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

Ma Meifeng quickly applied pressure points to stop the bleeding from the wound on his arm, but the effect wasn't very good; it was still bleeding, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He looked at Shen Qingqiu, suddenly gave a bitter laugh, and said, "Qingqiu, from what you're saying, you've suspected me for a long time?"

Shen Qingqiu did not deny it, saying, "I really don't want it to be you!"

"When did I give myself away?" Ma Meifeng asked.

Shen Qingqiu's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the knife. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "It all started with that incident in Huaibei."

She paused, her gaze falling on Ma Meifeng's face, and said, word by word, "During that raid, I took it as an accident that Feng Yu and Yang Lin were able to escape. But the fact that they were able to kidnap Lin Yan'er so precisely made me feel uneasy. I felt as if someone was deliberately targeting me."

Later, when Fufeng Street was attacked, the fact that such a great risk was taken to silence witnesses indicates that Master Cheng must have seen the person behind the scenes, and that person could not and dared not reveal themselves.

At that moment, I began to wonder: weren't all those people at the medicine hut killed after being drugged? Why were they so certain that Master Cheng knew something and were willing to go to such lengths to silence him?

Similarly, there's another thing I can't understand: since everyone was drugged, why not just take Fuling away directly? Why go through all that trouble, killing so many people and making such a big fuss?

There are too many unreasonable aspects to these things.

I began to suspect that the people at the medicine shop were killed without resistance, which might not necessarily mean they were all drugged. It's possible that it was an inside job, where the perpetrators were caught off guard and then drugged to cover up the truth and mislead our judgment.

This explains why the other party was determined to kill Master Cheng to silence him, because Master Cheng must have known the murderer.

In the battle on Fufeng Street, the enemy went so far as to bribe my trusted confidant. This would be incredibly difficult to accomplish without someone from within the Six Doors (the government's security apparatus).

Ma Meifeng said in a deep voice, "So you doubt me?"

Shen Qingqiu sighed and said, "No, I just know that since the other party wants to kill me, they won't stop, and continuing to use Fuling is the best chance to kill me."

Today, by sheer coincidence, I was drawn here by a clue, and then you just happened to find Poria cocos's whereabouts. There wasn't enough time to wait for the main force of the Six Doors to arrive. This all seems like a deliberate attempt to put me in a dangerous situation. Brother Ma, to be honest, your trick is pretty crude!

Ma Meifeng asked, puzzled, "You knew it was a trap, why did you come?"

"We'll just play along," Shen Qingqiu said. "If I didn't come, how would I find Fuling? How could I let you be exposed?"

Ma Meifeng chuckled and said, "So you're dragging Doctor Gu along to risk his life? That's a bit unethical."

Shen Qingqiu shook his head slightly and said, "Brother Ma, at a time like this, don't try to sow discord between us. Before coming here, I already told Gu Guanqi that he came specifically to help me!"

"We've always been together, when will you...?"

At this point, Ma Meifeng suddenly realized, "Oh, when you were leaving, you suddenly said you needed to use the restroom, just to explain the situation to Doctor Gu... I see!"

Shen Qingqiu took a deep breath and asked, "Brother Ma, I don't understand, why did you do this?"

Ma Meifeng sneered and said, "Of course you wouldn't understand how smooth your career path is, but what about me? Have you forgotten that when you first came to Qingyang County, you were still working under me, but at that time, I was already a centurion."

"So many years have passed, and you've become my equal, no, even more so, you, a mere woman, are about to become a deputy commander, above me, while I'm still just a centurion. Qingqiu, you can't understand the pain and resentment in my heart!"

Ma Meifeng took a deep breath and continued, "Actually, I didn't want to kill you, Qingqiu, I really didn't want to kill you. Yang Lin and Feng Yu, I let them escape and kidnap Lin Yan'er, just to make you fail. If the operation failed and Lin Yan'er died because of you, you would definitely be devastated and no longer suitable to be a deputy commander, but..." He looked at Gu Guanqi and said angrily, "But who knew that a doctor would ruin everything!"

Gu Guanqi looked completely innocent.

Shen Qingqiu said in a deep voice, "Even if I die, the position of commander of a thousand households will not be yours. Among the six commanders of the Six Doors, you are only fourth in line. In fact, you may be transferred from other places, but it is impossible for it to fall to you."

"Once you're dead, I'll find a way to take your place!" Ma Meifeng snapped.

Gu Guanqi smiled and said, "It seems that the person behind you has quite a bit of influence."

Ma Meifeng said coldly, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Gu Guanqi teased, "Commander Ma, there's nothing to hide. You can't exactly say that with so many experts on Fufeng Street, and so many here right now, you, a mere commander of the Six Doors, can afford to support them all, can you? If you had that kind of power, why couldn't you even become a deputy commander? You can't even fool me, do you think you can fool Qingqiu?"

Ma Meifeng shook his head, looked at Shen Qingqiu, and said, "Alright, Qingqiu, that's enough. I've almost finished preparing things here. It's time to send you on your way."

After saying this, Ma Meifeng and the group of experts behind him quickly retreated, while Ma Meifeng shouted loudly, "Attack! Fire the arrows!"

However, the courtyard was completely silent.

"Fire arrows! Fire arrows!"

Ma Meifeng's expression changed drastically in an instant. He called out twice more, but there was still no response.

At this moment, even the experts beside Ma Meifeng changed their expressions drastically.

Ma Meifeng looked at Shen Qingqiu in disbelief and said, "Qingqiu, what...did you do?"

Shen Qingqiu sighed and said, "Brother Ma, you were just stalling for time, waiting for your men to be ready. Actually, I was also stalling for time. Now it seems my backup plan is more sophisticated!"

"Impossible!" Ma Meifeng exclaimed. "I've positioned twelve archery masters here. To eliminate them silently, the Six Doors must have mobilized a large number of experts. There's no way I wouldn't have noticed!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Just then, a sharp laugh suddenly came from the rooftop, and a dwarf old man, only about three feet tall, appeared. He stood on the tiles and shouted, "Ma Meifeng, have you forgotten about me?!"

When Ma Meifeng saw the dwarf old man, his heart skipped a beat.

This man is a legendary figure from the Six Doors of Qingyang County, a recognized master of poisons, known as the third most skilled in poison among the nine counties of Qingzhou, and called the Poison Immortal in the martial arts world. He enjoys using poison, but never uses it to kill; he only likes to use it to play tricks on people.

Ten years ago, this Poison Immortal was captured by the commander of the Six Doors in Qingyang County. In order to save his life, he decisively abandoned the darkness and joined the Six Doors. Although he did not hold a position in the Six Doors, there were few people in the Six Doors in Qingyang County who did not know him.

now,

Upon seeing the Poison Immortal, Ma Meifeng immediately understood that the archers he had secretly arranged must have been poisoned by the Poison Immortal.

"Poison Immortal!" Ma Meifeng roared, "When did you get back? Didn't you go to Qingshan County?"

"Hehe," the Poison Immortal chuckled, "A few days ago, Qingqiu sent me a message by carrier pigeon, telling me to come back. I've been back for three days now, staying by her side the whole time, just waiting for you to take the bait!"

Shen Qingqiu said, "Brother Ma, I naturally took precautions from the moment I suspected that someone in the Six Doors was plotting against me. Poison Master has been following us from beginning to end. You were just stalling for time for your people, but actually, I was also stalling for time for Poison Master."

Ma Meifeng smiled sadly and said, "It's truly pathetic. Everyone thinks you're someone I taught, but what I, your master, considered a flawless plan is, in your eyes, full of flaws!"

"Brother Ma, surrender!" Shen Qingqiu said. "I will try to get leniency!"

"Clear Autumn,"

Ma Meifeng brandished his knife and shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting? At this point, we're all going to die anyway, how could I possibly surrender?"

"Ma Meifeng, that's not up to you anymore!"

The Poison Immortal on the rooftop chuckled evilly, pointed at Ma Meifeng and his group, and said, "Pour it out now!"

As the Poison Immortal's voice faded...

One by one, those martial arts masters began to feel dizzy and weak in the legs. Soon, they began to stagger and fall to the ground. Only two or three people with profound skills could barely hold on.

"Okay, let's give it our all!"

Ma Meifeng roared, his eyes bloodshot, veins bulging on his neck, and a low growl came from his throat. He suddenly charged forward, like a wild beast trapped in a cage making its last struggle.

Gu Guanqi and Shen Qingqiu quickly prepared to make their move.

However, in the next instant, Ma Meifeng's sword suddenly turned and slashed straight at his own neck; he was about to commit suicide.

The blade reversed, the edge slicing towards his own neck, the movement so fast there was almost no time to think.

In that instant, the short knife in Shen Qingqiu's hand flew out, its light like a white rainbow, striking the blade with a crisp clang.

The force of the impact caused Ma Meifeng's longsword to fly out of his hand, tumbling twice in the air before crashing onto the bluestone ground three zhang away.

The blade grazed Ma Meifeng's neck, only breaking through a layer of oily skin, leaving a line of crimson blood seeping out.

Ma Meifeng was completely exhausted. His knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground with a thud. His hands braced against the ground, his fingertips digging deep into the cracks of the blue bricks, his knuckles turning white. His whole body was trembling slightly.

"Qingqiu..." His voice was hoarse and weary, like a string that had been stretched for too long finally snapping, low and filled with an indescribable sorrow, "You won't even give me the last bit of dignity?"

Shen Qingqiu stood before him, holding only a knife in her hand, its tip touching the ground, still wet with blood.

She looked down at Ma Meifeng, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and said in a deep voice, "You'd rather die than reveal who's behind this. If I give you any face, how can I face the innocent people you've killed, how can I face my comrades who fought and died alongside me?"