Xiao Jingcheng leaned against the tree trunk. If there had been light around, one could have seen that his face was deathly pale.
After taking a long time to digest it, the missing piece of the memory puzzle in his mind finally fit into place, and he finally connected all the dots. The surging emotions in his heart finally subsided completely.
He let out a long, deep breath and only then realized that his back was completely soaked with cold sweat.
Supporting his forehead, he let out a low laugh. The laugh grew louder and louder. His shoulders trembled. As he laughed, a bitter look crept onto his face.
It turned out that during this period of time, he had actually lost the memory of what happened after he fell off the cliff.
How could he have forgotten?
It was true that when he learned from Huang that he might have possessed it, he had resisted the idea in his heart and was even reluctant to admit it. But until now, the memories in his mind told him that it was not an illusion or a dream, but a real and indelible experience.
"General?" came the cautious voice of Sangsiao in his ear. Xiao Jingcheng turned his head and saw that behind him, Sangsiao and the other dogs were squatting there, looking at him eagerly.
When his gaze swept over them, the dogs took a timid step back. Even Sangsiao's tail drooped and was tucked between its legs.
Why, why did it feel like the general was even more terrifying than before? Sangsiao thought shiveringly.
"How did you recognize me?" Xiao Jingcheng asked hoarsely.
He had thought that only Huang knew about his possession of it. He never expected that these dogs in Dongli Town would also notice.
He had to admit that they were really spiritual.
Sangsiao's tail wagged slightly behind it, and it said obsequiously, "The general and Huang are different. The general is powerful, while Huang is weak."
It would never submit to that coward Huang! Woof!
Xiao Jingcheng corrected it calmly, "Huang is not weak. It was abandoned when it was born. It met Jiang Mian, who saved it and gave it her whole - hearted love. Unlike you, who have to fight for food. Without fighting, it's hard to survive."
"If someone loved you and gave you a home, you would be like it too."
Although his tone was extremely calm, there was a solemnity that made others submit.
Sangsiao couldn't help but lower its body a bit. Its voice was filled with envy and longing, "The general is right. We also want a home and a master."
Xiao Jingcheng said, "You will. You've helped me a great deal. I won't forget your merits. Later, I'll find a way to settle you down."
Sangsiao was overjoyed. It led the dogs behind it and barked at Xiao Jingcheng.
"The general is majestic! The general is majestic!"
"Swear to follow the general to the death!"
"Follow the general and the fairy sister, and we'll have meat to eat!"
"Loyalty!"
Amid the howling - like barks, Xiao Jingcheng strode out. With his clothes fluttering, he came to the place where Ye Wanmian had been and sat down.
Without his summons, the dogs closely followed his steps and sat down in front of him.
Xiao Jingcheng casually picked up a pebble, tossed it gently in his palm, and asked Sangsiao, "When you saw me in the market today, you said you had all been keeping an eye on those places as I ordered. Tell me, has there been any unusual activity at Liuxiang Tower in recent days?"
This was originally his purpose for tonight. He just wanted to wait until everyone in Huichun Hall fell asleep and then come to Sangsiao to inquire for information. He never expected that Ye Wanmian wouldn't sleep at night and was actually a night - walker like him.
Sangsiao perked up, knowing that it was its chance to shine. It immediately barked at Xiao Jingcheng.
"The person the general told us to watch has been looking for many books recently and reads them in the room every day."
"Sangsiao thought something was wrong, so it told Curly to steal one when he wasn't paying attention!"
Xiao Jingcheng knew the capabilities of these dogs. Since they could silently steal the shoes he was wearing when he fell off the cliff from Bu Hua, they must be able to avoid Xiao Yixuan's attention again and steal something.
Curly took Sangsiao's order and scurried away. After about half a cup of tea, Curly ran towards him with something in its mouth.
Xiao Jingcheng took the heavy book from Curly's mouth and praised, "Well done. You didn't slack off just because I didn't give you an order."
Curly's tail wagged vigorously, and it barked, "General, Curly also heard those two people arguing!"
Curly was referring to Xiao Yixuan and Xiao Wuchen.
Xiao Jingcheng raised his eyebrows, "Oh? What were they arguing about and how did they argue?"
Curly called a little yellow dog forward. The two dogs barked back and forth in front of him, perfectly re - enacting the conversation between Xiao Yixuan and Xiao Wuchen that night.
After listening, Xiao Jingcheng threw the pebble in his hand into the distance and said to Sangsiao, "Just like before, divide into three groups. Keep an eye on Liuxiang Tower and that small courtyard. The rest of the dogs are responsible for protecting Huichun Hall and protecting her."
Sangsiao immediately agreed. Only then did it remember Ye Wanmian's instructions earlier and asked cautiously, "What about the fairy sister..."
Xiao Jingcheng said, "You must take what she told you to do to heart. Not only should you make those who bully her suffer, but also make sure they don't have the energy to cause trouble at Huichun Hall anymore."
Thinking of that locked small courtyard and the silly woman who looked quite similar to Ye Wanmian, he squinted his eyes and said in a deep voice, "It would be best if you could find out their real purpose for coming to Dongli Town."
Yes, them.
After regaining his memory, Xiao Jingcheng also remembered that the Ye siblings had come to Dongli Town with Xiao Yixuan.
Ye Wanmian had always been kind - hearted in Dongli Town and never took the initiative to conflict with or feud with others. If anyone wanted to make her feel embarrassed and completely unable to live in Dongli Town, there was no one else but those two from the Ye family.
Those two didn't come to Dongli Town just for an old - place visit. If he could find out their real purpose, he could take precautions earlier.
Xiao Jingcheng jumped off the high platform and looked down at the dogs, "There should be two different scents on that money bag just now."
"I also need you to find the man who came to cause trouble at Huichun Hall today. But after you find him, don't alarm him for the time being. I'll teach him a lesson myself."
Sangsiao felt the killing intent from him. Its four limbs trembled, and it quickly agreed.
"Alright, disperse. If there's something, I'll summon you."
After dispersing the dogs, Xiao Jingcheng held the book stolen by Curly and walked back.
There were still watchmen and guards patrolling the town from time to time. Now that Xiao Jingcheng had regained his human form, his hearing and sense of smell seemed more like a dog's. Relying on his hearing and sense of smell, he easily avoided the possibility of being discovered and successfully returned to Huichun Hall.