no one was guiding them. They returned along the original path after hearing the Ripple Hero's call.Xiao Shu reacted quickly and, based on the circumstances, analyzed the general course of events.At t...Xiao Shu opened his white jade fan and fanned it twice, shaking his head helplessly. Ignoring the deliberate avoidance of the two women, he turned around and left directly.

Wang Meimei didn't want her brother Xiao to have much contact with this woman in red who was even prettier than her by three points. Lian Yi felt that Xiao Shu looked like a smiling tiger and it would be easier to get information from Wang Meimei. Although their starting points were different, their goals were the same, and unexpectedly, the two reached an understanding and talked very enthusiastically.

On the other side, the dark guard who caught the bandit leader's head came straight to Qiqi's side and whispered:

>>>>

"Master, both Lady Zhen and Miss Lianyi are very skilled in concealing their abilities. Both of them are proficient in martial arts. Furthermore, the light skill of Miss Lianyi's bodyguard is exceptional, she is well-versed in swordplay, and I cannot discern her martial arts style."

Qi Qi's eyes flashed, seemingly not surprised at all.

"It seems like the ones who hurt the ‘Phoenix Perched on a Paulownia Tree’ mother and son are them."

"But looking at them, they seem to lack experience in the Jianghu. And she introduced herself as 'Flying Sword Immortal,' which I've never heard of before. If she were that skilled, we couldn't have missed her information while gathering intelligence."

Perhaps they are just out on their first journey.

Qi Qi said to herself.

By now, Lian Yi had developed a close relationship with Wang Meimei and they had even started calling each other sisters. After learning what she wanted to know, Lian Yi politely declined Wang Meimei's invitation to go to the bandits' lair together. What was there to do anyway The bandits had already been stripped bare.

“Thank you for the invitation, Mei Mei. However, I need to protect my wife and take care of those little sprouts. Besides, I only intervened to stop some people, the bandit leader wasn't caught by me, and I haven't officially joined the operation to wipe out bandits. Going there to share in the spoils wouldn't be appropriate right now.”

The ripples of refusal were clear and unambiguous, demonstrating that she was definitely not someone who would take advantage of small favors.

As for what the other party said, there might be a treasure map involved. She indicated that all the treasures looted by this band of bandits are in her space. Could she not possibly know if there's a treasure map It's clear these people were duped by that cunning county magistrate of Huai County.

If she weren't a member of the Wang family, perhaps she would have gone with a try-it-out attitude. However, since the Wang family's eldest daughter was sitting in the car right now, and she had the jade key left by her mother, she was very sure these people would return empty-handed. So she simply put on an air of composure and gave the other party a good impression.

"Ripple, you make a good point. Since that's the case, I won't force it. Where are you heading next When things here wrap up, I'll come find you to play."

Wang Meimei thinks this ripple is very principled and has backbone. She wants to get to know her better.

"I'll take these children I found along the way to Huai'rou County Government, and we'll stay at the biggest inn in Huai'rou for a day or two to rest and sort things out. Once your task is done, come find me at the inn."

"Good!"

After they made an agreement, they then separated.

Wang Meimei went to meet Xiao Shuhui, while Lianyi went to find Qi Qi.

"Master Qi, these children were rescued by me from a bandits' den. They seem to have been raised by the bandits and sold outside. As for where they were sold, these children don't know. They only remember that the person in charge of buying and selling them was the old woman and young man who had previously plotted against my wife and me – the very "Phoenix Perched on a Paulownia" mother and son you mentioned."

"Oh You mean to say this is their lair"

"I'm guessing, maybe it's a transit point for human traffickers."

Ripple voiced her guess and then beckoned to the young boy at the front.

After seeing this, the person said something to the little girl beside them and ran towards Ripples.

"Heroine, what can I do for you"

"This is young Master Qi, who used to be the county magistrate. The mother and son you mentioned, 'Phoenix perching on a laurel tree,' were captured by him. He wants to ask you some questions about bandits. You should tell him everything you know."

Ripple patted the other person's shoulder.

"Yes, Lady Hero!"

The little boy immediately nodded in agreement.

Qi Qiyue winked at the other person beside him. The other person stepped forward and took the young man aside, but he didn't leave Lian Yi's sight. He leaned in and asked softly.

"Ripple Guard, next we'll be going to Huai'ruo County with us."

Of course, these children also need a place to go. I presume your men have already informed you of this.

"Well, the silver notes you got from the bandits, I'm afraid you'll have to part with some of them."

Qi Qi got a preventive shot ahead of time.

"Alright! A thousand taels, no more! I still have to arrange for these twenty children! Raising them costs money."

Ripple swiftly drew out a silver note and handed it directly to Qiqi.

Qi Qi was taken aback, not expecting this person to be so direct.

"By following your convoy all the way, we've also benefited from it. These are just a small token of our appreciation, like borrowing flowers to offer Buddha."

Ripple smiled and said.

Qi Qi took the silver note, and on that side, the young boy finished answering the questions. He turned back to Lian Yi and said, looking up:

"Heroine, I told them everything."

"Okay, let's continue on our journey."

Let's go!

Qi Qi spoke.

Immediately, he arranged for several people to take care of the aftermath and then continued through the gorge with Ripples and the others, heading for Huai'rou County.

Xiao Shu watched the departing group of people, his expression visibly relaxed. This group was made up of exceptionally skilled individuals. Their arrival tipped the balance in their favor, allowing them to quickly suppress the bandits.

Of course, they didn't tell the truth either. They only said that they had been commissioned by the county magistrate to eradicate this cunning band of bandits, acting for the good of the people, without mentioning a word about the treasure map.

Now that the people are gone, they can proceed with the next step.

"Xiao Shu, all the surviving bandits are tied up and handed over to those people. We'd better find their hideout as soon as possible so that we won't be beaten to it."

A wiry, hunchbacked man with a bushy beard squinted and spoke.

"I know, let Spider-Woman go up first to scout the terrain."

After she went past the crowd, she went up and marked her path. We have to hurry and follow her.

"Go!"

Xiao Shu beckoned, and this group of impatient martial artists surged along the canyon wall, quickly advancing toward the bandit lair.

Liàn Yī and Qí Qi, after leaving the Grand Canyon, continued their journey for another day. Finally, in the afternoon of the second day, they saw the gate to Huai'rou County.

When entering the city, Lianyi parted ways with Qi Qifen.

Qi Q's subordinates escorted the two captured bandits back. The pair had been starved for two days, their steps unsteady, and to add to their misery, they were injured and bleeding, their faces pale with exhaustion. As they entered Huai'rou City, the bandit with a bushy beard began nervously scanning his surroundings.

Qi Qi merely raised his hand, and the thin, dark man and the bearded man were knocked unconscious, directly thrown into the green cloth carriage. Master Qi then dismounted and bade farewell to Lian Yi for the time being.

"See you later!"

"See you later!"

Ripple turned her head and moved into the best inn in Huai County. She sent a servant to prepare two large tables of food, filling the bellies of the little radish heads. Then, she led those children who didn't know how they ended up on the mountain to the county government office to report.themselves.After Liàn Yī returned to her room, she said to Wang Zhēn Zhēn and Wang Yào Zǔ:"When this wind and sand have passed, we'll set off. The people here aren't good folk; even the child reeks of...