Chen Ping's Sword

Zuo Duanshou was truly anxious.

It wasn’t that those abducted women hadn’t been returned to the city.

But because.

He didn’t see any sign of his little sister among them.

He hastily dealt with the inquiries from the officials of Xingqing Prefecture, not caring to wait for the Chief Constable to bring commendations from the Prefecture.

It was said that the newly appointed Prefect Cui had just taken office yesterday, and such a heinous kidnapping incident occurred that night, leaving him highly embarrassed...

Before dawn broke, he had already convened a meeting and ordered a citywide search.

The constables, this time around, dared not slack off.

They could only obediently follow orders.

As for how many of the constables were truly committed, that was unknown.

In any case, Zuo Duanshou felt that the constables he saw today were all moving eagerly, no longer displaying the lazy demeanor of the past.

He had matters on his mind, worrying about his sister’s whereabouts and whether Chen Ping had encountered enemies outside the city and was injured, or was in danger... After dealing with a few words hurriedly, he found an excuse to use the restroom and slipped away.

He went to the East City Gate and waited for a little while, but could not wait for Chen Ping to return to the city. Instead, he saw a familiar figure dart past from afar.

That person looked distressed and staggered, appearing very downcast.

However, Zuo Duanshou immediately recognized her red dress and that seductive figure that seeped into the bones.

’Zhuang Hongyi, she didn’t die, and has returned to the city.’

Zuo Duanshou’s heart pounded wildly, and he felt confused and troubled.

’Did Seventh Brother encounter any trouble, was he intercepted and killed on the way?’

Wanting to stop the other person, Zuo Duanshou silently assessed his own strength and could only suppress the restlessness in his heart...

He bought a bowl of tofu pudding at an early morning stall, took a gray sunhat, and quietly trailed behind.

Perhaps because Zhuang Hongyi was preoccupied, she completely overlooked that someone was trailing her from dawn, from the East of the city to the North, without noticing him at all.

Zuo Duanshou marked signs at the corners all the way and spent some silver for disguises, changing his appearance five times...

He sometimes dressed as an elderly beggar, sometimes as a young swordsman, sometimes as a peddler with a carrying pole, calling out his wares, slowly trailing her to the north of the city.

Passing by the County Government Office’s bulletin board, Zuo Duanshou saw a crowd gathered ahead, all engaged in lively discussions.

He wasn’t inclined to mind more matters, nor had the time to be curious about some issues.

But his ears were too sharp, and he overheard some news.

"Turns out, during last night’s lantern festival, it was Young Master Tian Qi who rescued the abducted women, fought Zhuang Hongyi of the Seven-Colored Hall, defeated the Qingwei Sect’s outcast Duan Wenyao, and saved twenty-three innocent women.

To ascend to the 305th position on the Hidden Dragon List, he truly deserves his fame, not unworthy of the praise [Heroic Gallantry, Quick to Aid Others]."

"This brother, I must say, you got one thing wrong... Tian Qi is not a young master, rumor has it he was a beggar oppressed by the Seven-Colored Hall.

Entering the Hidden Dragon List was not due to merely a heart of chivalry, but his exceptional martial skills."

"How so? Please elaborate."

Someone nearby chimed in.

The voice came from a youthful man carrying twin knives, Wennian, speaking with satisfaction, "You’ve asked the right person, buy me a drink later.

Look, the [Flower-Loving Young Master] Jiangh Yudie, infamous as he is, also landed on the Hidden Dragon List, and not at the bottom, ranking as high as 256...

This shows the Hidden Dragon List doesn’t distinguish between good and evil; as long as one is under twenty-five, has outstanding achievements and potential, they can make it."

At this point, the young man carrying the swords was full of longing.

It’s hard to say whether he envied Jiangh Yudie for his nightly revelries, enjoying endless romantic blessings while spreading his fame wide and far, or he desired the chivalrous renown "Tian Qi" achieved at just sixteen years old for making it to the Hidden Dragon List.

"I see."

The crowd around him awakened to the truth.

then someone asked, "I’ve heard of Zhuang Hongyi, the Incense Master of the Chizi Hall of Seven-Colored Hall, incredibly beautiful.

She’s reputed for her strength and agility, yet I didn’t expect her to conduct such filthy and shameless deeds in secret.

Indeed, the Seven-Colored Hall is a malignant tumor that must be eradicated. It’s rare and commendable that the new Prefect Cui can resolutely tackle this issue with utmost effort.

However, who is this Duan Wenyao? Merely an outcast, even if from the Qingwei Sword Sect, he’s still a nameless figure. Why does defeating these two earn one a spot on the list?"

"That’s an outsider’s question." The young man carrying the swords shook his head, chuckling: "Though Duan Wenyao’s fame might not be widespread, you must have heard of his other title."

"Who is it?"

"Clear Wind Shadowless Sword."

"It’s him, the renowned Shadowless Assassin..."

"He is a top-tier Jianghu figure with years of experience opening the Extraordinary Meridians, a formidable character the Qingwei Sword Sect had tried catching multiple times without success. To have defeated such a man, is Tian Qi truly sixteen? How did he train?"

Whoosh...

The surroundings erupted with exclamations of astonishment.

Several Jianghu people glanced silently at each other.

Then they quietly dispersed.

They didn’t even glance at the adjacent wanted notice.

The notice read, Wanted: Tian Qi.

Charges: Plotting against Chief Constable Gu Dashu, Changkong Martial Arts Hall disciple Jiang Teng, Longchang Trading Company’s Zhang Ruoxue.

Reward: Capturing him warrants a bounty of one thousand taels.

This reward, compared to "Flower-Loving Young Master" Jiangh Yudie’s five hundred taels, is actually twice as high.

However, it seemed the portrait artist’s skills were lacking, depicting "Tian Qi" with a very rough look...

Thick eyebrows, bulging eyes, slanted brows, heavy facial features suggesting he was no good person at first glance.

Although the characteristic of a lame leg was rendered to perfection.

’This artist is so incompetent; if they catch him using this, it will indeed be a miracle,’ Zuo Duanshou originally anxious, almost laughed out loud seeing the depiction, despite his heavy heart.

’I didn’t expect Seventh Brother to face so many strong adversaries last night, and how swift the Hidden Dragon List updates also arrived, even the rankings changed with incredible speed, it makes one wonder how this information was obtained.’

Zuo Duanshou kept walking slowly.

Muttering to himself.

He always found it amazing how the Wind and Cloud List updates precisely and timely every fifteenth day of the month.

These updates were too incredibly informed.

He wasn’t sure about others, but with last night’s incidents, theoretically, no one should have been perpetually witnessing them...

Yet, the list was already posted.

It could only be described as a miracle.

Gaining fame is good, yet revealing all of Seventh Brother’s matters makes hiding identities difficult in the future.

And also that wanted notice...

Zuo Duanshou took a deep breath.

Looked back toward the East Gate, gritted his teeth, set aside all distracting thoughts, put down the basket he carried on his shoulder, and sat quietly among the crowd at the street entrance, focusing on selling snacks for children.

He saw, in the distant grand and luxurious mansion, a familiar figure appeared.

Zhuang Hongyi had, unbeknownst to him, secretly changed into coarse clothing and altered her appearance.

After exchanging a few words with the guard, she entered the courtyard directly.

He noticed the words above the gate for quite a while before retracting his gaze.

Waiting quietly.

The incident at the Xingqing Prefecture lantern festival had already stirred the whole city.

He couldn’t believe Zhuang Hongyi would remain calm without taking action.

If only a portion of the women was sent out of the city, then where were the rest of those poor souls?

Would they be relocated?

The words on the gate of that house in front, he didn’t recognize them all.

But there were two words he had seen before.

"Wu Mansion."

Zuo Duanshou muttered silently.

In Xingqing Prefecture, dwelling in such a grand mansion, with the surname Wu, he could only think of one person.