That wretched vixen has disguised herself as my wife!

Aqing didn't speak, turned her face away, and pretended not to hear.

Jiang Jingming really wanted to laugh.

On the way here, Aqing had already told him the results of her investigation into the bandits over the past few days.

They were indeed entrusted by someone to go into Mangya to find someone, but the person who entrusted them did not tell them directly who they were looking for, and they did not know the true identity of the person who entrusted them.

"They just said he was a big shot they couldn't afford to offend."

After thinking for a moment, Aqing said this.

She stopped there, making no mention of silencing them.

Therefore, she would naturally not admit that the head at the city gate was her handiwork.

Jiang Jingming didn't expose her, but would often tease her about it.

The scope of the "important figure" that the bandits mentioned is too broad and cannot be considered a clue that can be investigated.

It could be an official, a wealthy merchant, or a master from the righteous alliance.

As for why he wanted to go to Zhongzhou, Jiang Jingming kept it brief.

"There was a demoness who destroyed a sect called Tingpu Manor, and then left behind the title of the young master's wife of the Duyue Sect."

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a wave of murderous intent wash over him.

The source of the murderous aura remained with lowered eyes and a leisurely twirling of the horse's reins in his hand.

A suffocating feeling, like being coiled by a python.

"In short, our purpose in going to Zhongzhou this time is to investigate the massacre of the entire family and capture this witch."

Jiang Jingming coughed and quickly dropped the matter of "Madam".

The two entered the city and dismounted to walk.

Jiang Jingming and A Qing changed their clothes before setting off this morning.

Song Niangzi's packed bundle was like a treasure bag; she even prepared Aqing's clothes.

Although Jiang Jingming beat up Tang Zao under the pretext of "who says someone named A Qing has to wear blue", A Qing is actually very suitable for blue.

Quiet and peaceful, like a wisp of spring rain.

Jiang Jingming chose a moon-white robe for himself and tied his hair up with a gold and jade belt.

Aqing straightened his collar and gave him a fair assessment.

He now looks like a spoiled brat who has read a few books, and even the Wujiu sword at his waist, which was originally full of murderous intent, looks like an unsharpened ornamental knife.

This was clearly a very useful identity, and Jiang Jingming readily accepted it.

The two men led their horses into the city, looking like wealthy young masters taking a leisurely stroll with their maids.

The setting sun shone on the bustling long street, where carpet stalls displayed real and fake colorful jade stones, and the aroma of spices mingled with the fragrance of fried naan bread.

"Let's find a place to rest first, and tomorrow we'll inquire about any caravans heading to the Posuo River."

Jiang Jingming had thought it over. The route from Shulan City to Posuo River was unfamiliar to them and would not be easy to travel.

Although the bandit gangs haven't dared to cause trouble recently, the tangled and confusing road junctions are still a major problem.

Without someone to guide you, you might travel for days and end up in some strange place like Abdullah Abbas village.

Fortunately, Shulan City has no shortage of caravans all year round, and these businessmen usually don't hesitate to take a few passersby with them, as a way of doing good deeds.

Just as Aqing was about to reply that she would, she heard a series of chaotic footsteps behind the two of them, mixed with a few angry curses.

She turned slightly to the side and retreated into the shadows.

Jiang Jingming leaned against the saddle, looking towards the source of the chaos at the end of the street.

A woman dressed in linen clothes, carrying a child of about three or four years old, stumbled through the bustling market and ran towards the two of them.

Behind her followed closely several burly men who looked like servants, holding long sticks and looking fierce.

The burly man was briefly slowed down by the goods the woman knocked over along the way. He chased her all the way to the street before seizing the opportunity to kick her hard in the back.

The woman lost her balance and fell forward, crashing heavily to the ground along with the child in her arms.

The child fell hard, grabbed the woman's hand, and burst into tears.

Several burly men quickly surrounded the two men and sneered.

"Do you think you can escape? What kind of place is Shulan City? Does it allow you to run wild?"

Knowing that escape was hopeless, the woman had no choice but to kneel on the ground, kowtowing with tears in her eyes.

"My lords, my husband truly did not steal the master's money! He has been honest his whole life, how could he have such audacity? You arrested him and threw him in jail, and he hanged himself to prove his innocence! Does the master still refuse to let us, a widow and her orphan, go?"

"Ha! You're such a funny woman. If he hadn't stolen the money, why would he have felt guilty and hanged himself?"

The servants exchanged a glance and then burst into laughter.

The passersby were clearly used to such scenes; they simply clicked their tongues in amazement and went on their way.

The woman banged her head against the ground repeatedly, blood flowing down her face, but she seemed oblivious, only muttering to herself.

"Please, sir, spare us! My eldest son is already dead. I would rather die than send my child to pay off debts! Please, sir, have mercy..."

"Then go die! You can go see your eldest son on your way to the underworld!"

The servants deliberately stuck out their tongues, imitating the hanged ghost.

Jiang Jingming sighed softly.

He had already sensed a gaze fixed on him from the corner for a long time.

It's hard to ignore such a gaze, like a kitten that keeps tilting its head and looking at you. Even if you know it's going to destroy the house next, you can't stop it from doing so.

Jiang Jingming nodded.

The next second, the servants' vision went black, and a sharp pain shot through their mouths. Looking down, they saw several pieces of soft flesh writhing on the ground.

Their tongues were all cut off in an instant.

Aqing sheathed her sword, finished her business, and walked away calmly.

No one saw how she drew her sword; they only vaguely felt a flash of light pass before their eyes, like a thunderclap in broad daylight.

One by one, the servants knelt down, their throats filled with blood. The intense pain made them gag on the ground, but they could not make a sound.

A servant who arrived late stared in disbelief at the scene before him.

"Murder! Murder!!!"

Then, waving his arms in terror, he rushed into the crowd, screaming.

Passersby quickly moved aside, thinking he was some kind of madman.

In the midst of such chaos, a sweet voice suddenly responded to him.

“Bold bold bold!”

Jiang Jingming looked up at the sound and saw a girl in pink standing with her hands on her hips, raising her chin proudly.

"The Divine Capital Guards are here! Who dares to act recklessly!"

The last rays of the setting sun fell precisely on her, turning her eyes and brows golden.

It was as if it illuminated a tree full of blooming peach blossoms.

It was truly strange that such bright eyes existed in the world; Jiang Jingming was momentarily stunned.

Chapter Eighteen: The Righteous Journey

"Master of Clear Broth!"

The servant knelt down with a thud.

"Look! Someone is committing a heinous crime in the middle of the street, cutting out a person's tongue. They are utterly devoid of conscience!"

He clung tightly to the leg of a burly, bearded man passing by, tearfully making his accusations.

"Hey! Who are you talking to! I'm the one who's here to save you!!"

The girl in pink glared at him and jumped in front of him, puffing out her cheeks.

"I am a special envoy of the Divine Capital Guard! You, you, you, what grievance do you have? Speak boldly!"

The servant looked her up and down, clearly not believing her story at all.

This little girl, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, had bright, kind eyes and a childlike innocence, like a rich young lady who had run away from home to play.

It's believable that she's a princess in the palace, but to say she's a member of the Imperial Guard is a bit of a joke.

Although this is Yongzhou, the reputation of the Divine Capital Guard is renowned wherever they go. As long as they reveal their identities, local officials will definitely bow and scrape to welcome them.

This is because the Divine Capital Guard is the only sect in the Righteous Path Alliance that is closely connected with the imperial court, openly investigating unsolved cases and secretly observing all living beings.

Therefore, the servants could not believe that the Lord of the Divine Capital Guard was actually a little girl in pink.

The two stared at each other, locked in a stalemate for a long time.

The servant still clung to the leg of the passing elder brother, refusing to let go.

The girl in pink took a deep breath, drew her sword with a "whoosh," and pointed it straight at the servant's throat.

"Are you going to tell me or not! What exactly happened?!"

The way she drew her sword clearly showed she was a skilled swordsman, and the long sword, covered in frost and snow and exuding a chilling aura, was no ordinary weapon.

The servants were so frightened that they froze on the spot, too afraid to move.

Although he felt that this old lady was more like a female bandit than a member of the Divine Capital Guard, he could only speak in a trembling voice.

"Heroine, it seems the murderer has already escaped..."

"what?!"

......

A dark alley where the sun never shines.

The Divine Capital Guard.

Jiang Jingming stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Back when he was still the young sect leader, he didn't have the qualifications to practice swordsmanship, so he lived alone in a separate courtyard, and the only way he could pass the time was by reading.

Therefore, I have a basic understanding of the general situation of the world.

The Righteous Alliance consists of five sects located throughout the Central Plains.

The Divine Capital Guard of the capital, the Washing Spring Sword Sect of Zhige City, the Listening Waterfall Manor of Fengling City, the Dragon Hidden Zen Temple of Yideng City, and the Cloud-Slaying Tower of Qunlu City.

While the Xiquan Sword Sect is undoubtedly the strongest in terms of martial prowess, the true core of the sect is the Divine Capital Guard.

After all, what an organization like the Righteous Alliance needs most is the recognition of the imperial court and the people of the world, in order to prove that they are the people's support.

Although Yongzhou was far from the emperor's reach, it was more like an autonomous local lord, and when necessary, it was still subject to imperial control.

Therefore, the Divine Capital Guard also had the power of arrest and interrogation in Yongzhou.

The question is, if that girl really is a member of the Divine Capital Guard, what is she doing in Shulan City at this time?

Shouldn't the Divine Capital Guard be busy investigating the massacre of the Waterfall Manor right now?

"Little Lord."

Aqing gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Ok?"

Jiang Jingming turned around and realized that the mother and son had been following behind them, looking anxious and hesitant.

"My benefactor!"

When the woman saw him turn around, she quickly pulled the child down to kneel down with her.

"There's no need for that."

Jiang Jingming turned the blade diagonally and lifted the two of them up together.

"I didn't explain clearly earlier, why were those people chasing you and your daughter so relentlessly?"