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Qin Xiao nodded, "Yes, Master."

Xiao Jinyan did not know who Feng Wuyou was, and why had he wanted to investigate her in the past? Surely she could not have been a close female friend he recognized from before?

Thinking of Shen Chuwei, he immediately discarded such a possibility from his mind. If Shen Chuwei found out, would she run away on the spot?

"Then you continue to investigate matters related to me."

"Your Subordinate obeys." Qin Xiao took the order and withdrew.

After Qin Xiao left, Xiao Jinyan got up and went to the bedside and looked down at Shen Chuwei, who was still soundly asleep. He wondered how much she knew about his past.

He dared not rashly ask for fear of asking the wrong thing and causing unnecessary misunderstandings. What would be the right course of action?

After watching for a long time, he began to undress and then got into bed.

He found that the longer he stayed with Shen Chuwei, the more blurred his memories of Lin Xian became, his mind emptier and somewhat chaotic.

He often had flashes of images during painful headaches but could never grasp them. Could it be because he had been struck on a sleep acupoint?

Sometimes, being with Shen Chuwei was so comfortable, too comfortable to force himself to think about certain things—as though his subconscious was reluctant to ponder them.

As soon as Wu Tan could leave, he walked to the lakeside where a boat was docked. When he arrived, someone immediately came out to greet him.

Wu Tan stepped onto the boat, and it slowly pulled away from the shore.

Inside the boat, only a single oil lamp was lit, its dim light barely revealing people’s faces.

Wu Tan entered and sat down inside the boat, remaining there until it docked on a small island.

*

During these days of rest, Shen Chuwei spent most of the time sleeping. She would go out at night to stroll and eat delicious food, as it was too hot during the day and she was too lazy to go out.

Xiao Jinyan, having nothing particular to do, would go out for walks. When he came back to find her still asleep, he would take out a wrapped packet from his embrace and slowly open it, wafting the scent inside towards her.

Shen Chuwei, originally fast asleep, twitched her nose twice and then slowly opened her eyes to see the wrapped packet in Xiao Jinyan’s hands. She took a whiff, "That smells wonderful."

Xiao Jinyan had now gotten the hang of Shen Chuwei; with delicious food, he could almost always wake her up and have her cravings drive away her drowsiness.

"Wash up first, it’s still hot."

"Okay," Shen Chuwei stretched lazily, feeling a bit weak in her limbs. If not for the promise of delicious food before her, she might have slept for another hour.

After freshening up, Shen Chuwei, not even bothering to change clothes, ran over and took the wrapped packet from Xiao Jinyan’s hands. She discovered it contained pancakes, probably with a meat filling, as they smelled too enticing.

Xiao Jinyan saw her eating with a satisfied face and found that she was really easy to take care of and easily contented.

After two days of investigation without any results, Qin Xiao left Xiao Jinyan feeling somewhat puzzled. As a person from Nanzhao Country, how could there not be the slightest clue?

Suddenly, Qin Xiao said, "Master, you were previously a hostage in Nanzhao Country. Could it have something to do with the Imperial Palace? Shall your Subordinate make a trip to the Imperial Palace to take a look?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "Rashly entering the Imperial Palace is unwise. Without being absolutely certain, we should not act recklessly."

Qin Xiao bowed his head, "Your Subordinate was rash."

Xiao Jinyan picked up a teacup and sipped from it, then the thought of Wu Tan suddenly crossed his mind. As a man from Nanzhao Country, could he know something?

With that thought, he stood up and went straight out the door.

Wu Tan’s Guest Room was nearby, just a short walk away. He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

The door was opened from the inside; Wu Tan saw Xiao Jinyan and asked, "Master Xiao, what brings you here?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "There’s something I would like to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Wu Tan retreated two steps, "Then please come in."

"Okay?" Xiao Jinyan walked in and saw a scripture placed on the table, and a faint scent of Sandalwood lingered in the room.

After letting him in, Wu Tan closed the door.

Wu Tan poured Xiao Jinyan a cup of tea at the table, "Please take a seat, Master Xiao."

Xiao Jinyan sat down, withdrawing his gaze from his surroundings.

Wu Tan poured himself a cup of tea too, then set the teapot down.

Xiao Jinyan looked up at Wu Tan; he always had this indifferent and pure demeanor—nothing seemed to disturb him, nor was there anything that appeared to alter his expression.

Considering that he had come with a question in mind, Xiao Jinyan didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, "Shen Chuwei told me that you are originally from Nanzhao Country. Are you a true native of Nanzhao Country?"

Wu Tan nodded, "Yes, does Master Xiao find that strange?"

Xiao Jinyan continued, "If you are indeed a true native of Nanzhao Country, then why did you choose to become a monk in Daxia? And when did you decide to become a monk?"

Wu Tan replied indifferently, "The master says the Buddha redeems those with fate, and becoming a monk is also fate-led. Why does Master Xiao ask about the private affairs of this monk?"

Xiao Jinyan was forthright, "I just want to know how well you understand Nanzhao Country."

Wu Tan asked, "What do you wish to ask this monk, Master Xiao?"

Xiao Jinyan looked directly at Wu Tan, not mincing words, "Do you know Feng Wuyou?"

Wu Tan replied with a question, "Have you found this person in Nanzhao Country?"

Xiao Jinyan shook his head, "No, I’ve been searching for a long time without finding this person."

Wu Tan said, "Since you haven’t found her, why come to ask this monk?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "It’s precisely because I haven’t found her that I thought of asking you. As a native of Nanzhao Country, you should know about this person, right?"

Wu Tan was silent for a good while.

At that moment, a knocking sound came from the door.

"I will get the door," Wu Tan stood up and went to the door, where he saw the inn’s waiter bringing two bowls of Plain Congee and two small dishes. After receiving them, he closed the door again.

Wu Tan came back and placed the midday meal on the table, then sat down.

Looking up, he noticed Xiao Jinyan was still watching him and spoke indifferently, "What difference does it make whether I know or not?"

Xiao Jinyan pressed further, "I want to know who Feng Wuyou is and what relation she had with me before?"

Wu Tan countered, "Do you think that’s important?"

Xiao Jinyan, as though realizing something, exclaimed in surprise, "You know Feng Wuyou, don’t you?"