In the clear emptiness, Meng Jianqing suddenly heard the sound of Imperial Guard horns from outside the courtyard.

He naturally understood the meaning of the horns. Shen Guangli had come here personally?

At the same moment, an aged but vigorous voice rolled like thunder from the distance: “Who dares to block my path?”

Meng Jianqing looked toward Centurion Qin, who forced a smile that looked even uglier than crying: “Ouyang Buxiu has also come personally.”

Seeing the situation turning bad, the Jiao brothers immediately retreated.

That old demon was not someone the two brothers could afford to provoke.

Ouyang Buxiu and Shen Guangli arrived at Zhaoxin Nunnery almost simultaneously.

The autumn moon had risen, and the faces of the several people sitting in a circle in the courtyard were all illuminated by the autumn moon in an unusually pale manner.

Ouyang Buxiu had completely white hair and beard and a short stature. Because he deliberately put on an arrogant and overbearing air, he appeared somewhat comical.

But as soon as he made his move, Meng Jianqing knew that everyone who found this little old man amusing would regret it.

Ouyang Buxiu struck He Qi’s back with his palm, and a torrent-like force surged forth, shaking everyone apart. Among them, only Jiang Wuji was swept over by Ouyang Buxiu’s long sleeves without his feet touching the ground. While channeling qi to expel the remaining poison from Jiang Wuji, Ouyang Buxiu still had leisure to curse loudly: “You little bastard! I worked so hard to raise you for eighteen years, and before your wings are even fully grown, you want to fly away? Just because I scolded you a couple of times, you want to sneak off, and even spread the word that this old man drove you out – you had it easy, but you’ve made your master’s white beard get plucked by your martial aunt until who knows how many whiskers are left!”

Having lost support, Mu Chen softly collapsed. Fortunately, Centurion Qin hurried to support her.

Mu Chen’s gaze turned toward the person behind him, her eyebrows slightly raised, seemingly surprised, and seemingly questioning.

Shen Guangli had somehow quietly appeared behind Centurion Qin, gazing at her.

Centurion Qin was startled and stepped aside with an apologetic smile, briefly explaining what had happened, then retreated as far as possible, not daring to stand nearby.

As Shen Guangli gave Mu Chen a Return to Spring Pill to take, he bent down and whispered something in her ear. Mu Chen’s expression immediately became relaxed, and a slight smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

Shen Guangli turned to look at Meng Jianqing, who was drenched in sweat and whose complexion had not yet recovered, and said indifferently: “You can report mission accomplished.”

Meng Jianqing immediately took out the golden medallion from his robes and presented it with both hands.

But Shen Guangli didn’t take it. With a wave of his left hand, he removed the dark cloak he was wearing, wrapped it around Mu Chen, and appeared ready to take Mu Chen away immediately.

Jiang Wuji was pressed down by Ouyang Buxiu’s palm and couldn’t move. In his anxiety, he shouted: “Where are you taking Mu Chen? Mu Chen, don’t go! Master, quickly stop him!”

Ouyang Buxiu snorted: “Stinking brat, be quiet. If I don’t expel this poison from you soon, be careful you don’t become a cripple – the Imperial Guard’s methods are truly vicious. This old man has learned his lesson today!”

Shen Guangli answered indifferently: “If Senior Ouyang wants to blame the Imperial Guard for this account, that’s not impossible. After all, Li Mu was an Imperial Guard. Meng Jianqing, this matter is yours to handle. You must investigate Li Mu’s true identity. You have three months. I hope you won’t make the same mistake again this time.”

Meng Jianqing put away the golden medallion.

He still had one more chance. Shen Guangli had always only given people one chance to correct their mistakes.

Shen Guangli helped Mu Chen to her feet.

Tie Luohan said urgently, “Master, if you don’t keep her here, little junior brother will run away again sooner or later!”

Ouyang Buxiu rolled his eyes: “If he runs again, I’ll break both his legs first!”

Though he said this, he still shouted at Shen Guangli: “Surnamed Shen, leave the person before you go!”

Shen Guangli bowed slightly: “I wonder what relationship Senior Ouyang has with this young lady?”

This question stumped Ouyang Buxiu completely.

Shen Guangli continued: “How about we ask this young lady what her own choice is?”

He looked at Mu Chen: “What’s your name?”

A faint, self-mocking smile appeared at the corners of Mu Chen’s mouth: “Mu Chen.”

Shen Guangli seemed stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: “Oh? The person who gave you this name – did they think that even the fate of a speck of dust was worth your envy? Where do you want to go?”

Mu Chen answered softly: “Where else can I go?”

Shen Guangli immediately said: “Very well then. Let’s go.”

Seeing that Mu Chen was leaving with Shen Guangli without resistance, Jiang Wuji blurted out, “Mu Chen, you promised to marry me. Why are you going back on your word?”

Shen Guangli frowned slightly and looked at Mu Chen.

Ouyang Buxiu became furious again, but before he could explode, Mu Chen smiled bitterly and said: “Wuji, let’s say I spoke wrongly, alright? Think about how young we were then. I can use such insincere words to coax a child, but I can’t use them to coax an adult. I’m leaving. You should return to Xiaoxi Tian, too. Senior Ouyang, in this life and the next, I will never leave Yingtian City even half a step, and I will never again seduce your prized disciple. Are you satisfied now?”

Shen Guangli’s frown became more pronounced: “Seduce?”

Mu Chen’s mouth held a smile, but her eyes reddened: “Isn’t that right? Senior Ouyang also said, ‘Like mother, like daughter.'”

Shen Guangli’s face gradually turned iron-blue.

Not to mention Meng Jianqing – even an old Imperial Guard like Centurion Qin had never seen Shen Guangli with such an expression. They couldn’t help but hold their breath, worried that if their supreme commander flew into a rage, he might first take it out on subordinates like them.

But Shen Guangli’s expression slowly returned to normal, and his tone became as indifferent as if nothing had happened: “Senior Ouyang, I’ll take my leave first.”

Jiang Wuji watched helplessly as Shen Guangli took Mu Chen away. For a moment, anxiety and anger attacked his heart, hot blood surged up, and he spat it out directly before collapsing. This frightened Ouyang Buxiu into frantically treating him.

Meng Jianqing summoned four guards and used ropes to carefully drag Li Mu’s corpse to Luzhou Prefecture, planning to start with his body to investigate the background of this fellow who had nearly killed them all.

He and Centurion Qin withdrew from Zhaoxin Nunnery, looked at each other, and simultaneously let out long sighs.

Investigating cases would be much easier than this mission.