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

The streets were deathly silent.

Those people who were just crying and wailing were now standing there dumbfounded, staring at the deep sword mark on the ground and at the young man standing there with the sword, not daring to breathe.

The sword mark lay across the street, like an insurmountable chasm.

After an unknown amount of time, someone in the crowd finally broke the silence.

"Dr. Gu is so imposing!"

A gruff voice came from behind the crowd, tinged with mockery and provocation. The crowd automatically parted to make way, and a burly man with a thick beard strode out.

He was about thirty years old, broad-shouldered and burly, with a large, gleaming sword hanging from his waist. He walked with a swagger, clearly a trained martial artist. Behind him followed seven or eight men, each armed with a sword and exuding a menacing aura.

"Even if you're highly skilled in martial arts, can you really kill us all?"

Immediately, a man carrying a large sword stood outside the sword mark and chimed in, "Everyone in the martial arts world knows that you, Doctor Gu Guanqi, are highly skilled in martial arts."

But today, it's not just ordinary people who have come; all the martial arts sects of Qingyang have arrived. With everyone ganging up on each other, how many can you possibly defeat?

"Exactly! Gu Guanqi, stop trying to scare people!"

Another voice rang out from the other side, and a tall, thin middle-aged scholar walked out, fanning himself with a folding fan, and said coldly, "I'd like to see how many moves Doctor Gu can last!"

"Gu Guanqi, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. Xue Fuling has killed so many people. If she doesn't give an explanation today, even if the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley came, it wouldn't be of any use!"

"Exactly! All the martial arts sects are here; you might not be able to kill us all before you run out of strength!"

In an instant, dozens of martial arts practitioners stepped out from the crowd, some carrying knives, some wielding swords, and some unarmed, from various sects or gangs.

They spread out in a semi-circle, subtly surrounding Gu Guanqi. Although they shouted loudly, none of them dared to be the first to step over the sword mark.

after all,

They all knew,

Gu Guanqi can't kill everyone who crosses the line, but he can definitely kill the first person who crosses the line.

Gu Guanqi remained silent.

He simply raised the Autumn Water Sword, held the scabbard with his left hand and pressed his right hand on the hilt, and stood there quietly.

His gaze swept across the faces of those people, remaining calm and expressionless.

Those whose gazes swept over them all took a half step back in unison.

The atmosphere froze.

No one dared to take that step.

Just as tensions were rising, the inn's door was pushed open.

Zhou Mingyuan, clutching the wound on his forehead, staggered out. His official hat was nowhere to be seen, his hair was disheveled, and half his face was smeared with blood, making him look utterly wretched. But his back was ramrod straight, and though his voice was hoarse, each word was clear and resolute:

"Gentlemen! Please hear what I have to say!"

He stood beside Gu Guanqi and raised the official hat he had been clutching in his hand. The hat was half-soaked in blood, and the wings were askew, but he held it high as if it were a flag.

"I, Zhou Mingyuan, the magistrate of Qiandeng County, hereby guarantee with my head that Physician Xue, a healer, would never harm anyone! There must be something fishy about this! Give me three days, and within three days, I will get to the bottom of this! If I cannot find out the truth, you may take my head!"

His voice trembled, his hands trembled, but the official hat he held up remained perfectly still.

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Immediately, someone sneered, "Officials protect each other; who can trust you?"

"Exactly! You're in cahoots with that vixen! Who knows how much you've been bribed!"

"Stop bringing up heads, unless you twist them off right now!"

"Those pills were sold by your government on behalf of that witch. Who would believe you if you vouched for them?"

The cursing started again, but it wasn't as intense as before.

Just then, a clear voice came from behind the crowd:

"What if we add my Golden Saber Sect to the mix?"

The crowd turned to look at the source of the sound and saw the group of young men in tight-fitting clothes and carrying swords walk in.

The leader was a young man in his early twenties, tall and straight, with thick eyebrows and large eyes. A long sword with a gold sheath hung at his waist. He walked steadily and had an extraordinary air about him. Behind him were seven or eight young men dressed similarly, each one spirited and full of vigor.

The young man approached, first bowing respectfully to Gu Guanqi, then cupping his hands in a salute to Zhou Mingyuan, before turning to face the crowd and proclaiming in a loud voice:

"I am Lin Qi, disciple of the Golden Saber Sect's leader. I have been sent by my master to investigate the truth of this matter!"

His appearance immediately caused a stir in the crowd.

"The Golden Saber Sect! It's someone from the Golden Saber Sect!"

"Lin Qi? Isn't he the eldest disciple of Wang Changfeng, the leader of the Golden Saber Sect?"

"Even the Golden Saber Sect has come forward to vouch for them, could there really be a misunderstanding?"

……

Lin Qi clasped his hands in a fist salute and looked around. His voice was clear and resonant: "Fellow elders and fellow martial artists, my Golden Saber Sect is willing to vouch for Physician Xue! This matter is fraught with doubts. Whether Physician Xue's pills were defective, and what caused the deaths of those who perished, all require thorough investigation!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the bound doctors and the corpses on the ground, his voice growing even louder: "My Golden Saber Sect has been established for over a hundred years, with deep roots in Qiandeng County. Even if you don't trust me, Lin Qi, you should at least trust the century-old reputation of my Golden Saber Sect! Within three days, my Golden Saber Sect will fully assist the authorities in investigating this case thoroughly! We will give the deceased justice and clear Physician Xue's name!"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere at the scene visibly relaxed.

The crowd, who had been shouting and cursing, looked at each other and gradually quieted down. The Golden Saber Sect held a deep prestige in Qiandeng County; its century-old reputation was not unfounded. In addition, a county magistrate holding up his official hat as a guarantor meant that both the martial arts world and the government were protecting Xue Fuling. In an instant, the crowd's momentum began to dissipate.

Just then, an old and deep voice rang out from the deepest part of the crowd:

"Since both the government and the Golden Knife Sect are willing to vouch for her, we might as well give Xue Fuling a chance to prove her innocence!"

The voice wasn't loud, yet it reached the ears of everyone present with crystal clarity. It carried an undeniable authority, like the tolling of a bell from an ancient temple deep in the mountains, pressing heavily on people's hearts.

The crowd automatically parted to make way for a wide path.

An elderly man slowly walked out from the crowd.

He was about sixty years old, tall, with a long beard that reached his chest and fluttered slightly in the wind. He wore a gray robe, faded from washing, yet clean and neat.

But his aura overwhelmed everyone present.

Those martial arts practitioners who had been so aggressive just moments before now all restrained their arrogance, clasped their hands in greeting, and showed great respect.

"Master Nie!"

"Heroic Elder Nie!"

"Senior Nie!"

The old man nodded slightly in response to everyone's greetings, and continued walking until he stopped in front of the sword mark.

He looked down at the sword marks on the ground, then at the Autumn Water Sword in Gu Guanqi's hand. His gaze lingered on the sword for a moment before shifting to Gu Guanqi's face.

His gaze was calm, even carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Lin Qi quickly stepped forward, respectfully clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Senior Nie, what brings you here?"

Zhou Mingyuan also stepped forward and bowed, his voice filled with respect: "Hero Nie."

Other martial arts practitioners also came to greet them.

This scene surprised Gu Guanqi.

At this moment,

Xue Fuling came out and whispered to Gu Guanqi, "This person is Nie Qingshan, the Mad Demon Staff, the number one martial arts master in Qingyang County. He has been chivalrous for decades, and his reputation for righteousness is far-reaching. He is generous and righteous, and his reputation is extremely high. His reputation even surpasses that of the four great sect leaders."

Furthermore, his martial arts skills are also very high; he is widely recognized as the number one person below the eleventh floor. He is a truly righteous and chivalrous person. When he speaks, few in the martial arts world of Qingyang County will disrespect him. You must not clash with him, otherwise, the people of the martial arts world could drown you with their spittle.

……

Upon hearing Xue Fuling's words, Gu Guanqi nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

At this moment, Nie Qingshan returned the greeting with a bow and then said loudly, "I was cultivating at home when I suddenly heard of such a big incident and so many deaths, so I came here to see for myself. People of the martial world should mind their own business, and since I am in Qingyang, I cannot stand idly by."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across Lin Qi and Zhou Mingyuan's faces, finally bowing to the crowd before slowly saying:

"Originally, I came here today specifically to help seek justice. However, since Magistrate Zhou and the Golden Saber Sect have vouched for us, I think we can give them three days. If they cannot provide an explanation after three days, I will come to seek justice for everyone. What do you all think?"

"Since Hero Nie has said so, our Siyang Gang agrees!"

"Our Funiu Sect is also willing to follow Master Nie's arrangements!"

"..."

Immediately, everyone expressed their agreement with Nie Qingshan's words.

Zhou Mingyuan breathed a sigh of relief and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you very much, Hero Nie, for rescuing me. I will definitely give you an explanation within three days!"

Nie Qingshan waved his hand, pointed at Xue Fuling, and said, "However, Xue Fuling must stay. Whether it's your county government's investigation or the Golden Saber Sect's investigation, she cannot leave this place for the next three days. Can you do that?"

Zhou Mingyuan and Lin Qi both looked at Xue Fuling.

Xue Fuling walked out from behind Gu Guanqi, her face as calm and expressionless as ever.

sometimes,

Gu Guanqi even wondered if there was anything in this world that could affect Xue Fuling's emotions.

Xue Fuling bowed slightly to Nie Qingshan and said, "Senior Nie, I can cooperate, but I must participate in the investigation. I need to see for myself why those pills killed people. Also, I find the matter of the Golden Spirit Grass being able to cure the plague very strange and need to find out more about it."

Nie Qingshan frowned slightly, his voice turning serious: "You're involved in the investigation? Doctor Xue, you're the person involved. How can the person involved investigate themselves? In the end, whether the investigation results are true or false is up to you."

Xue Fuling shook her head slightly and said, "Whether it is a misunderstanding or not, I don't really care that much. What I care more about is the epidemic, which concerns the lives of millions of people and is far more important than my own life or death."

Nie Qingshan said, "This can't be done by you. If you participate in the investigation, no one will trust the results. Besides, what if you take the opportunity to run away?"

Xue Fuling raised her head, looking directly at Nie Qingshan, her voice gentle yet firm: "Senior Nie, I am the Medical Officer of the Six Doors, and I receive a salary from the imperial court. With this official uniform on, I will not flee in fear of punishment. Besides, if I wanted to leave, I would have left just now, why wait until now?"

If you disagree with what I said, then I will also disagree with your arrangement, because I don't need to prove that I didn't commit a crime. Instead, you should find evidence to prove that I am guilty. Whether you say I cheated people out of money or that the pills killed people, please provide evidence.

I, Xue Fuling, am the Medical Director of the Six Doors, a rank-eight official. Even Magistrate Zhou has no authority to judge me; only the prefectural government can do so. And if the prefectural government wants to judge me, it must produce evidence, not just someone's word.

After all,

Xue Fuling looked directly at Nie Qingshan and said, "Senior Nie, I offered to investigate personally to give you face and to consider the grief of so many people who have lost their loved ones. It's not because I think you have the right to judge me. I'm not one of you martial arts practitioners, and your methods don't work on me."

Nie Qingshan's face darkened, and he said angrily, "Fine, fine, fine, what a Six Doors Medical Order! You use the government to intimidate people, you can intimidate others, but you can't intimidate me, Nie Qingshan! Don't even mention a mere medical order; even if it were a prince or nobleman, I, Nie Qingshan, would dare to risk my life to seek justice!"

Xue Fuling said, "Senior Nie, are you implying that I've already been convicted? Then where is the evidence? If you can't produce any evidence, what right do you have to restrict my freedom? I shouldn't have been able to testify myself, but out of concern for the deaths of so many people and for the possibility of even more deaths from the epidemic, I chose to conduct my own investigation to prove my innocence. But you won't allow me to do so, which is completely unreasonable!"

Nie Qingshan was furious and said, "You... talking nonsense! What a sharp-tongued girl! But if you want evidence, here are all these corpses, that's the evidence!"

"No," Xue Fuling said, "this is not evidence, this is just the facts of the case. The evidence is that you have to provide proof that they died from taking the pills. In addition, you also have to prove that the pills were fake pills that I made for profit."

Well, speaking of which, I no longer need to prove myself, because the county government can now prove that I only provided the prescription for the pills, and I did not participate in the entire production process, nor did I obtain any profit from it.

After all,

Xue Fuling looked at Zhou Mingyuan and asked, "Magistrate Zhou, can you produce this evidence?"

Zhou Mingyuan was slightly taken aback, then quickly replied, "Yes... we can! The entire process of making the pills is recorded, and the whereabouts of every penny are clear. I can send someone to retrieve it right now."

Xue Fuling nodded slightly, then looked at Nie Qingshan and asked calmly, "Senior Nie, are you planning to kidnap an official of the imperial court?"

Nie Qingshan: "You..."

Nie Qingshan's face turned pale, then flushed red. He flicked his sleeves, took a large step forward, and his inner force surged, causing the pebbles on the ground to tremble. His voice boomed like a great bell, making everyone's eardrums ring: "Fine, fine, I can't argue with you, but today I will definitely seek justice for those wronged souls. You say I want to kidnap an official of the imperial court, then I will kidnap him today. As for what happens afterward, the imperial court can come and collect my head!"

"Let's fight to the death! We'll die together! Count me in for justice today!"

"Senior Nie is right. At worst, it'll just leave a small scar. This vixen dares to abuse her official position to disregard human life. Well then, let her see what a commoner's rage can do!"

"Kill this witch!"

"..."

Immediately, public sentiment was aroused, and many martial arts practitioners echoed Nie Qingshan's sentiments.

Nie Qingshan declared loudly, "Others may fear your Six Doors, they may fear your Medicine King Valley, but I fear none! I have roamed the martial world for over forty years, relying solely on the principle of 'reason'! If you do not stay today, I will risk my life to ensure you do not leave even a step!"

As he spoke, he slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly spread, and a faint internal force surging in his palm.

Upon seeing this, Lin Qi's expression changed drastically. He quickly stepped forward, standing between the two, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Senior Nie, please calm down! Let's talk this out! Doctor Xue didn't mean it that way—"

"Step aside!" Nie Qingshan flicked his sleeve, pushing Lin Qi aside, his gaze still fixed on Xue Fuling. "Today I'll see who dares to stop me!"

then,

He stepped across the line drawn by Gu Guanqi.

"Who dares to stop me?"

He questioned again, his gaze falling on Gu Guanqi.