The commotion here had long alerted the government office of Changze County.

However, the numerous governmental officials had never seen such a large-scale formation. Each of them charged into the crowd of the Black Water Gang, waving their knives and striking with extreme ferocity, every strike drawing blood.

If they tried to intervene, they would likely get hacked to death by the two forces.

The numerous governmental officials also craned their necks, standing in the crowd to watch the spectacle.

Why risk their lives for a meager monthly salary?

Soon after, with Xiao Xun's head separated from his body, the Black Water Gang scattered like a nest of ants, and the chaotic battle gradually settled down.

"How should I address this brave warrior? Thank you for your help earlier."

Chen Tang looked at the burly man and cupped his hands in gratitude.

If it weren't for this burly man's assistance, he might not have been able to hold back Xiao Xun.

"Haha!"

The burly man laughed heartily and said, "Brother Chen Tang, you don't recognize me, but I have long heard of your great name!"

Chen Tang was slightly taken aback.

Li Boxiong smiled without speaking.

Li Junqing gave a slight smile and stepped forward to introduce, "He is my third brother, Li Shuhu. This time he brought people to hide in the Three Thousand Snow Ridges to support us."

Chen Tang suddenly realized.

It seems that the Li Family had indeed left a contingency plan.

If the situation turned unfavorable, the Li Family could take their people and flee Wu'an County.

Once the Governor of Pingzhou rebelled, various places in Pingzhou would respond, and the borders would be sealed.

Their escape would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

With Li Shuhu supporting, the Li Family could completely hide temporarily in the Three Thousand Snow Ridges, waiting for the situation to stabilize before finding a chance to retreat.

Of course, this time, Li Yan made the right gamble.

With such great merit, not only did he defend Wu'an County, but he also protected the Eldest Princess. With the new emperor ascending the throne, there surely would be wealth and glory awaiting him.

After a simple chat, worried about the situation in Wu'an County, they didn't linger in Changze County and headed back to the mansion.

By the time they returned to Wu'an County, it was already past noon.

There were still guards patrolling on the city wall. Upon seeing Chen Tang, Li Boxiong, and the others, they quickly opened the city gates.

After entering the city, although there were fewer pedestrians on the street, some shops were still operating as usual, indicating that the situation in Wu'an County had already been controlled by Li Yan, and it hadn't greatly affected the citizens in the city.

"Have you heard? Something big happened in the city last night; the Marquis Wu'an's Mansion was annihilated!"

"That's right. It's said that the Marquis Wu'an rebelled, but was forcibly suppressed by Commander Li!"

"Lord Li truly has the means. He endured all these years. Once he acted, he wiped out the Huo Family."

"I heard that two Grandmasters appeared in the city last night."

Chen Tang and his group walked along, hearing discussions about this matter in every street and alley.

The house they rented was almost completely ruined in last night's great battle, in disrepair, uninhabitable.

With Li Junqing's invitation, they temporarily stayed at the Li Mansion.

The fat old man had already returned in the morning.

Chen Tang and Qingmu went to check on him.

His battle with Xiao Zhengyuan ended in mutual defeat.

Xiao Zhengyuan retreated wounded back to the Black Water Country.

The fat old man also suffered internal injuries and was channeling his energy to heal.

Chen Tang and Qingmu did not disturb him. After leaving the room, they also found a room to rest.

After several fierce battles, they were already exhausted.

Chen Tang lay on the bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

When he woke up, it was already night.

Chen Tang pushed open the door and found Meng Liangyu seemed to have been waiting outside for some time.

"What's the matter?"

Chen Tang asked.

Meng Liangyu said, "There are a few Cyan Dragon Guards in the front hall who heard you returned and came to find you this afternoon, waiting in the front hall until now."

Cyan Dragon Guards?

It should be Wei Qun and his group.

If it were Cai's temperament, he probably would have barged in cursing long ago.

Chen Tang followed Meng Liangyu to the front hall, where Wei Qun, Wang Yanli, Yue Shou, and nine others were present.

However, all nine had their brows tightly knit and looked a bit heavy-hearted, restless.

"Brother Wei, Sister Li, why have you all come?"

Chen Tang hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Did something happen to the Cyan Dragon Bureau?"

When Wei Qun and the others saw Chen Tang, they quickly stood up.

"There's nothing wrong with the Cyan Dragon Bureau."

Wei Qun said in a deep voice, "But Cai is missing!"

"Yes, there's been no news of him since last night until now."

"Xiao Chen, have you seen him?"

The nine people all spoke anxiously at once, looking worried.

Chen Tang's heart sank and he said, "Everyone, don't panic. Speak one at a time. What happened after Cai returned to the Cyan Dragon Bureau last night? Where did he go? What did he say to you?"

Wei Qun said, "After Cai returned to the Cyan Dragon Bureau last night, he was still uneasy, so he went to complain to Lord Tan, saying at worst he wouldn't work at the Cyan Dragon Bureau anymore and would bring us to help you."

"And then?"

Chen Tang asked.

"We were waiting at the Guard Commander's Office, but Cai didn't come back later."

Wei Qun said, "After all, it was too late yesterday. We barely waited until dawn before I went to see Lord Tan to find out."

"Lord Tan said that Cai left alone last night, saying something about going to help you."

"But later, when we searched the city all morning, we didn't see any trace of Cai. We asked many people, but no one had seen him. We thought we'd wait for you to ask if Cai had gone with you."

Chen Tang looked serious and shook his head, "After I left last night, I didn't see him."

"Where did Cai go?"

Wei Qun frowned deeply.

Chi Yun seemed to have thought of something and suddenly said, "Do you think Cai might have been taken by Tan Wujiu last night..."

"Chi Yun!"

Wei Qun shook his head and said, "Without evidence, it's not good to speak such words recklessly."

"But it's indeed possible."

Chi Yun said, "Cai was furious last night, and it's possible he had a huge argument with Tan Wujiu. In a fit of rage, Tan Wujiu might have killed Cai."

"No way."

Yue Shou shook his head, "Lord Tan once saved Cai's life and brought him into the Cyan Dragon Bureau. Their relationship goes beyond a mere superior-subordinate one."

"Even if they had a big argument, Lord Tan wouldn't have killed Cai."

"That's right."

Wei Qun nodded, "Cai used to call Lord Tan 'Old Tan' in private. No matter how they argued, it wouldn't have reached the point of deadly confrontation."

Wang Yanli said, "But before leaving last night, Cai clearly told us that if he left, he would go with us! Why would Cai break his promise and leave alone?"

Yue Shou said, "Perhaps Cai didn't want us to take the risk, so he left alone. After all, the Huo Family and the Black Water Gang had the upper hand initially last night. It was only later, with the appearance of a Grandmaster, that the situation turned around."

The group discussed for a long time but couldn't come to a conclusion.

"In the chaos of last night in Wu'an County, could something have really happened to Cai?"

Chi Yun suddenly asked.

"Impossible. Cai is Fifth Grade. In Wu'an County, how many people could kill him?"

"Absolutely not!"

"If he's dead, we need to see the body. Without seeing Cai's body, I don't believe something happened to him."

Everyone spoke consecutively.

Wei Qun sighed softly and said, "Perhaps we're overthinking it. Cai might be fine, and we're just imagining things. Maybe in a couple of days, he'll return unharmed."

Chen Tang seemed pensive.

"Xiao Chen, what do you think?"

Wei Qun asked.

Chen Tang shook his head and said, "Logically, if Cai left the Cyan Dragon Bureau and got caught up in last night's battle, someone would have seen him."

"And given Cai's temperament, if he said he would leave with everyone, he wouldn't leave alone."

Wei Qun asked, "Do you mean Cai is still in the Cyan Dragon Bureau?"

"I don't know."

Chen Tang shook his head and said, "The last person to see Cai was Tan Wujiu. Only by questioning him can we get some clues."

Wei Qun and the others looked troubled.

Such words are indeed hard to bring up with Tan Wujiu.

Ask too much, or use the wrong tone, and it will surely provoke Tan Wujiu's displeasure.

Moreover, they are merely Cyan Dragon Guards, two ranks below Tan Wujiu, hardly in a position to interrogate him.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

At this moment, an urgent shout came from outside the door.

The next moment, the shouting abruptly stopped.

Immediately afterward, the sound of fighting erupted outside the Li Mansion.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The invaders seemed unstoppable, breaking through from outside the Li Mansion, smashing their way to the backyard with an overwhelming momentum!

The backyard was exactly where Qingmu and the others were resting!

Chen Tang's expression changed, and without time to think, he turned and ran toward the backyard.

Wei Qun and nine others hurriedly followed.

"He Yeqian, look at you now, so wretched, with only a few people around you. It seems your defeat is already decided!"

At that moment, Chen Tang heard the voice of the fat old man, tinged with mockery.

The prefect of Pingzhou, He Yeqian has arrived!

"So what if I've been defeated?"

Another voice sounded, deep and imposing, "Even if defeated, I won't let that brat from Cyan Mountain have it easy. I will take his own sister to Black Water Country!"

"I will offer his own sister to the Black Water Royal Family to continue their lineage, making the Daqian royal bloodline the biggest joke in the world, hahaha!"

Qingmu said coldly, "He Yeqian, as the prefect of Pingzhou, entrusted with imperial grace, raising troops to rebel, ungrateful and despicable, you truly disgrace the He Family!"

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Chen Tang and the others looked up.

They saw two figures clash in mid-air, exchanging a series of blows before separating again.

One of them was the fat old man.

The other likely was He Yeqian.

"You've cultivated to First Grade?"

The fat old man looked serious, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

"That's right!"

He Yeqian said proudly, "If not, I wouldn't have recklessly raised troops. With my ability, how could I be subordinate to that Cyan Mountain brat!"

At that moment, Commander Li Yan arrived with numerous guards, Chen Tang, and several Cyan Dragon Guards, reaching this spot from outside. Upon seeing the prefect of Pingzhou, He Yeqian, their expressions were solemn.

They had heard clearly earlier, this person is a First Grade Grandmaster!

The fat old man, after battling Xiao Zhengyuan, was internally injured and couldn't possibly contend with He Yeqian.

Even if the entire Li Family swarmed him, they wouldn't be enough for this man to kill.

Moreover, he was accompanied by dozens of personal attendants.

He Yeqian, full of murderous intent, stared at the fat old man, raising his hand slowly, his entire body exuding a violent Qi Force, making it impossible for anyone to get close, let alone attack him!

"Feng Xu, today I will not only take her but also strike you down! If you hadn't stolen the symbol and intercepted the order, I wouldn't have been defeated so thoroughly!"

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