Pearl Order [Complete] - 26

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Chapter Thirty-One The Net of Heaven is

Vast and Inescapable Then, a man dressed in a blue satin robe, around fifty years old, slowly walked in from outside. Lin Ziqing felt he was a complete stranger, but since the man had entered, he had no choice but to bow respectfully. Before Lin Ziqing could speak, the old man in the blue robe chuckled and bowed, saying, "This must be the great hero Lin?"

Lin Ziqing replied, "I am indeed Lin Ziqing."

The old man in the blue robe laughed, "Brother Ren Zigui, I tried to visit you this morning but failed. My master, eager to see your talent, urged you to come immediately after lunch. Now we've finally met the great hero Lin. Haha, meeting you is

better than hearing of your reputation! To be able to see your magnificent presence is truly a great pleasure." Seeing his smiling face and flattering words, Lin Ziqing felt even more puzzled. He hurriedly clasped his hands and said, "Uncle Ren, you flatter me. I had to go out this morning and was unable to greet you properly. I am deeply sorry. Please, Uncle Ren, have a seat." He then repeatedly raised his hands in greeting.

The two men sat down by the window, one as host and the other as guest. Lin Ziqing poured a cup of tea and said, "Please have some tea, Elder Ren."

Ren Zigui accepted it with both hands, smiling obsequiously, "I dare not, I dare not."

Lin Ziqing said, "Elder Ren, I must have something to say about your visit."

Ren Zigui coughed lightly and said, "I am a clerk in the Governor's Office, and I have come to pay my respects to Master Lin on my father's orders." It turned out he was a clerk in the Governor's Office.

Lin Ziqing said solemnly, "So Elder Ren is a clerk in the Governor's Office. I have been extremely disrespectful."

Ren Zigui laughed loudly, "Master Lin, you are too kind. My father received a letter from the Fu residence last night and learned that Master Lin had arrived in Rehe. This morning, he asked me to come and urge you on your journey. Although Rehe is a small place, Master Lin is a distinguished guest of my father's, and it is no wonder that you are staying in an inn."

Lin Ziqing already understood that the so-called letter from the Fu residence must be from Fu Gefei. Undoubtedly written, he quickly bowed and said, "Master Ren, you flatter me. I came to Rehe to seek refuge with a distant uncle. These are merely private matters; how could I dare to offend the Commander-in-Chief?"

Ren Zigui said, "Fu Qiu's letter has already made it very clear that Master Lin has a family friend who runs a security escort agency in Rehe and invited Master Lin to help him. Therefore, he is unwilling to serve in the capital, wishing to preserve the friendship between you and your uncle. However, given Master Lin's extensive knowledge, it would be a great pity to allow him to spend his remaining years in the martial world. The letter earnestly instructs..." "My lord, you must recruit talented individuals. When I arrived, you were already waiting in the flower hall, eager to meet with Master Lin. How about you set off now, Master Lin?"

Lin Ziqing hesitated, "I am but a martial artist..."

Ren Zigui interrupted him, laughing, "Master Lin is here again! My lord is a former subordinate of Fu Yun, and Master Lin is someone Fu Yun has brought in. We are family. Saying such things would be too formal." He then stood up and said with a smile, "Master Lin, let's go." "Don't keep my master waiting."

Urged repeatedly, Lin Ziqing had no choice but to stand up and say, "Since Master Ren says so, I humbly accept."

Ren Zigui chuckled and said, "Master Lin, you're too kind. Haha, to be honest, I don't know why, although this is our first meeting and we've only exchanged a few words, I feel an instant connection with you, Master Lin."

Lin Ziqing said, "This is because you think highly of me, Master. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."

"Of course, of course," Ren Zigui said with a pleased expression, "We feel an instant connection; we should look after each other in the future." At this point... Suddenly, he exclaimed "Oh!" and continued, "Brother Lin, I dare not accept such a title of 'old master.' We hit it off immediately and get along so well. I'm a few years older than you, Brother Lin. How about this: if you think highly of me, call me 'old brother,' and I'll call you 'younger brother.' What do you say, Brother Lin?"

Lin Ziqing replied, "Old brother, you are too kind. How could I refuse?"

Ren Zigui was overjoyed and grabbed Lin Ziqing's hand, saying, "Just based on your words, I'm determined to be your old brother." The two walked and talked as they left the shop. There, a servant named Goshiha stood at the door, leading a horse and serving them. The waiter, seeing Lin Ziqing and Ren Zigui come out together, immediately brought them a blue-maned horse.

Ren Zigui was helped onto the saddle by Goshiha. After Lin Ziqing mounted, Ren Zigui cupped his hands on the horse and said, "Brother Lin, old brother will lead the way for you." He then waved his hand. Goshha led the horse ahead, with Lin Ziqing following behind.

They rode south along the main street, arriving at the Governor's Mansion in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Before the gate, a tall flagpole held high the commander's flag, and eight Goshha stood guard on the steps, their green sharkskin sabers hanging from their waists, looking quite imposing. After the two dismounted, Ren Zigui gestured respectfully and led him through the right-hand side gate. The Goshha were secretly astonished to see their master showing such respect to a young man whose blue cloth robe was almost faded from washing.

Entering through the side gate, they found themselves in a long corridor leading to the second gate, where two Goshha stood at attention and saluted Ren Zigui. Ren Zigui didn't even nod, leading Lin Ziqing straight in, past the signing room, and then into a zigzagging corridor with vermilion railings. The area outside was lush with flowers and trees, and several birdcages hung under the eaves, creating a serene atmosphere.

Ren Zigui said as they walked, "The Commander-in-Chief is probably in his study right now. Let me take you there, elder brother."

Lin Ziqing asked in a low voice, "Elder brother, I still don't know the Commander-in-Chief's name."

Ren Zigui replied in a low voice, "The Commander-in-Chief's surname is Fu, and he shares the same clan as the Fu family. His given name is Mintai." He continued, "The Commander-in-Chief is reviewing official business in his study. This is a confidential place, but it also allows him to avoid many formalities. It's rare for him to receive guests here; he's treating you like family."

Lin Ziqing said, "This is the Commander-in-Chief's kindness."

As they spoke, they arrived in front of the study, where a row of five-oak pavilions stood before a flowerbed, their painted beams and carved pillars exuding opulence. At this moment, the curtains were drawn low, and all was quiet. Four carved floor-to-ceiling doors stood guard on either side. Ren Zigui approached the door, paused, and said in a low voice, "Brother, please wait a moment. I need to inform the Commander-in-Chief." He straightened up slightly, coughed lightly, and bowed, saying, "This subordinate, Ren Zigui, is accompanying Lin Ziqing to meet the Commander-in-Chief." As soon as he

finished speaking, a long-haired attendant in blue rushed out, bowed to the two, and said, "My lord invites you in."

Ren Zigui quickly gestured, "Brother Lin, please." Lin

Ziqing said, "I'm new here; please

go first, brother." Ren Zigui smiled slightly, "The Commander-in-Chief is very approachable; you don't need to be so formal." He then led Lin Ziqing inside. Inside was a spacious, exquisitely furnished guest room. Beyond it, a carved moon gate led to the study.

At that moment, an elderly man with thick eyebrows, piercing eyes, and a fair complexion slowly emerged from the doorway. This man was undoubtedly Commander Fu! Although he was only dressed in casual clothes, his imposing manner exuded a certain intimidating authority. Ren Zigui hurriedly bowed and pointed to Lin Ziqing, saying, "Reporting to Your Excellency, this is the valiant warrior Lin Ziqing."

Lin Ziqing then bowed deeply and said, "This humble subject, Lin Ziqing, greets Your Excellency, Commander."

Bo Dutong's eyes darted around, scrutinizing Lin Ziqing from head to toe. A smile bloomed on his fair face as he nodded and clapped his hands, saying, "Valiant warrior Lin, please don't stand on ceremony. Please sit down." With that, he walked to a brocade-covered armchair at the head of the table and sat down.

Lin Ziqing bowed slightly and said, "How dare this humble subject..." Before

he could finish, Commander Fu interrupted, "Sir Lin, there's no need for such formalities. This is my study, and I dislike such formalities. Please, have a seat."

Ren Zigui chimed in, "Indeed, Commander-in-Chief is very approachable. Please, Sir Lin, have a seat so we can talk." Lin Ziqing thanked him and sat down in a chair below Commander Fu.

Commander Fu said, "Zigui, you sit down too." Ren Zigui replied, "Yes," and took his seat below Lin Ziqing. A servant brought them delicate porcelain teacups and immediately withdrew.

Commander Fu glanced at him, stroked his mustache, and said with a smile, "I received a letter from the Fu family last night, only then did I learn that Warrior Lin has arrived in Rehe. According to Zhang Bao, the messenger, Warrior Lin came to see your uncle who runs a security escort agency in Rehe?"

Lin Ziqing hurriedly replied, "Yes."

Commander Fu then asked, "Which security escort agency does your uncle run?"

Lin Ziqing bowed and replied, "Reporting to the Commander, my uncle runs the Zhenyuan Escort Agency in Rehe."

Commander Fu said with an "Oh," and then, "You mean Tiger Whip Dragon Claw Lin Changqing?" He turned to Ren Zigui and said, "It seems that Old Escort Lin once worked for our yamen."

Ren Zigui quickly bowed and said, "Yes, yes, the Zhenyuan Escort Agency escorted tribute twice, and Old Escort Lin personally went to Jilin to pick it up."

Commander Fu gave a soft "Oh" through his nostrils, and then... Turning to Lin Ziqing, he said, "I still have some impression of Old Escort Lin. Is he from the Lin family?"

Lin Ziqing replied, "No, he and my late father were only friends through a sense of duty."

Commander Fu asked, "You plan to work for his escort agency?"

Lin Ziqing said, "Around May this year, he sent a message to me, asking me to come to Rehe. But the day before yesterday, I went to Jixiang Street, and the escort agency had already closed down. It is said that Chief Escort Lin passed away two months ago, and his whole family moved back to their ancestral home." Commander Fu stroked his mustache and asked, "Princess Fu specifically asked Zhang Bao to come and strongly recommend Lin to me, because it would be a pity for Lin to spend his life in the martial world with all his knowledge. Now that the Zhenyuan Escort Agency has closed down, Lin might as well stay temporarily in my office. Let me check where there are better vacancies and I will arrange one for him."

The words "Princess Fu" entered Lin Ziqing's ears, and he was startled. He heard them repeatedly mention "Fu Di," but had no idea who "Fu Di" was. "Gege" is a Manchu term for princess or county princess, and Fu Ge is not him… Yes, his surname is Fu, but he deliberately uses the character "Ge" in his name; he is clearly a Gege. Lin Ziqing's face flushed slightly, and he was momentarily speechless. Ren Zigui, seeing that he hadn't thanked the commander, secretly worried for him.

Commander Fu smiled slightly at Lin Ziqing and said, "I once heard Zhang Bao say that the princess wrote a personal letter asking you to come find me, brave man. If it were someone obsessed with fame and fortune, they would have come to me long ago without my invitation. This alone shows that you, brave man, are willing to sacrifice your career for fame and fortune." Since

the other party had already said it, Lin Ziqing had no choice but to take out Fu Gefei's letter. He seemed a little embarrassed and stammered, "This humble subject did not write to the commander because my uncle has passed away and I have no relatives here. I did not wish to linger any longer." He then presented the letter with both hands.

Although he guessed that Fu Gefei might be the princess Fu mentioned by Commander Fu, he dared not say Fu Gefei or mention the name "princess" until he was certain. He spoke very tactfully. Commander Fu took the letter and chuckled, "This is Zhu Zhuliang recommending Pang Tong. If I hadn't asked you, you wouldn't have shown it." Many Manchu officials were well-versed in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and considered themselves capable of governing the world. Lin Ziqing repeatedly said, "I dare not."

Commander Fu had already pulled out a letter, glanced at it, and then smiled at Ren Zigui, "The letter Zhang Bao delivered last night, though earnest, I recognize Hua Shiye's handwriting. This is the Princess's own letter. When she was little, she often climbed on my back like a horse; I recognized this handwriting at a glance." He was proud that the Princess treated him like a horse, which showed that he was an elder of the Fu family. As he spoke, he casually handed the letter to Ren Zigui, then said, "Zigui, think for me where it would be most appropriate to place Brother Lin? This was entrusted to me by the Princess, so please put in a good job for me." He suddenly changed his address, from "Brother Lin" to "Brother Lin." This was because Fu Gefei addressed him as "My dear friend, Brother Lin Ziqing" in his letter, speaking very politely to Lin Ziqing, and he naturally wanted to build a closer relationship.

Ren Zigui respectfully accepted the letter with both hands, repeatedly replying "Yes." After reading it, he stroked his few gray hairs with one hand, pondered for a moment, and then bowed, saying, "I have an idea, but I don't know what the Commander-in-Chief thinks?"

Commander Fu said, "Tell me about it."

Ren Zigui said, "Not only are there no vacancies in our yamen, but even if there were, the positions would be rather low, which would be unfair to Lin Zhuangshi..."

Commander Fu sneered slightly, "In Rehe City, is there any position higher than ours?"

Ren Zigui smiled obsequiously, "It's only because the Commander-in-Chief's rank is high that he's in charge. Even the commander in the imperial palace is only a deputy commander. My suggestion is to transfer Lin Zhuangshi to the imperial palace guard camp. First, it's not a local government office; he's one rank higher than the officials there, and the position is prestigious. Serving in the palace would also bring him a good reputation. Second, aside from the Emperor's summer retreat and the Mulan Autumn Hunt each year..." "There's very little to do these days, isn't that better than working in our yamen? Besides, the Commander-in-Chief has already given instructions to Princess Fu."

Commander Fu nodded repeatedly and smiled, "That's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that." He then asked, "Are there any vacancies in the palace?"

Ren Zigui replied, "The east and west camps each have three teams, each team has one chief captain and one second captain, and each team has three squads, each with one captain..."

Commander Fu waved his hand and said, "Go and check if there are any vacancies for chief captain or second captain. Have Commander Qi send one to Brother Lin, saying that it was instructed by Princess Fu."

Ren Zigui hurriedly chimed in, "Isn't Your Excellency going to host a welcome dinner for Warrior Lin tonight? My idea is to send someone to invite Commander Qi over, so the Commander-in-Chief can give instructions in person, wouldn't that be better?" He was taking advantage of the situation, doing Lin Zigui a great favor.

The commander nodded and said, "You should send someone to invite Commander Qi to bring him over." Ren Zigui replied, "Yes," and got up to leave.

Lin Ziqing bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Excellency is too kind. I only wish for a place to live. If the position is too high, I fear it will be difficult to gain the respect of the people."

Commander Fu stroked his beard and laughed, "Brother Lin

, rest assured. Not to mention the matters entrusted to you by Prince Fu, even the people I send, who would dare to disobey? I have my own arrangements." Lin Ziqing bowed gratefully, saying, "I will never forget Your Excellency's kindness."

Commander Fu laughed, "Princess Fu is not only the adopted daughter of Prince Cheng, but also a lady-in-waiting in the Eastern Palace. With a princess speaking up for you, how could you not rise to prominence? Haha, I came from Prince Fu, and now you are considered one of Prince Fu's people. If I don't promote my own people, who else would I promote?" Only now did Lin Ziqing realize that the "Prince Fu" in his name referred to the Prince Fu's Mansion. No wonder it had such a prestigious reputation.

As they were talking, Ren Zigui had already returned and bowed to Commander Fu, saying, "Reporting to the Commander, I have already asked Fu An to invite him."

Commander Fu nodded and said, "Very good."

Ren Zigui turned to Lin Ziqing and smiled, "As usual, the Commander-in-Chief will be reviewing several important documents this afternoon. Please come to my room to rest for a while, Lin. The Commander-in-Chief will also be hosting a welcome dinner for you tonight."

Lin Ziqing stood up and said, "I am truly unworthy of such a banquet from the Commander-in-Chief."

Ren Zigui accompanied Lin Ziqing out of the study and led him to his room. He pushed open the door and entered, smiling as he said, "Brother Lin, this is where I live. Please don't stand on ceremony." Ren Zigui's room consisted of two rooms, one bright and one dark, both very elegantly furnished. In the outer room, there was a desk by the window, with writing implements and many books on it.

Lin Ziqing said, "Brother, you are truly a refined man."

Ren Zigui laughed and said, "Once you enter officialdom, you're toiled by paperwork all day long; how can you still be refined?" He glanced at Lin Ziqing and said, "Brother, I truly congratulate you. Although the Commander-in-Chief is usually very easygoing, he rarely shows such warmth to anyone. Today, he truly treats you with special regard."

Lin Ziqing said, "This is the Commander-in-Chief's kindness."

Ren Zigui continued, "You can naturally see that. On one hand, it's because of the Lady of the Fu Residence, but it's also true that the Commander-in-Chief and you hit it off immediately."

Lin Ziqing asked, "Brother, who did you send someone to invite just now?"

Ren Zigui said, "That's the commander of the Imperial Guard Battalion, named Wei Chengchang. He's originally from Jiangnan, and I've heard he's extremely skilled in martial arts. He joined the army at a young age and distinguished himself in the campaign against Jinchuan, earning the great favor of Prince Fu. When the commander-in-chief was the leader of the Imperial Guards, he was a third-class guard. Later, he rose through the ranks to become the commander of the Imperial Guard Battalion. He's very good at being an official, and knowing your background, he won't treat you like an outsider." As he spoke, he stood up and said, "Please wait a moment, brother. I'll go inside for a bit."

Lin Ziqing said, "Please go ahead, brother."

Ren Zigui said no more and walked into the inner room. A moment later, he emerged carrying a long blue silk robe, smiling as he said, "Brother, this is a new one I made. I haven't worn it yet. You're about the same size as me, so try it on and see if it fits."

Lin Ziqing asked, "What are you doing, brother?"

Ren Zigui replied, "Tonight, the Commander-in-Chief is hosting a welcome dinner for you, and you are the guest of honor. You are certainly a hero, able to stand tall even in plain clothes. But the officialdom is pragmatic. The Commander-in-Chief isn't just concerned with clothes, but you must also consider his reputation."

Lin Ziqing said shyly, "Brother,

you've thought of everything. I'm very grateful." Ren Zigui smiled smugly, "We're brothers, so don't say thank you anymore. Try it on and see if it fits." Lin Ziqing couldn't refuse him, so he took off his own robe, took the blue silk robe from Ren Zigui, and draped it over his shoulders.

Ren Zigui looked at the garment from all angles for a while, then laughed and said, "Perfect! This fits you even better than you made it yourself, so I'll offer it to you as a gift."

Lin Ziqing said, "How could I accept such a gift?"

Ren Zigui said, "Here we go again. It's just a piece of clothing, nothing more. With all my skills, I'm sure I'm doing well to win the Princess's favor. As long as you're willing to work hard, you'll

surely have your day. When you rise to prominence in the future, don't forget to give me a hand." Lin Ziqing said, "How could I? I should always remember my roots. If I ever achieve that, it

will all be thanks to you, brother." Ren Zigui said, "I dare not take credit for this. To be honest, I can only offer my support."

After chatting for a while, Ren Zigui stood up and said, "It's almost time. Let's not keep the Commander waiting." Then, Ren Zigui led Lin Ziqing along the corridor into the West Flower Hall.

This was a spacious, open hall, with painted beams and carved pillars, resplendent in gold and jade, extremely opulent. On either side of the walls, there was a carved round doorway, with purple velvet curtains hanging down. As soon as the two stepped into the hall, a servant came forward and bowed, saying, "The master is already inside. Please, Master Ren, accompany Master Lin inside." Ren Zigui hurriedly led Lin Ziqing straight to the left round doorway, where two maids in green robes lifted the curtains on either side.

Ren Zigui whispered, "Brother, it's your turn to go first this time."

Lin Ziqing strode in and bowed deeply, saying, "Commander-in-Chief, you've been waiting for a long time."

Commander Fu smiled and said, "I've just arrived too. Please have a seat." Lin Ziqing and Ren Zigui sat down to his left.

Commander Fu asked Ren Zigui, "Zigui, when you asked Fu An to invite Commander Qi, did you tell him he was coming for a casual meal?"

Ren Zigui replied, "My subordinate did."

Commander Fu said, "Then he should be here." Just then, a servant's voice came from outside the door: "Reporting to the Commander, Commander Qi has arrived." Commander

Fu looked up and said, "Please come in."

The curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged man in official robes hurried in, bowing to Commander Fu and saying, "This humble servant greets the Commander." This man was about fifty years old, with a refined appearance and high cheekbones; one could tell at a glance he was a man of deep cunning. He was none other than Qi Chengchang, the former owner of Juechen Manor, whose true identity was concurrently the Deputy Commander of Rehe and the Commander of the Imperial Guard Battalion.

Commander Fu only slightly bowed and smiled kindly, "Chengchang, this is the main hall; all formalities are unnecessary. Please sit down." Qi Chengchang responded with a "Yes, sir," and straightened up.

Commander Fu turned around and said, "Zi Gui, you didn't tell him that tonight's meal is just a simple one."

Before Zi Gui could speak, Qi Chengchang respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Commander, Brother Zi Gui sent Fu An to convey the message that it was just a simple meal. I asked Fu An, and he said that it was a welcome dinner for the people from the Fu residence. I dared not be impolite, so I attended the banquet in my official robes."

Commander Fu smiled and said, "That's where you're being clever. I said it was just a simple meal, nothing special. Why make such a fuss? Quickly take off your clothes, and I'll introduce you to them later." Qi Chengchang replied with "Yes," and took off his official hat with both hands, loosened his coat, and a servant took it from him.

Commander Fu pointed at Qi Chengchang and said to Lin Ziqing, "Brother Lin, let me introduce you. This is Commander Qi of the Imperial Guards." He then said to Qi Chengchang, "This Brother Lin is Lin Ziqing. He was sent down by Fu Qiu."

Lin Ziqing and Ren Zigui had already stood up when Qi Chengchang entered. Now, after Commander Fu's introduction, Lin Ziqing immediately clasped his hands and said, "I am Lin Ziqing. Greetings, Commander."

Qi Chengchang quickly returned the greeting, saying, "So it's Brother Lin. I've long admired

you." Commander Fu raised his hand and said, "Please sit down." The three of them declined and sat down in turn.

Commander Fu took two letters from his sleeve and handed them to Qi Chengchang, saying, "Chengchang, one of these letters is from Zhang Bao, specially sent by the Fu family, and the other is written by the Princess herself. Take a look." Qi Chengchang

took them with both hands, pulled out the letters as instructed, read them respectfully, then folded them up again, returned them with both hands, and bowed, saying, "Brother Lin, since you are someone sent by the Fu family, if the Commander-in-Chief has any matters he wishes to handle, please give your instructions."

Commander Fu smiled kindly and said, "You guessed right after all, I think..." "Brother Lin was recommended by the Fu family, but his position is too low. It wouldn't look good for the Princess. It would be more suitable to place him in your Imperial Guard."

Qi Chengchang said, "How could I dare disobey the Commander's orders? I'm just afraid that it would be unfair to Brother Lin..."

Commander Fu stroked his mustache and said, "See if there's a vacancy for a second-in-command in the Imperial Guard. Let him get some experience first, and then you can promote him if the opportunity arises." —The first thing he said was that he wanted a second-in-command, which put Qi Chengchang in a difficult position, but he had no choice but to nod and say "Yes."

Taking the opportunity, Ren Zigui said with a smile, "The Imperial Guard has two battalions and six teams, with only six second-in-commands. Perhaps Commander Qi is facing difficulties. In my opinion, how about transferring one of the second-in-commands to the Commander-in-Chief's office? What does the Commander-in-Chief think?"

Commander-in-Chief Fu nodded and said, "That's fine. Our Third Battalion has a deputy commander vacancy. You can transfer any second-in-command. In fact, transferring a second-in-command to a deputy commander is a promotion."

Qi Chengchang thought for a moment before speaking up, "As the Commander-in-Chief commands, I will obey. Let's transfer Bian Mingqi, the second-in-command of the First Team of the Imperial Guard."

Commander-in-Chief Fu nodded and said, "Good, Zigui. Prepare an official document tomorrow to transfer Bian Mingqi to the Third Battalion." Turning back to Qi Chengchang, he said, "Brother Lin's official document, you will be in charge of issuing it."

Qi Chengchang bowed and replied, "Yes," then turned to Lin Ziqing and said, "Brother Lin can report to the palace tomorrow."

Lin Ziqing said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Commander-in-Chief."

Ren Zigui quickly added, "I'll accompany Brother Lin to report tomorrow morning."

At this moment, a servant asked at the door, "Is the banquet about to begin, sir?"

Ren Zigui waved his hand and said, "Tell them to bring it up."

After a short while, two maids in green robes lifted the curtain and bowed, saying, "Please take your seat, sir."

Commander Fu stood up first and said with a smile, "Let's go out."

Four sets of cups and goblets had already been set out in the main hall: silver candles and gold cups, ivory cups and jade goblets, wine and meat served under vermilion doors—truly a display of extravagance! Although this was a "simple meal," it featured both land and sea delicacies, a feast for the eyes and ears of the guests, ensuring everyone's enjoyment. Early the next morning, Ren Zigui accompanied Lin Ziqing, riding two horses towards the "Summer Palace." The Summer Palace rose against the mountainside, enclosing dozens of miles of land, surrounded by clear water and brick walls. Amidst lush bamboo groves and dense forests, pavilions and terraces, jade towers and jade pavilions, flying eaves and painted beams, showcased the most beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains. The two men and their two horses had just reached the northern city when they could see verdant mountains and lush trees in the distance

. To the south, nestled among the mountains, stood three palace gates in a triangular formation, their grandeur breathtaking. Ren Zigui pointed from horseback and said, "Brother Lin, that's the 'Imperial Palace.' We'll have to dismount a little further." Lin Ziqing didn't ask any more questions and simply nodded.

Soon they arrived at the place where "civil officials dismount from their sedan chairs, military officials dismount from their horses." The two men pulled on their horses' heads, dismounted, and went to a few single-story houses on either side. People had already come out to greet them, bowing and taking their horses. Ren Zigui patted his long robe and turned back, saying, "Brother Lin, let's go." They were still at least half a mile from the palace gate, and along the way, there were guards every five or ten steps, with imperial guards carrying swords at their waists.

Ren Zigui led Lin Ziqing, and before they even got close, they saw a man wearing a pointed hat, a blue robe, and a wide belt standing at the palace gate on their right, carrying a sword. Upon seeing Ren Zigui, the man immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "I am Chu Desheng, and I have been ordered by the commander to wait here for Master Ren and Master Lin."

Ren Zigui quickly smiled and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "I dare not, I dare not, thank you for your trouble, Brother Chu." Lin Ziqing also clasped his hands in greeting.

Chu Desheng bowed and said, "Please, both of you. I will lead the way." He then led the way towards the palace gate.

Ren Zigui raised his hand and said, "Brother, please."

Lin Ziqing said, "Brother, I'm new here, please go first."

Ren Zigui refused, saying, "Brother, this is your first time in office. I'm here with you, so naturally I'll go first." After a brief exchange, Ren Zigui insisted that Lin Ziqing go first. Lin Ziqing couldn't refuse and had to walk ahead before Ren Zigui accompanied him.

Inside the palace gate was a stone-paved square. A short distance away was a small river with three intricately carved stone bridges spanning it. A short distance beyond the bridges was a wide stone staircase, about several dozen steps, upon which stood a magnificent golden palace. The palace doors were tightly closed, and several imperial guards with swords stood guard. Chu Desheng led the two men not towards the stone steps, but instead along a stone path to the left. Ancient trees towered on both sides, casting deep shadows along the path. After walking about half a mile, they had passed the front of the mountain and came to a lawn with a row of five buildings in the middle. Two burly men with swords at their sides stood in front of the gate, dressed the same as Chu Desheng. On both sides, there were two rows of barracks, looking very neat. Lin Ziqing knew that this must be the Imperial Guard Camp.

Chu Desheng led the two men, and just as they reached the steps, Commander Qi Chengchang personally came out to greet them. His thin face was full of smiles as he said, "Master Ren, Brother Lin, please forgive my late arrival."

Ren Zigui smiled and said, "Commander, you are too kind. I came with Brother Lin."

Lin Ziqing stepped forward and said, "I reported my arrival to the Commander."

Qi Chengchang chuckled and said, "Brother Lin, you are too kind. Before the official business is announced, you are my guest. Come, please come in and have a seat." He led the two men into the reception room, where they sat down as host and guest, and a servant brought out fragrant tea.

Qi Chengchang raised his eyes and looked at Ren Zigui, asking, "Master Ren, has the official business at the Governor's Mansion been completed?"

Ren Zigui smiled slightly and said, "Of course I brought it." He then took out an official document from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands.

Qi Chengchang took the document, glanced at it, and loudly called out, "Someone come here!"

A servant waiting outside the hall responded and hurried in, bowing and saying, "Your Excellency is here."

Qi Chengchang said, "Go and invite Pei Fuji, the head foreman of the first team, and Bian Mingqi, the second foreman." The servant replied with a "Yes, sir," and hurried out.

Qi Chengchang also took out an official document from his sleeve and smiled at Lin Ziqing, saying, "Brother Lin, this is your official document. You're new here, so please bear with me for a few days." This was naturally Ren's official order.

Lin Ziqing was filled with gratitude and accepted the gift with both hands in a trembling manner. He stood respectfully and said, "Thank you for your kindness

, Commander. I'm afraid I'm not up to the task." Qi Chengchang smiled and said, "This is the Commander-in-Chief's intention. Besides, how could someone sent by the Fu family be incompetent? Brother, there's no need for thanks. Just do your job well, and if there's an opportunity, I'll recommend you to my superiors."

After the two finished speaking, Ren Zigui immediately cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations, brother, on your appointment."

As soon as he finished speaking, two people entered the hall. The one in front was a short, stout middle-aged man with a round face and thick eyebrows. The one behind him was a man of medium build, about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, who was quite capable. The two stopped abruptly at the door. The short, stout man in front said, "Your subordinates Pei Fuji and Bian Mingqi come in."

Qi Chengchang nodded and said, "Please come in, both of you." These two were, of course, the head and second head of the first squad of the Imperial Guard. Pei Fuji and Bian Mingqi entered the hall one after the other.

Ren Zigui had already stood up, smiling and cupping his hands in greeting, "Brother Pei, Brother Bian, it's been a long time." Lin Ziqing also stood up and nodded in greeting.

Pei Fuji's plump face forced a smile, and he repeatedly cupped his hands in greeting, "Hello, Brother Ren."

Qi Chengchang pointed to Lin Ziqing and said to Pei Fuji, "Fuji, this Brother Lin Ziqing is sent by the Fu family." He then introduced Qi and Bian to Lin Ziqing.

Upon hearing that they were sent by the Fu family, Pei Fuji immediately beamed and said, "I've heard so much about you." Everyone exchanged a few pleasantries.

Qi Chengchang waved his hand and said, "We're all family here, let's sit down and talk." So everyone took their seats.

Qi Chengchang picked up the official documents from the General's Office from the table, turned to Bian Mingqi with a smile, and said, "Congratulations, Brother Bian. This is an official document from the General's Office, promoting you to Deputy Commander of the Third Battalion of the General's Office. The position of Second Foreman here will be taken over by this Brother Lin."

A Second Foreman of a guard battalion being promoted to Deputy Commander of the Third Battalion of the General's Office is, in terms of rank, a promotion. However, the Second Foreman of the guard battalion is always a close advisor to the Emperor; being transferred to the General's Office is considered an external assignment. Bian Mingqi's expression was somewhat strange. He naturally knew that this was because Lin Ziqing was sent by the Emperor's residence, and they wanted to place Lin Ziqing in a position, thus squeezing him out. But it was an order, and he had no choice but to accept it. He accepted the document with both hands, bowed, and said, "Your subordinate obeys. I only wonder when you should report for duty?"

Qi Chengchang said, "Brother Bian, once you have completed the departure procedures for this camp, you can go and take over." The replacement had arrived, so he naturally had to leave as soon as possible.

Bian Mingqi replied, "Your subordinate obeys."

Qi Chengchang chuckled and said, "The Commander-in-Chief's Office and the Imperial Guard are all on our side. I used to serve under the Commander-in-Chief. Brother Bian, working for the Commander-in-Chief is much better than working for me."

Bian Mingqi responded with a "Yes," and said, "I will go and complete the formalities. If the Commander-in-Chief has no further instructions, I will take my leave."

Qi Chengchang nodded and said, "Go and complete the formalities and come back. It's rare for Master Ren to come to the camp. I'll treat everyone to drinks at noon. Firstly, to welcome Brother Lin, and secondly, to bid farewell to Brother Bian. It's a win-win situation, and we can all have a good chat." In official circles, banquets are common, and this custom remains strong to this day.

After Bian Mingqi left, Qi Chengchang turned to Pei Fuji and said, "Fuji, Brother Lin is now in your first team. Accompany him to Chief Steward Xia of the Imperial Household Department to file a record."

Pei Fuji quickly stood up, bowed, and replied, "Yes." He then smiled at Lin Ziqing and said, "Brother Lin, you have official business to attend to. Please come with me."

Lin Ziqing said, "Thank you for your trouble, Chief Steward."

Pei Fuji's round face was full of smiles as he said, "Brother Lin, you don't need to be so polite. From now on, we're family. It's only right." He was trying his best to get close to Lin Ziqing because Lin was a member of the Fu family.

The two parted ways with Qi Chengchang and headed straight for the Imperial Household Department of the Imperial Palace. Chief Eunuch Xia, the head eunuch of the palace, naturally treated Lin Ziqing with special respect upon hearing that he came from the Fu residence. After verifying the official documents of the Imperial Guards, Lin Ziqing filled out a form detailing his place of origin, family history, and the names of three generations of his family, thus completing the formalities and receiving a silver badge as a second-ranking squad

leader. At midday, a banquet was set up in Commander Qi's flower hall. On a round table covered with a large red tablecloth, silver cups were set out, filled with fine wines and beautiful presentation. The host was Commander Qi Chengchang, and there were three guests: the newly appointed second-ranking squad leader of the first squad, Lin Ziqing; the outgoing second-ranking squad leader and newly appointed deputy commander of the third battalion of the Governor's Office, Bian Mingqi; and the chief clerk of the Governor's Office, Ren Zigui.

There were five accompanying guests: Pei Fuji, the head squad leader of the first squad; Huo Rulong, the head squad leader of the second squad; Bu Quansheng, the second squad leader; Fei Shihai, the head squad leader of the third squad; and Jia Changxin, the second squad leader. This banquet was rare in the Imperial Guard Camp. The newly arrived second-in-command was being welcomed by the commander. Of course, besides the welcome, there was also a farewell feast for Bian Mingqi, but Lin Ziqing sat in the head seat, clearly indicating that he was the host. This was understandable; simply put, Lin Ziqing came from the Fu residence, and even the commander-in-chief had hosted a welcome banquet for him last night.

Although these first and second-in-commands were all from the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world), originally martial artists, once they entered officialdom, they were all blinded by greed and ambition. Otherwise, who would be willing to sell themselves and become the Qing court's henchmen? Imagine a Jianghu person, slowly climbing up from a third-class guard to become a first or second-in-command—it would take at least eight to ten years, if not ten. Who wouldn't become increasingly worldly-wise by then? They only needed to listen to the tone of Ren Zigui and Qi Chengchang; even the commander-in-chief was trying to get close to this new "second-in-command," Lin Ziqing. A clever person wouldn't need to overthink it; it would be immediately clear. Commander Fu was from the Fu residence, and as a senior figure, why would he need to curry favor with Lin Ziqing? It must be that there was a powerful figure within the Fu residence supporting Lin Ziqing. Even Commander Fu had to curry favor with this person. Understanding this, which of the head waiters and second-in-commands present wouldn't want to get close to Lin Ziqing?

Lin Ziqing instantly became the object of their eagerness to befriend him. So everyone enthusiastically toasted this newly arrived "second-in-command." Lin Ziqing could tell these were well-intentioned toasts, couldn't he? Every face was filled with joyful smiles. After several rounds of drinks, a servant hurried in and whispered a few words in Qi Chengchang's ear. Qi Chengchang seemed slightly taken aback and asked, "Where is he?"

The servant replied, "He's outside. Without the commander's orders, he dared not enter."

Qi Chengchang waved his hand and said, "Let him in."

The servant bowed and replied, "Yes," before hurrying away. A short while later, the servant led in a man in a blue robe. This man was about fifty years old, with a thin face and a tall stature. As soon as he stepped into the hall, he bowed and said, "This humble servant greets the commander." Lin Ziqing was startled to see the man in the blue robe. He recognized him; he was Gu Hongsheng, one of the eight commanders of the Black Dragon Society.

Qi Chengchang nodded and said, "Brother Gu, there's no need for such formalities. You've come to see me, but has Director Shui given any instructions to send reinforcements?" Lin Ziqing was taken aback again, thinking to himself, "Judging from his tone, Shui Qingying can order the Imperial Guard to send reinforcements. Doesn't that mean Shui Qingying's authority is above Qi Chengchang's? The director of the Black Dragon Society can actually command the Imperial Guard? What exactly is her identity?"

Gu Hongsheng straightened up and respectfully said, "The Black Dragon Society has been defeated by a group of bandits. Leader Han, Hall Master Rao, Hall Master Hao, and Yang Er, the foreman transferred from the Imperial Palace, have all perished." Lin Ziqing sighed inwardly, thinking, "So Yang Zhigao was the second foreman of the Imperial Guard."

"Clang." Qi Chengchang's face turned ashen, and the wine glass in his hand fell to the ground. He hurriedly asked, "Where is Director Shui?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "Director Shui seems to have already left."

Qi Chengchang also regained his composure, as if remembering something. His expression softened slightly, and he continued, "Do you know who these people are, daring to attack the Black Dragon Society so brazenly?"

Gu Hongsheng said, "I only know that they are from the Hundred Flowers Gang. Behind the Hundred Flowers Gang are the two daughters of Tie Zhongfeng, the former leader of the Black Dragon Society. But the most powerful among them is Ling Junyi, the chief protector of the Hundred Flowers Gang. I heard that he is the son of Ling Changfeng and the disciple of the Buddha of Reversal. The Black Dragon Society was almost destroyed by him alone."

Qi Chengchang's expression changed slightly, and he said angrily, "It's that brat surnamed Ling again."

Gu Hongsheng quickly took out a thick stack of papers from his pocket, presented them with both hands, and said, "This is my report. I have written down the details here." A long attendant took the papers from Gu Hongsheng and handed them to Qi Chengchang.

Qi Chengchang waved his hand and said, "Take this to the study." The attendant replied with a "Yes, sir," and withdrew with the stack of reports.

Qi Chengchang nodded to Gu Hongsheng and said, "Very good, Brother Gu, please rest outside first. Stay in the camp for now. I will consult with the Water Supervisor before making further arrangements."

Gu Hongsheng repeatedly replied, "Yes, sir," then looked at Qi Chengchang and said, "Commander, I have another confidential document."

Qi Chengchang said, "Everyone here is from our camp. What confidential information do you have? Speak freely."

Gu Hongsheng replied, "Yes, sir," and then said, "When I left the pass, I discovered two suspicious groups of people on the road, who looked very much like the Hundred Flowers Gang. They were also heading towards Rehe."

Qi Chengchang asked, "How many were there?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "Number of people..." "There aren't many of them. Perhaps they dispersed to avoid attracting attention."

Qi Chengchang's face, usually covered in tumors, suddenly flashed with murderous intent. He coldly laughed and said, "They actually dared to come to Rehe. Heh heh, they're clearly here for me." He waved his hand and said, "Very good, you can go now." Then he said "Oh," and asked, "Where did you stay last night?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "This humble servant stayed at Longji Inn."

Qi Chengchang said, "Then you should go back to the alley where the inn is located and keep watch for me. I will send someone to contact you."

Gu Hongsheng said, "This humble servant obeys." He bowed and then withdrew. After the banquet ended, Ren Zigui and Bian Mingqi took their leave one after another. Qi Chengchang, Pei Fuji, and others saw them off all the way to the camp gate.

Qi Chengchang smiled at Lin Ziqing and said, "Brother Lin, please see Master Ren off for me. You can come to my study later." Lin Ziqing readily agreed and saw him off all the way out of the palace.

Ren Zigui stopped him, saying, "Brother Lin, there's no need to see you off any further. It's your first day at the palace, and the commander may have some instructions. You should go back. We're old brothers; I'll come to see you when I have time."

Lin Ziqing was deeply grateful and said, "I'm honored by your kindness, brother. I hope you'll continue to guide me in the future."

Ren Zigui laughed, "Of course! Go back now, brother."

Lin Ziqing thanked him repeatedly before taking his leave and returning to the guard camp. He had no idea where Qi Chengchang's study was. Just as he was hesitating, one of Qi Chenglu's attendants came out to greet him, bowing and saying, "The commander is in the study. Second Foreman Lin, please follow me."

Lin Ziqing clasped his hands and said, "Then I'll trouble you, brother."

The attendant quickly said, "Second Foreman, please don't address me like that. My name is Qi Lu. You can call me by my name from now on." With that, he led Lin Ziqing toward the study.

The study, which also served as Qi Benchang's office, was located at the west end of the flower hall. Passing through a long corridor, there was a small courtyard with a flower trellis, and several potted plants in front, creating a serene atmosphere. The main hall of the study served as a living room, exquisitely furnished with carved rosewood furniture, giving it an antique and elegant feel. The study itself was in the east wing, with bookshelves on all four walls displaying numerous ancient books, and a large rosewood desk in the center. Qi Benchang sat behind the desk in a high-backed chair embroidered with an embroidered robe, currently reading Gu Hongsheng's "report." Behind him, on the wall, hung a three-foot-long ancient sword, clearly no ordinary weapon. Qi Benchang was the adopted son of the old man of Huangshan's One Sword Stone Garden, so his swordsmanship was undoubtedly highly skilled. Pei Fuji, the head foreman of the first team, sat in a chair by the window; the room was completely silent.

As Chang Sui Qi Lu approached the door of the side room, he stopped and bowed, saying, "Reporting to the commander, Lin Er, the foreman, has arrived."

Qi Chengchang raised his eyes and said, "Come in.

" Lin Ziqing bowed and said, "Your subordinate reports for duty." He then stepped into the study.

Qi Chengchang raised his hand and said, "Brother Lin, please sit."

Lin Ziqing hesitated for a moment and said, "In the Commander's study, your subordinate..."

Pei Fuji interrupted him before he could finish, saying, "Brother Lin, the Commander is never pretentious with his subordinates. He told you to sit, so please sit down. Don't be so formal."

Qi Chengchang smiled and said, "Sit, sit. It's better if Brother Lin sits down so we can talk." Lin Ziqing took his seat and sat down to Pei Fuji's left.

Qi Chengchang's gaze swept over Lin Ziqing, and he slowly said, "Brother has a question for you, Brother Lin..."

Lin Ziqing's heart skipped a beat, and he bowed, saying, "What does the Commander wish to ask me?"

Qi Chengchang said, "Brother Lin was specially recommended to the Commander-in-Chief by the Fu family, so your martial arts skills are naturally exceptional. However, the Commander-in-Chief commands a military camp, which is slightly different from our Imperial Guard. Therefore, I would like to ask about your school of martial arts and what style you practice."

Lin Ziqing replied, "Reporting to the Commander, I do not belong to any school. My late father was also a bodyguard in his younger days, and he was a bodyguard under the Zhenyuan Bureau's Lin Lao Biao... " "We're sworn brothers. I only know a little bit of farming skills, which I learned from my late father. I can also handle a little swordsmanship."

Qi Chengchang smiled slightly and said, "Tiger Whip and Dragon Claw, Old Escort Lin, is famous throughout Guandong. Your father and Old Escort Lin were sworn brothers, so he's naturally a very famous figure in the martial arts world."

Lin Ziqing said shyly, "My father and Old Escort Lin became sworn brothers when we were young. After my father and mother got married, my mother wouldn't let my father travel around the martial arts world anymore. She said that the bodyguard industry is dangerous and the income isn't high, but the risks are considerable. It's better to do something more stable." "Business is good. Therefore, my late father abandoned escorting and went into business, and he and Old Escort Lin had almost no contact for twenty years..."

Qi Chengchang seemed uninterested in his family background and interrupted, "Brother Lin, have you ever practiced lightness skills?"

Lin Ziqing replied, "When my late father was alive, he taught me internal energy and lightness skills. I can probably reach a height of three to five zhang."

Qi Chengchang nodded and said, "That's good. Fuji, why don't you try him out?"

Pei Fuji responded with "Yes," stood up, and said with a smile, "Brother Lin, the commander has a very important official matter to entrust to you, but the other party..." "It's a tough spot. I'm afraid that if Brother Lin were to slip up, it would be difficult to explain to the Commander-in-Chief. That's why I specially invited Brother Lin to the study to get a feel for his skills..."

Lin Ziqing said, "Whatever the Commander-in-Chief asks of me, I will go through fire and water

without hesitation." Pei Fuji said, "The Commander-in-Chief wants me to spar with Brother Lin. Brother Lin, don't be shy or hold back. Just go for it. We'll stop short of a fight, one move is the limit." Saying this, he continued, "Brother Lin, be careful, I'm about to make my move." As soon as he finished speaking, his right hand spread out five fingers and grabbed at Lin Ziqing's shoulder.

This move was the "Great Grappling Technique." It looked slow, but in reality, his five fingers were like steel, and the changes in his finger shadows almost covered the upper left half of his body. This first team leader was indeed skilled. Just from this one move, one could see that his finger strength was steady and his skills were extraordinary. Lin Ziqing smiled faintly and said, "Then I will be presumptuous." As he spoke, he remained standing still, neither dodging nor flinching.

Just as Pei Fuji's palm was about to land on his shoulder, Lin Ziqing suddenly turned to the left, his left hand's five fingers pointing straight outwards, the fingertips sweeping towards Pei Fuji's wrist. This was an extremely ordinary freehand move, "Pushing the Window to Look at the Mountain," a straightforward and unassuming defensive technique, lacking any extraordinary features, yet incredibly subtle. It seemed that within that ordinary technique lay an extremely magical move, especially with the swift, swift wind of his fingers already slicing across Pei Fuji's wrist.

Pei Fuji's wrist was still about a foot away from the outstretched fingers, and he felt as if he had been struck by an iron ruler, experiencing a sudden pain and numbness. Startled, Pei Fuji quickly withdrew his hand, took a step back, and stared at Lin Ziqing with shining eyes, exclaiming in surprise, "Brother Lin is indeed brilliant!"

Lin Ziqing had already lowered his hand and said, "Thank you for your mercy, Chief Foreman."

Pei Fuji laughed and said, "The Commander is an expert and naturally saw through it. Brother Lin's flick was a sign of mercy; otherwise, my hand would have been crippled."

Qi Chengchang was quite pleased and nodded, saying, "Alright, with just this one move, Brother Lin can handle any task."

Lin Ziqing said, "Commander is too kind. I would like to ask if the Chief Foreman is skilled in hidden weapons?"

Pei Fuji quickly shook his head and said, "What? Brother Lin wants to compare hidden weapons with me? Forget it, I've already made a fool of myself once. How could Brother Lin make me look bad again?"

Lin Ziqing said, "Chief Foreman, you're too kind. I didn't mean that. It's just that the Commander inquired about my lightness skill just now, and I wanted to try it out myself. "

Pei Fuji asked, "Brother Lin, what do you need the hidden weapon for?" Lin

Ziqing smiled and said, "If the chief has any hidden weapons, you can try them out."

Qi Chengchang also seemed quite interested and nodded to Pei Fuji, saying, "Fuji, you should let him try."

Pei Fuji laughed and said, "Commander, this is a military order, and I have no choice but to obey. I'm sure I'll embarrass myself again this time." As he spoke, he reached into his pocket and pulled out three small arrows, each about three inches long, and asked Lin Ziqing, "Brother Lin, how do you want to test it?"

Lin Ziqing smiled and said, "One is enough." He pointed out the window and said, "This is the smallest arrow to throw, probably launched with finger strength, right? Then please, chief, throw it out the window with all your might."

Pei Fuji casually picked up one of the small arrows, held it in his palm, and laughed, "What do you want me to shoot?"

Lin Ziqing said, "Anything is fine, chief, shoot it horizontally or into the air."

Pei Fuji said, "Alright." With a flick of his right hand, the small arrow shot out the window.

Just then, Lin Ziqing, standing beside Pei Fuji, suddenly leaped out of the window like lightning, chasing after the small arrow like a shooting star. His movements were truly swift as the wind, faster than lightning. Neither Qi Chengchang nor Pei Fuji expected that Lin Ziqing's purpose in having Pei Fuji shoot the hidden weapon was to chase after it. In the martial arts world, only demonstrations of catching hidden weapons require two people face-to-face to catch them. Lin Ziqing only chased after the weapon after it was launched; and having caught it, he naturally had to catch it. Lin Ziqing wouldn't have created such a difficult situation for himself if he wasn't absolutely certain.

The two were of the same mind, and upon realizing this, they looked intently. It happened in the blink of an eye; before they could even see clearly, a gentle breeze swept past, and Lin Ziqing had already entered through the window and landed in front of them. He held a small arrow between two fingers of his right hand, smiled, and bowed slightly

, saying, "I've made a fool of myself before the Commander and the Chief Squad Leader." A strange light flashed in Qi Chengchang's eyes, and he laughed heartily, "No wonder the Princess values you so much! Haha, Brother Lin, your skills are unmatched, not only in our Imperial Guard Battalion, but even within the Imperial Palace, you're among the best."

Pei Fuji's eyes widened further, and he laughed, "With Brother Lin's skills, I should switch places with you. You should be the Chief Squad Leader, and I'll be your Second Chief Squad Leader. I'm afraid I'm not even qualified."

Lin Ziqing said in a flustered voice, "If the Chief Squad Leader says so, I dare not accept."

Pei Fuji said, "Brother, you're telling the truth. In less than ten years, Brother Lin will definitely rise to prominence and achieve great success..." These words, spoken in front of Commander Qi, were somewhat excessive.

Although Qi Chengchang had a smile on his face, it was somewhat forced. He waved his hand and said, "Come, let's sit down and talk." He then returned to his high-backed chair and sat down. Pei Fuji and Lin Ziqing followed suit. Qi Chengchang faced Lin Ziqing and slowly said, "You've already met that man named Gu Hongsheng. He was the official in charge of the Black Dragon Society. A few days ago, the Black Dragon Society was destroyed by a group of weaklings from the Hundred Flowers Gang..."

"The Black Dragon Society?" Lin Ziqing pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "I think I've heard of it, but how could I not have heard of the Hundred Flowers Gang?"

Qi Chengchang smiled slightly and said, "This is a secret organization that has never made a public appearance in the martial arts world, so naturally you wouldn't know. Well then..." He picked up the stack of "reports" on the table, handed them over casually, and continued, "This is Gu Hongsheng's report. You should read it carefully, and you'll understand. According to Gu Hongsheng, the bandits of the Hundred Flowers Gang seem to have infiltrated Rehe, their intentions unclear. I've already asked Gu Hongsheng to return to Longji Inn to secretly investigate their whereabouts. You're new here, so of course they don't know you. That's why I've entrusted this task entirely to you..."

Lin Ziqing said, "I am deeply grateful for the Commander's kindness. I will do my utmost to complete the tasks assigned to me by the Commander." "

Qi Chengchang smiled and said, "Brother Lin's task is to remain at the Dongsheng Inn for now, secretly contact Gu Hongsheng, and if you discover any suspicious individuals, Gu Hongsheng cannot meet with them. You will then secretly investigate their movements and maintain close contact with Fu Ji. However, there is one thing Brother Lin must pay special attention to: before obtaining solid evidence, do not be greedy or impatient, and do not alert the enemy."

Lin Ziqing nodded and said, "I understand."

Qi Chengchang said, "Good, once you have read the report, you can leave. Unless there is a special emergency, do not frequently return to the palace, lest your identity be revealed." Lin Ziqing responded with "Yes."

Qi Chengchang turned around and said to Pei Fuji, "This matter is entirely handled by your First Team. Also, after you leave here, take Brother Lin to your team so that the brothers can meet the Second Foreman and let Brother Lin get to know the brothers in the team. Outside the palace, if anything happens, they must obey Brother Lin's command."

Pei Fuji bowed and said, "No need for the Commander to give instructions, I will take care of them myself." While they were talking, Lin Ziqing had carefully read Gu Hongsheng's "report." His account of the Black Dragon Society's defeat was roughly the same as the truth, except that he especially praised himself, how he was captured after being drugged with incense, how he remained unyielding in the face of danger, and how he later escaped, etc.

Lin Ziqing couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "If a person's mind is filled with thoughts of promotion and wealth, blinded by greed, they will never realize their mistakes until death." He closed the "report," respectfully returned it to the desk, and said, "Reporting to the commander, I have finished reading it."

Qi Chengchang nodded and said, "Gu Hongsheng described the appearance and characteristics of these bandits very clearly in his report. This will be of great help to your investigation of this case. Have you remembered them all?"

Lin Ziqing said, "I have noted down the most important people."

Qi Chengchang said, "Very good, you can go now."

Pei Fuji and Lin Ziqing bowed and withdrew together. Pei Fuji led him down the stone steps and headed towards a row of barracks on the east side. They entered a spacious hall. Although the furnishings were simpler than Qi Chengchang's study, they were still quite grand and clean. After all, this was a "temporary palace," and it retained a touch of official atmosphere. Pei Fuji pointed to a long table on the right and said with a smile, "This is where Brother Lin and I conduct business. This long table is Brother Lin's seat." As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately shouted, "Someone!"

A servant rushed in and bowed, saying, "Yes, sir."

Pei Fuji instructed, "Go and tell the brothers of the third squad to assemble in the dining hall immediately." The servant replied with a "Yes, sir," and quickly withdrew.

Pei Fuji turned back and smiled, "Brother Lin, please sit down. We can go after they've assembled."

The two sat for a short while, and the servant reported from the doorway, "Reporting to the head foreman, the brothers of the third squad have assembled."

"Good." Pei Fuji stood up abruptly and turned back, saying, "Brother Lin, let's go."

Lin Ziqing followed him out of the hall and turned into the dining hall through the corridor. It was a rectangular hall, and the brothers of the third squad in the first group were already lined up in three rows. In front of each squad stood a man with a bronze badge at his waist, who was undoubtedly the foreman. Pei Fuji reached the door, exchanged slight deferrals with Lin Ziqing, and said, "Brother Lin, please."

Lin Ziqing replied, "I dare not, naturally the head foreman will go first." Pei Fuji said no more and stepped into the hall first. Lin Ziqing followed behind him into the dining hall.

At the door, the brothers on guard shouted, "Stand at attention!" All the brothers immediately stood up straight.

Pei Fuji and Lin Ziqing walked to the middle of the head table, nodded to everyone, then coughed to clear his throat and said, "Brothers, you probably already know that Bian Mingqi, the second foreman of our first squad, has been transferred to the position of deputy commander of the third battalion of the governor's office. The position of second foreman here has been taken over by Brother Lin Ziqing. Now, let me introduce Brother Lin, who has taken office as the second foreman, to everyone."

The brothers of the third squad had already heard that this second foreman was sent by the Fu family, and even the governor and the commander looked at him with special regard, but they did not expect him to be so young. As soon as Pei Fuji finished speaking, everyone applauded enthusiastically to express their welcome. After the applause subsided, Pei Fuji introduced the three squad leaders to Lin Ziqing: the first squad leader, Wu Congyi, was around twenty years old, pale-faced and thin, resembling a frail scholar. The second squad leader, Gao Xiangsheng, also had a thin face and medium build, but looked somewhat aged, already in his fifties. The third squad leader, Zhang Yumin, was slightly overweight and around forty years old. Lin Ziqing could naturally tell that these three leaders had sharp eyes and were skilled in martial arts, far from being ordinary fighters. He immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute to them.

Pei Fuji continued, "Brother Lin is currently on a very important mission and will not be staying in the camp for the time being. I will send someone to maintain contact with you. Just now, the commander specifically instructed me to tell you that all brothers in our first squad, if you are outside, must obey the command of the second squad leader. Any disobedience will be severely punished according to military law." The three squad brothers immediately responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Pei Fuji nodded, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, everything's fine now. Everyone disperse. Wu Congyi, you stay." The three squads of brothers bowed and withdrew.

Only Wu Congyi, the leader of the first squad, remained. He bowed and asked, "What are your orders, Chief Squad Leader?"

Pei Fuji said, "Brother Lin is staying at the Dongsheng Inn. I'm assigning you to maintain a close relationship with him. If Brother Lin gives any instructions, be sure to follow them promptly."

Wu Congyi said, "Understood." He turned and bowed to Lin Ziqing, asking, "Does Second Squad Leader have any instructions?"

Lin Ziqing smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare. It would be best if Chief Squad Leader Wu visited my room every night after dinner to keep in touch. In case of any special circumstances, we can discuss them together. What do you think, Brother Wu?"

Wu Congyi quickly replied, "Second Squad Leader, you've thought of everything. I obey."

Lin Ziqing smiled and said, "Once Brother Wu leaves the palace, you can no longer address me as Second Squad Leader. We'll address each other as brothers. You mustn't overlook this."

Wu Congyi bowed. Lin Ziqing replied, "Your subordinate obeys."

Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Ziqing cupped his hands towards Pei Fuji and said, "Chief Steward, it's getting late, I should take my leave."

Pei Fuji nodded and said, "Alright, but there's one thing, Brother Lin, you should pay special attention. You want Wu Congyi to address you as a brother, but you yourself keep calling me 'Chief Steward,' it sounds so awkward to me. From today onwards, unless you, Brother Lin, don't want to be brothers with me, we'll address each other as brothers. What do you think, Brother Lin?"

Lin Ziqing said, "Brother Pei is too kind, I dare not disobey, but..."

Pei Fuji laughed loudly, "Don't say 'but,' go quickly."

Lin Ziqing bid farewell to Pei Fuji, and Wu Congyi saw him off all the way to the palace gate, accompanying Lin Ziqing to the stables. Horse handlers had already brought out horses to serve him, and even after Lin Ziqing mounted, Wu Congyi stood respectfully to see him off. Lin Ziqing said, "Brother Wu, please go back," and then spurred his horse, the blue mane clattering as it galloped away.

Lin Ziqing returned to Dongsheng Inn in the evening. The waiter waiting at the inn's entrance, upon seeing Lin Ziqing, hurriedly stopped his horse, bowing and smiling obsequiously, "Master Lin, you're back!"

Lin Ziqing nodded, dismounted, and asked, "Are there any rooms available?"

The shop assistant smiled obsequiously, "Master Lin, please ask at the counter. I'm serving guests at the front and don't know the details." Lin Ziqing entered the shop, and the manager and accountant immediately greeted him.

Lin Ziqing asked again, "Manager, are there any rooms available in the superior section?"

The accountant smiled obsequiously, "I didn't know Master Lin was a distinguished guest of the Commander-in-Chief's Mansion. I apologize for any inconvenience. The bill for Master Lin's stay a few days ago has already been settled by the Commander-in-Chief's Mansion. If Master Lin wishes to stay, we have five VIP rooms in the back. There are still rooms available. Please take a look and see if they suit your needs." He then gestured to the shop assistant to accompany Lin Ziqing to the back.

Lin Ziqing followed the shop assistant into the third courtyard, which was a self-contained residence. The courtyard was lush with flowers and trees, and there was also a small artificial hill. Facing him was a large, elegantly furnished living room, with four spacious guest rooms on either side. All the furnishings were very luxurious, making it even more noble and exquisite than the superior rooms at the front. The waiter opened the door to a room on the left, letting Lin Ziqing enter before taking his leave. A maid in green then brought him water and brewed fragrant tea. It turned out that even the servants in this VIP room were young and beautiful girls, providing attentive service—a stark contrast to the earlier rooms. Lin Ziqing, preoccupied with his thoughts, picked up his teacup and sat down on a carved wooden chair by the window, slowly sipping his tea. He seemed oblivious to the gradual dimming of the room.

The door opened, and the maid in green, carrying a silver lamp, gracefully entered. She smiled and asked, "Would Master Lin like to dine in the room, or perhaps in the front?"

Lin Ziqing gave an "Oh," slowly stood up, and said, "I'd rather dine in the front. It'll be more comfortable, much more lively than drinking alone in the room."

The maid smiled brightly and said, "You're right, Master." She bowed and quietly withdrew.

Lin Ziqing casually put down his teacup, stepped out of the room, and saw that the three side rooms on the right side of the courtyard were dimly lit. A woman in green, carrying a silver tray, turned the corridor and led the curtain inside. Needless to say, the guests in those rooms were having a meal. Lin Ziqing remembered that this third courtyard was the "VIP room" of the Dongsheng Inn. If Ren Zigui hadn't personally come to pick him up yesterday, and the three-day inn bill hadn't been paid by the Governor's Office, the accountant here would never have led him to the "VIP room." Also, the guest in the right-hand room was probably a female relative passing by, so he didn't want to look at her too much and continued out.

Dongsheng Restaurant was the premier restaurant in Rehe City. At this time, the lanterns were just being lit, and the five halls upstairs and downstairs were about 80-90% full. Lin Ziqing stepped upstairs, and a waiter greeted him with a smile; "Are you alone, sir? Please follow me." He then led the way. At this time, the patrons were noisy and chaotic, and finding a seat was indeed not easy.

The waiter led Lin Ziqing to a table near the street, pulled out a stool, and said with a forced smile, "Please sit here, sir. We're quite busy right now, so please bear with us."

Two men who looked like merchants were already at the table, drinking and discussing business. They didn't look at Lin Ziqing, and Lin Ziqing ignored them, sitting down at the side of the table. Just as he sat down, his gaze shifted, and he noticed three people sitting in a triangular formation at a table to his right. One was an elderly woman with gray hair, appearing to be over sixty; another was a young woman in her late twenties or early thirties; judging from their clothing, they seemed to be a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law from a middle-class family. The third was an old servant, with a sallow complexion, who, despite sitting at the same table as his master, appeared extremely reserved. Lin Ziqing almost cried out upon seeing the three. Weren't they his mother, Mudan, and Ding Qiao? Even though they were disguised, Lin Ziqing recognized them immediately. Had his mother also come to Rehe?

A waiter, attending to Lin Ziqing, asked, "What kind of food and drinks would you like, sir?"

Lin Ziqing casually replied, "Go to the kitchen and ask them to prepare a few of their specialties to go with the drinks, and heat up a pot of wine." This was the tone of a regular customer, and the waiter obediently agreed and withdrew.

Lin Ziqing picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then used telepathy to speak to the old woman, "Mother, have you all arrived?" The old woman was none other than Madam Tie. Upon hearing Ling Junyi's voice, she was slightly startled and quickly glanced around, spotting Lin Ziqing.

She was eating with her head down, so she didn't need to worry about others seeing her lips moving. She also used telepathy to say, "Yi'er, have you found Qi Chengchang? Master Wen and Master Zhu are worried, so they've split into two groups and are coming."

Lin Ziqing's heart skipped a beat. Gu Hongsheng had mentioned encountering several groups of bandits on the road; it was undoubtedly his mother, Master Wen, and Master Zhu's group. Fortunately, Qi Chengchang entrusted this matter to him for investigation; otherwise, there would surely have been a slip-up. Holding a teacup, he secretly used "telepathic communication" to inadvertently rescue Fu Gefei at Gubeikou. Who knew that this noble young master was actually a princess disguised as a traveler? He briefly recounted how he had tried his best to recommend him to Commander Fu and how he had been assigned to serve in the Imperial Guard. Madam Tie pondered for a moment and said, "Yi'er, don't you think it's too easy for you? Could it be a trap they deliberately set for you to walk into?" Lin Ziqing

said, "Mother, please rest assured, that's unlikely. I won't fall for their tricks easily."

Madam Tie said, "This is their territory; you should be careful in everything you do."

Peony was sitting next to Madam Tie and naturally noticed that Madam Tie was acting strangely. She couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Mother-in-law, do you think the rice is too hard?" They were pretending to be mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, so they naturally had to call her "Mother-in-law," but in reality, they were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. When she first called her "Grandma," her cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment, but she had gotten used to it over the past few days.

Madam Tie, with a kind expression, spoke a few words to her in a low voice. Peony couldn't help but lower her head, glancing sideways at Lin Ziqing, but quickly looked away. Lin Ziqing then used "telepathic communication" to tell the old woman that Gu Hongsheng had also arrived in Rehe to inform Qi Chengchang, and that he himself had been assigned to investigate the case. He advised his mother to quickly contact the Wen and Zhu families and leave Rehe as soon as possible to avoid hindering his actions. Otherwise, he advised against staying at an inn and to stay in a private home.

Madam Tie said, "In that case, let's move outside the city tomorrow. I haven't contacted the Wen and Zhu families yet and don't know where they are staying. But that's alright; as long as I leave a secret mark, they will find me."

Lin Ziqing said, "That's good." Just then, the innkeeper brought in wine and dishes.

Madam Tie and Mudan had finished their meal and stood up. Old servant Ding Qiao took out some loose silver, paid the bill, and followed them away. Zhuang Dan glanced back at Lin Ziqing before they went downstairs together. After watching his mother and the other two leave, Lin Ziqing ate his own food and drink and went downstairs to pay.

At this time, the narrow alleyway of the inn was bustling with activity, the night market teeming with people. Lin Ziqing left the Dongsheng Restaurant and headed towards the Longji Inn at the end of the alley. The Longji Inn had only two storefronts and was located at the end of the alley. It was just a third-rate inn, and naturally, it wasn't high-class for someone to stay there. There were at least seven or eight inns in the alley, but Gu Hongsheng had chosen this one specifically to avoid attracting attention.

As Lin Ziqing approached the entrance, the inn's waiter immediately came forward, bowing and scraping, saying, "Sir, would you like a room? Our best rooms are elegant and quiet..."

Lin Ziqing replied, "I'm here to see a friend."

Hearing that he wasn't looking for a room, the waiter's smile faded somewhat, but because Lin Ziqing was well-dressed, he didn't dare to be negligent and asked, "Who are you looking for, sir?"

Lin Ziqing said, "Do you have a gentleman surnamed Gu in your best room?"

Hearing that he was looking for Master Gu in the best room, the waiter's smile vanished, but he quickly regained it, saying with a fawning smile, "Yes, yes, sir, you're a friend of Master Gu! Please, please, let me show you the way." He then led him inside. Upon entering the second-class room, the waiter rushed to the door, knocked twice, and called out, "Master Gu, a friend has come to see you."

"Who is it?" The door opened with a creak, and Gu Hongsheng, seeing Lin Ziqing, was momentarily stunned. He quickly cupped his hands and said, "It's the second..."

Lin Ziqing immediately stepped forward, smiling, and said, "Brother Lin Ziqing, Brother Gu, you didn't expect this, did you?" As he spoke, he secretly gave him a wink, signaling him not to reveal his identity while in the inn.

Gu Hongsheng, a seasoned veteran of the underworld, immediately understood. He chuckled and said, "I never expected it to be Brother Lin! Please come in and have a seat. Haha, this is what you call meeting an old friend in a foreign land." He grasped Lin Ziqing's right hand, shook it, and stepped aside to let the guest in, while instructing the waiter, "Waiter, quickly brew a pot of the finest tea." The waiter responded with a "Yes, sir," and left.

Gu Hongsheng casually closed the door, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "This humble servant was unaware of the arrival of the Second Steward. I apologize for my lack of hospitality."

Lin Ziqing waved his hand and smiled arrogantly, "Brother Gu, what place is this? We should address each other as brothers."

Gu Hongsheng said, "I dare not... yes... yes... Brother Lin, please sit down." Lin Ziqing did not stand on ceremony and sat down opposite him. The waiter had already brewed a pot of fragrant tea and served it, then immediately left.

Gu Hongsheng took the teapot, poured a cup of tea for Lin Ziqing, and presented it to him, saying obsequiously, "Brother Lin, please have some tea."

"Thank you," Lin Ziqing said only two words before gesturing with his chin and slowly saying, "Brother Gu's report, I have already read it." Gu Hongsheng's report was for Commander Qi, and his statement that he had read it indicated that he was a favorite of Commander Qi.

Gu Hongsheng had long heard from Qi Lu that this newly appointed second foreman was sent by the Fu family and had considerable influence, so he quickly bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes," before asking, "What instructions does Brother Lin have?"

Lin Ziqing smiled calmly, then suddenly lowered his voice and said, "The Commander has entrusted this case to me, and I have a few things I would like to ask Brother Gu for advice on."

"I wouldn't presume to ask," Gu Hongsheng said. "Brother Lin, if there's anything I know, I'll report it to you in person."

Lin Ziqing smiled and said, "Brother Gu, we're all on the same side, no need for formalities. What I want to ask is that you mentioned to the commander that you encountered several groups of bandits from the Hundred Flowers Gang on the road. Where did you encounter them? How many groups were there? And who were they?"

Gu Hongsheng said, "On the second day after I left the pass, near Jingou Village, I met an old woman and three girls. I didn't recognize the old woman, but the three..." "These girls, I recognize them, brother."

Lin Ziqing asked, "Who are they?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "Brother Lin, you've read my official gazette, so you'll naturally remember. Rong Jingzong and Ling Junyi rescued two men and three women from Qinglongtan. The three girls I met were rescued from Qinglongtan. I think one is surnamed Tang, one Zhu, and one Fang."

Lin Ziqing's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself, "The old man he's talking about, that must be Zhu Wenhua." He then smiled slightly and said, "Then they might not have come to Rehe. Oh, have they seen Brother Gu?"

“No,” Gu Hongsheng continued, “When I saw them, they had already stopped for lunch and mounted their horses. I was afraid they would recognize me, so I didn’t follow them and rested at Jingou Village. Around dusk, I spotted another group of people.”

Lin Ziqing asked, “Who were they?”

Gu Hongsheng replied, “They were two thin old men with a young girl. The three of them were riding in a mule cart and also spent the night at Jingou Village. I know that girl; her name is Wen Wanjun. She’s from the Wen family of Lingnan and is skilled at using sleeping potions. I was drugged by her.” "He was just captured."

Lin Ziqing asked, "Brother Gu, did you encounter anyone else afterward?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "No, because I arrived in Rehe the next day."

Lin Ziqing smiled slightly and said, "Brother Gu only saw a few girls on the road, how do you know they came to Rehe? Besides, a few young girls can't do anything."

Gu Hongsheng affirmed, "Yes, they came to Rehe. Although I only encountered these two groups, I guess that if these girls came, Ling Junyi must have come too. That Ling is the disciple of the Buddha of Reversed Hands." "He's highly skilled in martial arts and a very formidable opponent,"

Lin Ziqing said. "The Hundred Flowers Gang and the Black Dragon Society have a grudge, which is a matter of revenge in the martial world, but they have no reason to come to Rehe."

Gu Hongsheng glanced at Lin Ziqing, hesitated, but finally said, "Brother Lin may not know, but their purpose in coming to Rehe might be to seek revenge on the commander."

Lin Ziqing said in surprise, "These martial arts bandits actually dare to seek revenge on the commander. Ah, what grudge do they have against the commander?"

Gu Hongsheng said, "Brother Lin, you don't know, but back then the Black Dragon Society, the original..." It was a rebellious organization advocating the restoration of the Ming dynasty. A group of imperial guards had been operating near the Black Dragon Society. At that time, Commander Qi was already a third-rank imperial guard. He was ordered to investigate the case and persuaded his brothers to surrender to the court, thus dismantling the Black Dragon Society. Later, the court officially appointed Commander Qi as the supervisor of the Black Dragon Society, and his brothers were also promoted to captain.

Lin Ziqing thought to himself, "So you were involved in betraying the Black Dragon Society back then. You deserve to die." But he deliberately pretended to be slightly taken aback, clasped his hands, and said, "So Brother Gu has been following you for twenty years. I have been very disrespectful."

"How dare I?" A hint of smugness flashed across Gu Hongsheng's face as he humbly replied, "Brother Lin, consider this: the Hundred Flowers Gang's leader is the daughter of the Iron Elder. After destroying the Black Dragon Society, would she let Commander Wei go?"

Lin Ziqing scoffed, "Do they still dare to rebel in Rehe?" This trip was originally just routine for him. Since Qi Chengchang had sent him to investigate the "bandits," he naturally had to contact Gu Hongsheng first and also have Gu Hongsheng confirm his whereabouts tonight. However, this conversation with Gu Hongsheng yielded two valuable pieces of information: First, Gu Hongsheng was one of the few ruthless traitors who surrendered to the Qing court and betrayed the Black Dragon Society back then. It's likely that Emperor Rongjing was unaware of the details, which is why he let him go. Second, Gu Hongsheng only encountered Zhu Wenhua and Wen Yifeng's groups in Jingoutun, and didn't have detailed information about their whereabouts.

After a brief conversation, Lin Ziqing stood up and said, "It's getting late, brother, I should take my leave. To avoid attracting attention, I'll stay at the back of the Dongsheng Inn. This case will be handled by you and Brother Gu. If Brother Gu discovers anything, please contact me secretly."

"Is that even a question?" Gu Hongsheng stood up as well, looking terrified. "Brother Lin is the commander's man and my superior. I will obey your orders without question." Lin Ziqing walked to the door, and Gu Hongsheng tried to see him off.

Lin Ziqing said, "Brother Gu, please stay. Let's not reveal our identities." With that, he casually closed the door behind him and strode out.

Back at the inn, the first watch of the night had passed. Lin Ziqing extinguished the lamps, quickly took off his robe, wiped the disguise from his face, turned and darted to the back window. He gently pushed open the window, slipped out, and closed the window behind him. Then, he leaped up, employing the "Heavenly Dragon Wind-Riding Technique," moving like a wisp of smoke, gliding through houses and over ridges, flying northward. In no time, the towering walls of the "Summer Palace" came into view.

Lin Ziqing quietly landed in the shadows, using the darkness of the houses to avoid facing him directly. He moved to a secluded spot, and seeing no one around, used his lightning-fast movements to reach the base of the wall. He gathered his inner energy and silently ascended the wall. He knew the direction of the palace guard camp by heart; a quick glance revealed a wide stone path leading to it, flanked by ancient trees—the perfect hiding place. However, it was at least ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) from the palace wall, separated by a moat several zhang (approximately 33 meters) wide.

Without time to think, his gaze shifted, and with a quick push from the top of the wall, he soared down like a swallow skimming the water, instantly crossing the moat. With a flick of his toes, he leaped into the air, and in a flash, he had reached the foot of the mountain, disappearing into the woods. He swiftly climbed a tree, gathered his inner energy, and strode across the treetops. Fortunately, as he soared through the trees, he discovered that at every turn along the stone path, there were guards stationed there. Furthermore, there were patrol teams of three men patrolling each path. The imperial palace was, after all, the emperor's residence; regardless of whether the emperor was present, the routine security was still extremely tight.

Lin Ziqing flew among the treetops, unconcerned about being discovered and encountering no obstacles. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had already rounded the mountainside and arrived at the back of a large courtyard belonging to the Imperial Guard Camp. From his vantage point, he quickly scanned his surroundings, then his figure floated down, skimming over a vast, empty field. With a light touch of his toes, he leaped onto a rooftop. The Imperial Guard Camp consisted of single-story houses, spread out over a large area, with three courtyards in total.

Fortunately, Lin Ziqing had been there during the day and could roughly recognize the layout. Under the cover of night, he moved with lightning speed towards Qi Chengchang's study. It seemed that peace had prevailed for so long that the officers of the Imperial Guard Camp would never dream that someone would infiltrate the palace. Although there were sentries in name only, their vigilance had completely collapsed. Therefore, he advanced almost unnoticed. The north window of the study led to a flower garden several acres in size. Because the study was Qi Chengchang's administrative office and a place of confidentiality, this flower garden was surrounded by a wall. Lin Ziqing landed in the small garden, then slipped to the side and approached the window, poking a hole in the paper windowpane to scrutinize the room. It was nearly midnight, so naturally no one would be in the study. Lin Ziqing quietly opened the window and leaped through it. He could see in the dark, so he didn't need to look too closely. He quickly approached the high-backed chair with the brocade veil that Qi Chengchang was sitting in. His gaze swept around, and seeing that Gu Hongsheng's stack of "reports" was not on the desk, he gently sat down in the chair and reached out to open the drawer.

In that instant, he suddenly heard a series of soft "clicks" and "clicks." Three steel hoops suddenly emerged from the high-backed chair. One pierced through his left and right ribs, binding his chest; another pierced through his waist, binding his hips; and the third bound his heels. Of course, two handcuffs also protruded from his left and right armrests, but Lin Ziqing's hands were on the drawer and not on the armrests, so he was not handcuffed.

Caught off guard, Lin Ziqing was startled. He pulled open the drawer, revealing Gu Hongsheng's "report" inside. However, Lin Ziqing was tightly bound to the high-backed chair by iron hoops, unable to move except for his hands. If he could free his hands, he wouldn't fear being unable to escape. Worst of all, the hoops had triggered a mechanism, and a rapid ringing of a bell suddenly sounded from the wall behind the chair! In the darkness, all was silent; the alarm bell would naturally be heard throughout the camp. This would alert the entire guard battalion, and they would arrive shortly afterward.

Lin Ziqing panicked. He gripped the iron hoops tightly against his chest with both hands, but they wouldn't budge, indicating they were made of high-quality steel. Not daring to be negligent, Lin Ziqing raised his left hand, swiftly drew his short sword, and swung it down at his chest and abdomen. With two sharp clangs, the two iron hoops snapped in two, and Lin Ziqing barely managed to stand. Just then, a loud shout rang out from the inner room of the study: "You audacious traitor! How dare you trespass into another palace!" The cotton curtain was lifted, and Qi Chengchang, dressed in a short jacket and carrying a dragon-shaped sword, flashed out and lunged at Lin Ziqing.

Lin Ziqing was greatly alarmed. He raised his left hand and struck out with a palm strike to meet Qi Chengchang's attack, while his right hand swiftly swung the short sword down at the iron hoops binding his feet. With two more clangs, the iron hoops snapped in two. Qi Chengchang, as expected of the commander of the Imperial Guard, possessed extraordinary skills. His attackers, noticing the swift and merciless force of Lin Ziqing's palm strike, reacted instantly in mid-air, switching swords to their left and simultaneously striking with their right palm. Their bodies shifted, as agile as a dragon, dodging the attack. The two palm strikes collided abruptly, producing a resounding tremor. At that moment, a flash of light appeared, and Qi Lu, carrying a Kongming lantern, rushed out from the inner room, his light shining directly at Lin Ziqing.

Qi Chengchang's eyes blazed with a sharp light as he stared intently at Lin Ziqing, snorting angrily, and asked, "Boy, who are you?"

Lin Ziqing replied loudly, "You don't need to ask who I am." His right hand slowly pressed down on Gu Hongsheng's stack of "reports." This "report" concerned many people; if Qi Chengchang were to submit it, the consequences would be dire.

Seeing Lin Ziqing reach into the drawer, Qi Chengchang assumed he was trying to steal the "report" and flew into a rage, shouting, "Put it down!" He moved with lightning speed, his right hand flashing out a sword of lightning that swept across the room. This single strike, with its flowing light and hidden wisps of wind, targeted almost all of Lin Ziqing's vital points, encompassing several variations within a single strike.

Lin Ziqing neither retreated nor yielded, his left hand flashing out a short sword that gleamed with a cold light, also creating a swirling azure glow. The two swords clashed, their winds clashing like tearing silk, producing a breathtaking clang! In the blink of an eye, three swords had already been exchanged. Just then, a chilling glint of Lin Ziqing's sword flashed across Qi Chengchang's chest and abdomen. Qi Chengchang had never encountered such a wondrous swordsmanship in his entire life. Terrified, he quickly inhaled, pulled back, and retreated violently, his clothes already torn three feet long by Lin Ziqing's sword.

Just as Lin Ziqing forced Qi Chengchang back with his sword, he suddenly heard a very faint voice beside him: "Brother Lin, retreat quickly, or it will be too late." Though the voice was soft, Lin Ziqing couldn't immediately discern who it was.

Qi Chengchang's face turned ashen, his long sword held to his chest, and he shouted sharply, "You are Ling Junyi!" Only disciples of the Reverse-Handed Buddha could wield a sword with their left hand.

Lin Ziqing said loudly, "That's right." As soon as he finished speaking, his sword suddenly appeared before him, transforming into a white light and flashing out of the window.

Qi Chengchang's eyebrows shot up, and he shouted, "Where do you think you're going?" He leaped after him. But just as he reached the window, he suddenly heard someone softly shout, "Attack!" A shower of silver needles flew towards him like raindrops.

From the moment Lin Ziqing accidentally triggered the mechanism to the moment he escaped through the window, it seemed like a long time had passed. In reality, it was only the time it took for Qi Chengchang to rush out of the bedroom and exchange a palm strike and a sword strike with Lin Ziqing. Upon hearing the word "strike," a hail of silver needles shot down upon Qi Chengchang. Having faced many formidable enemies, he immediately unleashed a palm strike, retreating eight feet. At this moment, the two guards on duty outside rushed in, steel knives in hand. The foreman of the third squad also arrived after hearing the alarm.

Qi Chengchang flew into a rage, sword in hand, shouting, "You bunch of good-for-nothings, hurry up and chase after them!"

Lin Ziqing peered out the window and saw a scholar in white standing on the back garden wall, waving repeatedly at him. At the same time, a very faint voice said, "Brother Lin, come up quickly, you can retreat the way you came."

Lin Ziqing had initially thought it was an acquaintance from the journey, but now that they were not far apart, the scholar in white was someone he had never met before. He was taken aback and asked, "Brother..."

The scholar in white interrupted, "You don't need to ask any more questions, hurry up and go."

Lin Ziqing said, "You..."

The scholar in white waved his hand repeatedly, "Go quickly, I'm fine." As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly leaped up, shouting, "Attack!" He then unleashed a burst of silver needles, which shot straight towards the window.

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