Damn… The moment Xu Qi An saw the dog meat shop owner, only that word remained in his mind. After a long while, confusion and anger followed, along with a slight tinge of fear.
The confusion stemmed from not understanding how things had turned out this way. The anger came from feeling his intelligence had been insulted. The fear arose from the realization that if the other party had ill intentions, he could have easily fallen into their trap.
“This man is called Liang Youping. Unlike Zhou Min, he’s a local from Yun Province. According to Yang Chuannan, this person also connected with the Qi faction through his channels,” Li Miaozhen said.
“An experienced official in the Chief Command, with authority similar to Zhou Min’s…” Governor Zhang pondered, then questioned after a moment, “Why didn’t you and Yang Chuannan contact me earlier and be frank about this?”
Li Miaozhen sat with her back ramrod straight, her posture unchanged since the beginning. She merely turned her wheat-colored oval face and said coolly:
“In the year of the imperial examination, court factions are fiercely competing. How do we know if Wei Qingyi isn’t planning to use this opportunity to uproot Qi faction officials across the regions?”
“As the Emperor’s representative, I should naturally fulfill my duties diligently, care for the people, and severely punish corrupt officials. Only then can I live up to His Majesty’s and Lord Wei’s trust,” Governor Zhang said solemnly.
Li Miaozhen pursed her lips, her face full of disdain.
That damnable Emperor Yuan Jing… Xu Qi An could guess Number Two’s inner thoughts at this moment.
He exhaled tiredly, tapped the table to draw the attention of the three, and said in a low voice, “I know this person!”
The three were startled.
Xu Qi An stared at the portrait and asked, “Is he lame?”
“Yes, Liang Youping once fell off a cliff while suppressing bandits and broke his leg,” Li Miaozhen answered.
…Not a single word that guy said can be trusted. I can’t believe I was moved by him at the time. Xu Qi An felt the urge to curse again.
At the same time, he realized his mental state was truly poor, as he hadn’t thought to use his Qi-observing technique to see if what the man said was true or false at the time.
Usually, he wouldn’t make such a big oversight.
“What’s going on?” Governor Zhang couldn’t help but ask.
Xu Qi An waved his hand while pinching the bridge of his nose, “Governor, my mind is in chaos right now. Um, let me go somewhere, and I’ll explain everything to you properly when I return.”
Saying this, he looked at Jiang Liuzhong: “Constable Jiang, will you accompany me?”
Jiang Liuzhong glanced at Governor Zhang and shook his head: “Lord Wei’s orders are to follow and protect the Governor at all times.”
Fair enough, makes sense. What if we come back to find the Governor’s head has been taken off and used as a ball… Xu Qi An said:
“Then call two silver-badge constables to accompany me, and lend me thirty Tiger Guard soldiers.”
He wouldn’t admit he was a bit scared; it was all for the sake of caution.
“I’ll go with you!” Li Miaozhen volunteered enthusiastically.
Xu Qi An immediately changed his mind: “Constable Jiang, I want three silver-badge constables.”
Li Miaozhen: “…”
This bronze-badge constable didn’t trust her. Li Miaozhen showed a hint of feminine behavior, glaring at him fiercely.
Shortly after, Xu Qi An led three silver-badge constables, thirty Tiger Guard soldiers, as well as Li Miaozhen and Susu. The group rode out of the post station on horseback, heading towards the black market on Huangbo Street.
With the recent experience of the large troop movement, the patrolling soldiers, upon seeing the Night Watchmen’s uniforms, didn’t even try to stop them. Instead, they voluntarily made way.
The inspection team from the capital had the authority to act at their discretion.
After leaving the inner city, they quickly arrived at Huangbo Street. A group of Tiger Guard soldiers in shining armor rushed into the black market, causing wariness and hostility among the passersby, who retreated in succession.
Xu Qi An led the team to shop number 15 on Ding Street, only to find the main door shut tight, with dark windows and no lights inside.
His heart sank. He waved his hand, ordering the Tiger Guard to surround the shop, preparing to force entry.
“Wait!” Li Miaozhen called out.
She took out a sachet from her waist pouch, opened it, and wisps of green smoke floated out, seeping into the shop through the cracks in the doors and windows.
“A perfect spy,” Xu Qi An praised.
Li Miaozhen responded with a modest “Mm.”
The Dao schools are really interesting. The Three Clarities divide into Heaven, Earth, and Human sects, each with completely different cultivation paths. The Earth sect cultivates merit, the Heaven sect cultivates emotionlessness, while the Human sect does the opposite, turning a beautiful Daoist nun into a vixen… Xu Qi An inwardly grumbled while suddenly realizing a point.
The Heaven and Human sects are at odds with each other, perhaps precisely because of their opposing cultivation methods.
The Earth sect cultivates merit, not taking sides, so their relationship with both sects is still acceptable, without enmity. They can even exchange pleasantries when meeting.
Otherwise, Li Miaozhen, a holy maiden of the Heaven sect, wouldn’t be able to join the Heaven and Earth Society.
And that Sect Leader Luo Yuheng wouldn’t have gifted pills to Daoist Master Jin Lian.
Indeed, being able to navigate both sides is the true way, just like how I’m caught between Lin’an and Huaiqing, able to please both sides, able to flirt with both.
Flirt!
Perfect.
At this moment, a few wisps of green smoke gracefully returned, whispering by Li Miaozhen’s ear for a moment before slipping back into the sachet.
“There’s no one in the shop and no ambush,” Li Miaozhen said.
Xu Qi An immediately waved his hand, leading the three silver badge constables to break down the door and enter. They searched upstairs and downstairs, finding everything in the shop still in its original place, undisturbed.
There were even twenty taels of silver in a locked drawer, which Xu Qi An chose to confiscate, putting them into his purse.
…No signs of a struggle, no signs of looting… It’s as if the shop owner just temporarily left… Xu Qi An’s search yielded no results. He led the group out of the shop and walked towards the owner of the neighboring shop who had come out to watch the commotion.