Hidden Joint Staff

Lin Xuan felt that things might not be so simple. Since the other party had exposed their own spy, they couldn't have been after just an ordinary child.

"They didn't demand a ransom? Say the child was with them and they needed money to let him go, or anything like that?"

"No." Gu Lianwei shook her head.

"Then what is it about this child that made those people use a mole they'd planted in your sect and create a decoy to mislead everyone?

I don't believe there's nothing unusual about this child apart from his identity."

Gu Lianwei was surprised by his perceptiveness. From just a few scattered clues, he'd already realized how deeply the other party had plotted.

She gave a slight nod and replied, "His constitution is special. Medicines work better on him than on ordinary martial artists, and there's no need to worry about medicinal toxicity."

The words "medicine body" flashed through her mind, but she suppressed them. The fewer people who knew about that, the better.

Then she fell silent, and the room grew quiet for a moment.

Lin Xuan suddenly smiled. "Keeping things under wraps... It seems this child's constitution is even more special than I imagined."

Gu Lianwei neither confirmed nor denied it. Those people wanted the child himself.

Lin Xuan didn't press further. If he asked too much, the other party might not answer.

"Now that we've adjusted our plans, how does Steward Gu intend to arrange things for me?"

"From now on, your most important identity isn't Flag Commander, nor are you an assistant brought in by Qiyun Sect.

"You're an out-of-towner whom no one notices or recognizes, and whom no one would think to guard against."

Gu Lianwei took a folded sheet of paper from the table and unfolded it. It was a rough map of Wuqu Province. She began explaining the province's layout to Lin Xuan.

"You can take a look around the south gate, west gate, east gate, and Hundred Flavors Garden."

"But that Garrison uniform of yours is far too conspicuous. Buy yourself an ordinary cross-collar robe and a square scarf. I'll cover the expense."

"All right. If I find any clues, how should I contact you?"

Gu Lianwei said, "I should be staying here for the next couple of days. I won't be going anywhere unless I have to."

She took a token from the drawer. "At any place of entertainment in Wuqu Province, just show this, and the Qiyun Sect disciples will find me for you."

"Steward Gu, do you have anything the child has used? I'd like to confirm his scent, so it'll be easier to find him later."

"Is Flag Commander Lin's sense of smell that keen, too?" Gu Lianwei asked in surprise.

"I'd say it's decent. The more clues I have, the better my chances." Lin Xuan replied.

Lin Xuan opened the Book of Fate on his own and sacrificed the flashing [Clear Mind] in the Talent Pool, then bought back [Spirit Scent], which he'd obtained while collecting corpses on the battlefield.

That was one good thing about the Book of Fate: once a talent had been recorded, it was kept forever. Even if he sold it, he could buy it back with Dao Rhyme.

The moment he equipped Spirit Scent, his nose became vastly more sensitive. He could smell all sorts of things in the room that he hadn't been able to smell before.

For instance, the faint scent of steamed buns in the room, the smell of ink and writing brushes, and the rouge on the woman in front of him.

"This is a jade pendant he often wore." Gu Lianwei took a jade pendant from the drawer as well.

Lin Xuan sniffed it. There was a faint medicinal fragrance. The owner of this pendant probably hadn't worn it in a long time.

"What's the child's name? In case I find him and can't call him by name, he might refuse to come with me."

Gu Lianwei replied, "Gu Wuji."

"He's a Gu, too... Is he related to you, Steward Gu?" Lin Xuan glanced at Gu Lianwei.

"He's my younger male cousin."

No wonder she was so young and already a steward of Qiyun Sect. It turned out she was not only talented herself, but also had the Gu Family behind her.

Most of the questions in Lin Xuan's mind had been answered.

He was just about to turn and leave when he suddenly looked back. "I almost forgot something. If I'm going to take on something this dangerous, I'll need a weapon. I can't bring my baton or saber."

"Quite right. I overlooked that."

Gu Lianwei opened her drawer, which was like a treasure chest, and took out a foot-long cylindrical metal rod. It was copper-colored.

"This is called a Hidden Joint Staff. It's made of rosewood inlaid with copper, easy to conceal, and sturdy. When you need it, just flick your wrist, and its segmented sections snap straight, turning it into a three-foot weapon."

As she spoke, she swung it forcefully. It really did extend into a three-foot staff, and it looked quite sturdy.

She pinched the tip of the staff, and with a click, it folded back up. Then she handed it to Lin Xuan.

"That's all there is to it. It's very easy to use."

"All right, I'll take it," Lin Xuan replied.

He took the staff and turned toward the door. He had just reached it when—

"Flag Commander Lin, if you find yourself in a bad situation, prioritize staying alive," Gu Lianwei suddenly said.

Lin Xuan stopped, but didn't turn around.

"Steward Gu doesn't seem to have much confidence in me."

Gu Lianwei shook her head. "It's quite the opposite."

Lin Xuan smiled when he heard that. "Don't worry. I value my life more than most people."

With that, he pushed the door open and left.

After he was gone, Gu Lianwei immediately instructed the maid beside her, "Yun'er, gather our people at once. Notify the authorities to go to the north gate, and leave only a small number of people at the south, west, and east gates."

After going downstairs, Lin Xuan saw Zhang Xiu sitting in the main hall drinking tea. As soon as Zhang Xiu saw him, he hurried over.

"Flag Commander Lin, what took you so long? Did you settle things?"

"Settled." Lin Xuan nodded.

"Did you get the cultivation method?"

"More or less."

Lin Xuan didn't explain further.

Because this matter had already gone far beyond getting a cultivation method.

The two of them quickly left the Pleasure Pavilion.

"Uncle Zhang, take my clothes back to the inn first. I have something to do."

As he spoke, Lin Xuan took off his battle jacket and the token at his waist and handed them to Zhang Xiu.

Once he took off the jacket, he looked little different from an ordinary civilian.

It was winter, after all, and he was wearing winter clothes with a battle jacket over them.

A worried expression appeared on Zhang Xiu's face. "You don't know your way around here. Are you sure you'll be all right?"

"What's there to worry about? I'll be fine," Lin Xuan replied with a smile.

Lin Xuan pinched the bridge of his nose.

The street was filled with all kinds of smells from all sorts of sources: foul odors, sour sweat, and even the smell of animal droppings on the ground. They mixed together, making his nose struggle to cope.

This is why I chose to sacrifice this talent back then. Still, it's nice to have it come in handy now.

After Zhang Xiu left, Lin Xuan went to a nearby clothing shop and bought a brand-new cross-collar robe for a commoner, along with a square scarf.

Dressed like this, he looked completely like an elegant, handsome scholar. Not a trace of his military bearing remained.

Using the Liang City dialect, he asked a passerby, "Brother, could you tell me how to get to Hundred Flavors Garden?"

The man he asked was dressed in fine clothes, but walked with his head bowed, looking thoroughly dejected.

But since someone had politely asked him for directions, he pointed into the distance. "Hundred Flavors Garden? That way."