Go and capture those thirty-six fierce villains.

As Qin Ning was lost in thought, Feng Hanying's soft voice drifted over.

"You're finally back! I have something important to tell you!"

So they weren't going to attack me after all...

"What is it?"

Qin Ning, exhausted after a day of practicing medicine, looked frail beyond his years.

"Do you remember that bandit leader who said he would capture you and hand you over to the young master?"

Qin Ning nodded, walked to the table, picked up a teacup, and poured himself a cup of tea.

"While I was strolling around the city today, I overheard people saying that Gu Kexing, the young master of Blood Rain Fortress, also has homosexual tendencies."

Qin Ning's hand, which was drinking tea, froze in mid-air as she looked at Feng Hanying's uneasy expression.

"So, the mastermind behind that band of bandits is very likely the garrison commander of Blood Rain Fortress?"

"Um!"

Qin Ning sat down at the table, picked up the pastries from the plate, and swallowed a few pieces whole.

Sugar helps me think better... The bandit leader's son is a homosexual, and so is the Blood Rain Fortress garrison commander's son. As far as I know, the Great Xia Dynasty is quite resistant to this, and there shouldn't be many people with this particular hobby. And someone who can be addressed as "Young Master" by soldiers with such flattery is even rarer.

Therefore, it is very likely that the two are the same person.

However, given the vast grasslands, the other side probably wouldn't learn of the bandits' annihilation so quickly.

We are safe for now.

Hmm... I can't go out and practice medicine anymore. After all, my face is too conspicuous and easily attracts the attention of these spoiled brats. It would be best to change my residence as well.

After thinking it over, Qin Ning looked at Feng Hanying calmly and said, "The possibility of encountering danger is not high, but just to be safe, we should change our accommodations. I've been practicing medicine in the city these past few days, which has drawn too much attention. If someone wants to investigate, they can easily find us."

"Change accommodations? But there's only one inn in the fortress."

"Spend some money, find a secluded family, stay for four days, get a travel permit, and then leave."

As Qin Ning spoke, she walked to the bedside, hesitating whether or not to tear off a piece of silk cloth to cover her face.

But I'm also afraid that would attract even more attention.

After discussing it, the two decided to wait until late at night before setting off.

As for the three horses...

"Raccoon slave."

"Meow?"

"Can you swallow three horses? Not eat them, but temporarily put them in your stomach. If you can, write 'one'; if not, write 'two'."

This is the result of Qin Ning teaching the little black cat to read every night for the past three days; she has learned to write "one" and "two".

Hmm...it's a bit slow, but at least there's progress. That's how Qin Ning comforted herself.

Meow~

The little black cat leaped down from its shoulder, dipped its paw into the teacup, and proudly drew the number "1" on the table.

When the moon reached its zenith, the entire Blood Rain Fortress fell into complete silence.

A man, a woman, and a cat, acting furtively, evaded the patrolling soldiers as they passed through the streets and alleys.

Finally, in the northwest corner of the fort, the two found a family where only a mother and child were living. They gave them 5 taels of silver and promised to give them another 5 taels after they left.

Only then did the other party agree to take them in.

......

Late at night, at the Blood Rain Fortress Inn.

The small building was empty.

Imperial Physician Yang, holding a silver cup with carved cloud patterns, sat at the table, intently studying the official documents on it.

The man who was laughing maniacally stood quietly behind him.

Suddenly, the candlelight inside the room began to flicker gently.

The man, who resembled a pumpkin hammer in form, landed silently three feet in front of the table from outside the door with a speed and agility that defied his physical size; the entire process was completely silent.

"Father, those two have moved to the house of a widow in the northwest corner of the fort." The man paused, then added, "I reckon the doctor won't be going to his stall tomorrow."

Without looking up, Physician Yang said, "The little fellow is quite cautious; he must know that Gu Xingke has homosexual tendencies."

He took a sip of tea and said, "Siqin, go and find a way to reveal their whereabouts and methods to Lord Gu's son. Tell him that an extremely handsome male doctor has arrived at this fortress."

"Yes."

The candlelight flickered again in the room, and the pumpkin-hammer-shaped man vanished without a trace.

After a long while, Physician Yang put down the silver cup in his hand, burned the official documents on the table in the candlelight, and looked calmly at the dim light outside the door. Suddenly, a smile appeared on his lips.

The ashes of the paper rose and danced slowly with the heat, eventually falling silently to the ground.

The last time he was this happy was when he personally slaughtered 187 of his enemies. And that was many, many years ago.

......

Qin Ning and his companion spent the day peacefully in the widow's house.

There are two days left until the travel permit is ready.

noon.

"That man has come to fetch water again!"

Through the crack in the paper window, Feng Hanying saw a figure and said in a low, depressed voice.

Qin Ning smiled helplessly.

To keep a low profile, their activity range was already limited, and with that person coming from outside, they couldn't even leave the house.

In the courtyard, the young widow holding her baby looked somewhat lost.

This person appeared three days ago. At first, she thought the other person had taken a liking to her, after all, although she had a child, she was still young and quite good-looking in the neighborhood.

Although the other person was a bit silly, he was decent-looking, but not as good-looking as the one hiding in the house.

But who knew that when this person came to fetch water, he really did fetch water, and when he came to chop wood, he really did chop wood.

The young widow even inquired about him, and it turned out that this man not only fetched water and chopped wood for her, but also reportedly visited the homes of all the widows on those two streets.

That's insane!

inside the house.

Feng Hanying was looking around listlessly when a hint of doubt suddenly flashed in her eyes.

"Hey, this guy looks familiar. Isn't he the storyteller from Baiweilou the other day?"

Because her view was obstructed, she couldn't see clearly and could only vaguely make out the other person's profile.

"A storyteller?" Qin Ning leaned closer. "That man came by on the second day of my stall. He was one of the first five people to get a free ride. He said he had an upset stomach from eating something bad. Let me see him. I remember his back."

Qin Ning's sudden closeness made Feng Hanying blush slightly. She moved aside from the gap in the paper window and whispered, "Look, it looks like him."

Qin Ning peeked through the crack and saw that the person's back was facing her.

"Strange, a storyteller also works as a water carrier for widows? What a bizarre career choice!"

Outside the courtyard, the strange storyteller quickly finished fetching water, chopping firewood, and grinding grain, then said he was going to go inside to help with cleaning.

The young widow quickly stopped her.

He didn't insist, just chuckled and turned to leave, probably heading to the next place.

It took half a day for the other party to leave.

Feng Hanying stretched inside the house and was about to go outside for some fresh air when she suddenly heard footsteps outside the courtyard gate.

"They're back again? No... there are at least five people making those footsteps!"

Qin and Feng exchanged glances. One of them slipped behind the door, while the other remained in place, observing the situation outside through the window crack.

Soon, five burly men dressed in coarse linen clothes and with hideous faces appeared. Three stood guard at the door, while two went inside.

The young widow was so frightened that she took a few steps back and hid at the doorway of the room.

Although the other person was not very polite in appearance, they were very polite in their speech.

"May I ask if Doctor Qin resides here? My young master is unwell and specifically sent me to invite him."

The young widow shook her head in fear: "It's just me and my child at home. You must have come to the wrong place."

"My lady is joking. Let's quickly invite Doctor Qin out."

The leading man shook his head and winked at his companion. The man took two steps forward and reached out to grab the young widow who was blocking the doorway.

"Help!"

A high-pitched scream pierced the sky, before Qin Ning and the other person inside the house could even make a move.

Then, a righteous and indignant voice came from outside the courtyard.

"How dare you! What are you doing?!"

The storyteller stood on the wall, his expression indignant.

"In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how dare you bully a respectable woman? You have no respect for the law and are unworthy of being called sons."

He shouted and leaped down from the wall, punching the man next to the young widow so hard he bent over like a shrimp.

Then he grabbed the other man's belt and slammed him against the three men holding the door handle.

"Don't be afraid! With me, Bai Gu, here, these thugs can't hurt you!"

As he spoke, he stepped forward and kicked the man who was standing there in the courtyard toward the four people who had just gotten up outside.

Wow, this guy looks so weak, but he's actually a martial arts expert... Qin Ning, behind the window, was surprised.

The burly men, who were dazed and confused from being hit, helped each other to their feet. The leader, with a fierce expression, pointed at the courtyard, unable to speak for a moment due to the pain.

He frantically pulled something from his pocket and twisted it forcefully towards the sky.

Thud—smack!

Pale red smoke exploded in the blue sky.