Go and capture those thirty-six fierce villains.

"Three thousand taels... two thousand is fine too... one thousand..."

Before Bai Gu could finish speaking, Qin Ning took out a stack of silver notes from the ink pouch.

He roughly divided it and handed over half of it.

"There should be more than three thousand taels here. I could have lent it all to you, but I also have some expenses recently."

Having already witnessed the Gu family's revenge, Qin Ning urgently needs to improve her self-protection abilities.

Advancing to the eighth rank of the Daoist sect is a slow and gradual process, so the only remaining path is [Greed]. He plans to find Feng Hanying in a little while and have her take him to buy some different kinds of pills or medicinal herbs, which he will then refine one by one using [Greed].

Let's see which one can improve physical fitness faster.

"Enough! Brother Guiyuan, you truly are my confidant. I will definitely research that steam engine as soon as possible, for the sake of the people and for the sake of killing..."

He shoved the silver note into the other man's face, successfully preventing Bai Gu from uttering his astonishing words in front of the Tiangong Building.

"You'd better study hard, I'm leaving."

After Qin Ning finished speaking, he quickly turned and left. Only after walking about a mile away did the Bagua plate in his sleeve stop burning.

......

The familiar alley, the familiar cherry tree, the familiar fragrance of flowers.

dong dong.

Qin Ning gently knocked on the door.

A moment later, the small brown door was pushed open, revealing a rather unfamiliar face.

He wore a dark blue brocade robe with a stand-up collar, had high cheekbones, fine lines at the corners of his eyes, and thin lips; he looked like someone not to be trifled with.

Qin Ning recalled that he had seen the old woman in front of him once from afar; she was Feng Hanying's teacher.

"Greetings, senior. I am an old friend of Han Ying. I have come to ask her for a favor."

The old woman's gaze swept over Qin Ning from head to toe. After a moment, she seemed to remember something and said, "Are you the physician who follows the young master?"

"It is indeed me," Qin Ning said politely, but noticed a change in the other person's gaze.

Just now it was scrutinizing a stranger... Now, it feels like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law.

After a long while, the old woman spoke up: "Han Ying went out early this morning. Qin Xingzhen, come in and have a cup of tea. She might be back soon."

As he spoke, he fully opened the small brown door, clearing the way.

"Since Han Ying isn't here, I won't bother you any longer..."

"No need to bother me. This courtyard is quiet and deserted. It would be nice to have someone keep an old woman like me company, have some tea, and chat."

Qin Ning wanted to refuse, but since the other party was an elder and had said so, he had no choice but to go in.

The courtyard wasn't large. Under the cherry tree, which was covered in pale pink blossoms, there was a tea table and two bamboo stools. There was no other sound coming from the courtyard, so it seemed that usually only the master and apprentice drank tea under this tree.

The old woman walked to the tea table and smoothly poured some roasted green tea from a purple clay pot into a white porcelain teacup.

Then she picked up the copper kettle from the small stove, placed one palm on it, and a red light flashed.

A moment later, steam gushed out from the lid of the copper kettle, and a pot of boiling water for brewing was ready.

Being able to manipulate the power of the five elements is indeed convenient... Feng Hanying's teacher should be a fifth-rank miscellaneous expert.

Qin Ning secretly deduced this in his mind.

The books he read only listed the names and abilities of the major cultivation systems below the fifth rank. The Miscellaneous Path was broken at the fourth rank, and there were no records of anyone skilled in alchemy among those from the ninth to the sixth ranks.

Based on the ancient pills the other party had previously refined, it is easy to deduce that.

Boiling water dissolves the withered tea leaves, and the pale green tea in the white porcelain cup gradually becomes richer.

A fragrant aroma of tea, mingled with the scent of flowers, wafted into Qin Ning's nostrils, making him feel refreshed and invigorated.

"Excellent tea!"

He gave a soft praise, sat down on the bamboo stool, picked up the white porcelain teacup but did not drink it, instead gently smelling the aroma of the tea in front of his mouth and nose.

The old woman covered her cup with a white porcelain lid, raised her head and said:

"Qin Xingzhen also knows about tea."

"I know a little bit about it."

Qin Ning wasn't lying. An old man who taught him when he was in school was very knowledgeable about tea ceremony. Qin Ning did well in school, and over time, he and the old man became close friends despite their age difference.

Naturally, he also frequented tea tastings.

For example, the person in front of you is gathering the aroma of tea.

The old woman picked up her teacup and gently slid the lidded bowl along the rim of the porcelain: "May I ask where Qin Xingzhen is from?"

This opening line sounds familiar...

As expected, after asking about my place of origin, the other party started asking about my family, but didn't ask about my job. Then they asked about my future plans.

I remember now, isn't this exactly what a son-in-law has to go through on his first visit to his mother-in-law?

But I came empty-handed...

After asking about the basic information, the quiet courtyard was filled only with the soft clinking of teacups and gaiwans.

Qin Ning felt a little regretful; he should have brought the little black cat with him, at least he wouldn't be in such an awkward situation now.

After finishing his tea, Qin Ning said, "Ahem, senior, I have to return to the Prince Su's residence at noon, so I'll take my leave now."

"Um."

With a whoosh, a cyan medicine pouch was flung over by the other party.

"Since you and Han Ying are of equal social standing, it wouldn't be right for me, as an elder, to meet you empty-handed. Consider this Gold-Melting Qi-Condensing Pill a small gift."

Does this mean I've been recognized?

Seeing that the other party's expression remained unchanged throughout, calm to the point of being unapproachable, Qin Ning accepted the medicine pouch and bowed, saying, "I dare not refuse such a gift from an elder. Qin Ning thanks you, senior."

The old woman saw the person out of the yard, closed the small brown door behind her, and walked back to the cherry tree.

"This young man is already a seventh-rank official at such a young age, a retainer of the Prince's mansion, and follows the young master closely. His future is bright, and he is more than a match for my Han Ying."

"However... with such a handsome appearance, I wonder if he will attract too many suitors in the future."

......

Qin Ning returned to the Prince Su's residence to resign.

The original plan was for him to infiltrate the Sichen Guard as a spy, while retaining his status as a retainer of the Prince's mansion.

But now, the situation has changed slightly.

His position in the Imperial Guard was too prominent. If he also retained his status as a retainer of the Prince's Mansion, it would seem very strange to outsiders, no matter how you explained it.

The Prince Su's residence, study.

I didn't order pear today; instead, I opted for a woody incense.

Li Zhi sat behind his vermilion desk, playing a game of chess with himself, holding a black character in his hand: "Transferred to the Sichen Guard's garrison in Bei'an City... then your hidden piece is useless."

As he spoke, he deftly placed the black piece in his hand onto the chessboard.

"not necessarily."

Qin Ning stood two feet away from the desk, silently staring at the black and white pieces on the chessboard.

"The headquarters of the Sichen Guard in the Autumn Bureau is just a facade in the major cities of various prefectures. If you go inside, you won't get any real information about the Autumn Bureau."

"Normally that's how it is, but Xu Meishan said that I, this cicada in winter, am only under his direct jurisdiction."

Qin Ning spoke selectively.

Prince Su, about to make another move, raised his head, his small eyes flashing with emotion: "He was seriously injured by Duke Yan yesterday, and he must focus on healing during this time, so..."

"Your Highness is wise. I have been unsupervised for some time now, so I think I can do something about it."

As Qin Ning spoke, he stepped forward, picked up a white chess piece from the box, and gently placed it on the chessboard, a smile playing on his lips.

Prince Su frowned: "...Why did you place it here? Isn't it a fatal move?"

Qin Ning: "Ahem, this is how we play in my hometown. Your Highness, look at these five white pieces, aren't they in a line?"