Chapter 51 Perilous Situation and Interception
Su Jin nodded, "No problem, leave this to me, I will definitely find out the truth."
Just then, Qin Xiaoxiao's gaze was suddenly drawn to something under the offering table. He walked over, bent down, picked up a black token, and handed it to Qin Zhining, "Aba, Aba..."
Qin Zhining took the token and saw that it had the character "Shadow" engraved on it. The workmanship was rough, but it exuded an evil aura.
Just as she was about to take a closer look, Su Jin suddenly leaned over and saw the character "Shadow" on the token. Her expression changed drastically. "This is the token of the Shadow Assassin Hall."
"Shadow Assassination Hall?" Qin Zhining looked at Su Jin in confusion. "What kind of place is that?"
Su Jin's expression turned serious. "Shadow Killing Hall is a notorious assassin organization in the martial arts world. They are ruthless and will kill anyone as long as they are paid enough."
They rarely operate in the Jiangnan region, but they frequently appear in the capital area. However, why would they bother with a small place like Lincheng County, let alone target you?
Qin Zhining was also full of doubts.
She hadn't offended anyone in Lincheng County, except for the He family, Aunt An from the Qin family, and Qin Zhiyu.
Could it really be that Aunt An Qinghe hired people from the Shadow Killing Hall to kill her?
However, thinking of the jade seal that the original owner's mother possessed, she felt that the men in black who came to ambush her were probably after that.
As for Zhang Laoqi's death, it was probably just an excuse, right?
Just as she was pondering, Qin Youming suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with nervousness, "Shadow Assassination Hall..."
I think I've heard that after they kill someone, they leave a 'shadow' token on the victim's body.
Three days ago, a male corpse was indeed found in the mass grave in the west of the city. He had a token with the character "Shadow" on his body. At the time, I thought it was a vendetta in the martial arts world. I never expected it to be related to A-Ning..."
Qin Zhining looked at Qin Youming, her eyes full of suspicion, "You knew all along that there was a Shadow Killing Hall token on Zhang Laoqi's corpse? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Someone harmed your own daughter, and you remained indifferent; your heartlessness is astounding. You truly are the best father in the world. Don't worry, we'll sever ties when we get back. From now on, I'll be an orphan without parents.
Qin Youming hadn't expected Qin Zhining to react so strongly to his words. He was immediately both ashamed and angry, his eyes darting around as he stammered.
"I...I just remembered...There were too many things at the time, I forgot...How can you be so outspoken, saying whatever comes to mind?"
Qin Zhining glanced at him disdainfully, and was about to ask for more details when Su Jin suddenly spoke up, "Miss Qin, don't ask anymore."
Let's leave here first. Since the Shadow Assassins have their eyes on you, they'll definitely come back. It's not safe here.
Qin Zhining nodded and followed Su Jin outside.
Qin Chengxuan, Chen Xiaomei, and Chen Erlang quickly followed, while Qin Xiaoxiao, Li Mo, Wang Song, and Zhao Shu brought up the rear. Before leaving, Qin Xiaoxiao glared fiercely at Qin Youming.
Qin Youming watched their departing figures, his expression becoming complicated.
He touched the several large sums of silver notes in his pocket.
Three days ago, Aunt An secretly slipped it to him. She said it was the jade seal that Qin Zhining's biological mother, Xie Mingyuan, had left her, and someone had bought it for a high price.
The silver was given, but without the jade seal, it wouldn't be enough. So, to be on the safe side, she asked someone to hire members of the Shadow Killing Hall to secretly steal it.
Of course, she wouldn't harm A-Ning by having someone steal the jade seal, after all, A-Ning is the master's own flesh and blood, and she couldn't bear to hurt the master's feelings because of her.
Qin Youming trusted Aunt An implicitly, thinking that the people from Shadow Kill Hall were only after the jade seal. He never expected that they would actually try to kill Qin Zhining.
Moreover, it almost caused his only son to become a wronged ghost as well.
Now that the Shadow Killers failed to kill Qin Zhining, they have also alerted the Su family of Jiangnan. If Su Jin finds out about this, not only will Aunt An be in trouble, but he will also be implicated.
The more he thought about it, the more panicked he became, and he quickly shouted to the constables, "Quick! Come back to the county government office with me!"
Meanwhile, Qin Zhining followed Su Jin into the carriage.
As soon as she sat down, she heard Su Jin say, "Miss Qin, I suspect that the people from the Shadow Killing Hall are targeting you, possibly because it has some unspeakable connection to the jade seal left by your mother."
Qin Zhining nodded, "Yes, I guessed it too. But who is this Zhang Laoqi? Why is he the only one who died? And why is it being pinned on me?"
Su Jin was quite surprised that Qin Zhining could think of this. She hadn't expected that a country girl would have such a sharp mind and way of thinking.
He said, "I heard from the elders in my family that decades ago, a piece of the Imperial Seal of the State was lost to the people."
It has the character 'Ning' engraved on it, which looks very similar to the jade seal your mother left you. Behind the Shadow Assassins, someone might want that jade seal, which is why they sent people to kill you.”
Qin Zhining tightened her grip on the short blade.
She had always thought that the jade seal was just a relic of the original owner's mother, never expecting it to hold such a big secret.
However, she was also puzzled by Qin Chengxuan's actions today.
How did he know that He Qilin would kidnap Chen Xiaomei today to force him to get the jade seal? And that he would prepare a fake one beforehand to fool the Third Young Master He?
Suddenly, Qin Zhining remembered that Qin Chengxuan had been playing with a piece of fake jade and occasionally carving it.
At the time, no one paid attention to his dissolute behavior, but it turned out that he was hiding behind the dilapidated temple just to fool He Qilin.
As she was pondering this, the carriage suddenly stopped, and Su Jin's subordinate's voice came from outside, "Young Master, something bad has happened! There are Shadow Assassins blocking the way ahead."
The moment the words were spoken outside the carriage, the air inside froze.
Qin Zhining tightened her grip on the short blade, her anger reigniting.
It seems she has no choice but to use her true abilities; these people are all daring to bully her.
Qin Zhining, her face grim, lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and squinted to look ahead.
Suddenly, a dozen or so men in black emerged from the woods beside the official road ahead. Each of them was masked and held a long, gleaming knife. They were slowly approaching the carriage.
The leader of the men in black had a "Shadow" token hanging from his waist, identical to the one Qin Zhining held, except that the token had a thin mark engraved on its edge, making it look older than the previous one.
Su Jin also poked her head out, her face so dark it could drip water.
He gave his men outside a wink and said in a deep voice, "Protect Miss Qin and the others. I'll deal with them."
"Young Master, be careful!" Su Zhong, the young steward of the Su family, immediately drew his sword from his waist, and several Su family guards behind him quickly formed a circle to protect the carriage in the middle.
Qin Chengxuan, Chen Erlang, and the others did not panic.
Chen Erlang and Qin Chengxuan held their sister tightly behind them, as if facing a formidable enemy, their gazes resolute.
Chen Xiaomei hid behind her brother and Qin Chengxuan, but she didn't cry; she just bit her lip tightly.
Qin Xiaoxiao, Li Mo, Wang Song, and Zhao Shu stood side by side, their big eyes full of vigilance, each clutching a stone as if they were about to throw it at any moment.
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