Hand Holding is Close to Kissing

The County Magistrate was completely bewildered and cast a questioning glance at the Straw Bag Strategist.

The Straw Bag Strategist quickly said, "County Magistrate Lord, the Imperial Guard must have extracted evidence through torture, and that evidence must be hidden in the bandits' lair. Anyone who leaves the Imperial Guard must be heading to the bandits' lair to retrieve the evidence!"

County Magistrate Han Zhang suddenly understood and looked towards the Brown-robed Martial Emperor.

"Old Ancestor?"

"Cao Bao has some brains; what he said is not bad!" the Brown-robed Martial Emperor said lightly, then looked at County Magistrate Han Zhang, his expression showing disappointment.

The Straw Bag Strategist, receiving praise from the Martial Emperor, was momentarily overwhelmed with joy and hurriedly knelt to kowtow.

County Magistrate Han Zhang, however, panicked and abruptly stood up, "What should we do? What should we do!"

Ever since the Six Bandit Overlords he had dispatched to assassinate Ning Chuan failed and fell into the hands of the Imperial Guard, County Magistrate Han Zhang had completely lost his composure.

He had no choice but to invite the Han Family's Dao-protecting Old Ancestor to take action.

This matter concerned the family's grand plan, and they had to resolve this crisis at all costs.

He, Han Zhang, could not bear such an immense responsibility.

The Brown-robed Martial Emperor glanced in the direction of the Imperial Guard, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He and the Green-robed Martial Emperor had locked onto each other's aura, and every move and action was within the other's dharma eye.

"The Six Bandit Overlords have evidence of my Han Family's dealings. Keeping them is also a disaster. It's best to use the Imperial Guard to find and destroy the evidence."

"Once the evidence is destroyed, the Six Bandit Overlords in the hands of the Imperial Guard will lose their value, gaga gaga gaga..."

Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Han Zhang's eyes lit up, and he repeatedly knelt and kowtowed.

"Old Ancestor, you are brilliant! Please, Old Ancestor, take action!"

"Jie jie jie jie..."

The Brown-robed Martial Emperor let out a proud, strange laugh, his body flickered, and he split into two identical brown-robed old men.

Han Zhang and the Straw Bag Strategist's eyes widened, and they exclaimed loudly!

"Two Old Ancestors!"

"Jie jie jie jie... Two fools, these are the Old Ancestor's substitutes!"

The Brown-robed old man's true body's aura gradually receded, and he suddenly transformed into a clear breeze, disappearing from the room.

On the cushion, the substitute sat lifelike, exuding the unique aura of a Martial Emperor.

County Magistrate Han Zhang and the Straw Bag Strategist were inwardly shocked, standing frozen in place, speechless for a long time.

The Brown-robed Martial Emperor's true body locked onto Ning Chuan and the other person, following them, intending to be the oriole catching the praying mantis.

In the Imperial Guard's yamen, the Green-robed Martial Emperor opened his eyes and looked towards the County Yamen, a hint of doubt in his heart.

He felt the Brown-robed Martial Emperor's aura fluctuate slightly before returning to normal.

This anomaly did not draw his attention.

South of Qingshan County lay Bishui Lake, hundreds of miles long and wide.

Half of Bishui Lake was managed by Qingshan County, and the other half belonged to the neighboring Huangshi County.

An island in the lake, over ten miles long and wide, was named Bishui Dock, situated precisely in a no-man's-land.

The island was surrounded by steep cliffs, making its terrain treacherous and difficult to attack but easy to defend. Only one path led up to the small island.

More than ten years ago, Bishui Han broke through to the Martial Arts Sixth Rank Grandmaster level. With the Han Family's support, he came here to claim the island as his own, recruit soldiers, and train day and night.

He would raise the banner of rebellion as soon as the Han Family gave the order.

The successive County Magistrates of Qingshan County were all pawns of the Han Family. They had even colluded with the neighboring Huangshi County to feign several encirclements.

In reality, they secretly supplied Bishui Dock with a considerable amount of strategic materials, causing Bishui Dock's influence to grow even stronger.

Ning Chuan and Xiao Lian arrived at the lake's edge. Looking out, they saw the lake's surface rippling with clear waves, seemingly endless.

At the horizon, a hazy mist obscured the view, making Bishui Dock invisible.

"Ning Chuan, what do we do?"

Xiao Lian cast a questioning gaze at him.

Along the way, Ning Chuan had indulged in all sorts of teasing, making Xiao Lian so happy that she forgot her worries. Gradually, she let go of her reserve and even developed a hint of dependence on Ning Chuan.

"Call me 'husband,' and this husband will tell you the way!"

Ning Chuan said with a wicked grin.

"You, you're so indecent! Hurry up and tell this young lady!"

Xiao Lian feigned anger, extending a slender jade hand to poke Ning Chuan.

Ning Chuan was overjoyed. He grabbed Xiao Lian's jade-like hand. A warmth, softness, and smoothness spread from her palm.

A wave of enchantment rippled through his heart. Ning Chuan immediately recalled a comment from his past life's review section: "Old man, I have an immature idea!"

"You little thief, let go!"

Xiao Lian struggled to pull her hand away, but couldn't budge Ning Chuan at all.

Her strength was like a caterpillar wriggling in Ning Chuan's palm, no matter how hard she tried.

"Xiao Lian, we have important business to attend to. It's best if we pretend to be husband and wife!"

Xiao Lian struggled for a while, her face flushed with shyness. It seemed her struggles gradually weakened. Ning Chuan offered her a way out.

Indeed, upon hearing this, Xiao Lian gradually stopped struggling.

She said in a low voice, "Just this once, and no more!"

"Whatever Lady Xiao Lian commands!"

Ning Chuan beamed with joy and quickly agreed, feeling incredibly pleased inwardly.

"If there's a first time, there will be countless more!"

"We've already held hands, is kissing and other things far behind?"

"Caw caw..."

Ning Chuan was in a good mood. Holding Xiao Lian's hand, they didn't walk far before finding a dock.

Dozens of cargo ships of various sizes were moored by the dock. Ship hands were busy loading goods onto the ships.

These supplies were daily provisions for Bishui Dock.

Bandits also needed to eat and drink; they couldn't rely solely on robbery. Some bold merchants saw a business opportunity and secretly did business with the bandits.

Anyway, the Qingshan County government was controlled by the Han Family, so they didn't pay much attention to such matters.

Ning Chuan stopped a ship's steward and slipped a silver ingot into his hand.

"Greetings, Steward. My name is Zhang Chao, and this is my wife, Lian Xin."

"My wife and I have been wandering the martial world and heard of Bishui Dock's reputation. We wish to join them."

"However, we are unfamiliar with the area and don't know how to get in. Do you, Steward, have a way?"

The steward felt a coolness in his hand as a large, hard object was placed there. He looked down and felt a surge of joy.

He quickly pocketed the silver. Glancing around and seeing no one paying attention to his actions, he finally relaxed.

This large silver ingot, weighing ten taels, was equivalent to several months' wages for him as a steward.

Having made a small fortune, he felt incredibly happy and saw everything in a more favorable light.

He looked Ning Chuan and Xiao Lian up and down. Seeing their distinguished bearing, he recognized them as martial artists from the martial world, which made him even happier.

"I'm rich, I'm rich! Recommending a martial artist to join Bishui Dock comes with a generous reward!"

"Heaven is sending me opportunities to earn a living, sending people to give me money!"

The steward was filled with joy. He suppressed the smile on his face and stroked his beard, saying:

"Oh, so you're Brother Zhang. We're fated to meet, and even of the same surname. Originally, this matter is very secret, and I shouldn't reveal it..."

Steward Zhang paused here deliberately, as if hesitant.

Ning Chuan understood immediately and slipped another silver ingot into the steward's hand.

"Please, Steward Zhang, guide me. After this is done, I will reward you handsomely!"

Steward Zhang's smile widened. He clapped Ning Chuan on the shoulder.

"Hahahaha... Brother Zhang, you're too kind. We're practically family. It's a small matter, leave it to your elder brother!"

"How about this? I happen to have a shipment going to Bishui Dock today."

"Give me a hundred taels of silver, and once we reach Bishui Dock, I'll smooth things over for you. This matter will surely be settled!"

Half an hour later, the cargo ship set sail.

Ning Chuan held Xiao Lian's hand and stood at the bow of the ship, his spirits soaring.

"Caw caw... Bishui Dock's Attribute Points, here I come!"