From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

"Greetings, sir."

In the study, Jin Bingren, Zhou Bingzhi, and Chen Shi were all present.

What's the matter that requires us to call all three of them here?

Chen Shi glanced at Jin and Zhou, who seemed to be unaware of the situation as well.

Gu Tingshu sat there, holding a portrait in his hand and examining it. After pondering for a long time, he finally placed it on the table.

"Take a look."

"Yes."

The three men stepped forward in response, craning their necks to look, and were all taken aback.

Dragon head, deer antlers, lion tail, ox hooves, covered in scales, and radiating auspicious light!

"Qilin!"

"Young Qilin".

Gu Tingshu nodded and then corrected him.

Whether it's a young Qilin or an adult Qilin, they are all legendary mythical beasts.

The three exchanged glances, all looking puzzled. Why was the master showing them the image of the Qilin?

"This young Qilin has recently been in the Yongqiu area."

"What?"

Upon hearing Gu Tingshu's words, the three of them widened their eyes again.

The legendary mythical beasts actually exist!

No, it should be said that it still exists today.

Dragons, phoenixes, and qilins—these so-called mythical beasts are actually just powerful mythical creatures.

Although exotic beasts are rare in this world, they are only relative to ordinary wild animals; in fact, their numbers are not small.

There are many in Yongqiu Mountain.

However, mythical beasts such as dragons, phoenixes, and qilins have been extinct for hundreds of years and now only exist in stories and legends.

Unexpectedly, there was a young Qilin, and it was located in Yongqiu.

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Grab it."

Gu Tingshu tapped the portrait with his fingers and said in a deep voice.

really.

The three exchanged a glance, all with serious expressions.

As expected, the master intends to capture the Qilin.

Although the beasts are fierce, they are also extremely valuable.

In the simplest terms, the blood of exotic beasts can help martial artists quickly improve their cultivation.

In fact, every part of a mythical beast is a treasure, not just its blood, and this is especially true for higher-level mythical beasts.

As a divine beast at the pinnacle of mythical creatures, its value is immeasurable.

Now that this rare Qilin has come to the territory of Yongqiu, how could Gu Tingshu let it go?

However, this is a Qilin, and even if it hasn't grown up, it is probably not comparable to ordinary beasts.

Catching it won't be easy.

"Master, do you know exactly where this young Qilin is now?"

After a moment's hesitation, Kim Byung-in asked a question.

Putting aside whether it's easy to catch or not, the first thing we need to know is where it is.

"I don't know."

Gu Tingshu shook his head slightly, then looked at the three of them.

"So your immediate priority is to find this young Qilin!"

"……yes."

The three hesitated slightly, then readily accepted the order.

Mythical beasts such as dragons, phoenixes, and qilin are said to be extinct, but not extinct. There must still be a few remaining, but they rarely appear in front of people.

To be able to do this, one must possess extraordinary supernatural abilities to hide. Therefore, finding them would be incredibly difficult.

But since Gu Tingshu had already spoken, they could only try their best to find him.

Although the Qilin were powerful, they, as the chief stewards of the Marquis's mansion, were no ordinary people either.

"We must find it, and then catch it!"

Gu Tingshu looked at the three of them with an extremely serious expression.

"yes!"

The three responded again, their expressions suddenly becoming serious.

If he were only after the value of the Qilin, Gu Tingshu wouldn't be in such a hurry.

There are probably other important reasons behind this.

After hearing the instructions, the three took their leave.

After leaving the study, they each hurried away, trying to find the young Qilin.

"pity."

On the way back to the Likin Hall, Chen Shi couldn't help but shake his head secretly.

He happened to have mastered the art of tracking, but unfortunately, he needed the target's skin or personal belongings to track them.

There is only one portrait, and no scales or other details of the young Qilin, so it is impossible to find it.

Or, see if you can get your hands on even a tiny bit of it.

For example, try looking in the places where baby Qilin were found.

Since they know the young Qilin is in Yongqiu, someone must have seen it somewhere.

"Steward, the First Madam requests your presence."

As soon as I returned to the Likin Hall, I heard the servant report.

"The First Madam?"

Chen Shi frowned and asked a question.

"You mean the First Madam, not the Second Madam."

"It's the First Madam."

"understood."

Chen Shi frowned slightly. What did Li Qinghan want with him?

Because Chen Shi held leverage over her, Li Qinghan usually avoided him at all costs.

However, you'll know once you go and see for yourself.

Without delay, Chen Shi went directly to Li Qinghan in the inner courtyard.

Li Qinghan dismissed all the servants, glanced at Chen Shi who had found a place to sit down, and said coldly.

"There's a mission at the branch altar."

"So it was about the Fufeng Association."

Chen Shi snorted softly, looking at Li Qinghan with great interest.

"Since it's a matter for the Fufeng Association, why didn't you contact me privately?"

"That's too much trouble, isn't this the same?"

"That's true."

Chen Shi nodded and smiled again.

Previously, as a member of the second wife's family, and especially since he had a grudge against the first wife's family, if Li Qinghan were to visit him alone, he would definitely arouse suspicion from others.

But things are different now; Chen Shi is now the chief steward.

As the head steward overseeing the entire household, it was inevitable that he would have some interactions with the First Madam, and no one would think much of it.

However, in Chen Shi's view, Li Qinghan's intentions were probably not simply to avoid trouble, but rather to warn him that his status had changed.

In a life-or-death struggle, those in power often yield to those in lower positions because they are more reluctant to give up anything and value their lives more, while those in lower positions have nothing and are therefore more willing to fight desperately.

This is precisely why Chen Shi was able to manipulate and threaten Li Qinghan before.

But now he is also the chief steward of the Marquis's mansion. Although his status is still far inferior to Li Qinghan's, he has many more things he is reluctant to part with.

Given this, would you still dare to fight Li Qinghan to the death?

"What is it? Tell me quickly."

Chen Shi urged him on, his gaze toward Li Qinghan gradually darkening.

Li Qinghan smiled before speaking.

"The altar master has ordered everyone to capture the young Qilin with all their might, saying there's a Qilin cub that's been found recently..."

"The Fufeng Society also wants to capture the young Qilin!"

Chen Shi interrupted Li Qinghan, his face full of surprise.

The Fufeng Association has also received the news.

"Oh, by the way, Gu Tingshu should have already contacted you."

Li Qinghan lightly patted her forehead, only then remembering.

"We must capture the Qilin no matter what."

Chen Shi frowned slightly and asked Li Qinghan directly.

"What exactly is the use of this Qilin?"

"Don't you know? Hehe, it's extremely useful."

Li Qinghan chuckled twice, then his expression suddenly turned serious.

"His Majesty wants to use the blood of a Qilin to concoct medicine!"

"emperor!"

Chen Shi's eyes widened, and he suddenly realized.

"No wonder the Marquis is in such a hurry; it turns out he wants to curry favor with the Emperor."

"You're only half right. It is indeed flattery of the Emperor, but not the Marquis, but the Crown Prince."

Li Qinghan smiled slightly and said leisurely.

"Recently, rumors have been circulating in the palace that the Emperor intends to depose the Crown Prince. Therefore, His Highness the Crown Prince urgently needs to use this Qilin to demonstrate filial piety and win back the Emperor's favor."

"So that's how it is."

Chen Shi opened his mouth, his face full of astonishment. The affairs of the court were far more complicated than he had imagined.

After a moment, he came to his senses and couldn't help but smile. What did the power struggles in the court and who the crown prince was have to do with him?

However, capturing the Qilin would be an opportunity for him.