The older brother returned directly from the space to his own Tingzhu Courtyard.
As for Feng Zexuan, she returned to Tingfeng Courtyard. Just as she stepped inside, she heard knocking from outside the gate.
“Knock knock knock—”
The rhythm was steady, but carried a sense of urgency.
When she opened the door, she saw her father standing outside with several constables, their expressions grave.
“Greetings, Prince of the North! I am Li Yong, head constable of the Jingzhao Prefecture,” the leading officer said respectfully.
Feng Zexuan looked at them in confusion.
Why had so many officers suddenly arrived in the middle of the night?
Li Yong was a capable young man in his twenties, with a square face and sharp eyes. His voice was deep and steady as he spoke:
“Your Highness, we just received a report. Civilians spotted suspicious individuals near the Feng residence, possibly human traffickers. I have been ordered to investigate.”
Feng Zexuan’s heart tightened, her expression turning serious.
Human traffickers? That was no small matter.
“Do you need to search inside?”
“We ask for Your Highness’s cooperation.”
Feng Zexuan stepped aside.
Li Yong gave a signal, and two constables immediately rushed into the house.
“Your Highness, over the past half month, eleven children have gone missing in the capital. All of them are from wealthy families, aged between two and twelve.”
Li Yong reported truthfully.
“The case is extremely serious. Jingzhao Prefecture and Shuntian Prefecture have been investigating together, but there has been no progress. His Majesty is furious and has ordered us to solve the case within a deadline.”
While speaking, he kept glancing at Feng Zexuan, as if waiting for something.
【Eleven children?!】
Feng Zexuan clenched her fists unconsciously.
【System, what kind of monster is this kidnapper? Acting so brazenly under the Emperor’s nose! He’s asking for death!】
Li Yong’s eyes suddenly widened, his body trembling slightly.
The Prince clearly hadn’t spoken—so why did he hear a voice?
And it sounded like it directly rang in his mind!
He was shocked, then excited.
Could the rumors be true?
Did the Prince of the North really have mind-reading abilities?
No… it must be that he could hear her thoughts!
Then that meant…
They had come to the right place!
The two constables finished their search and signaled to Li Yong that nothing unusual was found.
But their expressions were strange, as if they had also heard something.
The system immediately responded:
【Host, the kidnapper is none other than the famous “Blind Bone-Setting Divine Doctor” Qi Mingde in the capital!】
【This man has practiced medicine for twenty years. Because he is “blind,” even noble young ladies dare to invite him into their homes for treatment!】
Li Yong and the constables’ expressions changed drastically.
Blind divine doctor?
That respected physician Qi Mingde?
Wasn’t he blind?
Feng Huan’an was also stunned. When he had sprained his waist two years ago, he had even sought Qi Mingde’s treatment.
Those white, pupil-less eyes had looked terrifying—who would have thought it was all an act!
The more he thought about it, the more afraid he became. When Qi Mingde massaged him back then…
Those hands…
The system continued exposing the truth:
【Qi Mingde is not blind at all! That old pervert is faking it!】
【He uses special medicinal liquid to turn his eyeballs white and practices walking like a blind man just to lower people’s guard!】
【He takes advantage of bone-setting treatments to touch women inappropriately and even drugs them into confusion!】
Feng Zexuan frowned in disgust, her face turning pale:
【What the hell! This bastard has been pretending to be blind for twenty years just to molest women? He’s worse than an animal!】
The system continued:
【Those victims thought it was just a dream afterward. Even if they suspected something, they didn’t dare speak out.】
【After all, he was “blind”—who would believe them? It would only ruin their own reputations.】
【Qi Mingde has thus gotten away with it for twenty years. Half the noble ladies in the capital have been harmed by him.】
Li Yong clenched his fists, wishing he could arrest him immediately.
The other constables were grinding their teeth in anger.
The system continued:
【Recently, he plans to change his method and start kidnapping children.】
Feng Zexuan’s heart tightened.
【Why kidnap children? Don’t tell me he has some sick fetish!】
Everyone held their breath.
Even Feng Huan’an was sweating.
The system paused deliberately, stretching the suspense:
【No, host. Qi Mingde kidnaps children because he wants to… become a godfather.】
【What?!】
Feng Zexuan almost choked.
Li Yong: “……”
Feng Huan’an: “……”
Constables: “……”
This explanation was too absurd!
The system continued:
【He’s over fifty now and… not performing well anymore. He panicked and found a monk…】
【That monk told him: “Adopt godsons and raise them for a hundred days, and you will regain your youth!”】
【Qi Mingde, desperate and confused, actually believed it—so he began kidnapping children!】
【That monk even said the more godsons, the better—best to gather all twelve zodiac signs, forming the “Twelve Zodiac Formation.”】
【It would grant him long life and the vitality of a twenty-year-old.】
【So Qi Mingde carefully selected children based on zodiac ages, kidnapping kids aged two to twelve. Only a one-year-old “Rat-year” child remains.】
Feng Zexuan internally raged:
【What the hell kind of nonsense theory is this?! Even those fake health-product scams in my past life aren’t this ridiculous!】
【Wait… is that monk Yuan Tong?】
【Half right, host! This time it’s his junior brother, Shen Tong!】
Feng Huan’an’s face darkened.
Again connected to those fraudulent monks!
Those two brothers were a disaster!
【Shen Tong told him he must complete the twelve godsons by March 15th, or everything will be wasted.】
【Now only three days remain before March 15th—Qi Mingde is panicking.】
Feng Zexuan quickly asked:
【Where are the children now? Are they safe?】
【They are being treated like little ancestors in his private estate outside the city!】
【They are given fine food and even have attendants to play with them. Qi Mingde almost treats them like his own children.】
Li Yong and the others sighed in relief.
At least the children were temporarily safe.
【However…】
The system suddenly turned.
Everyone’s heart lifted again.
【Shen Tong told him that once the Twelve Zodiac Formation begins, the children will achieve “completion” and return to the underworld.】
【Meaning after a hundred days of care, they will all be sacrificed and killed!】
Feng Zexuan’s killing intent exploded:
【That beast! He’s not human!】
Her fury was so intense that everyone in the room could feel the chilling pressure.
Li Yong finally understood why his superiors told him to come here.
They weren’t investigating.
They were here to get the answer directly.
The Prince of the North’s ability was more useful than ten top investigators combined.
Feng Zexuan asked inwardly:
【System, where is the private estate?】
【At Maple Leaf Manor, ten miles west of the city. It’s remote, rarely visited.】
【Host, Qi Mingde plans to abduct the twelfth child tonight. You can intercept him directly!】
A cold light flashed in Feng Zexuan’s eyes. She turned to Li Yong and said:
“Constable Li, the criminal may strike again tonight. I will join you in the patrol.”
【Tonight, we must bring this beast down!】
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