Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

The manor had already awakened in the early morning.

Maids carried trays through the corridors, gardeners carried shovels toward the flowerbeds, and several young guards were doing morning exercises in the courtyard, their movements neat and powerful.

As Xilun passed by them, several guards turned their gazes toward them simultaneously.

Someone recognized him—the outsider who caused a commotion in the cafeteria last night.

There was a more complex meaning in his gaze.

It wasn't hostility, or at least not entirely.

More than anything, there was curiosity, and a cautious sense of distance.

The news of last night has obviously spread.

In a secluded manor, news travels faster than at the docks in the North District.

Xilun didn't care about any of that.

He walked through the courtyard and up the stone steps leading to the south wing.

Just then, a few people were standing at the fork in the road ahead.

Five young men, all dressed in the Link family’s dark blue uniforms, with stag antler emblems embroidered on their chests.

One of them stood at the very front, arms crossed in front of his chest, blocking the middle of the road like a wall.

Lovi Garin.

Four guards stood behind him, all young-faced and with tense expressions, as if they were there to make a show of force.

The morning light shone from behind Rowe, casting a shadow on his face and making his dark brown eyes look even more somber.

"You're Xilun?"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried a deliberately suppressed weight.

Xilun stopped in his tracks.

He glanced at Luo Wei, then at the four people behind him.

The echo chamber, operating at low power, clearly captured the breathing rate and heartbeat rhythm of each person—Love's heartbeat was slightly faster, carrying a certain suppressed excitement; the four guards' heartbeats were even faster, indicating tension.

They were afraid.

But Loewe wasn't afraid.

Or rather, his emotions were stronger than fear—a mixture of jealousy and anger, like a fire trapped in a sealed jar, ready to explode at any moment.

"Yes," Xilun replied.

Simple, plain, without any superfluous words.

Luo Wei's brow twitched slightly.

He was clearly not used to this kind of reaction.

Within the Link family, he is the vice-captain of the Martial Guard, a second-tier Extraordinary, and a standout among his peers.

Even collateral relatives of the family had to address him politely as "Mr. Garin".

But the way this person looked at him was as if he were looking at a tree on the side of the road.

There was no awe, no tension, and not even interest.

"A second-tier Extraordinary," Luo Wei said slowly, "an outsider, freely moving about within the manor's inner areas, without anyone leading or supervising him... Don't you think that's a bit against the rules?"

He took a step forward.

A slight outward release of one's aura—this is a common probing tactic among second-tier extraordinary individuals, using their own extraordinary aura to pressure the other party and observe their reaction.

Faced with this level of pressure, a first-tier extraordinary individual would typically experience brief breathing disturbances or pupil constriction.

But Siren remained motionless.

He didn't even blink.

It wasn't that it was putting on a brave face; it was that it was truly unresponsive—like a drop of water falling into the ocean, not even causing a ripple.

Luo Wei's expression froze for a moment.

The four guards behind him looked at each other in bewilderment.

"I'm not very familiar with the Link family's rules," Siren said, his voice flat, "but I have the necessary credentials."

"What credentials?" Lowe sneered. "Young Master David's verbal instructions? His instructions don't govern access within the manor—this is the core area of ​​the Link family, and only those with warrants and direct bloodlines can freely enter and exit."

"you're right."

Xilun reached out his hand.

He took the token out of his pocket.

Elder's Decree.

Cast in brass, the front is engraved with the Link family's antler emblem, and the back is engraved with an ancient script.

The token was small, fitting perfectly in the palm of your hand.

But the moment it appeared in the morning light, the expressions of the four guards behind Rowe changed almost simultaneously.

The young guard closest to Luo Wei was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened and his lips parted slightly, as if he had choked on something.

"Elder... Elder's Decree?"

His voice trembled.

It wasn't an act.

Everyone who grew up in the manor knows perfectly well what the Elder's Decree represents within the Link family.

It was as if an elder had personally visited.

The holder of this token has the same authority as the family elder. They can enter and exit any area, mobilize any resources, and no one may obstruct them.

This token is usually given personally by the patriarch or the council of elders to the most trusted person on extremely important occasions.

"No...it's impossible."

Luo Wei's expression changed.

He stared intently at the token in Xilun's hand, his condescending gaze instantly replaced by a more complex emotion.

Shock!

incredible.

There was also a hint of panic that he was unwilling to admit.

"This couldn't possibly be in your possession," his voice hardened. "Where did you get it from?"

"David gave it to me." Celen waved the token in front of him, then put it back in his pocket, his tone as indifferent as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.

He said the manor had strict rules and he was worried that it would be inconvenient for me to move around, so he gave me this.

After saying that, he walked past Luo Wei and continued walking forward.

This time, no one dared to stop him.

The four young guards quickly made way for each other, their movements so swift it was as if an invisible hand had pushed them aside.

The way they looked at Luo Wei changed.

It wasn't doubt, nor mockery, but a cautious "Do you still want to continue?"

Luo Wei stood there, his fists clenched tightly.

My fingernails dug into the flesh of my palm, causing a sharp pain.

Elder's Decree.

David actually gave this outsider an elder's token.

What does this mean?

This means that this person named Xilun has a much higher level of authority within the Link family than he, Luo Wei Garin.

As the deputy captain of the armed guard, he didn't even have the right to speak in front of this token.

"Vice-captain..."

One of the guards hesitated before speaking.

"Go back," Luo Wei squeezed out through gritted teeth.

He turned around and strode towards the training field.

His back was as stiff as a piece of iron.

The four guards behind him exchanged a glance and hurriedly followed.

On the gravel path, only a few oak leaves, blown down by the morning breeze, rolled silently on the ground.

-

When Xilun entered the cafeteria, there were far fewer people than the night before.

There were only a dozen or so people in the canteen in the early morning, mostly guards on night duty and a few early-rising maids.

He picked up his tray as usual and sat down in the corner.

Today's breakfast consists of fried eggs, grilled sausages, a bowl of oatmeal, and two slices of toast.

There was also a small dish of jam—strawberry flavored.

This treatment is far better than the food at the Brotherhood mansion in the North District.

Xilun ate slowly, but very attentively.

Chew each bite thoroughly before swallowing.

This is a habit formed from surviving in harsh environments for a long time—you never know when the next meal will be, so you have to eat carefully at every meal.

Halfway through the meal, his gaze suddenly paused slightly.

In the corner of the cafeteria, at the small table by the window, sat a person.

To be precise, she was a petite girl.

She kept her head down, focusing intently on eating the food in front of her.

The movements are very gentle, like a small animal—biting in small bites, chewing carefully, and then swallowing quietly.

On the plate in front of me were several things: fried eggs, sausages, toast, a small dish of dried pickled fish, a glass of milk, and a bowl of fruit salad.

The quantity is even greater than that of Xilun.

Susie!

Xilun recognized her.

Her skin was very white, unnaturally white—not the kind of fair skin that aristocratic ladies maintain, but a pale white that lacks sunlight, like porcelain stored in a cellar.

Her hair was light brown, a little frizzy, and casually draped over her shoulders.

He was very small; when he sat in the chair, his toes barely touched the ground.

She was wearing a pale yellow dress that didn't fit her quite well; the neckline was a bit loose, revealing a slender collarbone.

A girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old was sitting quietly in the corner eating her breakfast.

No one was there to keep me company, and no one spoke to me.

People at the surrounding tables occasionally glanced at her, but quickly looked away, as if they were already used to it.

Xilun carried the tray over.

Susie was munching on a sausage when she heard footsteps and looked up.

Her eyes were pale gray, large, and reflected the light streaming in from the window, giving them a spacious, unfocused feel—as if she were looking at you, but at the same time looking at somewhere far, far away behind you.

She was stunned.

Then he lowered his head and continued eating the sausage.

Xilun sat down opposite her.

Susie didn't say anything.

Xilun remained silent.

The two ate quietly, each in their own space, the only sound in the cafeteria being the soft clinking of utensils against plates.

After a while, Susie swallowed the sausage in her mouth, looked up at him, and then looked up at him.

"You're the one who came yesterday."

Her voice was soft, with a vague languor, as if she had just woken up and wasn't fully awake yet.

"Um."

"What's your name?"

"Silon".

"oh."

She lowered her head again, forked a piece of fried egg, and put it in her mouth.

She chewed a few times, then looked up at him again.

"Are you here to see your father for medical treatment?"

"Yes."

With her mouth full of fried egg, Susie mumbled, "Can it be cured?"

"It's not certain yet," Siren replied truthfully. "We need to observe for a few days."

"oh."

Her expression didn't change much.

It wasn't indifference, nor was it apathy—it was a kind of indescribable dullness, like looking at the outside world through a thick pane of glass.

Sirendo glanced at her twice.

This reaction is not quite right.

Logically speaking, when one's father is seriously ill and bedridden, and someone comes specifically to treat him, a normal person should at least show some kind of tension or anticipation.

But Susie didn't.

She ate quietly, glancing at him occasionally with her empty eyes, then continuing to look down.

A hint of doubt crept into Xilun's mind.

He calmly withdrew his gaze and continued eating his breakfast.

The two of them silently finished what was on their plates.

After finishing her meal, Susie carefully wiped her mouth with a napkin and then used her fingers to pick up and eat the last bit of bread crumbs on the plate.

Then she picked up the plate, stood up, took a few steps, and turned back.

"When are you leaving?"

Xilun was taking the last bite of his oatmeal when he heard this and paused slightly.

"Probably in a few days," he put down his bowl, "when your father's condition has stabilized."

Susie nodded, then walked away with her head down.

Xilun watched her small, thin figure disappear at the cafeteria entrance.

A strange girl.

He thought about it and decided to put the matter aside for the time being.

-

After finishing breakfast, Xilun didn't rush back.

He planned to first check on Chief Link's condition.

The results of last night's echo chamber exploration kept replaying in his mind—the black parasite lurking deep in his heart was unusually stable in form, unlike ordinary active contaminants which are aggressive and spreadable.

It seems more like it was deliberately implanted.

If this judgment is correct, it means that Chief Link's illness was not an accident, but rather caused by human intervention.

Who has the motive?

Who has the ability?

These questions lined up in Xiren's mind, but he didn't intend to delve into them for the time being.

He wasn't a detective; he was called in to treat a patient.

Finding out the conspiracy is the Link family's business; he only cares about whether and how to cure it.

As he walked through the courtyard, several maids bowed to him.

It's clear that news of the Elder's Token has already spread—the scene of him showing off the token in the early morning will probably be known throughout the entire manor in less than half a day.

Xilun walked along the east wing corridor to the door of the patriarch's bedroom.

Two guards stood watch outside the door. When they saw Xilun, they first exchanged a wary glance, and then one of them recognized him.

"Sir, you were invited by Young Master David..."

"I've come to check on the chieftain's condition," said Xilun.

The guard hesitated for a moment, "The young master instructed that, apart from him and his wife, everyone else..."

Xilun took out the Elder's Token from his pocket and showed it to him.

The guard's words came to an abrupt halt.

"Please come in."

He pushed open the bedroom door.

The room remained dimly lit, with only a finger-width gap left in the heavy curtains. A strong herbal scent permeated the air, mixed with a strange, unpleasant, slightly fishy smell.

Chief Link lay motionless on the bed.

Just like last night—skin and bones, sallow complexion, eyes tightly closed, breathing so weak it was almost imperceptible.

Xilun stood in front of the bed and began to resonate.

The spiritual energy, like an invisible probe, slowly penetrated into the old man's body.

He sensed once again the black parasite lurking deep within his heart—quiet, reserved, like a seed nestled at the intersection of the heart and blood vessels, slowly absorbing the host's life force.

There was no significant change compared to last night.

but--

Xilun's brows furrowed slightly.

wrong.

Something's not right.

He expanded his perception from the heart to the entire vascular network, then to the internal organs, to the bone marrow, and to the ends of every meridian.

Then he noticed something extremely faint.

In the elderly man's stomach—more precisely, in the mucous membrane of the stomach wall—there was a very thin, almost invisible layer of residue.

That thing is not part of the parasite.

It's not ordinary drug residue either.

Its texture is closer to that of a certain... biological agent.

Xilun withdrew his senses and stood up straight.

His expression remained unchanged, but his mind was in turmoil.

Someone has tainted the food or medicine given to Chief Link.

Moreover, it wasn't a one-time event—judging from the distribution of the residue, this incorporation has been ongoing for quite some time, at least several months.

He hesitated for a moment, then remained silent.

Then he walked out of the bedroom and gently closed the door.

The guards outside the door looked at his calm and composed face and asked him nothing.