Gu Xiang Kai did not hesitate for a second. "The tower."
After dinner, the new group assignments were announced. Nan Yue was assigned to the second floor, responsible for the wall sconces in both the East and West Castles.
Bai La La was tasked with polishing the reliefs along the staircases of the West Castle.
Gu Xiang Kai went to patrol the tower, while Zhu Xi Ning remained in the flower beds.
Huo Fuyu... Huo Fuyu was reassigned to take out the trash.
Huo Fuyu grit his teeth so hard they nearly cracked, convinced that Jiang Siyan was doing this just to spite him.
Jiang Siyan looked perfectly innocent. "Yang Ming clearly discovered something but refused to speak. Wouldn't it be much more convenient if one of our own was stationed there?"
Nan Yue watched the two men bicker like children with a sense of helplessness, but she trusted Jiang Siyan. Even if he had his own little schemes, he always prioritized the bigger picture.
For instance, the reason he provided was very convincing; Yang Ming had definitely found something.
Because...
Yang Ming did not show up for dinner that evening.
This news was another passionate contribution from Huo Fuyu, who reported that Yang Ming hadn't appeared when work ended, and the trash he was responsible for hadn't been transported out.
Of course, the consequence of providing this information was that Huo Fuyu found himself promptly assigned to the very position where someone had just gone missing.
What had happened to Yang Ming?
Nan Yue had gone to deliver trash once more in the afternoon. Yang Ming had still been there at the time, but he wore a stiff, expressionless face. Before Nan Yue could even speak, he had turned to hide behind the trash cart, clearly unwilling to talk.
Nan Yue knew that many scavengers were reluctant to share clues and refused to cooperate. This was usually because they had been burned by teammates or other scavengers in the past.
Or... their mental state had already begun to deteriorate.
Thus, Nan Yue had completely abandoned the plan to get clues from Yang Ming. She just hadn't expected him to be gone by dinner.
"Be careful."
Nan Yue couldn't help but offer a few words of caution. In her eyes, although Huo Fuyu was a bit sinister and had associated with people like He Jiang, he hadn't actively tried to harm anyone. He was more like a spider weaving a web.
He would take whatever fell into it without discrimination. He was ruthless, but not as repulsive as He Jiang.
Furthermore, they had cooperated well enough in Antswamp Village. Without Huo Fuyu, she might not have been able to escape that mission world.
Since they had crossed paths again and were working together, Nan Yue naturally categorized him as one of her own for the time being.
Huo Fuyu's gloomy expression finally softened. He put on a harmless look and promised to complete the task.
Once Huo Fuyu left, Jiang Siyan offered a casual reminder. "His reputation in the top circles isn't exactly good."
After all, given the nature of his ability, everyone was wary of him, fearing they might one day become his puppet and be sent to die in his stead.
Nan Yue was well aware, and Huo Fuyu's ability was useless against her anyway. With the pollution inside her body, no puppet threads could ever take root.
And Huo Fuyu had seen Nan Yue's power. Unless he had a death wish, he wouldn't dare strike at her other teammates.
Seeing that Nan Yue knew what she was doing, Jiang Siyan said no more.
Unexpectedly, after everyone had already retired for the night, a heavy tolling suddenly echoed from the bell tower, waking everyone up.
"Get up, everyone! The young master has returned!"
The head maid, with a face as aged and numb as a bitter nun, patrolled the rooms one by one.
Master Wen was back?
The group exchanged looks and quickly dressed, following the head maid out in a single file.
As Nan Yue left the western-style building, she noticed that the groups Zhu Xi Ning and Huo Fuyu belonged to were not qualified to meet Master Wen. They remained at their respective posts in the distance, standing like silent statues in the dark night.
Gu Xiang Kai's security group was lined up from the main gate, one man every two steps in a rigid military stance, looking like guarding soldiers.
The maids were led to the main hall. Sixty people stood in dead silence, bowing their heads. As they passed the darkwood doors of the castle, adorned with gold carvings, they saw ten members of the butler group standing straight to welcome their master's arrival.
It had to be said that even though everyone wore the same attire, Jiang Siyan was undoubtedly the most eye-catching.
Nan Yue glanced at him. Good, he was fine. It seemed that for him, switching positions was indeed within his range of authority.
Jiang Siyan was also looking at Nan Yue. Dozens of maids dressed identically walked past him in silence, but he spotted Nan Yue at first glance.
The calm, cold aura she carried was like an invisible label, easily separating her from those around her.
Jiang Siyan focused on two things at once, listening to Butler Zhao's quiet instructions about the preparations needed for the young master's late-night return while thinking about the Nan Yue who had just brushed past him.
Normally, Nan Yue dressed in light, efficient clothing, usually trousers. She had a personality that was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
But today, he realized that Nan Yue was exceptionally suited for this austere, form-fitting attire. It allowed her unique temperament to shine at its full potential.
To others, seeing Nan Yue dressed like this might inspire wariness rather than just admiration, as she looked like a dagger unsheathed under the moonlight.
But Jiang Siyan found that he liked this version of Nan Yue very much.
Or rather, ever since his conversation with He Jiu Chen that day, he had realized that no matter what side of herself she showed, Nan Yue always brought him immense surprises.
"Understood."
Jiang Siyan pulled back his wandering thoughts that had followed Nan Yue into the distance. From his expression alone, one would think he had been listening intently the entire time.
"I'll go make the arrangements now."
Master Wen was staying the night.
While making the arrangements, Jiang Siyan managed to convey this news to Nan Yue. She hesitated for only a moment before asking, "Can you arrange for me to look after Master Wen?"
A flash of gloom crossed Jiang Siyan's eyes, but his voice remained gentle. "I can, but it's a bit risky."
Master Wen was likely one of the bosses. It was only the second day, and they hadn't mastered any of the rules. Making a move to get close to him was indeed a very risky decision.
Nan Yue knew it was a gamble, but from what she could see, Master Wen didn't return to the castle often. Tonight might be one of the few opportunities they would get.
She couldn't afford to hesitate.
Jiang Siyan nodded in agreement. Their exchange happened in a mere heartbeat; to an outsider, it simply looked like the butler was giving instructions to a maid.
A newly arrived resident maid looked over with a hint of envy. This butler was exceptionally handsome. Just by standing there, one would think he was the young master if he didn't speak.
Moreover, he was always polite and gentle, appearing every bit the gentleman. Many of the new maids had taken a liking to him.
The maid didn't lower her head, keeping her eyes fixed on them. She watched as the tall, handsome butler said something with a smile to the maid with the unique aura, then turned to walk toward the door.
The maid's eyes lit up, and she prepared to flash a smile in hopes of greeting him. However, she never expected that the moment the butler turned his head, his previously gentle expression would instantly turn cold and dark.
Rate on N.U.
