The sky gradually darkened.0

At first, the torches were only meant to bolster courage, ward off evil, and dispel darkness. But as night fell, they became necessary for illumination.0

Tonight, the Liao family’s courtyard was livelier than ever.0

Everyone searched patiently, leaving no corner unchecked—not even mouse holes, which they pried open just to make sure the golden toad wasn’t hiding inside.0

Not only did they have to be cautious while searching, but even walking required care.0

They remembered what the immortal master had said earlier—if the golden toad wasn’t simply hiding somewhere, it might have used some illusion or invisibility technique. After much discussion, they decided to counter this by sprinkling a thin layer of flour all over the courtyard, inside and out. Now, whenever they moved around, they had to be extremely careful, stepping only in existing footprints.0

It wasn’t too difficult during the day, but once night fell, each time they entered or exited a room, they had to lower their torches or lanterns to closely examine the footprints on the ground.0

“Have you found it?”0

“No!”0

“Where could that thing be hiding?”0

“Search more thoroughly! That thing doesn’t move easily. Whenever it needed to be moved before, it always had to ask us to carry it. It couldn’t have gone far!”0

“We’ve searched everywhere...”0

Anxiety and frustration spread among the group.0

As time passed, despite their...0