Go and capture those thirty-six fierce villains.

The museum owner stood up from the ground with unease, still harboring great fear of Qin Ning's infamous reputation.

He had witnessed the executions at Caishikou a few days ago.

The twenty-odd officials on the execution platform, though not exactly tyrannical in Bei'an City, were still officials in name only.

In terms of status and position, he is far superior to someone like him who performs tricks and acts for money.

And this person of such status, Qin Hanchan of the Sichen Guard, killed more than twenty of them in one fell swoop.

The difference in status between oneself and the other party is almost like that between an ant and a beast.

If Qin Ning knew that those twenty-odd lives were all attributed to him, his sense of helplessness would probably be even greater.

He patted the steps beside him, speaking in a friendly tone: "Not all of us from the Sichen Guard are murderers, at least I'm not. Come sit down and let's talk."

Thinking of his three wives and one child, the old shopkeeper took a deep breath and sat down next to Qin Ning.

"Whatever you wish to ask, I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

"I'm not used to your change in attitude..." Qin Ning stroked the little black cat peeking out from his chest, and after a moment's thought, asked, "How long has your martial arts school been open, Master?"

"I settled in Beian City twelve years ago. After living peacefully in the city for three years, I felt that I couldn't just sit around and do nothing, so I opened this Tiger Roar Martial Arts School."

That was nine years... Qin Ning asked, "During this time, has anything strange happened at your martial arts school?"

The old curator frowned, pondered for a long time, and then carefully shook his head.

"My martial arts school has been peaceful and quiet for the past nine years. Although there have been some minor incidents, they were mostly trivial matters such as my disciples practicing their punches too loudly and disturbing the peace of the neighbors. There have never been any people coming to challenge me, so there have been no strange things that the adults have mentioned."

"No..." Qin Ning tapped his knee lightly with his index finger, recalling his previous experiences of subduing the little fierce creatures.

Sometimes, it's not that strange things don't happen, but rather that the events caused by the minor misfortune are not particularly noticeable.

Well, we can't rule out the possibility of a malevolent spirit in this place, just like the cursed hairpin in the little princess's hand.

Forget it, let's use the simplest, most straightforward, and most incisive method.

Qin Ning stood up, and the old owner of the museum beside him quickly followed suit.

"Close your eyes."

"what?"

"Close your eyes."

Upon receiving the order again, the old curator, realizing what was happening, immediately closed his eyes, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes so pronounced they could almost trap a mosquito.

Seeing this, Qin Ning turned his back and cast a spell on the Bagua plate that had slipped from his sleeve, confirming the location of the little evil spirit, which was still in the direction of the three tiled houses.

"Open your eyes and come with me."

A moment later, the two arrived in front of the three tiled houses. The old innkeeper glanced at Qin Ning, feeling apprehensive, not understanding why the other party had come to the place where his wife and daughter lived.

Could it be... that the rumor that Qin Hanchan in the city took action against the Liu family of the Tax Bureau because she had taken a fancy to the women of the Liu family is true!?

"Tell everyone inside to come out."

The old curator knelt down again with a thud, his dim old eyes filled with both fear and a hint of determination.

If begging for mercy fails, he will risk his life to fight for a slim chance of survival for his wife and daughters.

"My lord, please don't hesitate to ask me anything..."

Qin Ning interrupted helplessly, "Let them out so I can go in and take a look."

"what?"

The old curator was stunned.

"Aren't your wife and daughters living in these three tiled houses? It's not very convenient for a man like me to go in like this. Of course, if you don't mind, I can go in directly." After Qin Ning finished speaking, he reached out and helped the other person up from the ground.

The old curator was momentarily dazed: "Your Excellency is very thoughtful. I will go and fetch them right away..."

"Wait a minute, although I'm not afraid of people knowing that I'm here today, it's better if fewer people know about it." Qin Ning called out to the other person, raising his hand to gesture at the back of his neck.

The old curator immediately understood; he was eager to keep his wife and daughter out of the matter.

"Rest assured, sir, I know what to do."

After he finished speaking, Qin Ning saw the other party push open the door and enter the first large brick house.

"Old man, what are you doing so early in the morning? We've been married for so long... uh!"

Three breaths later, the old master carried out an old woman wrapped in a quilt, placed her beside Qin Ning, whose lips were twitching, and turned to enter the second large brick house.

"Ah~~ It's you, Master! You scared me to death... Uh~"

This time, it only took two breaths before another middle-aged woman in her thirties, wrapped in a quilt, appeared at Qin Ning's feet.

The old curator then skillfully rushed into the third tiled house.

A moment later, he emerged carrying a woman in her early twenties and an infant in swaddling clothes, and greeted Qin Ning, "Sir, everyone has been cleared out. You may go in now."

Qin Ning: "..."

The process is correct... but why does this art style look so weird!

He stepped past the two people at his feet and entered the first tiled house. The interior was antique and the air was filled with a faint sandalwood scent.

Qin Ning didn't look at it too closely. The Eight-Monster Plate slipped out of his sleeve. After casting the incantation, the divination showed that the minor misfortune was still on the west side.

Not in this room... He turned and went out, glanced at the old curator who was guarding outside the door and whose expression had become much calmer, and then went into the second tiled house.

The room was filled with pink decorations, and the air was permeated with the scent of perfume.

Qin Ning took two steps forward and arrived at the center of the house. After casting the spell again, he looked closely at the Bagua plate in his hand, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

The double Kun hexagram, in Taoism, is the lower trigram, also called the Earth hexagram.

He looked down between his legs: "This little rascal, it was hiding underground?"

Qin Ning frowned and pondered for a moment before turning and leaving the room.

"When was this house built?"

The old owner looked blankly at me: "These three tiled houses have been here for a long time. They were there when I bought this martial arts school, and they were renovated later."

"How much is the price?"

"Two hundred... no, the renovation cost only a hundred or eighty taels back then, it's not worth much." The old shopkeeper's eyes were filled with even more confusion, not understanding why this cold-hearted man in front of him suddenly asked about the house price.

With a whoosh, Qin Ning tossed over three silver notes and instructed, "This is three hundred taels. This house is mine now. Take some men and guard the front yard entrance. No matter what happens, don't let anyone in."

After he finished speaking, he turned and went back into the house, leaving the old shopkeeper standing there in a daze, clutching three silver notes.

"This old man... actually managed to earn silver from the Sichen Guards?"

inside the room.

Qin Ning released the little black cat from his arms, put his two fingers together, and gathered a wisp of innate energy at his fingertips.

"Cover me up."

He whispered a command, then his fingertips traced a line in the air, and a simple rune gradually took shape.

As the last stroke fell, beads of sweat rolled down Qin Ning's forehead and splattered onto the ground.

"Gen Earth, breaking through the mountain's veins!"

With that soft shout, the runes suddenly slammed into the ground in front of him.

The next second, the stone bricks underfoot cracked, the ground trembled, and a narrow, dark gap, wide enough for two people, was revealed.

A unique, earthy smell and a distinctive dampness emanated from deep within.