Variable

Huang Lu's shoulder didn't connect. He instantly bent his arm, puffing out muscles smaller than an egg. "See? How are my muscle bumps? They're from eating these tonics."

"Mm, very good," Chu Ming replied casually. He turned towards the door, walked in front of Xiao Shan, and blocked Qin Gui's disgusting gaze.

Xiao Shan, unsure what to do, saw the not-so-tall figure. "Young... Master..."

Seeing Chu Ming approach, Qin Gui's expression shifted repeatedly. "Young Master, why are you..."

He spoke a few words, then suddenly stopped, because the rest of his sentence couldn't be asked.

This Third Young Master had been sickly when he last visited, looking frail. But this time...

Where did the plan go wrong?

He had clearly instructed the town's physician to add... to the young master's medicine.

Not only was he not gravely ill, but he had gotten better instead?

"What about me?" Chu Ming's expression was calm, his gaze fixed on Qin Gui.

At the same time, Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense activated, his perception instantly sharpening.

As expected, the smell of blood and decay on Huang Lu was also present on Qin Gui, and even stronger.

"Young... Young Master, this is your monthly pay." After a moment of surprise, Qin Gui's expression returned to normal, and he took out two taels of silver.

"Young Master?" Huang Lu heard this and rushed over noisily, circling Chu Ming. He asked with disbelief, "Brother Chu, you're the Young Master?"

"Why can't my Young Master be the Young Master?" Xiao Shan retorted indignantly.

Huang Lu looked at Qin Gui again and asked, "Young Master Chu?"

Qin Gui nodded with a stiff face.

Upon hearing this, Huang Lu's expression became quite animated. "Uh, my dad is waiting for me to go home and dry herbs, so I'm leaving."

Before he finished speaking, he darted out of the courtyard and ran off.

Seeing this, Xiao Shan didn't care if Qin Gui was still standing at the door and directly closed the courtyard gate.

Qin Gui stared at the closing wooden door, stunned for a moment. Then, as if remembering something, he hurriedly chased after Huang Lu.

He hadn't run far before he saw Huang Lu muttering to himself.

"Brother Chu ate my dad's herbs and became Young Master, Young Master ate my dad's herbs and got first place..."

It was a bit of rambling, but Qin Gui's eyes darted around as he grabbed Huang Lu. "What did you just say about first place?"

"Young Master Chu."

"Young Master Chu got what first place?"

"Young Master Chu..." Huang Lu was about to speak when his gaze fell on the jade pendant at Qin Gui's waist. "Jade... that's first place."

"..." Black lines appeared on Qin Gui's forehead. He fumbled in his robes and pulled out a few copper coins. "What first place?"

"What what first place?" Huang Lu quickened his pace.

A fierce glint flashed in Qin Gui's eyes as he took off the jade pendant. "Can you tell me now?"

Huang Lu took the jade pendant and immediately grinned from ear to ear. "Academy Exam first place, Young Master Chu got first place in the Academy Exam."

Academy Exam! First place?!

Qin Gui's heart jolted.

That useless Young Master, first place in the Academy Exam?!

Impossible!

His subconscious reaction almost made him stumble and fall.

Immediately after, he realized the gravity of the situation.

"Huang Lu, do you want to go to the city?"

Outside Willow Town, in a small grove.

The Teahouse Owner carried his poles, and the Girl sat to the side, swinging her fair feet.

They hadn't walked far when a carriage appeared ahead. Standing on the carriage roof was a pale-faced person, a cloak draped over their shoulders.

The wind blew, making the cloak flutter.

"Tch," the Girl jumped off the carrying pole, hands on her hips, pouting. "Such a show-off."

"Protector Zheng," the Teahouse Owner put down his poles and bowed towards the carriage roof.

Zheng Xiguan's toes lightly touched the ground, as if stepping on the wind, and he landed gracefully, cupping his hands. "Young Master."

"Tch," the Girl turned her head. "Keep pretending, I like watching."

"..."

"Protector Zheng, perhaps you could tell us what happened," the Teahouse Owner asked.

Zheng Xiguan looked ahead. "Wait a little longer."

"Wait for what? For the east wind to blow through your hair?" the girl mocked.

Zheng Xiguan did not speak.

Not long after, footsteps approached from behind, and a figure ducked inside.

"Yuan Chengji!" The Teahouse Owner's expression shifted slightly. "Why are you here?"

The girl also glanced sideways, looking the man up and down. "You are not Yuan Chengji."

"What?!" The Teahouse Owner was startled.

"He is indeed not Yuan Chengji," Zheng Xiguan said in a low voice. "Am I right, Captain Zhang?"

Zhang Yi reached up to his ear, peeled off a layer of skin, and knelt before Zheng Xiguan. "Lord Zheng."

The Teahouse Owner's face changed. "A Captain from the Criminal Defense Division!"

This was the very man who had kicked over his teahouse yesterday, only to return that night to give him silver.

"Heh, Protector Zheng is as resourceful as ever," the girl said, her initial shock replaced by a strange tone.

Zheng Xiguan remained calm and bowed to the girl. "Thank you for the praise, Young Master."

He then turned to Zhang Yi. "Tell the Young Master the current situation."

"Yes." Zhang Yi remained kneeling and turned to the girl. "Young Master, the Criminal Defense Division has tracked you down. Yuan Chengji was killed by a mysterious person yesterday."

"Furthermore, to capture you, the Chief Instructor of the Baiyuan County Criminal Defense Division, Lin Zhenwu, has arrived."

Lin Zhenwu!

The Teahouse Owner's cloudy eyes narrowed instantly. "Lin Zhenwu, a Blood Activation Realm martial artist who has condensed eleven strands of blood energy. Why would he leave his post in Baiyuan County to come to this tiny Willow Town? Could it be..."

"Young Master, we must leave at once!"

"Leave? You haven't finished what you promised me yet." The girl pouted, unconcerned. "Our Great Protector Zheng is here, isn't he? There's nothing to fear."

"He is only a captain who has condensed five strands of blood energy; he is not worth you taking such a great risk, Young Master."

The Teahouse Owner looked anxious; his expression suggested he wanted to leave immediately.

"The Young Master wishes to devour a martial artist?" Zheng Xiguan grasped the implication at once.

"And what if I do? Can Great Protector Zheng help me catch him?"

"I can, provided the Young Master comes with me."

The girl's eyes darted around, and she agreed readily. "Fine."

"Then let us go."

"Fine, fine, but I want to ride in a carriage... on the roof."

Just then, Zheng Xiguan frowned. He reached into the void, and a crimson light flashed in his palm, identical to the Crimson Blood Streamer Arrow he had used to send his message earlier.

"Protector Zheng...?" the Teahouse Owner asked in a low voice.

Zheng Xiguan glanced toward Willow Town, then fixed his gaze on the Teahouse Owner. "Elder Hong, there is a matter I need you to attend to."

"Please speak, Protector Zheng."

"At the end of West Street in Willow Town, there lives a Student about to enter Baiyuan Academy. I trouble you to take care of him."

"Oh, and that young man seems to have some connection to the archivist Feng Yuan of Baiyuan County. You had best handle it cleanly and leave no traces."

"Rest assured, Protector Zheng!"

"Good. Zhang Yi, disguise Elder Hong, then return to your post. You know what to do?"

"This subordinate knows."

Willow Town, Catching Yamen.

Fang Xiao and Hou Ping were pacing back and forth in the hall, looking anxious.

Just then, Shao Pengshu ran in from outside, followed by a tall, cold-faced middle-aged man.

The man wore a black robe and carried a long spear. He walked in with a simple stride, yet the moment he stepped inside, the temperature in the entire hall seemed to freeze.

"Instructor Fang," a heavy, steady voice rang out.

"Lin Zhenwu, you have finally arrived."