TSFLIP Chapter 805

Nothing that happened in Tong County ever escaped the notice of Linglong Manor — or more precisely, of its master.

Shufeng knew everything that went on, yet he never interfered. The only matters he ever cared about — the only person, in fact — was the young lady of the Xia family.

But this time, he was going to make an exception.

Shu Qiu soon returned with a group of constables from the magistrate’s office. What surprised him was that Shufeng was still there. The man stood calmly at the doorway, holding the sleeping young lady in his arms. The warmth in his eyes a moment ago had turned to a piercing chill the instant he saw Shu Qiu and his men, though a faint smile still lingered on his lips.

A shiver crept down Shu Qiu’s back. Forcing himself to move, he approached with an awkward grin. “Ah, Miss Xia—what happened to her? Is she asleep? She’s not hurt, is she? I was so worried that I brought extra men with me, just in case.”

“Fengguang is fine,” Shufeng replied with a gentle, cultured smile. To outsiders, that smile was like a spring breeze. But to Shu Qiu… it felt like staring into the face of a smiling executioner.

Glancing around nervously, Shu Qiu chuckled weakly. “Well, that’s good, that’s good. His Majesty always says I act too rashly. Luckily, Miss Xia wasn’t injured this time—otherwise I’d be in serious trouble.”

Shufeng’s smile deepened, his gaze darkening like a spreading mist. Already inscrutable, he now seemed even more unfathomable, radiating an oppressive aura that made it hard to breathe. “You were only doing your duty, my lord. There’s no fault in that.”

The pressure was so intense that even Shu Qiu’s forced smile faltered.

“M-My lord,” Shufeng said evenly, “there are… certain things inside that secret chamber that are rather unusual. Don’t you think your men should take a look?”

“Go!” Shu Qiu barked immediately, waving his hand. “What are you standing around for? Move!”

“Yes, sir!” The constables hurried inside.

Shu Qiu remained outside, enduring Shufeng’s calm, unreadable gaze. Just when he thought his heart might stop altogether, his men returned—bringing with them a report that made his stomach sink.

The case of the missing children, which had troubled him for days, was finally solved. All the missing children had been found.
Not one of them is alive.

A heavy silence settled over him. He looked toward Shufeng, who stood quietly where he was, gently stroking the back of the girl in his arms to help her sleep more peacefully. Anyone who saw the scene would have thought this white-haired man in white robes was kind and full of compassion.

But Shu Qiu knew better.

Beneath that serene surface, Shufeng was utterly cold. Even if more children’s bodies were laid before him, at most he would sigh with feigned pity — but inside, he wouldn’t feel a thing.

How foolish, Shu Qiu thought bitterly, that he’d ever expected to find a trace of human warmth in that man.

He tore his gaze away and turned to one of his subordinates. “Go to the Xia estate and bring back Liu’s son, Wuqi.”

“Wuqi…”

The name stirred the girl awake. Fengguang blinked groggily, rubbing her eyes. “What about him?” she murmured.

Shu Qiu began, “You don’t remember? In his house, the secret room—”

“It’s nothing,” Shufeng interrupted smoothly. He brushed his hand gently over Fengguang’s hair and said softly, “We’re just calling him in for a few questions, that’s all.”

As his gaze flicked toward Shu Qiu, a chill ran down the magistrate’s spine.

It was a warning — a silent one — telling him not to let her know what horrors lay beneath that floor.