I furrowed my brow slightly.
Mingqi playfully stuck out her tongue, then tilted her head slightly.
I did not praise her.
Just as a taxi stopped by the side of the road, I got in and gave the driver an address.
When we arrived, the large advertisement on the third floor of the shopping mall was immediately visible.
The crowds were continuous, and the commercial street was bustling and noisy.
Mingqi looked fresh and joyful. She naturally linked her arm with mine and exclaimed happily, "Uncle Kuo, you speak with your heart but not your mouth. I like crowded places."
I finally understood where that odd feeling was coming from.
I quickly pulled my hand away from Mingqi's. I looked at her one more time and said in a low voice, "Mingqi, have self-respect."
Mingqi's eyes hesitated for a moment, and then her face flushed red...
The wheat-colored skin turned red, exuding an unusual charm.
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
Indeed, I lack a sense of heart; I'm always aware of things after the fact.
For example, Xiaoqing likes me.
Such as the series of events I've encountered.
However, Mingqi's behavior was too obvious...
Not just in the details of wanting to hold my hand at all times.
And she always spoke to me in a soft, gentle tone.
The most crucial thing is that I recalled a detail...
Earlier, when Mingqi and I discussed saving Xiaoqing, Mingqi mentioned that we needed to use the Zhou family's people, and that she wanted me to take her and Xiaoqing with me when we left!
This is no longer just intriguing...
The correct approach is for me and Xiaoqing to leave together, ensure Mingqi's safety, and let her return to the Kuo family.
How could I possibly take Xiaoqing with me while also having Mingqi constantly by my side?!
How would Xiaoqing think about this?
She would likely see the inconsistencies right away.
My thoughts have settled down.
I cleared my throat and spoke softly, "Once your sister is rescued, I will make sure that the Kuo family won't dare to do anything to you. It's time for you to go home."
After speaking, Mingqi's face turned even paler.
She bit her lower lip tightly, looked at me again, and her eyes held an incredibly complex mix of emotions. She looked extremely hurt and utterly confused, and amidst that confusion, there were also faint traces of guilt on her face...
"I understand, uncle..."
"I'm sorry, uncle..."
After these two sentences, Mingqi said nothing. She wiped away the tears from her eyes and lowered her head.
I signaled for Mingqi to follow me and then walked straight into the commercial street.
To some extent, I still had a trace of fear in my heart.
Because there is something called habit.
Mingqi's personality is very good, and without her, my gloom would have been harder to alleviate.
I sensed something was off and quickly quashed her nascent idea, which just managed to turn that lingering fear into relief.
If I didn't realize it in time, things could really get out of hand.
Soon, we passed through the bustling streets and stopped in front of the large cinema.
My gaze fell onto the narrow door beside the cinema.
I didn't go in immediately but turned and walked in another direction.
Mingqi still followed me closely.
However, she clearly kept a certain distance from me.
This made me feel that Mingqi, to some extent, is still sensible.
The reason I chose to meet with Mingfang and the Yang steward here is because Mingfang has rules; it's very safe here. No fighting is allowed outside, and even less so inside.
If it were the usual me, I might have chosen the City God Temple.
But in the current situation, the City God Temple has no night watch or day patrol, and they haven't dispersed, so Huang Shu probably can't summon new ones.
When I get closer, Huang Shu will likely detect the presence of the day patrol.
If he delves deeper and investigates, I'm afraid there could be trouble.
In comparison, Mingfang is the only option.
To enter Mingfang, one needs a token of faith.
I only have one, and I need to find someone else to get another one for Mingqi.
Walking towards the right of the opera house, I turned a corner and saw a row of old residential buildings.
Although I've only been here once, I easily made my way to the unit at the very back.
A sloping staircase led down to a half-first floor, half-basement door.
"Uncle... This place is eerie," Mingqi finally said, her expression tinged with unease.
"It's okay, this place is very safe," I replied calmly, my attitude unchanged as if the previous events had never happened.
"Oh..." Mingqi didn't speak anymore.
I walked to Ma Yousan's door and knocked three times.
Repeatedly contacting Ma Yousan had become a habit.
In fact, I'm not afraid of him anymore.
He really adheres to the rules, and he's indeed talented.
Moreover... His methods for hunting spirits are different from what I had previously thought.
At least it proves that Ma Yousan is not a brutal person.
Dealing with such a person won't do me any harm at the moment.
Especially since there are some things that I need to ponder over.
Soon, light footsteps came from inside the house.
The next moment, the door opened.
A white and long donkey-face, along with small eyes, appeared.
When Ma Yousan saw me, he didn't look surprised but instead squinted his eyes and smiled, saying, "Don't you have a key? Why do you still knock on the door?"
His demeanor suggested that he knew I was coming.
And he was even friendly, as if we were familiar old men.
"Since we didn't get invited, it wouldn't be appropriate to ring the doorbell and then enter ourselves," I replied honestly.
The smile on Ma Yousan's face became more profound.
He glanced at my back, and his small eyes lit up.
Mingqi looked a bit scared, and she hid behind me.
I noticed her trying to reach out to me in my peripheral vision, but she drew back immediately. At that moment, she looked so pitiful and helpless.
"Hahaha, come in first and then talk. Young Brother Shen, I knew you would come this time!" Ma Yousan's voice was louder than before, as if he had just encountered something good.
"Nothing to be afraid of," I first comforted Mingqi and then followed Ma Yousan into the house.
After Mingqi entered, the door creaked shut and closed by itself.
The living room was filled with tall coffins, giving an intense sense of gloom even during the daytime.
Mingqi covered her mouth, her eyes widening with extreme unease.
"Don't be afraid, young madam, don't be afraid! There's no problem! Old Gong is here!"
The soothing words came from the nightpot at my waist.
Old Gong popped his head out and looked at Mingqi with a heartbroken expression.
With a slight effort, his head leaped up and landed on Mingqi's shoulder.
As expected, Mingqi's face slightly improved, and she looked at Old Gong with even more complaint.
"Aiyo..." Old Gong's expression seemed to melt like butter.
Ma Yousan looked at Old Gong with interest, first shaking his head and then making a noise with his tongue, saying, "Wu Zhongkan? No, no, no. That's interesting."
Old Gong, however, seemed slightly alert, watching Ma Yousan intently, his face tense.
I felt a slight weight in my heart, but it soon calmed down.
Ma Yousan's strength is undeniable, and he has been in Jinyang for years. Knowing Wu Zhongkan is not strange.
I took out the gong and handed it to Ma Yousan.
"It's yours back, Mr. Ma," I said seriously.
