Xie Zhifei took a deep breath.

“And the third reason?”

“I accepted two thousand taels from Ji Lingchuan. When you take someone’s money, you resolve their troubles—that’s the duty of an Exorcist. The Old Madam showed me her inner demon and trusted me, so I must give my utmost for her—that’s the way of an Exorcist.”

Yan Sanhe lowered her head and murmured, “These things… you wouldn’t understand.”

“If you don’t explain, naturally I won’t understand.”

Xie Zhifei looked down at her from his superior position, his gaze burning like fire.

This girl was clearly soft-hearted and kind, yet she insisted on wearing a layer of coldness on her face. How foolish!

“Yan Sanhe, can you let me finish speaking now?”

“Can you let go first?”

This girl was a full head shorter than him, yet her arrogance rose a full head higher. Xie Zhifei smiled gently and released his grip.

“Here’s what we’ll do—we’ll split into two groups.”

“Which two groups?”

“Zhu Qing and Huang Qi are quick on their feet. I’ll have them rush back to the capital immediately.”

“You and that wastrel…”

Yan Sanhe was quite surprised. “Are coming with us?”

Xie Zhifei nodded. “We must come along.”

Yan Sanhe: “No room for negotiation?”

Xie Zhifei looked at her and shook his head. “None!”

Yan Sanhe glanced at the wastrel, then at Xie Zhifei’s expression that showed not a hint of jest, and laughed coldly.

“Rest at the inn for three hours. After three hours, we depart.”

Pei Xiao’s eyes widened. He pointed at Yan Sanhe’s retreating back, then at himself, asking uncertainly:

“Xie Wushi, the wastrel she mentioned refers to…”

“You!”

“…” The wastrel’s face was filled with despair.

I want to die!

Xie Zhifei pushed him. “Come on, stop standing there. In three hours, we have too much to do.”

Pei Xiao hadn’t yet recovered from the humiliation and muttered, “Do what? Haven’t you already arranged everything?”

This time it was Xie Sanye’s turn to look despairing.

How did this ancestor become so addicted to being a wastrel!

…

Xie Zhifei walked back to the inn and swept his gaze around. Yan Sanhe and Li Buyan had already disappeared.

“Where are they?”

Zhu Qing said, “The two young ladies are resting in their rooms.”

“What about Mama Chen?”

“She’s also asleep.”

Xie Zhifei secretly took a breath and told himself not to panic. He must arrange things one by one, carefully and thoroughly.

“You two wait until Mama Chen wakes up, then escort her safely back.”

The two Military Magistrate guards said in unison, “Yes, Third Master.”

“Go upstairs and find a room to rest.”

“Yes!”

“Zhu Qing, Huang Qi, you two come here.”

Xie Zhifei lifted his robe and sat down at the square table. “Both of you, sit.”

Zhu Qing and Huang Qi didn’t know what was happening. They exchanged glances and sat down.

“The situation is urgent. I’ll make this brief.”

Xie Zhifei said, “You two will have to work harder and travel through the night to the capital.”

Zhu Qing’s expression changed drastically. “Third Master, what about you?”

Third Master waved his hand, indicating he shouldn’t speak yet.

“Huang Qi, when you return to the capital, first inform your master and say that I dragged Mingting out to handle official business. Have your master help Mingting request extended leave from his office. Then go to Mei Niang’s place and withdraw three thousand taels of silver.”

Huang Qi asked, “Third Master, banknotes or actual silver?”

“Both!”

Xie Zhifei turned to look at Zhu Qing. “Go back and inform the Old Master, Old Madam, and my eldest brother.”

Zhu Qing: “What about the Military Magistrate’s office? Should I request leave?”

“Request it!”

Xie Zhifei: “Secretly select five or six brothers from the office with good martial skills…”

Before he finished speaking, Pei Xiao rushed over in an awkward posture.

“Xie Wushi, how is five or six enough? You said yourself you’d pick a hundred or so. You’re going back on your word.”

Xie Zhifei was irritated by his interruption. He stood up abruptly and grabbed his collar.

“I’d love to find a hundred or so, but can this matter be publicized?”

“Ah?”

The words struck Pei Xiao’s forehead like an iron hammer.

Right—this matter couldn’t be made public. If people on the Han Prince’s side found out, wouldn’t that be dangerous?

Pei Xiao’s eyes rolled as a plan formed.

“Xie Wushi, I have an idea. Want to hear it?”

“Ancestor, at a time like this, if you have something to say, say it quickly. I’m begging you, all right?”

“The Bureau of Buddhist and Daoist Affairs has tens of thousands of temples across Great Hua. I, Pei Shanshi, have personally inspected those in Southern and Northern Zhili. I’ve been putting off the two Guang and two Hu regions because of the high mountains and long roads.”

“Are you planning to…”

“Since we can’t raise suspicion, let’s put on a complete show.”

Pei Xiao laughed coldly. “All of the capital knows you, Xie Sanye, are short-lived. Don’t bother finding excuses—just claim illness and stay in. I’ll say I’m going to inspect the two Guang regions.”

“So you won’t bring anyone from the Military Magistrate’s office?”

“Not a single one.”

Pei Xiao nodded toward Huang Qi. “Inform Left Shanshi on my behalf.”

Huang Qi hesitated. “Master…”

“You wastrel.”

Pei Xiao scolded him directly. “When I, Pei Daren, go, he won’t have to go. He should be thanking me.”

“Master!”

Huang Qi looked aggrieved. “This servant wanted to ask—shouldn’t the official seal and such be brought along?”

Did I scold him wrongly?

Pei Xiao absolutely refused to admit it. “Without those things, how can your master get free meals at temples? How can he find warrior monks for protection? Complete idiot!”

Huang Qi, scolded until he felt three inches shorter, pouted grievously.

“Xie Wushi, what do you think of this plan?”

Xie Wushi wanted to throw this person into the air, catch him, then throw him up again.

“This plan is excellent.”

Xie Zhifei released his grip and earnestly smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes, praising him. “Very good.”

“Zhu Qing, grind the ink.”

“Yes!”

Just one sentence of praise?

Pei Xiao held his head high for a long while before reluctantly lowering it and moving closer. “Who are you writing to?”

Xie Zhifei picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote two characters: Huairen.

“Do you have anything you want me to tell him?” He looked up and asked.

Pei Xiao’s smile faded. “I have many things, can you let me say a few sentences?”

“One sentence.”

“Xie Wushi, you’re a damned bastard. One sentence—I have a hundred things in my heart I want to say to him.”

“Are you going to say it or not?”

“Two words: take care!”

“If you say take care, then I’ll write ‘body and health’ to save you from saying my letter doesn’t flow well.”

Just as Pei Daren’s expression changed and he opened his mouth to curse, Xie Zhifei kicked Pei Xiao’s leg.

“I take back what I said earlier. On this trip, your usefulness is greatest, Pei Daren.”

Pei Xiao rolled his eyes at him.

What’s the use of saying this to me? Say it to that divine sorceress Yan!

Let her hear it properly!

…

In the room.

Yan Sanhe lay on the bed. Her body was exhausted to the extreme, but her mind kept turning.

Li Buyan propped herself up halfway and looked at her. “Your heart is unsettled?”

“How did you know?”

“When your heart is unsettled, your body becomes as stiff as a corpse.”

Li Buyan got out of bed, found a clean handkerchief from the bundle, and tucked it into Yan Sanhe’s hand.

Yan Sanhe gripped it tightly, turned over, and hugged Li Buyan’s arm, saying softly, “A fifty-year-old inner demon—I’ve never resolved one before. I’m afraid I won’t be capable enough.”

“Nonsense. Didn’t you resolve my mother’s inner demon?”

Li Buyan patted her gently.

“How many years had hers been? How bizarre was her inner demon? How many would believe it if told? Yet you still closed that coffin lid for her.”