Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Gu Guanqi is a pretty good cook, after all, she has been cooking for herself for a long time.

Shen Qingqiu was quite satisfied with the meal.

Just as the meal was about to be finished,

A series of hurried footsteps came from outside, followed by a voice: "Qingqiu, Qingqiu!"

Gu Guanqi and Shen Qingqiu turned their heads to look.

It was Ma Meifeng, striding into the clinic, followed by two panting constables. He glanced at the food on the table as soon as he entered, and without bothering with pleasantries, said directly, "We have news about Physician Xue!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingqiu immediately stood up and asked, "What news?"

Ma Meifeng wiped the sweat from his forehead and lowered his voice, saying, "We found out that Doctor Xue is being held in a house on Changyuan Street in Changlefang. That house is a warehouse of the Canal Gang, which is usually used to store goods."

According to the information I've gathered, the other side intends to hide Xue Yiling on a cargo ship belonging to the Canal Gang and leave. Time is of the essence; once he's on board, it will be difficult to catch him.

He paused, then added, "I've already sent someone to inform the Six Doors, but it will take at least half an hour for them to come and go. We still don't know how many people are in that house, or what their methods are. I'm afraid that by the time reinforcements arrive, the people will have already been moved, so I rushed over to discuss countermeasures with you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingqiu immediately grabbed the two swords from the table and said, "Let's go check the situation first and try to buy some time. No matter what, we can't let anyone be taken away."

Gu Guanqi picked up the Autumn Water Sword and said, "I'll join too; more people mean more strength!"

Given the current situation, naturally no one would refuse the addition of a master like Gu Guanqi.

Immediately, the group went outside. Shen Qingqiu suddenly stopped, a slightly unnatural look flashing across her face. She said in a low voice, "Wait for me a moment, I..." She looked at Gu Guanqi somewhat embarrassedly and whispered, "Where's your outhouse? Take me there!"

Gu Guanqi was stunned for a moment, then led Shen Qingqiu to the side.

Ma Meifeng and two other constables waited outside the door.

Before long, Shen Qingqiu and Gu Guanqi came out, and then the group of five quickly left along the long street.

……

Changyuan Street, near the dock, is mostly filled with warehouses, stores, and gang headquarters, bustling with activity and noise.

Ma Meifeng led the group into a narrow alley, stopped at the end of the alley, and pointed ahead: "That's it."

Shen Qingqiu looked in the direction he pointed and saw a large courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles in front of him. The courtyard walls were high, and two lanterns hung at the gate, with the words "Caobang" written on them. The gate was half open, and the inside was brightly lit. People were constantly going in and out, carrying boxes of various sizes to load onto carts outside the gate.

Those people were all dressed in short clothes, with bulging belts at their waists, clearly carrying weapons. A rough count showed at least twenty or thirty people coming and going, and who knows how many more were inside the courtyard.

Shen Qingqiu's gaze was cold as he said in a low voice, "We can't launch a direct attack. They outnumber us and we don't know if they have any experts. If we fight, they might realize they've been exposed and, in desperation, try to cover up their crimes by attacking Fuling."

"That's what I mean too," Ma Meifeng said. "We'll observe from here and wait for our people to arrive before we take action... but the problem is that we might not be able to wait that long."

Shen Qingqiu said, "Let's sneak in first and find Fuling. As long as we can find her, everything else will be fine. It won't be long before the Six Doors arrive."

Ma Meifeng thought for a moment, then turned to his two constables and said, "You two stay outside and wait for reinforcements to arrive. Then go and meet them. Don't let them alert the enemy. Wait for orders."

The two men clasped their hands in acceptance of the order and each found a secluded spot to hide.

Ma Meifeng glanced at Shen Qingqiu, then at Gu Guanqi, and said, "Well then, Qingqiu, Doctor Gu, let's get started."

Shen Qingqiu and Gu Guanqi both nodded in agreement, and the three of them immediately climbed over the wall and entered.

Although Gu Guanqi did not know lightness skills, he possessed profound internal strength. His Baoyuan Jin included techniques for using internal energy, including lifting and leaping techniques, so he was not too troubled by these residences.

The three entered the courtyard.

They quickly identified a gang member who appeared to be a leader, who was going to the outhouse alone.

The gang members were standing at the entrance of the latrine and began to unbuckle their belts. In that instant, Gu Guanqi rushed over, covered the gang member's mouth with one hand, and pressed the gang member's head down with the other, forcing him into the latrine. Ma Meifeng followed closely behind and closed the latrine door.

"Don't make a sound if you don't want to die." Ma Meifeng held a knife to the necks of the gang members.

The group of people were so frightened that they knelt down on the ground, their foreheads covered in cold sweat.

Ma Meifeng asked in a deep voice, "Where is Xue Fuling?"

The gang members looked bewildered and asked, "Who is Xue Fuling?"

Gu Guanqi said in a low voice, "A pretty girl, very gentle. You don't have many girls locked up here, do you?"

"Not many, not many," the gang member said. "Just one girl, she was brought over a couple of days ago. But I'm just a nobody, I don't know who she is, but she's really beautiful. Anyway, the higher-ups gave instructions that the girl isn't an ordinary person, and we don't dare disturb her. Except for the people who deliver her meals regularly, no one else is allowed to go in. She's in the second small courtyard on the east side!"

Ma Meifeng immediately delivered a chop to the back of the neck of the gang member, who instantly lost consciousness.

Subsequently,

The two men walked out of the outhouse, called Shen Qingqiu who was keeping watch, and the three of them quickly headed east. They soon found their way to the second courtyard, where two guards stood watch at the entrance.

but,

Shen Qingqiu walked straight over openly, and the two men were knocked unconscious before they could react. Then Gu Guanqi and Ma Meifeng rushed over and dragged one of them into the courtyard.

Subsequently,

Shen Qingqiu closed the door and quickly walked to the main hall of the courtyard. He gently pushed the door open, revealing a crack, and saw Xue Fuling lying on the table, seemingly asleep, without moving. There were also several books, writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone next to her.

It is clear that Xue Fuling was not mistreated here.

Shen Qingqiu breathed a slight sigh of relief, looked around, and then pushed open the door and went inside.

"Fuling! Fuling!" Shen Qingqiu walked quickly to her side, reached out and pushed her shoulder, but Xue Fuling did not react at all. She slumped down softly with her strength and remained fast asleep.

Gu Guanqi walked over, reached out and put his hand on Xue Fuling's pulse. After a moment of concentration, he said in a deep voice, "It's nothing serious, she was just put to sleep by acupressure."

Shen Qingqiu breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this, and was about to say something when he suddenly caught a glimpse of something moving behind the screen out of the corner of his eye—

"Be careful!"

As soon as the words were spoken, several figures suddenly sprang up from behind the screen, their cold glints raining down like a storm, the sharp, piercing sound of hidden weapons cutting through the air as they densely enveloped the three of them!

Shen Qingqiu reacted extremely quickly, drawing his twin swords instantly. The light of the swords intertwined in front of him to form a silver barrier, deflecting the flying stones, hidden arrows, and caltrops with a clanging sound.

Gu Guanqi then scooped up the unconscious Xue Fuling, took several steps back to the doorway, placed her under the eaves, drew his sword, and turned around.

The moment the Autumn Water Sword was drawn, the entire room turned cold.

The sword light flashed like a bolt of lightning, slashing horizontally and splitting the three bone-piercing nails that were shooting towards it in mid-air, which then fell to the ground with a clanging sound.

Ma Meifeng also jumped in through the window, drew his sword and stood guard beside Shen Qingqiu. The three of them fought and retreated, eventually leaving the house and moving into the courtyard.

More than a dozen skilled fighters rushed out from behind the screen, each with agile movements and different weapons. They spread out in a fan shape and surrounded the three people in the courtyard.

The leader was a lean, middle-aged man who held a pair of judge's pens, had a sinister look in his eyes, and a cold smile on his lips.

"Shen Qingqiu, we've been waiting for you for a long time!"

The man's voice was high-pitched, like fingernails scratching porcelain.

Shen Qingqiu held her twin swords horizontally in front of her. Her gaze swept over the group of people, and her heart sank. She recognized at least half of them; they were all wanted criminals on the Six Doors' roster.

Gu Guanqi stood beside Shen Qingqiu, sword in hand. The Autumn Water Sword gleamed with a cool, clear light in the sunlight, its tip touching the ground, his expression composed.

Ma Meifeng stood half a step behind the two, holding his usual long sword in his hand, his expression solemn.

Those people didn't say much nonsense.

At the same time, they all pounced on each other, and instantly a fierce battle ensued.

Since Gu Guanqi was responsible for protecting the unconscious Xue Fuling, he naturally ended up in the middle, protected by Shen Qingqiu and Ma Meifeng on either side.

The situation was not good. Ma Meifeng and Shen Qingqiu were both injured, and Gu Guanqi needed to protect Xue Fuling, so the three of them dared not linger and could only fight and retreat.

But, just as they were about to retreat to the courtyard gate,

In the midst of the fierce battle, Ma Meifeng suddenly turned his blade and slashed down towards Gu Guanqi's back!

This strike was swift and ruthless, without warning, the wind whistling as it went straight for his back.

It looked like it was about to strike Gu Guanqi.

In that very instant,

On the other side, Shen Qingqiu seemed to have been prepared. In an instant, he threw out a knife. The blade flashed like lightning, drawing a sharp arc, and struck Ma Meifeng's neck before he could act.

Startled, Ma Meifeng quickly withdrew his hand and dodged.

Taking advantage of the situation, Shen Qingqiu slashed out with his sword, instantly striking Ma Meifeng's right arm.

Blood splattered.

Ma Meifeng groaned and staggered back several steps. A deep, bone-revealing gash was cut into his right wrist, and the long knife clattered to the ground. He clutched the wound, and blood gushed from between his fingers, instantly staining half of his sleeve red.

In that instant, Gu Guanqi's sword aura intensified, piercing through the defenses of two experts with a single strike, instantly slicing their necks open, blood splattering everywhere, startling the others who took several steps back.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

Gu Guanqi and Shen Qingqiu quickly retreated behind the eaves pillar.

With twin swords in hand, Shen Qingqiu looked at Ma Meifeng, his eyes churning with extremely complex emotions: shock, heartache, anger, disappointment… all intertwined, finally culminating in a very soft yet deep sigh as he dejectedly said:

"Brother Ma, it really is you."