Chapter 159: Starting to Fish

"Is there a low-tier entity here capable of accurately delivering a scent right to someone's nose?"

Tiger's eyes widened in astonishment. "Then the low-tiers here are far too strong."

"No," the Old Man said, shaking his head. "Even an aroma cultivator would need to be at the Third Tier to pull something like that off. If they wanted to do it without leaving a trace, they'd have to be at the Fourth Tier."

"But the Young Master was in a carriage at the time."

His gaze darkened. "Because of that, the Young Master would have left the area faster than anyone else."

"That leaves a lot of room to maneuver."

"For instance, as long as they released a detoxifying gas in this area after the Young Master left, the symptoms for everyone else would noticeably lessen. Furthermore, this kind of drug most likely has a delayed effect. By the time it kicked in, everyone would be in different places, making it impossible to trigger a large-scale reaction."

"Then there's the driver pulling the Young Master's carriage... they must have had a countermeasure for him, too."

A sharp light glinted in the Old Man's eyes. "Yes, there's a very high probability it was a scent. That's the only way they could have made the Young Master faint while he was inside a moving carriage."

"In that case, aside from a rouge and cosmetics shop, it could also be an incense shop, or a restaurant..."

"No, a restaurant is unlikely. A chef cultivator focuses on locking in color, aroma, and taste... Besides, an incense shop can't casually burn incense either. However, working outward from the scent itself leaves plenty of other possibilities..."

Beside them, Yan Jing smiled. "No matter which shop it is, as long as that person isn't a wandering peddler, they either disguised themselves as a new employee or... they took the place of an old one."

"And even if it was a wandering peddler, if they had an unfamiliar face, I believe you would still have ways to track them down, Old Man."

The Old Man nodded excitedly. "Moreover, this gives us the most crucial clue of all."

"The carriage driver!"

"He was with the Young Master. Even if he had some way to neutralize the poison in his body, he should have at least felt dizzy. If he didn't feel any effects whatsoever, then it's highly likely he was an accomplice!"

He couldn't wait to run back and tell Luo Sheng the news, but looking at Yan Jing beside him, he held himself back.

The group quickly returned to the shop, and he asked, "Yi Ji, my boy, where are you staying right now? Do you need me to arrange a place for you?"

"No need." Yan Jing shook his head and smiled. "I'm being watched very closely right now, so I can't make any major moves. I've already found a place to stay. When the opportunity arises, I will go meet this Young Master Luo."

"But for now, I still need to lie low for a while."

This wasn't just polite talk; it was something Yan Jing had wanted to do for a long time.

"Alright! The Young Master is a good person. Once you two meet, I'm sure you'll become friends!" Old Master Liu nodded happily.

"It's about time I headed out. However, there are still a few things I'd like your help with, Old Man," Yan Jing said with a smile.

"Tell me," Old Master Liu offered readily.

"The place I'm staying at still needs some food and basic necessities, but it wouldn't be convenient for me to go on a large shopping trip right now..."

Before Yan Jing could finish, Old Master Liu patted his chest. "Leave it to me!"

Saying that, he drafted a quick list. "You and Huzi catch up here. I'll be back in ten minutes."

With that, Old Master Liu strode out the door.

"Mr. Tiger," Yan Jing asked with a smile. "Do you regret following me here?"

Tiger immediately shook his head and scratched his scalp with a grin. "To be honest with you, Mr. Yi Ji, I feel the best decision I ever made was dismantling your brakes back at the Amusement Park."

They both burst into laughter.

"Mr. Tiger, you'll be working under Young Master Luo from now on. Do you know what you need to pay attention to?" Yan Jing asked.

Tiger put away his smile, knowing that Yan Jing was about to teach him something. "Please instruct me, Mr. Yi Ji."

Yan Jing smiled. "Actually, no matter where you work, as long as you do two things well, you won't go wrong."

"First, follow the right person. Second, demonstrate your value."

"You need to show some indispensable value, Mr. Tiger. From what I heard from Old Master Liu, this Young Master Luo is currently short on hands."

"If I were you, I would..."

After a round of advice, Tiger nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining. "I understand, I understand completely!"

A short while later, the Old Man returned carrying a medium-sized bundle. He handed it to Yan Jing and lowered his voice. "In Bianliu County, the bags you carry can't be too big, or you'll easily be robbed. At a time like this, you have to be careful with everything outside."

"After all... this isn't Old Sin City anymore."

"Bianliu County has a lot of rules."

"But it's fine. As long as our people are here, even if this isn't Old Sin City, it will become Old Sin City sooner or later." The Old Man chuckled. "When that time comes, we'll make that kid Chen regret not coming along."

"Alright." Yan Jing nodded with a smile and pulled a walkie-talkie from his pocket. "If anything happens, call me anytime. As long as it isn't an emergency, I'll reply as soon as I see it."

"Good." The Old Man nodded.

Yan Jing left.

He returned to the small room he had rented.

Afterward, he logged out of the Inner World and switched to log in as Luo Sheng.

Pushing the task of solving the case onto 'Yi Ji' was a necessity.

He needed to set corresponding Anchor Points for these two roles in order to deepen the impressions of the people around him.

Furthermore, their speaking habits and personalities also had to be somewhat distinct...

Thinking of this, he massaged his temples.

He hoped that later, when he had more roles, the Ghoulish Life Role-playing Game would provide a solution to handle this kind of problem.

Otherwise... he really wouldn't be able to cope.

However, it wasn't without its benefits.

Having two roles in the same Domain greatly increased his operational flexibility.

It wasn't long before Old Master Liu's voice rang out from outside the house.

"Young Master! Young Master!!!"

Yan Jing immediately exited the room, holding a comic book in one hand while rubbing his eyes with the other. "Master Liu, you're back! How did it go? Did you find him?"

"I found him, I found him!" Old Master Liu excitedly pulled Yan Jing to sit down at the table, vividly recounting the deductions from earlier.

Yan Jing listened intently, his expression growing more and more astonished. It wasn't until Old Master Liu mentioned the scent that he abruptly stood up from his chair in excitement. "That's it! Master Liu!!"

Rolling his comic book into a cylinder, he paced back and forth in agitation. "Yes, yes, yes! That day, I really did smell rouge and cosmetics, as well as the scent of incense!"

"This friend of yours is truly amazing!" He looked at Old Master Liu, his expression thrilled. "Where is he?"

Old Master Liu immediately relayed 'Yi Ji's' current predicament to Yan Jing.

"Oh... so he's also trapped in a difficult situation..." Yan Jing sighed. "It's fine, Master Liu. Once I finish dealing with my own matters, I'll go help your friend."

"However..." Yan Jing asked in confusion, "Since I was hit by the trap, why do you think the carriage driver was completely fine?"

"There are many possibilities." Old Master Liu frowned. "We won't be able to confirm the specifics until we find him."

"Can you find him?"

"I can find him!"

"Then the next steps..."

"Leave it to me!" Old Master Liu patted his chest. "I'll go look for that driver first. Once I find him, I'll come back and get you. If I can't find him, or if he's already dead, I'll go ask around to see if any unfamiliar peddlers appeared on the streets that day."

"After that, I'll ask those suspicious shops if they have any new workers, or if any of their old workers disappeared recently."

"You just wait at home. I'll come get you when I have a lead."

"Alright," Yan Jing nodded. "Thank you for your hard work, Master Liu!"

"Working for the Young Master can't be called hard work!" At this moment, Old Master Liu finally realized something. "Where's Xiao Yu?"

"She went out for groceries," Yan Jing smiled.

Old Master Liu muttered softly before speaking up, "That girl, I specifically told her to keep a close eye on you before I left... I'll head out after she gets back!"

"There's no rush, Master Liu. Whenever is convenient for you."

Seeing the Old Man get up to drink water, Yan Jing sat back down in his recliner.

He had already searched for that carriage driver over the past few days using the identity of 'Yi Ji', and couldn't find him anywhere.

The man was nowhere to be found, and his house was covered in blood.

As for the rouge and cosmetics shops, he had visited them one by one under the identity of 'Luo Sheng' a few days ago. He hadn't found anything unusual, only buying a massive pile of makeup in passing.

The rest could only depend on Old Master Liu.

However, he had already confirmed that there were likely no unfamiliar faces.

In other words, someone must have stolen another person's identity.

Before long, Fei Yu entered the house carrying bags of all sizes. Seeing Old Master Liu, she smiled. "Master Liu, you're back! Help me with these, will you?"

Old Master Liu took the groceries from her, and Fei Yu looked at Yan Jing. "Just like you asked, I bought mantou, rice, a three-liang crucian carp, two solid blocks of tofu, and three green scallions... So, we're having scallions mixed with tofu for lunch today. Isn't that right?"

"That's right!" Yan Jing snapped his book shut and laughed.

Old Master Liu was utterly confused, having no idea what the two of them were playing at. If they were eating scallions mixed with tofu, then what was the crucian carp for?

Fei Yu didn't explain. She headed into the kitchen. "I'll go cook, then. Master Liu, are you eating at home today?"

"I'm not eating at home." Old Master Liu stood up. "Xiao Yu, keep a closer eye on the Young Master these next few days. Why did you leave him alone in the house just now?"

"I got it. You just focus on finding your friend!" Fei Yu retorted. "And remember to bring them back for a look once you find them. Even if you're looking for a concubine, you still have to let the Young Master evaluate her for you."

Old Master Liu walked out the door after hearing only the first half of her sentence, too lazy to listen to the rest.

Fei Yu finished cooking and carried a bowl of crucian carp and tofu soup to the table. She wiped her hands and served Yan Jing his rice. "Young Master, time to eat!"

As they ate, Yan Jing smiled. "Xiao Yu, let's go listen to an opera this afternoon."

"Sure! Which opera house?" Fei Yu's interest was piqued, her two round hair buns bouncing happily.

She loved watching operas.

But ever since they arrived in Bianliu County, she could only afford to go once a year.

It couldn't be helped; the family had no money.

"Which one do you like?" Yan Jing asked with a smile.

Fei Yu stood up to fetch water for Yan Jing. "You're the Young Master. How can it be up to me? But on South Main Street, there are only three theatrical troupes right now: the Li Family, the Mei Family, and the newly arrived Wang Family Theatrical Troupe."

"Then how about we listen to the Wang Family." Yan Jing smiled. "Let's listen to something new. I haven't heard them yet, either."

Eldest Young Master Luo might have heard them, but he, Young Master Yan, certainly hadn't.

"Alright!" Fei Yu laughed happily.

After they finished eating, Fei Yu applied some rouge and cosmetics, and the two walked out the door arm in arm.