Go and capture those thirty-six fierce villains.

Wen Chi sneered, and the surrounding earth, rocks, and sharp blades fell, transforming into a large chair that solidified behind him.

After sitting down, he calmly instructed, "Contact the organization and report the intelligence expenditure of 50,000 taels. First, get the silver that the employer has stored in [Hundred Birds]. As for the target, we'll see how things go later. After all, that's the Cicada of the Morning Guard!"

The farmer was taken aback for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening.

"Brother, you're amazing! With Master Wang as a witness, it's now confirmed that the intelligence was obtained for 50,000 taels, while we only spent 30,000. That's 20,000 taels of silver in one go!"

Another person said, "Not only that, Third Brother, have you forgotten that in [All Things], the other side also spent 15,000 taels to buy information about that Qin fellow from us?"

Wen Chi leaned back in the large chair, his feet dangling in the air, looking smug.

"Alright, hurry up and get on with your business. We'll find another place to stay when we get back."

......

The first floor of Tiangong Building.

Inside the tea room, Qin Ning savored the familiar taste of the tea.

Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the door!

"Qin Ning! I considered you a close friend, but I never imagined you would join a traitorous organization like the Sichen Guard! Today, I, Bai, will sever all ties with you!"

As the angry words were spoken, Qin Ning saw Bai Gu practically fly in from outside and pounce straight at him.

Its ferocious appearance made it look exactly like a husky without a leash.

Brother, aren't you a little too oblivious to what's going on around you? So when I came to you last time to get my wheelchair fixed, you had no idea I'd joined Sichenwei?!

With one hand catching Bai Gu's face, Qin Ning easily pinned him to the ground, despite Bai Gu being only an eighth-rank member of the Mo family. He said in a deep voice, "Ji Heng, calm down."

"Calm down, my ass! I, Bai Gu, was truly blind to have misjudged you! If you have the guts, let me go and summon the Hundred-Refined Azure Armor so we can fight fair and square... Ouch! Qin Ning, you actually hit me!"

Don't sound so resentful... Qin Ning raised his fist, which was in close contact with Bai Gu's eye socket, frowned at the hairs standing on the back of his hand, and then punched down.

Boom!

"You're still hitting me!"

"Have you calmed down yet?"

"The hawks and hounds of the Morning Guard..."

Boom!

"You, you, you..."

Boom!

"Yo-ben-shi, let go of me..."

If I let you go, you'll probably tear this place down.

Qin Ning frowned, looking at his cheeks where there was little room left to throw a punch, and then glanced at the Mo family disciples who were rapidly gathering at the entrance of the reception room.

He leaned down and said earnestly, "Ji Heng, do you still remember that the greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people?"

Bai Gu briefly stopped struggling.

Outside the door, many Mohist disciples were whispering among themselves.

"Senior Brother Bai has been beaten up, shouldn't we go and help him?"

"That's Master Qin Ning! Senior Brother Bai's good brother, and currently the pioneer of Senior Brother Bai's research on steam theory."

"That's right, Senior Brother Bai often talks about how good Master Qin is."

"But I heard that this Master Qin has joined the Sichen Guard, and just now Senior Brother Bai said that he wanted to sever ties with Master Qin..."

"Even fathers and sons quarrel, let alone brothers. We should hurry and inform the Ninth Elder."

"What are the Morning Guards? Why is Senior Brother Bai so excited?"

My reputation in the Heavenly Crafting Pavilion is actually this high?!

Qin Ning listened to the whispers outside the door, picked Bai Gu up from the ground, but did not let go of his arms in case he suddenly transformed.

"Do you remember what happened at Blood Rain Fortress? The three people who saved us were also from the Morning Guard."

While Bai Gu was still in a daze, Qin Ning whispered, "Let's go underground. It's not convenient to talk here. You can fight or make peace as you please."

Louis Koo may be straightforward and have an unusual way of thinking, but he is not stupid.

He felt the absolute power in his arms and knew that he had no hope of resisting now, so he nodded his head, which had grown half a size larger.

......

Tiangong Building has four underground floors.

The place is filled with even more pipes and various metal objects than when Qin Ning last came.

But the temperature was no longer as high as it had been last time, making it almost impossible for ordinary people to survive.

It seems that Louis Koo made a significant step forward in the research of steam engines.

As agreed, Qin Ning released the other party. Before he could even speak, Bai Gu instantly summoned his armor and transformed into a "Bronze Warrior," throwing a backhand punch at him.

The punch came with fierce force, heading straight for his face, clearly seeking revenge for what had just happened.

With his arms crossed across his face, Qin Ning took the punch that was comparable to that of a sixth-rank martial artist. His feet slid across the ground for a full seven or eight zhang before he finally stopped.

"The poor rely on mutations, the rich rely on technology. I never thought this saying would apply here..." He shook his slightly red, swollen, and sore arm, and told Qin Li, who had jumped away, not to make a move.

He then took the initiative to step forward and launch an attack on Bai Gu.

Boom boom boom!

Clang!

Bai Gu Kong possesses the strength, speed, and physique of a sixth-rank martial artist, but his skills are truly lacking.

Qin Ning, relying on his knowledge of external martial arts, possessed exquisite moves, yet he was unable to break through Bai Gu's defenses. He also couldn't use supernatural powers on Bai Gu, so the more he fought, the more severe his injuries became.

From the initial sparks flying from every punch to the current blood-stained blows, Qin Ning knew that the layer of copper skin on his body, which had not yet been fully solidified, had broken.

Being unarmed is still a disadvantage... Taking advantage of a front kick to create distance, Qin Ning had a thought and wiped his ink pouch at his waist, and a stick-shaped object wrapped in pink cloth appeared in his hand.

Come on, let's see who's tougher!

Boom!

With a sweeping kick, Bai Gu crashed into a large metal tank like a cannonball, releasing countless bursts of high-temperature steam.

He was clearly shaken quite a bit by the impact. After a few moments, he struggled to get out and shook his head vigorously.

"What's that in your hand?!"

During the fight, Qin Ning's straw hat had already fallen off, and his angular face was covered in sweat as he grinned.

"The Ruyi Jingu Bang!"

"What?"

"Enough with the nonsense, let's finish this call and talk!"

Thump! Another kick!

......

Fifteen minutes later.

Qin Ning and Bai Gu leaned against the wall, panting heavily, both completely exhausted.

"Now you're fucking calm!?"

Qin Ning retracted the single leg, calmed his heaving chest slightly, and turned to look at Bai Gu, who was three feet away.

With a whoosh, part of the Azure God's Armor dissipated, revealing Bai Gu's bruised and swollen face. He mumbled incoherently, "Calm down, Brother Guiyuan. Why did you suddenly join the Sichen Guard and commit so many evil deeds in the city?"

"It's a long story... Also, what bad things have I done?"

"They saw the female members of the Liu family, the tax collectors, and slaughtered their entire family; they amassed a fortune in Bei'an City, never paying for their meals or purchases; then they targeted families with seriously ill members, going to their homes to kill them, claiming it was to help them escape their suffering; and there's more..."

"Stop, stop, stop, what kind of weird rumors are these..." Qin Ning clicked her tongue, feeling that Bai Jiheng desperately needed a vivid anti-fraud lesson.

"The man surnamed Liu is deliberately causing trouble, and his son has been accumulating wealth in the east of the city for many years by taking advantage of his father's position as the tax commissioner. There is evidence in these government offices."

I went out to eat and buy things, and once I didn't bring any money with me. The next day I went back and paid double. That shop was on Anhe Street.

"I went to give acupuncture to someone in my family who was seriously ill, and they're all doing well now. I can give you their address if you don't believe me."

"Is that really true?"

"How could it be fake, Ji Heng? Your distrust of me is heartbreaking."

Qin Ning wore a pained expression, but her eyes fell on the many metal objects related to steam.

The progress of Bai Gu's research on the steam engine seemed to have exceeded his expectations.

"So... so it seems I misunderstood you, Brother Guiyuan?"

With his armor removed, Bai Gu's face was swollen, preventing him from making many facial expressions.

"However, Brother Qin, you still haven't told me why you suddenly joined the Sichen Guard."