Wild cultivation begins with wielding the Taiyin talisman.

Although guests often come and go in front of the Shi family's house in Feihu, this is the first time it has been so crowded, like a vegetable market, that it is impossible to move.

The vermilion gates of the Shi family mansion were tightly shut, shutting out the noise from outside. The gathered crowd could only shout at the two gleaming bronze animal heads holding copper rings on the gate.

Song Changgeng sat on the stone steps in front of the Shi family's gate and took out a portrait.

The portrait depicts a mountain guardian.

He wasn't very tall, probably in his thirties, and spoke politely. He always wore gray clothes and had a short sword at his waist. Oh, and he had a mole on his left cheek.

Next to the portrait was written his name – "Shi Mingxin".

Behind him stood the pharmacists from Huichuntang, the people from East Street who had benefited from the free clinic, and a crowd of onlookers. The man selling steamed buns came again, setting up his stall across the street corner and adding melon sales to his business, which made him very popular here.

Song Changgeng pressed his forehead against the steps in front of the Shi family's gate. His voice was not loud, but it was clear to everyone nearby.

"If the Shi family doesn't open the door today, I will die here."

"My apprentice, Chen Mu, died in the rat swamp."

"The people of Caixia Village died in the miasma."

"The herb-gathering boy died because of the rules."

"Someone will always ask, 'Are these lives fate?'"

After he said that, the street fell silent for a moment.

Then, several figures sped towards the end of the long street.

Yu Congrong took the lead, followed by Shi Bingzhu, and then Ning Che, Zhao He, Zhong Hongyao and others arrived.

Zhao, the squad leader, also arrived.

He sat on horseback, looking rather unwell.

Not far away, Mu Qingming did not appear; he had only sent him.

This is very much in line with Qingming.

People are behind the scenes, but the blame is on them.

When Ning Che dismounted, his right arm hung down and his left hand rested on his sword.

When Song Changgeng looked up and saw him, he was taken aback at first, then a bitter smile appeared on his gaunt face as he handed the portrait in his hand to him.

Ning Che's eyes flickered when he saw the portrait, and then he heard Song Changgeng's long, drawn-out voice, which sounded like a sigh: "You've come."

"I'm late." Ning Che squatted down and supported his swaying body. "But, Mr. Song, you shouldn't have been in such a hurry."

"It's not that I'm in a hurry, it's that I can't wait any longer." Song Changgeng coughed twice: "This man, Shi Mingxin, is a member of a collateral branch of the Shi family. He's also the one who's been going to Caixia Village every month for the past six years to forcibly collect Baijie Grass. The mole on his left cheek, the gray clothes and the short sword, are exactly the same."

I received word that he resigned from all his posts and left the city three days ago. If he had arrived any later, there probably wouldn't be anything left.

Ning Che's eyes narrowed sharply, and he pressed, "Where did you get this information?"

"Huichuntang has its own information channels. As for the more fundamental sources, I think the leader of the mountain guardians should know more about them."

He finally understood why Song Changgeng would risk his life to block the Shi family's door.

He knew that Song Changgeng wouldn't have crashed into the Shi family's gate without a reason.

Yu Congrong looked at Zhao, the squad leader: "Who relayed the message?"

Zhao Ban bowed and said, "This subordinate was unaware."

Shi Bingzhu sneered: "There are quite a few things you don't know."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a commotion came from inside the Shi family's gate.

The door opened a crack.

A middle-aged man who looked like a manager came out, followed by more than a dozen guards.

He first saw Yu Congrong, and his expression changed slightly. Then he saw Shi Bingzhu, and his expression became even more unpleasant.

"Commander Yu, Head Steward Shi," the steward said, bowing. "The master is unwell and unable to receive guests. If any of you have matters to discuss, please send a formal letter."

Lin Ye immediately cursed, "Screw your invitation! Someone's practically crashing into your doorstep, and you're still putting on airs?"

The steward's face darkened: "Even the mountain guardians cannot disregard the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty and bully our Shi family like this."

Ning Che walked to Song Changgeng's side, held his shoulder, and stopped him from crawling any further.

Then he looked up at the steward.

"Where is Shi Mingxuan?"

The steward said, "Young Master was injured and is recuperating at home."

"Do you admit to leading a group to vandalize the free clinic tent, drugging patients, and framing them?"

"Slanderous words," the steward replied quickly. "These are just hearsay and should not be trusted."

Ning Che nodded: "What about the Dongpo medicinal herb field?"

The manager's eyelids twitched.

Ning Che took out an old book from his pocket and showed it to everyone.

"Eighteen years ago, the Shi family borrowed thirty mu of medicinal fields from Huichuntang on the east slope, and they have not returned them to this day."

He then took out another page of paper.

"Fifteen years ago, the Shi family seized seven medicine carts under the pretext of protecting medicine. From then on, medicine farmers from Nanqu who entered the city had to pay taxes to the Shi family."

The manager sneered, "Old accounts, rotten paper, who knows if they're true or false?"

Song Changgeng suddenly spoke up: "I know whether it's true or false."

He took the black wooden plaque from his pocket and held it up.

"The Huichuntang lineage plaque is here."

"The Zhou family managed Huichuntang for three years; they did not buy Huichuntang."

"The medicinal fields, warehouses, and carts that the Shi family borrowed from Huichuntang must be returned today."

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Huichuntang isn't actually owned by the Zhou family?

Zhou Huaili was merely acting as a custodian?

Behind the crowd, Zhou Huaili was quietly retreating.

Zhao He, with his sharp eyes, rushed over and pulled him out of the crowd.

"Master Zhou, where are we going?"

Zhou Huaili's face turned ashen: "Is it wrong for me to come and watch the fun?"

Ning Che looked at him: "You've come at the right time."

Zhou Huaili gritted his teeth: "Song Changgeng is delirious with illness. The sect's insignia is no longer valid. Huichuntang has relied entirely on my Zhou family to support it all these years. He thinks he can take it back with just a word? Dream on!"

Mr. Qian walked out of the crowd.

He was holding a wooden box in his hands.

"Zhou Huaili, your elder brother signed a contract when he was in charge of Huichuntang."

He opened the wooden box and took out a yellowed contract.

"In black and white, once Song Changgeng recovers from his injuries or designates a successor to take over, the Zhou family must return the property."

Zhou Huaili's expression changed.

"How did this thing end up with you?"

Mr. Qian handed the contract to Ning Che.

"Mr. Song was afraid that someone would be shameless, so he kept a copy in the old medicine warehouse."

Ning Che unfolded the contract and handed it to Yu Congrong.

"Please review this, Commander."

Yu Congrong glanced at it and handed it to the clerk beside him.

"The contract is valid."

After saying that, she looked at Zhou Huaili, who clenched his teeth but dared not utter a sound.

The manager's expression also changed.

Because once Huichuntang returned to Song Changgeng's hands, the old accounts would no longer be worthless.

That's a debt.

The Shi family owes Huichuntang a debt.

This was also the first step in the Shi family's control of Feihucheng Pharmaceutical.

Ning Che looked at the steward: "Now, does the Shi family still say this is none of your business?"

The steward didn't reply and turned to go back to his residence.

Shi Bingzhu took a step forward and pressed down on the door panel.

"The door is open."

The steward angrily retorted, "Shi Bingzhu, you're also a member of the Shi family!"

Shi Bingzhu stared at him: "That's why I can't let you turn the Shi family into a cesspool."

The person in charge's face turned from pale to black.

Just then, Zhao, the squad leader, spoke up.

"Commander Yu, this matter involves the city's industries, so we can't just listen to one side of the story. It would be better to bring Song Changgeng, Xing, and the others back to the camp first, and then investigate slowly."

Ning Che turned to look at him: "Why bring him back to the camp?"

Zhao, the squad leader, said, "It's to protect the witnesses."

"Is it about protecting witnesses, or is it about isolating the public?"

Zhao, the squad leader, turned cold: "Team Leader Xing, mind your place."