Chapter 23 Be prepared Ⅰ

　　Shen Huan was familiar with the terrain within the prefecture. The location of the sour jujube forest mentioned by Hu Yun was 17 kilometers southeast of Muyang Town. The place was known for its abundant sour jujubes, hence the name.

　　Fearing that Hao Yun might be fabricating his story, Shen repeatedly questioned him, without any inconsistencies in his answers, leading Shen to believe it was mostly true. In fact, he didn't know that Hao Yun was telling the whole truth.

　　After asking several questions, Shen pressed the sword against Hao Yun's neck and demanded, "Tell me, who have you seen today?"

　　Hao Yun blinked his eyes and said, "Just customers buying meat... and my wife... and you..."

　　"Think again?"

　　Hao Yun had a sudden realization and exclaimed, "No, I haven't seen anyone!"

　　"Then how did you end up in the cave?"

　　"I was just taking a stroll, had nothing better to do. I ended up here and decided to rest."

　　"You're quite clever," Shen said as he walked behind Hao Yun and struck his neck again, applying more force this time to ensure he wouldn't wake up too soon.

　　Shen exited the cave, returned to the city, and hurried back to the prefect's private residence. He didn't arrest Hao Yun to avoid tipping off any potential accomplices; he believed his actions would serve as a deterrent.

　　Back at the prefect's private residence, the second miss, He Muyu, and her friend Zhou Ge were waiting.

　　When He Muyu saw Shen return, she rushed towards him.

　　"Shen, you're finally back. Zhou Ge has confirmed that they indeed plan to attack my older sister."

　　"That's right, on the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, at the crossroads of the sour jujube forest."

　　"What? You've found out the time and location of the attack? How did you manage that?"

　　"Let's discuss it inside. Zhou, come with me. Oh, where's Ji Yanshi?"

　　He Muyu pouted and said, "Ji Yanshi? Hmm, he's useless in crucial moments. There's no need to tell him until tomorrow."

　　Inside the room, Shen drank two cups of water and then recounted the entire incident in detail.

　　After listening to Shen's account, Zhou Ge also shared his investigation process. Upon comparing their findings, there were no discrepancies.

　　"Shen, you've uncovered so much?" Zhou praised.

　　"It was nothing, really. I still have a lot to learn from you, Zhou."

　　He Muyu was impatient and interrupted, "Enough with the mutual flattery. Let's figure out how to help my sister. Also, should we tell my dad?"

　　"Yes," they both said in unison.

　　"So unanimous?"

　　"When it comes to apprehending criminals, one must have a just cause and rightful words," Zhou Ge explained.

　　"We'll need reinforcements," Shen added.

　　After some consideration, He Muyu decided that she would personally inform her father about the situation.

　　The next morning, the three of them went to the prefect's mansion.

　　He Muyu and Shen went to see her father while Zhou Ge went to find Ji Yanshi and brief him on the situation.

　　Prefect He had slept well the previous night and was in high spirits when he saw his daughter. He had always been fond of her, and seeing her with Shen, whom he highly regarded and had entrusted with important tasks, made him even more pleased.

　　However, he was slightly displeased that she had brought Shen to his private residence for the first time.

　　Prefect He asked with a frown, "Where were you last night?"

　　He Muyu bowed respectfully and replied, "At the private residence with Brother Shen and Zhou Ge."

　　"This is unseemly behavior for a young lady. How could you stay overnight at a man's place?"

　　"You never objected to me working with Brother Shen before. Besides, we were investigating a case."

　　"That's beside the point. You still shouldn't have stayed the night."

　　"Father, please, we have an urgent matter to discuss. It's extremely important."

　　"What is it?"

　　"Yesterday, I mentioned that Qing Hu had gone to Qingding Mountain. Do you know why? They plan to attack my sister. The time is set for the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, at the crossroads of the sour jujube forest."

　　Prefect He was stunned by the news.

　　He had been worried about the issue of suppressing the bandits but had never expected that Qing, Wen, and eighth uncle's involvement would lead to such a dire situation. The fact that his eldest daughter, He Muxian, was the target made it even more unacceptable.

　　"Is this true...?"

　　"Father, this is a matter concerning my sister's safety. We wouldn't dare to be careless. Last night, we conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed it. The one called Li He intercepted my sister's letter and learned of her return time and location."

　　"Eighth uncle's disciple? Are you sure?" Prefect He asked menacingly.

　　Shen bowed respectfully and said, "It is indeed true, Prefect."

　　Prefect He knew that Shen would never make such a claim lightly, and his words carried weight.

　　Overwhelmed with anger, Prefect He was about to rush to Qingmei Peak to seek an explanation but quickly realized that he needed to prioritize and handle the situation calmly.

　　After pacing around the courtyard for a while, he finally made a decision. "Shen, take my official order to inform General An. Tell him to secretly investigate the sour jujube forest and then use my second official order to discreetly mobilize the prefecture's constables. We must make contact with Muxian."

　　"Father, what about me?" He Muyu asked.

　　"You will stay at the mansion and nowhere else," Prefect He ordered.

　　Just then, Ji Yanshi rushed in, looking flustered.

　　"Sixth Uncle, I... I... I need to do something for my sixth martial sister."

　　"You've heard about it? Fine, I'll tell you this. If you ever see your Third Uncle, testify on my behalf that his family was the one who initiated the conflict."

　　"Uh... okay... I'll testify."

　　"If the Qings harm my daughter, I'll have it out with them!"

　　Seeing that it was inappropriate for him to stay longer, Shen bid farewell and headed towards the prefect's office.

　　He Muyu looked at Ji Yanshi and, for some reason, felt increasingly dissatisfied with him. When she glanced at Zhou Ge outside, she felt slightly more at ease.

　　Turning to Ji Yanshi, she said, "Father, I'll be staying at the prefect's private residence for a few days." With that, she called Ji Yanshi and Zhou Ge and left the prefect's mansion.

　　Back at the prefect's private residence, Zhou Ge contemplated whether he had been too involved in recent events, especially since He Muyu had witnessed some of his magical abilities.

　　He also recalled Shen's words and wondered if he should continue helping.

　　Moments later, He Muyu summoned him to her room, where the three of them gathered to discuss their next steps.

　　Ji Yanshi listened attentively to the details of their plan once again and provided his analysis.

　　He pointed out that while the leader of Fangding Mountain, Tang Li, was not particularly skilled in martial arts and posed little threat, they should not underestimate the other bandits.

　　As for the man in the star-patterned robe, Li He, even though he had been exiled from the Flying Star Sect, his martial arts were still formidable, and one should not underestimate him.

　　However, the two most troublesome individuals were Huang Yan, the sorcerer who could draw dispel weapons talismans, and Qing Hu, who was not only highly skilled in martial arts but could also deploy a smokescreen maze.

　　Zhou Ge asked, "How did you break through the smokescreen maze back then?"

　　"It was all thanks to the wind-stirring herb given by my Fourth Martial Sister. But she's far away on Yuanying Peak now, so we'll need to find another way to deal with the smokescreen maze."

　　Shen Huan said of the Fourth Martial Sister, He Muyu had a resentment in his eyes: "It's the Fourth Martial Sister again, when Brother Shen looks at her, his eyes are straight..."

　　He Muyu with a trace of melancholy in her voice, which did not escape Zhou Ge's notice.

　　Before he could ask, Ji Yanshi changed the topic and said, "Zhou, what abilities do you possess?"

　　Zhou Ge thought for a moment and replied, "I know the Binding Spirit Stanchion Rune Magic, which is used for investigation."

　　He Muyu's tone remained indifferent as she said, "I've seen it before. It's useless in a fight. What else do you have?"

　　"Flying Swallow Sword."

　　"Oh? Practice and see. ”

　　When the three of them came to the house, Zhou Ge drew his saber and practiced a graceful knife technique.

　　He Muyu looked at it, and his tone was still indifferent: "You are the same as Ji Yanshi, and you have no effect at the critical moment. ”