One day, an old man slowly walked into the teahouse. Seeing Xu Yuehuai lost in thought, he sat down opposite her.

"Young lady, I've noticed you've been coming around town asking questions lately. Are you looking for something?" the old man asked softly. His voice was gentle and kind, giving people a sense of warmth.

Xu Yuehuai snapped out of her reverie, nodded, and said seriously, "Yes, old man. I'm looking for traces of some mysterious people; they seem to be connected to something in town."

Her words revealed a firmness and determination, clearly indicating that she was determined to uncover the truth.

The old man frowned, seemingly hesitant. But in the end, he sighed and said slowly, "Alas, some things are better left unknown than known. But since you are so persistent, I will tell you. Those mysterious people do indeed have a close connection with a prominent figure in the town."

Xu Yuehuai's heart stirred, and she pressed on, "Old lady, can you tell me more about this illustrious figure?" Her eyes revealed a longing and expectation, clearly showing how much she valued this clue.

However, the old man shook his head and stood up: "That's all I can tell you. The rest you'll have to find out for yourself." With that, he turned and left the teahouse.

Xu Yuehuai knew that her investigation was far from over. But she also believed that as long as she persevered, she would one day uncover the truth. So, she took a deep breath, stood up, and continued her work to track down the mysterious man.

In the days that followed, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze continued to gather clues and conduct in-depth investigations. They discovered that the mysterious figures seemed to have intricate connections with a powerful and wealthy businessman in the town.

This wealthy businessman appears to be a philanthropist, but behind the scenes he engages in many shady dealings. Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze decide to investigate him thoroughly and expose his true colors!

After some twists and turns, they finally found the wealthy merchant's secret hideout.

As night fell, the entire town was shrouded in darkness. Xu Yuehuai quietly arrived before the imposing mansion. She took a deep breath, pushed open the heavy door, and with a creak, it seemed as if she had opened a gateway to an unknown world.

The mansion was eerily silent, as if it were deserted. An indescribable sense of oppression permeated the air, making one instinctively wary.

However, Xu Yuehuai keenly sensed something unusual. She slowly walked into the depths of the mansion, each step taken with extreme caution.

Suddenly, a sharp shout came from the darkness: "Who dares to trespass here!" The voice was full of anger and authority, sending chills down one's spine.

Xu Yuehuai's heart tightened, and he gripped his long sword tightly, cautiously glancing around. A middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes emerged from the darkness, his face showing surprise and confusion, seemingly taken aback by Xu Yuehuai's appearance.

“I’m here to investigate some things.” Xu Yuehuai looked directly into the middle-aged man’s eyes, unwavering. Her voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable determination.

The middle-aged man frowned, clearly displeased by her appearance: "There's nothing here for you to investigate, just leave!" His tone was impatient and contemptuous, as if he didn't take Xu Yuehuai seriously.

However, Xu Yuehuai refused to leave. She knew she bore the heavy responsibility of uncovering the truth and couldn't give up because of a small setback. She continued to press, "I've heard that your household has connections with those mysterious people. I hope to get your explanation."

The middle-aged man's face instantly darkened, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: "I don't know what you're talking about! Get out of here, or don't blame me for being impolite!" His voice carried a threat and warning, clearly showing his impatience with Xu Yuehuai's questioning.

"Oh."

However, Xu Yuehuai was not intimidated by his threat. She sneered, having already discerned the truth from his expression. She swung her longsword, attacking the middle-aged man. The sword flashed, slicing through the darkness and creating a sharp whistling sound. She knew that only through battle could she force him to reveal the truth.

Upon seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes. He swiftly drew his longsword from his waist and met Xu Yuehuai's attack. The two swords clashed in mid-air, producing a piercing metallic clang. Their figures intertwined in the darkness, their swords flashing, each exchange brimming with power and skill.

Xu Yuehuai was graceful and her swordsmanship was agile. She would leap up and dive down, each swing of her sword as elegant as a dance. The middle-aged man, on the other hand, possessed immense strength and his swordsmanship was fierce and powerful. Each swing of his sword was as awe-inspiring as a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting apart, as if he wanted to cleave the entire mansion in two.

The battle between the two grew increasingly fierce, the entire mansion seemingly enveloped in their sword aura. Xu Yuehuai, relying on her exceptional martial arts skills and unwavering will, engaged in a fierce exchange with the middle-aged man. Every attack was filled with power and determination, every dodge displayed agility and precision.

Finally, under Xu Yuehuai's fierce offensive, the middle-aged man gradually revealed a weakness. Xu Yuehuai seized the opportunity and thrust his sword into the man's chest!

The middle-aged man couldn't dodge in time and was stabbed in a vital spot. His eyes widened as he stared at Xu Yuehuai in disbelief, muttering, "This... how is this possible?" Then he slowly collapsed, lifeless.

Xu Yuehuai sheathed her longsword, looking at the middle-aged man lying on the ground, but her heart remained unmoved. She said calmly, "This is just the beginning of eradicating evil forces."

"From the moment you got close to those people, your fate was sealed."

After saying that, she turned and left to continue her investigation into the hiding place of those mysterious people.

...

In the days that followed, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze led a group of elite bodyguards across mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas in search of the evil thugs hiding in the shadows.

Her sharp eyes seemed to pierce through all illusions; no matter how subtle the clue, it could not escape her notice. Meanwhile, Qi Guze, with his calm demeanor and exceptional wisdom, provided the team with a constant stream of strategic support.

One day, they arrived at a remote valley. The valley was shrouded in thick fog, like a secluded secret realm. Xu Yuehuai frowned, a hint of wariness flashing in her eyes. She gestured for everyone to tread lightly as they slowly approached the mist-shrouded valley.

Suddenly, a sinister laugh shattered the silence, a strange sound that seemed to emanate from the depths of hell. Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze exchanged a glance, their hearts tightening. They gripped their weapons tightly, preparing for battle.

Immediately afterwards, a group of mysterious figures dressed in black emerged from the depths of the valley. Their faces bore sinister smiles, and their eyes revealed an indescribable malice.

Seeing this, Xu Yuehuai sneered and said, "It seems we've found the place."