Nana's aunt shook her head. “I didn’t know. I’ve been staying at my eldest son’s apartment for most of the time to take care of his son. I’ve rarely come back here. My husband has spent more time home than I have. How could he not find them?”

Li Mazi kept observing the floor. Eventually, he walked up to us and said, “I can tell that those things have been here for at least one month. When we arrived in the room, we immediately heard some noise. I refuse to believe that Old Chef has never heard any commotion.”

I thought about the matter then said, “It’s possible that he wasn’t in his right mind at night. Some evil spirit might have been messing with him.”

Li Mazi nodded and said, “Yeah, it’s possible.”

“Please, you must save my husband!” Nana's aunt cried again.

I tried to comfort her. When she calmed down, she continued, “I don’t understand. Didn’t they say that the House Protecting Immortals would protect one’s house? Why do they want to harm my husband? Although he doesn’t worship the House Protecting Immortals, he has never hurt any of those small animals.”

“Hold on, what did you just say?” I suddenly got a very important clue.

Nana's aunt was puzzled. I guessed she didn’t get what I meant and thought that she had said something wrong.

I asked,...