Upon arriving at the scene of the incident, they discovered that Zhan Zhiming and his group had vanished.
They searched the area but found no useful information. Clearly, to avoid detection, the culprits had employed methods to erase any remaining traces.
The Ginseng King was not skilled in tracking and could only watch helplessly. The young flood dragons, however, were intelligent and immediately scattered, commencing a thorough search.
At this moment, Huineng and Xuan'ao returned. The two had been in high spirits, but upon pushing open the courtyard gate, their hearts sank considerably. The house was empty, not a soul in sight. Even more astonishing, all the fish in the pond had disappeared.
"Where did everyone go? Did they abandon us?"
Huineng and Xuan'ao exchanged glances, their hearts growing cold, feeling as if their lives had turned dark. How could Mr. Ji have left them behind after they went to a wedding banquet?
The two were greatly alarmed, believing that Ji Mo had taken everyone with him, leaving only them. Fortunately, they found that the silkworm cocoon on the willow branch was still there, which brought them some peace of mind. With His Excellency the Nine Transformations Heavenly Silkworm still present, Mr. Ji must not have left.
A day later, the Ginseng King and the Dragon Fish returned dejectedly. They had searched for a full day and night but still hadn't found Ali's whereabouts.
Huineng and Xuan'ao urgently asked what had happened. The deployment of the Dragon Fish clearly indicated a major incident. The Ginseng King, with a mournful expression, recounted how Ali had been snatched.
What? Ali was snatched away? Their faces changed drastically.
"Don't panic yet. Ali was taken by Ye Yao, so she should be safe. Since Mr. Ji isn't back, we have to rescue Ali ourselves." Huineng, living up to his large head, possessed exceptional intelligence and a clear understanding of the situation. He earnestly questioned the Ginseng King for details, gathering information thoroughly. The young master who made the move was named Zhan, he had several Spirit Saint subordinates, and was on good terms with Ye Yao. These were the breakthroughs. As long as they found this person, they should be able to ascertain Ali's whereabouts.
Soon, based on the Ginseng King's description, Huineng drew a portrait of Zhan Zhiming.
"Let's drag this pretty boy out, and we can naturally find Ali." Huineng instructed Xuan'ao to immediately take the portrait to the Duan family for Fan Jingxing. The Duan family had the most up-to-date information and would surely investigate this Young Master Zhan's background as quickly as possible. Once they knew his origins, everything would be easy.
Without a word, Xuan'ao took the portrait and rushed to the Duan family.
...
On the outskirts of Mingyue City, in a secluded villa.
Ali and Ye Yao were brought here by Zhan Zhiming.
"Young Master Zhan, didn't you say you were taking us home? Why have you brought us here?" Ye Yao was very confused. Zhan Zhiming had said he would take her home, but in reality, he had brought her to this villa located deep in the mountains, his motives unclear. Even stranger, there were many cultivators guarding the villa, both inside and out.
"Auntie, aren't you awake yet? He's definitely going to lock us up in this desolate place, and then he can do whatever he wants with us, whether it's to skin us or kill us." Ali saw through it clearly; she feared she was in grave danger this time.
"Ali, be quiet. Young Master Zhan wouldn't harm us." Ye Yao quickly covered Ali's mouth, afraid of her speaking carelessly and displeasing Zhan Zhiming. Although she felt something was amiss, she firmly believed that Young Master Zhan liked her very much, so how could he harm her?
"The little girl is quite clever, seeing through it at a glance." Zhan Zhiming grinned, his voice no longer gentle, carrying a hint of malice that made one's heart tremble. Ye Yao had never seen Zhan Zhiming in this state and looked flustered, wondering if things weren't as she had imagined.
"Haha, Yao'er, what are you afraid of? I'm just teasing you. Stay here for a few days, and once I've settled things at home, I'll bring you over. My little fool, how could I possibly harm you?" Zhan Zhiming's expression changed instantly, his demeanor shifting. He supported Ye Yao's shoulders, his eyes filled with endless tenderness that seemed capable of melting a person. Ye Yao's heart pounded, feeling the man's breath close by, Zhan Zhiming's lips drawing nearer. Her body stiffened, her lips slightly parted, presenting herself as ready to be plucked.
Zhan Zhiming's lips curved into a smug smile. Women were indeed foolish; it was so easy to trick them, truly lacking any challenge. He opened his mouth, about to kiss her and enjoy himself. But suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his calf and let out a cry.
"Shameless! You're kissing in broad daylight, in front of a child. Are you not ashamed? And Auntie, can you be a little more reserved? If this pretty boy gets handsy with you, you should slap him hard and yell 'Assault!'" It was Ali who intervened, stopping the scene. She simply couldn't stand it, seeing her infatuated aunt so easily fooled, letting him take advantage. What was so good about this pretty boy? He wasn't even a tenth as handsome as Brother Ji, nor a ten-thousandth as capable. He only knew how to use sweet talk to deceive ignorant girls.
Zhan Zhiming touched his purplish ankle, gasping in pain. This little girl's cultivation was sealed, so why did her kick hurt so much? Her physical quality was truly terrifying, capable of injuring him with mere strength. Was the Human King bloodline truly so formidable? Perhaps there was a way to strip it away? He looked at Ali, his thoughts racing, a sinister glint in his eyes.
Ali was, after all, still a child. Startled by his glare, she became incredibly scared and quickly hid behind Ye Yao. In Zhan Zhiming's eyes, she sensed great malice; the man had clearly developed wicked intentions towards her.
Ye Yao, scolded by Ali, covered her face in shame, failing to notice the terrifying look in Zhan Zhiming's eyes as he gazed at Ali. She "slapped" Ali's bottom, telling the little girl not to speak nonsense in the future, nor to hit anyone.
"Auntie, I worry myself sick over you, and you still hit me." Ali pursed her lips, a look of grievance on her face. Then, she ran off angrily, no longer paying attention to Ye Yao. Her good intentions were taken for granted; the little girl was truly heartbroken.
"It's good for children to be a bit mischievous. I like it very much." Zhan Zhiming watched Ali's retreating figure, his smile growing stronger. He was determined to have the Human King bloodline.
"As long as you like it." Ye Yao was very happy. If Zhan Zhiming could accept Ali, she could stay and live with him in the Zhan family in the future. She never imagined that Zhan Zhiming harbored ill intentions and had already set his sights on Ali.
Meanwhile, the investigation by the Duan family soon yielded results. They finally identified the background of the pretty boy in the portrait.
"The Zhan family, Zhan Zhiming!" Fan Jingxing whispered, "The mere Zhan family dares to stir up trouble under the Tai Sui's nose. They are truly seeking death. Your Zhan family is finished!" Although the Zhan family was also a prominent clan, they were nothing compared to Mr. Ji.