Chapter 158 Thunderous Rage

Meanwhile, the Bai Mansion finally discovered that Mistress Bai was missing, instantly throwing countless people into a panic. The guards, in particular, were terrified, as this was a dereliction of duty for which they would certainly not be spared if Lord Bai chose to punish them. Having found no trace of her after a thorough search, they had no choice but to promptly report the matter to Lord Bai.

Upon learning of this, Bai Shichen flew into a thunderous rage. Cursing them as incompetent fools, he hurried back home. Yet, after rigorous questioning, the only answer he received was absolute ignorance; Mistress Bai had seemingly vanished into thin air.

While furious at the incompetence of his guards, Bai Shichen also recognized the formidable nature of his opponent. To accomplish such a feat without a sound or a trace—even if the adversary was not necessarily overwhelmingly powerful—meant they were undeniably tricky to deal with.

"Are they trying to use her to threaten me?" Bai Shichen muttered to himself inwardly.

Aside from this, he could conceive of no other possibility. This had to be a despicable act perpetrated by someone with ulterior motives specifically targeting him.

However, this also indicated that Mistress Bai was likely safe for the time being. With his influence, even if he had to dig three feet into the ground, he would drag the culprit out.

Still, the immediate priority was to break free from this passive predicament; he had no desire to be led around by the nose indefinitely.

In the face of the unknown, he remained incapable of maintaining true composure.

Despite his high-ranking position, which appeared brilliantly glorious in the eyes of almost everyone, only he knew how deep the waters of this Ghost City truly ran. Every step he took was like walking on thin ice.

Bai Shichen did not waste breath on the guards or the Mistress's personal maid, knowing that questioning them further would yield nothing. Instead, he secretly summoned Chen Changfeng, the hidden guard he had stationed by his wife's side.

Chen Changfeng possessed immense strength, comparable to the Yin Spirit realm among cultivators. Such prowess made him one of the few top-tier experts within the Ghost City. Originally, with Chen guarding her in secret, Bai Shichen had felt completely secure, yet ultimately, something had gone wrong.

"Do you have anything to say?" Bai Shichen fixed a burning gaze upon him, his majestic aura fully unleashed, exerting a crushing pressure.

Chen Changfeng's heart trembled. Mistress Bai had vanished right under his nose; regardless of what he said, he could not shirk his blame.

After a moment of thought, Chen Changfeng replied, "This is indeed my dereliction of duty. Please punish me, My Lord."

At this juncture, he could not evade responsibility. Shifting the blame would only leave Bai Shichen with an even worse impression of him. Choosing to shoulder the burden entirely might not change the immediate outcome, but it would at least prevent things from worsening.

Moreover, the matter was of grave importance; prevarication was useless.

Bai Shichen swept a sharp glance over him and said coldly, "You are guilty, of course, but now is not the time for such talk. Think carefully: was there any anomaly beforehand, and how could the Mistress have vanished out of nowhere?"

If Chen Changfeng had truly sensed nothing at all, it would mean he was truly unworthy of trust. No matter how cunning the enemy might be, a failure of duty was a failure of duty, and one could not simply heap all the blame onto the adversary.

Chen Changfeng opened his mouth, but the words faltered on his lips. Hesitation flickered across his face, a complex expression of a man holding back what he wanted to say.

"Speak if you have something to say, don't stutter. As long as it concerns the Mistress, abandon all reservations and speak boldly," Bai Shichen said with a hint of surprise, having originally held little hope.

Yet, judging from this reaction, Chen Changfeng clearly knew some hidden details.

"My Lord, did you previously issue any instructions to Luo Kui?"

Chen Changfeng nodded slightly. Things had reached this point, and he had nothing left to lose; any prior misgivings were gone.

Still, he did not spell it out directly. If Luo Kui's words were true, Bai Shichen would naturally understand what he was referring to; conversely, it would mean Luo Kui had deceived him earlier.

Bai Shichen froze at these words, shaking his head in bewilderment. How did this matter become entangled with Luo Kui again?

Luo Kui had always seemed like a docile sheep, regularly bringing him wool. Bai Shichen had consistently appreciated him, considering him a man of considerable potential.

Chen Changfeng thought to himself that things looked ominous. If Bai Shichen's reaction was not feigned, wouldn't that make his crimes even heavier?

Not only had he lost the Mistress, but he had also previously believed the slander of a petty person.

If the previous failure was merely a disaster visited upon him by fate, then adding the crime of heeding the slander of a vile wretch like Luo Kui would thoroughly cement his dereliction of duty.

Yet, matters had progressed to a point where concealment was impossible; he had no choice but to confess everything.

It was not that he had never considered keeping it a secret, but Bai Shichen's influence far surpassed his imagination. Confessing of his own accord was always better than being exposed; holding onto blind luck would only completely sever his last thread of survival.

Furthermore, the matter was of paramount importance. If he reported it in time, there might still be a chance for remediation; conversely, if he dragged it out, it would truly be beyond saving.

With this thought, Lu Changfeng wasted no more time and hurriedly spilled everything he knew in full detail.

"Whose courage gives him the audacity to commit such a shocking and outrageous act? Or could it be that there are others pulling strings behind the scenes?" Upon hearing this, Bai Shichen immediately fell into deep contemplation. After a brief analysis, several hypotheses quickly surfaced in his mind.

Had it not been for Chen Changfeng's revelation, Bai Shichen could have racked his brains and still struggled to connect this matter to Luo Kui.

Yet, upon careful reflection now, a sudden realization dawned on him.

Before any final conclusion could be drawn, these thoughts remained mere conjecture, but in Bai Shichen's heart, they were already eight parts certain.

Luo Kui's purpose in doing this was undoubtedly to secure benefits for himself, and the only reason that could make him risk offending Bai Shichen was clear.

That meant someone was pulling the strings behind Luo Kui, and the status of this person was definitely no weaker than his own.

In that case, the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes naturally emerged. Although he did not yet know which Commander it was, there were only a handful of Commanders in the Ghost City; a careful investigation would surely unearth some clues.

At this thought, Bai Shichen's gaze grew fierce, his expression tinged with a faint, chilling frost.

Before long, Bai Shichen mobilized hundreds of Yin soldiers at top speed.

Although there were only a few hundred Yin soldiers, they were the elite among the elite, each possessing the might of a thousand men, their comprehensive strength far surpassing ordinary Yin soldiers.

"Divide into two groups: one squad goes straight to the Luo Mansion, and the other begins a strict search throughout the city. Do not let even a single fly slip through."