Murong Jingyue

Qin Shuang knew that Cheng Lingsu had been under a lot of pressure lately and needed an outlet like this, so he naturally wouldn't interrupt her.

Qin Shuang silently patted Cheng Lingsu's back, silently expressing his support for her.

After a long while, Cheng Lingsu stopped crying and looked up, her face still streaked with tears, looking incredibly pitiable.

Qin Shuang gently wiped away her tears with his hand, his eyes full of tenderness.

Cheng Lingsu, regaining her senses, blushed and quickly took two steps back.

"Lingsu, shall I take you away?" Qin Shuang's voice was as soft as silk, yet the emotion it conveyed was rich and deep.

To his surprise, Cheng Lingsu shook her head and refused, saying firmly, "I'm sorry, Brother Shuang, my master had no children. He treated me like his own daughter, and I need to stay here to observe a year of mourning for him!"

"Alright, I respect your decision." Qin Shuang had anticipated this, so he wasn't surprised. He turned to Mu Nianci and said, "Nianci, the situation is unclear these past few days. Please stay and accompany Lingsu."

Just as Cheng Lingsu understood him, Qin Shuang also understood Cheng Lingsu very well, and he knew the deep affection between her and her master, Commander Wuchen (Military Sima).

"Okay!" Mu Nianci agreed immediately.

"Brother Shuang, what are you going to do?" Cheng Lingsu, always intelligent and resourceful, combined with Qin Shuang's temperament, keenly sensed from his few words what he was planning to do next, and couldn't help but ask worriedly.

"Nothing much, I just hope you can be safe and have no worries," Qin Shuang said with a light, indifferent smile.

Seeing his casual demeanor, Cheng Lingsu became even more worried. "Brother Shuang, you must not underestimate my senior brothers and sisters. They are experts in poisons, and their skills in using and handling them are true legacies of our sect. Moreover, they are ruthless and cunning, resorting to any means necessary. As the saying goes, a direct attack is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. There's no need for you to provoke them."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!" Qin Shuang patted Cheng Lingsu's shoulder reassuringly.

Suddenly, an untimely voice came from far outside the courtyard: "Let me see who dares to disturb my master's rest?"

A cold glint flashed in Qin Shuang's eyes. He turned and swept to the entrance of the small courtyard, blocking the newcomer.

"Garrison General Murong, I've heard much about you!"

The newcomers numbered twelve in total, all wearing the black brocade combat uniforms of the Dragon Guard.

The one leading them wore a brocade robe embroidered with blue patterns. His eyes were deep and cold, like a dark abyss devoid of any light, making one's scalp tingle.

It was the Garrison General of the Cosmos Unit's Moon Unit, Cheng Lingsu's eldest senior brother, Murong Jingyue!

"Hmph, who are you? Why are you trespassing in my master's mourning hall? Do you want him to be unable to rest in peace even in death?" Murong Jingyue's face was sinister and cunning, exuding a dangerous aura.

"I am the Garrison General of the Yu Unit's Divine Department, Qin Shuang! I am currently working with Lingsu. Upon hearing of the unfortunate demise of her master, Commander Wuchen (Military Sima), I came to offer my condolences!" Qin Shuang replied, neither humble nor arrogant.

His reason was righteous and aboveboard, leaving no room for criticism.

"Which one of you injured my Moon Unit personnel!" Murong Jingyue continued to pick a fight, questioning as if seeking an explanation. "Are you challenging the authority of the Dragon Guard?"

"Garrison General Murong, don't try to frame me. I injured the person. The Dragon Guard has strict discipline, and those who don't understand hierarchy, as a Garrison General, it's reasonable for me to teach them a lesson!" Qin Shuang's tone was calm, yet there was a distinct confrontational edge to it.

"Hmph, my Cosmos Unit personnel have their own people to handle problems within the Cosmos Unit. It's not your Yu Unit's place to meddle!" Murong Jingyue continued to be aggressive.

"Heh, I did meddle. What can you do about it!" Qin Shuang chuckled lightly, looking provocatively at Murong Jingyue, not flinching from his fierce gaze.

"You..." Murong Jingyue hadn't expected Qin Shuang, despite his youth, to be so sharp and unyielding in his words and actions.

Intimidated by Qin Shuang's presence, Murong Jingyue was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.

However, the eleven people behind him were menacing, half-surrounding Qin Shuang and his companions, looking as if they would attack and kill the three of them at Murong Jingyue's command.

In contrast, Qin Shuang remained calm and composed, awaiting Murong Jingyue's reaction.

If Murong Jingyue were to lose his temper and attack first, Qin Shuang was confident he could kill him on the spot.

Just as the tension reached its peak, another group arrived, all wearing the brocade combat uniforms of the Dragon Guard. The one leading them, with red patterns on black brocade, was none other than the Commander (Military Sima) of the Yu Unit's Divine Department, Yang Yuncong!

"How dare you! What do you think you're doing!"

Yang Yuncong casually shoved aside a Cosmos Unit Dragon Guard blocking his path and glared at Qin Shuang and Murong Jingyue, shouting, "Who gave you the audacity to attack a colleague within the Yamen? Have you all forgotten the discipline set by the City Lord (Commander)? Or do you no longer even respect him!"

Yang Yuncong's words were heavy, and neither Qin Shuang nor Murong Jingyue dared to retort.

"Garrison General Qin! You returned from your mission but didn't report to me first. Instead, you came to the Cosmos Unit to cause trouble. Now, do I need to personally invite you back before you're willing to go!" Yang Yuncong glared fiercely at Qin Shuang, but there was a hidden meaning in his eyes.

Qin Shuang raised an eyebrow, understanding implicitly. He knew it was impossible to deal with Murong Jingyue today and couldn't help but sigh inwardly with regret.

He turned back, said a few words to Cheng Lingsu and Mu Nianci, and then prepared to return to the Yu Unit's Divine Department Yamen with Yang Yuncong.

Suddenly, Qin Shuang's mind raced. He unleashed an internal force, and with a "clang," his State Stabilizer blade flew like a shooting star, embedding itself in the stone bricks just before the steps of Cheng Lingsu's courtyard.

"This blade marks a boundary. From today onwards, if anyone crosses this blade without Cheng Lingsu's consent and steps into this courtyard, I will consider it a declaration of war. I will accept the challenge, and it will be a fight to the death!"

Qin Shuang uttered his final words and walked away without looking back.

He believed that his words would reach the ears of those who cared, word for word.

And this was exactly the result he wanted: to clearly express his stance and tell everyone that anyone who wanted to harm Cheng Lingsu had to get past him first!

At the Dragon Guard Yamen, the Divine Department of the Yu Unit's main hall.

Qin Shuang was leisurely eating pastries, and Yang Yuncong had long since shed his angry demeanor.

Qin Shuang recounted his trip to Chuanzhou in detail, making Yang Yuncong exclaim in surprise and marvel.

"I never imagined that such a mythical beast as the Fire Qilin truly exists!"

"The Black Stone organization has always been driven by money, not loyalty. For them to dare attack you this time shows they're becoming increasingly reckless!"