Chapter Fifty-Eight: Setting Out to Find Someone

At this moment, Tang Wei's heart was like a pot of water just brought to a boil, so excited that it was about to overflow. Yet Zixuan’s gentle admonition reminded her that now was not the time for excitement. She needed first to understand Yaya's situation. Hastily releasing her grip, she stepped aside, trying to calm herself.

She wanted to settle her emotions immediately, but such a thing could not be achieved in an instant. No matter how hard she tried, her heart kept thumping wildly, her mind a blank, unsure even what questions to ask or where to begin.

It was Zixuan who understood her feelings best, coming up behind her to pat her shoulder. “Senior Sister, don’t worry. Just stand here and try not to get too worked up. If there’s anything, I’ll ask for you.” Seeing Tang Wei nod with wide eyes, he turned back to Li Si. “Go on.”

Li Si apparently realized that the person he had seen was indeed the one they were searching for. Thinking of the reward—the medicinal pills he would soon receive—his heart raced like a frightened deer. His mind felt shrouded in mist, and when Zixuan questioned him, he stammered, “I—I—where did I go?”

“Just tell us directly where he took the child,” Zixuan prompted. After the commotion earlier, even he was unsure of Li Si’s whereabouts, so he instructed him to simply say where Zhang San was.

“He went to Mount Changbai. A few days ago, I helped him send the little girl to City B in Province J. He wanted to hide in the mountains there.” Suddenly remembering something, Li Si hurried to explain, “I—I didn’t know the little girl was the one you lost. He asked me for help and I obliged. It had nothing to do with me. I only saw the missing persons notice when I got back, so I came straight to the Xuan Yuan family to confirm. I swear.” He kept glancing at the two, fearful they might blame him. When he saw their expressions remained calm, he finally breathed out in relief.

“Mount Changbai? Why did he go there?” Zixuan mused aloud.

“He didn’t have to go anywhere specific. He just wanted someplace remote to lay low.”

“Why is he hiding? Did something happen?” Zixuan pressed.

“All I know is he seems to have offended Miss Ouyang and is afraid she’ll cause trouble for him. That day at the bar, when we mentioned Ouyang Qianru, he turned pale and left in a hurry. He even asked me to help take the little girl to his house.” Li Si thought back, still embarrassed by the affair, but he persisted.

Zixuan smiled and asked, “You must be close with him, then?”

Li Si quickly distanced himself, “N—not really. We just share similar interests, bump into each other often, and always chat when we meet. Over time we became acquainted, but his cultivation is two levels above mine. I can’t afford to offend him.”

“Well then, since your information is useful to us, and so we can reach you for further matters regarding Zhang San, we’ll give you the pills in advance. However, from now on, you must stay at the Xuan Yuan family estate until we find Yaya. Only then can you leave.” Zixuan swiftly concluded.

“Of course, of course. Your arrangement is most reasonable. I, Li Si, will comply.” He accepted the arrangement wholeheartedly. After all, being allowed to stay at the Xuan Yuan family home was a blessing earned over many lifetimes. And once he left, it would be quite the honor among his peers.

Satisfied with his attitude, Zixuan nodded. “Wait here. Someone will come to take you to your room soon.” With that, he didn’t wait for Li Si’s reply, but walked straight to Tang Wei, took her hand, and said, “Let’s go consult Uncle Xuan Yuan.”

“Mm.” Tang Wei had no opinions of her own at this point and decided to follow Zixuan’s lead in all matters.

Ever since Xuan Yuan Zhe had taken the medicinal pills, the patriarch of the Xuan Yuan family had grown far more cordial, dispensing with formalities entirely. It was as though they were lifelong family friends. From just a few days ago, they had begun addressing each other as uncle and nephew.

After being announced, the pair entered the patriarch’s courtyard. Beneath the great tree at the center, father and son sat on stone stools, deeply engaged in a debate—likely still discussing the effects of the pills. Spotting Tang Wei and Zixuan approaching, the patriarch greeted them warmly, “Ah, my dear nephews, you’re just in time. Zhe and I were discussing the bottleneck in our cultivation.”

“Oh? And what do you and Zhe think?” Zixuan responded easily, politely, as though he’d known them for years.

“My father agrees with your reasoning, but we’re at a loss as to how to resolve it,” Xuan Yuan Zhe quickly summarized their discussion.

Zixuan smiled and nodded. “Once the root of the problem is identified, the solution must be found in that direction. Only then can our troubles be truly resolved. Yet the Great Catastrophe was so long ago; to resolve this is no simple matter—it will require careful planning. Today, I actually came to trouble you with something, Uncle.”

“Haha! Nephew, what trouble? With our relationship, there’s no such thing as trouble. If you need anything, just ask!” The patriarch laughed heartily, his tone warm as if addressing his own son.

Xuan Yuan Zhe chimed in with genuine candor, “That’s right, Brother Chen. We’re good friends—no need for formality.”

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony. The person Dongfang brought back—we’ve confirmed that the little girl is indeed the one we’re searching for. Since he delivered her to Mount Changbai in City B, Province J, I’d like to ask Uncle to arrange for people to search that area. With more manpower, we’ll find them faster. Otherwise, if it’s just me and my senior sister, it would be nearly impossible to track them down.”

“Are you certain?” the patriarch asked once more.

Zixuan nodded, repeating his conversation with Li Si and requesting that Li Si’s lodging also be arranged.

“Rest assured, we’ll take care of everything. You two just wait here for our good news!” The patriarch was supremely confident. He refused to believe that, given the Xuan Yuan family’s connections, finding a wandering cultivator would be difficult.

Tang Wei, unable to remain calm, said urgently, “Uncle, I’d still like to go there and help search. First, I can contribute, and second, I might see Yaya sooner.” There was another reason she couldn’t mention openly: within the Xuan Yuan household, neither she nor Zixuan could access their cultivation space.

The patriarch hesitated. Tang Wei and Zixuan had helped the Xuan Yuan family greatly; letting them leave now would be a lost opportunity to deepen ties.

But Xuan Yuan Zhe was enthusiastic. “I think it’s a good idea, Father. Why don’t Shi Yi and I, along with Brother Chen and his senior sister, go together? I know the stewards over there well—it’ll be easier to coordinate. We can search personally and recognize her right away if we find her. It’s perfect.”

“What do you think, nephew?” With his son so eager, the patriarch had little reason to object. After all, they were now all on the same side.

“I agree. Let’s do as Zhe suggests,” Zixuan replied. He understood the patriarch’s intentions well enough. Still, the Xuan Yuan family acted uprightly, and the siblings seemed genuinely good-hearted. Forming ties with them was hardly a bad thing.

“Very well! I’ll make arrangements immediately!” The patriarch, smiling broadly and thoroughly pleased, left to take care of everything.