The wound on his left arm wasn't deep, but the numb, itchy, and stinging sensation that spread rapidly to the surrounding area made Lin Feng's heart tremble.

The poison on Xiahou Ying's dagger was no ordinary poison. He could feel his internal energy stagnation at the wound, and his blood and qi seemed to be congealing.

"Quickly! Help Master Lin to his room! Immediately fetch the best doctor in the city! No, go and invite Physician Zhou from the prefectural government! He is skilled in treating poisoning injuries!" Feng Zhen ordered immediately when he saw Lin Feng's expression change slightly.

Two bodyguards stepped forward to help him up, but Lin Feng waved his hand and said, "It's alright, I can walk by myself. Dealing with Xiahou Ying's escape is the priority." He took a deep breath to suppress the spread of the poison, but fine beads of sweat had already seeped from his forehead.

"Master Lin, please go and treat your wounds first. I will take care of the rest," Feng Zhen said firmly. He then turned to one of his personal guards and said, "Take my token and go to the prison to interrogate Mo Sangeng! Ask him what poison was on Xiahou Ying's dagger and how to cure it! Tell him that if he wants a quick death, he should confess honestly!"

"yes!"

Lin Feng stopped insisting and, accompanied by his personal guards, went to a clean and tidy side room in the front yard.

Before long, an elderly man with gray hair and carrying a medicine box hurried over. It was Zhou, the physician from the prefectural government. He carefully examined Lin Feng's wound, then smelled it, and his expression gradually became serious.

"Mr. Lin, this poison is quite strange," Physician Zhou said in a deep voice, stroking his beard.

"Judging from the dark color of the wound, the numbness, itching, and stinging pain, and the sluggish blood circulation, it must be a mixture of several poisons, including the venom of the 'Black Thread Snake,' the juice of the 'Heartbreak Grass,' and some mineral toxins that paralyze the nerves... The toxicity is potent and difficult to cure. Fortunately, Lin Yishi is physically strong and has considerable internal strength, and he sealed the acupoints in time, so the toxicity has not yet penetrated into the internal organs. But if it has been delayed, this arm might..."

"Doctor Zhou, is there a solution?" Lin Feng asked in a deep voice.

He wasn't afraid of death, but if he lost an arm, his fighting ability would be greatly reduced, and things would become difficult to handle afterward.

"Difficult," Physician Zhou shook his head. "Unless there is a suitable antidote, or I know the specific formula, I can only attempt to prepare it. Otherwise, I can only use acupuncture to draw blood, supplemented with a detoxifying plaster, and then use internal energy to force out the poison, temporarily controlling it and delaying the onset of the poison. But this method only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. The poison will slowly erode the meridians, and over time, it will still..."

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door. The guard who had gone to the prison to question the prisoners earlier had returned, carrying a small porcelain bottle and a piece of paper.

"My lord, Physician Zhou, we've got the information!" The guard presented the porcelain bottle and paper.

"Mo Sangeng confessed, saying that the poison on Xiahou Ying's dagger was called 'Bone-Tying Maggot,' which he made by mixing seven kinds of poisonous insects and three kinds of poisonous herbs. The poison was vicious; those who were poisoned initially only experienced numbness, itching, and tingling. After twelve hours, the poison penetrated deep into the bone marrow, causing their muscles and bones to become weak and their internal strength to be completely lost. If the antidote was not administered within three days, they would die from the festering of their entire body. This is the antidote, and the usage and dosage are written on this piece of paper."

Physician Zhou quickly took the porcelain bottle, poured out a brown pill, smelled it, and carefully examined the instructions written on the paper. He nodded: "That's right. Judging from the smell and Mo San's description, it is indeed the right medicine to cure this poison."

Without hesitation, Lin Feng took the pill and swallowed it.

A little later, Physician Zhou took Lin Feng's pulse again and examined the blood seeping from the wound, which had turned bright red. He nodded and said, "Most of the poison has been removed, and the remaining poison is no longer a problem. Rest well these next few days, take your medicine on time, and avoid using your left arm. You should be fully recovered within ten days."

"Thank you for your help, Physician Zhou," Lin Feng said.

At this moment, Wang, the clerk, also rushed over, his face showing a hint of fatigue, but his eyes showing a hint of excitement.

"Sir, Master Lin." Clerk Wang bowed to Feng Zhen and Lin Feng.

"Mo Sangeng has confessed again. Besides the antidote for Xiahou Ying's dagger poison, he also revealed several backup hideouts Xiahou Ying might be hiding in Qingzhou City, as well as several secret contact points. I have already ordered men to search them according to the map. In addition, he provided an important clue."

"Oh? What clue?" Feng Zhen's spirits lifted.

"He said that Xiahou Ying is a suspicious man by nature, with multiple burrows. In Qingzhou, besides the Qi Prince's Mansion, Ciyun Nunnery, and the few strongholds he mentioned, there is likely another absolutely safe 'nest' that even he doesn't know about. This nest may not be inside the city, but somewhere outside. Because Xiahou Ying once mentioned inadvertently that he has a good place outside Qingzhou where he can 'enjoy the scenery and catch big fish'," said Wang the clerk.

"Enjoying the scenery and fishing for big fish?" Feng Zhen frowned slightly. "What does that mean? Is it a scenic spot, or... some kind of code?"

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly remembered Hou Qi mentioning that the Qi Prince's carriages, besides frequently visiting Ciyun Nunnery, would occasionally go to Wanghu Pavilion outside the city. Wanghu Pavilion was located halfway up Cuiping Mountain, ten miles west of Qingzhou City, overlooking Luoyan Lake below. The scenery was superb, making it a popular spot for Qingzhou's literati, officials, and nobles. Could it be…?

"My lord, perhaps it refers to 'Wanghu Pavilion'," Lin Feng said. "Hou Qi once mentioned that the Qi Prince's carriage occasionally goes there. 'Viewing the scenery' could refer to the view of the lake and mountains, while 'fishing for big fish'... perhaps it has something else in mind."

Feng Zhen's eyes lit up: "Wanghu Pavilion? Excellent! It's situated on higher ground, offering a wide view, perfect for sightseeing, observation, and communication. Moreover, it's located outside the city, secluded and sparsely populated, making it ideal for establishing a secret outpost nearby. Wang the Clerk, immediately send men—no, Yang the Colonel—you personally lead a team of elite troops out of the city tonight to secretly search Wanghu Pavilion and the surrounding area! Remember, be discreet, and alert the enemy!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Yang Ding clasped his hands in a fist salute and turned to leave.

"Captain Yang, wait a moment," Lin Feng called out to him. "Xiahou Ying is seriously injured and on the run. If he really has a base at Wanghu Pavilion, he might go there to heal his wounds or retrieve items. This man is highly skilled in martial arts, cunning, and his use of poison is extremely difficult to guard against. You must be careful on your journey. Take plenty of archers with you, surround him without attacking, and first scout out the situation. If you spot any trace of him, immediately send a signal for help. Do not take any risks lightly."

Yang Dingbian knew that Lin Feng was worried about him, and his heart warmed. He clasped his hands and said, "Don't worry, Master Lin, I understand."

Yang Dingbian mustered his men and left in a hurry.

Feng Zhen then said to Wang the clerk, "Continue interrogating Mo Sangeng to see if we can uncover any more clues about Xiahou Ying and the Northern Ghost. Also, send more men to interrogate everyone in the Qi Prince's mansion, especially the stewards and advisors, to see if they know anything more. And as for the Qi Prince's whereabouts, we must find him alive or dead; continue the search!"

"Yes!" Clerk Wang accepted the order and left.

Inside the room, only Feng Zhen, Lin Feng, and the guards standing outside remained.

Looking at Lin Feng, whose face was still somewhat pale, Feng Zhen said slowly, "Lin San, we owe you a great debt this time. If you hadn't foreseen the situation and seriously injured Xiahou Ying, this case wouldn't have gone so smoothly. Rest here and recover from your injuries. I will handle the pursuit of Xiahou Ying and the interrogation of the remaining accomplices. Once you have recovered and this matter is settled, I will definitely keep my promise, recommend you for merit, clear your name, and properly arrange your 'Sanhe' goods operation."

"Thank you, sir." Lin Feng bowed slightly. "This humble subject asks for no reward, only for the truth to come to light, for the wicked to be brought to justice, for peace to be restored to the border, and for the people to live in tranquility. Also..." He paused, then looked at Feng Zhen, "Sir, regarding Black Wind Valley, regarding my wife, is there any news?"

This is what he's most concerned about right now. With the fall of King Qi and Xiahou Ying on the run, the crisis in Qingzhou has been temporarily averted, but Ye Qingli and Chen tide in Black Wind Valley remain a heavy weight on his mind.

Feng Zhen pondered for a moment and said, "I have already dispatched several messengers to the northern border. On the one hand, they are to report the case in detail to the court. On the other hand, I have also ordered people to go to Black Wind Valley and the surrounding area with my warrant. However, there is still no definite news. The northern border is vast and sparsely populated, and it is inconvenient to transmit information. Please wait patiently."

Lin Feng felt somewhat relieved, but his worries hadn't completely disappeared. Sometimes, no news is the worst news. He could only hope that Ye Qingli and the others would be lucky, and that his brothers in Black Wind Valley would survive this ordeal.

"You should rest well. I'm going to handle official business. I'll let you know as soon as there's any progress," Feng Zhen said, then turned and left.

Lin Feng sat alone in the side room, watching the sky outside the window gradually turn white.

A fierce and thrilling battle ensued overnight. The destruction of the Qi Prince's mansion and Xiahou Ying's serious injury and escape seemed to foreshadow the impending end of the storm that had swept through Qingzhou.

But he knew the matter was far from over. Xiahou Ying was still at large, the traitor in the North remained at large, and the mystery surrounding Black Wind Valley had not yet been solved…

He closed his eyes and carefully reviewed the events of the past few days in his mind.

Suddenly, he remembered something. Mo San had confessed that Xiahou Ying had asked him to concoct a potent medicine that would temporarily boost one's martial arts skills, but would afterwards sever all meridians, to deal with a "tricky opponent." At the time, they all guessed that this opponent might be Feng Zhen, or even Lin Feng himself. But now, thinking about it, perhaps... it was someone else entirely?

Xiahou Ying had been operating in Qingzhou for many years. Besides the King of Qi, did he have any other allies, or... enemies? Of the stolen weapons, besides those transported beyond the pass to the Di Rong, was some of it hidden by him for other uses? When he said "enjoying the scenery and fishing for big fish," was he really just hoping to see the lakeside pavilion? Or did he have something else in mind?

A series of questions, like a tangled mess, swirled in Lin Feng's mind.

He felt as if he had grasped some clues, but it was as if he was looking through a thin fog, unable to see them clearly.

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