"Strange, how did it catch fire?"
Li Hongfei stood at the entrance of Villa 88, watching the flames soaring from the villa, his face extremely dark. "Where did Ding Gang and Wen Zhong, those two scoundrels, die? I don't know if the basement has been burned."
If only the villa on the ground was burned.
What he cared most about was what was in the basement—that was his life's work.
Fifteen minutes later.
With the help of many residents, the fire was finally extinguished. At this moment, the guardian Jin Yuan walked over, respectfully saluted, and said, "Master, Ding Gang and Wen Zhong, along with four large wolves, all died. They were killed first and then the fire was set."
"What?"
Upon hearing the guardian's words, Li Hongfei's heart skipped a beat. He immediately walked forward and saw that the Eight Steeds painting and the cupboard in the basement had burned down, revealing a doorway. He immediately instructed two guards to open the charred cupboard and head towards the basement.
"Fortunately, the fire was extinguished in time, and the basement wasn't burned."
Li Hongfei asked the guards to wait upstairs and walked towards the door of the third alchemy room. He pressed the bronze lamp three times and opened the alchemy room. Aside from the charred smell, everything was fine.
Li Hongfei headed straight for the embedded cupboard, which was his most important possession, the culmination of his life's work.
The moment Li Hongfei opened the cupboard, he felt his body sway. Inside the cupboard was nothing but emptiness—everything was gone.
"My Dragon Blood Pills! Tiger Blood Pills! My gold bars and silver notes!"
"It's that damn bastard!"
Looking at the empty cupboard, Li Hongfei felt dizzy. He felt his chest tightening, and his internal energy surged through his meridians. He spat out a mouthful of old blood and fell backwards.
The Dragon Blood Pills were meant for his grandson, who was still young, and he planned to give them to him later.
The gold bars and silver notes were his savings over the years.
To prevent anyone from coveting them, he had specially raised four large wolves, set traps in the alchemy room, and poisoned the cupboard with arrows. He was sure that anyone who tried to steal from him would meet certain death!
But he never expected that everything would be stolen without a trace!
This was unforgivable!
"Master!"
"Master!"
Two guards hurried down and helped Li Hongfei up.
In the morning.
Eleven o'clock.
"So this is the Dragon Blood Pill?"
"After taking these pills, my cultivation should advance to the second-tier realm!"
Qin Wang squatted in the secluded corner of the courtyard he rented three miles away, amidst the overgrown grass, looking at the pale red pill the size of a pigeon egg in his hand, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Three Dragon Blood Pills.
Ten Tiger Blood Pills, also pigeon egg-sized and pale red, totaling ten.
Qin Wang directly brought the basin, presumably after Li Hongfei finished refining it, and before it could be bottled and sold, he counted a total of 132 Qi and Blood Pills.
A stack of silver notes, all 50 liang denominations, totaling 90, amounting to 4,500 liang.
Small gold bars, each weighing about one liang, totaling 30.
"The first glimpse of the pill?"
Qin Wang looked at the yellowed ancient book obtained from Li Hongfei, his eyes showing a hint of joy.
This was an ancient book related to pill refining, containing methods for refining Qi and Blood Pills, Tiger Blood Pills, Dragon Blood Pills, and a large number of small annotations.
Moreover.
The back of the ancient book also depicted some mountains, rivers, and streams, seeming to be a map.
"It seems that Li Hongfei became an alchemist and opened Tongrentang because he obtained this first glimpse of the pill?"
"This time, it's really a big harvest!"
Qin Wang held this first glimpse of the pill, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
This time, apart from the pills, the gold and silver alone were worth over 5,000 liang!
Especially the Dragon Blood Pills and Tiger Blood Pills, they were priceless!
"First, rent another house, then come back here to wait for Zheng Kecheng!"
"Deal with this scoundrel!"
Qin Wang packed everything up and left this hidden place.
In the afternoon.
Three o'clock.
Qin Wang rented a three-room courtyard eight li away from the original rental house.
After storing all his belongings, he returned to the original courtyard to set up a trap and wait for Zheng Kecheng to arrive.
The third day.
Early in the morning.
[Daily Intelligence Refresh!]
[Today's Intelligence]
[1: You paid attention to Zheng Kecheng yesterday and obtained relevant intelligence. Zheng Kecheng will find your last rental house today at 10 a.m. Zheng Kecheng deeply hates you and is prepared to find you and torture you to death.]
[2: Three days ago, you obtained Dragon Blood Pills, Tiger Blood Pills, and a large number of Qi and Blood Pills. According to relevant intelligence, after consuming these pills, you will advance to the second-tier realm.]
[5: You paid attention to Li Hongfei yesterday and obtained relevant intelligence. Because you took away Li Hongfei's life's work, Li Hongfei's internal energy surged chaotically, causing him to spit blood twice. He is currently sending people to investigate who stole his Dragon Blood Pills.]
[6: You paid attention to the Chief Arrestor Zheng Kecheng yesterday and obtained relevant intelligence. Zheng Kecheng received news from his elder brother Zheng Keshou that his son, Zheng Lingyun, because of his excellent martial arts talent, was accepted as the thirteenth adopted son by General Li Jingzhong. Zheng Kecheng plans to kill you first, then go to Tianyun Alliance to serve Prince Jin, and achieve great success.]
[7: You heard the news from Jinwang's righteous army yesterday and obtained relevant intelligence. Under Prince Jin's command, Tianyun Chief Protector Li Jingzhong has already led a hundred thousand troops and captured three cities in Youzhou. He will capture Yanyun County in six months!]
[8: You paid attention to the Chen family yesterday and obtained relevant intelligence. After Chen Kun killed Zhang Aofeng, the Zhang family's business was divided among the Chen, Lin, and Su families. Chen Kun is considering secretly eliminating the Lin and Su families to dominate Yanyun County.]
[9: You paid attention to Li Hongfei yesterday and obtained relevant intelligence. Li Hongfei is contacting the assassin organization Blood Kill Hall. Assassin Number 98, Song Lin, is searching for traces of Bai Xiao Shenzun in Yanyun County.]
"10 a.m. today!"
"Zheng Kecheng, enjoy my gift!"
Qin Wang looked at the first intelligence report, anticipation in his eyes.
This Zheng Kecheng was so malicious, he could finally kill him and take his soul!
"After consuming Dragon Blood Pills and Tiger Blood Pills, I will advance to the second-tier realm?"
Qin Wang looked at the second intelligence report, his eyes brightening.
This was expected.
Three Dragon Blood Pills, ten Tiger Blood Pills, and 132 Qi and Blood Pills—if even these weren't enough to advance to the second-tier realm, it would be unacceptable.
"The old man is investigating me? Heh heh. Once I advance to the second-tier realm, it will be his time to die!"
Qin Wang looked at the fifth intelligence report, his eyes gleaming with killing intent.
"Zheng Kecheng's son, Zheng Lingyun? Became the thirteenth adopted son of General Li Jingzhong under Prince Jin's command?"
"Li Jingzhong will capture Yanyun County in six months?"
Qin Wang looked at the sixth and seventh intelligence reports, his brow furrowed deeply.
The invasion of the anti-Prince army was imminent, and the current stability would be shattered. This was not good for him.
"Li Hongfei is still contacting the Blood Kill Hall assassins to find me?"
Qin Wang looked at the ninth intelligence report, his eyes narrowing.
"First, sleep. Depart at five o'clock and return to the previous rental house to wait for Zheng Kecheng!"
Qin Wang made up his mind and went to sleep.
Ten o'clock.
Zheng Kecheng's hand rested on the knife handle, accompanied by the constable Wang Jiang, headed towards a small courtyard behind the street alley.
"Chief Arrestor, that young man Qin Wang changed rental houses frequently in a short period of time!"
"Such caution!"
"Could he have already disguised himself and left the city?!"
Wang Jiang thought about the search for Qin Wang in various rental houses over the past few days, but they had found nothing. He was curious about Qin Wang and was increasingly interested in him.
"It's unlikely."
Zheng Kecheng looked at the half-opened iron gate of the Qing Brick House ahead, gripping the handle of his knife tightly.
There are records of entry and exit at all four city gates, and there is no record of that brat leaving the city. Furthermore, that little bastard's sister has become the child of the Chen family, and will be sacrificed to the River God next April!
"First, go rent a new house, then come back and hide here to wait for Zheng Kecheng!"
"Dispose of this dog!"
Qin Wang packed up all the items and left this hidden spot.
Afternoon.
Three o'clock.
Qin Wang rented a courtyard with three grey brick and tile houses about eight li away from his original rented place.
After hiding all the items well.
He returned to the original courtyard to set up a trap, waiting for Zheng Kecheng to come.
The third day.
Dawn.
[Daily intelligence refresh!]
[Today's Intelligence]
[1: You focused on Zheng Kecheng yesterday and obtained related intelligence. Zheng Kecheng will come to your previous rental at 10 am today. Zheng Kecheng hates you to the bone and plans to torture you to death after finding you.]
[2: You obtained Dragon Blood Pills, Tiger Blood Pills, and a large number of Blood Qi Pills three days ago. You obtained related intelligence that you will advance to the second-rate realm after consuming these pills.]
[5: You focused on Li Hongfei yesterday and obtained related intelligence. Because you took Li Hongfei's life's work, Li Hongfei was so angry that his internal energy went haywire, causing him to spit blood twice. He is now sending people to investigate who stole his Dragon Blood Pills.]
[6: You focused on Chief Constable Zheng Kecheng yesterday and obtained related intelligence. Zheng Kecheng received news from his elder brother Zheng Keshou that his son Zheng Lingyun, due to his good martial arts aptitude, was taken as the thirteenth adopted son by General Li Jingzhong. Zheng Kecheng plans to kill you and then go to serve the Rebellion Prince in the Tianyun Alliance to establish merit.]
[7: You heard news about the Rebellion Prince's righteous army yesterday and obtained related intelligence. The Tianyun Grand Protector Li Jingzhong under the Rebellion Prince has led an army of 100,000 to capture three cities in Youzhou and will capture Yangyun County in six months!]
[8: You focused on the Chen family yesterday and obtained related intelligence. After Chen Kun killed Zhang Aofeng, the Zhang family's business was divided among the Chen, Lin, and Su families. Chen Kun is considering secretly eliminating the Lin and Su families to dominate Yangyun County alone.]
[9: You focused on Li Hongfei yesterday and obtained related intelligence. The 98th assassin Song Lin from the Blood Killing Palace, an assassin organization contacted by Li Hongfei, is searching for traces of Bai Xiao Shen Jun in Yangyun County.]
"Today at 10 am!"
"Zheng Kecheng, enjoy my grand gift!"
Qin Wang looked at the first piece of intelligence, his eyes showing anticipation.
This Zheng Kecheng was so vicious, finally he could kill him and collect his soul!
"After consuming the Dragon Blood Pills and Tiger Blood Pills, I will advance to the second-rate realm?"
Qin Wang's eyes lit up as he looked at the second piece of intelligence.
This was also expected.
3 Dragon Blood Pills, 10 Tiger Blood Pills, and 132 Blood Qi Pills - if he couldn't advance to the second-rate realm with these, it would be unbelievable.
"The old bastard is investigating me? Hehe... Once I advance to the second-rate realm, it will be your time to die!"
Qin Wang looked at the fifth piece of intelligence, his eyes filled with killing intent.
"Zheng Kecheng's son Zheng Lingyun? Became the thirteenth adopted son of General Li Jingzhong under the Rebellion Prince?"
"Li Jingzhong will capture Yangyun County in six months?"
Qin Wang frowned deeply as he looked at the sixth and seventh pieces of intelligence.
The rebel army approaching was not good news for him, as it would disrupt the current stability.
"Li Hongfei is still contacting Blood Killing Palace assassins to find me?"
Qin Wang's eyes narrowed as he looked at the ninth piece of intelligence.
"First, sleep. Leave at five o'clock to go to the previous rental and wait for Zheng Kecheng!"
Qin Wang made up his mind and went to sleep.
10 o'clock.
Zheng Kecheng, hand on his sword hilt, followed by Constable Wang Jiang, headed towards a small courtyard behind the street alley.
"Chief Constable, that young man Qin Wang has changed rentals multiple times in a short period!"
"He's so cautious!"
"Could he have already disguised himself and left the city?!"
Wang Jiang, thinking about how they had searched rental after rental these past few days without any results, felt curious about this young man Qin Wang.
"That's unlikely."
Zheng Kecheng looked at the slightly open iron gate of the grey brick and tile courtyard ahead, gripping his sword hilt tightly.
All four city gates recorded entries and exits, and there was no record of that little bastard leaving the city. Moreover, that little thing's sister had become a child bride of the Chen family and would be sacrificed to the River God next April!
He had a feeling that Qin Wang was definitely still in Yangyun County!
"The Arrest Division is pursuing a criminal and needs to search the house!"
Wang Jiang went forward, pushed open the door, and walked in with Chief Constable Zheng Kecheng. Inside, there was no response. Wang Jiang, holding his sheathed long sword, propped open the door. In the main room, there was an old square table and a few old wooden chairs.
On the table was a plate of unfinished leftovers and an unwashed bowl.
"Wang Jiang, go check the rooms!"
Zheng Kecheng instructed Wang Jiang.
All along, to find Qin Wang disguised as Bai Xiao Shen Jun, they had brought all the constables to search every room of every house.
"Mm."
Wang Jiang nodded and headed towards the left room. Suddenly, he saw a bowl-sized cloth package behind the main door, sparking with fire. He immediately said, "Chief Constable... thud!"
"Wang Jiang, you..."
Zheng Kecheng saw Wang Jiang fall backwards and was startled. He drew his sword, but as soon as he unsheathed it, he felt his whole body go weak, unable to summon his internal energy. He immediately sat down on the ground.
"Not good! It's poisoned!"
Zheng Kecheng immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, trying to circulate his energy to expel the poison.
At this moment.
Zheng Kecheng saw a young man with a sallow complexion flash out from behind the half-open door, holding a dagger, stabbing towards him. He wanted to dodge but found that his internal energy had completely dissipated, his whole body limp. He could only watch helplessly as the dagger slashed across his throat!