At dusk, a horse carriage was halted in an alley in front of the Zhao residence, the coachman was Xu Fu, and inside sat the uncle and nephew duo, Historian Li.
Guo Zhuang was on stakeout not far away, while also instructing Guo Li and their clan mbers serving as constables to secretly keep an eye on the grand entrance of the Zhao family.
Historian Li: "Qing, are we just going to stakeout the Zhao family like this? Can we find any clues this way?"
Xu Qing smiled: "Uncle, please have a seat and relax, I have my own arrangents for the rest."
Because spirit wandering at night was more dangerous the further away it got from the flesh.
Therefore, Xu Qing simply decided to let his divine soul depart from its shell near the Zhao residence.
But his body needed protection.
Right now, he only trusted Historian Li.
So he had no choice but to ask Archivist to co over to be his protector.
Moreover, having the Archivist present, Guo Zhuang and his team could also sense Xu Qing’s emphasis on this matter.
Should any real troubles arise, Historian Li would also be able to step in to negotiate.
The reasons were all obvious—they could claim that they’ve discovered bandits sneaking near the Zhao residence.
Zhao Xiong is the arrest officer of the Governnt, and Zhao’s house is under the territory of Qingshui County. If Zhao Xiong wants to forcibly handle matters in Qingshui County, he would need the approval of Magistrate He.
Magistrate He, due to the matter of Shocking the Saint’s Image, has specially written an auspicious morial to the court. Thus, even though he knows about Academician Zhou trying to forcefully recruit Xu Qing, Magistrate He would not contradict himself by getting at odds with Xu Qing now.
Besides, Magistrate He is also figuring out ways to tie Xu Qing to his side.
Because he had read Xu Qing’s scholarly exam essays, and just from the perspective of strategy, Xu Qing is also talented and it would be best if he could be put to use for himself.
If it really can’t be helped, there’s no need to make an enemy.
After all, factional struggles do not hinder personal friendships.
Public relationships are but temporary, while private friendships may last a lifeti.
Sotis, people from the sa faction may not necessarily give you a hand, but personal friends are often willing to extend help when you’re drowning.
Xu Qing instructed his uncle not to move his body, just sit beside it peacefully.
As soon as night fell, he would comnce his spirit wandering.
Tonight happens to be the Mid-Autumn Festival, and after nightfall, every household is exceptionally lively.
If it weren’t for the fact that all the people brought by Guo Zhuang were from his own clan, it wouldn’t have been possible to organize anyone.
Moreover, there was no curfew on Mid-Autumn Festival night, so there were quite many people on the streets.
Every household, whether wealthy or not, was willing to light and hang lanterns.
County Magistrate Wu also knew that the operations led by Guo Zhuang were related to Xu, a scholar of the region. Having decided to turn his back on the Xu Family, of course, he couldn’t allow Xu, the local scholar to be kidnapped, thus he tacitly supported Guo Zhuang’s actions.
Xu Qing’s divine soul wandered through the night, wrapped in a layer of moonlight, nearly equivalent to being invisible.
The surrounding area was as bright as day, reminiscent to so extent of night life in a modern city.
Xu Qing passed through the tall walls of the Zhao residence.
This large estate covered dozens of acres.
To have such a large courtyard in the city showed the managent achievent of three generations of the Zhao family.
Xu Qing’s divine soul floated to a martial arts training ground, where the lights were blazing.
He saw two people sparring.
It was Zhao Bao who ran into the man on the street during the day.
Xu Qing carefully morized the man’s moves.
"Mad as a wild bull, with great and heavy montum," Xu Qing comnted and assessed.
Even when the two exchanged blows with restraint, the man in the grey robe’s every move stirred the wind like a fierce tiger.
"This person can certainly project Bright Strength like . However, his Kung Fu hasn’t reached his spine, but his body is fully developed and in his pri, with extraordinary Qi-Blood. Guo Zhuang wouldn’t last many moves against him," Xu Qing silently judged the man’s strength.
Under his Divine Soul’s observation, the man in the grey robe stood out like a bright torch among the crowd on the martial arts training ground.
Compared to him, Zhao Bao was but a candle.
Moreover, this fellow was a eunuch, lacking in Yang energy, currently emanating a gloomy aura.
"I don’t want to practice anymore, you’re holding back, and it’s not satisfying for either," Zhao Bao spoke up.
The man in the grey robe laughed heartily: "Second Master Zhao, I know you’re upset. Na a price, I’ll help you take care of that little Scholar."
His voice carried the breath of a desperado.
Zhao Bao sighed, "Although you say that, my elder brother dares not. His courage is shrinking by the day, always praying to gods and buddhas, muttering nonsense. I’m really afraid that one day he’ll abandon his great estate and run off to a temple to beco a Monk."
The grey-robed man said, "If you ask , Second Master, being an ordinary constable is no fun at all. It’s better to join us on Qixia Mountain as the leader, free and unfettered by anyone."
Zhao Bao felt tempted; now without his manhood and feeling stifled, with Zhao Xiong controlling him, he might as well beco a bandit chief, killing and setting fires, enjoying himself thoroughly.
Besides, in South Zhili, many mountain strongholds are actually backed by scholars and local tyrants.
Becoming a stronghold leader doesn’t an one can’t turn over a new leaf.
"Once you rescue Old Master Xu from the County Governnt, I’ll go with you to Qixia Mountain for a visit," Zhao Bao said.
The man in the grey robe chuckled, "Once you’re up the mountain, I guarantee you’ll have a good ti, Second Master Zhao."
Zhao Bao’s mouth twitched; now even seeking pleasure with a woman was impossible for him. He hoped there would be other ways to have a good ti on the mountain.
Xu Qing listened to their conversation from the side, unable to suppress the murderous intent in his heart.
"You people are truly courting death," he thought, like a deity observing from above, ready to te out divine retribution at a mont’s notice after seeing through the enemy’s conspiracy.
His emotions stirred a little brighter under the moonlight of his Divine Soul.
The man in the grey robe suddenly felt a chill and subconsciously threw a punch in the direction of Xu Qing.
A loud bang rang out, and the heat of his blood Qi rushed towards Xu Qing like a wave of fire.
Xu Qing leaned against the wall and vanished in an instant.
The man in the grey robe threw his punch, reaching the corner where Xu Qing had been, but after rubbing his eyes, he found nothing there.
"What’s wrong?" Zhao Bao ca over to ask.
The grey-robed man replied, "Must be the alcohol hitting . I thought soone was eavesdropping." He then pointed at the punch imprint on the wall, with bricks crumbling down, proudly saying, "I never expected that one trip down the mountain and my Bull Demon Strength has improved. Normally, I couldn’t make such a deep mark."
Zhao Bao: "I heard Bull Demon Strong Fist is famous for Training at and Muscle. Brother Niu’s strength, I’m afraid it’s a thousand pounds."
The grey-robed man: "There really aren’t many brothers on the mountain who are stronger than . It’s a pity I haven’t got the matching Inner Family Breathing Skill, otherwise I might have a chance to reach Dark Strength, and perhaps even beco a Martial Arts Scholar."
"You know the saying, murderers and arsonists can be recruited by the governnt. Maybe Brother Niu will mix in and beco a Military Officer soday."
"Thank you for the kind words, Second Master Zhao. It’s getting late; I’m going to sleep. Before dawn, I’ll go to the County Governnt to rescue Old Master Xu."
While the grey-robed man spoke, Xu Qing was on another part of the wall, listening to their conversation clearly.
"This guy must have scoped out the place during the day. Before dawn is when the guards at the Governnt Office are the sleepiest, especially tonight being Mid-Autumn Festival. With this man’s martial prowess, a sudden raid to rescue soone might actually succeed," Xu Qing pondered and decided he needed to act first.
"First, let’s see where Zhao Xiong is." Xu Qing resolved and imdiately began searching for Zhao Xiong’s location within the Zhao residence.
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