"Really?" Fang Yue looked suspicious and pressed, "Don't hide anything from me. This is important!"

"...Yes, that's right. After Lord Ye asked me, I had my servants take your Scarlet Steed out of the city to graze.

But not long after, the servant came running back in a panic, saying the horse was gone and there was a pool of blood on the ground.

I suspected at the time that a night thief or a strange creature had killed the horse.

But I was worried that if you found out about this, I would be blamed... so I secretly had someone buy another Scarlet Steed, took care of it in the mansion, and planned to tell you, when you asked, that this one was your original…"

Her voice gradually lowered, as Yang Hongxia's self-serving behavior was clearly not suitable to be revealed.

If Fang Yue hadn't pressed her, she felt she could have kept it a secret.

After all, horses look alike, and unless you've spent a lot of time with them, who can tell the difference?

Moreover, Yang Hongxia had personally gone to great lengths to choose a Scarlet Steed that was similar to the one in her memory as a replacement. It would be difficult to detect from the appearance alone.

But now…

Yang Hongxia looked at Fang Yue nervously, but saw that Fang Yue didn't seem to have any intention of blaming her.

"As I thought… the horse is gone."

After pacing back and forth for a while, and another drop of night rain landed on his head, Fang Yue suddenly stopped and said, "You go back first. I'll consider this matter myself. The same goes: if anything happens, just send out a distress signal."

Only then did Yang Hongxia retreat, turning her head back every three steps. Seeing that Fang Yue had closed the door without even seeing her off, she stomped her foot.

"That blockhead…"

With a sigh, Yang Hongxia left the inn and headed towards the Daya Residence.

As soon as she returned to the Daya Residence, a servant rushed to report.

"Miss! Miss! Something terrible has happened! Lord Ye, Lord Ye is dead!"

What?!

The miss understood the literal meaning, but when combined, it left her completely dumbfounded.

Lord Ye… is dead?

Then who was the person chatting with me at the inn just now?

Soon, the miss came to her senses.

Lord Ye was certainly still alive, so the only possibility was that the servant's information was wrong.

She first calmed the servant down and then patiently inquired, finally learning the general details.

It turned out that the government had issued a notice that there had been infighting among night thieves in Dongliu Mountain, and Ye Niuniu had gone to suppress them, but had unfortunately died a tragic death.

Now that the person was dead, the so-called charges and wanted notices naturally became meaningless and were all revoked.

"Is the news accurate? Did you see the body?"

"I don't know. The government hasn't released any other information."

Yang Hongxia narrowed her eyes slightly. She knew that Fang Yue was still alive, so the government must have made a mistake in their intelligence.

"It seems that Lord Ye's method of whitewashing his identity is this. Feigning death to clear his name, and then he can return to the Daya Residence openly!"

Yang Hongxia was a little excited, because it meant that she would soon be able to see Fang Yue again.

Just as she was thinking this, the servant continued.

"Also, the Qing Si has suddenly updated its personnel list. In addition to those who have died, they have added another batch of people.

Most of them have been transferred from lower-level townships. Some have already reported for duty, and some are still on the way. It is said that the procedures are still being processed, because of personnel losses, people are being directly promoted to their positions.

I suspect that the Qing Si's sudden addition of so many people may be related to the strange creature from last night."

This kind of thing failed to arouse Yang Hongxia's interest. After learning a little about it, she didn't pay much attention to it.

But what she didn't expect was that the next day, she saw Fang Yue, dressed in white, coming to visit.

Yang Hongxia hadn't recognized Fang Yue at first, because Fang Yue had changed his appearance again. Only the black halo above his head was still conspicuous.

"Lord Ye… this friend, what can I do for you?"

Fang Yue winked at her.

"I heard that the Daya Merchant Guild is in urgent need of guest elders to participate in the martial contest. I wonder if you are still recruiting people?"

"Of course we are recruiting! Please come inside, sir!"

With the corners of her mouth inadvertently raised, Yang Hongxia suppressed the joy in her heart.

She led Fang Yue into the residence, brought him to a room, closed the door, and then they could talk openly.

"Lord Ye? Is that Lord Ye Niuniu?"

"It is I."

Fang Yue said with a smile.

He had now removed his human skin mask and revealed his true appearance to Yang Hongxia.

Since he wanted to pursue excitement, he had to carry it through to the end.

Since he had decided to impersonate himself, then all aspects had to keep up.

As for why it took so long to report to the Qing Si, he could just say that he was delayed on the road.

The Qing Si were all 'his own people' now, so what excuse couldn't he use?

With his identity cleared, Fang Yue was in a good mood.

He had to say, Dou Hongyi was efficient.

He had only explained the matter yesterday, and it was implemented today, causing Fang Yue to be a little stunned when he saw Dou Hongyi waiting at the door early in the morning.

As for Dou Hongyi saying that he needed his cooperation to act later.

He was joking. He had just cleared his name, and was he going to act out another fake death?

Fang Yue agreed readily, but in reality, he had no intention of doing so.

"Lord Ye… do I still call you Lord Ye now?"

"I am now Ye Baiyi of the Qing Si, also called Ye Se Liming (Night Dawn), so you can naturally continue to call me Lord Ye."

Yang Hongxia was overjoyed. She was already used to this title, and it would be awkward to suddenly change it. Now, without changing anything, she could let Lord Ye return to the Daya Residence. Her eyes were smiling into crescent moons.

"By the way, Lord Ye, isn't it too conspicuous for you to come straight to the Daya Residence like this?"

"It doesn't matter. The government and the Tian Shang Alliance are currently preoccupied with another matter and have no time to pay attention to my movements."

"Another matter…"

Yang Hongxia was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood.

"Is it because of that strange creature?"

"That's right! That strange creature is more troublesome than they imagined. According to the information I know, the government and the Tian Shang Alliance organized a batch of night patrols last night, but they were all wiped out, with no survivors. Therefore, today, not only is the Qing Si urgently expanding its numbers, but even Lan Shan and the Tian Shang Alliance are recruiting people."

Fang Yue had personally experienced how棘手the Nuo Mian Gui (Glutinous Cotton Ghoul) was.

He could probably fight it now.

But back in Dongliu Mountain, before he had cultivated to the human level, Fang Yue was no match for it.

A Disaster-grade high-level ghoul was not just talk! Its power was terrifying, and ordinary people simply couldn't resist it.

Perhaps in the entire Chu Nuan City, only the Phoenix Organization or the Tian Shang Alliance Leader had the strength to confront it.

According to the intelligence Dou Hongyi gave this morning, the joint patrol team organized by the Tian Shang Alliance and the government last night suffered heavy losses, finally making them realize the terror of a Disaster-grade high-level ghoul.

After painful reflection, the government and the Tian Shang Alliance simultaneously issued expansion requests.

The government was fine, as they could directly find people from the surrounding area. Dou Hongyi could even seamlessly absorb Fang Yue, this White-Cloaked Guard, without arousing anyone's suspicion.

The Tian Shang Alliance was a little more troubled.