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

Throughout the journey, Gu Guanqi kept a close eye on his surroundings and did not find any signs of being followed.

Gu Guanqi guessed that Nangong Yin probably knew that his martial arts skills were not bad and was worried that he would notice something was wrong, so she did not dare to send someone to follow him rashly.

However, this is for the best.

He was given a chance.

Having someone constantly tracking you makes things more complicated.

Upon entering the county town, he first went to the pharmacy to get the medicine according to the prescription given by Fang Cunxin. Then, on his way to the inn, he ran into several familiar constables from the Six Doors. After exchanging greetings, he took the opportunity to ask them to help him invite Yan Wangchuan to meet him.

Afterwards, Gu Guanqi carried the medicine bag and walked towards the inn as if nothing had happened.

The moment he pushed open the door to the inn, he saw Yan Wangchuan sitting inside.

"Commander Yan, I've found Chief Escort Fang!"

Gu Guanqi closed the door, walked to the table and sat down. Without beating around the bush, he recounted Xiao Bieshan's confession from beginning to end.

Yan Wangchuan wasn't surprised after hearing this, and said, "Just as I expected, it was Xiao Dongshan and his son who betrayed the Xiao family. I also suspected there was a third-party force behind it, but I didn't expect it to be such a big fish—Nangong Yin, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Sect!"

Gu Guanqi asked, "Does Commander Yan know anything about this Nangong Yin?"

"It's hard not to know," Yan Wangchuan said. "Among the six sects of the demonic path, the Heavenly Demon Sect is the most high-profile. The other demonic sects are all hiding in their own territories and living a life of hiding. Only the Heavenly Demon Sect is always jumping around and has caused several wars between the righteous and the demonic. However, the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Sect is too mysterious. Even the imperial court has failed to suppress it several times."

However, after the great purge eight years ago, the Heavenly Demon Sect became much more low-key and dared not openly establish any more branches. They were quiet for quite some time, but in the last two years, the Heavenly Demon Sect has become active in the martial arts world again, mainly due to two people: the Holy Son Ji Xianyun and the Holy Daughter Nangong Yin.

Ji Xianyun is ranked seventeenth on the Qilin List, and Nangong Yin is ranked twenty-third. Both of them are madmen. If Ji Xianyun kills a famous martial arts master, Nangong Yin will immediately kill two. If Nangong Yin steals a treasure, Ji Xianyun will not hesitate to slaughter a village and exterminate a clan to steal an even more powerful one.

However, these two have always operated in the northern frontier, a place teeming with all sorts of people and located at the border of three kingdoms, where the jurisdiction of each kingdom is relatively weak. Therefore, they have always evaded the law. Now, to make matters worse, these two have actually come to the interior; they've got some nerve!

Gu Guanqi asked, "What are Commander Yan's plans?"

Yan Wangchuan said, "A few days ago, after learning from you that Ji Xianyun had arrived in Linzhong County, I immediately notified the Qingzhou Six Doors headquarters, and Chief Constable Qin Ze personally led a team here!"

Gu Guanqi raised an eyebrow and said, "Qin Ze, the Thousand-Handed Venerable?"

"right."

Gu Guanqi had heard of Qin Ze's name. He was the head of the Six Doors in Qingzhou and one of the most powerful grandmasters in Qingzhou. He was the Thousand-Hand Venerable among the Three Venerables and Four Sects. His name came from his famous technique, the Thousand-Fold Nine Venerable Palm. It is said that his palm technique was unparalleled and terrifyingly powerful. One palm could destroy walls and houses. Moreover, one palm could strike a thousand times, making it impossible to defend against!

"Has Chief Constable Qin arrived yet?" Gu Guanqi asked.

"Not yet," Yan Wangchuan said. "He won't arrive until tomorrow or the day after, but that's not important for now. Let's rescue Chief Escort Fang first. As for Nangong Yin, the two of us working together should be able to fight him!"

Gu Guanqi frowned slightly and said, "Commander Yan, you are one of the eight great heroes of Qingzhou, why would you be afraid of a mere Nangong Yin?"

"Hey," Yan Wangchuan quickly waved his hand and said, "My reputation is just something people in the martial arts world have given me. Besides, I'm already over sixty years old. How could I possibly fight her? Nangong Yin is young and strong, and she cultivates the evil arts of the Heavenly Demon Sect. We must not underestimate her. Please don't underestimate her, Master Gu!"

Gu Guanqi quickly asked, "So what are you planning to do?"

Yan Wangchuan said, "Master Gu, you go back first and lure them away. I'll lead men to follow behind and set up an ambush. Then we'll seize the opportunity to strike. But remember, rescuing them is the priority. If Nangong Yin wants to run, let her run. Be careful!"

Gu Guanqi looked at Yan Wangchuan, feeling a strange unease in her heart.

In his memory, Yan Wangchuan was one of the eight heroes of Qingzhou and the number one expert in Qingyang County. He went to Qingyang County at the age of forty and, with just his sword, carved out order from the chaotic Jianghu of Qingyang. Even now, after many years without making a move, his reputation alone is enough to keep the Jianghu in the area from acting recklessly. No one doubts his strength.

Yan Wangchuan seemed to sense Gu Guanqi's mood and said with a smile, "Master Gu, your generation probably grew up listening to my stories, so it's a little hard for you to accept my way of doing things."

But this is who I am. I'm old now, over sixty. How can I stay at my peak forever? If I were still strong enough, where would that girl Shen Qingqiu get her chance to shine? No one can win forever, because no one can win against time, no one can escape the ravages of age and aging.

As he spoke, he slowly stood up, patted Gu Guanqi on the shoulder, and said, "The future always belongs to the young!"

Gu Guanqi stood up, said nothing, simply cupped his hands in greeting, and left.

By the time we returned to the mountain god temple, it was already dark.

Inside the temple, the fire was burning brightly, and orange-red light shone through the dilapidated windows.

Fang Cunxin was standing guard beside Fang Shiyang, Xiao Dongshan was sitting by the fire, and Lan Yin and Jin Chang were standing under a tree outside the temple. When they saw him return, their eyes all fell on him.

"Brother Gu, did you get the medicine?" Fang Cunxin quickly got up and asked.

Gu Guanqi handed over the medicinal herbs and asked, "Where's Xiao Bieshan? Has he returned?"

Everyone immediately stood up, and Xiao Dongshan said urgently, "Master Gu, don't slap me! Aren't we with you?"

Gu Guanqi's expression changed drastically instantly. He said, "Something might have happened!"

Xiao Dongshan quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

Gu Guanqi lowered his voice and said, "Xiao Bieshan and I went down the mountain together. He couldn't easily enter the city, fearing the Six Doors would notice, so he waited for me at the foot of the mountain. But when I returned, I found he was gone. I searched along the mountain path for a long time but couldn't find him. I thought he had returned; if he hadn't, something must have happened!"

Xiao Dongshan's expression changed drastically: "What if the fan disappeared?"

Gu Guanqi nodded, his expression grave: "I suspect he might have been arrested, or... something else happened and he escaped, but in any case, this place is probably no longer safe."

At this moment, Lan Yin walked to the doorway, leaned against the doorframe, crossed her arms, her face expressionless, but her voice carried a hint of concern: "Master Gu is right. Xiao Bieshan's sudden disappearance, whether he was captured or is on the run, means this place will be exposed sooner or later. In my opinion, it's best to move as soon as possible. Otherwise, if Yan Wangchuan arrives, under the Six Doors' command, I'm afraid Chief Escort Fang will never have a chance to wake up again!"

"Let's go, let's go now!"

Fang Cunxin quickly turned around and walked to Fang Shiyang's side, squatted down and carried Fang Shiyang on her back.

Fang Cunxin possessed superhuman strength, carrying Fang Shiyang on her back effortlessly and steadily.

Xiao Dongshan quickly tidied up the medicine jars and other miscellaneous items on the ground.

Gu Guanqi, sword in hand, walked towards Lan Yin and asked, "Lady Lan, you've fought Yan Wangchuan before. Just how skilled is he?"

Lan Yin thought for a moment and said, "His martial arts skills are very high. If we want to deal with him, we'll probably have to join forces..."

Just then—

A flash of sword light appeared.

Gu Guanqi's Autumn Water Sword was instantly drawn, and in a flash, a cold arc of light exploded in the setting sun, heading straight for Lan Yin's throat.