"You must be very tired from following me all this way. How about we have a cup of tea and rest for a bit?"

Halfway through his journey, Shen Zhao stopped abruptly when he passed a teahouse.

The figure in the shadows was startled and quickly hid behind a house for cover.

"Ha, since you're unwilling, I won't force you."

Shen Zhao gently waved his feather fan and continued walking forward.

The scout who was following them breathed a sigh of relief, and when he heard the familiar footsteps fading away, he poked his head out again.

Where are they?

In just a few breaths, Shen Zhao had vanished without a trace.

"It seems we've really been discovered. No, we must go back and report to the commander."

As a result, in the instant he turned around, he almost bumped into Shen Zhao.

"How did you end up here..."

"Since you are unwilling to show yourself, then I will have to condescend to come and greet you in person."

The scout retreated several steps, swallowing nervously, his eyes filled with shock.

"You really found me?"

"Such a crude tracking technique, is it really that hard to detect?"

One sentence made the scout lose face, and he immediately changed the subject, saying, "Fellow Daoist,"

My name is Zhang Huai'an. I apologize for any offense I may have caused. If you don't mind, I'd like to invite you for a cup of tea.

Shen Zhao chuckled: "What, now that you know your whereabouts have been exposed, you're starting to try and get close to me?"

I have always treated people with sincerity, but you refused to show up when I invited you for tea before.

Now, how can you be sure that I will definitely drink this cup of tea with you?

Zhang Huai'an clasped his hands in apology: "I am truly sorry. I was only acting under orders and did not intend to offend you. I hope you can understand this time."

The scene of Shen Zhao poisoning Xue Renying of the Nanshan Sword Sect had truly made him terrified of this man's methods.

Shen Zhao: "Fine, who exactly sent you to follow me, and what was your purpose?"

Zhang Huai'an was about to speak when Shen Zhao stopped him: "Didn't you want to invite me for tea? Then please."

After saying that, he turned around and walked directly towards the teahouse where people would dismount to enjoy the aroma.

Zhang Huai'an had no choice but to follow closely behind.

...

Inside the elegant teahouse, tea was served, and Shen Zhao gently fanned himself with a folding fan while gazing out the window.

"Speak, why did the person behind you send you to follow me?"

"To be honest, I am a subordinate of Zhang Shuye, the current commander of the Zhenfu Division. The person you poisoned outside Tianqiong Pavilion was the son of the Nanshan Sword Sect's leader."

With his death, the entire Nanshan Sword Sect will undoubtedly seek revenge against you, fellow Daoist. My master values ​​talent, and the imperial court is currently in dire need of capable individuals.

"If you are willing to serve the Great Feng and the Zhenfu Division, our Commander will certainly ensure your safety. Please consider this carefully."

"I see. So what makes you so sure that by serving the Zhenfu Division, your master can guarantee my safety?"

“My commander is a supreme seventh-rank expert, second only to the top ten in the Holy Domain.”

"oh."

Shen Zhao responded with a nod of approval, picked up his teacup, and took a sip of water.

After he placed the teacup back on the table, Zhang Huai'an asked cautiously again, "Fellow Daoist, what's your decision?"

"Then let your commander come and talk to me in person."

After saying that, Shen Zhao grabbed the feather fan, stood up and walked out of the private room.

"Fellow Daoist, are you really not considering the consequences? The Nanshan Sword Sect will definitely not let you go."

Shen Zhao stopped, holding up the feather fan in his hand, and said, "You should worry about yourself first. I poisoned you the moment I picked up the fan."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Huai'an immediately recalled the tragic scene of Xue Jianren's death an hour or two earlier, and couldn't help but shudder.

"But don't worry, this poison isn't deadly. It will only paralyze you for six hours. Consider it the price you have to pay for following me."

"you……"

Just as Zhang Huai'an was about to speak, he suddenly felt a tingling sensation all over his body, and then slumped down in front of the tea table, unable to utter a single word, watching helplessly as Shen Zhao walked out the door.

As soon as Shen Zhao stepped out of the teahouse, he saw a woman dressed in leather, extremely unruly, whipping two servants until their skin was torn and bleeding.

"Where is Ren Piaomiao? Tell her to come out and face her death!"

"Miss Dong, I really don't know who Ren Piaomiao is!"

"Useless trash, since you don't know, then you should just die!"

The unruly woman wrapped her whip around the necks of the two servants, and instantly the sharp spikes on the whip pierced them, leaving them covered in blood.

Just as the two innocent people were about to meet their demise, Shen Zhao spoke up: "Miss, I am Ren Piaomiao, the one you are looking for. Why go through all this trouble to find me? Just call out to me."

The willful woman was taken aback and glanced at Ren Piaomiao.

He was around thirty years old, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and a composed demeanor, exuding a noble and refined air.

"You are Ren Piaomiao?"

"It is I. May I ask what business you have with me, young lady? You are so willful and irritable. I see not a trace of girlish shyness in you?"

The girl immediately abandoned the two servants and lashed out at Shen Zhao with her whip.

Shen Zhao quickly dodged to the side, easily avoiding the whip.

With a sharp cracking sound, a table shattered into pieces.

"Oh dear, why do girls always resort to violence? Why not sit down and talk things out?"

Shen Zhao gently waved his feather fan, appearing relaxed and at ease.

"Hmph, you killed my fiancé, today you must give me, Dong Wen, an explanation!"

"So you are Miss Dong. My apologies for not recognizing you earlier. May I ask who your fiancé is? Do I know him?"

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