"Why are you here? Your injuries haven't healed yet; you should rest properly," Xu Yuehuai asked with concern.
“I’m fine now,” Yan Qing said. “I want to help you investigate those assassins.”
“No,” Xu Yuehuai refused decisively. “Your injuries are still very serious, and you can’t take any risks. Besides, this matter is very dangerous, and I can’t let you put yourself in danger.”
“But…” Yan Qing wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Xu Yuehuai.
"No buts. Just focus on recovering. I'll take care of everything."
After saying that, she walked to the bedside, took out the ointment, and reapplied the medicine to Yan Qing.
Yan Qing felt a little guilty looking at her skillful movements and focused expression.
Not only did he fail to help Xu Yuehuai, he also kept holding her back.
"Alright, you should get some rest." Xu Yuehuai stood up after applying the medicine. "I need to rest too; I have a lot to do tomorrow."
Yan Qing reluctantly got up and left Xu Yuehuai's room.
However, he could not calm down for a long time.
Xu Yuehuai has made many efforts for the peace of the four kingdoms, and he also wants to share some of the responsibility with her.
However, he also understood that his physical condition and strength were limited, and he could not cause Xu Yuehuai any trouble.
Yan Qing returned to his residence, lay on the bed and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
He knew he couldn't just lie in bed and let Xu Yuehuai face the danger alone.
Although he couldn't directly participate in the battle, he could help her in his own way. He decided to use his intelligence network and connections to help Xu Yuehuai gather clues about the assassins!
The night was as dark as ink, and the silent palace was exceptionally solemn and majestic. However, behind this tranquility, a storm was quietly brewing...
The next morning, Yan Qing's figure disappeared silently in the morning light. Dressed in civilian clothes, with a serious expression, he quickly left the palace.
Yan Qing first arrived at one of his contact points in the martial arts world, which was a seemingly ordinary sweet water stall.
He gently pushed open the door and went inside.
The sweet drink stall was bustling with people from all walks of life.
Yan Qing weaved through the crowd and quickly found his target.
"Brother Yan, you've arrived." A familiar voice rang in his ears. Yan Qing turned around and saw his friend Li Xiaoyao.
Li Xiaoyao is a famous wandering swordsman in the martial arts world. He is generous and righteous, and is Yan Qing's confidant in the martial arts world.
"Brother Xiaoyao, I have an important matter to ask of you," Yan Qing said solemnly.
The two found a secluded corner to sit down, and Yan Qing told Li Xiaoyao everything she had discovered.
After listening, Li Xiaoyao pondered for a moment and then said, "Brother Yan, this matter is of utmost importance. I will do everything I can to help you keep an eye on the whereabouts of those assassins."
At the same time, Yan Qing also used the pawns left by Qi Guze in Dongsang to start searching for information in the major restaurants and teahouses of the capital.
After a period of effort, Yan Qing finally made some discoveries.
He learned that the assassins seemed to be the remnants of an assassin organization that Xu Yuehuai had previously attacked.
This assassin organization wields immense influence in the capital's underworld, operating various illegal businesses while also providing shelter and material support to its assassins.
Yan Qing was overjoyed, knowing that this discovery was crucial to the entire case. He immediately returned to the palace and told Xu Yuehuai about it.
Xu Yuehuai, who had been looking tired, became radiant when she heard Yan Qing's discovery. She immediately stood up, walked to Yan Qing's side, and said, "Yan Qing, you did a great job. It was a wise idea for the Prince to put you by my side."
Xu Yuehuai then gathered Xiao Rui, Xiao Liu, and others, and they sat around a round table to discuss what to do next.
"We've decided to adopt a pincer attack strategy," Xu Yuehuai said firmly, her gaze sweeping across everyone's faces. "Once we've located their hiding place, we'll wipe them out in one fell swoop."
With careful planning in place, everyone began to implement the new tasks.
...
Xiao Rui, Xiao Liu, and the others followed Xu Yuehuai and Yan Qing, passing through winding alleys, and finally arrived at the seemingly ordinary house.
Moonlight streamed through the cracks in the window, casting dappled shadows, but it couldn't mask the eerie atmosphere emanating from the house.
Holding a dagger, Xu Yuehuai quietly moved forward step by step and pushed open the door to enter.
With the creak of a wooden door opening, a scene of battle unfolded inside, like a raging storm. What had once seemed like a peaceful dwelling had now become a bloody battlefield.
"Kill him!" A man wielding a machete roared as he charged toward Xu Yuehuai, his eyes burning with a frenzied rage.
However, his offensive crumbled instantly under Xu Yuehuai's sword. With a light flick of his longsword, he knocked the cleaver to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, she turned around and swung her sword, forcing another man with a knife back.
However, these seemingly ferocious killers are not actually killers.
After Xu Yuehuai fought off several people, he discovered this strange thing.
It seems that most of them were ordinary people who were driven by some force to take up arms and fight to the death against them!
The innocent masses were no match for these highly skilled martial artists. After their defeat, they scattered in panic, their cries, screams, and the sounds of battle filling the air, creating a chaotic and brutal scene.
"Stop!" Xu Yuehua shouted, her voice unusually clear amidst the chaos.
She brandished her longsword, cutting down the weapons held by several crowds rushing towards her.
However, even after their weapons were taken away, some people still rushed towards Xu Yuehuai in a frenzy.
Xu Yuehuai knew that these people were not the real enemies. She quickly walked up to an elderly woman, pointed her sword at her, and said, "Auntie, why are you helping those assassins? Don't you know that their actions will bring you utter destruction?"
The woman's eyes were filled with anger and hatred. She looked at Xu Yuehuai and said, "You officials are the executioners! My son and husband were killed by you! You keep talking about justice, but you've ruined our family!"
Xu Yuehuai was stunned. Looking at the woman's angry face, an indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.
“Auntie, I know you’re furious, but please believe me, we’re not your enemies. We’ve been tracking down the real killers, trying to get justice for you.”
However, the woman didn't seem to believe Xu Yuehuai's words. She roared, "Justice? You officials only know how to oppress us common people! Do you still want to argue?"
Xu Yuehuai was speechless. She knew that in this chaotic moment, any explanation would seem pale and powerless. She could only stand there silently, letting the woman vent her anger.
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