Zhang Chen wandered alone for a moment, seeing couples all around while he was solitary, feeling quite awkward.
After just a short stroll, he lost interest.
Forget it, I'll just head back to the Residence.
Just as Zhang Chen was about to return to the Residence, he suddenly heard a woman's voice from behind him.
"Gongzi."
Zhang Chen turned around and saw a young girl about his age in front of him, smiling gently at him.
The young girl wore an emerald green embroidered dress. Her eyes were clear, her nose bridge high. A light application of makeup made her appear simple yet beautiful and refined. Her hair was styled in a simple yet elegant bun, with a few stray strands falling by her ears, adding a touch of charm.
Zhang Chen bowed and said, "Miss, why have you called out to me?"
The young girl curtsied and said, "Gongzi, I am originally from An Yang County. A few days ago, I came to Ye City with my sister. It happens to be the Qiqiao Festival today, and my sister and I were strolling through the market. But just now, with all the people coming and going, I accidentally got separated from my sister. It's getting late now, and I'm really afraid to go back alone. Could I trouble Gongzi to escort me to the Ping An Inn in the north of the city?"
"It's just a small matter, no trouble at all. Please, Miss."
Zhang Chen smiled and made a welcoming gesture.
The young girl lowered her gaze and nodded, then walked forward. Zhang Chen followed immediately.
It was already the hour of You, and night was falling. The area north of the city had always been remote. Along the way, the road was quiet, and not a single person was seen.
"Miss," Zhang Chen said as he walked, chuckling, "Just now you said you were afraid to go back alone, but you dare to walk with a strange man like me. Aren't you afraid I might be a bad person?"
The young girl stopped, turned back, and smiled sweetly, "Gongzi has an honest face, he surely wouldn't be a bad person. Gongzi, the inn is just ahead. Let's hurry, maybe my sister has already returned."
"No, we can't go any further."
"What!" The young girl was startled, "Gongzi, what... what do you mean?"
"Don't you understand what I mean?" Zhang Chen chuckled slyly, "If we go any further, the assassins you've ambushed will attack, right? If I enter that alley, won't I die without a burial place?!"
"You!"
The young girl's face instantly changed drastically. She suddenly drew a dagger from her bosom and lunged at Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen was already prepared. How could he let her succeed? He immediately dodged sideways, then grabbed her wrist and twisted hard.
Zhang Chen now possessed the golden trait 【Heavenly Strength】, making his strength astonishing. How could that young girl resist? Zhang Chen only twisted gently, and she cried out in pain, letting out an "Ah" scream. The dagger slipped from her hand and fell, but Zhang Chen caught it and held it against her neck.
In fact, earlier, Zhang Chen had already seen through her true identity using the "Insight Eye".
【Name: Xiao Cui】
【Traits: Death Warrior (Blue), Yellow Heaven Follower (Green)】
Within Ye City, spies from the Yellow Heaven Holy Sect had actually infiltrated!
Zhang Chen was quite surprised. He immediately decided to play along to see what she was really up to.
Zhang Chen held the dagger against her neck and sneered, "Miss, let's change locations."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the young girl clench her teeth, and a trace of black blood flowed from the corner of her mouth!
Not good!
Zhang Chen quickly supported her and forced her mouth open. The young girl's head tilted, and she instantly died.
As expected of a Death Warrior, failing the mission meant immediate self-poisoning.
Zhang Chen blamed himself for being careless. He had seen the 【Death Warrior】 trait but didn't immediately guard against her committing suicide.
"Who's there!"
Just then, a squad of Soldiers quickly ran towards them.
"Who is here?"
"It's me." Zhang Chen stood up and saw that the leader of the squad was none other than Zhang He.
Zhang He was startled to see Zhang Chen, "Lord, why are you here, and what happened?"
"This woman is a spy from the Yellow Heaven Holy Sect. She was exposed by me and poisoned herself." Zhang Chen looked at the deep, dark alley ahead and said, "Search this alley thoroughly for me. Also, seal off all exits of the Ping An Inn ahead and search it room by room. If you find any suspicious individuals, immediately imprison them!"
"Understood."
Although Zhang He didn't understand the reason, since Zhang Chen had given the order, he executed it without hesitation.
Immediately, Zhang He led a squad of Soldiers into the alley and began searching everywhere.
However, they found nothing.
At this moment, inside a room at the Ping An Inn, a man and a woman were standing by the window, looking in this direction from afar.
The woman was none other than Zhang Ning. The man beside her looked to be around thirty, with stern features and a chilling aura in his eyes.
This person was precisely the Right Protector of the Yellow Heaven Holy Sect, known as the Yellow Turban's foremost expert - Guan Hai!
Zhang Ning looked at the scene before her and said lightly, "It seems the people the Right Protector trains only have this much ability. They are not capable of great use."
Guan Hai said, "Xiao Cui is a Death Warrior I personally trained. She has always been cautious, yet she was exposed by Zhang Chen. It seems this Zhang Chen indeed has some skill."
"What? Are you scared?"
"Scared? Hmph, when have I, Guan Hai, ever been scared?" Guan Hai said, "A'Ning, Senior Brother is dead. The only person you can rely on now is me. Why don't you seriously consider my proposal? Marry me! Now my The Essential Arts of Pacifying Heaven has broken through the seventh layer, and I have an army of a hundred thousand men under me. With you and I joining forces as husband and wife, we can surely revive the Yellow Heaven Great Cause!"
Zhang Ning sneered and said, "Is it the Yellow Heaven Great Cause, or your, Guan Hai's, great cause?"
Hearing this, Guan Hai sneered, "You don't believe me? Is it because of my esteemed position in the Sect, or because six out of the eight Divine Envoys are loyal to me?"
Zhang Ning remained silent. Guan Hai continued, "No matter what others say or think, I, Guan Hai, will never be disloyal to yellow heaven in this life!"
"Since you say that, I feel relieved." Zhang Ning smiled, her finger tracing across his chest, "Actually, it's not impossible for me to marry you, but I have one condition."
Guan Hai grabbed her hand and said, "Name it. Even if it means going to heaven or hell, I will fulfill it for you."
Zhang Ning frowned and quickly pulled her hand free from Guan Hai's grasp. She then pointed towards Zhang Chen and said coldly, "Kill Zhang Chen and avenge the brothers who died in the battle of Yingtao County! Bring me this boy's head, and I will agree to marry you."
Guan Hai looked in Zhang Chen's direction, and a murderous intent immediately flashed in his eyes.
He hooked his finger, gently lifted Zhang Ning's chin, and smiled slightly, "It's a deal!"
"Go! This way!" Zhang He's voice came from the alley entrance. He was leading the Soldiers and converging towards the Ping An Inn.
"Let's go, they are coming." Guan Hai said, activating his qinggong. With a leap, he lightly landed on the ground outside the inn from the second floor.
Zhang Ning also used qinggong and leaped down from the upper floor.
The two no longer delayed. They immediately turned into a street corner and then vanished into the vast night.
...
Prefect's Residence.
Zhang Chen was in the study, looking at the two items placed on the desk: a sleeve arrow and a letter.
Zhang He said, "Lord, this sleeve arrow was found in the alley. It was likely accidentally dropped by the bandits who were ambushed there beforehand. This letter was found in a room at the Ping An Inn. Besides these, there were no other suspicious individuals."
Zhang Chen looked at these two items, pondering inwardly.
The other party's movements were so fast; they actually escaped right under my nose.
Zhang Chen picked up the sleeve arrow and examined it closely, finding it to be just an ordinary sleeve arrow with nothing special about it. It seems the bandits were indeed ambushed in the alley just now. If I had shown myself, I would probably have been shot full of arrows by now.
Zhang Chen then picked up the letter and saw the four large characters "Zhang Chen Personally Open" written on the envelope.
The handwriting was elegant and beautiful, suggesting the writer was a woman.
Zhang Chen couldn't help but be curious. He opened the envelope and took out the letter inside.