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Chapter 32

Li Xia approached the bodies and dripped a few drops of corpse-dissolving liquid onto them. Soon, only a puddle of bodily fluids remained on the ground. The wind dried up the puddle, leaving not a single trace of these men ever existing in this world.

Li Xia gazed into the distance with a smile she couldn\'t suppress. After killing these men, her supernatural abilities had finally leveled up to the third rank. However, she felt a pang seeing the nearly empty bottle—the corpse-dissolving liquid was running out. When would Tian Jiu return?

At that moment, Tian Jiu was cursing someone as he burst out of the water, using his inner energy to evaporate the water off his body. He had never been in such a wretched state before. He had failed to complete his mission on time. The person had disappeared, and the organization had sent people to investigate, uncovering his betrayal. Now they were sending assassins after him. Along the way, not only did Tian Jiu have to protect the messenger, but he also had to fight off those trying to kill him. He was overwhelmed with tasks.

After evading another group of assassins, Tian Jiu continued pursuing the messenger. With just one more day, the message would reach the capital, and he could retire successfully.

In the capital, at the Beining Marquis Manor, Old Marquis Lu was counting the days, muttering about when his grandson Lu XuanNing would arrive. Ever since receiving the message that his grandson was returning to celebrate his grand birthday, the old marquis had been eagerly anticipating his arrival, sitting in the study tallying the days until Lu XuanNing would reach the capital.

"Old Marquis, Marquis Zhou has arrived and is waiting in the front hall," the manor steward entered and reported.

"What is he coming to my manor for? Has he settled the affairs of his own household?" Old Marquis Lu was puzzled as to why Marquis Zhou would visit the Lu manor.

"The young master of the Zhou household has been found," the steward explained.

"The boy is indeed capable, it\'s a pity about his muddled mother," Old Marquis Lu sighed, then made his way unhurriedly to the front hall. There he saw Marquis Zhou accompanied by a middle-aged man.

"Greetings, Old Marquis," Marquis Zhou paid his respects.

"You rascal, what brings you the time to visit me?" Old Marquis Lu was of an age to address Marquis Zhou as such.

"I come at someone\'s request to see you, Old Marquis," Marquis Zhou introduced the man, "This is Minister Liu Rujin from the Board of Works. Minister Liu has come to deliver a letter and an item to you, and requests that you identify someone."

Liu Rujin took out a letter and a jade pendant from his person. Old Marquis Lu listened without comprehension—who would be sending him a letter? He glanced at the jade in Liu Rujin\'s hand and his expression changed. He grabbed Liu Rujin, "Where did you get this jade?"

The Flowing Clouds Eternal Blessing jade pendant was commissioned by Old Madam Lu and carved by a specialist for Lu XuanNing when he turned one year old, with the hope that he would live a blessed and prosperous life. Lu XuanNing had never taken it off since.

A scholar like Liu Rujin was no match for the strength of Old Marquis Lu. His face turned pale from the grip.

"Old Marquis, please calm down," Marquis Zhou stepped forward, and the steward also came to pull Liu Rujin away from Old Marquis Lu\'s grasp.

Old Marquis Lu clutched the jade tightly and calmed himself, apologizing to Liu Rujin, "Minister, I was rash. Please do not take offense."

How could Liu Rujin dare harbor any resentment? "No matter, my lord."

"Minister Liu, give me the letter," Old Marquis Lu took the letter, seeing it was an ordinary greeting letter. He was puzzled.

Liu Rujin stepped forward to explain to Old Marquis Lu the coded message he had arranged with his old classmate Li Ming. When Li Ming was being sent on an external assignment years ago, the two had devised a code for conveying sensitive information in the future. Liu Rujin never expected that the first coded message Li Ming sent him as the Governor of Liuzhou would contain this.

However, being unfamiliar with the Beining Marquis Manor, Liu Rujin knew he could not simply show up and expect to be believed. Li Ming had considered this and instructed him to seek out Marquis Zhou first. Li Ming had previously helped rescue the young master of the Gongshun Marquis Manor, a favor Marquis Zhou would undoubtedly repay.

Following Liu Rujin\'s guidance, Old Marquis Lu deciphered the message: "Suspected that the grandson of the Beining Marquis, Lu XuanNing, has been hunted down and seriously wounded in Liuzhou, lying in a coma. Please send someone from the Beining Marquis Manor to identify him."

Upon reading the message and noticing what appeared to be traces of blood in the crevices of the jade pendant, Old Marquis Lu slammed his palm onto the table, leaving a deep imprint. The three men in the hall fell silent. In his youth, Old Marquis Lu had quite the temper. Even in old age, it had only improved somewhat. Now, with his grandson\'s life hanging in the balance in Liuzhou and the situation unclear, his anger flared.

Old Marquis Lu thanked Marquis Zhou and Liu Rujin, "I am grateful to you both for delivering this message. This is a grave matter, and I hope you can keep it confidential. The Beining Marquis Manor will surely repay this favor in the future."

"Rest assured, Old Marquis/Marquis Lu, we will not divulge this to anyone else," Marquis Zhou and Liu Rujin hurriedly promised to keep the matter secret.

After Marquis Zhou and Liu Rujin left the Beining Marquis Manor, Old Marquis Lu changed into traveling clothes and went to the palace, requesting an imperial physician from the Emperor. Old Madam Lu had also been informed of the situation and prepared the necessary items. Old Marquis Lu took Old Madam Lu\'s hand, "Rest assured, Madam, I will bring our grandson back safely."

Old Madam Lu acknowledged with a sound of agreement, watching as Old Marquis Lu departed with the family guards. No sooner had Old Marquis Lu left the capital than carrier pigeons were dispatched to relay the message.

This action only intensified the attacks by the men in black on Liuzhou. After eliminating two groups in one night, the exhausted Li Xia sat resting on the city wall, with Tian Jiu lying beside her.

"How many more people are coming to kill Lu XuanNing?"

"I don\'t know."

"Why do they want to kill Lu XuanNing?"

"I don\'t know." Tian Jiu, having been slashed, struggled to sit up and bandage his wound.

"Who are the people trying to kill Lu XuanNing?"

"I don\'t know," Tian Jiu responded again.

Li Xia laughed lightly, "Three \'I don\'t know\'s\' in response."

Hearing Li Xia\'s words, Tian Jiu involuntarily shuddered, "I really don\'t know. I\'m just a small-time assassin. Besides, I\'ve now betrayed the organization and am facing their pursuit to kill me." The more Tian Jiu spoke, the more pitiful he felt.

However, Li Xia paid no heed to Tian Jiu\'s self-pity. "Isn\'t this what you wanted?"

Those words left Tian Jiu speechless. He laughed, "Are you even human?"

"Haven\'t I always been a demon in your eyes?" Tian Jiu didn\'t expect Li Xia to respond that way. Was he being that obvious?

"Does it make a difference?" Li Xia stretched lazily, "Let\'s call it a day and head home."

From Liuzhou to the capital, even riding hard, would take over a month. For his grandson\'s sake, Old Marquis Lu rode two horses to death, compressing the journey to sixteen days before arriving in Liuzhou. Without resting, he brought the imperial physician to the Songtao Courtyard.

Hearing the commotion, Lu XuanNing opened his eyes to see Old Marquis Lu, his face weathered and eyes reddened, his voice hoarse, "Ning\'er, Grandpa is here."