ile waiting for the auspicious time, I received at least ten calls from my fellow students asking if I wanted to go with them. I kept explaining that I was only going to deliver something and would be...Shen Qingrui is arrogant and domineering. She's known for her tyrannical behavior in the circle. I always think she's the best embodiment of Shen Jiakun's negative image.

Mrs. Shen was accustomed to being insignificant within her family and arrogant when dealing with outsiders.

She's not above causing trouble.

"What kind of trouble has Shen Qingrui gotten into this time" I pinched the bridge of my nose, truly a never-ending saga.

As soon as I finished two things, new ones popped up.

It so happened that some time ago, the Shen family had their accounts for the year organized and sent them to the Imperial City for me to review. They also chose a few capable disciples to come along.

Two days before their departure, a disciple from the inner sect of the Shen family was injured at the southern border and sought help from his clan. Shen Qingrui went to handle it, but got caught there—kidnapped.

"Deducted What do you mean" I asked, frowning.

“So, that inner disciple took on a commission. Someone in a village to the south was behaving strangely and suspected they were bewitched. The disciple went there according to custom to exorcise evil spirits and heal the sick, but he didn't expect the enemy to be so fierce, and he ended up injured himself. The villagers held him responsible... Shen Qingrui heard about it and got angry, so she took two people to handle it. The result... news came that the person who was bewitched died, and the villagers blamed Shen Qingrui and kept her captive!”

"What"

"Now, there are four disciples, including Shen Qingrui, who have been forcibly detained by villagers. The villagers want an explanation and even say they will sue..."

I am speechless, what the heck is going on!

“We only received this news just before boarding the plane. Since we were about to see you anyway, we thought it would be better to report it to you in person... Lord Head of the Household, what do you think we should do about this” Shen Family's Butler asked cautiously.

"What else can we do We'll have to find someone to talk to them. They probably just want money, right" When you encounter unreasonable villagers like this, there's no point in trying to reason with them.

My brother shook his head. “I don’t think things are that simple. The border area in the south is a mix of people. Who was cursed And why would it cause an entire village to seek medical attention Then the Shen family went, and because their cultivation wasn't strong enough, they were hit back. Finally, Shen Qingru went herself, and she also died... This either means they encountered a formidable opponent, or it’s a trap specifically set for the Shen family.”

"Why wouldn't something happen earlier or later, but have to happen right when you meet the Grand Elder and are waiting for your appointment If this gets out, will the Shen family still want the honor of having a special advisor"

My brother analyzed the situation. The butler of the Shen family listened anxiously, looking at me: "I'm truly sorry, Master. While you were navigating the Imperial Capital, we stepped into someone's trap... We held you back, it's truly..."

I waved my hand dismissively: "Talking about it won't do any good. Just compile the data from this incident and give it to me, I'll take a look and see what's going on."

After the Shen family disciples withdrew, my brother came over and asked me, "What Are you going to fish people out"

"What else With four members of the Shen family detained, if a real lawsuit happens and public opinion gets stirred up, the Shen family's reputation will plummet! They won't even be able to maintain their special advisor status. Moving around in the circle in the future will be difficult!" I frowned and said.

My brother tapped the table lightly and said in a low voice, "I don't think this is a coincidence. Maybe they are holding onto Shen Qingrui and others, waiting for you to jump through hoops… to get you out of the Imperial Capital. Who would want you to leave this place the most"

He suddenly asked, and I was taken aback for a moment before smiling and saying, "Could there be anyone else It must be that old King who has fought against me several times."

My brother nodded. “Zhao Jie told me that Ah Yue and the old fox were both disciples of the same Taoist master when they were alive, so they were considered fellow students. But after the old fox died, Ah Yue did well for herself. Old Wang Ye admired her and made her the Yin Marshal at the City God Temple.”

Bai Wu Chang said she was a spy, I asked Jiang Qi Yun about this, he smiled and didn't say anything, he probably acquiesced.

The underworld probably started infiltrating this old king long ago, right

Recently, because of the ghost princess Zhu Weiti's affair, it exposed Lao Wangye's boldness, arrogance, nepotism, and lawlessness.

He should hope I leave the Imperial City quickly, otherwise with me here, Jiang Qiyun is also here, and he'll be scrutinized. He can feel the pressure.

"If you're going to take a look, I'll go with you. Let's make it quick in and out. After the holidays, we should head home too." My brother spoke up.

"...Go home" The thought of that three-story building flashed in my mind.

That's where our home is.

My brother smiled: "Yeah, go back and be the local snakes. Do what you gotta do to clean up your act."

" ...Will Lin Yanqin go with you" I frowned and asked, "Her family's foundation is in the imperial capital, isn't it"

My brother shrugged: "Look at her, the Lin family's financial center is in the south. I guess Lin Yanhua has cleared the obstacles to his father's handover of power and will have to go back south."

I nodded and said, "Okay, I'll arrange the tickets."

In the north, snowflakes are swirling in the sky, while in the south, the border region enjoys a pleasant and even warm climate.

My brother was wearing a flashy floral shirt and cool sunglasses, looking like a young man on a road trip.

"There are so many mosquitos here!" I couldn't help but scratch a big bump that had just appeared on my hand.

"There's Xianlin dew and immortal ointment in here. Apply some, alright! Who told you not to Look, mosquitos don't bite me."

Xianlin Dew Divine Medicine Ointment What the heck

I rummaged through his backpack with bewilderment, digging and pulling until I finally pulled out a ziplock bag containing a "holy grail." Upon opening it—

"Mu Yunfan, isn't this advertisement embarrassing! What fairy dew and divine ointment! Can't you just say it's eau de cologne and liniment!"

I stood there speechless, gazing at the bottle of Liushen Flower Water and the small iron box emblazoned with a tiger. It felt so retro.

"What! Isn't this fairy dew and divine ointment This is a godsend, what use are mosquito repellants or mosquito bracelets, this old stuff works better! Damn, what a lousy road…"

Our car is a rental, one of the few off-road vehicles at the rental agency. It's a rugged Jeep Wrangler with a boxy shape. My brother complained the whole way that it wasn't easy to drive, but really, the roads were just terrible.

"It's surprising that Miss Shen Qingrui, a young lady from a wealthy family, would come to this kind of place to rescue people. She's always been fearless and thinks she can act superior even towards ordinary people," my brother said with a chuckle.

Here, near the border, the national road only reaches the county. Towns and villages are still mountain roads. After two hours of bumpy rides, we finally saw a sentry-like building by the roadside.

"Hey, old man, how do we get to Baku" my brother asked an elder sitting in the shade, holding a water pipe.

The old man glanced at my brother, giving him a lazy, indifferent look.

"Wow, even deep in the mountains and forests, people can be so snobbish!" My brother grumbled, taking out ten yuan from his pocket and handing it over.

The old man cracked open his shriveled lips, revealing black teeth, and chuckled ominously: "Young lad, you're a smart one..."d a ride in my family's transport truck. Seems like a runaway girl, so I took her in... She came on the same route we take for disaster relief. Maybe she's from the same village."Tang Yufeng was part...