Go and capture those thirty-six fierce villains.

As the other person approached, stepping on charred wood chips, Qin Ning slowed her breathing.

He has just admitted that he is a member of the Sichen Guard, so it is highly likely that Physician Yang's identity is true.

Although I don't know why they're going to such lengths to find me, logically speaking, I shouldn't be in a life-or-death situation right now.

The worst fear was that the other party wouldn't make any sense... As Xu Meishan drew closer, Qin Ning felt the stench of blood around her nose grow stronger.

He forcibly suppressed his unease and asked in a puzzled tone, "I have indeed become a retainer of the Prince Su's mansion, but what is the meaning of your hiding, Brother Xu?"

He couldn't admit that he was intentionally hiding, because that might harm Ah Man's sister.

"Your godfather ordered people to find you the day before, and you entered the Prince's mansion the next day. Is it really such a coincidence?"

Xu Meishan still wore a nonchalant, silly smile, his tone full of teasing, as he gently stroked the patterns on the black wooden tripod with his fingertips.

Qin Ning continued his performance: "Doctor Yang wants to see me? What's the matter? Do you want to discuss medical insights again?" He quietly put one hand behind his back.

"take it easy."

Xu Meishan kept his head down, his gaze fixed on the black cauldron in his hand, but he seemed to notice Qin Ning's little movement. "Your godfather is looking for you just to tell you that Gu Kexing is dead. The second son of the Gu family is the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. He may send someone to take revenge."

"You came to me just for this?" Qin Ning's breath hitched.

Xu Meishan nodded: "Yes, that's it."

Qin Ning: "...?"

Your Sichen Guard distributed portraits throughout the entire prefecture with great fanfare, only to come to me just to give me a heads-up?!

Am I worthy?

Was that Physician Yang being a little too concerned about me?

Upon hearing the reason why the other party had sought him out, Qin Ning's thoughts raced through his mind, and he didn't even have time to ask how Gu Kexing had died.

However, before he could calm down, he heard Xu Meishan say something else.

"I have conveyed my godfather's words. Now let's talk about what just happened. You, an outsider, knew things you shouldn't have known, and you are also a retainer of the Prince Su's mansion, so you cannot live."

"...?"

Qin Ning was stunned for a moment before realizing that the other party was referring to the fact that the Crown Prince's poisoning was caused by the Sichen Guard.

Are you sick?

...Didn't you bring this up yourself in front of me just now?

If you can't let outsiders hear it, then why are you bringing him up in the first place?

Before Qin Ning could speak, a rustling sound came from beneath his feet. Several thick old tree roots burst out of the ground and precisely tied around his wrists, ankles, waist, and neck, suspending him in mid-air in a spread-eagle position.

The shape is quite shameful.

"You can't live..." Xu Meishan said with a troubled tone, looking at Qin Ning with a silly smile, his eyes full of struggle. "But before I came to Bei'an, my godfather told me that if you were in danger, I had to protect your life."

He tilted his head.

"What should I do now?"

I thought you just looked abnormal... The increasingly tighter tree roots made Qin Ning realize that the other party was not joking.

"Of course I'll listen to your godfather... Could you put me down first so we can talk?"

"The rules of the Autumn Bureau were also set by my adoptive father. The fact that the Crown Prince was poisoned is a secret, and anyone who finds out must not live."

Qin Ning twisted his neck: "Everyone knows that Prince Su and the new emperor are at odds, and the heir apparent has fallen ill with a strange disease. They've probably long suspected that the Sichen Guard is the murderer; this matter isn't exactly a secret!"

Xu Meishan shook his head, his tone serious: "Your Majesty, Da Ling, Mo Bei, and certain forces in the shadows do not want a new ruler to emerge in Suzhou. Prince Su cannot be certain that the poison on the heir was done by the Sichen Guard, so this matter is confidential."

So many enemies... Qin Ning emphasized, "But your godfather also said he would protect my life." At the same time, his mind was racing, trying to figure out how to get out of this extremely bizarre situation.

"Godfather meant to save your life," Xu Meishan corrected, looking down at the two corpses on the ground, his voice tinged with regret. "I killed them too early. I should have waited until they attacked you before I acted, then I could have saved your life. Killing you then wouldn't have been disobeying Godfather."

"Does your godfather know you're exploiting this bug?"... On the verge of life and death, a thought suddenly flashed through Qin Ning's mind.

"Confidential information can't be heard by outsiders, but what if I become one of our own?"

"What do you mean?" Xu Meishan looked up in confusion.

"If I join the Sichen Guard, your troubles will be solved!"

After Qin Ning finished speaking, she stared intently at the other person with her bloodshot eyes, which were filled with blood and qi stagnation.

Xu Meishan was silent for a moment, then clapped his hands sharply. His tone and expression finally matched as he exclaimed excitedly, "That was brilliant! Brilliant! Hehe, my godfather praised your quick wit before, and now it seems it really is!"

Before he finished speaking, Qin Ning's feet touched the ground again, and the old tree roots that had bound him loosened and shrank back into the soil.

"From now on, we are colleagues serving the royal family. You can go now. Someone will come looking for you afterward," Xu Meishan stepped forward and patted Qin Ning on the shoulder, his tone gentle, as if he wasn't the one who had just been struggling with whether to kill or release him.

After stretching his numb joints, Qin Ning's thoughts were mixed. "Now that I've joined the Sichen Guard, should I resign from my position as a retainer of the Prince's mansion?"

Xu Meishan waved his hand: "No need, but you'd better not reveal your identity. Hmm, you're a smart person, you should know what you should and shouldn't do."

Qin Ning remained silent. The other party was acting strangely, and now that he was free, he should leave quickly to avoid this strange man suddenly changing his mind.

"Understood, goodbye!"

The moment he finished speaking, he turned and ran quickly toward the sedan chair, the little black cat still there.

As for reviewing today's events, we'll talk about that once we're safe.

......

The mountain wind, carrying the smell of blood and fallen leaves, blew by, and Zhenji Ridge, which had been noisy due to a series of explosions, gradually returned to quiet.

Xu Meishan stood quietly in place until Qin Ning's figure disappeared into the bushes, then he bowed his head respectfully to the black wooden cauldron in his hand.

"Godfather, although the process was not without its twists and turns, the matter has been settled, and he has agreed to join the Sichen Guard."

When he looked up again, he saw a middle-aged man standing under a broken tree in the distance. He was dressed in coarse linen clothes, about seven feet tall, as upright as a pine tree, and had a resolute face like a mountain carving. At first glance, one felt as if they were about to be drawn into his presence.

I don't know when this person arrived.

"A giant?"

Xu Meishan, holding the black cauldron, approached him as if having a casual conversation: "So you really did come. Prince Su is still worried about the life of his eldest son."

"You are no longer a member of the Mohist school, so there's no need to address me like that."

Xu Meishan stopped three feet away from the other party, his silly smile fading slightly.

"If I can't call you 'Master,' then... should I call you 'Teacher'?"

A very faint emotional fluctuation appeared on the face of the leader of the Mohist school. "You are not worthy to call me that."

With a slight twitch of his fingertips, the plants, trees, and rocks within a ten-foot radius around him came to life: "Was today's unexpected turn of events during the blessing ceremony orchestrated by your men?"

Xu Meishan noticed the changes around him, and the silly smile on his face faded a bit.

"Sichen Guard Qiu Department, ordered to apprehend the Great Spirit spy, why are you attacking me, Master?"

The leader of the Mohist school swept his gaze over the two corpses and heads on the ground. With his eyesight, even though the head of the Bitter Master was covered with dirt and broken leaves, his appearance was completely unrecognizable.

However, it is still recognizable as a Buddhist ascetic practice.

"The Great Spirit Spy wouldn't appear at Zhenji Ridge without a reason."

The implication is that their appearance is inextricably linked to Xu Meishan.

"I also want to ask you, Teacher, why would a powerful spy appear at the place of prayer for the Prince of Su's heir? And according to my intelligence, they came here to obtain the technique for making Ink Cores." Xu Meishan gently shook his head: "Teacher, although there are some minor conflicts between the Prince of Su and His Majesty, that is ultimately a family matter. As the leader of the Mohist school, you must not lead the Mohist school astray!"

As soon as he finished speaking, countless rocks and vegetation instantly gathered together, condensing into a vast giant hand that smashed down towards him from mid-air!

......

Boom!

Qin Ning, who was approaching the sedan chair, frowned when he heard a loud noise not far behind him.

However, he did not turn around, because there was something more pressing waiting for him.