Yin Yang Soul Searcher

Han Xueshan pursed her lips, her mood equally low: "The Imperial Advisor guessed that Chen Shiyu's next target was to go to Shangzhou to steal the mines stolen by the Four Seasons Master... so he sent Bai Jueming to investigate the case, and also to have Bai Jueming find out the background of Chen Shiyu and that third-rank martial artist..."

The voluptuous, beautiful woman frowned slightly, a look of confusion on her face: "Why is that?"

"Since the Imperial Advisor could guess that Chen Shiyu was going to Shangzhou, why didn't he send a master to stop him? Instead, he had a mere eighth-rank Yin-Yang Master investigate his background?"

Putting aside whether Chen Shiyu will go to Shangzhou as the Grand Preceptor guessed, even if Chen Shiyu does go to Shangzhou, what makes the Grand Preceptor think that an eighth-rank Yin-Yang Master can figure out his background?

Han Xueshan shook her head honestly, somewhat annoyed, and said, "I don't understand, and I forgot to ask the Imperial Advisor..."

The beautiful woman looked at Han Xueshan with some helplessness. This Xueshan probably hadn't considered this issue. Ah, but you can't blame her; analyzing events is her worst skill.

"Alas, it's a pity that we are of lowly status and cannot question the Imperial Advisor in person..." The beautiful woman shook her head helplessly. "In that case, we will just wait for the Imperial Advisor's news."

Han Xueshan opened her mouth, then hesitated before saying, "Master, actually, I've already told the Imperial Advisor that I also want to go to Shangzhou..."

"What!?" The beautiful woman was clearly startled by the news, then her face showed anger, her full breasts heaving slightly!

"Why did you go with Bai Jueming? Don't you know how dangerous this trip is?"

"I know, disciple," Han Xueshan said, lowering her head sadly. "But I hope even more to do my part for my deceased father in this matter! To find out the forces behind Chen Shiyu and his gang, and to avenge my father personally!"

Upon hearing this, the beautiful woman was stunned. She couldn't possibly stop her child from avenging her father, but this journey was fraught with danger. What if something happened to Xiaoxue? How could she explain it to the sect? How could she face the spirit of her senior brother Han in heaven?

But I know my own disciple well. Even if I don't let her go now, she will find a chance to sneak out of the Taoist temple.

Thinking of this, the beautiful woman sighed helplessly, and finally looked up at Han Xueshan with a serious expression: "Are you really sure about this?"

Han Xueshan nodded firmly: "Master, I've made up my mind. Even if this journey is fraught with danger, I must go!"

"Even if it means dying because of this..."

"Shut up!" the beautiful woman quickly interrupted Han Xueshan, "Don't say such unlucky things!"

Han Xueshan shrank back, feeling relieved. She knew that her master had agreed.

The beautiful woman looked helpless, then stood up, took Han Xueshan's hand, and returned to the room.

After leading Han Xueshan into the room, the beautiful woman went straight to a bookshelf, searched for a while, and found a small wooden box about the size of her palm.

The beautiful woman first gently blew away the thin layer of dust on the box, and then handed the box to Han Xueshan.

"Master, what is this?"

"These are two talismans personally crafted by the sect leader." The beautiful woman pulled Han Xueshan to sit at the table. "Your journey to Shangzhou is fraught with danger, and there's nothing I can do to help you."

"These are two high-level talismans personally crafted by the sect leader. One can summon heavenly lightning, and the other grants you great speed and the ability to fly on the wind! Consider them your trump cards for survival."

"This lightning talisman can damage a third-rank enemy, while this wind talisman will grant you speed comparable to a third-rank enemy." The beautiful woman held Han Xueshan's hand, earnestly advising, "Xiao Xue, if you encounter danger you can't handle, throw out this lightning talisman; it will entangle the enemy for you. Combined with this wind talisman, it will give you enough time to escape danger!"

"Master, these two talismans are too precious... This is a gift from the sect leader to you." Han Xueshan felt she was causing her master too much trouble, so she pushed the box toward the beautiful woman.

"You brat, why are you still distinguishing between you and your teacher?" The beautiful woman poked Han Xueshan's fair forehead hard.

Then he began to earnestly advise, "You must promise your master that you will not act rashly when encountering problems, understand? You should consult with that Yin-Yang Master named Bai Jueming more often."

"Although I have never met him, judging from the cases he has solved, he is definitely a deep and meticulous person. With such a person working with you, I will feel much more at ease."

Moreover, after hearing about Han Xueshan and Bai Jueming's revenge against Chu Jiangyuan, the beautiful woman realized something else: this young man not only possessed the aforementioned advantages, but also had the characteristics of being cunning, ruthless, and vengeful!

To make an enemy of such a person, you need to be prepared to guard against them for a thousand days! Because they will seize any opportunity to bite you.

Han Xueshan nodded in surprise, not expecting her master to have such a high opinion of Bai Jueming. While he was indeed skilled at solving cases, Han Xueshan didn't want to talk about his character... a deadbeat who wouldn't pay back his debts!

"Please be more cautious in your actions, and with these two talismans as a safety net, I can rest assured." The beautiful woman patted Han Xueshan's small hand. "When do you plan to go to Shangzhou?"

"tonight!"

"Why are you in such a hurry? Won't you stay a little longer?" the beautiful woman said with some reluctance.

"The Imperial Advisor urged Bai Jueming to set off as soon as possible, and the only son of the Prince of Yu Nan will also be traveling with us. They are all quite anxious, so we decided to depart tonight..." Han Xueshan explained.

"Alas, since that's the case, I won't keep you any longer." The beautiful woman sighed. "When you set off later, go to the storeroom and collect as many talismans, pills, and silver as possible. Be sure to be careful on the journey."

The beautiful woman then held Han Xueshan's hand and nagged her like a mother hen for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before reluctantly letting Han Xueshan leave.

........

Inside the inner city, in a quiet courtyard amidst the hustle and bustle.

Because Emperor Taikang had seized all of his family's properties in the capital, Jia Qingshan simply sold his house there as well, ensuring he had absolutely no assets left in the capital. This was to prove his obedience, and...

loyalty!

Since joining the Yin-Yang Palace, Jia Qingshan has rented a small, detached courtyard here and lived temporarily with several servants who followed him.

At this moment, Jia Qingshan was dressed in cheap coarse linen clothes, with a folding fan at his waist and a small purse hanging on his body.

At this moment, his two bodyguards and servants led two horses into the courtyard from outside the gate.

Although the two horses were different colors, they had one thing in common: they were tall and strong, with smooth and beautiful coats. They were clearly not cheap horses! These were the most precious and robust horses that the servant could buy in the capital.

A servant handed the reins to Jia Qingshan, saying, "Young Master, we searched the entire capital before finally selecting two decent horses. What do you think?"

Jia Qingshan glanced at the horse briefly, then patted its back: "This will do, just make do with it." The reason he didn't buy three horses was because he already had a good one.

The servant nodded, then asked, "Young master, why are you buying horses all of a sudden?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I'm going back to Shangzhou, and I probably won't be coming to the capital again," Jia Qingshan casually explained.

"Oh, young master, why are you leaving the capital all of a sudden?"

"Young Master, if you leave, where will we go?"

The servants looked alarmed and became somewhat anxious. They were all temporary employees of Jia Qingshan, and he wouldn't take them with him if he left the capital.

It wasn't that they were reluctant to part with Jia Qingshan, but rather that they would find it difficult to encounter another patron as generous as Jia Qingshan, who not only provided abundant cultivation resources but also paid significantly more silver than other patrons.

Moreover, Jia Qingshan is a man with very few trivial matters. When he takes them out, it's mostly just to put on a show, because he feels that this is in line with the status of a young master.

With high pay, little work, and close to home, where else could you find such a good employer? Therefore, the servants' reluctance to leave was genuine.

"I don't want to leave the capital either," Jia Qingshan said helplessly, "but something happened in Shangzhou and I have no choice but to leave."

"Young master, why don't you take us with you? Without you, I feel like this capital city is meaningless," a servant said, also reluctant to give up his good job.

Jia Qingshan shook his head: "The journey to Shangzhou is extremely dangerous, and the entire trip needs to be kept secret. It would be inconvenient to bring too many people."

"If the young master takes us with him, we can look after each other. At the very least, we can run errands for him," the servant said earnestly.

Jia Qingshan was slightly moved by what he saw. He hadn't expected that these thugs he hired in the capital would be so loyal, and that his personal charisma was so great.

However, he stuck to his principles and, after thinking for a moment, said, "Since you are so reluctant to part with it, how about this?"

"This little courtyard still has two years left on the lease, but I've already paid the landlord all the rent. If you're willing to wait for me, you can stay here. If I come back to the capital within six months, then we'll still be master and servant."

"If I don't come back within six months, you should ask the landlord to refund the rent to you and use the money to find a new way to make a living."

The martial artists exchanged glances. They certainly didn't really want to risk their lives with Jia Qingshan in Shangzhou. After all, people are naturally inclined to seek profit and avoid harm, and the price Jia Qingshan offered wasn't high enough to warrant becoming death warriors.

However, the conditions offered by Jia Qingshan were quite good. They could keep their jobs and take this time to rest or go out and look for opportunities.

That's a good idea!

"Young master, we'll wait for you here. You must come back!" A servant grabbed Jia Qingshan's sleeve, looking reluctant to part.

"What kind of nonsense is this, pulling and tugging like that?" Jia Qingshan said with a look of disgust, flicking his sleeve. Then he led the two horses away without looking back.

Very dashing.

......

"Shopkeeper!"

Bai Jueming entered the carriage shop and shouted loudly, startling the fat shopkeeper who was fiddling with an abacus.

"Coming, coming!" The shopkeeper hurriedly put down his ledger and stepped out from behind the counter. After seeing Bai Jueming's appearance clearly, the shopkeeper was somewhat surprised: "...Oh, it's you."