Xu Qi'an's desperate measure

It couldn't have been Governor Song who died, because he had plenty of time to escape and had no reason to sit at home and wait to die.

It's unlikely that the Dream Witch would kill someone to silence them, because it hasn't reached the point where it needs to silence them. There's enough time to retreat, and there's absolutely no need for her to take such an extreme step.

Why fake a suicide out of guilt?

Xu Qi'an had two guesses: First, Provincial Governor Song was also a scapegoat; killing him to silence him would cut off the trail. At the same time, he fabricated the illusion of suicide out of fear of punishment to mislead Governor Zhang.

Second, the Provincial Governor Song was stalling for time.

When discussing the case earlier, Xu Qi'an and Governor Zhang and others reached a consensus that if the other side was driven to a dead end, it would definitely be a bloody battle.

Therefore, Governor Zhang launched two unorthodox raids, precisely because he didn't want to give the other side a chance to react.

But this time, it seems the other party acted first.

"If it's just stalling for time, then the body of Provincial Governor Song must be fake. How could an experienced coroner not notice the disguise? Unless the coroner is a werewolf."

Based on this assumption, then the governor is in danger.

At this time, Governor Zhang only had the Tiger Guard and Jiang Luzhong by his side. Most of the Nightwatchers stayed behind at the post station. Although Jiang Luzhong was powerful, don't forget that there was also a fourth-rank dream wizard on the other side.

Once Jiang Luzhong is entangled by the Dream Witch, how can the Tiger Guards alone protect the Governor's safety?

The formidable Silver Gong and Bronze Gong soldiers are the backbone of this guard.

Song, the Provincial Governor, had been operating in Baidi City for many years. Now that Yang Chuannan was a prisoner, he held absolute power, and no local force could restrain him. Although he could not mobilize the garrison troops, the five city military commands within the city were under the command of the Provincial Governor.

Thinking of this, Xu Qi'an immediately summoned all the Nightwatchers in the post station and told them his guess.

Upon Nightwatchers's faces turned extremely serious. Although some were still skeptical, the safety of the governor was at stake, so they preferred to believe it rather than dismiss it.

"Leave four men to guard the post station; the rest of you follow me," a silver-gong-wielding man shouted.

He glanced at Xu Qi'an: "Xu Ningyan, you stay at the post station."

Everyone knows Xu Qi'an's condition; he's not suited for high-intensity combat, and he wouldn't be able to unleash his full potential even if he went.

They led the horses over, and more than ten Nightwatchers spurred them on, galloping towards Song Changfu's residence.

"Ningyan, how did things turn out like this?"

Song Tingfeng's face was grim, his eyes filled with unease and anxiety.

His identity as a gong-bearer meant he had no access to the case's secrets. In the eyes of Song Tingfeng and the other Nightwatchers, the progress of the case was discontinuous and leapfrogged.

Upon returning from his inspection tour, Xu Qi'an solved the mystery: Governor Zhang had arrested Commander Yang Chuannan.

After Li Miaozhen visited the post station, the case seemed to take a turn, but they still didn't know the specifics of what happened.

Then, today, a group of bodyguards brought in a cripple. After a secret interrogation by the governor, it turned out that Provincial Governor Song was the mastermind behind it all.

It wasn't until just now, when Xu Qi'an explained the general outline of the events to the Nightwatchers, that they finally understood.

Song Tingfeng now knows the progress of the case and the current situation, but the news came suddenly, and he still needs to...

Take some time to digest.

There's a saying that the battlefield is ever-changing. The same applies to investigations; the enemy won't wait for you to painstakingly gather evidence, prepare everything, and then surrender.

Xu Qi'an remained relatively calm, after all, he had Jiang Luzhong, a high-ranking martial artist, and a group of powerful Nightwatchers with strong cultivation.

"Tingfeng, you must leave the city immediately and find Li Miaozhen. Tell her what happened in the city."

To be on the safe side, Xu Qi'an decided to request the help of the Flying Swallow Army. Li Miaozhen's private army was extremely powerful, gathering martial arts masters from all over the country, and its combat strength was formidable.

"Good!"

Song Tingfeng got up and walked out, then quickly turned back, ran upstairs, and a few minutes later changed into an ordinary set of casual clothes.

The clever Xu Qi'an secretly praised him, while also reflecting on himself: How could I not have reminded him to change into casual clothes? His sanity had dropped so drastically!

Song Tingfeng mounted a small mare that wouldn't get stuck in traffic and rode off.

But half an hour later, he galloped back, rushed into the post station, and said with a grim face, "Ningyan, the city gates are closed."

Xu Qi'an stared at him silently, his heart sinking to the bottom.

"I have a feeling something bad is going to happen."

Xu Qi'an couldn't sit still any longer and got up to pace around the hall.

"What could possibly happen? Jiang Jinluo is a fourth-rank martial artist; in the martial world, he's a formidable figure. Besides, the rest of our colleagues have already gone," Song Tingfeng reassured him.

He was also trying to comfort himself and boost his confidence.

Even with the strength of the Great Feng Dynasty, currently only the Prince of Zhenbei is a third-rank martial artist. A fourth-rank martial artist can indeed roam freely in the martial world. Xu Qi'an is used to seeing fourth-rank masters in the capital, but that is the capital, the core of the Great Feng.

Of course, the world is a deep and murky place, and there might be one or two old Old Wang hiding there.

"The other three city gates must be closed as well. It's clear that Governor Song, or the Witch God Cult behind him, is trying to trap us." Xu Qi'an paced back and forth.

"Have you thought about it? Of course they know Jiang Jinluo is a fourth-rank official, yet they still dare to do this, which means they have made ample preparations."

"Perhaps they were already plotting this when they entered your dreams to interrogate you and Guangxiao. As long as we haven't targeted Governor Song, they can remain patient and inactive."

"But once we find out that Governor Song is the mastermind, they will not hesitate to overturn the chessboard."

"And then?" Song Tingfeng's voice trembled slightly. "Even if they kill the governor, aren't they afraid the imperial court will send troops to suppress them?"

"The Qi Party and the Witch God Cult have been plotting for so many years, isn't this what they've been up to?" Xu Qi'an looked at him. "Why would they bother with all this trouble if it weren't for rebellion?"

Song Tingfeng felt a little flustered, but as a seasoned Nightwatchers who had seen his share of storms, he wasn't completely at a loss.

"We must find a way to get the information out and mobilize the troops in the garrisons," he said.

"The governor originally planned to send Jiang Jinluo tonight to kill Xu Huchen and his generals, but they were lucky enough to escape."

After giving a reply, Xu Qi'an fell into deep thought.

Old Song was right about one thing: we need to get the message out.

Yunzhou is ultimately not under the Song family's control; otherwise, the Qi faction and the Witch God Cult wouldn't need to operate so secretly. Putting aside the various counties, in Baidi City, at least the Guard Commander under Yang Chuannan's command could rival the Provincial Governor Song.

When Governor Song framed Yang Chuannan, it's not impossible that he didn't intend to eliminate dissidents. Every cloud has a silver lining, and Xu Qi'an couldn't help but consider this possibility.

However, Yang Chuannan is currently a prisoner, and the suspicion against him has not been completely cleared. Moreover, even if Xu Qi'an wanted to use him, the seriously injured old Yang could not possibly leave the city.

"How about we break out of the city?"

Zhu Guangxiao, who had been silent for a long time, spoke in a low voice.

This road is dangerous, but it's the only way he can think of.

"There are only four gongs in the post station right now, and they have to deal with hundreds of city defense soldiers, or even more. It's very difficult," Song Tingfeng shook his head, rejecting the suggestion.

The city's garrison was no rabble; they were well-equipped with bows and muskets. There must have been several skilled fighters among them. Even if the four of them managed to break out of the city, it would take them quite a while.

By the time we reach the military camp and inform the Flying Swallow Army, and then return to attack, the turmoil in Baidi City will probably be over.

There's another way!

Xu Qi'an touched the small jade mirror in his arms and sighed inwardly: I really don't want to suffer social death.

"I have a way to inform the Flying Swallow Army." Xu Qi'an said, then quickly waved his hand. "You don't need to ask any more questions. Tingfeng and Guangxiao, you two stay at the post station to guard Yang Chuannan and Liang Youping. If they make any unusual moves, execute them immediately!"

"What do you mean by that?" Song Tingfeng was taken aback.

"I need to get to the governor's place. I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling about this," Xu Qi'an said in a low voice.

After saying this, he left the post station, took his horse, and headed towards the residence of Provincial Governor Song.

The streets were bustling with people, who went about their daily lives as usual, completely unaware that a dramatic change was about to unfold.

However, this has nothing to do with them. Whether Yunzhou changes hands or not, they will continue to live their lives as usual.

Xu Qi'an held the horse reins with one hand and took out the jade fragment with the other. He did not send a message directly to Number Two, but instead tagged Daoist Jinlian first.

[Three: Master Jinlian, have your injuries fully healed?]

He figured that Master Jinlian's injuries should have healed by now. It had been almost a month since he went to Luo Yuheng to ask for medicine for him last time. If the injuries hadn't healed by now, it would be a real problem for Fatty Tiger.

[Nine: Thank you for your concern, I have been fully recovered for some time.]

"Call"

Xu Qi'an breathed a sigh of relief; it was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

[Three: Please mute the others for me; I need to discuss something important with Number Two.]

Why is Number Three so secretive about contacting Number Two?

The members of the Heaven and Earth Society, scattered across the country, stared at the message being passed around in the mirror, their hearts filled with curiosity.

But after waiting for a long time, they found that the fragments of the Earth Book no longer transmitted any information. They realized that the fragments of the Earth Book in their hands had been temporarily blocked and could no longer receive any information.

This secret technique is only known to Daoist priests of the Earth Sect. Back then, the Purple Lotus Daoist priest used the same method to shield all of them.

"This kind of secret technique is infuriating!"

The young woman from Southern Frontier angrily threw the jade mirror to the ground. With a loud "bang," the ground shook violently, and the jade mirror embedded itself in the ground.

[Nine: Number Three, you can speak now. No one but me and Number Two can see your message.]

"Have they already lost internet access, Daoist Master? Actually, I didn't want you to see my message either. Although you've been watching my actions with a cold eye, in a social death, every person less present is better." Xu Qi'an complained while slowing his horse, using his finger as a pen to send the message:

[Number Two, can you see this?]

Li Miaozhen, who was waiting, replied to his message instantly: [What do you want to discuss with me?]

Using her woman's intuition, she felt that what Number Three was about to say might be related to his cousin, Xu Qi'an.

Otherwise, one is at the Cloud Deer Academy in the capital, and the other is in Baidi City in Yunzhou, tens of thousands of miles apart. What could they possibly discuss?

[Nine: Should I step aside?]

[Three: Okay, Daoist Master, thank you.]

[Nine: Ah, this seems to be an extremely important matter. Don't worry, I won't reveal it to anyone.]

"You son of a bitch! "Xu Qi'an's face was blank.

Daoist Master, do you still have that cat-loving habit? If so, you must keep it up, or I'll definitely expose you in the future. Xu Qi'an took a deep breath and sent the message:

[Number Two, what I'm about to say is very important. Don't hesitate or have any doubts. After I finish speaking, act immediately.]

Don't worry too much about my social death; Xu has some shame.

PS: Updated first, revised later.