Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 713: Chapter 713: We Have a Clue

Forget it. I’ll worry about this later. I have to find Xiao Xiao first!

Ye Qingchen glanced outside the inn. In just a short while, the number of patrols on the street had increased significantly. He had planned on heading out, but seeing the patrols marching back and forth, he feared he would be discovered and captured the moment he stepped outside.

That Zheng Xiao is ridiculous, wanting me as her male pet. She has good taste, I’ll give her that, but I have absolutely no interest in her.

Ye Qingchen leaned against the bed, watching the soldiers below and racking his brain for a way to deal with them. Just as he was debating whether to charge out, he suddenly heard voices from the adjacent private room.

”Hahaha, do you all know why there are suddenly so many patrols outside?” a man’s proud voice asked.

The others all asked curiously.

”Come on, Butler Liu, don’t keep us in suspense! What’s going on? Just tell us!”

”Yes, yes! All these guards popping up out of nowhere is making me very anxious.”

”Butler Liu, you’re the former butler of the Zheng Family. You’d be the first to know about anything happening there, big or small. Did something happen to the Zheng Family?”

”Butler Liu, you’re not pulling our leg, are you?”

Hearing their questions, the man burst into hearty laughter. ”I may be the *former* butler of the Zheng Family, but I still know everything that goes on there, big or small! You all want to know what’s happening outside, right? Hahaha, I won’t hide it from you—it’s nothing major at all!”

Everyone leaned in, their eyes wide with curiosity.

”The young miss of the Zheng Family is furious because her male pet ran away, so she’s sent people out to catch him!”

As soon as he said this, a collective sigh went through the room.

”Pah! And here I was thinking something serious had happened. Turns out it’s just a trivial matter. Is it really necessary to deploy so many people for something like this?”

”Oh, you don’t know what kind of temper Young Miss Zheng has. She’s the only child, and her parents spoil her rotten. I’m not surprised at all that she’d do something like this.”

”I’m curious, though. What does the guy look like? He must be something special to have Young Miss Zheng this mesmerized.”

”Indeed. I’d heard rumors about Young Miss Zheng keeping male pets, but I’ve never seen her go to such lengths for one before.”

The group’s voices, neither too loud nor too soft, reached Ye Qingchen’s ears. Hearing their conversation, Ye Qingchen frowned. He even knows that Zheng Xiao is after me for escaping. Could it be that he also knows Xiao Xiao’s whereabouts?

Having made up his mind, Ye Qingchen didn’t hesitate. He went over and knocked on the door of the adjacent room.

”Who is it?” Someone opened the door and, upon seeing Ye Qingchen, asked in confusion.

”The man inside, Butler Liu, knows who I am,” Ye Qingchen said coolly.

I’m not actually sure if he recognizes me; this is just a way to test my theory. If Butler Liu can identify me, then he really is as well-informed as he claims. If he can’t, it just means he was all talk!

Inside the room, Butler Liu heard Ye Qingchen’s words and looked up, confused. When he saw Ye Qingchen’s face, he froze for a second. Then, a broad smile spread across his face as he walked over.

”Kid, are you testing me? Look outside. See how many people are searching for you? If I were to shout right now, they’d all come running to catch you.”

Hearing this, Ye Qingchen finally confirmed his suspicions. This Butler Liu really was something.

”Butler Liu, since you’re willing to discuss the Zheng Family’s affairs so openly in public, you must not be on good terms with them. So, you wouldn’t turn me in, right?” Ye Qingchen smiled at the man before him.

Butler Liu let out a hearty laugh. ”You’ve got a point. Come on in, we’re all friends here!”

Butler Liu turned, and Ye Qingchen followed him into the room. The other occupants began whispering amongst themselves as soon as they saw him.

”Speak of the devil. We were just talking about him, and here he is.”

”Well, you have to admit, Young Miss Zheng knows how to pick them. This pretty boy is certainly handsome.”

”But why would he run away? Being with Young Miss Zheng comes with a lot of perks. If I were him, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to escape.”

Ye Qingchen ignored their chatter and sat down beside Butler Liu.

”You came looking for me so suddenly, so you must want something,” Butler Liu said, as if he had already anticipated it. ”Spit it out. What do you want to ask?”

Ye Qingchen glanced around the room before saying coolly, ”Butler Liu, if you really know everything about the Zheng Family, then you must know that on the day Zheng Xiao captured me, there was a young woman with me.”

Butler Liu thought for a moment, then nodded. ”Indeed, there was a young woman. A real beauty, too. But Young Miss Zheng has no interest in women, so... I bet you can’t find her now, can you?”

Ye Qingchen’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. How does he know so much? He isn’t the Zheng Family’s butler anymore. Would the Zheng Family really let such information get out?

Butler Liu seemed to read his mind. He chuckled. ”Don’t underestimate me, kid. It’s true I was dismissed from the Zheng Family due to a... disagreement. But what they don’t know is that the current butler is my own brother!”

Butler Liu wasn’t afraid of Ye Qingchen finding out. He could tell the boy had his own problems with the Zheng Family. Besides, if Ye Qingchen were to expose this, Butler Liu wouldn’t be so courteous with him anymore.

Ye Qingchen nodded in understanding. No wonder he knows so much.

”Butler Liu, in that case, can you tell me where the young woman who was with me is now?” Hope flared in Ye Qingchen’s eyes once more.

Butler Liu cleared his throat. ”Kid, my information doesn’t come for free.”

His meaning couldn’t have been clearer. Ye Qingchen said immediately, ”Butler Liu, name your price.” For Xiao Xiao’s sake, no cost was too high.

After a moment of thought, Butler Liu spoke slowly. ”I know where she is. I also know that you defeated the Zheng Family’s Uncle Wang, which proves you’re exceptionally strong. So, how about this? If you can go to the den of the Demon Beast King on the rear mountain and retrieve a Ginseng Fruit, I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

Of course, Butler Liu already knew that Zheng Xiao had thrown Xiao Xiao onto the rear mountain. However, so much time had passed that the girl had likely already been devoured by the Monster Beasts there. Thus, even if Ye Qingchen went to the mountain, he wouldn’t find the girl, and Butler Liu would get his Ginseng Fruit.