Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

As dawn approached, Li Ping carried the lingering damp chill of Shenmu Bay.

Rushing back to the prefectural governor's mansion

The tent had been soaked in the river, and the planks had swelled and developed cracks.

Da Niu had been running all the way with the box in his arms; the front of his clothes was so wet he could wring water out of it.

They were still carefully protecting the lid of the box when they entered the gate.

Erhu was even more in a sorry state.

His trouser legs were torn by the pebbles on the riverbank, and his knees were covered in mud.

But he stayed close behind the seven who had escaped, terrified that one of them might collapse on the way.

The gates of the mansion have just been opened.

Gao Min was already standing inside the door.

He had clearly not slept all night; the hem of his grey robe was damp with dew.

There was a large dark bruise under his eyes.

After seeing the account books in Li Ping's arms, Gao Min did not immediately inquire about the accounts.

Instead, he carefully counted the number of people following behind.

"One, two... seven."

He finally let out a sigh of relief when he counted to the seventh person.

"Were they all brought back here?"

"All seven people on board survived, not one missing."

Li Pingdao,

Gao Min's face instantly became very tense.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator, managing to escape right under your nose?"

"Did he take the accounts with him, or did he take the staff with him?"

"I lost on both sides."

Li Ping placed the tent box on the stone steps.

"He actually handed over the account books and the prisoners without a second thought."

Gao Min stared at him

Do you think this makes sense?

"I don't believe it."

Li Pingdao

Therefore, this ledger must contain bait that he had to place.

Da Niu, listening from the side, kept scratching his head.

"That person in black was incredibly ruthless; he smashed the head to pieces with just one slap."

"In my opinion, he definitely didn't have any good intentions."

Whether they are enemies or friends, their true colors will eventually be revealed.

Li Ping turned to look at Erhu.

Erhu, take a good sniff of the scent emanating from their bodies.

Let's see if they match up.

Erhu moved closer and twitched his nose.

The dregs left over from decocting the medicine, the strong smell of blood, and that cloying, rotten odor that couldn't be washed away no matter how hard you washed it.

But their clothes were stained with something else.

The smell of burnt paper ash

Erhu pointed to the cuff of one of the women's sleeves.

"It was like he had just crawled out of a pile of burnt books."

Gao Min's gaze immediately shifted to the woman's body.

The woman appeared to be around thirty years old, and she had a fresh, newly formed wound on her face.

Both wrists were purplish-black from being constricted by thick hemp rope.

She hadn't spoken a word the whole way, but at this moment she heard the words "books and paper".

Her body suddenly tensed up.

"Take the person to a side room and settle them in."

Gao Min began to speak.

"Let the medical officer examine the injuries first; don't let them die."

Guard all the doors and windows tightly, don't let even a fly escape.

The guards immediately obeyed the order.

Seven people were taken in

Among these people, the barefoot boy walked to the threshold and suddenly turned around.

He was still clutching the dagger Li Ping had given him.

Where is my mother now?

Li Ping paused for a moment as he walked forward.

The boy's lips were pressed together until they turned white.

Those people from before said that my mother had been sent to another place.

"As long as I behave, I can see her."

Since you possess the ability to rescue us...

"Is it possible... to rescue her too?"

Da Niu and Er Hu both lowered their heads.

Li Ping was staring at those eyes.

There were no tears or pleas for mercy in his eyes.

All that's left is a desperate, backed-up mentality.

And they are very similar to those who fled from Xiyun County back then.

"What's her name?"

"Lady Xu"

"Where was she arrested?"

"White Stone County, Qinghe Village"

Li Ping kept these words in mind.

I will help you search.

The boy stared at him

"This is true."

Li Pingdao

"But you have to survive first, and tell me everything you know."

The boy nodded vigorously.

Gao Min stood aside until the child was taken away.

He then spoke in a low voice

You really shouldn't have given him that hope.

"Their fate is uncertain, and Baishi County is thousands of miles away."

"With Shangguan's knife to your throat right now, where do you find the energy to be distracted?"

"I know"

Li Pingdao

"But even if he doesn't ask me, I've already investigated Baishi County."

Gao Min did not continue to persuade her.

He bent down and picked up the nameless ledger, his fingertips lingering on the tattered dragon pattern.

"Old Schoolhouse"

"You mentioned before that you had seen this specific location. What kind of place was it exactly?"

"The roster retrieved from the dry well in Liuxiang"

Li Pingdao

"It's no coincidence that it's back in this fortune-telling book."

Gao Min opened the ledger.

The preceding records are all destinations, without any categories.

There is no quantity of goods and no consignee.

But when you turn to the third page, a thin, soaked piece of paper falls out from between the pages.

A half-red mark is stamped on the top of this piece of paper.

The characters on the seal are very blurry due to being soaked in water; only two characters are still legible.

"Chen family..."

The entire courtyard suddenly became very quiet.

Da Niu couldn't read, so he went over and looked at it for a long time.

"Mr. Gao, which wealthy family does this so-called 'Chen family' belong to?"

Gao Min did not give any answer.

Li Ping remained silent.