Stepping through the doorway felt like crossing an unseen bubble film.

  Once through, the once-obscured interior opened up to Bubai’s vision.

  Bubai immediately recognized this rather luxurious hall from the memories of his twin maids.

  But unlike in those dream-fished memories, all the fog cleared away, leaving clarity and much more details in the background.

  Candle-Enclosed Lamps. Vases. Water-themed paintings. Indoor bonsai. Light-colored curtains...

  All in all, a very balanced orientation incorporating both light and dark elements.

  Walking forward, Bubai passed through the two rows of mahogany guest chairs facing each other, interspersed with polished tea tables holding incense burners.

  The journey wasn’t long. The end was the pair of seats at the head of the hall.

  Here, the two elders sat, both in black.

  On the left was Mo Badao, carrying a sect medallion as imposing as the embroidered dragon coiling along his robe.

  To the right was the old geezer Ma Pei, dressed rather plainly in comparison.

  One was calmly sipping tea. The other gnawing on a shriveled jujube fruit.

  A rather casual scene, but the atmosphere…

  Well, the once arrogant peacock kneeling and burying her head like an ostrich says it all.

  Not daring to give the elders any excuse to find fault, Bubai hurried up to kneel down and bowed low in a carefully rehearsed display of humility.

  “Junior Mo Bubai pays his respects to Elder Ma... Elder Mo.”

  His tone was measured, neither obsequious nor overly bold.

  This earned a side-eye from the old geezer spitting out his jujube pit.

  “Hoho, stinky brat, why so formal! You’re like a completely different person with Old Devil around.”

  Bubai cheekily blinked back. “If Elder Ma prefers junior like this, junior will—”

  “Forget it, forget it!” Ma Pei quickly waved off his offer. “Treat it like this old man didn’t say anything. Hoh… Anyways, today’s not my show... Over to you, Old Devil.”

  Mo Badao unhurriedly set his teacup down and his gaze—heavy, like the weight of a thousand unsaid things, finally fell upon the young lad.

  Immediately, Bubai felt like every part of him was being seen through!

  Still, he acted like he knew nothing and respectfully waited it out.

  The prying presence eventually withdrew.

  Acting like nothing happened, Mo Badao casually jumped right into the fray. “Hmm. You know that lazy bug?”

  Eh? Lazy bug? Bubai blinked, thrown off by the abruptness of the interview question that was out of tune from the expected script.

  Who’s that? Surely, it can’t be the silly cat since that was already an open secret. Then it must be…

  “Is Elder Mo referring to... Senior Brother Tian?”

  Getting a silent acquiescence to his guess, Bubai got a little bolder.

  “Junior won’t hide it from elders. Senior Brother Tian and I, we… can be said to be acquaintances...”

  “Not long ago, Senior Brother even generously shared his extensive and profound insights with me. Such kindness, such magnanimity! Truly, a dragon amongst men!”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  A touch of flattery never hurt, especially when it came to the outstanding descendant of others.

  But his praise only made Mo Badao scoff. “A dragon amongst men? That lazy bug? Bah!”

  “If only he’d quit playing around with those bugs of his and focus on the right path, I wouldn’t have to waste my spit every time I see him!”

  “How infuriating! The old is like this, but the young is the same! Always hanging out with those trouble-making friends of his, offending young bloods left and right...”

  “Let’s not talk about becoming dragons. I’ll be happy if those two don’t follow in their dead brother’s footsteps and bring the clan big trouble one day!”

  Bubai bowed his head further, neither refuting nor agreeing. Other family’s drama, don’t get involved!

  Don’t look at this old ghost complaining so much, but if he dared to cross the line himself… hehe.

  Unable to find any fault in the young lad’s seamless defense, Mo Badao didn’t force it. “Hmph. Quite clever. Good. We’re not here to gossip today…”

  The old devil’s eyes sharpened. “With the cleverness you’ve shown, I’m sure you know, in your heart, why you’re here?”

  Hooray! The scenario fell back within his scripts!

  Bubai immediately showed a half-stunned face.

  “Ah...? Perhaps… junior’s performance did not please the two elders? If so, please enlighten junior and junior will put forth my utmost effort to improve for the better tomorrow!”

  His little reminder earned a somewhat lackluster grumble from the old geezer Ma Pei. “Hoh, stinky brat…”

  “But now that you reminded me…” The old geezer snorted.

  “Hohoh! A few times today, this old man almost wanted to go down and spank you!”

  “Did you know your little tricks almost threw this old man’s face into the cesspits? All that struggling!”

  “If you, stinky brat, want to pretend to be a pig, do it somewhere else! This old man really doesn’t believe that’s all you have to show—”

  “Enough! Old Stallion, let’s stop wasting time.”

  “Ahem.” Old foxes knew each other’s routines too well. Ma Pei was embarrassed to push it any further.

  He simply shot Bubai that “brat, you’re on your own” look and went to rub his ring like he wasn’t there.

  Getting free reign, Mo Badao put away his smile, and hawk-like eyes nailed the young lad in place.

  “Let me ask you. What happened to the maids I sent over?”

  Bubai’s face went stiff like a puppy carrying back a bone with joy, only to hear something it shouldn’t have heard.

  It was Miss Hong—who had been so quiet up until now—who broke the silence.

  “Reporting to Elder Mo. It was Xiao Hong who discovered those twins were enslaved by the young lord of the Jia family, so I—”

  A sharp glare from Mo Badao stole her voice like a flash of thunder. “Did I ask you?”

  The temperature of the room seemed to drop, and the servant’s head dropped lower as if trying to disappear entirely into the ground.

  But what needs to be said has been said. Her partner-in-crime heard everything that needs to be heard.

  Bubai’s eyes flashed with clarity. Secret code received. All lights are green! Proceed with the script: Dawning Realization!

  “You…” The gawking Bubai looked at Miss Hong in disbelief, then switched back to Mo Badao and stammered in shock, “The twins… Elder, they were your…”

  Panic overtook his face, and he quickly slammed his head down to repeatedly kowtow while crying out.

  “It’s junior’s fault for not taking good care of the gift bestowed by Elder! A great person has great tolerance! Please give junior a chance to make amends!”

  The old ghost watched on for a bit longer, some interest finally alighting in his eyes. “Oh? And how do you plan to make amends?”

  “Junior… junior doesn’t have much assets, but—”

  Bubai lifted his gaze, showing firm conviction.

  “Junior managed to get my hands on a mid-tier doll today. If Elder fancies it, junior is willing to offer her to worship elder!”

  Mo Badao shot a disinterested glance at the young lad’s pouch. “Keep it. I’ve no use for some broken toys.”

  Bubai’s face fell as if the sky was falling. “Then—then—”

  Suddenly, like he just thought of something, Bubai grabbed the rusty ring stringed around his neck…

  Bubai bit his lips till they bled, his face full of struggle like someone caught between a rock and a hard place.

  But he still reluctantly took off the accessory and presented the ring with both hands.

  “This is an heirloom passed down through junior’s family for generations. There’s nothing special about it, but it’s the most valuable thing in junior’s heart...”

  “If Elder doesn’t mind its mundane nature, please… accept this sincerity from junior.”

  An unseen force lifted the ring from his palms and carried it over to the elder.

  Pinching it between his fingers, Mo Badao turned the rusty ring a few times, then shot a glance at the old geezer next door.

  Ma Pei retracted his gaze from the ring and shook his head.

  Mo Badao frowned slightly. His shrewd eyes did another scan of the pouches on the young lad’s waist.

  The interest vanished from his eyes, replaced by indifference. “Forget it. It’s just two maids.”

  With a wave of his hand, the ring was sent back to the young lad’s hands.

  Catching the slightly bent-out-of-shape ring, Bubai visibly sighed in relief and quickly kowtowed once more. “Elder Mo, your magnanimity knows no bounds.”

  “Enough of those sugar-coated words. This matter, I won’t be nitpicky about, but...”

  Mo Badao’s face turned stone-cold. “There’s still another account to settle. I’m sure you, lad, should be able to guess by now?”

  Bubai’s grateful face was replaced by solemness and he bowed deeply with a cupped fist.

  “Forgive junior for not being able to guess elder’s intentions. Elder, please enlighten junior where he has misstepped.”

  Mo Badao drummed his finger on the tea table, quietly staring at the young lad who was still acting dumb.

  But his patience has run thin and he stopped beating around the bush.

  “Three nights ago, the life lamp of a disciple of mine went out. You don’t need me to tell you who killed my precious disciple, do you?”