A Twist

Huang Lu couldn't quite reach his shoulder, so he immediately bent his arm and flexed the muscles—not even as big as an egg. "Look, how are these muscle knots? I got them from taking all those tonics."

"Mm, pretty good." Chu Ming replied casually, then turned toward the entrance. He walked over to Xiao Shan and stood in front of her, blocking Qin Gui's revolting gaze.

Xiao Shan was at a loss about what to do when she saw the not particularly imposing figure standing before her. "Young... Master..."

Seeing Chu Ming approach, Qin Gui's expression shifted several times. "Young Master, how are you..."

He stopped after just a few words, because he couldn't ask what he'd meant to.

The Third Young Master had been gravely ill the last time he came, having only just recovered. But this time, he...

Where had things gone wrong?

He'd clearly told the physician in town to add something to the young master's medicine...

How had he not gotten worse, but actually gotten better?

"What about me?" Chu Ming asked calmly, his gaze fixed on Qin Gui.

At the same time, he activated Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense, and his perception instantly sharpened.

Sure enough, Qin Gui had the same scent of blood and decay as Huang Lu—and his was even stronger.

"Young... Young Master, this is your monthly allowance." After a moment of surprise, Qin Gui regained his composure and took out two taels of silver.

"Young Master?" Hearing that, Huang Lu came running over, circling Chu Ming as he asked in disbelief, "Brother Chu, you're a young master?"

"Why can't my young master be a young master?" Xiao Shan retorted indignantly.

Huang Lu looked at Qin Gui again. "Young Master Chu?"

Qin Gui nodded stiffly.

Hearing that, Huang Lu's expression grew wonderfully complicated. "Well, my father's waiting for me to go home and dry the medicinal herbs. I'll get going."

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

Seeing this, Xiao Shan didn't bother to check whether Qin Gui was still standing at the entrance. She simply shut the courtyard gate in his face.

Qin Gui stared at the closed wooden gate, stunned for a moment. Then, as if he'd suddenly remembered something, he hurried after Huang Lu.

He hadn't gone far before he spotted Huang Lu, muttering to himself.

"Brother Chu took my dad's herbs and became a young master. The young master took my dad's herbs and came first in the exam..."

It was almost gibberish, but Qin Gui's eyes shifted as he grabbed Huang Lu. "What did you just say about coming first?"

"Young Master Chu."

"What about Young Master Chu?"

"Young Master Chu..." Huang Lu was about to explain when his gaze fell on the jade token at Qin Gui's waist. "The jade... He came first."

"..." Qin Gui's brow twitched. He fished a few coins from his clothes. "First in what?"

"First in what?" Huang Lu quickened his pace.

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

The moment Huang Lu got the token, he grinned from ear to ear. "First in the Academy Exam. Young Master Chu came first in the Academy Exam."

The Academy Exam! First place?!

Qin Gui's heart jolted.

That useless young master had come first in the Academy Exam?!

Impossible!

His instinctive reaction nearly sent him tumbling as he hurried away.

Then he realized how serious this was.

"Huang Lu, would you like to go to the city?"

Outside Willow Town, in a small grove.

The Teahouse Owner carried a shoulder pole, while the little girl sat beside him, swinging her fair feet.

They hadn't gone far when a carriage appeared ahead. A pale-faced man stood atop its roof, a cloak draped over his shoulders.

A breeze swept through the grove, setting the man's cloak fluttering.

"Tch." The little girl hopped down from the pole and planted her hands on her hips, lips pursed. "What a show-off."

"Protector Zheng." The Teahouse Owner set down his load and bowed toward the top of the carriage.

Zheng Xiguan lightly tapped the air with his toes and drifted down as if riding the wind. He clasped his hands. "Young Master."

"Tch." The little girl turned her head away. "Keep showing off. I love watching."

"..."

"Protector Zheng, perhaps you should tell us what happened," the Teahouse Owner said.

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

"Wait for what? For the east wind to ruffle your hair?" the little girl mocked.

Zheng Xiguan said nothing.

Before long, footsteps sounded behind them, and someone ducked into the grove.

"Yuan Chengji!" The Teahouse Owner's expression changed. "What are you doing here?"

The little girl also glanced over, looking him up and down. "You're not Yuan Chengji."

"What?!" The Teahouse Owner was startled.

"He really isn't Yuan Chengji," Zheng Xiguan said gravely. "Isn't that right, Captain Zhang?"

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

The Teahouse Owner's expression shifted. "A constable from the Criminal Defense Division!"

This was the very man who'd kicked over his tea stall yesterday, then brought him silver that evening.

"Heh heh, Protector Zheng is still as all-knowing as ever." After a moment's surprise, the little girl spoke in her usual strange tone.

Zheng Xiguan remained calm and clasped his hands toward the little girl. "Thank you for the praise, Young Master."

Then he looked at Zhang Yi. "Tell the Young Master what's happening."

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

"Also, the chief instructor of the Criminal Defense Division in Baiyuan County, Lin Zhenwu, has come to capture you."

Lin Zhenwu!

The Teahouse Owner's cloudy eyes sharpened at once. "Lin Zhenwu—a Blood-Revitalization Realm martial artist who has refined eleven streams of qi and blood. Why would he leave Baiyuan County unguarded and suddenly come to a little place like Willow Town? Could it be..."

"Young Master, we have to leave at once!"

"Leave? You haven't done what I asked you to do yet." The little girl pursed her lips, unconcerned. "Our great Protector Zheng is right here. There's nothing to fear."

"He's only a constable who's refined five streams of qi and blood. He's not worth the Young Master taking such a risk."

The Teahouse Owner looked frantic, as if he wished he could leave immediately.

"Does the Young Master wish to devour a martial artist?" Zheng Xiguan immediately grasped the meaning behind her words.

"So what if I do? Can our great Protector Zheng help me catch one?"

"I can, as long as the Young Master comes with me."

The little girl's eyes turned, and she agreed without hesitation. "All right."

"Then let's go."

"Let's go, let's go. I want to ride on top of the carriage."

Just then, Zheng Xiguan's brow furrowed. He reached into the air, and a streak of bloody light flashed across his palm—the same as the Crimson Blood Streamer Arrow he'd used to send a message earlier.

"Protector Zheng...?" the Teahouse Owner asked quietly.

Zheng Xiguan glanced toward Willow Town, then turned to the Teahouse Owner. "Elder Hong, I need you to make a trip for me."

"Just say the word, Protector Zheng."

"At the end of West Street in Willow Town, there's a young man about to become a Student at Baiyuan Academy. Please take care of him."

"By the way, that young master seems to have some dealings with Feng Yuan, the Registrar of Baiyuan County. You'd better handle it cleanly and leave no traces."

"Leave it to me, Protector Zheng!"

"Good. Zhang Yi, disguise Elder Hong, then go back. You know what to do, right?"

"This subordinate understands."

Willow Town, the Catching Yamen.

Fang Xiao and Hou Ping paced anxiously back and forth in the yamen hall.

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

The man wore a black robe and carried a long spear. He walked in as casually as anyone else, yet the instant he crossed the threshold, the entire hall seemed to freeze over.

"Instructor Fang," came a deep, steady voice.

"Lin Zhenwu, you're finally here."