Chapter 50: Seeking the White Shadow

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Miss Bai had vanished without a trace, moving like a swift wind that leaves no footprint behind.

Qu Wanqing frowned slightly, her delicate brows knitting together as she glanced around. The main hall of the apothecary was bustling with people coming and going, yet that solitary streak of white was nowhere to be seen.

"How strange, that Miss Bai runs faster than a rabbit," she murmured under her breath. Jiang Yu stood beside her, giving a gentle nod. His profound gaze swept across the crowd, as though searching for hidden clues.

"It seems this apothecary truly harbors many secrets."

"Wanqing, let's split up and search," Jiang Yu suggested, his tone steady and composed, as if everything were entirely within his grasp.

"Agreed," Qu Wanqing replied. The two exchanged a knowing smile, perfectly in sync.

A mysterious atmosphere enveloped them, feeling much like an exhilarating game of hide-and-seek.

Just as they were about to move, Steward Qian, accompanied by several burly apothecary attendants, blocked their path.

"My apologies, you two. This is a restricted area of the apothecary, unauthorized entry is prohibited." Steward Qian offered a smile that didn't reach his eyes, his tone laced with a hint of warning.

Qu Wanqing chuckled softly. "Steward Qian, we are not here to cause trouble, but to seek the truth. This matter involves a major secret of the apothecary. Are you certain you wish to stop us?"

Steward Qian’s expression darkened. "I have no idea what you are talking about. This apothecary has always operated with absolute integrity; there are no secrets here. The two of you should take your leave and stop creating a disturbance here." His tone was firm and resolute, making it abundantly clear that he had no intention of letting them continue their investigation.

"Steward Qian, are you protesting too much?" Qu Wanqing pressed forward step by step, her gaze as piercing as a torch, seemingly capable of reading human hearts.

"You..." Steward Qian was momentarily at a loss for words, his eyes darting about as he failed to meet her gaze.

The two sides remained at a deadlock, the atmosphere taut and brimming with hostility.

At that exact moment, Qu Wanqing spoke up abruptly: "Steward Qian, are you perhaps..."

"Steward Qian, have you perhaps... been suffering from kidney deficiency lately?" The corners of Qu Wanqing’s lips curved into a deeply meaningful smile, her tone light and airy, as casual as discussing the weather.

As soon as those words fell, the entire hall plunged into a dead silence, so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard.

Steward Qian’s weathered face instantly flushed to the color of a pig's liver. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected this young woman to play completely outside the rules.

Kidney deficiency?

What on earth did that have to do with the apothecary's secrets?

The surrounding attendants were also dumbfounded, exchanging bewildered glances. Previously, they had held a certain degree of trust toward Steward Qian, but now, watching his complexion drain of color instantly, doubts began to sprout in their hearts: Could Steward Qian truly be hiding some unspeakable secret?

"You... you are spouting nonsense!" Steward Qian sputtered in rage, his trembling finger pointing directly at Qu Wanqing. His eyes were filled with panic—gone was even a shred of his former arrogance.

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Qu Wanqing shrugged, putting on an expression of utter innocence. "I was merely speaking off the top of my head. Why is Steward Qian so agitated? Could it be... that I hit the nail on the head?" She deliberately prolonged her tone, dripping with mockery.

This theatrical display not only threw Steward Qian into a state of utter panic but also successfully shattered the previous deadlock.

Inwardly, she felt a surge of smug satisfaction. In this day and age, who didn't possess a bit of acting talent?

"Very well, Wanqing." Jiang Yu stepped forward at the opportune moment, his tone remaining steadfast. He was well aware of Qu Wanqing's little tricks, yet the effect was undeniable.

He turned to Steward Qian. "Steward Qian, Wanqing and I harbor no intention of causing offense; we merely wish to locate Miss Bai as swiftly as possible. Since you are unwilling to cooperate, we shall have no choice but to find a way ourselves."

Though Jiang Yu's words were polite, they carried an undeniable weight of authority.

He tugged at Qu Wanqing's sleeve, signaling her to rein it in.

"Jiang Yu, where do you think we should begin our search?" Qu Wanqing dropped her joking demeanor, turning to look at Jiang Yu with complete seriousness.

"Perhaps we can glean some clues from young apothecary apprentice Sun," Jiang Yu suggested, nursing a lingering intuition that the young boy might know something.

"No," Qu Wanqing countered, shaking her head. She glanced toward apprentice Sun, who was stealthily peering out from a corner. "While that lad is clever, he is fiercely loyal and will not easily divulge anything. Rather than wasting time on him, we might as well head directly to the places Miss Bai is likely to frequent."

Upon hearing this, not only was Jiang Yu somewhat surprised, but even the onlookers among the attendants cast astonished gazes her way. This woman possessed no small amount of grit and resolution.

"In that case, let us go." Jiang Yu offered no further words, merely giving a nod of assent. He would forever support any decision she made.

The two exchanged a smile, requiring no further words to comprehend each other's thoughts.

They walked straight toward the back courtyard of the apothecary, leaving behind Steward Qian and a crowd of bewildered attendants standing frozen in place.

Passing through several corridors and crossing a few courtyards, the pair arrived at a secluded corner.

The surroundings were overgrown with weeds, presenting a somewhat desolate scene.

Qu Wanqing's footsteps halted abruptly. Bending down, she picked up a white silk handkerchief from amidst a cluster of dense weeds.

Her eyes lit up. That was...

Qu Wanqing's fingertips gently brushed against the silk handkerchief, a faint, lingering fragrance clinging to her skin. This scent...

It felt strangely familiar!

"Bingo! It seems our game of hide-and-seek is about to level up." She flashed a mischievous smile, holding the handkerchief up to Jiang Yu's nose. "Give it a sniff. Is this the exact same fragrance carried by Miss Bai?"

Jiang Yu took a careful whiff, a gleam of light flashing through his profound eyes. "Indeed, it is the very same scent. It would appear we are growing ever closer to the truth." This silk handkerchief served like a guiding thread, pulling them toward an unknown mystery.

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A sense of mounting excitement rippled between the two, as though an exhilarating adventure were about to unfold.

Following the trail of this lingering fragrance, they navigated the winding covered corridors and arrived at a deserted medicinal herb garden in the rear courtyard.

The air was heavy with the pungent aroma of dried herbs, intertwined with wisps of that distinct fragrance—growing clearer and infinitely more mysterious.

"It seems Miss Bai is close by," Qu Wanqing lowered her voice, her gaze burning like a fierce fire, resembling an alert leopard poised to pounce on its prey.

Suddenly, an aged voice boomed from behind them: "You two! What are you up to again?!"

Old Doctor Li materialized behind them out of nowhere, clutching a medicinal hoe in his hand. His face was contorted with fury, as though he were ready to chase them off the premises at any second.

"Old Doctor Li, we were merely..." Qu Wanqing attempted an explanation, only to be rudely cut off by the old man.

"Spare me your explanations! You outsiders do nothing but bring trouble! Be off with you at once! Do not interfere with my herb cultivation!" Old Doctor Li fumed, puffing out his beard and glaring with a hostile demeanor that kept people at arm's length.

"Old Doctor Li, we had no intention of causing a disturbance. It's just that Miss Bai has gone missing, and we are concerned..." Qu Wanqing explained unhurriedly, maintaining a steady tone in an effort to calm the old doctor down.

"Miss Bai? Missing?" Old Doctor Li froze. The wrathful expression on his face cracked slightly as he eyed Qu Wanqing suspiciously. "How could you possibly know Miss Bai is missing?"

Qu Wanqing produced the silk handkerchief, displaying it for the old man to see. "We found this in the back courtyard, and it still bears Miss Bai's scent."

Old Doctor Li stared fixedly at the handkerchief, his complexion turning increasingly solemn. A flash of complicated emotion crossed his cloudy eyes.

He appeared to hesitate, struggling inwardly, as though burdened by an unspeakable secret.

The air abruptly turned heavy and oppressive, the surrounding foliage seemingly sensing the strained atmosphere, standing completely silent and still.

At that exact moment, a piercing shriek shattered the silence—a shrill and ear-splitting sound, laden with intense fear and despair, resembling a lament echoing from the depths of hell.

"Ah—"

That voice belonged unequivocally to Miss Bai!

"Not good!" Qu Wanqing's expression shifted drastically. Exchanging a single glance with Jiang Yu, the two dashed without hesitation toward the direction from which the scream had originated...

Old Doctor Li stood rooted to the spot, his lips trembling as he muttered under his breath: "It's too late..."

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