Free Web NovelChapter 27: Chapter 27: Sensing
Fu Juemin was still thinking about what had just happened.
What surprised him wasn’t just bumping into Xu Leyi here, but seeing her with a Westerner.
If Fu Juemin remembered correctly, the Westerner with Xu Leyi was the Villiduo Ocean Merchant who had come to the Fu Family two months ago, wanting to lease merchant ships from Fu Guosheng to transport goods.
’After being rejected by the Fu Family, did he circle around and find his way to the Xu Family?’
Plates of exquisitely crafted pastries sat on the table before him. Fu Juemin casually picked one up, popped it in his mouth, and continued to ponder as he ate.
In the world of business, the Xu Family had always followed the Fu Family’s lead. Generally, any business the Fu Family was unwilling to do, the Xu Family wouldn’t—and wouldn’t dare—touch.
This was the foundation of the good relationship between the Fu and Xu Families for many years.
But now, Xu Leyi was taking the initiative to meet with a merchant the Fu Family had rejected...
’Is it Xu Leyi being clueless, or...’
Fu Juemin rubbed the pastry dust from his fingertips, his eyes glinting. ’...is this Xu Shirong’s intention?’
Fu Juemin didn’t understand the intricacies of business.
But since he’d stumbled upon this, he felt he should mention it to Fu Guosheng.
Besides, Xu Leyi had just irritated him a little. He was her fiancé, after all.
’She sees me on the street and doesn’t even say hello?’
While sipping his tea, Fu Juemin waited for classes to let out at the Saint Gong Girls’ School. He had originally felt that, as an engaged man, eagerly planning to flirt with another girl was a bit shameless. But now, he felt no such burden. He even hoped Xu Leyi might see him.
Fu Juemin kept his eyes fixed on the restaurant across the street, but after a long wait, he still hadn’t seen Xu Leyi and the Westerner come out.
He checked the time. It seemed to be about right, so he decided not to wait any longer and prepared to head to Saint Gong.
He’d pick up Zhou Yunzhi, have lunch together... and as for the location? ’The restaurant across the street would be perfect.’
Fu Juemin was about to call someone in to settle the bill when, at that exact moment, a sudden tremor shot through his heart for no apparent reason.
A few chaotic and dark images suddenly flooded his mind, accompanied by a strange, extremely powerful craving.
"HUUFF—" freēwēbnovel.com
Fu Juemin gasped for air.
He realized what was happening. The memories of the Black-Scaled Snake Demon were ruminating.
He subconsciously looked down and, through the window, immediately spotted a tall, thin man in gray robes walking past on the street below.
A primal urge, as if originating from the depths of his very bloodline, made his gaze lock onto the man’s back.
Without a second thought, Fu Juemin bolted from the private room.
Qian Fei and Ma Dakui, who were sitting right by the door, immediately stood up. "Young Master, are we leaving?"
Fu Juemin didn’t have time to answer them. With a blank expression, he rushed down from the second floor of the teahouse.
When he reached the street, he looked left and right, but the tall, thin man he had just seen was nowhere to be found.
Panting, Qian Fei and Ma Dakui came running out. Qian Fei casually tossed two silver coins to the waiter chasing them, then asked anxiously.
"Young Master, what happened?"
Fu Juemin calmed the turmoil inside him. The strange palpitation that had surged up so suddenly had faded just as quickly, receding like the tide with the man’s disappearance.
He shook his head without explanation, instead giving Qian Fei and Ma Dakui an order. "Help me find someone. He should be nearby; he can’t have gone far."
Fu Juemin briefly described the tall, thin man’s appearance and urged, "Be quick."
"Yes, sir."
Qian Fei and Ma Dakui didn’t understand why they were suddenly searching for someone—and a person whose face they hadn’t even seen clearly—in the middle of a perfectly fine tea session.
But seeing Fu Juemin’s serious expression, they didn’t dare object. One went left and the other right, quickly departing.
After sending Qian Fei and Ma Dakui off, Fu Juemin didn’t remain idle. Guided by the faint, lingering strange feeling in his heart, he began to walk slowly in one direction.
’This must be related to some kind of Demon Fiend.’
Fu Juemin’s brow furrowed. Recalling the earlier tremor, he came to a conclusion.
For the Black-Scaled Snake Demon Soul Seed he had absorbed to react like that, it was highly likely that it had sensed another of its kind—a Demon Fiend.
Fu Juemin suddenly remembered the nightmare he’d had a few days ago.
In his dream, he had seen the Water Demon that had been terrorizing the docks. Perhaps it wasn’t just a dream, but some kind of resonance that could exist between Demon Fiends.
Lost in thought, Fu Juemin walked out of Xinjie Street and onto a quiet road without realizing it.
Not far away was a pan-fried bun shop, its fragrance wafting out in waves, and next to it, a seal-carving shop.
Fu Juemin thought for a moment, then slowly walked over.
Inside the bun shop, a kind-looking, middle-aged man in an apron was busy working. Seeing Fu Juemin’s attire, he hurried over, respectful and eager.
"What would you like, sir?"
"A box of pan-fried buns."
"Right away."
The shop owner deftly packed seven or eight buns into a waxed paper bag and handed it to Fu Juemin. "Careful, they’re hot."
Fu Juemin didn’t take it, instead asking, "Did you see a man pass by here just now?"
The owner shook his head with a wry smile. "As you can see, I run this little shop all by myself. I’m so busy I barely have time to look up, let alone watch the street..."
Fu Juemin said nothing, just took out a silver coin and handed it over. The shop owner quickly bowed his head and started rummaging through boxes and drawers to make change.
Fu Juemin was about to leave when he suddenly noticed a few five- or six-year-old, bare-bottomed children near the entrance. He picked up the buns he’d just bought, walked over, and asked them the same question.
"I saw him."
A little brat with two streams of yellow snot running from his nose chomped on a bun and said, "Did he have a big mole on his face like this?"
Fu Juemin’s expression changed. He quickly asked, "Which way did you see him go?"
The child pointed to a nearby alley. "There! I think I saw him go in there..."
Fu Juemin patted the child’s head, stood up, and shouted to the bun shop owner, "Stop looking for change! Use the rest to buy them something to eat."
Without waiting for the owner’s reply, he strode swiftly into the alley.
The buildings in this area all looked quite old.
Towering gray walls rose on both sides, and the flagstone path underfoot was lined with moss. From the distance, the faint scent of soap beans drifted over, suggesting someone was washing clothes.
Fu Juemin walked a short distance before coming to a fork in the path.
Standing at the fork and looking down both paths, he saw that the alleys ahead twisted and turned. Heaven only knew which path led where.
A thought to retreat immediately surfaced in his mind.
’This is related to a Demon Fiend. I’m alone, and in a place like this... even if I did find him, it might not be a good thing.’
Fu Juemin mentally noted the location and was about to turn and leave.
Just then, he heard a strange, cacophonous noise drifting out from the mouth of one of the alleys.
Fu Juemin stared at the source of the sound, his eyes glinting.
After a few breaths, he pulled out the revolver tucked at his waist, kept his hand low, and slowly walked forward.
