Huang Lu's shoulder didn't land on him; he instantly bent his arm, flexing a muscle barely larger than an egg. "See this muscle? I got it from eating all those tonics."
"Mm, pretty good." Chu Ming replied casually, turning toward the door, stepping in front of Little Shan, blocking Qin Gui's disgusting gaze.
Little Shan was at a loss as to what to do, and then saw the not-so-tall figure ahead. "Young... Master..."
Qin Gui saw Chu Ming approaching, his face changed repeatedly. "Young Master, how did you..."
He only got out a few words before suddenly stopping because what came next couldn't be asked.
This Third Young Master, last time he visited was just after recovering from illness, looking frail and sickly, and now he...
Where did things go wrong?
He had clearly instructed the doctor in town to add something to this young master's medicine...
Not only didn't he get sicker, he looks even healthier?
"What about me?" Chu Ming's expression was calm, his gaze falling on Qin Gui.
At the same time, the [Sword Gourd Spirit] activated, perception instantly heightened.
As expected, the bloody and rotten stench on Huang Lu was also present on Qin Gui, and even more intense.
"Y-Young Master, this is your monthly salary." After a brief moment of surprise and doubt, Qin Gui quickly composed himself, bringing out two taels of silver.
"Young Master?" When Huang Lu heard this, he bustled over, circled Chu Ming, and asked in disbelief, "Brother Chu, you are a young master?"
"Why can't my young master be a young master?" Little Shan retorted indignantly.
Huang Lu looked toward Qin Gui again, asking, "Young Master Chu?"
Qin Gui forced a stiff nod.
With that, Huang Lu's expression became quite animated. "Well, uh, my dad's waiting for me at home to dry herbs, so I'll be off now."
He hadn't even finished his words before he slipped out of the courtyard and ran away.
Little Shan saw this and, ignoring whether Qin Gui was still at the door, closed the gate at once.
Qin Gui stared at the closed wooden door, dazed for a moment, then suddenly remembering something, hurried after Huang Lu.
He hadn't run far before he saw Huang Lu muttering to himself ahead.
"Brother Chu took my father's herbs and became a young master. The young master took my father's herbs and topped the exams..."
The muttering was almost incoherent, but Qin Gui's eyes flickered. He grabbed Huang Lu. "What did you just say about being first?"
"Young Master Chu, of course."
"Young Master Chu is first in what?"
"Young Master Chu..." Huang Lu was about to speak when his eyes fell on the jade token at Qin Gui's waist. "The jade... that's the first!"
"..." Black lines ran across Qin Gui's forehead. He fished out a few cents from his pocket. "First in what?"
"What first?" Huang Lu picked up his pace.
A sinister glint flashed in Qin Gui's eyes. He took off the jade token. "Can you talk now?"
Getting the jade token, Huang Lu grinned from ear to ear. "Academy exam—first place! Young Master Chu is first in the exam."
Academy exam! First place?!
Qin Gui's heart trembled violently.
That good-for-nothing young master, first in the academy exam?!
Impossible!
His gut reaction was so strong he nearly tripped running.
But then, he realized how grave the situation had become.
"Huang Lu, do you want to go to the city?"
...
Outside Liuu Town, a grove.
The tea stall owner carried a shoulder pole, with a young girl beside him, her fair feet swinging.
They hadn't gone far when a carriage appeared ahead, a pale-faced man standing on the carriage roof, a cloak draped over his shoulders.
The wind blew and the cloak flapped with the breeze.
"Tch." The girl jumped down from the pole, hands on her hips, lips pouting. "What a show-off."
"Guardian Zheng." The tea stall owner set down his pole and bowed toward the roof of the carriage.
Zheng Xiguan just tapped the tip of his foot, seemingly gliding with the wind, drifting lightly to the ground, hands clasped in greeting. "Young Master."
"Tch." The girl turned her head away. "Keep acting, I quite enjoy the view."
"..."
"Guardian Zheng, why don't you tell us what's happened?" the tea stall owner asked.
Zheng Xiguan looked ahead. "Wait a bit more."
"Wait for what? That the east wind will tousle your beautiful hair?" the girl sneered.
Zheng Xiguan stayed silent.
Soon, footsteps sounded from behind as someone slipped in.
"Yuan Chengji!" The tea stall owner's face paled. "How did you get here?"
The girl's eyes flicked over him as well, sizing him up and down. "You're not Yuan Chengji."
"What?!" The tea stall owner reeled in shock.
"He's indeed not Yuan Chengji," Zheng Xiguan said gravely, "Isn't that right, Captain Zhaang?"
Zhang Yii reached behind his ear, tore off a layer of facial skin, and half-knelt before Zheng Xiguan. "Lord Zheng."
The tea stall owner's face changed. "Criminal Defense Bureau Captain!"
This was the man who overturned his tea stall yesterday and then sent him silver in the night.
"Heh, Guardian Zheng is as resourceful as ever." After the instant of shock, the girl spoke again in her odd tone.
Zheng Xiguan remained calm, bowing to the girl, palms together. "Thank you for your praise, Young Master."
He turned to Zhang Yii. "Tell Young Master the current situation."
"Yes." Zhang Yii stayed half-kneeling, turning to the girl. "Young Master, the Criminal Defense Bureau has tracked you. Yuan Chengji was killed yesterday by a mysterious man."
"And to capture Young Master, the head of Baiyuan County's Criminal Defense Bureau, Lin Zhenwu, has arrived."
Lin Zhenwu!
The tea stall owner's clouded eyes sharpened instantly. "Lin Zhenwu, a Martial Artist in the Blood Circulation Realm who has condensed eleven Qi and Blood Paths—why isn't he guarding Baiyuan County? Why would he suddenly come to this tiny Liuu Town? Unless..."
"Young Master, we must leave at once!"
"Leave? The favor you promised me isn't done yet." The girl pouted, unconcerned. "Isn't Lord Zheng here? Nothing to fear."
"It's just a captain with five Qi Blood condensed, not worth the risk for you, Young Master."
The tea stall owner looked anxious, clearly wanting to leave right away.
"Young Master wishes to devour a Martial Artist?" Zheng Xiguan immediately pierced the secret.
"So what? Lord Zheng, can you catch one for me?"
"I can, as long as you come with me."
The girl's eyes rolled, then she agreed crisply. "Deal."
"Then let's be off."
"Go, go! I'm riding on top of the carriage..."
At that moment, Zheng Xiguan's brow furrowed as he grabbed into the void. Bloody light flashed in his palm, identical to the Red Blood Flowing Light Arrow he used before to relay messages.
"Guardian Zheng...?" the tea stall owner asked in a low voice.
Zheng Xiguan glanced in Liuu Town's direction, gaze settling on the tea stall owner. "Old Hong, I have a task that requires you to make a trip."
"Please instruct me, Guardian Zheng."
"At the western end of Liuu Town's West Street, there's a soon-to-be Baiyuan Academy junior examinee living there. Please take care of him, cleanly."
"By the way, that young gentleman seems to have some interaction with the Lord of the Classics, Feng Yuan. Best be thorough and leave no trace."
"Rest assured, Guardian Zheng!"
"Mm. Zhang Yii, disguise Old Hong, then you can return. You know what to do?"
"Understood."
...
Liuu Town, Arresting Office.
Fang Xiao and Hou Ping were anxiously pacing back and forth inside the government office.
At that moment, Shao Pengshu rushed in from outside, followed by a tall, stern-faced middle-aged man.
The man wore a black robe, carried a long spear; he seemed an ordinary man, but the moment he stepped in, the entire hall's air froze.
"Instructor Fang." The voice was deep and steady.
"Lin Zhenwu, you finally made it."