Zhong Li, the Tool

Young Master Liu and his companions also had a difficult time. After Miss Rongrong was taken away, the young heroes and heroines, led by Young Master Liu, immediately returned to the inn and told their elders what had happened.

After discussing it, the elders did not rush to the night watchman's office to Nightwatchers. Instead, they mobilized their personal connections and first made contact with officials.

Upon learning that they had been arrested by the Nightwatchers, those with considerable connections in the capital looked troubled, but after being begged for a large sum of money, they reluctantly agreed.

But when they learned that the Nightwatchers who was arresting them was named Xu Qi'an, their faces changed drastically, and they exclaimed, "We can't do it! We can't do it!"

After wasting the afternoon, the next day, he mustered his courage and visited the Nightwatchers's office, hoping that the infamous gong-wielder would show leniency.

The master of the enchanting Rongrong girl was a middle-aged beauty who still retained her charm. She had a round face and a certain allure, and must have been a captivating beauty in her youth.

She was filled with worry, knowing all too well the Virtue of men in the world. A night had passed, and she had no idea what torment Rongrong had endured.

Losing one's virginity is bad enough; the real tragedy is when a greedy man locks a woman in a secluded mansion and keeps her as a plaything.

Young Master Liu's master was a composed middle-aged swordsman, whose most distinctive features were his deep nasolabial folds and his bright, piercing eyes.

The two elders exchanged glances, both seeing worry and helplessness in each other's eyes.

Even the most unruly Nightwatchers in the watchman's office, a place teeming with skilled fighters, had to restrain his temper and shrink back.

After a tense hour of anxiety, a young man dressed in a silver-plated official's uniform, with a distinctive sword hanging from his waist, stepped across the threshold and into the side hall.

"Who among you is Rongrong's master?" Xu Qi'an asked, scanning the crowd.

The middle-aged woman rose, bowed, and said, "This is I."

"Auntie, you're being modest. With your figure and appearance, how could you be an old woman?" Xu Qi'an nodded and said, "I have already investigated the matter. The one who stole my magic Law Treasure was not Miss Rongrong, but the Thousand-Faced Female Thief Ge Xiaojing."

"The culprit has been apprehended, Miss Rongrong, you may take him away now."

Upon hearing this, the two elders breathed a sigh of relief, and the young heroes and heroines who had accompanied them were also overjoyed.

However, compared to their experienced elders, they were simpler-minded. The two elders no longer harbored any illusions; Rongrong was probably already...

But the fact that the other party released him after a one-night stand was already quite remarkable; he could only accept his bad luck.

"Thank you, sir!"

The middle-aged woman expressed her gratitude.

As they spoke, Miss Rongrong, led by the official, entered the side hall.

She remained calm and exclaimed "Master" with surprise, without bursting into tears of joy or making a scene.

The middle-aged woman observed this without showing any emotion, simply saying, "It's alright. This gentleman is very perceptive and did not wrong you."

Rongrong gracefully curtsied and said sweetly, "Thank you, Lord Xu."

The middle-aged swordsman coughed, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Then, we won't stay any longer."

After saying that, a stack of silver notes slid out of his sleeve and were placed on the coffee table.

"Take the silver notes with you," Xu Qi'an said calmly.

He was too embarrassed to accept it, after all, the charming Rongrong hadn't caused any trouble or stolen anything; it was all a misunderstanding.

The middle-aged swordsman looked at Xu Qi'an with disbelief and surprise, then clasped his hands in thanks again. "Thank you, sir."

The group of martial arts practitioners left immediately, but just as they stepped out of the side hall, they heard Xu Qi'an call out behind them, "Wait!"

The middle-aged swordsman stopped in his tracks, looking both disdainful and relieved. What official doesn't love money?

He turned around, casually took out a silver note from his sleeve, intending to hand it over again, but saw Xu Qi'an spreading out a sheet of Xuan paper on the table and writing a book.

After writing, he dipped his thumb in ink and pressed it to make a handprint.

The crowd stared in confusion, wondering what he was up to.

"I don't like owing people anything. Yesterday, I killed this brat and gave him a magic Law Artifact. Take this IOU to the Bureau of Astronomy and find Song Qing. He will compensate me with a Law Artifact." Xu Qi'an flicked his wrist, and the Xuan paper flew towards the middle-aged swordsman.

The middle-aged swordsman accepted the gift, then took his leave.

The group left the Nightwatchers's office. The beautiful woman held Rongrong's hand without speaking, while a young swordsman finally realized what was happening and tentatively asked with some concern:

"Rongrong, did he... did he bully you last night?"

The young heroes were taken aback at first, but then they all realized what was happening and stared intently at Rongrong.

The middle-aged swordsman snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Although both he and the beautiful woman were certain that Rongrong had lost her virginity, they deliberately avoided mentioning it. Even though they were people of the martial arts world, their reputation was still very important.

"He didn't do anything to me. I spent the night alone in the Nightwatchers's quarters," Rongrong explained, shaking her head. "The only problem was that the blankets smelled a bit."

As the night passed, she was no longer as fearful and worried as before, knowing that the silver gong was a virtuous gentleman.

Now that the topic was out in the open, the beautiful woman no longer held back and asked suspiciously, "If he didn't bully you, then why did he grab you?"

"That Lord Xu's treasure was indeed stolen. The thief was Ge Xiaojing. The reason he arrested me and brought me to the yamen is because Ge Xiaojing disguised herself as me to commit the crime, which led to this misunderstanding," Rongrong said.

That makes perfect sense.

The beautiful woman frowned and asked, "Why did Ge Xiaojing disguise herself as you?"

Rongrong said resentfully, "The other day, I was drinking with Brother Liu and others at a restaurant, and I said a few words about her by name. The Thousand-Faced Thief is a low-class person in the martial arts world, who only does petty theft and thievery. How can she be worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as me?"

"Presumably, those words reached her ears, so she disguised herself as me and stole, using the opportunity to take revenge."

"That's true." Young Master Liu and the others nodded.

Then the sequence of events becomes clear: the silver gong was also a victim; the arrest of Rongrong was entirely a misunderstanding, and he was by no means a lecherous person abusing his power.

The young heroes breathed a sigh of relief.

The middle-aged swordsman nodded and said, "I offered him the silver note just now, but he refused. It's good that he's young and spirited; he still has a sense of righteousness."

His tone was full of admiration.

Young Master Liu thought for a moment and said, "Then, Master, about the Law Artifact."

The middle-aged swordsman glanced at his disciple, shook his head, and chuckled, "In the capital, the Bureau of Astronomy ranks above the Nightwatchers. Although the Silver Gong's status is not low, it's a pipe dream to think that the Bureau of Astronomy would send out Law Artifact with just a piece of paper."

Young Master Liu couldn't hide his disappointment. "Then why doesn't he..."

The middle-aged swordsman chuckled and said, "Young people are all concerned about their image; we don't need to take it seriously."

The middle-aged woman's eyes darted around as she suggested, "Since we have nothing else to do, let's go to the Bureau of Astronomy and take the children to see the tallest building in the Great Feng Dynasty."

"Okay."

Xu Qi'an emerged from the dungeon, clutching a yellowed ancient book. He had just finished interrogating Ge Xiaojing and had inquired about the secrets of the "Deceiving the Heavens and Crossing the Sea" technique.

"This female thief is quite talented. Let's keep her around for now; she'll definitely be useful in the future. Heh, you stole my Law Treasure, so I'll not only fleece you, but I'll also make you work like a slave in the future. Of course, I'll make sure you eat grass."

Chunfeng Hall is still under construction, and his branch is also under renovation. Currently, he is a silver gong without an office and can only go to Jinyu Hall in Minshan to mooch off him.

Upon arriving at the side hall, he instructed the clerk to serve him hot tea. He then opened a yellowed ancient book and began to read it with great interest.

The disguise techniques of the Thieves' Guild—no, the Divine Thieves' Guild—are truly amazing. Unlike ordinary disguise techniques, they don't simply create a lifelike human skin mask.

Instead, it directly alters one's appearance by applying a special medicinal solution to the face for the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, causing the facial flesh to become hot and "melt." This is then combined with a unique method of circulating qi to change the facial features.

The effect lasts for twelve hours.

Of course, you can also restore it manually.

Martial artists at the Bronze Skin and Iron Bones Realm need three times the amount of potion, extending the facial soaking time by 15 minutes. There's no other way; their skin is just too thick.

"The most difficult part of this secret technique is that I have to observe carefully and practice repeatedly. Just like painting, beginners have to start by copying, while advanced painters can create freely and perfectly copy a figure with just one glance."

"It's a craft that requires hard work. The people I know best are my second uncle and Erlang. My second uncle is an elder, so let's start with Erlang."

An official stepped across the threshold and said respectfully, "Lord Xu, Duke Wei requests your presence."

The tea room on the seventh floor.

Wei Yuan stood by the desk, pen in hand, eyes focused, intently drawing.

Wei Yuan didn't look up, continuing his description, and asked, "Have you offended anyone recently?"

Xu Qi'an joked, "Following you, how can I not offend someone? I have so many enemies I can't even count them all."

Wei Yuan hummed in agreement. "With this kind of awareness, their future achievements will certainly be remarkable."

He paused, then said, "That sixth-rank official you brought back yesterday was taken away this morning. Think carefully, did he offend anyone?"

Xu Qi'an said helplessly, "I just couldn't remember, that's why I brought that guy back. Why did you release him again?"

He was complaining about Wei Yuan.

In the Nightwatchers's office, there were only two people who dared to speak to Wei Yuan like that: one was a jealous person, and the other was Xu Qi'an.

Wei Yuan remained silent, his brush slowly sketching on the paper. Finally, he put down his brush and let out a long sigh, "It's finished."

"What is Duke Wei painting?" Xu Qi'an quickly leaned closer.

The painting depicts a beautiful woman in palace attire, wearing magnificent clothes and numerous ornaments, her slender hands holding a delicate silk fan.

She possesses an indescribable beauty, not from her facial features, but from her spirit.

Once Xu Qi'an confirmed that it wasn't the Empress, he became bolder and asked, "This lady is very beautiful. Is she betrothed? Does Duke Wei know her? I'm not married yet."

Wei Yuan shook his head regretfully. "No one in the world can capture her beauty, not even me."

In the end, he didn't reveal who the woman in the painting was, nor did he mention anything that might offend anyone. He simply waved his hand and drove Xu Qi'an out of Haoqi Tower.

When Xiaohunshou Rongrong and her group arrived at the square below the Star-Gazing Tower, they were once again awestruck by this tallest building in the Great Feng.

Previously, everyone had observed it from a distance, and it was indeed towering into the clouds, piercing the sky.

Only after a close look did I realize how magnificent this building is; its foundation alone, protruding from the ground, is as tall as a two-story building.

The bricks that formed the foundation were larger than a horse-drawn carriage.

Standing before this towering building, one realizes one's own insignificance.

"Master, let's go inside." Young Master Liu swallowed hard.

"Go in?"

The middle-aged swordsman glanced back at his disciple, shook his head, and said, "I'll go in alone. You wait outside. Getting into the Bureau of Astronomy is no easier than entering the inner palace."

Since he's just going to "give it a try," let him do the embarrassing thing alone. Besides, it's not embarrassing if only one person loses face; it's the younger generation who will follow and see it, and that's what's truly embarrassing.

The middle-aged swordsman straightened his clothes, straightened his back, and began to ascend the long white marble steps.

As "Senior Flower" watched his master's retreating figure, Young Master Liu asked the middle-aged beauty beside him, "Could my master obtain Law Artifact?"

He was still unwilling to accept it. The Seven Star Sword was considered a top-tier Law Artifact in the Ink Pavilion, and now that it was destroyed, he would definitely be punished when he returned to the sect.

Most importantly, he can no longer obtain a magical Law Artifact.

The Bureau of Astronomy is a household name, and every martial artist desires to possess a Bureau of Astronomy Law Artifact produced by it.

Faced with immense temptation, even knowing the hope is slim, one is still willing to daydream.

"Do you know why your master said that note was just a young person's attempt to save face, and told you not to have any expectations?" the beautiful woman retorted.

A group of younger people, including Young Master Liu, shook their heads.

"Because that Song Qing is the personal disciple of the Supervisor, and his status in the Great Feng Jianghu is no less than that of an emperor's son, do you understand?"

I understand now. So that young silver gong's note was just a facade. How could a prince of the Great Feng Dynasty be ordered around with just a note?

On the other side, the middle-aged swordsman climbed the white marble steps and entered the first floor, the hall where ninth-rank Physician gathered.

A rich aroma of herbs wafted through the air. The white-robed Warlock were busy at their respective tasks: some were cooking the herbs, some were sketching their shapes, and some were sorting and selecting them.

"Who are you?" A Warlock in white robes approached.

The middle-aged swordsman quickly bowed his head, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "I am Yang Yuchuan of the Ink Pavilion in Jianzhou."

"Sword State Ink Pavilion? Never heard of it." The white-robed Warlock waved his hand. "Just say it, what is it?"

"I wish to see Song Qing. This was given to me by a silver gong-wielder surnamed Xu from the Nightwatchers's office." The middle-aged swordsman took out the slip of paper and humbly presented it.

If Young Master Liu were to see his master in his current state, he would surely feel conflicted. His master often dealt harsh blows to them, the younger generation, but in front of a Healer with little cultivation, he was meek and submissive.

The white-robed Warlock took the slip of paper, unfolded it, and immediately became extremely serious, uttering only, "Please wait here!"

I hurried upstairs.

The middle-aged swordsman was taken aback; the other party's reaction was beyond his expectations.

No, this piece of paper can really be exchanged for a Law Artifact? How is that possible?

But soon, the white-robed Warlock who had just gone upstairs returned, and what he was carrying perfectly answered the middle-aged swordsman's question.

It was an unremarkable sword, without any ornate tassels, and the scabbard and hilt were not inlaid with gold leaf or jade pieces.

Simple and unpretentious.

"Give!"

The white-robed Warlock reached out and handed it over. The middle-aged swordsman hurriedly took it and then turned back to do his own thing.

"I should be going too." The middle-aged swordsman didn't have time to admire the sword; he held it in his arms and silently left the Bureau of Astronomy.

"Master is out!" Young Master Liu exclaimed in delight.

"Oh, there really is Law Artifact?" Rongrong saw the middle-aged swordsman holding a sword in his arms.

The middle-aged swordsman approached the group, glanced at the Law Artifact in his robes, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Let's leave this place."

The beautiful woman nodded, but her gaze remained fixed on the unassuming sword.

After walking for a while, the Star-Gazing Tower behind them grew farther and farther away. When they reached a secluded spot, the middle-aged swordsman stopped and examined the sword in his arms.

"Master, quick, quick, take a look!" Young Master Liu's heart burned with excitement, even more so than when he saw a stunning beauty lying in bed.

The middle-aged swordsman gripped the hilt of his sword and slowly drew it. Clang! A bright flash of sword light entered everyone's eyes, causing them to instinctively close their eyes.

This sword is four feet long, with cloud patterns naturally forming on its blade. The blade exudes a chilling aura, and a light touch with the Sword Qi will immediately tear open a bloody gash.

"Sword Qi arises spontaneously; it is actually Sword Qi that arises spontaneously."

The middle-aged swordsman's hands trembled with excitement, his eyes burning with fervor. "A top-grade Law Artifact! Even the Autumn Water Cold Sword, the weapon of our Ink Pavilion Master, is far inferior to this sword!"

Thump, thump. Young Master Liu heard the rapid beating of his own heart.

The Sword Qi energy arises spontaneously; in the martial world, this is considered a top-tier magical Law Artifact.

"Master, please let me see, please let me see!" Young Master Liu reached out to grab it.

"Smack!"

The middle-aged swordsman slapped him away, and was stunned for a moment afterward. It was a completely instinctive reaction, as if the sword was his wife and he would not allow an outsider to desecrate it.

"Master, why did you hit me?" Young Master Liu said, feeling wronged.

The middle-aged swordsman thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "This sword is a first-class Law Artifact. As the saying goes, 'A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.' This is not a good thing for you."

"I have just made a difficult decision. I will keep this sword for now and bear the risk. Once you have achieved mastery of your cultivation, I will return it to you."

"Alright, my mind is made up, you don't need to say anything more. Of course, as compensation, I'll give you this beloved sword. This sword has been with me for twenty years, like my wife; you must cherish it."

Young Master Liu looked resentful.

Xu Qi'an didn't see this scene; otherwise, he would have empathized with Young Master Liu and remembered how his parents had taken away countless red envelopes and pocket money for the same reason when he was a child, resulting in a loss of over a billion yuan.

"So, what exactly is Young Master Xu's identity?" Miss Rongrong murmured.

No one could answer her question. Everyone fell silent, lost in thought. Perhaps, the image of the handsome and dashing young man, Yinluo, involuntarily surfaced in their minds.

The middle-aged beauty looked at the sword with envy, then turned to glance at her alluring and charming disciple.

She suddenly realized that the biggest loss was that nothing had happened last night.

After seeing Rongrong and the other martial arts enthusiasts off, Xu Qi'an practiced breathing exercises, meditation, and mental sword cultivation in the side hall, as well as the art of deceiving the heavens and crossing the sea. Before he knew it, lunch had passed.

His stomach was growling, which woke him up from hunger.

"Although the more I learn, the more beneficial it will be for me, I feel like I don't have enough time right now."

"No, I can't learn any more special skills. I can't bite off more than I can chew. I should always base my skills on 'Heaven and Earth One Slash' and then learn some complementary auxiliary skills."

"Now I understand why emperors throughout history didn't pursue Martial Dao or even cultivate themselves—because they didn't have the time. There are only twelve hours in a day, and they also had to handle state affairs. Even the most talented person could become like Zhong Yong (a child prodigy who failed to live up to his early promise)."

After lunch, Zhong Li arrived.

This disciple of the supervisor, Chu Caiwei's senior sister, was wrapped in a coarse cloth robe, her hair was disheveled, and her face was not visible. She had her head slightly bowed.

"I'm so glad you're not hurt." Xu Qi'an patted her shoulder.

"Thank you for your concern," Zhong Li said politely.

Judging from her voice, she should be between 20 and 25 years old. Women under 20 tend to have clear and pleasant voices, while women over 20 often possess a sensual voice and a mature, magnetic quality.

"I'm so glad you're alright. Were you in any danger yesterday?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"I encountered a total of thirty-six crises: twenty minor crises, ten major crises, and six life-or-death crises," Zhong Li said with practiced ease. "I survived them all."

This... this familiar tone of voice, inexplicably tugged at my heartstrings. Xu Qi'an patted her shoulder again:

"Thank you for your hard work. How's your handwriting?"

"Acceptable."

"Alright, Senior Sister Zhong, I'd like to ask you for a favor," Xu Qi'an said with a smile.

P. S.: This chapter is quite long, so the update is a few minutes late. I haven't had time to revise it yet, but I'm relying on my dedicated staff to catch the bugs. I'm so lucky to have someone help me catch bugs every day. The previous chapters were also revised thanks to these diligent staff.

I'll dedicate an extra chapter to the "tool character" (a character who is merely a tool in a story).