Chapter 592 - 386: Investigation

Duan Rong and his group sprinted all the way and arrived in Ruyang City just after the morning hour.

They were all tired and hungry, their lips chapped.

Not far from the city gate, they reined in their horses. Although they were strong steeds, such a long-distance rush made them foam at the mouth and their eyes listless.

Xiao Yu, with an anxious expression, said, "Ruyang City is so big, who knows where the girl is? Where do we start looking?"

Duan Rong glanced at Liu Shushan and asked, "Shushan, where is Shen Yanliu being held?"

Liu Shushan replied, "Held in the prefecture city dungeon."

Duan Rong said, "Then we’ll look around the dungeon. That girl must be scoping out the area near the dungeon."

"Scoping out?! What’s she scoping out for?"

Duan Rong replied, "Scoping out, naturally for a prison robbery."

Xiao Yu’s face darkened further; she believed Shen Mizi could actually do it.

With Liu Shushan leading, Duan Rong and the group quickly arrived near the prefecture city dungeon, then they spread out and began searching for Shen Mizi separately.

Duan Rong glanced at the dungeon; its entrance was small and narrow, and inside were many fortified structures, clearly a place easy to defend but hard to attack.

This prefecture city dungeon was undoubtedly much more secure than Xianggu County’s dungeon.

Duan Rong walked to a street corner, where there were only a few scattered pedestrians. At the alley entrance was a tea stall with a grass shed, inside sat a few scattered people.

Duan Rong focused his mind, his divine sense suddenly expanded, carefully scanning those sitting in the tea shop to confirm that none were Shen Mizi.

Duan Rong then expanded his divine sense to the maximum range.

He stood under a tree at the street side, like a diviner summoning spirits, his eyeballs rolling beneath his drooping eyelids.

Soon, Duan Rong locked onto Shen Mizi.

She was dressed in a servant’s attire, with a layer of beeswax on her face, making her complexion waxy yellow.

This disguise was set by Ximen Kankan when she and Liu Shushan returned to Xianggu County last time.

Despite the urgency this time, Shen Mizi knew entering the city directly would be too conspicuous and would surely attract government attention. Therefore, halfway, she adeptly changed her appearance using the previous method.

Her transformation was so significant that if Duan Rong hadn’t seen her guise last time, it might have slipped even through divine sense scanning.

Once Duan Rong locked onto Shen Mizi, he quickly walked over.

Just after crossing a street corner, Duan Rong suddenly paused, for his divine sense investigation revealed that Xiao Yu had already found Shen Mizi’s vicinity.

Xiao Yu’s eyes were focused, rapidly scanning the faces of everyone nearby.

Xiao Yu hadn’t discovered Shen Mizi yet, but Shen Mizi, standing a few meters away, had already seen Xiao Yu.

Shen Mizi’s expression slightly changed, her lips quivering; she could tell Xiao Yu was anxious and tense for her sake.

A surge of warmth welled up in Shen Mizi’s heart, and she took a few quick steps forward as if to meet Xiao Yu.

However, after only a couple of steps, she suddenly hesitated, her gaze fixed, and turned in the opposite direction, walking quickly away.

But after only a few steps, someone appeared beside her and, without a word, casually put their arm around her neck and draped it over her shoulder, saying, "Why are you running blindly? Help young master to the inn to rest."

Suddenly grabbed by someone, Shen Mizi, embarrassed and angry, was about to resist but found the voice familiar. Looking up, she met the face of Duan Rong.

Shen Mizi’s face instantly flushed red.

Duan Rong walked over to Xiao Yu, arm around Shen Mizi’s shoulder.

Xiao Yu saw Duan Rong approaching with his arm around someone; initially puzzled, she recognized Shen Mizi once they got closer.

Seeing Shen Mizi unharmed, Xiao Yu’s worried heart relaxed.

Looking at Shen Mizi, Xiao Yu said, "You silly girl, such a big matter, and you didn’t think to discuss it with me?"

Facing Xiao Yu’s gaze, filled with more concern than reproach, Shen Mizi’s eyes reddened, and she cried out, "Sister Xiao..."

Shen Mizi threw herself into Xiao Yu’s arms, releasing her suppressed emotions.

She hadn’t sought out Xiao Yu because she’d made up her mind to save her father at any cost. To do so, only two paths existed: either a prison break or a rescue at the execution ground.

Both paths were extremely dangerous, fraught with peril, and she didn’t want to involve Xiao Yu.

Ultimately, this was a Shen Family matter.

Crying in Xiao Yu’s arms, Shen Mizi made Xiao Yu’s eyes redden too. Having just lost her father, Xiao Yu fully understood Shen Mizi’s feelings at this moment.

If she had been there the night her father had an incident, she too would have recklessly tried to save Xiao Zongting. The debt of life and nurture is as high as the sky and as deep as the earth; even a sliver of hope wouldn’t be abandoned!

"Too many eyes are watching; we should leave this place first," Duan Rong advised beside the two.

At his words, Shen Mizi held back her emotions, raised her tear-filled eyes, and Xiao Yu wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

After regrouping with Ximen Kankan and Liu Shushan, they left for a secluded courtyard at Liu Shushan’s house.

Liu Shushan had some tea and snacks served before dismissing the attendants.