Chapter 41

Shen Yu received no answer to her question before Huo Ningyu called her away.

Huo Liao and Shen Jingyuan have disappeared.

Huo Ningyu was very nervous, but Shen Yu was completely calm.

I thought it was something serious.

The two of them must have been going to fight as soon as they met, especially since their mother hadn't been lost.

Song Linzhou only went to the town market for a short while, and when he returned, he saw an anxious Huo Ningyu leading his daughter around in circles.

"Have some dried apricots." She held a cloth bag in one hand and a string of candied apricots in the other, calmly offering one of the fruits.

"...Auntie, you really don't know where my father went?"

"They've gone far enough; they must be looking for a secluded spot. Didn't the Hundred Gates Sacrifice Ceremony end yesterday? Why are they in such a hurry?"

"Oh right, how did it go yesterday?" Shen Yu was so preoccupied with her grandmother's affairs that she had no interest in asking about these things.

"Your Uncle Huo will become the Alliance Leader," Song Linzhou said.

"Well... you must have had a tough time."

"really."

The mother and daughter went back and forth, completely disregarding Huo Ningyu's life or death.

"...Don't tease me. It's just that it just ended yesterday, and Father still has a ton of things to take care of and a ton of people to meet." He said, both amused and exasperated.

He knew perfectly well that Huo Liao had simply run away and left all the affairs to his son.

Song Linzhou pulled him into the house: "It'll be fine if it's a day or two later, don't be nervous. Is there something urgent?"

"...It's not exactly urgent, just a lot of things to do." Huo Ningyu sighed, realizing that rushing things wouldn't help. "After being re-elected as alliance leader, there are still some matters to discuss, including the previous attack on the caravan and the illusionary medicine..."

"Isn't it over yet?"

Shen Yu had almost forgotten.

Since Qiu Chiyan didn't mention it, she assumed that everything was over.

"But what happened at Tiankun Ravine back then?"

"Exactly..."

"Is it also related to hallucinogens?"

"The news just came from outside the town these past two days; that group of people has reappeared."

"Go catch them? There's no need for Huo Liao. Take Xiao Yu with you, isn't that enough?" Song Linzhou thought it was perfect and wanted to push the two of them out together.

"...Auntie, you can't let Xiaoyu do this..."

"It's settled then! It must be urgent, hurry up and go!"

Song Linzhou closed the door, leaving the two of them outside.

Finally, it's quiet again.

I don't know how someone like Huo Liao could raise such a meticulous and serious son.

Huo Ningyu and Shen Yu looked at each other in silence outside the door.

This scene has happened many times before.

To save themselves trouble, adults send children out to play under the guise of adventure.

Unfortunately, they've grown up, and this trick is no longer enough to fool them.

Shen Yu spoke first: "How about... we go together?"

"...They outnumber us, even though we have people outside the city..."

"What's there to be afraid of? Let's finish this quickly."

Shen Yu strode outside with great fanfare, and Huo Ningyu had no choice but to follow.

The two rode side by side, galloping towards Hongbo Village near Tiankunjian.

"Why is Xiaoyu interested in this?" Huo Ningyu, who was slightly behind Shen Yu, finally couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked.

“There’s a young waiter at the inn whose sister died after accidentally ingesting hallucinogenic drugs, but the final investigation results…” Before Shen Yu could finish speaking, Huo Ningyu already understood.

He added, "Perhaps we cannot completely stop the influx of hallucinogenic drugs; we can only take strict precautions against each instance we see."

"But we still need to deal with the immediate problem." Shen Yu wasn't discouraged; instead, she proactively asked, "Once we find them, should we capture them alive or what?"

"We'll see. If there are no more people involved and they continue to resist stubbornly, then kill them on the spot."

Last time, they held back because of the caravan, but this time, with a clear objective, Shen and Huo went all out.

Upon spotting a lone individual with his tail showing, Huo Ningyu immediately went forward and tied him up.

This time, being closer, Shen Yu noticed that the material inside his clothes was camel hair.

"From the Western Regions?" Shen Yu pinched the man's chin. His face did indeed have some exotic features, but they weren't very obvious.

"Mixed Han and non-Han descent; most of those who trade in hallucinogenic drugs are of that descent." Huo Ningyu lowered his eyes, staring at the man. "Where are the others?"

“We’re here to do business, what are you doing?” He naturally refused to admit it.

Huo Ningyu sighed softly. He glanced at Shen Yu, who then turned her back to him.

In the past, when they encountered wild game in the mountains, they would do this: one would take action while the other would turn away to keep watch, in case any group of animals attacked from behind.

He was being beaten and groaned continuously from behind.

Finally: "My job is just to pass on messages; I don't know anything else."

"You've already sent the message, and you still don't know anything?" Huo Ningyu punched him again.

Shen Yu's gaze remained fixed on the other half of the mountain forest, and she suddenly said:

"Brother Huo, over there."

Without hesitation, Huo Ningyu knocked the man unconscious with a single palm strike, then turned around and stood side by side with Shen Yu.

"Quite a few people. A dozen or so?"

"We should be able to handle it."

The two slowly moved in that direction, their footsteps barely making a sound on the damp earth.

Just as Huo Ningyu unfolded his fan, the leaves above his head rustled, and a figure leaped down from the branches above.

He reacted extremely quickly, swinging his fan horizontally, almost striking down directly in the face.

The man flipped over abruptly the moment he landed, spread his hands, and shouted urgently, "It's one of us, Manager Shen!"

Huo Ningyu's gesture paused, and his gaze narrowed slightly.

After regaining his footing, the man wiped the sweat from his brow, looked up and met Shen Yu's face. He immediately suppressed his surprise, bowed and clasped his hands in greeting: "Manager Shen, I am Lu Heng from the Six Doors."

Shen Yu had never met him before, so she naturally didn't relax her posture.

However, more people emerged from the forest, and Huo Ningyu recognized several of the Six Doors brothers who had helped him out of the predicament at Tiankun Ravine that day.

"Are you all here on orders to investigate the case of the hallucinogenic drug?" he asked.

"Naturally, they belong to the same clan as Young Master Huo."

Another familiar voice came from afar.

Xiao Wuhen and Tang Huazhi walked over, and it seemed that their swords were already drawn.

"Manager Shen is here too..." Xiao Wuhen's gaze swept over the two of them. Although his tone was calm, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "It's also my fault for not informing Alliance Leader Huo. The Hundred Gates Sacrifice had just ended. I thought the Alliance Leader was busy, so we acted on our own."

Huo Ningyu returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "The matter of the illusionary drug is complicated. If there are any clues, we should naturally focus on that first. I wonder if the Chief Constable has caught the person?"

Tang Hua waved his hand, and the people who had been tied up were brought out and shown: "It just ended, and one of them escaped, but you should have already run into him. Young Master Huo, may I come this way?"

Everyone went about their own business, leaving Shen Yu with nothing to do.

Fortunately, Xiao Wuhen was still there. He gripped the hilt of his sword, his smile gentle yet containing a hint of inquiry: "Thank you again for your kind assistance, Manager Shen, today."

"I haven't done anything yet. My mother just pushed us out here to get rid of us."

"Oh? Your parents are here too? I heard they know Leader Huo?"

"Yes, so my dad went straight to fight with Uncle Huo."

Shen Yu's accustomed life always seemed unbelievable to outsiders.

Even the well-informed Chief Constable of the Six Doors found this strange: "So, Manager Shen's skills must be a family tradition?"

Shen Yu responded seriously: "I mainly learned from my father, but he taught a wide variety of things, so I dabbled in everything. Later, when I met someone who had a skill, I would follow them and learn from them. In the end, it didn't form a systematic approach; it was all pieced together."

She spoke plainly, without a hint of boasting, yet her words conveyed a light and confident air.

Xiao Wuhen also liked her humble yet assertive spirit, so he smiled and said with more sincerity in his tone, "That's not easy. With your skills, not to mention piecing them together, just the fact that you are willing and dare to learn is something that few in the martial arts world can match."

"I just don't specialize in anything. My mother often says I only have a three-minute attention span."

Looking at her, Xiao Wuhen suddenly felt a pang of regret.

It would be a real shame if someone like that were truly confined to a small inn.

He thought for a moment, then softened his tone: "Manager Shen is young but very capable. Do you have any plans to venture out into the world?"

These words were exactly what Shen Yu was thinking, so she told her about her recent plans.

Xiao Wuhen looked like he understood.

He had heard about the old woman's story, and he admired everyone who dared to get out of the mire, and he respected even more the outsiders who had nothing to do with the matter.

Stepping into the karma of others is not an easy thing.

However, it wouldn't be worthwhile to leave a place you've lived in for several years just because of this.

Shen Yu hurriedly explained, "It's not just to avoid rumors; those things have nothing to do with me. It's just that I've been in the limelight too much lately, so it's good to take this opportunity to get away from the limelight. If my friends are willing, I'd still like to open the shop in a different location."

"That's not bad. But where do you want to go?"

"Not yet, the plan isn't that clear yet." Shen Yu smiled. "Is the Chief Constable also returning to the capital soon?"

Xiao Wuhen raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of meaning flashing in his eyes: "I have many matters to attend to, and I'm afraid I'll be busy outside for quite some time. When we return to the city later, could I stop by Manager Shen's Inn for a cup of water?"

Shen Yu felt that he changed the subject too quickly, but it was normal, since his apprentice was still there.

The group led the suspect back to the city in a grand procession. Xiao Wuhen then used another excuse to go to the inn alone with Shen Yu.

Qiu Chiyan was taken aback when he saw the two of them return at the same time.

"Please have a seat, I'll go make some tea," Shen Yu said, and then went to the kitchen.

The instant her figure disappeared, Xiao Wuhen grabbed his disciple and whispered, "You've been cured of the poison for several days now, yet you haven't made any progress with Miss Shen? It's a wonder your grandfather and I were so sensible as to avoid you for several days. You're usually so eloquent when it comes to cases, but now you're mute?"

Qiu Chiyan was stunned by his long accusation: "Master, what are you saying?"

"Don't play dumb with me, you definitely haven't told her where we're going next."

"...How could I easily reveal matters of the government?"

Xiao Wuhen suddenly choked and gave him a light tap on the head: "You think you're right?"

This time, Qiu Chiyan didn't dodge; he obediently accepted the punishment.

Xiao Wuhen sighed, knowing his disciple's temper: "You blockhead! I'll have your grandfather scold you later!"

"She wants to go out for a walk. If I ask her to come with me before she's fully convinced, wouldn't that be taking advantage of her vulnerability..."