Under the same night, the atmosphere of the City Lord's Mansion was far less friendly than the lights of the Liu family.
The sound of "Ta Ta Ta Ta" footsteps sounded from time to time in the city lord's palace. Team after team of sergeants lit torches and refused to let go of any detail.
The firelight passed by, and the ruins of the broken wall were still there. The black marks after burning were like the devil's claws stretching out, describing the horror.
These people are always worried that another sword will fall from the sky and kill them.
There were many more defenses outside one room than elsewhere. With a sullen face and lowered head, Bai Rong quickly passed through the layers of sergeants and pushed the door straight in.
The door was pushed hard, and there was a wail of "creaking". Xing Zuo was lying on the bed. Even though his eyes were injured and he couldn't see, he still felt the resentment all over him. He frowned and asked, "Has the person been found?"
"Yes." Bai Rong narrowed his eyes and said, "It's on the southern outskirts of the city, not far upstream of Huanhua Creek."
Xing Zuo understood in his heart, and after a moment of silence, he asked, "How did he die? Was he also killed by that woman?"
Bai Rong shook his head and said coldly: "His throat was broken by a sharp weapon and he bled to death."
Xing Zuo's brows tightened and he guessed, "Even if Zheng Deduo was injured and his strength was severely reduced, he is a poisonous cultivator after all. He was killed at close range. It seems that the opponent's helpers are not weak."
"Not only is he not weak, he is also very powerful. I gave him the Wanhua Dan. His strength will not drop to a level for a period of time, but he still dies."
Bai Rong felt unspeakably depressed. Zheng Deduo was so confident and not afraid of death. When he talked about great opportunities with him, he really believed him, thinking that he could use a Ten Thousand Flower Pill to make friends with a master who could break through the realm of spiritual life. Unexpectedly, the Wanhua Dan was gone and the other party was completely dead.
He completely lost this deal.
Xing Zuo sighed: "Their helpers showed up at the last moment and rescued a few people. Do you have any clues about this?"
Bai Rong said: "I heard from those who were still present at the end that there were three people, and two of them rescued the two girls immediately. As for this woman, with the help of the last person, she fought with Zheng Deduo. He just left on the field.”
In order to conceal their cowardice, the sergeants who were questioned naturally described the situation as evenly matched. Even Ye Yun was faintly overpowering Zheng Deduo, which made Bai Rong sound more and more wary of Ye Yun taking action again.
Xing Zuo said: "They probably didn't meet up after that, otherwise Zheng Deduo wouldn't have chased them outside the city. The helpers met up outside the city. Did you find any clues along this direction?"
Bai Rong shook his head and said: "It was already dark when Zheng Deduo's body was found, and we will have to continue looking for clues tomorrow."
Xing Zuo sighed: "It's too late, the other party has most likely destroyed their traces."
Bai Rong said: "Once the city gate opens, it's hard to tell whether they will leave or stay after they meet. I don't know if that little bitch Bai Zhi is still in the city."
Thinking of the sword strike in the afternoon, Xing Zuo's eyes hurt a little. Years of dealing with espionage information gave him an extremely profound analysis of the situation. He said: "That woman handed a sword, but she didn't kill us all. There is something hidden in it." The main meaning is to warn us not to mess around anymore."
Bai Rong said in anguish: "This woman's identity information is still not found. Why would she do this? Otherwise, I would just kill her once and for all."
Xing Zuo sneered and said: "She knows what the dynasty's background is. Will she kill us and bring in a group of more powerful people until we die? She should have left with Bai Zhi, but the person who saved her is most likely still in the city. inside."
Bai Rong's eyes lit up, and he continued with this thought: "If those old guys supported by the dynasty were really here, she might be able to escape, but the people she wanted to protect were still in the city, so she didn't choose an extreme approach, which is indeed reasonable. "
Xing Zuo nodded and sighed: "So this woman is not simple. She has a clear understanding of the current situation and the forces of all parties. As long as we don't do too much and hang the sword on our neck, we will only shrink back."
"Then...can I really bear it? This time, four people helped me, but three of them died. How can I do anything?"
Xing Zuo shook his head secretly in his heart. He always felt that Bai Hao's recommendation to His Majesty that his brother Bai Rong come to Jinguan City was an extremely wrong decision. It was fine if it went with the trend, but he didn't know what to do if it went against the trend. How could this be okay?
He suggested: "A single Angelica dahurica will not cause serious trouble. You should not investigate this woman for the time being. Tell His Majesty all the details truthfully, and others will deal with it."
"As for the helpers left in the city..."
Xing Zuo was silent for a moment and asked: "Where are those people caught last night? Did they let go? I think the owners of these people are the helpers of that woman."
Bai Rong's face turned the color of pig liver, and he said helplessly: "Let it go."
"Let go?" Xing Zuo's voice was high. He also figured out that this was probably a compromise to stabilize the declining situation. His voice slowed down and asked: "Who came forward to ask for someone? And for what reason?"
Bai Rong replied: "They seemed to have made an appointment in advance. As soon as they knew that the city lord's mansion was handed a sword, someone sent a message, saying that after the fire in the south of the city last night, the servants came out to put out the fire, but their good intentions were wronged. , unfortunately got involved.”
Xing Zuo said "hmm" and asked calmly: "Starting from the investigation of the person who sent the message, have you found out who is behind the scenes?"
Bai Rong lowered his head and said, "No."
His voice became lower and lower, "The messenger is a gangster who is not afraid of death. After our people followed him, they only knew that the person who asked for the person was a joint voice of ten families. We didn't know which family or families it was. ?”
Xing Zuo also felt a headache when he heard it, and said seriously: "It seems that Bai Zhi's father Bai Ting has been in business for so many years and has some friendship with these local families. You haven't secured your position as the city lord in one battle. They have already united. .”
Bai Rong said fiercely: "They can fight against me with His Majesty's support. The reason why I tolerate this is not to maintain the current stability, otherwise, hum -"
Xing Zuo sighed and finally understood that before leaving, Bai Hao had to teach him more about his ambitious and talented younger brother. He asked coldly: "If things are like this, how long do you think His Majesty will support you? Do you think it will end in the end?" Will His Majesty be on your side?”
Bai Rong heard the sarcasm in Xing Zuo's tone and felt angry, saying, "Based on the friendship between my brother and Your Majesty, wouldn't Your Majesty be on my side?"
Xing Zuo sighed and warned seriously: "If you want to mess around, I won't care about you, but don't drag your brother into the water, okay?"
"Haven't you ever thought about why His Majesty could force Bai Ting to give up his position as city lord with just one order, yet he allowed you to do so and even transferred the royal family members to help you?"
"Do you really think your brother is so proud? Or that His Majesty admires you?"
"Your Majesty is doing this just to make your brother independent from other forces within the dynasty, and he can only be your Majesty's most loyal evil dog."
"Of course, there is another point that is more obscure. They both have the same surname of Bai, and both have the surname of the emperor. Your Majesty did this to eliminate some eyesores and reduce internal noise."
Not hearing Bai Rong's voice, Xing Zuo knew that the other party was listening carefully. He paused and said softly: "You must know that His Majesty's access to the throne was a bit bumpy. He must clear up the noise with an iron fist, but if you make too much noise, let the noise turn out instead." Bigger, and you will only become a victim of quelling the noise, do you understand?”
Although Bai Rong suddenly became one of the nine major city lords in the dynasty, being on par with his eldest brother has made him a little arrogant recently, but he is not stupid. Xing Zuo is his eldest brother's most powerful arm. The other party's insight obviously goes straight to the source of the chaos, and it is not a relationship. People who are already firmly tied together will not speak so clearly.
After he calmed down, he asked seriously: "Why did Brother Xing teach me?"
Xing Zuo said slowly: "What you are going to do next, you must always control your efforts. On the surface, you will interact with those families, and behind the scenes, you will slowly investigate. Don't let the other party find out because you are anxious. What Your Majesty appreciates most is your understanding of the situation. You have to learn more from your brother about prudence and meticulousness in doing things."
Bai Rong was in his thirties. Although the person he admired the most was his elder brother, he always felt impatient to be lectured. He frowned and asked, "What should we do now?"
Xing Zuo said: "As for now, let me give you a suggestion. When you are dealing with those families, test who their old friends are. If one of their old friends is from one of these families, then I can tell you. , it is probably this family that unites these families to put pressure on the City Lord’s Mansion.”
Bai Rong's eyes flashed with light and he sighed: "This can be done!"
…
…
The Liu family's dinner was held in a spacious house. After Mu Qing entered, he found that they were all acquaintances, and the atmosphere became a little more lively.
Liu Weirui was next to Mu Qing, watching Yue Jiu and the others already drinking. She nodded to them with a smile and said softly: "Xiaochan, you didn't call anyone else to come tonight."
Xiaochan had already slowed down her pace and explained with a smile: "The head of the family said that there are many people and it is difficult to see. It is best for Mr. Mu Qing and their whereabouts to be kept secret, so he did not call anyone else."
Liu Weirui looked at her father's back, smiled and sighed: "My father is always so thoughtful!"
She tilted her head and looked at Mu Qing, who had been silent since she came in. She frowned and asked in a sweet voice, "You don't think we've neglected you, do you?"
Mu Qing actually has some sweet troubles and self-blaming joy. He slightly regretted that he should not have made such an irresponsible promise just now. This was irresponsible to Ye Yun and Liu Weirui.
Hearing Liu Weirui's voice at this time, he shook his head with a smile and said quickly: "How dare you, I can understand Uncle Liu's kindness."
People in the big family are divided. Although Liu Chaoge is the head of the family, he can't control what everyone says. This is considered a very considerate reception.
Seeing Liu Weirui and Mu Qing walking closely together, Yue Jiu and the others who were drinking in the room smiled knowingly. Zhang Zishan touched Yue Jiu's shoulder and whispered: "Three glasses of wine, you should give in quickly."
Liu Weirui and Mu Qing did not attend the banquet for a long time, and the two people who had already had a good relationship along the way quietly expressed their opinions. As an outsider, even a dull person like Zhang Zishan noticed the difference between the two.
The wine was good and the mood was good, so they made a bet. The bet was whether the relationship between Mu Qing and Liu Weirui had broken through the window paper, or whether it was just wishful thinking.
At that time, Yue Jiu was still burying Tai Muqing, saying that he was not as good as her, who had been practicing love for many years, and was still a dull young man. He might not be able to understand Miss Liu's true feelings, but now it seems that it is really him. Lost.
It's just that this kind of surrender made Yue Jiu feel extremely free and happy.
Seeing Mu Qing walk in, he raised a glass to Mu Qing and said with a smile: "Why are you here so late? What can't you finish talking to Miss Liu? Come on, come on, punish yourself with three glasses of wine, and I'll accompany you."
After saying that, he drank three glasses in a row.
Mu Qing met the gazes of Yue Jiu and the others, and realized that sometimes the playful gazes could be like flying swords. A faint beauty body fragrance lingered on the tip of her nose, and there seemed to be lingering fragrance on her lips. Mu Qing's face was slightly Even though he was feeling hot, he didn't refuse Yue Jiu's invitation.
The two of them sat at a table, and there happened to be a table with two empty seats next to it. After Mu Qing sat down, Liu Weirui also wanted to sit down with Mu Qing, but Liu Chaoge's voice suddenly rang out, "Wei Rui, sit down daddy." Come here."
"Ha-" Yue Jiu blinked and said softly to Mu Qing who was sitting down: "It seems you have to work hard."
Halfway through the dinner in an awkward and awkward atmosphere, Li Bin went out and brought in the father and daughter.
