Strange Old Man

After Lord Li left, Mu Yunxuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze icy and fixed on Lord Li's departing figure.

Huai Jin trembled as she tried to understand the situation.

"Master Zhuang, this is very dangerous," Huai Jin disapproved.

Su Zimo's face suddenly darkened, and her hand hidden in her sleeve seemed to tighten slightly as she glanced at Mu Yunxuan and Huai Jin.

"The decisions I've made won't change. I'll be away for several months, and if anything happens here, I won't be at ease," she said.

"Huai Jin, you should go back and attend to your duties."

Huai Jin stared at her, a hint of forbearance flickering in her eyes.

In the end, she reluctantly responded, "Yes."

"Mo'er."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Su Zimo's lips as she looked at him with tender eyes, devoid of much emotion.

"I know you're worried about me, but if we don't act like this, how can we uncover the truth? Although this matter isn't within our jurisdiction, we can't just sit idly by."

At these words, Mu Yunxuan fell silent. What was he really thinking? Over the years, he hadn't been by Mo'er's side, yet she had been doing well! He suddenly felt that his worries were unnecessary, and he should have more faith in her.

"Mother, should we go back now?" Su Li asked cautiously, sensing a subtle change between his parents.

"No, Li'er, don't you want to visit the market? Today is a rare opportunity, and my wound has healed much better. Let's continue strolling around!" Su Zimo's voice was light and casual, devoid of any strangeness.

Mu Yunxuan's gaze flickered as he looked at the vendor selling magic beasts across the street. Perhaps something had happened at home, as they were already starting to pack up.

Su Zimo also noticed and turned her head, spotting a nearby stall selling clay figurines. Suddenly, she became interested. She had been in this ancient era for so long, and honestly, she hadn't had a chance to properly explore the streets. The weather was good today, so why not take a leisurely walk and make a clay figurine while they were at it?

"Yunxuan, Li'er, let's go make clay figurines."

Mu Yunxuan smiled faintly, snapping out of his initial astonishment and worry. He gradually relaxed.

The clay figurines were made by an elderly man with graying hair. When he saw Su Zimo and the others approaching, he smiled kindly.

"Madam, you have a beautiful appearance," the old man smiled and said, his gaze shifting towards Mu Yunxuan and Su Li.

"Thank you, sir. Could you make a few clay figurines for our family?"

Seeing the old man's kind smile, Su Zimo's tone even carried a hint of respect.

"Madam, please wait a moment!" The old man looked at Su Zimo, and with skilled hands, he began kneading the colored dough.

In the time it took to burn half an incense stick, the old man had finished making six clay figurines. They were fixed onto wooden boards with holes, with the faces of the adults resembling Su Zimo and Mu Yunxuan, and the other four figures were three boys and one girl, all remarkably lifelike.

Su Zimo frowned when she saw them, her eyes deeply focused on the old man.

As if sensing Su Zimo's gaze, the old man raised his eyes and smiled faintly.

"Madam, is there anything wrong? Didn't I make a family as you requested?"

"Indeed, it is a family," Su Zimo admitted, but she hadn't mentioned how many members her family had, and the old man hadn't asked. How did he know to make six figures?

Mu Yunxuan, with a surprised expression, looked at the old man. His eyes narrowed, making it difficult to discern his emotions. Even with his cultivation at the Xuanwu realm, the old man had blocked his probing.

"Madam, it's done. It'll cost one liang of silver in total."

One liang of silver? Su Zimo looked at the clay figurines. Five clay figurines for one liang of silver seemed a bit expensive.

Su Zimo wasn't concerned about the silver; it was the old man's behavior that bothered her.

What did the extra child signify?

Mu Yunxuan paid the silver, and Su Zimo took the clay figurines. A refreshing fragrance filled the air, and Su Zimo's eyes flickered with suspicion.

"This dye smells like the fragrance of phoenix tail flower."

At her words, a hint of surprise flashed in the old man's eyes.

"Madam, you recognize the fragrance of phoenix tail flower?"

Su Zimo's gaze flickered, and she replied calmly, "I've only seen it before. Thank you, sir."

Su Zimo exchanged a glance with Mu Yunxuan, and the two of them turned and walked away with Su Zimo in their arms, leaving the old man behind.

The old man watched the couple's backs and furrowed his brow, lost in thought. The girl was the first to recognize the fragrance of phoenix tail flower in his dough.

The old man withdrew his gaze and began packing up his stall.

Su Zimo contemplated along the way, feeling that the old man was a bit strange.

"Yunxuan, let's go back and take a look. I have a feeling that old man is suspicious," she said.

"Alright!"

The two of them quickly turned around, holding Su Li in their arms.

"Gone?" Su Zimo said with surprise as she looked at the spot where the old man had set up his stall.

"Even I couldn't detect the old man's cultivation level," Mu Yunxuan said.

"It seems like another hidden expert," Su Zimo said calmly.

"Let's go! Let's go to other places and see if we need to buy anything."

The family of three continued strolling until sunset before returning to the inn.

"We bought quite a lot today!" Su Zimo exclaimed with excitement, holding the things she had bought. These items were truly valuable and practical in this ancient era, unlike what she could find in the modern world.

"Mo'er, let me take them," Mu Yunxuan offered, following behind her. However, his hands were also full, carrying Su Li and his own belongings, unable to take Su Zimo's items.

"You can't even carry your own things," Su Zimo teased, looking at Mu Yunxuan's full hands.

Mu Yunxuan lowered his gaze, looking at the things in his hands, and sighed inwardly. When other young ladies went out, they bought precious items. But with Mo'er, she always picked these inexpensive things and treasured them.

"Let's rent a carriage up ahead," Su Zimo said, noticing that Mu Yunxuan's hands were also full. She chuckled lightly.

Jun Lin Tian, who had returned from Wushan, spotted Su Zimo and her family from afar. He quickly hid at the corner, peering at the family of three.

Suddenly, a slight pain struck his heart as he watched their harmonious interaction. It felt piercing to him.

His face turned gloomy as he glanced coldly at Mu Yunxuan's back. This man was his biggest obstacle.

Blinded by jealousy, Jun Lin Tian couldn't even consider whether he had any relationship left with Su Zimo. He couldn't see those possibilities. With a cold sneer in his heart, he turned around and walked away with a resolute figure.

Night gradually fell, and Su Zimo didn't inform her parents of her plan, fearing they would worry. She lied, saying she wanted to go out for a walk and asked Su Zinian to take care of Su Qi.

With Mu Yunxuan and Su Li, Su Zimo arrived at the designated meeting place with Li Qiao.

Mu Yunxuan led them to a dilapidated small courtyard.

Li Qiao and another man were already waiting inside the house.

"You've come?" Li Qiao quickly stood up.

"Did the City Lord doubt my loyalty?" Su Zimo smiled indifferently. She was never someone who went back on her word.

"You think too much, Madam. Please come inside, all three of you!" Li Qiao led them into the house, where there was another man.

"Supreme Lord, Madam, this is my trusted assistant, Feng Qingyang. He has already prepared the human skin mask for Madam. Once Madam puts on the mask, please lie down in the inner room and wait. We will be ambushing nearby, and if anything happens, we will appear immediately."

"Good!" Su Zimo took the human skin mask and put it on.

Looking around, she saw that it was a simple three-room courtyard with plain furniture. It was an ordinary household with no defenses, making it easy for thieves. At that moment, an elderly woman walked out from the adjacent room, looking somewhat timidly at Mu Yunxuan and Su Zimo.

"Madam, please follow me," she said.

"Alright!"

Su Zimo turned back and exchanged a glance with Mu Yunxuan and Su Li.

Mu Yunxuan nodded, not saying much.

After Su Zimo entered the house, Mu Yunxuan and Li Qiao disappeared inside as well.

Before long, all the lights in the house went out. Due to reaching the first stage of the Holy Profound realm, Su Zimo could see clearly in the dark. She suddenly felt unafraid, being able to see things in the night.

As Su Zimo waited, on the verge of falling asleep, she keenly heard a collision sound and looked up sharply towards the window. A figure flashed by.

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