Chapter 108: It’s A Fine Morning

The morning sun climbed higher into the clear sky, casting bright beams across the quiet courtyard as the domestic hum of the estate slowly settled into its afternoon routine. Inside the main dining hall, the breakfast dishes had been cleared away by the kitchen staff.

Han Lin helped Aunt Gao wipe down the heavy wooden table, while Ye Chenxue quietly retired back toward the inner courtyard to continue her morning meditation.

Lu Feng stepped out of the main residence, his eyes scanning the open grounds until he spotted Song Heng standing near the perimeter wall, his bamboo broom resting against the stone masonry as he double-checked the latch on the heavy wooden gates.

Taking slow, deliberate steps across the cobblestone path, Lu Feng approached the guard. Hearing the approaching footsteps, Song Heng immediately turned around and stood straight, bowing his head respectfully.

"Young Master," Song Heng greeted, his posture instantly stiffening.

"Song Heng," Lu Feng replied, stopping a few paces away. He kept his hands loosely folded behind his back, his expression calm and unhurried. "Earlier during breakfast, Chenxue brought up the incident from last night. I want to hear your side of the story directly. Tell me exactly what happened from the moment you noticed something unusual."

Song Heng swallowed lightly, shifting his stance as he recalled the late-night encounter.

"Young Master, it started around midnight," Song Heng began, his voice tense as he recounted the events. "I was standing guard near the inner walkway when a subtle, uncomfortable feeling came over me—like someone was standing just outside the perimeter wall, watching the entrance. At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but the sensation wouldn’t go away."

"So you decided to check the gates?" Lu Feng asked.

"Yes, Young Master," Song Heng answered, nodding hastily. "I unlatched the grand doors and stepped out to inspect the street, but the avenue was completely empty. I thought I had simply misread the situation, so I pulled the doors shut and locked the gate once more. But the second the latch clicked, that same uncomfortable feeling returned, even stronger than before."

"And when you opened it the second time?"

"That was when I saw him," Song Heng explained, gesturing toward the outer archway. "A massive, heavily built man was standing right beside our main entrance. He was swaying back and forth, clutching himself as if he could barely stay upright. I immediately demanded to know who he was and why he was lurking near a noble estate at such an hour."

"How did he react?" Lu Feng inquired.

"He slurred his words heavily, rambling about how he had drank too much at a lower district tavern and lost his way into the upper Eastern district," Song Heng said. "He looked completely senseless, so I lowered my guard, pointed him down the main road toward the lower sector, and sternly warned him to leave the area immediately. He stumbled off into the dark without incident, and I locked the gates behind him."

Lu Feng listened patiently, taking in every detail without interrupting. Once Song Heng finished his account, Lu Feng looked at him intently. "Describe him to me. Everything you can remember about his physical appearance—his height, his build, his facial features, and any distinct markings."

Song Heng didn’t hesitate. "He was tall—at least a head taller than myself—with a broad, imposing frame and wide shoulders. His head was completely shaved, and he had a jagged scar running along the side of his scalp. But the most distinct detail was his skin, Young Master. His arms, neck, and part of his chest were covered in dark, heavy tattoos. They looked like intricate, jagged symbols, impossible to miss even in the night light."

Lu Feng absorbed the description, nodding slowly to himself. A tall, scarred man with heavy tattoos across his body, possessing enough spiritual control to hide his breath from a trained guard and leave overlapping tracks to obscure his trail—that was no ordinary drunken wanderer.

It was the unmistakable profile of a hired operative or a martial mercenary from the lower district’s underground network.

Setting those thoughts aside for a moment, Lu Feng shifted his gaze back to Song Heng. The guard’s shoulders were still noticeably tense, his eyes glued to the stone floor as if waiting for a reprimand.

Lu Feng let out a quiet sigh, his tone softening as he broke the silence. "Song Heng, do you remember when I walked past you in the courtyard earlier this morning?"

Song Heng flicked his eyes up briefly before quickly lowering them again. "Yes, Young Master."

"You wanted to tell me about last night right then, didn’t you?" Lu Feng said gently. "I saw the hesitation in your face. You almost spoke up, but at the last second, you swallowed your words and told me everything was fine."

Song Heng winced slightly, his fingers tightening against his leather belt. "I..."

"There’s no need to be flustered," Lu Feng said, placing a reassuring hand on the guard’s shoulder. "Next time something like this happens, do not be afraid to speak directly to me. You don’t have to hide anything or wait for someone else to report it first out of fear of how I might react."

Lu Feng paused, making sure Song Heng was looking him in the eye before continuing. "Your vigilance last night protected this estate, and reporting potential threats is your job. Moving forward, if you notice anything unusual—no matter how small or insignificant it might seem—you should feel completely free to bring it straight to me or to Ye Chenxue. And if neither of us is immediately available, speak to Han Lin. She will make sure the message reaches us right away. Do you understand?"

A look of genuine relief washed over Song Heng’s face. The heavy tension in his chest visibly dissolved, and he bowed deeply toward Lu Feng, his voice filled with sincere gratitude.

"I understand, Young Master," Song Heng replied earnestly. "I deeply apologize for my silence earlier this morning. I acted foolishly out of hesitation. I will make sure to report any future matters directly to you or Young Lady Ye without delay."

"Good," Lu Feng smiled, giving his shoulder a light pat. "Go back to your post and rest up when your shift ends. You did well last night."

"Thank you, Young Master!" Song Heng bowed once more before taking up his wooden broom and returning to his duties with a noticeably lighter step.

Lu Feng stood in the quiet courtyard, watching the guard work. He couldn’t help but wonder what exactly Lin Laifu had said to these guards when he first hired them on his behalf.

For some reason, Song Heng and Bai Bao were both unnaturally cautious around him, tiptoeing as if they were walking on eggshells around an unpredictable, ruthless master. Whatever exaggerated rumors or stern warnings Lin Laifu had filled their ears with, Lu Feng knew it would take some time to dismantle that ingrained apprehension.

He let out a quiet sigh, turning his thoughts back to the tattooed figure.

If someone was actively scouting his estate, sitting around and waiting for another midnight visit was a passive, foolish strategy. The lower district’s underground was vast, but a man with such distinct physical traits—a scarred, bald head and heavy body tattoos—would not be hard to track down for someone with deep roots in Crimson Vale’s commercial channels.

He needed to consult Lin Laifu. As the head manager who handled the family’s local business dealings and maintained broad networks across both the upper and lower sectors, Lin Laifu was the best person to identify which mercenary bands or underground factions employed a figure matching that description.

Deciding to head into the city immediately, Lu Feng turned his steps toward the side yard where the estate’s private transport was stationed. Now that he had his own personal carriage, traveling back and forth between the Eastern district and the main city markets had become far more convenient.

However, as he rounded the corner near the stables, he spotted Old Ma standing beside the wooden wash basin. The old coachman had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, diligently scrubbing down the two carriage horses with a damp brush, washing away the mud and sweat from the previous day’s travel. The wooden carriage itself was partially unhitched, undergoing a routine wheel check and polish.

Old Ma looked up, wiping his brow with a rag as he noticed Lu Feng approaching. He immediately set his brush aside to offer a greeting, but Lu Feng raised a hand with a warm, easygoing smile, gesturing for him to stay put.

"Don’t worry about it, Old Ma," Lu Feng called out pleasantly, looking at the wet horses and the half-cleared carriage frame. "Take your time with the maintenance."

Recognizing that setting up the carriage now would only disrupt Old Ma’s work and delay his trip, Lu Feng turned on his heel and adjusted his outer robes.

"It’s a fine morning anyway," he murmured to himself, stepping back onto the main cobblestone path. "A walk into the city will do just fine."

With that, he headed toward the grand entrance, stepping out into the bright morning sunlight as he began his journey toward the bustling commercial streets of Crimson Vale.