Chapter 23

Subtle clues emerge amid ulterior motives.

Returning upstairs, Stone Meimei had seen the commotion downstairs. Zanyue and Red Leaf noticed her flushed face as she came up.

Zanyue shook her head, asking, "What happened to you?"

Stone Meimei crinkled her nose, embarrassed by her unintentionally embarrassing actions, but was relieved that she inadvertently saved an elderly couple. Thinking of this, she looked back and indeed, the old couple was no longer there.

Shortly after sitting down, Baishi arrived upstairs.

"Master Bai," Duan Yan immediately stood up to greet Baishi.

Bai She nodded to him, his gaze briefly drifting towards Shimei.

Stone Meimei, feeling awkward, continued to focus on eating her crab.

A brief exchange of pleasantries took place between the two parties.

Baishi chose a window-side table to sit alone. Glancing downstairs, he observed that the ambushers from the Duan family had been forced out. On the shore, his Ghost Blade Mountain Villa's men were strategically dispersed, facing off against the others.

Duan Yan, witnessing this, frowned in secret frustration. His initial plan to ambush and gain the upper hand was thwarted by a girl's coincidental interference, alerting Baishi and foiling his plans.

"Master Duan, quite a grand welcome." At that moment, someone commented, "You've sent so many people to greet our villa's master."

Duan Yan looked towards the source of the voice and saw a man squatting on another window ledge.

Stone Meimei and the others were equally startled. When did this man appear? This was the third floor, over ten meters from the ground—how did he get up so effortlessly?

Looking at the man, he appeared to be in his twenties, tall and lean, with a buzz cut, pale skin, and large, baby-faced eyes full of mirth.

Duan Yan looked at the man and smiled, "Isn't this Qin Dai, the second master of Ghost Blade Villa?"

"Hehe," the young man chuckled, revealing dimples on his baby face. "Not at all, I'm not yet married."

Everyone was momentarily baffled, except for Stone Meimei, who chuckled, finding Qin Dai's name amusing, reminiscent of a fatherly figure.

Qin Dai, still smiling at Stone Meimei, turned to Baishi and said, "Master, you have a good eye."

Bai She raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

Qin Dai leapt down from the ledge, took a seat opposite Baishi, and called down, "Everyone, disperse. These men are from the Duan family, here to welcome us. Let's not spoil the harmony."

"Understood!"

Looking downstairs again, the members of Ghost Blade Mountain Villa began to retreat and board their boats.

Duan Yan nodded slightly to his subordinates looking up from below, signaling them to disperse.

Qin Dai, seated across from Baishi, didn't look elsewhere but observed Stone Meimei's table with interest, internally remarking on the beauty gathered at the Fragrant Powder Residence, likening it to a den of enchantresses.

Hongye, familiar with Qin Dai's reputation as a notorious flirt, watched him with disdain as he ogled them, and shot back a fierce glare, "What are you looking at?!"

Qin Dai, taken aback by her fierceness, couldn't help but be amused.

Duan Yan joined their table, addressing Baishi, "Villa Master Bai, I have invited you here to discuss a matter."

Baishi raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

Without minding Baishi's silence, Duan Yan got straight to the point, "I request the return of the Jade Buddha."

Baishi remained noncommittal, while Qin Dai chuckled, teasing Duan Yan, "How can the accuser play the victim?"

Stone Meimei and Hongye exchanged glances, knowing the Jade Buddha was already stolen by Yu Yan, and wondered why Duan Yan was asking Baishi for it.

"The Buddha statue taken by Yu Yan is a fake," Duan Yan clarified with a slight smile.

As Stone Meimei listened intently, Little Fuxi meowed and leapt onto Baishi's lap, affectionately rubbing against him.

Baishi, while petting the cat, commented on Duan Yan's revelation, "So there's a real and fake Jade Buddha? That's new to me."

Stone Meimei and Hongye exchanged a knowing look, amused by Baishi's feigned ignorance.

Zan Yuwei, watching the others communicate silently, felt left out and focused on the ongoing scene, noticing Luanying's and Mingfu's reactions, especially Mingfu's obvious cluelessness and Luanying's calculated attentiveness.

Mingfu, unable to resist, kept sneaking glances at Baishi and Stone Meimei, her expression growing increasingly peculiar.

After a while, Mingfu looked instinctively at Baishi and then at Stone Meimei, her face betraying her strange emotions.

Zan Yuwei chuckled to herself, reflecting on the naivety of Mingfu and others who idolized Qin Xianglian as the epitome of manliness. Yet, when compared to Baishi, Qin Xianglian seemed merely second-rate. Indeed, the world harbored many who far surpassed him in merit.

"Not that Buddha statue? Which one then?" Qin Dai inquired of Duan Yan.

"The one in Qiao Lao Kuan's possession," Duan Yan responded.

Baishi frowned slightly, his displeasure evident.

Qin Dai scoffed, "Duan Yan, Qiao Lao Kuan died in your territory. His body was claimed upon your notification. Now you turn around asking us for the item?"

Duan Yan, prepared for this accusation, replied calmly, "Qiao Lao Kuan wasn't our man, but a fixer in the jianghu. His intrusion into our territory and the subsequent disappearance of our treasure surely implicates him."

Hongye sensed something amiss. Stone Meimei quietly inquired, "What's a 'fixer'?"

"A thief," Hongye whispered back, "Qiao Lao Kuan, a notorious thief on the jianghu, famed for his stealth and efficiency. But he met his end this time."

Hongye nodded, understanding the situation: Baishi's friend had gone to steal from Duan's, died mysteriously, and now Duan's was blaming Baishi for the missing treasure.

Baishi, still composed, stated, "Before his death, Lao Kuan did mention the Buddha. Many heard it, but the statue wasn't found with him. The real culprit is whoever killed Lao Kuan."

Duan Yan smiled, "Master Bai, our thoughts align. Why don't we join forces to unravel this theft?"

Baishi, unfazed, declined directly, "I don't collaborate with others."

Duan Yan's eagerness was casually dismissed by Baishi, leaving him visibly embarrassed. Yue'er, sitting nearby, interjected, "Why so hesitant, Baishi? Are you wary of secret observers, or do you covet our ancestral treasure?"

Her comment drew everyone's attention, including Mingfu and Luanying's, who were surprised by the mention of a treasure.

Stone Meimei and others shook their heads at Yue'er's impulsive and thoughtless remark, inadvertently inviting trouble by revealing such sensitive information.

Duan Yan's face darkened as he glanced sharply at Yue'er, who had spoken out of turn. The older men at the table quickly admonished her, "Miss Yue, calm yourself."

Subdued by Duan Yan's reprimand, Yue'er lowered her head and fell silent.

Baishi raised an eyebrow, turning to Duan Yan, "What treasure?"

Duan Yan, cornered, deflected, "It's merely a legend."

Baishi chuckled, "Do share. I've never heard of it."

Stone Meimei and Hongye exchanged a knowing look — here we go again.

"Well, an old tale is best left untold," Duan Yan said, attempting to change the subject, but Qin Dai intervened, "I've always been puzzled. It's just a Buddha statue, not of great value. Why such a big fuss? Or does the statue hold some special significance?"

Duan Yan shook his head, "To others, it might be worthless, but for our Duan family, it's a priceless heirloom."

Baishi, intrigued, asked, "Was Qiao Lao Kuan's death related to your Duan family? That's my concern."

Duan Yan hastily denied any involvement, "Absolutely not! That's a grave accusation."

"I can testify," said a middle-aged man accompanying Duan Yan. "When we heard the alarm, we knew someone had trespassed into the forbidden area. We chased after them, but they were too fast. By the time we caught up, the intruder was already dead in the woods, and it was Qiao Lao Kuan. But there were no treasures on him, yet our Jade Buddha from the forbidden area was stolen!"

Baishi remained silent as Duan Yan continued, "Catching up to Qiao Lao Kuan in such a short time, killing a master like him and stealing the Buddha, suggests two things: the assailant might have known Lao Kuan, catching him off guard, and their skills far exceed his."

Baishi gave Duan Yan a knowing look, everyone understanding the veiled implication directed at Baishi.

Qin Dai, not pleased, was about to retort when Stone Meimei suddenly interjected, "All this talk and no one saw Qiao Lao Kuan steal anything, right?"

Duan Yan was taken aback and turned to look at Stone Meimei, as did everyone else.

Stone Meimei continued, "It's possible someone else stole the Buddha and Lao Kuan tried to intervene but was killed. The thief's knowledge of the terrain and the ability to navigate the traps in the forbidden grounds suggest an insider. And their high skill level, but unknown to Lao Kuan, explains why he was caught off guard."

Duan Yan stared at Stone Meimei in astonishment. Zan Yu and Hongye exchanged glances, thinking that Stone Meimei was really standing up for Baishi and not letting him be bullied.

Baishi sipped his drink quietly, his face expressionless, but a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.

Qin Dai murmured to himself, “Ah, this girl is quite capable.”

Duan Yan looked at Stone Meimei, who had just disrupted his plans and now seemed to be defending Baishi. He asked, “Who might you be, young lady? Are you also privy to this matter?”

Stone Meimei shook her head and replied, “I am simply speaking based on the facts at hand.”

“Hmph,” snorted Miss Yue, disdainfully. “Outsiders should keep their opinions to themselves.”

Stone Meimei frowned, but then Qin Dai chuckled and said, “Well, she’s not exactly an outsider, is she?” He turned to Baishi with an inquiring look.

Blushing, Stone Meimei watched as Baishi gently set down his cup and nodded, uttering a single sound of agreement, “Hmm.”