After more than ten days, the group finally disembarked from the train and arrived in Haicheng.
The season was nearing autumn, and a cool breeze brushed against their faces, bringing a refreshing chill.
Xing Yuan yawned lazily, appearing listless. It was her first time traveling for such a long duration, and the days on the train had been rather boring.
"Uncle Feng, didn't you say you'd been here before? Let's find a place to rest first!" Xing Yuan tried to muster some energy.
"Mm!" Feng Nianxing nodded steadily. He hired a few rickshaws by the roadside, informed the others of their destination, and told them to head there separately later.
They were all in plain clothes now, so their movements weren't particularly conspicuous. Feng Nianxing was well aware of his primary objective; this meeting was of little importance to them. The most crucial thing was to find Xing Chen.
The van eventually stopped in front of a large mansion with four entrances and four exits.
"Achen, this was purchased by our Xing family years ago. However, we haven't lived here for decades," Feng Nianxing said with a sigh. He hadn't expected to return to Haicheng again.
Feng Nianxing turned and saw Xing Yuan's puzzled expression. Realizing what she might be thinking, he explained, "Although no one has lived here for a long time, we've left some people in Haicheng to help manage this mansion and our other properties."
"We have other properties in Haicheng?" Xing Yuan was a little surprised, but on second thought, it seemed perfectly normal. The Xing family was once the wealthiest merchant family in Yucheng; having properties in various places was not unusual.
As they spoke, the two had already stepped into the mansion. The furnishings inside once again showcased the Xing family's past opulence. Most of the decorations were made of pure gold, the wooden tables were constructed from fine rosewood, and there were rockeries and ponds.
Feng Nianxing watched Xing Yuan's awestruck expression with a hint of pride.
"Yes! This is actually considered a fallback plan left by the Xing family during its most prosperous period. If the main family were to fall one day, these assets left elsewhere would ensure a lifetime of comfort. Therefore, unless in extremely difficult times, these things must never be touched."
"This is even more magnificent than the main residence!" Xing Yuan commented.
Feng Nianxing chuckled, "The main residence was once even grander. However, later on, due to wars, many valuable items were sold, which is why it is like this now."
Looking at Xing Yuan's tired face, Feng Nianxing said gently, "Alright, you seem exhausted. The master bedroom is over there; you can rest there. I'll go find the people who were assigned to Haicheng back then. Perhaps they can help!"
"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Feng!" Xing Yuan thanked him politely.
Feng Nianxing watched Xing Yuan retract her sharp demeanor, seeing in her the person who had once pulled him out of the mire.
"This is what I should do!" Feng Nianxing dared not look further. If he hadn't failed to keep up with him back then, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up in this predicament.
Feng Nianxing hurried off to contact people.
The exhaustion Xing Yuan had displayed suddenly vanished. "Tian Ling, do you feel it?"
"Feel what?" Tian Ling asked, somewhat dazed.
"I have a strange feeling. Xing Chen must be in this city. Is there really some kind of telepathy between twins?"
"Perhaps! But this is just an ordinary world; it wouldn't allow for anything fantastical," Tian Ling said with a confused expression.
Xing Yuan had thought the same, but ever since she entered this place, she had a peculiar sensation, as if someone was calling her. She had even seen a few blurry images. Her intuition told her that those were things Xing Chen had seen.
A young man suddenly frowned, clutching his chest. In that instant, his heart had begun to race, and he felt an unusual excitement. He had always maintained a stoic demeanor for years; how could he suddenly be like this? Was he ill?
The young man secretly decided to find a hospital for a thorough check-up in a few days. Health was the capital for revolution; no accidents could occur.
"I'm fine. Alright, let's continue!" The young man reassured the worried faces around him and resumed discussing important matters.
"This is a rare opportunity, but these warlords are always arrogant. We can't force our way; we need to show them our value..." the young man spoke fluently, exuding an aura of authority.
The others looked at him with admiration.
When Xing Yuan went out, she happened to encounter a few subordinates. After instructing them to take good care of the house, she got into the van and drove around the area she had come from, but the feeling she had earlier no longer appeared.
Could the telepathy between twins have triggering conditions?
Seeing no results, Xing Yuan had no choice but to return. The excited young man, however, was completely unaware of this.
The group soon settled down in Haicheng, secretly awaiting the day the warlords would gather, while also sending people to search for Xing Chen's whereabouts.
Xing Yuan found the person who claimed to have seen Xing Chen and questioned him, "Did you really see someone who looked exactly like me?"
"Yes! I saw him on the road while delivering goods. I didn't think much of it at the time, but after seeing your photo later, I realized that person looked exactly like you." a middle-aged man stammered.
He was just an ordinary shop assistant who had been tempted by the reward for finding the person. He never imagined that the person looking for them would be a military officer; this was a task that could cost him his life if he wasn't careful.
"Don't be nervous!" Xing Yuan said with a faint smile.
"Just tell me what you know. Don't worry, you'll receive the full reward for providing clues."
Then, her tone shifted, and she rubbed her gun, threatening, "If you dare to lie to me, you'd better watch your own life!"
"Yes, yes! I will tell you everything I know, and every word will be true." The man wiped the sweat from his forehead and began to recount his experience that day.
"I'm an employee of a freight company. That day, I was delivering goods and saw that man enter a general store. He was very handsome, almost like you, sir! Then I went back."
"Yes, that general store is located on Silian Street in the east of the city. If you wish, sir, I can lead the way!" the man said, but his voice involuntarily trembled.
He no longer wanted any reward; he just wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. He felt as if he could be shot dead at any moment.
With a look from Xing Yuan, Yuan Yi, understanding the situation, handed the money to the man.
"Here! My young master isn't that kind of person!" Yuan Yi said, then walked out first.
He turned back and saw the man standing there stunned. He quickly urged, "Let's go! Didn't you say you'd lead us to the general store?"
"Yes!" the man responded and quickly followed behind Yuan Yi.