Jin Cheng could not see the man’s face in the dim light, turning instead to the glinting dagger that had caught his eye.

Under the flickering lamplight, the blade gleamed ethereally. Jin Cheng bent down to pick up the dagger, inspecting it as he did so. “Why was he threatening you?”

The guard captain responded, “Sir, this man is a spy. He wishes to speak with Master, claiming he is Master’s son. I was sceptical of the man’s claims and had him arrested for trespassing but ended up as his hostage instead. Do not trust him. He undoubtedly harbours ill intentions towards Master!”

Jin Cheng rolled the dagger in his palm thoughtfully while admiring its craftsmanship. When he heard the guard captain’s report, his head shot up, and he asked, “So the man believes Brother Jiu is his father now, does he?”

“That’s what he said. He wanted to ask Master if they were related,” the guard captain reported.

How could Brother Jiu have such a big son?

Jin Cheng eyed the unconscious man he supported easily with an arm. It was too dark outside to make out his features.

‘Is he an illegitimate child?’ Jin Cheng wondered.

He knew very well what kind of personality Brother Jiu had. It was unlikely for him to have had an illegitimate child by just any woman.

Therefore, the unconscious man must have some ulterior motive to get close to Feng Jiuxiao.

“Where is Brother Jiu now?” He asked.

“Master has gone out to look for his wife; he hasn’t returned yet,” the guard captain said.

Why had not he returned yet?

Jin Cheng regarded the man slumped in his arms. After thinking it through, he said, “I’ll bring this man back with me and inform Brother Jiu of his presence after hearing what he has to say for himself.”

The guard captain was aware that Deputy Jin and his master had grown up together and shared a good relationship. Hence, he did not protest when Deputy Jin decided to interrogate the man for himself. “Understood, Deputy Jin.”

Jin Cheng rubbed his throbbing temple, feeling the onset of a headache. He would not have used so much force had he known the man would fall unconscious with a light tap. At least then, he would not have to carry the man. He hesitated for a second before deciding to carry the intruder back with him.

Jin Cheng set the man down in the back seat of his car and fished out a pair of handcuffs he always kept on him. Those went on the man’s hands, looping around his back. After which, he did not bother with the man any longer.

–

After returning to his villa…

Jin Cheng carried the man into a spare room, snapping the door shut behind him, and prepared to interrogate the intruder.

He unceremoniously threw the man onto the bed. Qin Shu, who had fainted, bounced up and down before rolling to a stop on her side, her eyebrows knit in consternation.

The lights in this room were especially bright, allowing him a good look at the intruder.

He looked young and very beautiful.

Jin Cheng bent down, supporting himself against the bed frame as he reached for the man’s forehead. He parted the messy hair hiding the man’s features, revealing silky smooth skin underneath. This time, he was able to study the man’s features more closely. The man looked so delicate, almost like a porcelain doll.

Jin Cheng’s brow furrowed. The man looked very much like Brother Jiu – even the inconspicuous mole above his eyebrow was the same.

Could this man be Brother Jiu’s illegitimate child?

However, Brother Jiu was not the type to sow wild oats; it did not fit his character.

Qin Shu woke up in a daze and realised that there was a figure staring at her. She could feel the stranger’s wandering eye, cataloguing her like a specimen under a microscope.

Was he the one who ambushed her? He had to be stronger than her if she did not notice him sneaking up.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw a handsome face magnified severalfold. Only then did she realise that her hands were handcuffed behind her back.

“You’re awake,” Jin Cheng straightened up and pulled a chair over to sit down. He crossed his legs, eyeing her lazily.

Qin Shu sat up and took stock of her surroundings. The furnishings were very simple, and she could not help but wonder if they were in the President’s manor.

She turned her attention to the handsome man seated before her and asked, “Were you the one who ambushed me?”

Jin Cheng nodded. “Yes. Why are you looking for Brother Jiu?”

“Who’s Brother Jiu?” Qin Shu struggled to free herself from the handcuffs restricting her movements. She did not feel comfortable handcuffed in this manner. “Remove these handcuffs, and we’ll talk.”

The man before her must have unrivalled martial strength. Otherwise, she would have sensed his approach and stopped his ambush.

“Brother Jiu is the President of Feng Yi. You said that Brother Jiu is your father. What proof do you have?” Jin Cheng patiently answered.

Qin Shu kept silent. “And who are you?” she asked.

Jin Cheng’s gaze turned cold. “It doesn’t matter who I am. You’d better tell me your identity. Otherwise, you won’t be walking out of here alive, whether or not you are a spy.”

Qin Shu could not tell who he was by his appearance or clothes. This was a man she had never met, and she was 100% certain that she did not know his identity.

“I’m not a spy. I’m just here to look for my family and ask if he’s my father.”

Jin Cheng pressed, “You mean Brother Jiu?”

Qin Shu nodded. “Yes.”

Jin Cheng fell into deep thought, sparing the handcuffed man a glance every so often. The man’s features were close enough to Brother Jiu’s that he could not immediately dismiss the man’s claims. “Very well. I shall bring you to see Brother Jiu. For now, go to sleep.”

After saying that, he stood up and prepared to leave.

Qin Shu hurriedly stopped him. “Wait, let me go.”

Jin Cheng stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at the man on the bed. He chuckled mockingly, “You’d better stay put. You should be thankful that I haven’t locked you up.”

He walked out without looking back.

Qin Shu shouted over his shoulder, “Hey, where’s Broken Moon?”

The door closed with a bang. She never did get her answer.

Qin Shu huffed. The very least he could have done was answer now, couldn’t he? She wiggled her wrists, feeling the cold steel biting into her skin. How long had it been since she was abducted?

“Who is he, and why does he call Master Brother Jiu? They must be close, I guess…” Qin Shu mumbled.

She took a deep breath and exerted her strength, thinking she would break free of the handcuffs around her wrist.

Nothing happened. The handcuffs did not so much as budge.

The only explanation she could come up with was that they were made of special materials, perhaps specifically crafted to contain those practising martial arts.

The possibility of sneaking out evaporated into thin air.

President Ba tried following Qin Shu when Jin Cheng abducted her, but one was a cat while the other drove in a car. There was no way he could keep up. Even if he ran at top speed for as long as he could, he would not be able to catch up. Thus, he remained in the President’s manor.

President Ba could smell Xiao Jiu’s scent. It led him to a courtyard. He jumped in happily, hoping to find Xiao Jiu, but his hopes were dashed. Xiao Jiu was not around.

In the end, President Ba went to look for Ye Luo.

Ye Luo was waiting nearby. When he saw President Ba running over, he bent down, bracing himself for the jump he knew was coming. President Ba leapt off the ground and into Ye Luo’s arms in a single sweeping motion.

Ye Luo’s heart skipped a beat. Where was the Young Madam?

President Ba called out to him, “Meow!”

Ye Luo may not have understood President Ba, but it seemed safe to say that something must have happened to the Young Madam.

The Young Madam had assured him that everything would be alright and that he should not jump to conclusions or barge in guns blazing if she did not return promptly. After all, the President’s manor was still her master’s residence.

–

It was five o’clock in the morning.

Feng Jiuxiao searched for an entire day and night but could not find either Ling’er or Xiao Jiu. When he returned to the President’s manor, he stood under the swing and looked at the familiar courtyard. However, it seemed emptier now that Ling’er and Xiao Jiu were not around.

When Jin Cheng learned that Feng Jiuxiao had returned, he rushed over. He arrived at Feng Jiuxiao’s side and asked, “Brother Jiu, is there any news about Ling’er?”

Feng Jiuxiao’s lips drew a thin line as he shook his head. His eyes, so full of wisdom, were clouded in an endless gloom.

It did not take a genius to guess what was on Feng Jiuxiao’s mind. Jin Cheng was pretty sure it was related to Ling’er and Xiao Jiu’s disappearance. His mind whirled to another man who looked so much like Feng Jiuxiao. Cautiously, he asked, “Brother Jiu, is it possible that you sired an illegitimate child outside?”