Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

It is related to Chief Link.

Susie's mother was the chieftain's personal maid, responsible for his daily meals.

Susie is the patriarch's adopted daughter and lives on the manor.

if--

But if——

What unexpected thing did Susie's mother discover while cooking?

For example—someone laced up the chieftain's food.

The person who discovers it must disappear.

So she "contracted the disease" and died.

The killer then felt unsafe—the victim's daughter, though young, lived with her mother, and what if she knew something too?

So Susie also "got infected with the virus".

They were rescued, but the person became dull and dazed, wouldn't talk to anyone, and only knew how to eat.

What a perfect result.

A living person who can't say anything is safer than a corpse.

Because the body would attract an investigation.

And a living fool—who would care about her?

Xilun tapped his fingers lightly twice on the window frame.

But what if Susie isn't really stupid?

What if she's just pretending to be stupid?

Then she is the most dangerous person in this manor—

Because she may know the whole truth, but has been pretending not to know anything.

How much patience does that require?

A girl who witnessed her mother's death in childhood, nearly killed herself years later, and has lived under the murderer's roof every day since—

How did she survive?

By playing dumb.

He turned himself into a dull child who only knew how to eat.

She made everyone ignore her existence.

Xilun left the window.

He needs to confirm this hypothesis.

But not now.

He must remain in a weakened state.

The maids in the corridors, the guards, the possible hidden observers—they were all watching him.

Any unusual behavior could reach the ears of the wrong people.

Celen lay in bed for about two hours.

During this time, he used the Moon Memory Meditation Technique to restore his mental strength, while repeatedly rehearsing the treatment plan for the next few days in his mind.

He got up in the evening.

Walk up to the mirror.

A young face was reflected in the mirror—determined features, calm eyes and brows, looking no different from usual.

This doesn't work.

He adjusted his breathing rhythm, deliberately slowing down the rate of blood circulation.

The Xuan Yin breathing technique operates at low power within the body, allowing a trace of cold breath to penetrate the capillaries of the face.

A few seconds later—

The expression on my face in the mirror changed.

It became two shades lighter.

The color in her lips had faded considerably, turning into a sickly pale pink.

A faint bluish-gray tinge appeared beneath his eyes.

He looked like he was recovering from a serious illness and could collapse at any moment.

Xilen looked at himself in the mirror for a few seconds and nodded in satisfaction.

He pushed open the door and walked into the corridor.

The pace slowed down.

He occasionally touched the wall with his hand.

His breathing became heavy, and his chest rose and fell slightly.

When he encountered a passing maid, he nodded politely—the gesture was slow, as if even raising his head required great effort.

When the maids saw his appearance, the curiosity in their eyes was quickly replaced by worry.

The news will spread.

Xilun knew.

In places like this, the maids' mouths talk faster than newspapers.

"That extraordinary outsider seems to be very ill—" "Yes, he purified the clan leader from the pollution, and suffered a backlash himself—" "His face is as white as paper—"

In less than half a day, the entire manor would know of his "weakness".

Including the person hiding in the shadows.

Xilun walked slowly down the corridor.

He intended to go straight to the cafeteria—but when he reached the courtyard, he changed direction.

He stopped and tilted his head slightly.

The butler happened to come out from the side door.

"Excuse me—" Siren's voice was slightly hoarse, "Which room does Miss Susie live in?"

The butler glanced at him.

"Miss Susie's room is on the third floor of the west wing, number 305. It's next to Miss Daisy's."

Xilun blinked.

The two lived next door to each other.

It's nearby.

He nodded and slowly walked towards the third floor of the west wing.

As he climbed the stairs, he deliberately exaggerated his breathing, holding onto the handrail and pausing for half a second after each step, as if he were struggling against his own body.

The guard standing at the top of the stairs looked at his retreating figure with a look of pity on his face.

Third floor corridor.

305 number.

The door was an ordinary wooden door, without any decorations.

Compared to Daisy's door next door, it looked much more shabby.

Xilun raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Thump, thump, thump.

Very light, very orderly.

no respond.

He waited for about ten seconds, then knocked three more times.

This time, very faint footsteps came from inside the door.

It was slow, as if it was hesitating.

Then the door opened.

Only a crack was opened.

A pale, thin face peeked out from the crack in the door.

Susie.

She was wearing a white loungewear set that was clearly a size too big, with the cuffs hanging down to her fingertips, revealing only a few slender fingers clasped on the door frame.

She stared blankly at Xilun.

His eyes were vacant and dull, as if he wasn't fully awake.

He didn't say anything.

Xilun took the initiative to speak.

"May I ask you a few questions?"

His tone was calm, and his voice was slightly hoarse due to his weakness.

Susie looked at him.

Then he shook his head.

Xilun was taken aback.

He didn't expect to be rejected.

This puts them in a difficult position.

Logically speaking, he didn't actually need to know much from Susie—his primary task was to heal the clan leader.

But things had already progressed to this point; he had been drawn into a conspiracy, and David was unlikely to let him go, while someone else was lurking in the shadows.

He needs to obtain more information.

The more you know, the more control you have.

Xilun didn't think he could get away unscathed by pretending to be stupid for five days and curing the chieftain.

If the other party's intention was merely to kill the clan leader, there was absolutely no need to release the virus after he obtained the Elder's Decree—this was clearly a trap set for him.

This means that the other party not only wants to kill the clan leader, but also wants him to take the blame.

And a scapegoat cannot leave safely.

But now Susie has rejected him.

Xilun hesitated for a moment.

Just then—

Susie's eyes flickered.

The movement was so subtle that it would have gone unnoticed if Siren hadn't been observing her closely.

Her gaze shifted slightly to the left.

It was retrieved very quickly.

Xilun's heart skipped a beat.

left?

What does that mean?

He subconsciously glanced to his left as well.

The left side is next door—

Daisy's room.

Is Susie looking at Daisy's room?

Why?

Is it hinting at something, or is it just an unconscious action?

At this moment, Susie spoke up.

"You can leave now."

Her voice was very soft and delicate, like a bubble rising from the bottom of the water.

Xilun did not move.

He stared into Susie's eyes and asked calmly:

"Do you know something?"

Susie's pupils contracted slightly—the change was extremely brief and fleeting, and if it weren't for the keen observation skills that Xiren had developed from dealing with all sorts of people in the North District for a long time, she would never have noticed it.

Then, she suddenly raised her voice.

"With you taking up all of Daisy's space here, I can't find anyone to play with!"

Her tone was coquettish, carrying a kind of willfulness unique to little girls.

Xilun was taken aback.

Is it really that simple?

Was it simply because he and Daisy were chatting and strolling around the manor yesterday that made Susie unhappy?

He didn't have time to think—

Snapped.

The door closed.

The movements were crisp and clean, without any hesitation or slackness.

Xilun stood in front of the tightly closed door, completely dumbfounded.

Does this mean he's not welcome?

Or does it mean something else?

He stared at the wooden door for a few seconds.

Then he turned around and slowly walked back down the corridor.

His steps remained weak and he occasionally touched the wall for support.

But his mind was racing.

Susie has already persuaded him to leave twice.

Adding to what just happened—

three times.

In just two days, he was asked to leave three times.

Why would an adopted daughter who is unwilling to talk to anyone and has a withdrawn and isolated personality repeatedly drive away a stranger?

If she were truly stupid and ignorant—she should have been completely unresponsive to his presence.

Just as she showed no reaction to the patriarch's illness.

But she showed particular interest in his decision to "stay."

Thinking of this, Xilun suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He turned around.

We walked back to the front of No. 305.

Knock on the door.

Thump, thump, thump.

no respond.

He knocked three more times.

Still no response.

gone?

Or do you still not want to open the door for him?

Xiren stood in front of the goal for five seconds.

Then turned and left.

After all, this is the Link family's home turf, and he can't just break down the door.

But I was already on edge.

Susie isn't stupid.

She's pretending.

She sent him away three times—not because of Daisy, nor for any childish reason.

She was reminding him.

Remind him to leave.

Because she knew there was danger there.

She knew far more than she showed.

Xiren mentally raised Susie's priority level by one.

He continued walking down the corridor.

Before I even reached the top of the stairs, someone came towards me.

Gray uniform, gloves, serious expression.

housekeeper.

"Mr. Sir Len," the butler bowed slightly, "Master David requests your presence."

Xilun was taken aback.

"What did you call him?"

The butler remained expressionless and calmly replied:

"Now that the master is gone, the young master is naturally the master."

Xilun was silent for a moment.

"...Lead the way."

The butler led Xilun through the courtyard and along a side corridor he hadn't walked through before, to a reception room on the second floor of the east wing.

The room wasn't big.

A dark oak desk, two leather armchairs, and a family portrait of the Link family hanging on the wall.

The Link chieftain in the painting is still very young, with a tall and straight posture, sharp eyes, and wearing a crisp dark blue suit.

His right hand rested on Risa's shoulder, and Risa turned slightly to the side, a polite smile playing on her lips.

In front of the two, young David and Daisy stood side by side, their expressions reserved and serious.

Susie is not in the painting.

She probably hadn't been adopted yet at that time.

David stood by the window, his back to the door.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around.

He changed his clothes—a black suit jacket and a white shirt, with the top button still fastened.

But his tired face was no different from yesterday.

The butler closed the door and left.

"Sit down," David said, gesturing to the armchair.

Xilun sat down "slowly"—the movement was deliberately slow, as if his muscles and bones were aching and he needed to carefully control every joint.

David sat down opposite him.

There was a silence of two or three seconds.

Then he casually asked, "Are you enjoying the food?"

Xilun nodded.

"How did you sleep?"

"Well enough."

"What do you need to add—bedding? Pillows?"

"Need not."

This small talk was clearly not David's real purpose.

Xilun is waiting.

Sure enough, after a few preambles, David changed the subject.

"My father's illness..."

His voice lowered, and his gaze fell on an ink bottle on the desk.

"Can it be cured?"

Xilun carefully considered his words.

"It's still under control for now."

He used the word "control" instead of "heal".

David's fingers tightened slightly on the armrest.

"We'll have a result in three to four days," Celen continued. "I'll do my best."

David's expression turned noticeably grim.

But he didn't ask any further questions.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, his chest rose and fell slowly twice, and then opened them again.

He calmed down quickly.

But what flashed in his eyes in that instant—fear, anxiety, and some deeper, less perceptible complex emotion—Sirlen saw it all.

"That's good," David said. "Mr. Celen, please get some rest."

Xilun stood up, holding onto the handrail.

Just as he was about to turn around.

"Oh, right."

David's voice suddenly came from behind him, his tone casual, as if he had just remembered something unimportant.

"By the way, could you ask me something?"

Xilun stopped in his tracks.

"Mr. Celen seems quite interested in our Link family's affairs," David said. "Has he discovered anything?"

Xilun's back stiffened for an extremely brief moment.

It was so short that it had no outward manifestation.

But his mind started racing at that moment.

This sentence—

All the small talk, eating, sleeping, treatment, and prelude—it all led to this final sentence.

He's watching my actions; he knows what I'm investigating.

What does that mean?

Xilun did not turn back.

He slowly turned around to face David.

His expression was flat, with a hint of dullness due to his "weakness".

"I am indeed curious about some things," he said frankly.

There was neither denial nor explanation—denial would be too fake, and explanation would be too much.

He casually added, "I've met Susie a few times before, but I only realized now how withdrawn she is."

David raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Speaking of which—" Siren asked casually, "how did her mother die?"

That's a very natural question.

It was so natural, like a stranger casually expressing curiosity about his adopted daughter's background.

David didn't seem surprised.

He leaned back in his chair and placed his hands folded on his knees.

"It's quite a coincidence."

His voice became calmer, as if he were telling a story from long ago.

"At that time, a plague suddenly broke out in the manor—it wasn't large-scale, and only a few servants were infected. Susie's mother was, after all, a maid, and lived in the south wing, so no one paid special attention to her health on a regular basis."

He paused for a moment.

"After she caught it, she probably didn't pay much attention to it—thinking it was just a common cold. By the time she realized something was wrong, it was too late."

He died of illness within a few days.

Xilun asked, "What virus?"

"Black blood disease".

David spoke those three words without any change in his tone.

It's like talking about an old grievance that's already been settled.

But his next move made Xilen secretly wary—

David turned his head and gave an order to the person outside the door.

The butler pushed open the door and came in, carrying a tray covered with black velvet.

There are three items on the tray.

A slender glass vial containing a dark green liquid.

A syringe with an extremely fine needle that gleamed coldly.

There's one more—a silver needle.