“What’s the matter? Can I be of any help?” Wang Zai asked, puzzled.
Meng Qi smiled slightly, “It’s nothing really. I’ve just been studying some ancient texts lately and came across several unfamiliar place names. I wanted to figure out where they correspond to today. As you know, Wang Xiong, I’m a wandering cultivator, cut off from the outside world, and it’s rare to have the Bai and Mi families owing me a favor. How could I not make the most of it?”
“What are these place names?” Wang Zai asked, sensibly refraining from inquiring why Meng Qi had suddenly taken an interest in ancient texts. Generally speaking, seeking out ancient place names often meant searching for ruins or hidden treasures. Delving too deeply could easily damage relationships, so people would speak only when necessary.
“Moreover, nine out of ten such efforts yield nothing. With the passage of time and the transformation of landscapes, aside from a few landmark locations, the ancient geography is now completely different from what it was.”
“Wuzhi Mountain, Wuyou Valley, Xinghui Lake…” Meng Qi rattled off a list of place names, deliberately mixing in Wuyou Valley to obscure his true purpose.
He wasn’t just making these names up randomly. To search for the Wuyou Valley connected to the mystery of Zhenwu, he had indeed studied related ancient texts and memorized numerous ancient place names. However, limited by the generally ordinary ancient texts he could access, he had failed to find any clues about Wuyou Valley.
“Wuzhi Mountain… Never heard of it… Wuyou Valley seems to be an ancient secret location, but its exact whereabouts are unknown… Xinghui Lake should be near Beizhou Lulong, now known as Yingyue Pond…” Wang Zai mused aloud.
Could Wuyou Valley really exist in the main world… Meng Qi had asked casually, with a hidden agenda, never expecting to receive such definite information.
He believed Wang Zai, who cultivated the “Righteous Qi of Heaven and Earth,” wouldn’t deliberately lie, though he might be restricted by family rules from revealing details.
After recalling what he could, Wang Zai apologized, “I don’t have much interest in ancient matters. I only occasionally flipped through a few ancient texts. Why don’t you ask Zijing again?”
Mi Zijing was just instructing his clansmen and guards to interrogate the members of Jianwu when he suddenly saw Meng Qi return, and asked in surprise and suspicion, “Young Master Su, have you found a clue?”
Meng Qi’s smile was radiant, his teeth gleaming white, “Master Mi, isn’t it true that both the Bai and Mi families owe me a favor regarding the Seventh Aunt incident?”
“Eh?” Mi Zijing wasn’t trying to deny it, but was taken aback. Such favors were usually understood without being spoken of directly. To ask for it so openly seemed overly brazen.
Meng Qi smiled and said, “Master Mi, I’ve always been straightforward. I say what I think and ask for what I want without pretense or false humility.”
Although his tone was clearly playful, Mi Zijing still wiped a cold sweat from his brow. “Kuang Dao” Su Meng indeed never did things the usual way, “What kind of reward are you seeking, Young Master Su?”
Meng Qi repeated the same story he had told Wang Zai. Mi Zijing relaxed slightly, as it was within his authority to handle, so he instructed the steward to oversee the interrogation and personally took Meng Qi to the “Shi Xue Lou” (Worldly Learning Pavilion).
After waiting for a while in a pavilion nearby, Meng Qi received the information from Mi Zijing, who had consulted with the elder in charge of the pavilion. The details were more comprehensive than what Wang Zai had provided. Several previously unknown locations were now identified, though Wuyou Valley remained elusive.
“Are there any other places where I can look up these place names?” Meng Qi asked deliberately, feigning concern.
Seeing the incomplete information, Mi Zijing felt somewhat apologetic and sincerely replied, “The Bai family has a longer heritage and likely possesses more ancient texts. However, their regulations are strict, and I can’t enter without permission. I’ll make inquiries for you first, and in a couple of days, I should have some results for you.”
Meng Qi “pondered” for a moment before half-jokingly asking, “Master Mi, thank you for your kindness. Do you happen to have connections with the Six Gates in Yingtian City? I’ve heard they have many ancient texts.”
The Six Gates did not solely represent imperial authority; they were also infiltrated by aristocratic families, and it was not uncommon for influential figures within to come from top clans. The Mi family, being related to the imperial court by marriage, naturally had no difficulty in establishing connections with the Six Gates in Yingtian City.
After thinking for a moment, Mi Zijing replied, “The county office’s Qian Yin Zhang and Shu Qing Shou both owe our family a few favors. Since Young Master Su wishes to borrow some ancient texts, I’ll take you there right away.”
Wang Zai had other matters to attend to and did not follow. Meng Qi and Mi Zijing soon made their way through the streets and alleys to the Yingtian City branch of the Six Gates.
As dusk approached, the on-duty officer was indeed Shu Changxiao, mentioned by Mi Zijing. Upon hearing their request and seeing it was not a matter of concern, he casually waved them in, letting Meng Qi enter the ancient text room to search on his own, while Mi Zijing, worried about the assassin incident, excused himself and hurried back home.
Inside the ancient text room, filled with the scent of books and a faint musty odor, Meng Qi finally exhaled in relief. He was unsure whether the “Myth” members were already watching him, so he dared not rashly go to the secret contact point to submit a confidential report about the “Myth” matter. Instead, under the guise of researching place names, he had gone through the Mi family to openly approach.
Now inside the county office, guarded by an Outer Scene Silver Seal, he finally felt safe from being watched.
He picked up a brush and paper, found a corner, and began writing a confidential report stating that “Myth” held a grudge over the Dongyang Branch Estate incident and planned to retaliate against him. Then, after thinking for a moment, he also included information about the “Wolf King,” asking the Six Gates to help locate him, as he was likely still in Yingtian City.
After finishing, he took out the Qing Shou official seal hidden in his bosom and left his “mark” at the end of the report. He folded the report into a small square block, like a piece of tofu, and placed it inside his waistband.
Only after completing all this did he leisurely begin flipping through the ancient texts.
Unconsciously, two hours passed, and Meng Qi was unable to find detailed information about Wuyou Valley, only confirming that it was indeed in the main world and had existed since ancient times.
After leaving the ancient text room, he went to the clerk’s office to bid farewell and express his gratitude to Shu Changxiao.
After seeing Meng Qi off, Shu Changxiao turned back and noticed a neatly folded piece of paper on the table.
…
The night had already fallen, but the bustling streets of Yingtian City were brightly lit as if it were daytime, with fireworks occasionally blooming, adding a colorful and festive atmosphere to the New Year.
There were still many pedestrians on the streets, some selecting New Year’s goods, some hurrying home, some admiring lanterns and solving riddles, and others playing archery games. Especially the streets near the Tianxiu River were even more lively than during the day.
After submitting the confidential report, Meng Qi felt slightly relieved and was no longer so worried about the “Myth” coming after him. He slowed his pace slightly on his way back to Xingyun Manor, appreciating the festive decorations on both sides of the street, occasionally buying a string of candied haws or some sugar figurines and pastries, enjoying himself thoroughly.
“This painting is quite good…” Meng Qi noticed someone selling paintings by the roadside, with a crowd of people gathered around, including the elderly, children, and women with servants.
As he was about to approach, a large group suddenly surged forward, blocking his view on both sides, forcing him to wait.
Among this group, a woman was carrying a boy of about three or four years old and was finding it a bit difficult to walk. She put him down and planned to hold his hand instead.
The little boy saw a stall selling sugar figurines nearby and, with all his might, tried to move towards it, crying and making a fuss.
Suddenly, he broke free from his mother’s right hand, stumbled forward a couple of steps, and stood bewildered in the middle of the unfamiliar crowd, scared into loud wails.
His mother, both curious and amused, intended to go over and take his hand. At that moment, two beggars passed in front of her, blocking her view.
A beggar with a fleshy tumor on the left side of his face suddenly darted out from beside the boy, grabbed him, covered his mouth, and dashed toward the end of the street. The boy’s mother saw the whole scene.
She ran a few steps but was knocked to the ground by the crowd, crying out desperately:
“Help! My child!”
Meng Qi hadn’t expected someone to be abducted right under his nose. Since it didn’t involve him directly, his instincts hadn’t reacted, and he failed to act in time.
Judging from the woman’s appearance of having no martial arts skills, this was a normal case of human trafficking…
He had long heard that the Beggars’ Sect was a mixed bag, filled with scoundrels who engaged in all sorts of deceit and theft. He had never believed it until now, realizing that he had been misled by novels in the past…
The two beggars who blocked the woman’s view were carrying sacks on their backs. Meng Qi recognized them as disciples of the Beggars’ Sect, but they had already blended into the crowd and were hard to track down. However, the beggar who had snatched the child was still faintly visible.
Guided by a sense of justice, Meng Qi activated his martial arts skills, moving like a fish through the crowd, miraculously dodging through narrow gaps.
The beggar thief couldn’t match Meng Qi’s speed and skill. By the time he reached the end of the street, he was about to be caught.
Suddenly, several beggars rushed out from a nearby street, causing the crowd to panic and scatter, blocking Meng Qi’s path just in time.
Gritting his teeth, Meng Qi leaped into the air, stepping on people’s heads as he pursued, like a bird skimming across water. Many people felt only a light touch on their heads, unaware of what had passed overhead, thinking it was a bird flying by.
At this point, the beggar had already run into an empty courtyard with the child.
Meng Qi remained vigilant, wary of any ambush or surprise attack. When he followed inside, the beggar had already vanished.
He had encountered similar situations before. After a brief search, he found the entrance to a hidden tunnel. Emerging from it, he found himself in another abandoned house. Across the street, there was a group of beggars in a quiet and secluded alley.
Meng Qi followed the traces and walked directly toward them.
“Friend, this is the Yingtian City branch of the Beggars’ Sect. What do you want?” A beggar blocked Meng Qi’s path. He looked to be around forty, with a fair and clean complexion. His clothes were patched with many sacks but were neat and tidy.
He carried six sacks on his back, seemingly the leader of the branch.
“Did the beggar who just took the child escape in here?” Meng Qi took a deep breath and politely asked first.
The beggar replied coldly, “No, you’ve come to the wrong place!”
“But I clearly saw him come out from here,” Meng Qi narrowed his eyes.
The six-sack beggar sneered, “I didn’t see anything. There are countless beggars in the world; how could they all belong to our Beggars’ Sect?”
“I saw him,” Meng Qi said firmly.
The six-sack beggar snorted, “Are you trying to argue unreasonably? Are you going to provoke our Beggars’ Sect over a baseless accusation and a random child?”
“Don’t think that because your clothes are clean and tidy, you can look down on us beggars. Listen, in the martial world, there are some things you shouldn’t meddle in!”
He subtly hinted at a threat.
Suddenly, Meng Qi smiled, his lips curling and his white teeth showing, “This matter…”
“Clang!” The long blade was drawn.
“I’m going to get involved.”
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