Use the same trick to capture the culprit

Chapter quotation: Lay out the bait to catch the golden turtle, set the net to catch the jackals.

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The note had been sent, the trap had been set. Yan Qing knew his opponent was the cunning Wu Yong, and he couldn't afford to be careless. He didn't pin all his hopes on a reply the next day, but instead took a two-pronged approach.

On the one hand, he strictly suppressed the news of the traitor's capture. The Lu Mansion was relaxed on the outside, but tight on the inside. Everything was as usual, as if the old servant had simply taken leave to go home. On the other hand, the trusted attendant he sent to search for the heir of the "Poison Hand Medicine King" finally returned with hope the following evening—an old man in a green robe, with white hair and beard and eyes as sharp as an eagle, quietly entered the mansion.

"Junior Yan Qing, I pay my respects to Mr. Xue." Yan Qing bowed respectfully. While not as renowned as his master, the "Poison Hand Medicine King," this genius doctor, Xue, was a world-class expert in detoxification.

Doctor Xue didn't say much. He went straight to Lu Junyi's bed, carefully examined the incense ash provided by Yan Qing and the bag of poisonous powder that was found.

After a long pause, he twirled his beard and pondered, "It's indeed the poison of the Western Region's Datura, mixed with several slow-acting poisons that damage the heart. The person who poisoned it was very skilled, and the dosage was controlled very skillfully. If it hadn't been discovered in time, even if Hua Tuo were reborn, he wouldn't have been able to save me in ten days."

"Is there a solution?" Yan Qing asked anxiously.

"Fortunately, it was discovered early, and the poison hadn't taken root deep within his internal organs." Doctor Xue took out a golden needle. "I'll first use it to cross the blood vessels, protecting his heart meridians and forcing out some of the superficial toxins. I'll then prescribe another prescription to neutralize the drug's effects with my internal energy. With gradual progress, perhaps recovery is possible. However..." He paused. "His vitality has been severely damaged. It will take at least a year or two for him to recover."

"I am very lucky to be able to save my master's life! Thank you, sir!" Yan Qing was overjoyed and bowed deeply.

Doctor Xue immediately took action, his golden needles flashing as they pierced Lu Junyi's acupuncture points. Lu Junyi's brow furrowed slightly, a bead of dark sweat oozing from his forehead, and his breathing seemed to become slightly smoother. Then, Doctor Xue wrote down a prescription and taught him the technique of pushing blood through the palace and aiding the medicinal effect.

After sending Doctor Xue away, Yan Qing personally boiled the medicine, using his inner strength to neutralize the medicinal properties, and fed it to Lu Junyi spoonful by spoonful. When he finished all this, it was already midnight.

He was completely sleepless, so he changed into his night clothes and came to the City God Temple silently like a feather blending into the night.

The temple seemed eerie and silent in the night. He didn't approach the secret compartment in the back wall, but instead hid atop a leafy old cypress a few dozen steps away, his breath restrained and his gaze as sharp as a torch, firmly locked onto the area.

Time slipped by, the moon slanting westward. Just when Yan Qing thought the other party wouldn't take the bait, a dark figure, like a ghost, clambered over the low wall on the other side of the temple, landed silently, and looked around warily for a moment before swiftly leaping to the back wall. He groped for the third brick, took out the note, and quickly inserted another one. Then, without stopping, he scurried out, sprinting towards the south of the city.

The movements are clean and neat, obviously he is a veteran!

Yan Qing sneered inwardly. Sure enough, he had come! He didn't immediately capture him. Instead, he darted through the rooftops and alleyways like a civet cat, following the shadow from afar. He wanted to follow the clues and find the bigger fish!

The black shadow was extremely alert, choosing only quiet alleys, turning back or circling from time to time. After confirming that no one was following it, it finally slipped into the small "Yue Lai Inn" in the south of the city.

Yan Qing noted the location but did not follow in. Instead, he quietly retreated and called over a few elite companions. They secretly surrounded the inn and monitored all the people entering and leaving.

The next morning, the surveillance attendant reported that the night traveler had not been seen since entering the inn. There were not many guests in the inn, but a scholar in blue robes in Room 3 was quite suspicious. He rarely went out and only requested some wine and food to be delivered to his room.

A scholar in blue? Yan Qing's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Wu Yong had come in person? How could he be so bold?

He decided to go and find out for himself.

After noon, Yan Qing, disguised as a waiter delivering food and wine, carried a tray and walked towards Room 3. He deliberately stepped heavily, and his breathing was slightly heavier, just like an ordinary waiter.

I knocked on the door and a gentle voice came from inside: "Come in."

Yan Qing pushed the door open and entered, only to see a man standing with his back to the window. He was wearing a green shirt and was thin, looking out the window. Who else could it be but Wu Yong!

Although he had suspected it long ago, seeing it with his own eyes still made Yan Qing feel murderous. How dare this person come to Daming Mansion and stir up trouble right under his nose!

He suppressed his anger, placed the food and wine on the table, and said with his head down, "Sir, here are your food and wine."

Wu Yong didn't turn around, but said lightly: "Put it down." His voice was calm, without any emotion.

Yan Qing was about to leave when he caught a glimpse of Wu Yong's fingers, hanging from his sleeves, rhythmically tapping on the window frame. That rhythm... seemed like a secret code!

No! It's a trick!

Yan Qing's mind raced, and he suddenly retreated backwards!

Almost as he retreated, four dark figures suddenly shot out from behind the bed curtains and the wardrobe, their knives flashing as they charged towards him! The "Wu Yong" figure in front of the window also spun around, ripping off his human skin mask to reveal a hideous, scarred face. Holding a pair of short halberds, he blocked his retreat through the window!

I've fallen for it! This is a trap! That reply letter was bait, and this inn is a dangerous place! Wu Yong hadn't even been there in person. He'd sent a stand-in here, heavily armed, waiting for me to come!

What a great Wu Yong! He really has a plan that is perfect for everyone!

Five masters surrounded him, murderous intent in their presence! These five were clearly the elite of Liangshan, working in perfect harmony and using ruthless moves, instantly blocking all of Yan Qing's escape routes!

In this critical moment, Yan Qing calmed down. His body was as slithering as a loach, twisting and turning in the small room. In his hands, a pair of water-dividing Emei spears appeared. With a clang, he parried the incoming weapons, sparks flying everywhere!

He did not fight hard, but relied on his agile body to focus on attacking the lower body and joints. For a moment, the five men could not do anything to him!

Seeing this, the scarred leader shouted, "Cast the net!"

Suddenly, a huge hole appeared in the roof, and a large oil-soaked net fell over their heads! At the same time, the door was blocked by two fierce bandits!

Just as Yan Qing was about to be caught in the net, he seemed to have eyes on his back. He did a bridge move, his body almost parallel to the ground, and just slid under the net! At the same time, he kicked out with both feet, hitting the knees of the two gangsters blocking the door!

"Crack!" The sound of broken bones was clearly audible, and the two gangsters fell to the ground with screams.

Yan Qing did not stop, and shot out from the broken door like an arrow!

"Where are you going!" Scarface and the remaining three masters chased after him closely.

Yan Qing rushed out of the guest room, but instead of running outside the inn, he rushed along the corridor into the depths of the inn! He remembered that there was a backyard behind the inn where miscellaneous items were stored!

The pursuers shouted from behind, and the other guests in the inn screamed and dodged in fear.

Yan Qing rushed to the backyard, slammed open a half-closed wooden door, and rolled into the messy pile of firewood. The pursuers arrived in an instant and poured into the backyard.

Just as they were searching everywhere, Yan Qing climbed up the courtyard wall silently along the corner like a gecko!

"He's on the wall!" shouted a sharp-eyed gangster.

Scarface looked up and saw Yan Qing standing on the wall, holding a crossbow with a hint of coldness on his lips.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Three crossbow arrows were fired in succession, not at people, but at several wine jars piled up in the yard!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The wine jar shattered, and the rich aroma of wine spread instantly.

The bandits were stunned and didn't understand what was going on.

Yan Qing had already turned over and landed from the wall, throwing the fire starter in his hand backwards!

The fire starter drew an arc and landed precisely on the wine stain!

"boom!"

Flames shot up into the sky! Driven by the alcohol, the fire spread rapidly, instantly transforming the backyard into a sea of ​​fire!

"Fire! Put out the fire!" The bandits were suddenly in chaos and had no time to chase people.

Yan Qing took advantage of the chaos and disappeared into the intricate alleys in a few jumps and reunited with his companions.

Back at the secret base, Yan Qing's face was grim. Although he hadn't captured Wu Yong, he had taken down another of his hideouts in Daming Prefecture, catching him off guard. More importantly, he recognized the scarred leader's movements as Song Wan, the "King Kong in the Clouds," from Liangshanpo!

Even leaders like Song Wan were sent to carry out such a mission, which shows that Wu Yong is determined to capture Daming Mansion and Lu Junyi! It also shows that Liangshan is now well-equipped with manpower, which is no longer comparable to the past.

"We must get our master back to health as soon as possible and strengthen our defenses. Liangshan...I'm afraid there will be a big move." Yan Qing looked in the direction of Lu's mansion, his worries deepening.

He returned to the Lu Mansion. Under the treatment of Doctor Xue and his careful care, Lu Junyi's complexion had improved a lot. He could occasionally wake up for a moment. Although he was still weak, his life was no longer in danger.

Yan Qing felt relieved and reported briefly the recent events, concealing the danger.

Upon hearing this, Lu Junyi's sallow face flashed with anger: "Liangshan... has gone too far! When I recover, I will avenge this!"

"Master, just rest assured and recover. Xiaoyi will take care of everything." Yan Qing comforted him.

However, he knew in his heart that the feud with Liangshan had long been irreconcilable. The current calm was probably just the last quiet before the storm.

He walked into the yard and looked towards Liangshan Lake in the south with his eyes as sharp as a knife.

Wu Yong, how many tricks do you have left? Feel free to use them all! I, Yan Qing, will follow!

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End of Chapter 12