The Heart Affinity Lamp led Zhang Fengxi to a normal, busy town in the Human Realm. Xiao Huang, the adorable tiger cub in his arms, attracted a lot of attention.
A pair of father and son even mistook him for a wild hunter.
"Young man, my son really likes your tiger cub. How much does it cost?"
Zhang Fengxi declined the offer politely.
"I am sorry, but he is not for sale."
"Oooh, but... Papa, I really want that tiger cub!" the five-year-old boy insisted.
The poor father looked perplexed.
"This... aiyah, young man, it is alright if I have to pay more for the cub. Please let my son have it."
The man extended his hands after Xiao Huang, who hissed at him and tried to claw at his hands.
"Whoa!"
The man quickly withdrew his hands in fright.
"What a coincidence, Prince Zhang Fengxi. Are you selling tiger cubs in your free time?" a cold voice made all three people turn their heads in surprise.
Xie Jianshen stood there with Wangshu trotting obediently next to him.
For the first time ever, Zhang Fengxi was glad to see Xie Jianshen. It meant that Zhang Fengxi was not wasting his time in the wrong place.
"He is a wild tiger cub. Sir, please do not endanger yourself and your son."
With those last words, he then closed the short distance between him and the Shuiran Palace Mistress.
"I brought our Longjing Palace’s Heart Affinity Lamp with me," he said while raising the lamp to Xie Jianshen’s eye level.
"You also want to find your brother. Why don’t we cooperate?"
Xie Jianshen narrowed his eyes at Zhang Fengxi. Zhang Fengxi knew that Xie Jianshen was suspicious by nature. It was not surprising when one considered how many royal secrets he kept and how many invisible strings he pulled from behind the curtain.
Xie Jianshen silently eyed the blue-glowing lamp in Zhang Fengxi’s hand.
Wangshu took him to this town, but they failed to find Old Hao and his stall. According to the other street vendors, the old man was enjoying some well-deserved holidays. A generous young master paid him a large sum of money a few days ago.
Xie Jianshen did not need to ask to know who the generous young master was.
Unable to find Old Hao, Xie Jianshen was lost. He did not know where else to go. Until he came across Zhang Fengxi and Xiao Huang.
And the Heart Affinity Lamp.
Having heard about it but never seen it, Xie Jianshen had a faint inkling of how the lamp worked. The blue color of the flame was a helpful hint.
"Is it burning with the remnants of Little Yu’s spiritual power?"
Zhang Fengxi nodded.
"Correct. It can track the strands of spiritual power that Xie Jianyu left behind."
So to say, his spiritual footprints.
"How much does the lamp cost?" Xie Jianshen asked without preambles.
"..."
Why did everyone want to buy something from him today? Did he have a sign on his forehead that said something like "Stuff For Sale, Please Offer"?
"Our palace heirloom is not for sale. I am sure that you understand."
Xie Jianshen humphed.
"In that case, what do you want in return for your help?"
Zhang Fengxi stared at the haughty-looking man opposite him.
"Nothing. Do I look like someone who would take advantage of the situation?"
Xie Jianshen smirked.
"Naturally. Aren’t you holding a grudge because I stuck you with the Gu Worm?"
"Xie Jianshen, I disapprove of your methods. It doesn’t mean that I will rejoice when something happens to Xie Jianyu. Believe me or not, I do want to help find him."
Xie Jianshen’s eyes flickered with reproach when he heard Zhang Fengxi address him without honorifics.
"Insolent brat," he murmured under his breath. "Go on then, where is the lamp pointing to?"
Zhang Fengxi lifted the lamp higher and squinted at the bustling street. It was much more difficult to see the footprints with so many people wandering back and forth.
"Over there."
Xie Jianshen wordlessly dragged Wangshu with him. Once the horse knew where the two men were heading, he ran faster than them and neighed loudly in front of a tea house.
"..."
"..."
"The footprints do lead inside," Zhang Fengxi confirmed. "Let’s go in, then?"
Zhang Fengxi followed the footprints to the second floor, to a certain table at a remote corner.
At the moment, two travelers were relaxing there while drinking some wine. They quickly became tense when Zhang Fengxi stood in front of them in a daze, a blue lamp in his hand.
"This... Young Master, how can we help you?"
Zhang Fengxi did not answer.
Xie Jianyu’s spiritual presence ended in this very spot. But how?
An ominous thought overcame him, causing his face to darken visibly.
Did someone kill Xie Jianyu?
"Gentlemen, we lost a necklace here," Xie Jianshen told the two travelers. "Do you mind sitting at another table? I will pay for your drink to compensate you."
The two men gaped at Xie Jianshen. Although he was over twenty years older than Zhang Fengxi, he still retained his beautiful and youthful look.
"No no no! Please, take your time searching for your necklace!" a man quickly jumped to his feet.
"Please, errr... Mister, we will not intrude! We will sit at another table! Please don’t mind us!" his companion cried out as well.
Xie Jianshen tilted his head in gratitude.
"Thank you, gentlemen."
Zhang Fengxi touched the pillow next to Xie Jianyu’s last spiritual footprint. Xie Jianyu sat here.
Alone?
Or was he with someone?
Zhang Fengxi blew at the Heart Affinity Lamp and extinguished the blue flame within.
"What are you doing?" Xie Jianshen queried.
"I am going to capture the other person’s spiritual essence," came the answer.
Zhang Fengxi mumbled a spell in a low voice. He lit the lamp using his spiritual power again.
The lamp burned red. And then, it showed Zhang Fengxi all the other spiritual footprints that remained at the tea table.
One foot away from the tea table, right above the floor, a dark mist hovered insidiously.