Chapter 325: Chapter 262: Take Good Care of Jiang Niang

Yan Qing turned over the Cyan Mountain Meets Me Order in his hands, inspecting it closely, but found no clues. It seemed like an ordinary token. He turned and tossed it to Ye Si: "You hold onto it."

Turmoil within the Qi Kingdom made it evident that staying at the Ping City Military Town was no longer an option. Seeking refuge at the Murong Family’s Yanzi Military Town wasn’t out of the question either. Yan Qing didn’t particularly trust Ying Rushi, but he had enough confidence.

As long as the Murong Family didn’t have a Foundation Establishment, why not seek refuge with them? As for whether Ying Rushi and the Murong Family harbored any ill intentions, Yan Qing didn’t care. Any schemes and plots can be discussed with my Bingzi Pepper Forest and Life-taking Messenger.

However... although he couldn’t provide any evidence, Yan Qing believed Ying Rushi wasn’t lying to them. It wasn’t that Ying Rushi’s words were particularly sincere, but when she handed over the Cyan Mountain Meets Me Order, her face showed a sense of relief, as if she had long hoped for someone to accept her compensation.

"You... why are you in this Secret Realm?"

Bu Liuguzhen approached, stopping five paces away from Yan Qing. He looked at Yan Qing, then at Jiang Shi and the others behind him, and finally focused on the long saber at Yan Qing’s waist: "Legendary Long Saber, are you Yellow Dog, the wanted man of Thief’s House?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Aside from Thief’s House, no other Secret Realm produces Foundation Establishment level legendaries, making items like Bingzi Pepper Forest quite recognizable—although Yan Qing, the bandaged weirdo, wasn’t any less recognizable.

"I didn’t ask why you barged in or your name," Yan Qing sneered, raising an eyebrow slightly, "You know, some things can only be seen through, not broken through, because once broken through..."

"There’s no room for maneuver between us."

When Yan Qing grasped the hilt of Bingzi Pepper Forest, the atmosphere in the Secret Realm instantly turned tense. Bu Liuguzhen’s already pale face became even paler, and Gai Louxian was drenched in cold sweat. With the robust qi and blood of the Third-Turn Messenger, Yan Qing’s aura expanded to its peak, resembling a mighty lion baring its teeth and dripping blood; the not-yet-cold corpses on the ground were prey ready to be devoured... They felt as if they were standing on the edge of a cliff, where the slightest slip would lead to eternal damnation!

They had seen the Third-Turn Messenger before. Bu Liuguzhen’s commander father was a Third-Turn Messenger ten years ago, yet the commander never exerted such immense pressure.

Thanks to the propaganda from the Divine Marquis Mansion, even a small place like Ping City was well-informed about Thief’s House’s deeds. Most people treated it as a story, and few believed that the four major thieves were worth the messenger’s attention. In many people’s views, the four major thieves were mere chicken thieves and dog robbers who were lucky to be chosen by Thief’s House and lacked real strength.

Bu Liuguzhen used to think the same. In his youthful arrogance, no one in Ping City, except Jiang Niang, could make him bow his head. Yet before Yan Qing, who wielded Bingzi Pepper Forest, he didn’t even have the courage to draw his sword, afraid of provoking Yan Qing’s murderous intent.

"Truly a peerless thief, having twice hunted in Chang’an of Zhou Kingdom and assassinated the Chancellor of Liang Kingdom," Gai Louxian said slowly, "You are a contemporary Third-Turn Messenger with the potential to embark on the Foundation Establishment path. Why bother to hold grudges against us?"

Yan Qing stared at them, lightly stroking the hilt of his saber as if judging whether it was worth letting them live. As their composure was about to break, Yan Qing finally released the hilt, "If you expose my whereabouts..."

"Without you today, we would have been dead without any place to be buried, and even the military town was saved by you. You are our savior, and I swear on heaven, if anyone leaks your whereabouts, I will personally eliminate them!" Gai Louxian immediately declared his stance.

Yan Qing glanced at him and nodded: "Ye Si mentioned that you are one of the few people he can trust in the military town... I’ll give you a chance."

He paused, "Good people should be rewarded."

Gai Louxian glanced at the silent Ye Si in surprise, recalling their first encounter: At the city gate, when he was preparing to go fishing, he saw a young man bravely and unapologetically speak out for an unfamiliar peasant woman against the gate guards. This young man’s spirit resembled his own youth... So he took in this young man.

Good people should be rewarded? Gai Louxian felt an indescribable sour sensation rise in his heart. He didn’t consider himself a good person. Compared to straightforward people like Ye Si Jiangniang, he often went along with things, only intervening occasionally when he couldn’t stand it... He never expected any reward for it. After all, those he helped were ordinary people, and what use could ordinary people be in this world?

So Gai Louxian never imagined that his past good deeds would actually garner assistance. He silently pulled Bu Liuguzhen aside, as the previously despondent old man now wore a livelier expression.

Yan Qing intentionally gave them a show of force. He wasn’t interested in explaining why he was there or discussing other such topics, instead using Bingzi Pepper Forest to make it clear who the dominant ones in the area were.

From the beginning, he planned to help Gai Louxian and Bu Liuguzhen. First, neither of them were inherently bad people; the former had helped Ye Si, and the latter was Jiang Shi’s lackey. Reality didn’t allow for restarts, and Yan Qing certainly wouldn’t kill them just to see if any special plot events were triggered. Secondly, Yan Qing wasn’t a natural-born killer, and killing others just to keep his whereabouts secret was something he currently couldn’t accept.

Perhaps he would one day face betrayal for this naivety, but Yan Qing was already prepared for that eventuality. When the pain comes, he’ll change, for after all, the suffering affects only a minor role, and he can bear that cost.

For Yan Qing, the meaning of the gaming machine was not just that it provided a way to grow stronger, but more importantly, it gave him the confidence to act benevolently.

"Are you planning to head to the Yanzi Military Town?" Yan Qing asked.

Gai Louxian and Bu Liuguzhen exchanged glances. After a brief pause, Gai Louxian nodded: "Since Ying Le intends to exterminate us, neither Ping City nor our family is a place we can stay. Fleeing to the Murong Family is indeed the best option right now."

"When do you plan to set out?"

"The County Duke should be able to buy us a day or two, but the sooner we leave, the better. By tonight at the latest, we must be gone."

"Alright," Yan Qing nodded, "When the time comes, take Ye Si and the others with you, any issue with that?"

Gai Louxian and Bu Liuguzhen were momentarily taken aback, then promptly nodded, "No issue!"

Bu Liuguzhen was even somewhat excited, glancing at Yan Qing and then at Jiang Shi, as though he wanted to say something. But soon his expression turned desolate, then suddenly resolute, even as a Northern Border man, his emotions were rich, almost like a young maiden’s.

With these local snakes assisting, at least Yan Qing wouldn’t have to travel alone. Seeing that his hands had almost completely healed, restoring his combat ability, Yan Qing then stood up: "Time’s just about right, let’s go."

"Ye Si, stay in the Secret Realm and collect the spoils."

The Evil Ghost Elite’s total counter-damage linkage plus shared defensive barrier looked more like a Foundation Establishment level group support effect than mere Token Authority. But ignoring the Evil Ghost Elite’s corpses would be foolish, and since there were still spoils left unclaimed in the Secret Realm, leaving someone behind was necessary to prevent a reset.

Gai Louxian and Bu Liuguzhen had no objections, as the Evil Ghost Elite was killed by Yan Qing, so the spoils naturally belonged to him.

Just as they were about to pass through the Secret Realm entrance, Bu Liuguzhen suddenly blocked Yan Qing: "Yellow Dog."

Gai Louxian tensed immediately, unsure of what antics this young master was up to.

"My heart has been filled with hatred, and there will be no more joy or sorrow in this life; I can’t bring happiness to Jiang Niang." Bu Liuguzhen approached Yan Qing and whispered, "Jiang Niang is a good woman... the best woman I’ve ever seen."

"She has waited for you this long; you should take good care of her."

Saying this, he turned and walked away decisively, without even glancing at Jiang Shi, appearing resolute, as if telling a princess, "My lady, I withdraw, and this retreat is for a lifetime."

Yan Qing naturally realized he misunderstood. After all, Jiang Shi showed no particular favor to anyone. Even Ye Si could only be her understudy. Yet, at this moment, Jiang Shi obediently followed him, silent, like a gentle and obedient little wife. He had no intention of clarifying the misunderstanding, as it served to make Bu Liuguzhen give up entirely.

But if he was giving up, then why so dramatic about it? Yan Qing nearly broke his disciplined demeanor, which he had maintained with effort.