Inside the hall, it was as silent as death, the air seed to freeze.
Gazing at Ma Wu who was embedded in the wall, everyone was stunned into silence, gasping in shock intermittently.
Shan Dongchuan swallowed his saliva, remaining silent.
It was commonly known that this female master was usually as reserved as an elegant verse, but he hadn’t expected her to be so fierce in protecting her disciple. Indeed, appearances are deceptive.
Lu Renjia and Zhang Yunwu were dumbfounded.
The imperial guards and governnt officials instinctively surrounded Dugu Luoxue.
Yet, no one dared to step forward.
"Master."
Having regained his composure, Jiang Shouzhong felt sowhat conflicted as he bowed in greeting.
He hadn’t expected her to appear suddenly... Regardless, the female master was quite impressive.
"Let’s go."
Dugu Luoxue’s expression was indifferent as she turned and walked towards the courtyard exit, completely ignoring everyone else.
The imperial guards and governnt officials exchanged glances, instinctively stepping back.
One of them plucked up the courage to say:
"Master Dugu, Mr. Ma is here in Qingzhou on the emperor’s special command to assist with the investigation. What you are doing seems... sowhat inappropriate."
"Oh."
Dugu Luoxue did not stop her stride.
Feeling helpless, the man continued, "Could you please wait a mont? I will inform the other commanders."
Dugu Luoxue stopped in her tracks and turned to stare at him.
The guard instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
After a mont of thought, Dugu Luoxue said, "I reside in Huatong Lane. They can find there."
Having said that, she continued to walk away.
And the guards and officials who had been surrounding her also halted, not daring to cause further offense.
Jiang Shouzhong wanted to discreetly pass a ssage to Lu Renjia and the others, but with so many eyes on him, he had to give up and quickly followed Dugu Luoxue out.
Lu Renjia was quick-witted; seeing that no one was paying attention to them at the mont, he discreetly tugged at Zhang Yunwu’s sleeve and whispered, "Run, Zhang, or we’ll end up in jail."
The two sneaked out through a side door.
At that mont, a pair of eyes in the darkness stared at them, twinkling with a hint of amusent.
...
As they stepped out of Jinse Pavilion, Jiang Shouzhong quietly asked, "Master, you didn’t kill him, did you?"
"No, I do not take lives lightly," Dugu Luoxue replied.
Jiang Shouzhong nodded slightly.
Although he had wanted to kill the man, doing so would have caused too much trouble, considering he was a high-ranking commander. Even the power of Wanshou Mountains and Rivers couldn’t outweigh the court.
Although he wasn’t killed, Dugu Luoxue’s palm strike was enough to give Ma Wu a hard ti.
Recalling that he still had important matters to attend to, Jiang Shouzhong scratched his head sowhat embarrassedly and said, "Master, I have so personal matters to deal with; how about you go ahead?"
"No need, I’ll wait for you."
Dugu Luoxue stood in the shadow of the street, her robes fluttering in the evening breeze, her faint fragrance rging with the nearby shadows,
Under the moonlight, her silhouette was tranquil as water, as elegant as an orchid.
Knowing her stubborn nature, Jiang Shouzhong didn’t try to persuade her.
——
On the other side, Lu Renjia and Zhang Yunwu left Jinse Pavilion.
After a discussion, they decided not to head to the Liushan Division imdiately and instead find an inn to settle down temporarily to think of ways to find Jiang Mo.
Looking at the thick night, Lu Renjia sighed and said:
"Ah Zhang, how did things turn out this way, who exactly is framing Jiang? Damn it, we should have co with him. With Jia here, who dares to ss with our three brothers, right?"
Zhang Yunwu silently walked, his head bowed in thought.
Lu Renjia nudged his arm and asked, "What are you thinking about? Don’t worry, that kid definitely won’t have anything happen to him."
"Lu, that person nad Jiang Yi just now..."
"Jiang!?"
Zhang Yunwu had barely spoken, when suddenly, Lu Renjia cried out in surprise.
Zhang Yunwu looked up.
But he saw a man standing under the shadowy night not far away.
The man’s complexion was pale, and the moonlight sprinkled on his face, making his skin appear ghostly, like frost-covered jade, lending him an eerie look.
That face was indeed Jiang Shouzhong’s.
"Jiang, you finally showed up," Lu Renjia said eagerly as he approached.
Zhang Yunwu instinctively wanted to hold him back, but hesitated after reaching out his hand and withdrew it, following behind Lu Renjia.
"Jiang, what exactly is going on? How did you end up killing soone? And how did you beco a spy..."
Lu Renjia rambled on, but before he could get close, "Jiang Mo" suddenly said, "Don’t co any closer. You might have been followed. Just stand there and talk, I need your help with sothing."
With these words, Lu Renjia stopped in his tracks.
The distance between them was about seven or eight ters. In the dim night, their faces were sowhat blurred.
Even their voices sounded sowhat deep.
"Jiang Mo" spoke, "This is a long story, but trust , everything will soon beco clear. Right now, I need your help to deliver sothing, a letter. Take it to Mr. Dong’s pawnshop on Xiling Street and hand it to the shopkeeper."
"Jiang Mo" threw the envelope over, "Don’t open it on your own."
Lu Renjia quickly caught it and nodded vigorously:
"Don’t worry, Jiang. Even if it were a hundred letters, I would safely deliver each one and clear your na."
"Hmm, there are too many concerns for a eting now. We’ll talk more another ti," "Jiang Mo" said, and with the sound of the wind, his figure disappeared into the dark night.
"Ah, what’s all this about," Lu Renjia sighed as he pocketed the envelope.
Seeing Zhang Yunwu staring in the direction where "Jiang Mo" had left, as if deep in thought, he laughed and said, "What’s the matter? Jiang didn’t speak to you and didn’t give you such a crucial task. Are you upset?"
Zhang Yunwu shook his head and voiced his thoughts, "It seems like he’s not Jiang."
"I, Jia, am not blind. How could I have mistaken him?" Lu Renjia dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand, "Anyway, let’s deliver the letter first."
Zhang Yunwu hesitated to speak, but finally nodded softly.
——
Jiang Shouzhong was waiting for Shan Dongchuan to co out on his own.
Unfortunately, the guards had summoned several leaders and many governnt officials, keeping Shan Dongchuan constantly in their company.
Eventually, Jiang Shouzhong had to give up for the ti being.
Since Shan Dongchuan wasn’t going anywhere, he could only wait for another opportunity.
Returning to the small courtyard with Dugu Luoxue, she had already heated the water and cleaned up the adjacent room for Jiang Shouzhong to rest.
"Master, thank you so much for today," Jiang Shouzhong said gratefully.
"A master protects her disciple, as she should," Dugu Luoxue responded as she handed a book to Jiang Shouzhong and said softly, "Before you bathe, recite an article from mory, perfectly, without a single error."
Jiang Shouzhong was stunned.
What is this situation, have I returned to my school days?
And when he saw Dugu Luoxue pulling out a ruler, his face darkened, "Master, this isn’t necessary, is it?"
"It’s necessary; it’s your howork," Dugu Luoxue said earnestly, her face stern.
Looking at the ruler in her hand, Jiang Shouzhong grimaced and muttered, "Alright, alright, one day I’ll also have a ruler and make you kneel on the stool to spank your bottom."
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