The Condor Heroes: The Quanzhen Sect has produced a vengeful master!

A smile appeared on Qin Jingshi's face.

"Then I shall have you guess my identity, Taoist priest?"

Wang Jiuling nodded and slowly said:

"Brother Qin speaks with exceptional eloquence. Even if you are not from an official family, you must be from a scholarly family."

"And you actually know the secrets of the border during the Song Dynasty, so there must be someone in your family who holds an official position."

Wang Jiuling looked at Qin Jingshi. "And when Brother Qin and I first met, you said you came from Sichuan."

But your accent sounds more like that of someone from Zhejiang province.

"Your name is probably a pseudonym, Qin Jingshi... If it's reversed, then your surname is Shi? Or perhaps it's a surname with the same pronunciation..."

"I know some of the prominent families in the Liangzhe region, but there is one that is the most famous."

"In my humble opinion, is your family the Shi family of Yin County, Liangzhe East Circuit?"

"Are you a relative of Shi Songzhi, the current prime minister?"

Qin Jingshi couldn't help but smile wryly after hearing Wang Jiuling's words.

"This person truly possesses extraordinary knowledge!"

He bowed to Wang Jiuling with his hands clasped in greeting.

"To be honest, Daoist Master, my name is Shi Jingqing, and I am from Yin County."

"I'm not afraid to admit it, but the current Prime Minister Shi is none other than my uncle!"

"Six months ago, I couldn't stand my uncle's autocratic ways and his attempts to consolidate power, so I offered some advice. But my good words were of no use and I was instead scolded and ignored."

"Sigh! I ran here in a fit of anger."

He greatly respected Wang Jiuling.

"I have heard of the esteemed Master Qingyang before, and now, hearing your words, I can see that your great reputation is indeed well-deserved!"

"To have met you in person, Jingqing has no regrets in this life!"

"My uncle was autocratic and power-hungry, which caused the reputation of historians to plummet."

Shi Jingqing looked embarrassed, his face even turning slightly red. "When I'm out and about, I'm truly ashamed to reveal my name, so I've kept it from you..."

It's really hard for someone to fake their "awkwardness".

Looking at Shi Jingqing in front of him, Wang Jiuling thought to himself, "So that's how it is," and felt quite impressed.

Shi Songzhi was appointed Right Chancellor and enjoyed the trust of Emperor Zhao, making him extremely powerful.

Although the historian's reputation plummeted as a result, he reached the pinnacle of power and prestige.

It's fair to say that even a dog in front of the Shi family's gate is someone countless people would want to grovel before.

Shi Jingqing was Shi Song's nephew, and this relationship alone was enough for him to enjoy endless wealth and honor.

Even if one wanted to become an official, the path ahead was smooth sailing.

But this guy, instead of having a good life, insisted on falling out with his uncle and coming to this border region to suffer.

Judging from the dry, rough skin on the back of his hands, he had obviously been here for more than just a day or two.

Wang Jiuling pointed to the table.

"But now that you've left the Shi family, you can only afford the cheapest side dishes. Don't you regret it?"

Shi Jingqing shook his head decisively.

"Starving to death is a small matter, but losing one's integrity is a great matter. I am unwilling to associate with them."

"Besides, how could I, a dignified man, possibly starve to death?"

Shi Jingqing looked at Wang Jiuling. "Your Excellency's chivalrous deeds and reputation have spread throughout the Central Plains; I truly envy you."

Wang Jiuling chuckled. "In the rise and fall of dynasties, it is always the common people who suffer the most. I am merely offering my assistance."

As he spoke, he and Shi Jingqing exchanged glances.

"A great man's ambition should be like the Yangtze River, flowing eastward to the sea. Why then, Brother Shi, are you confined to this small place, wasting your days?"

"You are learned, knowledgeable, and aware of the nation's plight. Why not put your ambitions to use?"

Shi Jingqing sighed and picked up his wine glass.

"What you said is true. I have wasted too long here. Now that I have met you, it is fate. I should go back."

Wang Jiuling also picked up his wine glass.

"Brother Shi, you possess such integrity that I dare not presume to call myself a true gentleman. How about I address you as Brother Shi from now on, and you address me as Brother Wang?"

"Haha! Great! It's my honor!"

The two raised their glasses and chatted. Shi Jingqing had truly found a kindred spirit and poured out his grievances.

During the conversation, when Shi Songzhi came up, Shi Jingqing learned that Wang Jiuling and Shi Songzhi also had a conflict, which made him quite embarrassed.

At the counter, Rolling Dragon and another shop assistant glanced at Wang Jiuling and his companion in the corner and couldn't help but smile.

"I must say, that was a really clever move of yours. By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late for them to escape."

In the distance, Timur was drinking with his Mongol soldiers when he inadvertently turned around and met the gaze of Rolling Dragon.

Everything seemed to be under their control.

But the worst thing a person can do is underestimate others.

Too much confidence can turn into arrogance.

...

The next morning, Wang Jiuling noticed something was wrong.

On the second floor, Wang Jiuling and Shi Jingqing looked downstairs.

"Brother Shi, the medicine has been burnt three times since yesterday, hasn't it?"

I can smell the burning.

"The shopkeeper is seriously ill, but they don't seem to care much. This medicine is burnt; it could make people sick..."

On the other side, Shi Jingqing was also stroking his chin.

There is only one explanation: they lied, and the shopkeeper is not sick.

"And what about the others?"

Both of them considered the worst-case scenario.

"Just when he was supposed to meet us, he disappeared. What a coincidence..."

Wang Jiuling tapped his fingers on the railing, his gaze fixed on the boiling medicine on the iron stove downstairs. "First, let's rule out the possibility that the shopkeeper intends to harm us; otherwise, Brother Shi, you wouldn't have returned safely that night."

"Since he didn't hide on his own initiative, then someone is preventing him from showing himself. In a place like this, we have to think the worst; perhaps he's already dead."

Shi Jingqing nodded. "If his disappearance is related to seeing me, then it can only have been done by one person."

"That commander of a thousand households!"

"Only he had a motive to harm the shopkeeper; no one else had any reason to do so!"

"But why are those guys trying to cover it up...?"

Shi Jingqing looked up, the two exchanged a glance, and both laughed.

"Perhaps we were wrong before. We wanted to use one tiger to devour another, but what if the wolf and the tiger were allies from the beginning..."

"At least these guys are in cahoots with that commander."

Wang Jiuling turned around and went downstairs. Shi Jingqing followed, and the two talked in hushed tones.

"Brother Wang, what do you intend to do?"

"We can't wait any longer; they must be hatching some plan."

The shopkeeper's disappearance, whatever the reason, is not good news for us.

However, this could also be an opportunity to break the deadlock.

"We'll blast open the surface of the water first, and then it'll be immediately clear what kind of fish are underneath."

"Brother Shi, how about this..."

During lunchtime, the atmosphere in the lobby on the first floor started to feel off.

Some people were whispering.

"I heard the people at the next table say that the shopkeeper has been murdered!"

"What? Who did this?"

"I don't know! I didn't hear you!"

...

"Have you heard? It seems the shopkeeper is secretly planning to rob us!"

"They say this inn is full of traps; they're trying to harm us!"

"No way? There are so many of us? And what about those Mongol soldiers!"

"Oh dear! You underestimate those who run shady shops! What wouldn't they do? After this heist, they'll definitely run away!"

In the morning, it was just a few people talking about it privately, but by the afternoon, the news had spread by word of mouth throughout the entire large inn.

There are different opinions.

But they all share a central argument: the shopkeeper's disappearance is not a good thing.

Previously, many people only wanted to see Wang Jiuling stand out, but now many people are starting to get restless.

Most people feared Wang Jiuling's ruthless killing, but some with a sense of crisis approached him.

They subtly praised his martial arts skills, hoping he would step forward and communicate with the inn.