"I… I don't know what you're talking about," the man shouted. "I'm just a tourist! I was only passing by this house, and your dog jumped me for no reason!"
He got louder the more he talked, as if volume could make him innocent.
"I haven't even complained yet, and you're accusing me? Pay me Mora, or I'll report this to the Ministry of Civil Affairs! I heard Ryou-sama from the Ministry is ruthless when he works. Don't bring trouble on yourself!"
Ryou's expression turned strange.
Using Ryou to threaten Ryou.
That was new.
He stepped forward and slapped the man across the face.
The blow left the man seeing stars.
Before Ryou could ask anything else, the man shook his head, then screamed toward the outside.
"Murder! Help! He's killing me!"
Ryou stared at him for a moment, almost impressed by how stupid the choice was.
Then he slapped him again.
"Is your brain broken?" Ryou asked. "This is someone's backyard. The street isn't even close. You could scream until your throat gives out and no one would hear you."
He glanced toward the empty morning path.
"And who exactly do you think is walking around at this hour?"
The man's face twisted. "You… you're going too far!"
Ryou picked him up and dropped him in front of Taroumaru.
"I'll give you one chance," he said. "Tell me everything."
Taroumaru bared his teeth at just the right time.
Ryou continued, "He held back earlier. If you keep lying, I'll let him decide how much he feels like biting."
Taroumaru barked.
The man's face went white.
He scrambled backward, trembling like Taroumaru was a ghost crawling out of Wuwang Hill. But the moment Taroumaru took a few steps closer, the man folded.
"I'll talk! I'll talk! Don't let the dog bite me, please!"
"Taroumaru," Ryou called.
Taroumaru immediately trotted to the side and sat down obediently.
Ryou crouched in front of the man. "Talk."
The man swallowed, eyes still darting toward Taroumaru.
"S-someone hired me to watch this family," he said. "That's all. I was only supposed to keep an eye on them. If anything strange happened, I had to report back."
"And?"
"That's it! I don't know anything else!" He shook his head hard. "The old man's death has nothing to do with me. He was already dead when I came here!"
"You really don't know who hired you?" Ryou asked.
"I don't. I swear I don't."
Ryou watched him for a while.
The fear looked real. The man might have been a hired lookout, but he clearly was not the one behind everything.
Ryou stood. "Chongyun, take him to the Ministry of Civil Affairs later. Explain the situation to Zhongli. He'll know how to handle him."
"Yes."
Chongyun grabbed the man and dragged him away.
The Wang family's eldest son stepped forward, still shaken.
"Thank you. If you hadn't helped us, my mother and I might both be dead. I don't even know how to repay you."
"It's fine." Ryou waved it off. "If anything else feels wrong, come to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and find me. Keqing is my wife, so you can go to her too."
He glanced at the courtyard.
"We'll look into whoever targeted you."
The eldest son bowed again and again.
"Thank you, Ryou-sama. Keqing-sama, thank you too."
Ryou brought everyone back to the front hall.
The food still sat near the coffin, cold and untouched by any visible person.
Ryou looked at Hu Tao. "This is what you wanted me to see?"
Hu Tao nodded.
"Exactly. See that food? The Wang family prepared it last night, but no one here ate it. No guests came either."
The eldest son's face went pale again.
"Director Hu, please help us. Last night, my mother and I were terrified."
He had seen it himself.
The food had lifted on its own, as if invisible hands were eating. By the time it stopped, the dishes looked as though someone had really sat there and taken a meal.
That was why he had rushed to call Hu Tao back.
Now that she had said it aloud, the fear came right back.
Hu Tao raised two fingers.
"Double the payment, and I'll handle it."
"Yes. Of course." The eldest son looked around the hall, and a sudden bang from somewhere nearby made him flinch. "Please, I'll trouble you."
"No problem."
Hu Tao smiled, then winked at Ryou.
Ryou shook his head and led Keqing and the others out.
Once they had walked far enough from the Wang family's house, Keqing looked at him.
"You and Hu Tao planned that, didn't you?"
Ryou smiled. "Hu Tao may act carefree, but she's very capable. Dealing with ghosts is her specialty."
"I know that."
"Then you should've noticed it too. The cold feeling from before is gone."
"Because Taroumaru dug up those dirty things?"
"That's part of it," Ryou said. "But even after those objects are destroyed, traces can remain. Hu Tao handling the rest is the cleanest way to solve it."
Then he slipped an arm around Keqing and added casually, "Besides, Hu Tao needs Mora too. She has to save for her wedding fund."
Keqing looked at him at once.
Ryou's expression was completely natural, like he had only said it in passing.
Keqing studied him for a moment, then relaxed a little.
He and Hu Tao were close, but not like Tabibito. At least Hu Tao did not keep throwing herself into every gap between them.
Keqing hugged his waist.
It was all Ryou's fault for being too good.
All these vixens kept running over one after another. Tabibito was the worst of them. She had followed them shamelessly for two whole days and still had no plans to leave.
"Keqing," Tabibito snapped, "why are you glaring at me?"
She had not even said anything this time.
That was too much.
"I saw what I saw," Keqing said. "Do you think I'd glare at you for no reason?"
Tabibito clenched her fists. "When we get back to Liyue Harbor, I'm challenging you."
"Challenge nothing," Ryou cut in. "When we get back, you're both getting punished."
He gave Keqing a firm smack from behind.
Keqing jumped. "Why only me?"
Ryou pulled Tabibito over too and gave her the same treatment.
"If you keep arguing, I'll deal with both of you."
"That's…" Tabibito's face flushed. "Keqing glared first. Why am I getting punished too? I—"
Her words stopped.
Ryou's hand had not moved away.
Tabibito lowered her head and suddenly became very quiet.
Keqing was not much better. She stood there flushed and stiff, all her earlier temper gone.
Seeing them finally settle down, Ryou said, "Behave. We're still in Qingce Village."
"Okay..."
"Okay..."
Both of them answered with their heads lowered.
Ryou looked between them. "Then remember it."
He leaned over and kissed Keqing on the cheek. Her face was so warm he could feel the heat from it.
Then he turned toward Tabibito.
Keqing was still looking down, so if he was careful, he could sneak one kiss and keep things balanced.
A man had to be fair, after all.
But before he could kiss her, Tabibito suddenly lifted her head and kissed him first.
Ryou froze.
Then he smacked her again.
"Still messing around? The Wang family's eldest son is coming."
He had noticed the man rushing out after them, probably with something to say.
The eldest son stopped dead the moment he saw Ryou with one arm around Keqing and the other around Tabibito.
Judging by the look on his face, he had definitely seen the kiss.
He stood there, eyes wide, completely speechless.
Ryou glanced at him once, then calmly walked away with both women still in his arms.
The man remained frozen for a long time. Even when Ryou reached the steps, he was still standing there like his soul had left his body.
Ryou did not bother explaining.
After a while, he let go of Keqing and Tabibito and headed down toward Master Lu's house.
Master Lu was sitting outside, drinking tea and looking perfectly at ease. When he saw the group approach, he set down his cup and came over with a smile.
Before Ryou could speak, Master Lu said, "Keqing-san, Tabibito, what brings you here?"
"Master Lu," Keqing said, "we need a batch of good wood, so we came to you."
"Wood? Of course I have wood. Even if I didn't, I'd find a way for Keqing-san." Master Lu chuckled. "What are you planning to make?"
He gestured toward the yard behind him.
"Different wood suits different things. It isn't as simple as saying better wood always makes a better item. There's some craft to it."
Keqing looked at Ryou. "Ryou?"
Master Lu blinked.
He looked from Keqing to Ryou, then seemed to realize who Ryou was.
It made sense. Master Lu was older and did not pay much attention to outside gossip. He had probably heard that Keqing was married, but this was likely his first time seeing Ryou in person.
Ryou nodded to him.
"I have high requirements for the wood. The better the quality, the better. I also need quite a lot."
He paused, then added, "If you have a warehouse, just take me there. I know how much I need. I won't short you on Mora. Keqing and I both work at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, so if there's any problem, you can find me easily."
Master Lu laughed.
"I'm not worried about you owing Mora. If you already know what you need, follow me."
He looked at Ryou and Keqing again, but did not pry.
Ryou followed him to the warehouse.
Master Lu's place had workers processing timber, and logs were stacked all around the area. As they passed, several workers greeted him.
The warehouses were built under a stretch of forest, with paths running along both sides. Near the middle stood four storage buildings, all filled with wood.
Ryou entered and checked the stock.
In the end, he chose a large batch of high-grade timber.
The price came to seven hundred thousand Mora.
"Do you need me to arrange delivery?" Master Lu asked.
"No need," Ryou said. "I'll take it now."
He glanced across the warehouse and raised his hand.
In an instant, every piece of timber he had chosen vanished into the pocket world.
The entire warehouse emptied out in front of them.
Ryou was about to leave when he noticed Master Lu standing perfectly still.
The old man stared at the empty warehouse, frozen like his thoughts had stopped halfway through catching up.
[End of chapter]
[200 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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