The two graceful figures sat quietly in the carriage. If Edward Jr. Sutton were to see them at this moment, he would surely recognize that these were the very women he had seen earlier in the shrine.

At this time, the young woman glanced at the girl, her brows slightly furrowed, and asked with a hint of displeasure, “What was wrong with you just now, why were you so talkative?”

Hearing this, the girl’s hands, holding the scroll, paused slightly.

In fact, she herself was a bit puzzled. Those words that slipped out just now—if it had been before, she would never have said them. After all, it was tantamount to revealing a heavenly secret. Even if it was a small matter, for them, it could easily bring trouble.

But these things were not easy to explain to her aunt, lest her aunt overthink.

“Perhaps I saw his good intentions and thought to give him a word of advice.” Beneath the veil, the girl’s expression was calm, her voice tinged with cold indifference.

Seeing her like this, the young woman secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The boy was handsome and had an extraordinary bearing—if the girl truly developed feelings, it would be a troublesome affair indeed. This was for the best.

But as they were about to reach their destination, the young woman couldn’t help but take the opportunity to offer a few words of advice.

“Let this be the last time. You must know that as we walk among mortals, we must act with caution and never be careless.”

“To establish ourselves in the human world, we must use human aura to mask our otherness, so we all do good deeds, adopt orphans, and raise them as members of the The Brooks Family, blending in among them.”

“Even in newly relocated groups, only one or two are truly of our clan. If all were clan members, how could we live among humans? We would have been discovered long ago.”

“Especially those alchemists—they use our kind as spiritual medicine, the most ruthless of all, and their noses are keen.”

“Besides, that boy is not simple.”

“The shrine allowing him entry is already unusual. And if I’m not mistaken, the blood on the ground is human, the stains still fresh, resentful spirits still lingering. Even if ordinary people can’t see or hear them, they would still sense something.”

“But this person sat upright and recited, letting the resentment swirl around him, his voice clear and bright. If he was not the killer, that’s one thing. But if he was, and still maintained such composure…” The young woman shook her head. People like this are all very frightening: “Most of them are born with great fortune, even if it’s a baleful one. At this time, you must not get involved.”

After being repeatedly reminded to act cautiously, even the girl’s cool and aloof nature couldn’t help but feel a trace of annoyance—not at her elder’s guidance, but at the promise she had to fulfill on this trip.

“Third Aunt, is the one I was betrothed to back then really here?” The girl changed the subject.

“Back then, a fox was appointed as wife, with a sandalwood hairpin as proof. A single word sealed the karma, and even after hundreds of years, it cannot be erased. Now that your half of the sandalwood hairpin has reacted, it must mean your destined one has arrived.” This matter was even more important, and the young woman was immediately drawn to it.

“Third Aunt, what is the name of the one who was appointed as the fox’s husband back then? Why, after hundreds of years, does such great karma remain, worthy of such attention from the clan?”

“It cannot be spoken.”

The young woman seemed to have misgivings, as if some unseen force prevented her from uttering the name. She sighed softly, “You only need to know that the matter of the sandalwood hairpin is a great opportunity, one that can even stir the workings of fate.”

“In every generation of our fox clan, besides cultivation, we must read human books and learn human etiquette, all in preparation for this.” There was an indescribable envy and fear in her eyes. “If I had been born a few decades earlier, it would have been me.”

“You have this fortune, and we are all envious. However, once the sandalwood hairpin is activated, fate will change, and calamity may arise, throwing your heart into chaos. You must be careful… For now, anyone who approaches you is a lecher; there’s no need to be polite.”

“As for the The Brooks Family, it’s merely a cover for our clan’s identity. We don’t rely on them for food or supplies. Our clan has long since established shops in this Linhua County. After entering the city, we’ll first inspect the shop, then go to the The Brooks Family.”

“I understand, Third Aunt.” The girl listened to the advice and asked no more, only clutching the half piece of sandalwood hairpin in her sleeve, her gaze drifting into the distance.

Outside the carriage, snowflakes fluttered, the cold biting to the bone. The slanting wind and thick snow made the road ahead even harder to see.

“Third Aunt is always so cautious. I just wonder if this The Brooks Family knows their place.”

As for the boy from earlier, though he had stirred a ripple, it quickly faded.

Chapter Five: Notes from Tang Garden

“Achoo!” Sitting on the ox cart, Edward Jr. Sutton sneezed. Unaware that the two women he had encountered were thinking of him, he rode the passing ox cart, braving the wind and snow, and entered the city a bit later.

Snowflakes fell thickly. To shield themselves from the snow, many passersby wore straw raincoats or carried sturdy oil-paper umbrellas. After getting off the ox cart, Edward Jr. Sutton headed straight for an inn.

It was an old shop with three storefronts facing the street, bearing the sign “Cai Family Old Shop.” Two watermelon-patterned gauze lanterns were still lit. Edward Jr. Sutton put away his oil-paper umbrella, stomped his feet, shook the snow from his shoulders, and headed inside. The rush of warm air revived him completely.

A clerk was wiping down the tables and chairs in the main hall. As one of the better inns in Linhua County, the second floor had private rooms, the first floor served simple meals, and the back housed a row of guest rooms—seven or eight in all. Seeing a young man approach, the clerk glanced at him and was about to step forward to inquire.

“Edward Jr. Sutton!”

“Brother Sutton!”

Two greetings rang out. Two young men, clearly scholars, came from the back rooms and headed straight for the newcomer.

Seeing they were acquaintances, the clerk held back. After all, if he wanted to stay, he would ask; if he was visiting friends, stepping forward would only be annoying.