Watching Luo Sheng reach her hand deep into the middle-aged man’s chest, Wei Han’s eyes instantly glazed over somewhat.

Fortunately, he still had enough composure and didn’t make any move to stop her.

Luo Sheng quickly withdrew her hand, glanced at the object in it, and asked the middle-aged man coldly: “What is this?”

In her hand was unmistakably a peachwood axe no longer than three inches.

The peachwood axe, still carrying body warmth, lay quietly in her palm, making her feel cold from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet.

On the road to the capital when they’d encountered that assassination attempt, she had found one of these on the corpse of someone who’d tried to kill her.

And now, she’d actually found another on the person who abducted Xiao Qi.

The middle-aged man seemed to be shocked by the young woman’s stern voice and tone, stammering: “A protective charm.”

“A protective charm?” Luo Sheng’s tone grew colder, carrying certainty. “This is not a protective charm. This is a token representing some kind of identity.”

The middle-aged man’s pupils contracted, and his gaze at Luo Sheng couldn’t hide his surprise.

This peachwood axe looked very ordinary—it was hard to imagine someone would instantly associate it with some kind of token upon seeing it.

And Luo Sheng had also found her answer in the other party’s reaction.

As expected, the person before her was connected to those who’d pursued and tried to kill her on the way to the capital.

“What have your accomplices done with Xiao Qi?” Having discovered the peachwood axe, Luo Sheng had too many questions she wanted to ask, but what concerned her most right now was undoubtedly whether Xiao Qi was alive or dead.

The middle-aged man became somewhat anxious: “There really are no accomplices!”

“Then how do you explain this?” Luo Sheng gripped the peachwood axe tightly.

The middle-aged man frowned: “This was indeed my token when I was an assassin, but I left that identity years ago and haven’t been in contact with my former associates…”

Luo Sheng’s expression became increasingly grim as her gaze turned toward Jinshui River.

Nearby it was cold and dark, while in the distance it was bright as day. The broad and winding Jinshui River led who knew where. If this connection was severed, trying to find Xiao Qi would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Luo Sheng couldn’t help but shiver, feeling the cold of late autumn.

A hand fell on her shoulder.

Luo Sheng turned to look.

In the night, the man’s deep features carried a few traces of gentleness.

Perhaps what was gentle wasn’t his features, but the tenderness hidden deep in his eyes.

“Don’t panic yet. Let’s search together.”

How to search?

Luo Sheng didn’t gain much comfort from this, but at a time like this, she could only grit her teeth and nod.

No matter how slim the hope, she couldn’t give up until the very last moment.

The two walked several dozen zhang along the shore when someone came running toward them.

That person’s face gradually became clear in the night, making Luo Sheng unconsciously slow her pace.

The young man running toward them looked somewhat familiar.

She couldn’t help but look at the person beside her.

Wei Han said in a low voice: “That’s Shi Yan’s eldest brother, Shi Huo.”

Luo Sheng understood.

She’d long ago heard Shi Yan mention he had two older brothers above him, but she’d never met them.

Shi Huo looked about four or five years older than Shi Yan. Despite walking urgently, his expression remained composed.

“Master.” Shi Huo stopped about one zhang away and cupped his fists in salute to Wei Han.

Wei Han asked calmly: “How is it?”

“Found him.”

Luo Sheng’s breath caught.

Found him… was that what she thought it meant?

“Where is he? How is his condition?”

“The condition isn’t good. Following your arrangement, he’s been sent directly to Qingxing Street.”

Luo Sheng listened with alarm, staring intently at Wei Han.

Wei Han suddenly let out a whistle.

The whistle sound was long and clear, able to travel far even on the cacophonous banks of Jinshui River.

The sound of hoofbeats grew increasingly clear. Soon a white horse ran to Wei Han’s side, affectionately nuzzling his hand.

Wei Han mounted the horse in one swift motion and extended his hand toward Luo Sheng: “Get on.”

This time, his tone left no room for discussion.

And Luo Sheng instantly guessed the reason for his actions and extended her hand without hesitation.

One large hand and one slender hand clasped together.

Luo Sheng only felt a strong force pulling her, and by the time she reacted, she was already seated in front of Wei Han.

The large white horse, as if sensing its master’s urgency, burst through the thick night like a bolt of white lightning, galloping toward the distance.

The white horse ran very fast, wind howling in their ears.

To let Luo Sheng hear clearly, Wei Han leaned close to her ear to explain: “Knowing the meeting location, I sent some people to search around Jinshui River. However, the range of Jinshui River is too vast, so finding someone depended largely on luck, which is why it took some time. I instructed Shi Huo and the others that if Xiao Qi’s condition was still alright, to use the doctor stationed at Jinshui River, but if the situation was quite serious, to send him directly to the divine physician’s place—though for that, Miss Luo would need to step in…”

Luo Sheng slightly turned her face away and nodded to show she’d heard.

She actually had many things she wanted to say, but Xiao Qi’s safety tugged at her tightly strung heartstrings, leaving her no mind to speak.

However, in her heart, she had to view this man sharing the same horse with her in a new light.

Whether it was arranging for his subordinates to find Xiao Qi, instructing them to send the injured Xiao Qi directly to Qingxing Street, or bringing her there without hesitation—all of it showed his thorough consideration.

Seeing Luo Sheng didn’t speak, Wei Han also said no more and shook the reins to increase their speed.

The white horse galloped with raised hooves. Buildings on both sides flew past. Luo Sheng finally saw the green wine banner raised in front of Youjian Tavern.

It was long past the tavern’s closing time, and other shops had also closed their doors. The originally lively Qingxing Street had become very quiet, making the urgent hoofbeats sound particularly clear.

Wei Han sharply pulled the reins, and the white horse stopped in front of Youjian Tavern.

He dismounted and raised his hand to help Luo Sheng down.

Luo Sheng had already jumped down nimbly. She smoothed back the stray hair covering her eyes and brows and hurried toward the medical clinic across the way.

Wei Han grabbed her: “He’s not here yet.”

“Not here yet?” Luo Sheng was astonished.

Didn’t they say he’d been sent directly here?

The young woman’s face was full of confusion. The stray hair she’d just tucked behind her ear fell forward again, brushing against her wind-reddened cheeks.

Wei Han couldn’t help but want to reach out and tidy the mischievous strands for her.

He ultimately restrained this bold impulse and said: “Shi Huo should have come to report to me immediately upon finding Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi’s condition isn’t good, so bringing him here requires a carriage. Calculating the time, they definitely can’t be as fast as us. We arrived ahead of time so we can have the divine physician ready first.”

Regarding Wei Han’s arrangement, Luo Sheng nodded in approval, then her gaze fell on the large hand gripping her wrist.

That being the case, she still needed to go to the medical clinic across the way—why was he holding her back?

Wei Han also realized this and hastily released her hand, saying seriously: “Miss Luo, let’s hurry over.”

Luo Sheng twitched the corners of her mouth and hurried over to knock on the door.

After knocking several times, the door finally creaked open.

“Who is it at this late hour?” The gatekeeper boy asked impatiently.

Seeing clearly who was outside the door, the gatekeeper boy immediately became alert: “Miss Luo?”

“I need to see the divine physician about something.”

The gatekeeper boy only hesitated for an instant before stepping aside: “Then please come in first.”

Luo Sheng lifted her foot to step over the threshold.

The gatekeeper boy’s mind was spinning with thoughts of “Miss Luo is here again” as he forcefully closed the door.

An even greater force pushed back, shoving the door open.

Wei Han said with a stony expression: “There’s another person.”