They quietly left the Regent's Palace, using their light-footed skills to swiftly traverse the rooftops. A gentle breeze stirred, causing their robes to flutter softly, as if they were blending into the darkness.
After some twists and turns, they finally arrived at the location the guard had described. It was a small house in a remote corner of the capital, overgrown with weeds and appearing extremely desolate.
They cautiously approached the hut, only to find it riddled with traps and mechanisms. Sharp arrows, razor-sharp blades, and even poison gas lurking in the shadows awaited them.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze exchanged a glance, a hint of seriousness flashing in their eyes. They tacitly split up, one drawing the attention of the traps while the other took the opportunity to break them.
After a thrilling and dangerous battle, they finally managed to dodge all the traps and rush into the house. However, the house was empty; the stall owner had clearly left beforehand.
Xu Yuehuai couldn't help but sigh, her brows furrowed: "I didn't expect him to still manage to escape."
Qi Guze looked around, his eyes sharp: "It seems the other side has already noticed our actions and left ahead of time."
They carefully examined every corner of the room, trying to find clues left by the stall owner. However, apart from some simple furniture and dilapidated decorations, there was almost nothing inside.
Xu Yuehuai shook her head helplessly: "We can only go back now."
They left the empty little house and returned to the Regent's Palace.
Their hearts were heavy the entire way. Although the stall owner had escaped, they knew that this did not mean the end of the matter.
On the contrary, this is just the beginning; bigger challenges lie ahead.
Upon returning to the Regent's Palace, Qi Guze immediately summoned his men and mobilized everyone in the vicinity of the capital to search for the stall owner's whereabouts. They split into groups and crisscrossed the streets and alleys of the capital, looking for any possible clues.
Xu Yuehuai sat in her study, carefully considering the ins and outs of the entire incident. She knew that the stall owners had fled because they had exposed their whereabouts. And the reason the stall owners knew their whereabouts was likely due to an internal leak.
She frowned, a sense of unease rising within her. He knew they had to find the stall owner as soon as possible, or the entire plan could fall apart.
As night fell, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze gathered together again. Their faces were etched with exhaustion, but their eyes shone with unwavering determination.
"We must find the stall owner as soon as possible," Xu Yuehuai said in a deep and powerful voice.
Qi Guze nodded: "I have mobilized all available manpower to search for his whereabouts, and I believe we will have news soon."
Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath: "We can't just sit here and wait to die. We need to continue investigating the stall owner's clues and see if he left any traces."
They embarked on their search for the stall owner once more. This time, they were much more cautious, fearing that the stall owner would escape again. They traversed the streets and alleys of the capital, looking for any possible clues.
After some effort, they finally found some traces left by the stall owners. Although these traces were insignificant, they pointed them in the right direction.
They followed the trail and finally arrived at a remote mountain forest. It was a secluded place, with only a dense grove of trees and a solitary hut.
They cautiously approached the hut, only to find a faint light coming from inside. They were overjoyed, knowing the stall owner was inside.
They then silently approached the hut, preparing to take down the stall owner in one fell swoop. However, just as they were about to rush into the hut, a violent explosion suddenly erupted from inside.
The sudden explosion jolted them back a few steps, a chill running down their spines. They knew the stall owner had noticed their arrival and was taking drastic measures to stop them.
They quickly adjusted their mindset and prepared for the challenges ahead. They knew that since the stall owner had chosen this method to stop them, the ensuing battle would undoubtedly be more intense and brutal.
They cautiously approached the hut, only to find the door completely destroyed by the explosion. They carefully pushed it open, only to find the house empty. The stall owner had already fled the scene.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with disappointment and anger. They knew that the stall owner had escaped their pursuit again, and they had once again lost their chance to obtain the second half of the map.
They silently left the bombed-out shack, their hearts filled with helplessness and regret. They knew that although the stall owner had escaped, they couldn't give up. They had to continue their search until they found him.
Back at the Regent's Palace, they gathered their men again and continued searching for the stall owner. Although they knew the stall owner might have already left the capital, they were still unwilling to give up any hope.
As the days passed, their search yielded no results. The stall owner seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guzhe began to feel a sense of despair. They knew that the stall owner might have already left the capital, or even the country.
They began to doubt whether they could still find the stall owner or get any clues about the second half of the map.
But no matter what, they did not give up.
In the days that followed, they received no news from the stall owner. Xu Yuehuai could only put the matter aside for the time being and continue teaching the children.
That day, Jiang Shichen suddenly approached Xu Yuehuai and expressed his desire to enter the imperial court as an official.
"Grandma, I want to do more practical things for the people," Jiang Shichen said firmly.
Xu Yuehuai patted his shoulder: "Shi Chen, I'm very happy that you have this intention. I believe you can definitely do it."
Just then, Jiang Qianqian rushed over. Her face was pale, as if she had encountered some trouble.
Xu Yuehuai asked with concern, "Qianqian, what's wrong? You look so pale."
Jiang Qianqian hesitated for a moment, then finally burst into tears: "Grandma, I'm so sorry. A while ago, someone told me that I could make a lot of money with a small amount of silver, so I invested all my recent savings and some profits from Tianxiang Restaurant. But that person ran away with the money."
Xu Yuehuai was furious upon hearing this: "How dare someone lie to you! Don't be afraid, Grandma will avenge you."
Subsequently, Xu Yuehuai inquired in detail about Jiang Qianqian's description and situation of that person, preparing to investigate the matter secretly.
In the days that followed, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze taught the children while secretly investigating the stall owner and the swindler. Although progress was slow, they did not give up. They carefully preserved the mysterious parchment map, waiting for the day when its secrets would be revealed.
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