I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Su Mei and Zhang Jing were taken aback and looked at him.

"I let him go, but I also left a little something on him."

"What is it?" Su Mei asked anxiously.

A smile appeared on Zhao Zian's lips.

"My good friend."

Su Mei and Zhang Jing were both stunned.

Friends?

What kind of friend?

Could it be that Doctor Zhao has other female confidantes outside?

She felt inexplicably choked up.

"Your friend? Male or female? I've never heard you mention them before?"

Zhang Jingze had a completely different approach.

As a county magistrate, he was thinking about connections and power.

A friend? Could it be a reclusive martial arts master? Or some extraordinary person?

"Dr. Zhao, may I ask who this extraordinary person is? If you could introduce me, I would certainly welcome him with open arms!"

Zhao Zian's smile deepened.

"hehe."

"My good friend has a bit of a wild side and doesn't like meeting strangers."

"And it's already gone."

"Did you go?"

Su Mei and Zhang Jing spoke in unison.

The backyard door was pushed open a crack from the outside.

A white figure darted in.

It pounced at Zhao Zian's feet.

Su Mei and Zhang Jing were both dumbfounded.

Zhang Jing, in particular, nearly popped his eyes out.

"Dr. Zhao, the friend you mentioned, could it be this?"

"Exactly."

Zhao Zian nodded readily and bent down to hug the little fox.

The little fox comfortably squinted its eyes.

"Lord Zhang, don't underestimate my friend."

Zhao Zian scratched the little fox's chin.

"Its nose is a hundred times more sensitive than the best hunting dog. I made it remember not Wu Qi's scent."

"It was the aura of the 'sick silkworm' that I planted inside him."

"That aura is unique; no matter where he runs, he can't escape my friend's pursuit."

Zhang Jing still found it hard to believe.

"But it's just an animal after all..."

"brute?"

Zhao Zian raised an eyebrow.

"Lord Zhang, all things in this world have a spirit. Sometimes, humans are no better than animals."

Zhao Zian's words were loaded with meaning.

Zhang Jing realized he had spoken out of turn.

"It was my presumption that led me to this situation. I beg the divine physician and this fox spirit friend for forgiveness."

Su Mei chuckled.

Zhao Zian did not continue the topic.

"Lord Zhang, Wu Qi is currently in the city. I already know where he is hiding."

"Tonight, I would like to ask Lord Zhang to accompany me to capture this villain and bring him to justice."

"What?!"

Zhang Jing stood up.

"Going tonight?!"

"Dr. Zhao, this matter must not be handled rashly! That Wu Qi is a sorcerer who practices Gu poison; his methods are bizarre and far beyond those of ordinary bandits!"

"I will return immediately, gather all the constables in the yamen, and borrow a squad of elite soldiers from the city defense battalion to completely surround his hiding place. He won't be able to escape even if he grows wings!"

"It's too late."

Zhao Zian shook his head.

"By the time you mobilize your troops, it will be dawn. Wu Qi isn't stupid; he's probably like a frightened bird right now, ready to flee at the slightest disturbance."

"Moreover, numbers are useless against Gu Masters."

"If he were to casually scatter a handful of poisonous insects, most of your constables and soldiers could be killed or wounded. In that case, not only would you fail to catch anyone, but you would also plunge the entire county into panic."

"Is this the kind of scene you wanted to see, Lord Zhang?"

Zhang Jing calmed down.

Indeed, he had never dealt with such a freak before.

"Then, according to the divine physician, what should be done?"

"The fewer people, the better."

Zhao Zian held up two fingers.

"Just you, me."

"And my friends."

The little fox in his arms let out a cry at just the right moment.

"Just the three of us?!"

Zhang Jing's eye twitched.

A doctor, a county magistrate, and a fox?

This combination seems unreliable no matter how you look at it.

Go capture a murderous Gu master who has two lives on his hands?

This isn't an arrest, this is suicide!

"No! Absolutely not! Doctor Zhao, your safety is of paramount importance! I cannot allow you to take such a risk!"

Zhang Jing flatly refused.

Zhao Zian smiled.

"Lord Zhang, do you think I'm the kind of person who would risk my life?"

His smile carried a powerful confidence.

"I'm absolutely confident I can deal with Wu Qi. There are two reasons why I called you along."

"As the county's top official, your presence during the arrest of the criminal makes the arrest legitimate and facilitates the subsequent trial."

"I want Lord Zhang to see for himself what these so-called sorcerers really are. I also want you to understand that ordinary government methods won't work when dealing with them."

"So that you can handle similar situations in the future."

Zhang Jing fell silent.

What an achievement it would be to personally resolve this case!

Risks and opportunities coexist.

"good!"

"I will accompany Physician Zhao on this trip!"

"I want to see just how powerful that Gu Master is!"

Zhao Zian nodded.

That's the kind of momentum we're looking for.

I'm not afraid of you lacking ability, I'm afraid of you lacking courage.

"Su Mei, go and prepare some things."

Zhao Zian began to give orders.

"Strong liquor, realgar, glutinous rice, some of each. And get me a set of silver needles."

"Okay!" Su Mei replied.

……

Outside the city, inside a dilapidated temple.

Wu Qi packed his belongings.

He never expected to encounter such a terrifying figure in such a small county town.

Just by taking his pulse, his entire past was exposed!

Wu Qi stuffed several bottles and jars containing Gu worms into his arms.

He picked up his bundle and headed out of the temple.

One foot had just stepped out of the temple gate.

"Wu Qi, where are you going so late?"

Wu Qi looked up.

Two figures were standing on a desolate grave not far ahead.

One of them was the doctor from earlier that day.

The other one was dressed in official robes and had his hand on a dagger at his waist.

Zhang Jing was extremely imposing.

"Wu Qi!"

"I have a question for you!"

"Zhang the butcher at the south end of the city, was it you who cast the spell? He was perfectly healthy, yet he suddenly went mad. You dare say you weren't behind it?!"

Wu Qi chuckled.

"Butcher Zhang? What Butcher Zhang or Butcher Li? Sir, have you got the wrong person? I'm just a wanderer passing by, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Still trying to argue!"

Zhang Jing's eyes widened in anger.

"You think you can get away with playing dumb? Then tell me, why would someone like you, a江湖 (jianghu) wanderer, flee in the dead of night? And what are those bottles and jars you're carrying that you shouldn't be seen in public?"

Wu Qi's smile froze on his face.

Zhang Jing pressed on relentlessly.

"You fiend, you have murder on your hands, the evidence is irrefutable, so surrender now!"

Wu Qi's face darkened.

"A butcher, he's dead, so what? It's not a big deal. But you, a mere mortal, dare to meddle in my business? Aren't you afraid of ending up like them?"

As he spoke, one hand had already reached into his robes.