Outskirts, Jin Family Brick Kiln.

The renovation and new construction of the Lin Residence required a large amount of Qing bricks. Most of the removed bricks were damaged and were used to fill the foundation.

Therefore, new Qing bricks had to be purchased. The previously purchased fifty thousand bricks were far from enough; at least fifty thousand more were needed.

Moreover, the old beams that were taken down could no longer be used, and a new batch of wooden beams had to be ordered. Anyway, to meet Lin Miao’s high standards and strict requirements, Mr. Xie, who was both the housekeeper and project supervisor, had indeed been quite diligent these days.

The supply contract for the Qing bricks was finalized, and the delivery date was agreed upon.

Mr. Xie and the owner of the Jin Family Brick Kiln bid farewell with mutual hand gestures and set off towards the quarry outside the city; the new backyard required quite a bit of stone material, as told by Lin Miao, who also mentioned needing to purchase extra stone.

A batch had already been reserved before, and he had to push for its delivery and also place an order for more.

The brick kiln was somewhat far from the quarry and relatively remote, so he hurried along to avoid missing the time to return to the city.

However, as soon as he exited the brick kiln site, he sensed something wrong, as if there were a pair of eyes behind him, creating a feeling like thorns on his back.

The more he felt something was amiss, the faster he quickened his pace, hoping to finish his errands quickly and return to the city early.

Galloping along on his horse, suddenly, in the middle of the road ahead, over ten people formed a fan-shaped encirclement on horseback, blocking the entire road.

"Mr. Xie, haven’t seen you for a while!"

"Huang, Head of the Huang Family, what are you doing here? Indeed, life is full of unexpected encounters..." Mr. Xie abruptly halted his horse, seeing the faces of the people blocking him, and couldn’t help but feel his heart sink; trouble was ahead. He squeezed out a smile and responded in a calm voice.

The visitor was indeed Mr. Xie’s old acquaintance, Patriarch of the Huang Family in Qingping Town, Huang Baigao.

"I’ve heard that Mr. Xie no longer works at ’Yuanheng Pawnshop’; which high branch have you climbed to now?" Huang Baigao sat upright on his horse, his smile containing a trace of sinister coldness.

"Patriarch Huang, I am but a stray dog. Is it amusing to ridicule me like this?" Mr. Xie mocked himself; although they were numerous, he was not made of clay, couldn’t he escape even if he couldn’t fight back?

This was not far from Dongshan City. If he struggled to run into the city, would the Huang family dare to chase him inside and kill him?

In such a case, it would be the Huang Family that suffers.

The major sects and the court had a tacit rule that private duels were not allowed within cities under the court’s jurisdiction; otherwise, they would be violating the court’s laws, which could lead to direct military action to arrest people.

As soon as such a situation arose, it would be immediately suppressed.

Martial arts masters facing military formations stood no chance.

The Green Blade Sect had prepared an ambush at the Shang Family to deal with Lin Miao, but after being captured by Lin Miao, they were imprisoned, sentenced as deserved, or exiled as necessary—what could the Green Blade Sect say?

"Mr. Xie, did you happen to deliver a message to my cousin Huang Baichuan prior to your sudden departure from Baihe County last year?"

"Yes, I did, but what of it?" Mr. Xie did not deny; sooner or later, the Huang Family would find out about their interactions before Huang Baichuan and Huang Yulang went missing.

"What was the message about?"

"I simply sent someone to inform him that Lin Miao, apprentice of Physician Sun from Qingping Town, had returned, which is what he asked me to keep an eye on." Mr. Xie explained calmly.

"Why did you do that?" Huang Baigao continued to ask.

"Lin Miao came to redeem his master’s, Sun Simiao’s, Physician’s Order pawned at Yuanheng Pawnshop. We signed a live pawn contract, but afterwards, I forged a dead pawn document and submitted the Physician’s Order to the Dongshan City branch. It was a serious mistake, so I used words to pacify him while suggesting we go to Dongshan City together. Meanwhile, I sent people to notify Brother Baichuan. I knew Baichuan was always looking for Lin Miao and that maid from the Sun Family. You Huang family was aiming for the Herbal Hall, but unfortunately, the land deed and property contract were in their hands, and for that, people died..."

"Do you know who was responsible for the killing?"

"How would I know? I don’t have deep ties with your Huang Family..."

"But as far as we know, you have quite a close connection with Lin Miao. After being expelled from Yuanheng Pawnshop, you followed him and became his steward?"

"I had no choice; I owed him. I lost his master’s Physician’s Order. If I didn’t agree, he would report me, and I’d be imprisoned. What could I do, should I go to jail?" Mr. Xie spread his hands, a look of being helplessly forced into compliance.

Clip-clop...

Mr. Xie heard the sound of hoofbeats behind him. Turning his head, his face changed dramatically as seven or eight riders in tight uniforms approached.

Judging by their clothing, accessories, and the weapons they carried, one glance revealed these people were disciples of the Green Blade Sect.

With the Huang Family in front and Green Blade Sect at the back.

Mr. Xie inwardly cursed; now things were troublesome. If it were only the Huang Family, he could still cope, couldn’t fight but could flee. However, including the Green Blade Sect, he feared he couldn’t handle it.

"Mr. Xie, upon investigation, you are connected to the case of the missing Huang Yulang, a disciple of the Green Blade Sect. Come with us for a trip."

"I don’t know Huang Yulang..."

"Don’t know him, Mr. Xie, should I help you recall a certain place?" Ye Mi Yuan sat upright on his horse, sneered, and then spoke slowly, word by word, "That place is called Chestnut Slope."

Mr. Xie’s complexion slightly changed; of course, he knew what Chestnut Slope was. It was where he and Lin Miao encountered Huang Baichuan and Huang Yulang, among others.

He and Lin Miao killed all of them, seized their money, and threw their bodies into the forest to feed the wolves.

Back then, wolves roamed in packs in the mountains; those few people were likely gnawed into piles of white bones overnight.

There shouldn’t have been any traces left at the scene.

He had personally witnessed Lin Miao dealing with their bodies, a sight that greatly shocked him, as he had never seen a seventeen-year-old boy with such mature experience.

Even when leaving, traces left by them were thoroughly cleaned.

How did people from the Green Blade Sect find Chestnut Slope?

Mr. Xie was greatly shocked, but he also clearly understood that now he was in the same boat as Lin Miao; neither could escape.

If not caught on the spot, it must never be admitted.

"Chestnut Slope, I know, from Baihe County to Dongshan City, it’s a necessary path. Any problems?" Mr. Xie calmly retorted.

Ye Mi Yuan underestimated Mr. Xie, not expecting him to be so calm, without revealing any flaw in his probing.

Although he was convinced that the other party must be involved in the deaths of Huang Yulang and others, without concrete evidence, he couldn’t prove it.

Their target is Lin Miao, so they must extract clues or evidence about Lin Miao and Huang Yulang’s disappearance from Mr. Xie’s mouth.

This opportunity he waited for a long time, in the city, Ye Mi Yuan had no chance, nor dared to act against Mr. Xie, finally, he waited for Mr. Xie to leave the city for business.

This opportunity finally came, he teamed up with the Sun Family, blocking him halfway.

"Since Mr. Xie doesn’t want to talk here, let’s change the place." Ye Mi Yuan sneered, then signaled, and people from the Green Blade Sect drew their blades surrounding him.

The Sun Family members also spread out, forming an outer circle of encirclement, clearly not intending to give Mr. Xie any chance to escape.

Mr. Xie’s face changed drastically.

"Mr. Huang, what are you doing? I have no enmity with you, why do you treat me like this?"

"Surrender, maybe we can give you some dignity." Huang Baigao said coldly.

The thing he most feared happened, but he didn’t want to wait for death either; falling into their hands would mean either death or disability...

He was at least a man of blood, naturally not possible to surrender, so he drew his weapon, squeezed the horse’s belly.

"Move aside, those who block me die!" Mr. Xie has made significant progress in his cultivation, although Lin Miao has not helped him advance to the Blood Fusion Realm, he has used needles and medicinal baths to treat his internal injuries and improved his qualifications. So now he has reached the Bone Forging Great Perfection Realm and could break through to the Blood Fusion Realm at any time.

Lin Miao’s ability let Mr. Xie see the hope of advancing to the Blood Fusion Realm in this life, he naturally knows who is the hope for his future.

Whether it’s the Sun Family or the people from Green Blade Sect, falling into their hands, even if he confesses everything, in the end, it would be a dead end, these are ruthless, inhumane people.

Since deciding to break out and escape, Mr. Xie naturally wouldn’t hold back, he unleashed all his strength.

An astounding blade strike directly sent a disciple of the Green Blade Sect who collided with him flying!

Such cultivation and combat power!

The Sun Family and the Green Blade Sect people were shocked, a pawnshop manager had such prowess, it was really surprising!

For so many years, this guy in Baihe County, had been laying low.

Really misjudged!

Ye Mi Yuan was greatly surprised too, Mr. Xie’s cultivation doesn’t lose to him, if they met alone, he might not be his match, fortunately today he brought good hands from Green Blade Sect and teamed up with the Sun Family people.

So many people besieging one Mr. Xie, if it fails, then better to slit their throats and commit suicide.

Mr. Xie’s purpose is to escape!

He simply wouldn’t entangle with the people from Green Blade Sect, broke through a gap, rode the horse toward Dongshan City.

Whoosh!

An arrow!

Shooting from behind.

Mr. Xie urgently sped up the horse, body close to the horse’s back, dodging arrows shot by the Sun Family people.

Dozens of arrow feathers shot from behind.

Ultimately couldn’t completely dodge, an arrow pierced the butt of the horse beneath him, the horse cried out in pain, it immediately threw Mr. Xie off the horse.

He forgot, Sun Family people are skilled in archery.

This arrow must have been shot by the Sun Family patriarch Huang Baigao.

Although Mr. Xie fell off the horse, he did not wait for death, but rolled on the ground, got up, continued running forward.

As long as he hides in the forest on the mountain, he could maneuver against so many people...

However, the Green Blade Sect has masters in the Blood Fusion Realm, without waiting for him to rush into the forest, he was intercepted, then, people from Green Blade Sect and the Sun Family also rode over, surrounding him tightly.

"Ye Mi Yuan, Huang Baigao, what are you trying to do, don’t say I’ve committed no crime, even if I did, it’s not for you to use private penalties!"

"Private penalties, hehe, even if we use them, so what, Mr. Xie, I advise you to be obedient, otherwise, you’ll die unpleasantly!"

"Ye Mi Yuan, as a court law officer, breaking the law knowingly, aren’t you afraid of court punishment!"

"Haha, do you think I’ll give you that chance?"

"Forcing me to fight till the end, alright!" Mr. Xie suddenly took out a handful of powder from his bosom, spun once, then sprinkled it in the air.

Ye Mi Yuan saw the situation, quickly covered his nose and mouth, and loudly reminded: "Careful, cover your nose and mouth, it might be a sedative..."

Taking advantage of the Green Blade Sect and Sun Family people being obstructed in vision, Mr. Xie suddenly acted, attacked a member of the Sun Family, snatched his horse, turned and ran.

Chase!

The powder was non-toxic but had a pungent smell, it’s just a smoke bomb!

Ye Mi Yuan yelled in rage, ordered, the Sun Family and Green Blade Sect people chased after.