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“Let’s hurry. The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll get there.”

Qin Tie said, locking his door behind him and taking a stance that signaled his eagerness to get going.

“We should eat breakfast first. The journey can be tough; you might not handle it well on an empty stomach.”

Xiao Zeyu was less hurried than Qin Tie. He wanted to have a proper meal before they set off.

“Fine, fine!”

Though visibly impatient, Qin Tie had to comply with Xiao Zeyu’s request.

Xiao Zeyu instructed the innkeeper to bring a steamer filled with steamed buns. In addition to their breakfast, he wanted to pack some for the road.

Steamed buns and dried meat were ideal travel foods. The buns could be warmed up by placing them over a fire on a tree branch, while the dried meat was good for quick energy and sustenance.

Su Qing had switched back to men’s attire. His expression remained consistent with the day before. Upon seeing Qin Tie, his eyes briefly lingered on his face before moving away.

When Qin Tie saw Su Qing, his demeanor was also quite cold. He glanced at her once before averting his gaze as if disdaining to acknowledge her further. Xiao Zeyu observed all of this, finding Qin Tie’s arrogance in line with what his uncle’s master had described.

The group descended to the dining area for breakfast. The courier station’s food was mediocre at best. Su Qing took a steamed bun, used it to grab a piece of donkey meat slathered in sauce, and then added some vegetables to create a makeshift sandwich.

On the other hand, Qin Tie stuck solely to the steamed buns and ignored the other dishes on the table. Su Qing noticed this.

“Little Seven, check the food.”

Naturally, the task fell to the ever-capable Little Seven, who was always eager to assist her master. She immediately tested the food that Su Qing had given her.

“Master, the food is not poisoned.”

Upon hearing Little Seven’s results, Su Qing looked at Qin Tie with surprise. He had assumed the man refrained from eating the food due to suspicion of poison.

Had he and Xiao Zeyu been wrong about Qin Tie? Was he who he claimed to be? Regardless, any deception would reveal itself eventually.

Just as they finished their meal and prepared to leave, a group of soldiers marched into the relay station. Su Qing and Xiao Zeyu’s eyes flashed, and they braced themselves for a confrontation.

“Have you seen any suspicious individuals here?”

The lead soldier addressed the innkeeper as soon as he entered the station. His eyes quickly shifted to Xiao Zeyu, Su Qing, and the rest, and he advanced toward them.

“Officials.”

Xiao Zeyu promptly stood up, smiling as he presented his customs clearance and bodyguard credentials to the soldiers for inspection.

The lead soldier took a moment to scrutinize the documents. Unlike the officers they’d encountered yesterday, this one didn’t ask for a bribe. Returning the papers to Xiao Zeyu, he inquired, “When do you plan to depart?”

Cupping his fists in a respectful gesture, Xiao Zeyu responded, “Officer, we intend to leave as soon as we finish our meal. Every additional day we spend outside incurs extra fees.”

His demeanor was faultless, displaying the tact and humility of someone well-acquainted with life on the road. His words raised no red flags.

Nonetheless, the soldier remained cautious. “You can’t leave the city just yet. Four officers were killed last night. Nobody can leave until the culprits are caught.”

“Sir, we’re merely escorts trying to make a living. Any delay could cost us,” Xiao Zeyu argued, quickly slipping some silver taels into the soldier’s hand. Five soldiers had arrived, and he gave each a single tael. It was an amount fitting for their status; how much could a traveling martial artist afford, after all?

Xiao Zeyu felt puzzled. Su Qing had poisoned three officers yesterday. Why did the soldier say that four had been killed? Who was the additional casualty?

“There’s nothing I can do; it’s a directive from the Zhizhou. No one can leave until given permission,” the soldier said, pocketing the silver but making it clear they still couldn’t depart. However, his tone had softened. Once the Zhizhou gave the go-ahead, they’d be free to leave.

“Understood, thank you,” Xiao Zeyu responded, cupping his fists in acknowledgment. The soldiers proceeded upstairs for another search and found Ghostmother sprawled on a bunk. Upon seeing them, she pursed her lips and shot them an evil glare. Xiao Zeyu, standing beside the soldiers, sighed at Ghostmother’s antics.

“Uncle, don’t intimidate the officer,” he cautioned.

Intrigued by Ghostmother’s odd behavior, the soldier turned to Xiao Zeyu and queried, “What’s the matter with him?”

“His legs and hands were rendered useless by enemies who cut his tendons, and they also severed his tongue. Poor uncle, already advanced in age and yet still subjected to such cruelty. His spirit is quite disturbed. We’re taking him along, hoping to find a skilled physician who might heal him.”

Xiao Zeyu’s face was a portrait of sorrow, sticking to the same story he had spun the day before. Ghostmother’s eyes flared with fury, glaring venomously at him as if she wanted to devour him on the spot.

“Such treatment sounds costly and uncertain,” the soldier remarked, observing Ghostmother’s unsettling appearance. “You might want to consider if it’s worth the expense.”

Xiao Zeyu nodded thoughtfully, showing gratitude for the soldier’s well-intentioned advice.

“I can’t just turn my back on family,” Xiao Zeyu said earnestly, his voice full of warmth and principle. His commitment to his ‘uncle’ impressed the official.

“Very well, let’s retire to our rooms.”

Given they could not leave, everyone finished their meal and returned to their quarters. Qin Tie was visibly anxious and irritable, contrasting sharply with Su Qing and Xiao Zeyu’s collected demeanor. This difference in attitude clearly annoyed Qin Tie, who turned to Xiao Zeyu and questioned, “Aren’t you going to figure something out?”

“I’m at a loss. Perhaps Godfather Qin has some suggestions? If so, do share,” Xiao Zeyu responded, shrugging his shoulders and warning Qin Tie.

“I need some fresh air,” declared Qin Tie, hastily standing to leave the relay station. Xiao Zeyu followed suit, rising from his seat and exiting.

Meanwhile, Su Qing polished off the remaining half of his sandwich and ascended to his room—only to swiftly exit through the upstairs window to tail Qin Tie from a safe distance. He observed Qin Tie making a beeline for the government office but couldn’t follow him inside due to the heavy guard’s presence. Opting to wait, his patience paid off an hour later when he saw Qin Tie emerge hurriedly and head back to the relay station.

Slipping back into his room through the window, Su Qing was greeted by Xiao Zeyu’s questioning glance. The pair had an unspoken understanding; words were often unnecessary.

“He visited the government office,” Su Qing reported a crease forming on his forehead. “It makes me wonder: could Qin Tie be a government plant?”

While engrossed in their discussion, a knock at the door interrupted Su Qing and Xiao Zeyu. Xiao Zeyu went to answer it, revealing an impatient Qin Tie standing in the doorway.

“Has Godfather Qin found a solution?” Xiao Zeyu inquired quickly.

“I spoke with the Zhizhou of the City of Brisk; he’s a distant relative. He’s permitted us to leave,” Qin Tie explained.

Xiao Zeyu nodded, recognizing that this account aligned with Su Qing’s observations. If Qin Tie had managed to secure a pass, staying any longer in the City of Brisk would be a needless risk. He instructed the bodyguards, posing as escorts, to carry Ghostmother out and prepare the carriage. He and Su Qing then took their positions at the entrance of the relay station to await their departure.

Catching sight of Ghostmother being carried out, Qin Tie’s eyes flickered disdainfully.. Pointing at her, he turned to Xiao Zeyu and questioned, “Do we have to bring her along?”