldn't help but chuckle.

As expected, Wei Ronghua was a cautious person, and he inquired about it.

Shu Yu didn't think of hiding his intentions; they were going to cooperate for a long time, so he needed to be sincere about it.

Wu Fengyuan, who was standing aside, quickly sensed the situation and said, "You two can talk slowly. My back is sore; I'll take a walk in the yard."

Shu Yu didn't stop him, and Wu Fengyuan walked out of the main hall. As he left, Hu Geng and Wei Fangfang exchanged glances and followed him.

Hu Geng said, "We have planted many fresh vegetables in the yard, all carefully taken care of by Fangfang. They are vibrant, delicious, and sweet. Shall we pick some for Young Master Wu to taste?"

Wu Fengyuan smiled, "Sure, I noticed these vegetables when I came in earlier, and I liked them."

As they spoke, the three of them walked away from the main hall.

As they moved away, Wu Fengyuan turned back and glanced at Wei Ronghua, who seemed somewhat surprised. He raised his eyebrows, finding this introducer quite unexpected.

Indeed, Wei Ronghua was taken aback, even suspecting that he misheard. He asked again, "You said it was introduced by master Miao?"

Shu Yu repeated, "Yes, that's right. It was master Miao who introduced me."

Wei Ronghua fell silent; he fixed his gaze on the ground for a long time without responding.

He didn't know how to react to this.

He had left the city because of pressure from master Miao. Back then, he was bitter and resentful, feeling deeply indignant and contemptuous towards master Miao. Now, after so many years, master Miao was introducing him to work for Lu Xiangjun? What did this mean?

Wei Ronghua subconsciously thought that mast rMiao might have some ulterior motives.

However, he quickly denied this thought. If master Miao wanted to deal with him, he could have done so directly back then when he had no power or influence. master Miao could have easily crushed him. But master Miao let him go and didn't cause him any trouble during all these years in Donggu County. If there were any schemes, they wouldn't have waited until now.

Wei Ronghua found it somewhat amusing.

Shu Yu calmly sipped his tea, waiting for him to process it.

After a while, Wei Ronghua finally raised his head and asked Shu Yu, "Is Lu Xiangjun friends with master Miao?"

"Not really, I only had one business deal with master Miao, and that's how we know each other. He knew I wanted to open a shop recently and coincidentally came to Donggu County a while back, where he met you. He then wrote a letter to inform me about your situation. As for whether to hire you or not, that's my decision."

Wei Ronghua frowned, "He came to Donggu County?"

Shu Yu smiled, "I believe you should know about master Miao's current situation, right?"

"Yes, I know." Even though he had left the city, he had made many acquaintances back then. The news of master Miao's Qin Lou Chu Guan and several shops closing down and his business plummeting spread throughout the capital. Naturally, some friends came to inform him, and they asked if he had any thoughts of returning.

Wei Ronghua started considering returning to the city due to this news and the discomfort he experienced in his new workplace.

Shu Yu said, "master Miao is now engaged in other businesses, on a smaller scale. He personally handles many things. Recently, he came to Donggu County to collect goods, and I think that's when he saw you."

 Chapter 1514: Who Made the Introduction?

Wei Ronghua was actually choked by her question and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

After a moment, he smiled and said, "village lord Lu, I am honored that you think highly of me. I do indeed need a job to make a living. However, I believe it's essential to clarify the details of being a shopkeeper. I wouldn't want to accept the position hastily without understanding the situation. That would be irresponsible to village lord Lu."

Shu Yu nodded, "Shopkeeper Wei is right. I have already gained a basic understanding of you. I guess you have also guessed the purpose of me dressing up as a middle-aged woman and visiting Hong xiang gou yesterday. After these two days of interaction, I think you are suitable for the position in my shop. But Shopkeeper Wei, you probably don't know much about me. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

She liked Wei Ronghua's attitude; it showed that he took this seriously.

Wei Ronghua let out a breath and also formed a preliminary impression of Shu Yu. The village lord Lu seemed to be a reasonable person who could listen and get along well.

"Well then, I'll be presumptuous."

Shu Yu put down her teacup and smiled at him.

Wei Ronghua hesitated for a moment before asking, "I wonder what miss Lu's shop sells and what its specialties are? Also, where is it located?"

"Our shop mainly sells sunflower oil and sunflower seeds, as well as instant noodles. We might have other items in the future, but it's not certain yet. These few products are all rare items, and apart from those produced by our Lu Family's Workshop, there is no other place that sells them. As for specialties, the biggest buyer of sunflower oil is the palace, and sunflower seeds are sold in a shop called dried fruit shop in the capital."

Wei Ronghua's hand tightened. The products were already sold in the capital and... even in the palace?

No wonder, no wonder Lu Ji said that her shop had three big items.

Wei Fangfang, who was at the door, widened her eyes, feeling somewhat excited. After all, when her father was a shopkeeper in the city, the shop was not as big as Lu Xuangjun's and had not sold items to the capital and even the palace.

If her father really worked in miss Lu's shop, he would definitely be able to showcase his abilities better than here.

Wei Fangfang wished she could agree on her father's behalf, but she knew she couldn't interrupt at the moment.

Fortunately, there was movement at the entrance of the courtyard at this time. She looked up and saw Hu Geng entering with a package.

In the package were some daily supplies her father had left at Hong xiang gou.

Wei Fangfang quickly stood up and rushed to Hu Geng, excitedly explaining the situation to him.

Hu Geng stopped breathing after hearing her words, "Are you serious?"

Wei Fangfang nodded repeatedly, pulling Hu Geng to sit outside the main room and listen.

Ying Xi stood at the door without stopping them, as these things were not a secret.

Inside, Shu Yu continued, "Lu Family originally had a small shop in Jiangyuan County, but due to the limited output of the workshop, the shop remained small and didn't expand. However, I plan to establish a renowned reputation for Lu Family in the city, so I am very cautious about choosing the shopkeeper."

Wei Ronghua listened and nodded. He now had a rough understanding of Lu Family.

Shu Yu had said everything that needed to be said. As for what shouldn't be said, Wei Ronghua would naturally know once he became the shopkeeper of Lu Family.

In fact, in his heart, Wei Ronghua had already agreed. However, he had one last question.

"I heard from Lu Xuangjun that you came to Donggu County specifically because of someone's recommendation. I wonder who made the introduction?"

 Chapter 666: The Causes and Consequences of the Five Beasts’ Fury (3)

As Mo Yan and her father calmed the twelve children and untied them, Mo Yan examined each child individually. Finding that they were merely frightened but otherwise unharmed, she let out a long sigh of relief. Although it was wrong for the children to run into the mountains despite their parents' warnings, their abduction and fright were her responsibility. Now that they were safe, her deep worry had eased.

Next, she needed to handle the situation without frightening the children further. She left them in her father's care, instructed them to stay in the tent, and went outside to have the Five Beasts gather the bandits together for interrogation.

However, instead of discovering the mastermind behind the plot, she learned that these bandits were the same ones who had ambushed them on the way back from Fenghuang Mountain that night. 

The two groups of bandits had been bitten by the “little brothers” summoned by the red python. Although the poison was not fatal and did not kill them, as Xiao Hua had mentioned, without timely medical treatment, they had become paralyzed and bedridden. The fifty bandits had barely escaped, protected by others.

Despite her deep enmity with these bandits, the moon had not yet risen that night; it was dark as ink, and she was protected by the royal’s shadow guards. The bandits could not possibly have known she was inside.

If no one had informed them, how could they have known her presence and even found Liuyang Village? Mo Yan wasn’t sure if Xiao Ruiyuan and the others had pursued these bandits afterward, but since she encountered them tonight, she intended to uncover the truth and ensure there would be no future threats.

Seeing the hostile glares from the scar-faced man and the others, Mo Yan coldly smiled, “Who gave you orders to ambush us that night? I suppose it’s the same person behind this, right? If you tell me who the mastermind is, I might let you go.”

“Ha! Even if you kill us tonight, we won’t tell you who that person is, you vicious, stinking woman! Die with this wish!” The scar-faced man, covered in blood, stared at Mo Yan with a fierce look, as if he wanted to pounce on her and consume her flesh.

“Ha-ha, you stinking woman, don’t think you can get what you want just by dealing with us. That person has many methods and won’t let you off! If you’re smart, you’d better release us, or you’ll have to face a thousand cuts for your entire family!”

“Ha-ha, a thousand cuts sounds good, a thousand cuts sounds good. That way, we can avenge all our brothers.”

...

The other bandits, though in a pitiful state, were no better off than the scar-faced man. They struggled and threatened Mo Yan in turn.

Mo Yan had not anticipated that these bandits would be so unyielding. A cold smile appeared on her face. “I don’t know whether my family and I will face a thousand cuts, but I can certainly make sure you do! If you don’t believe me, let’s test it now. Who will be first?”

The previously boisterous bandits looked at Mo Yan with suspicion, wondering if she truly had the courage to carry out her threat.

Mo Yan gave them no time to think and immediately summoned the most vicious of the Five Beasts, the one with the sharpest claws. Petting its head with a cruel smile, she said, “Aren’t you always complaining that the wooden stakes used for claw sharpening aren’t sturdy enough? These people’s bones should be hard enough. Peel their flesh layer by layer, and the exposed bones should be perfect for sharpening. With so many bones, you should be able to sharpen for three to five years!”

  Chapter 665: The Causes and Consequences of the Five Beasts' Fury (2)

Scarred Face's eyes were bloodshot as he angrily pointed at Sharp-Mouthed Monkey and scolded, "That damned woman harmed so many of our brothers. If it weren’t for them protecting us and letting us escape, we’d be bedridden like them, eating, drinking, and relieving ourselves in misery! Instead of thinking about avenging our brothers, your mind is on other matters. Do you even care about those brothers?"

Sharp-Mouthed Monkey, scolded, took two steps back, slightly defiant but quickly responded, "Of course I do! How could I not? Those brothers suffered for us. I thought, rather than killing that little girl with a single blow, it’s better to torture her slowly, making her experience the agony of wishing for death but being unable to find it!"

Upon hearing this, Scarred Face’s eyes showed a hint of contemplation. He seemed to agree that this method might better avenge their suffering brothers.

Seeing an opportunity, Sharp-Mouthed Monkey’s eyes gleamed with depravity as he continued to incite, "Anyway, the person only instructed us to 'take care' of that little girl and her family. There was no mention of killing them! After we’re done with our fun, we’ll remove their 'claws' and have them serve our brothers day and night, letting them get their revenge personally."

At this moment, the others gathered around. Hearing Sharp-Mouthed Monkey’s words, they all agreed in unison: "Yes, Big Brother, Old Three is right. Killing that little girl with a single blow is too easy on her. Our brothers should get their revenge personally!"

"That’s right, this is how to get revenge. I agree too! Big Brother, let’s do as Old Three said!"

"Yes, yes, let’s tie those little girls up and take them to the stronghold..."

Scarred Face’s sharp gaze swept over the angry faces, and he finally nodded: "Then we’ll do as Old Three said. The women will be tied up in the stronghold, and the men..."

Here, Scarred Face’s eyes flashed with a deep killing intent, and he said slowly, "N-o o-n-e w-i-l-l l-e-a-v-e!"

If the Mo family were still as they were now, with Mo Yan being an ordinary girl, their family would have had no means to resist against so many robbers.

However, in reality, with Mo Yan possessing the Five Beasts as powerful weapons, no matter how the robbers plotted, their plans were doomed to fail!

It seemed as if the Mo family had been wiped out. The robbers, having avenged their brothers, drank several bowls of strong liquor in high spirits. As they stumbled towards their tents to rest and regain their strength, the Five Beasts descended from the sky.

In the robbers' terrified screams, the Five Beasts roared and almost swept through the camp, biting off the limbs of all the robbers, leaving behind a scene of blood and penetrating cries of anguish.

The entire process took only a quarter of an hour. The Five Beasts achieved an overwhelming victory. Even though Snow Ball in the space was disdainful, thinking that the robbers’ drunken state made it too easy for the Five Beasts to win, it did not dampen the Five Beasts' mood. They clearly felt that their strength had grown tremendously.

Mo Qingze, witnessing the Five Beasts in action for the first time, calmly refused Mo Yan’s suggestion to wait, insisting on accompanying her down the mountain to rescue the kidnapped children. However, his trembling legs betrayed his true feelings.

Ignoring the robbers' curses and threats, the father and daughter reached the tent where the children were held without obstruction. Mo Yan lifted the tent flap and was met with twelve pairs of fearful, anxious eyes.

The children, deeply terrified, momentarily stunned upon seeing Mo Yan and her father, then a five or six-year-old girl burst into loud cries. Her crying seemed to open a floodgate, causing the remaining eleven children to start crying loudly as well, drowning out the robbers' moans. 

(The End)

 Chapter 1513: A Perfect Match

Their banter made the face of the owner of Hong Xiang Gao turn red.

What did they mean? Were they saying that he couldn't recognize talent and drove away someone so capable?

Attendant Feng shrank his neck and whispered, "Boss, is this person really village lord Lu?" If that was the case, it seemed like she could indeed open a bigger shop and not be afraid of master Miao's anymore.

The new owner turned his head and glared fiercely at him, "Shut up." Was there even a need to ask? Wu Fengyuan confirmed it himself.

Compared to their ugly expressions, Hu Geng and Wei Fangfang were nothing but happy.

So, this was true? Village lord Lu really wanted her master to work in her shop?

As for the other onlookers, those who knew Wei Ronghua's character had pitied him before, but now they could only envy him.

After chatting with Wu Fengyuan for a while, Shu Yu suddenly patted her forehead, "We're getting carried away here, but we haven't asked for Shopkeeper Wei's opinion yet."

She turned her head and smiled at Wei Ronghua, "Shopkeeper Wei, why don't we find a place to have a proper discussion about this?"

Wei Ronghua suppressed the turmoil in his heart, took a deep breath, and smiled, "My home is nearby. If misw Lu Xuangjun and Young Master Wu don't mind, why don't we go there for some tea and rest?"

"Sure, let's go."

Shu Yu walked out of the shop first, and Wei Ronghua followed closely. After walking a few steps, he said to Hu Geng behind him, "Stay and pack up my belongings and bring them back."

"Understood, Master." Hu Geng was very excited now and nodded eagerly.

Wu Fengyuan walked behind them and patted the new boss on the shoulder as he passed, shaking his head with a sigh.

If he had just left directly, it would have been fine. But his actions had made the new owner's heart tremble, feeling like he had committed some grave mistake.

He suddenly came back to his senses and wanted to catch up, but he was stopped at the door by Wu Fengyuan's followers.

Shu Yu followed Wei Ronghua all the way to his home, which indeed wasn't far from the Hong Xiang Gao shop.

As they walked, he explained, "I rented this house. It's close to the shop, so it's convenient to go back and forth."

Shu Yu knew this. She had originally intended to wait for him at his home.

So, it was no wonder that his disciples and daughter arrived so quickly; someone must have tipped them off.

The house rented by Wei's family wasn't very big, but it was neatly arranged. There were fresh vegetables growing in the courtyard, and a few chickens and ducks were kept. There were even a few fish in a large water jar.

As soon as Wei Fangfang entered, she quickly washed her hands and went to the kitchen to boil water.

Shu Yu looked around, and while the location of this house wasn't particularly good, the rent shouldn't be high. From the living conditions, Wei Ronghua seemed to have lived here since he arrived in Donggu County.

It seemed like it had been six or seven years.

"The house is simple. Please don't mind, miss Lu Xuangjun and Young Master Wu."

"It's very clean and cozy." Shu Yu had encountered worse living conditions during her exile journey, so she was used to it.

Wu Fengyuan often went to the racetrack and would sometimes personally feed the horses and clean up their waste, so despite being the young master of the Wu family, he didn't put on airs.

Wei Ronghua led them into the main room and served tea before sitting down. He then said, "Thank you both for helping me out today. I am truly..."

"If Shopkeeper Wei feels indebted, then how about becoming the shopkeeper at my store?" Shu Yu said with a smile.

 Chapter 1512: Shu Yu Came Specially for Him

Shu Yu nodded, "Indeed, I admire shopkeeper Wei's abilities. I believe my family's shop needs a manager like him."

Wei Ronghua stared at her, "Miss..."

"This young lady, are you joking?" The new owner interrupted Wei Ronghua, finding the situation amusing. "Your shop is located in the city. Do you know whom Wei Ronghua offended in the capital? Lord Miao! If you hire him, Lord Miao will target you."

Shu Yu turned her head, "I know."

"You know? And you still hired him? Do you want your shop to fail?" Attendant Feng said.

"Boss, why are you talking so much with her? I think this young lady is just speaking casually. There might not even be a shop in the city," attendant Feng whispered to the new shop owner, "This girl came earlier, bought pastries from shopkeeper Wei, and spoke to him. She probably saw shopkeeper Wei misfortune and came out to defend him."

Though it seemed like they were whispering, their voices weren't low, and everyone present heard them.

Upon hearing this, Hu Geng and Wei Fangfang's surprised expressions faded a bit.

However, Shu Yu smiled and said, "Of course, there is a shop." She looked at the tray of Hong xiang gou pastries before her. "This owner has 3 shops."

"Three..."

Attendant Feng immediately shook his head, "Impossible."

The new shop owner also sneered with a stern face, "Young lady, you don't need to brag here. Don't put yourself in a difficult situation."

"This young lady isn't bragging." A voice suddenly sounded from outside the door.

Ying Xi, standing beside Shu Yu, whispered, "It sounds like master Wu's voice."

Sure enough, moments later, a few people saw Wu Fengyuan walking out from behind the crowd.

The new shop owner obviously knew him, "Young Master Wu?"

His family only had two pastry shops, while Wu's family owned a large farm. Their livestock trade dominated Donggu County and even the nearby counties.

In the presence of Wu Fengyuan, the new shop owner's attitude immediately softened.

Wu Fengyuan glanced at him and walked to Shu Yu's side with a smile. "So this is what you're busy with, Miss Lu Xiangjun?"

"Lu Xiangjun?" The crowd turned to look at her. Was this Lu Xiangjun from Jiangyuan County?!

Shu Yu hadn't expected him to be right outside the door, observing the entire scene.

"Yes, since the shop is about to open, someone introduced me to shopkeeper Wei. I came to take a look. Originally, I thought that shopkeeper Wei was doing well here, and I probably wouldn't be able to persuade him away. I was actually thinking of asking shopkeeper Wei to introduce me to another capable person. But unexpectedly, things took a turn. The contract between shopkeeper Wei and this shop has expired. It seems my luck is quite good."

The crowd listened with surprise and confusion. What did she mean?

Was this Lu Xiangjun specially here for Wei Ronghua?

Even Wei Ronghua, who had always been composed, showed a shocked expression.

He suddenly remembered that the young lady had deliberately dressed as a middle-aged woman when she came in yesterday, and today she didn't mention her pastry order.

So, was she here... to test him?

Wu Fengyuan burst into laughter, "It seems Lu Xiangjun values shopkeeper Wei greatly. However, I've also heard of shopkeeper Wei's abilities. Unfortunately, I run a stable, not a food shop. Otherwise, I would also compete with Lu Xiangjun. Talented people like shopkeeper Wei will always find success wherever they go."

  Chapter 664: The Causes and Consequences of the Five Beasts’ Fury (1)

Seeing the master undermining the “little brothers” in front of her, Snowball concluded that the master favored those foolish beasts even more, which left it feeling deeply depressed. Its two antennae drooped listlessly, and its once-bright eyes became dim.

Noticing Snowball’s negative mood, Mo Yan felt helpless. This creature, despite living for who knows how many years, still had a childlike temperament. Thankfully, it was easy to appease; otherwise, it would have been quite a headache.

Right now, the pressing issue was dealing with the bandits. Mo Yan planned to calm Snowball down after the situation was resolved. Looking at the bandits still drinking and eating meat, loudly cheering, she was puzzled about how they knew about her family’s situation.

After all, Liuyang Village was only about forty miles from the capital, considered to be under the emperor’s gaze. Even if these bandits were bold, they wouldn’t dare to cause trouble here. Yet, they had managed to reach this place, threatening to eradicate her family.

Moreover, neither she nor the villagers had heard of any bandit activity in the vicinity, nor had there been any reports of recent raids. Clearly, these bandits had come from elsewhere.

However, despite coming from somewhere else, they knew everything about her family, suggesting they might be people with a grudge against her family. To take revenge, they had brought these bandits.

Her father was studying at the academy and hadn’t mentioned offending anyone; her two younger brothers were at school and had good relationships with their classmates, so they were unlikely to have made enemies. But she had indeed made a few enemies, and they were all significant figures who might bear a grudge against her family. At the moment, she couldn’t determine who the mastermind behind this was.

Snowball’s depression came and went quickly. Noticing the master frowning, it figured out what she was thinking and saw an opportunity to retort, saying, “Yan’er is so dumb. Once the Five Beasts subdue those bandits, you can ask them who wanted to harm your family.”

Mo Yan, reminded by Snowball, slapped her forehead in frustration. “Yes, how did I not think of this simple solution!”

“Hmph, idiots are often like this. There’s nothing to be done!” Snowball finally regained its composure, snorting in satisfaction, with its disdain left unhidden.

Mo Yan gritted her teeth in irritation. If she could enter the space now, she would definitely grab this sharp-tongued creature and toss it into the spiritual spring for a good wash.

Wanting to continue mocking the master, Snowball noticed her thoughts and quickly shut its mouth, its dark eyes showing deep fear.

Who would have thought that this strong and arrogant creature would be afraid of water?

Mo Yan smirked, thinking, “So, you actually think your master is easy to bully?”

At the foot of the mountain, fifty bandits were gathered around two bonfires, drinking heartily. One short, sharp-faced bandit wobbled over with a bowl of wine and sat next to another man with a scarred face who was drinking quietly.

The sharp-faced bandit clinked his bowl with the scarred man’s, drank his full bowl in one gulp, and, with a flushed face and slurred speech, said, “Boss, when are we going to move? I think we should go attack that little girl’s family in the middle of the night, then tie up all the women from her family and bring them back to the camp so that we brothers can have a good time, heh heh!”

The scarred man, upon hearing this, twisted his long scar in anger. He threw his wine bowl to the ground with a loud crash, shattering it, and yelled at the sharp-faced bandit, “Shut up!”

The crash and shout not only startled the drunken sharp-faced bandit but also caught the attention of the other bandits who were drinking and gambling. They all looked over, their faces filled with confusion.

  Chapter 663: The Mastermind Behind the Gang of Robbers (4)

One person said, "Those robbers might not just be robbers. The people we dealt with over the past few nights might be working with them. Miss Mo will definitely need protection tonight. We should split up—half of us will follow them, while the other half will stay behind to ensure Miss Mo's family's safety."

As soon as he finished speaking, the others efficiently split into two groups, showing their agreement with their actions.

Unaware of the additional ten people following them from behind, and the several hidden guards watching over them in the night, Mo Yan and her father were heading towards the back mountain through the back door.

To save time and quickly rescue the people, Mo Yan climbed onto Xiao Hua’s back, while she placed Mo Qingze on the relatively stable back of the Golden Beast. Considering that the speed of the Five Beasts was too fast for Mo Qingze, Mo Yan asked the Five Beasts to slow down deliberately.

Even at this reduced speed, the pace was almost as fast as a galloping horse, which made Mo Qingze, who was not used to riding a fierce beast, feel dizzy and almost vomit.

The hidden guards struggled to keep up, relying solely on their lightness and legs. They quickly lost sight of the father and daughter and the Five Beasts. Fortunately, the tracks they left behind were clear, so they could follow the traces without losing them.

Realizing the danger in Yuhua Mountain, the robbers’ hideout was not deep in the mountains but rather on the outskirts of the village, where there were no settlements, and the mountain peaks were not high, with few large wild animals.

After running for less than a quarter of an hour, the Five Beasts gradually slowed down and finally approached the top of a small hill cautiously to avoid alerting any birds resting in the trees and making the robbers aware.

From the hilltop, the father and daughter saw a campfire burning below and a group of robbers drinking and roasting meat around it. Although they could not see the children, they could vaguely hear some cries of the young.

Several tents were set up behind the robbers. It was clear that this group had either just arrived today to scout the area before acting or had been there for a few days, preparing to strike at any moment.

Mo Qingze estimated the number of robbers to be around fifty, and they were all heavily built. Could the Five Beasts handle so many? He was worried about the Five Beasts getting injured and the frightened children. He suggested in a low voice, "Yan'er, there are so many robbers, and they look tough to deal with. Why don’t we wait until dawn and report to the yamen? We can have the officials send more constables to rescue them."

Mo Yan shook her head, "Dad, the temperature in the mountains is low, and the children are frightened. If they spend the night under the robbers’ swords, no one can guarantee their safety until tomorrow! Don’t worry, the Five Beasts can fight and also call on other wild beasts nearby for help."

Even if there were no other wild beasts nearby, it was just the beginning of snake hibernation season. The Red Python could always be called out from the grass, right?

Seeing that Mo Yan’s reasoning was sound, Mo Qingze suppressed his concerns and did not argue further.

Mo Yan noticed that although the robbers were drinking, they did not drink much. She vaguely heard them talking, but it was too distant to hear clearly.

Snow Ball in the space couldn’t go outside but had no trouble sensing what was happening. It soon made out what the robbers were discussing and relayed the message to Mo Yan: "The robbers said they plan not only to rob your home but also to kill everyone there, leaving none alive! Hmph, if they dare harm you or your father, Snow Ball will absorb their souls and turn them into slaves of the space, with no chance of reincarnation."

Mo Yan broke out in a cold sweat and quickly warned in her mind, "Don’t do anything rash. If you attack these ordinary people without spiritual power, you’ll be sealed by the Merit Bead! Rest assured, I won’t let these ruthless people go, and we won’t incur any karmic debt."

Snow Ball, provoked by the robbers, had lost its reason but gradually regained it after hearing Mo Yan's words. It snorted unwillingly, as if agreeing, and then threatened the Five Beasts angrily: "After training you for so many years, it’s time for you to show your skills. If you can’t handle these rabble, you better roll far away and never stay by Yan’er’s side again, or enter the space."

Snow Ball had established a connection with the Five Beasts during their training, so even though it couldn’t appear outside, it could still convey its message clearly.

The Five Beasts, with their bloodthirsty eyes locked on the robbers below, were filled with a ferocious eagerness, ready to kill every last one of these dangerous individuals at Mo Yan’s command.

Mo Yan, hearing Snow Ball’s threat and seeing the Five Beasts invigorated, quickly reminded them, "Don’t listen to Snow Ball. If you can’t handle it, don’t push yourselves to get injured. Just subdue them and tie them up to send to the officials."

Aside from the Golden Beast, the other four beasts had powers equivalent to the Golden Beast before Snow Ball’s training. They had already surpassed ordinary wild beasts. If they were to act recklessly, they might face unknown consequences.

For instance, the Golden Beast could encounter other powerful beasts in the deep mountains. These beasts were descendants of spirit beasts from the old cultivation continent, making them much stronger than ordinary wild beasts. The rules of heaven and earth limited their activities and prevented them from leaving Yuhua Mountain.

If the Golden Beast hadn’t met Mo Yan and been personally brought down the mountain, it would have been struck by lightning the moment it left Yuhua Mountain. Mo Yan didn’t want the Five Beasts to suffer because of a few dozen bandits.

(The End)

 Chapter 1511: Shu Yu Wants

Wei Ronghua tightly held onto his money bag and gazed deeply at the shop in front of him. He had built the Hong Xiang Gao from scratch during his years here; it was his hard work, and as he was about to leave, his emotions were somewhat complicated.

But someone clearly didn't want him to have a sentimental moment. They sneered, "Wei Shopkeeper, why haven't you left yet? Can't bear to part with it?"

The one speaking was attendant Feng, who appeared even more delighted at this moment. After all, with Wei Ronghua gone, he had a good chance of becoming the new shopkeeper.

"Come to think of it, when Shopkeeper Wei left the capital city back then, he was forced out in disgrace, right? After finally finding a job in Donggu County, he has to leave again. This is the second time. If you say there's no problem, who would believe it? With your appearance, who dares to hire you elsewhere?"

New owner didn't stop him; he didn't mind embarrassing Wei Ronghua before he left.

Seeing the situation, attendant Feng became even more excited and directly said to the onlookers at the door, "Everyone, you should open your eyes wide. Shopkeeper Wei has big plans. If any of you hire him, you won't have a say in this shop anymore."

Ying Xi frowned, "Miss, this person is too rude."

Shu Yu was about to nod when suddenly a figure rushed in and punched attendant Feng.

"Ah..."

attendant Feng staggered and fell to the ground, angrily asking, "Hu Geng, what are you doing?"

Shu Yu looked up and noticed that there was a person standing in front of Wei Ronghua. A young face glared at attendant Feng and new owner with resentment. "Say one more word about my master and see if I don't beat you to death."

Shu Yu hadn't even reacted yet when another person ran in. It was a girl in her teens, her eyes red as she stood on the other side of Wei Ronghua, her whole body trembling with anger. "Who gave you the right to speak ill? You've gone too far."

Wei Ronghua was surprised and asked, "Why are you both here?"

Wei Ronghua and attendant Feng were stunned, looking at the person who had just walked in. Wasn't this the young girl who had bought hibiscus cakes in the shop earlier?

Shu Yu passed by new owner and attendant Feng and came to Wei Ronghua, smiling, " Shopkeeper Wei, I have a shop in the city and urgently need an experienced, capable, and considerate shopkeeper. I would like to hire you. Are you willing?"

Wei Ronghua was speechless, and in front of him, Hu Geng and his daughter Wei Fangfang were initially in a daze before a look of wild joy flashed across their faces.

Someone actually wanted to hire her father to work in the city?

They had thought that after Wei Ronghua was fired, it might take a long time for him to find another job. They were anxious, but in the next moment, a pleasant surprise fell directly on their heads.

"Miss, are you serious?" Hu Geng asked nervously.

 Chapter 1510: Wei Ronghua Gets Fired

As expected, as soon as Shu Yu finished speaking, the new owner, Master Ge, raised his voice.

"Wei Ronghua, as a shopkeeper, the most important thing is to faithfully carry out the owner's instructions. You shouldn't act on your own and do as you please. Inquire outside and see if there's any other shopkeeper who completely disregards the owner like you do."

The new owner turned towards the onlookers at the door and continued, "You, relying on my father valuing you in the past, don't take me seriously, right? You don't listen to what I say, you don't follow my decisions. A shopkeeper like you is not worth having in my shop."

Wei Ronghua understood the new owner's intentions very well.

He slightly composed himself and spoke loudly, "If the owner wants to fire me, just say so. There's no need to ruin my reputation in front of everyone. I won't make a fuss and will leave peacefully."

The new owner's face changed, and he became angry after having his plan exposed. "Am I saying anything wrong? Dare you say that you faithfully follow all my instructions? You're a shopkeeper, I'm the owner. If every shopkeeper behaves like you, not listening to the owner's words, did I hire a shopkeeper or an ancestor?"

Wei Ronghua took a deep breath, "As the shopkeeper, I have a responsibility to remind the owner when inappropriate decisions are made."

"What do you mean by inappropriate decisions? This shop is mine, whether it loses or gains is my concern. Do you care more about it than I do? That's enough; you don't need to say anything more. The fact is, you didn't take my words to heart. A person like you, I can't afford to keep."

The new owner didn't give Wei Ronghua a chance to speak anymore. He probably knew he wasn't Wei Ronghua's match and didn't want to argue further, lest he would end up losing.

Thus, he took out a document, "This is the dismissal contract. You signed it with my father before, and now that my father has passed away, you didn't sign another one with me. Let this be the end of your tenure as the shopkeeper of Hong Xiang Gao."

Wei Ronghua glanced at the document in his hand, and after hearing the mention of his father, he decided not to say more.

He had reasons to refute, and he could even take a piece of flesh from this not-so-clever new owner. However, when he was forced to leave the city with his daughter and arrived in Donggu County in a miserable state, it was the old owner who extended a helping hand and made him the shopkeeper of Hong Xiang Gao, providing him with a generous salary.

For that reason alone, Wei Ronghua would not destroy Hong Xiang Gao at this critical moment. It was the old owner's hard work.

Moreover, hadn't he anticipated this day for a long time now?

After the old owner's passing, he had thought about the possibility of signing a new contract. However, he had a hunch that the new owner might not accept him, and signing a contract might become a shackle for him.

He had made efforts, such as promoting the hibiscus cakes, but obviously, it didn't change the new owner's decision.

Wei Ronghua took a deep breath, accepted the dismissal contract, and saw that there was nothing inappropriate in it. It seemed that the new owner didn't want to get entangled with him further.

He signed his name and stamped the seal on it.

The new owner visibly relaxed, took a money bag from one of his servants behind him, and said, "This is your salary for this period. I didn't treat you unfairly. Take it and leave."

  Chapter 662: The Mastermind Behind the Bandits (3)

Mo Qingze, upon hearing this, felt it made sense and did not insist. He, along with Mo Yan, followed the others down the mountain with heavy hearts.

By the time they reached the Wu family’s residence, night had fully fallen. Other villagers also returned one after another, empty-handed, having found no useful clues.

“Wuwu, my child, my child—”

“If I had known it would be like this, I shouldn’t have hit you. I shouldn’t have hit you, wuwu…”

“Bao’er, my life’s treasure, without you, how will I live?”

…

The women who lost their children were completely overwhelmed with grief, their cries filled with utter despair. Their husbands, fathers-in-law, and mothers-in-law were also weeping inconsolably. Even though each family had more than one child, losing one was like losing a piece of their flesh!

The families who had lost their children were all invited to the feast by the Wu family. Although it wasn’t the Wu family’s fault, the five members of the Wu family still felt deeply troubled, thinking that if they hadn’t chosen this day for the feast, perhaps the children wouldn’t have gone missing.

The mother and children stood in a corner with red eyes, deeply remorseful. Although no one blamed them, thinking it was their family’s fault, they still couldn’t get over it themselves. If the children weren’t found, they would never find peace in their lives.

The entire Wu family was enveloped in tears, and everyone felt an unusually heavy heart. Although most of the villagers came from various places and didn’t know each other two years ago, the good atmosphere in Liuyang Village meant that even small conflicts were set aside in times like these, and people felt a natural sympathy for the unfortunate families.

Mo Yan felt deeply distressed as well and feared further delay, worrying that the bandits might become more ruthless and harm the children. She quietly informed her father and then left the Wu family with Xiao Hua. Not long after, Mo Qingze also came out. The father and daughter didn’t say much and went straight home.

The meal at home was already prepared, waiting for them to return. Mo Yan and Mo Qingze, both hungry, ate two large bowls of rice before feeling satisfied.

After setting down his bowl and chopsticks, Mo Qingze asked with confusion, “Since Xiao Hua has found a clue, why didn’t you say anything earlier?”

Mo Yan didn’t hide anything, expressing her guesses and concerns. She also shared her plan to use the Five Beasts to rescue the children: “You know the Five Beasts’ abilities, rescuing those children would be easy.”

If this were before, she would have secretly gone into the mountains and kept this matter from her father until the children were rescued. But since the events on Phoenix Mountain, she no longer dared to do so.

After listening, Mo Qingze’s eyes flickered as if deep in thought. Just when Mo Yan thought her father would disagree, he suddenly spoke, “I agree with you going, but I must go with you.”

“No, it’s too dangerous!” Mo Yan exclaimed in shock, shaking her head in refusal without hesitation. “Father, you should stay at home and wait for news. I’ll hide, let the Five Beasts go rescue them. Once the bandits are dealt with, I’ll go out and bring the children back. This way, it’s completely safe, and you really don’t need to worry.”

“Don’t say anymore. No matter what, I won’t let you go alone!” Mo Qingze was determined to go, otherwise, Mo Yan wouldn’t go either.

Seeing her father’s stubborn face, Mo Yan rubbed her forehead in frustration and reluctantly agreed. While Mo Qingze went to change clothes, she hurried back to her room to instruct two hidden guards, fearing they might miss the bandits and put themselves in danger.

The two hidden guards exchanged serious glances and responded gravely. After Mo Yan and the Five Beasts left, several dark figures silently appeared in the courtyard. These were the hidden guards sent by Xiao Ruiyuan, Yan Junyu, and Chu Heng to protect the Mo family, totaling twenty people.

 Chapter 661: The Mastermind Behind the Bandits (2)

No one expected that although the twelve children had set out together to the mountains, an accident occurred on their way in.

When Mo Yan followed Snowball's guidance to the place where the twelve children had disappeared, Snowball used the traces left on the ground and divined through magic to discover that the children had encountered a very fierce group of people here.

These people, all armed with swords and knives, for some unknown reason, had bound all twelve frightened children and taken them deeper into the mountains.

Based on Snowball’s description, Mo Yan speculated that the group was likely a band of robbers planning to descend the mountain for a heist, otherwise they wouldn’t have appeared here armed. The reason they took the children was probably because they were inadvertently seen by them, and fearing that the children might ruin their “plans,” they decided to bind them up, possibly planning to sell them to human traffickers for a big profit.

As for the target of the robbery, besides her own family, Mo Yan couldn't think of another possibility. The entire village, apart from her family, was poor, and the robbers would hardly be satisfied with just stealing a few chickens.

If the situation was as she guessed, and the innocent children were dragged into this because of her family, Mo Yan was even more determined to rescue them.

The traces left by the robbers were quite obvious. Even without Snowball, with Xiao Hua’s tracking ability, they could easily find their hiding place. However, since the robbers were armed and probably experienced in robbery, Mo Yan was reluctant to lead the villagers to search with Xiao Hua, fearing that a confrontation might occur and the villagers could get hurt.

Mo Yan thought about ways to rescue them and felt that the robbers were unlikely to act in broad daylight. The most probable time for them to act would be tonight, which meant she probably had only an afternoon to rescue the children.

While searching for possible traces the children might have left, they called out their names loudly. The echoes bounced around the mountains, but there was no response, nor did they hear any firecrackers from other places.

As time passed and with the sun about to set in just over an hour, everyone began to feel anxious. Once it got dark, finding the children would become even more difficult.

Moreover, night was the time when wild animals came out to hunt, and they worried that the children might become prey to these animals. Such an outcome would be unacceptable not only to the children’s families but would also leave an indelible mark on their own hearts.

“Yan’er, has Xiao Hua found any clues?” Mo Qingze couldn’t help but ask as he watched Xiao Hua sniffing around.

Mo Yan hesitated for a moment and shook her head. “If the children had just gone missing and we had come searching right away, Xiao Hua might have found them. Now, we can only see if we can find any traces left by the children. If we find something, there might be a lead.”

In reality, Xiao Hua had already identified a general direction, but Mo Yan chose not to tell her father and the other villagers. It was for their own good.

This answer was what Mo Qingze had expected. After hearing it, he simply nodded without saying anything more. Other villagers felt somewhat disappointed as they gazed at the vast, dark mountains, their hope of finding the children dwindling.

As the sun sank below the horizon, leaving only a red half-face in the sky, the villagers, who hadn’t even had lunch and were already exhausted and hungry, decided to abandon the search for now and return to the village to see if there were any updates.

Mo Qingze wanted to urge everyone to keep searching, but Mo Yan stopped him. “Father, we’ve searched all afternoon and found nothing. We might have been looking in the wrong direction. Continuing to search aimlessly might not yield any results. It’s better to return first and see if others have found any valuable clues.”