CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 162: STAYING OVERNIGHT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

"My name is Yan Fu. What should I call you two?" The middle-aged man took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and offered one to Lu Zechuan, who politely declined.

Since being with Xia Mian, Lu Zechuan hadn’t smoked in a long time, almost forgetting he ever did.

"My surname is Lu, and hers is Xia," Lu Zechuan said simply, without directly giving their names.

Yan Fu didn’t mind, silently smoking while waiting for his wife to prepare the room for the guests.

Xia Mian discreetly observed everything in the room.

The room’s furnishings were quite aged, with much of the furniture being old items.

On the wall above the bed, there was a wedding photo of two people. The photo seemed to have low resolution, but the couple gazed at each other affectionately, a classic handsome man and beautiful woman pair.

Xia Mian’s gaze landed on the wedding photo. The mysterious child that had entered with them was now perched on the photo, blinking its dark eyes and examining it closely.

Xia Mian glanced at it, her hand forming a fist to cover her mouth as she gently coughed.

The child wasn’t foolish. It glanced back at Xia Mian briefly, but soon turned to look at the wedding photo again.

Xia Mian noticed that the child’s facial features had some resemblance to Yan Fu.

Thinking this, Xia Mian casually asked, "Brother and Sister-in-law Yan seem quite mature, how many children do you have?"

As Xia Mian’s question hung in the air, Yan Fu paused in the middle of a puff, but shortly forced a smile, "Had one..."

"Had one," implying so much in those words.

Xia Mian’s gaze fell on the little ghost, deep in thought.

Yan Fu, after saying just that, showed no intention of continuing the conversation, and kept smoking silently.

The room felt oppressive, and Xia Mian refrained from asking more.

She just looked thoughtfully at the little ghost on the wedding photo.

The little ghost was almost obsessive, staring at the woman in the photo. It even leaned in to kiss her, reluctant to pull away.

"We country folks don’t have it as good as you city people. Make do with what we got," Yan Fu said with a thick yet honest smile.

"Not at all, thanks for having us, Brother Yan!" Lu Zechuan smiled back at Yan Fu, carrying himself without the airs of a wealthy young master in front of the middle-aged man.

As they spoke, the woman returned.

She nodded slightly to Lu Zechuan and Xia Mian, "The rooms are ready. Please follow me!"

Xia Mian and Lu Zechuan rose to leave.

Before leaving, Xia Mian turned her head to look at the little ghost on the wedding photo.

Perhaps Xia Mian’s warning look was too obvious, for though the little ghost was very reluctant, it still silently followed after Xia Mian and Lu Zechuan out the door.

"You two don’t look very old. Your parents probably don’t know about this, do they?" The woman said as she led the way, "I’ve prepared two rooms, one for each of you, to sleep separately. Don’t want anything inappropriate happening here, and your parents coming after me."

Her words were blunt, making Lu Zechuan narrow his eyes slightly.

Xia Mian, on the other hand, remained calm and smiled, "Sister, we’re both adults!"

The woman chuckled softly without turning, "Girl, it’s not that I’m old-fashioned. A little self-respect does no harm to a young lady."

Xia Mian didn’t reply.

Since she had said so, could Xia Mian still request to share a room with Lu Zechuan?

However, even if they were in separate rooms, they weren’t far apart, which somewhat reassured Xia Mian.

In a strange place, especially one that felt eerie, she didn’t really want to be separated from Lu Zechuan.

"It’s fine. I’m just next door. Call me if you need anything, I’ll be right over." Lu Zechuan gently rubbed Xia Mian’s head, his tone indulgent.

Xia Mian softly hummed a response, feeling something off, as if it shouldn’t be this way.

"Come to my room." Lu Zechuan looked up at the absent-minded little entity, "Don’t disturb her anymore!"

The little thing blinked in confusion, and in the next moment, Lu Zechuan shoved it inside.

Xia Mian entered her own room.

Despite being a farmhouse, the hosts kept it very clean, the room neatly organized, showcasing the hostess’s competence.

Even the bed’s quilts were clean, tidy, and soft.

As Xia Mian lay on the bed, listening to the gentle outside breeze through the window, that prior strange feeling in her heart began to fade.

Perhaps she was genuinely exhausted from the day’s events, so Xia Mian slowly closed her eyes.

An hour later, the Yan couple, who should be in dreamland, got out of bed.

They sat up, gazing blankly ahead without focus.

Within three seconds, their bodies became animated, swiftly exiting the room.

A voice repeated in their minds, "Bring him to me! Bring him to me!"

They had viewed ’his’ portrait countless times before.

Tonight, that ’he’ was staying at their home.

Silently, they left the room, turning left to the side room.

The side room had three rooms, two prepared as guest rooms.

Now, they stopped before one guest room.

Yan Fu reached for a key to unlock the door.

Just as the key turned slightly in the lock, Lu Zechuan’s cold voice came from the room, "Who is it?"

Yan Fu didn’t pause, swiftly turning the key. Before Lu Zechuan could lock the door, he successfully opened it.

Yan Fu pushed the door open, the woman followed.

Once inside, the woman quickly locked the door.

Both faced Lu Zechuan, their prior dull eyes turning heated and excited, like famished dogs eyeing a bone...

"Come with us!" Yan Fu, in a daze, stared intently at Lu Zechuan.

Lu Zechuan slightly narrowed his eyes, instantly realizing something was off with them.

But whether it had been since they entered with Xia Mian or after settling down was unknown.

"Where are you taking me?" Lu Zechuan raised an eyebrow, attempting to coax them rather than act immediately.

Yan Fu appeared confused for a moment, but his eyes soon cleared up, "To see the Master!"

The Master?

Lu Zechuan’s dark eyes narrowed. Ever since Gu Xiang’s death, he hadn’t seen those so-called "followers", nor had he heard anyone say the word "Master."