Chen Ji tightly gripped the Whale Blade.

The vast swathes of wind and snow were swept into Shaojiu Alley, with a gust of wind carrying snowflakes past him, making his clothes flutter noisily.

Xiao Man had finally been generous enough to take out twenty taels of silver to buy wine and meat, planning with Brother Pao to have a good drink at noon, only for it all to suddenly disappear.

Xiao Man walked over to Chen Ji holding a letter, his mouth opened and closed as he said something, but Chen Ji heard nothing.

He turned his head to look, and in Shaojiu Alley, a series of black-brown footprints stood out in the snow, fleeing all the way to the street by Jade River outside the alley. As the heavy snow fluttered down, it quickly covered the prints with a layer of white frost, threatening to bury them.

"Wait for me at home."

Chen Ji followed the footprints all the way out, his eyes scanning the snow.

In the heavy snow, the pedestrians on the road hurried along, and seeing someone coming with a knife, they quickly moved aside… the passersby's boots trampled the once-clear footprints into chaos.

Chen Ji took a deep breath, the frigid air poured into his lungs, and his world suddenly fell into silence. There was no sound of the wind, no sound of the snow, no noise of distant pedestrians, only the rustling sound of snow hitting his cheeks.

He looked down at the ground, the messenger wore black boots, the soles about eight inches, with a stride over three feet, the left foot presses heavier than the right foot. Either there's an old injury on the leg, or he's right-handed and uses uneven strength.

Found it.

In the next moment, Chen Ji pursued south, chasing a series of blurred footprints out of Jade River Street, then turned east, passing through Xilaxi Alley into Tangzi Alley.

The distance between Chen Ji and the man was gradually closing, and the footprints in the snow became increasingly clear.

However, when Chen Ji raced out of Tangzi Alley, the footprints suddenly ceased. It was as if the person he was pursuing vanished into thin air, slipping into a crack in the world where he shouldn't belong.

No, that's not right.

Chen Ji leaped onto the rooftop, the wind and snow assaulting his face. He squinted, suddenly spotting the back of a man dashing across rooftops, crashing through the leaning cascade of snow.

He raised his knife and gave chase.

The man did not look back, flipped his hand and flung three sharp whooshing projectiles through the wind and snow toward Chen Ji, who spun his wrist, the Whale Blade whipping the snow curtain.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Three Iron Thorns were struck aside, embedding into the tiles on either side.

At the edge of the rooftop, the man leapt onto another rooftop. Chen Ji followed closely, his body airborne. Just as he was about to land, the man suddenly turned, his hands a blur, flinging seven Bone-piercing Nails consecutively.

In mid-air, Chen Ji had nowhere to brace himself, spinning the Whale Blade.

Six Bone-piercing Nails were deflected, the last one narrowly grazing past his ear, severing a few strands of hair. But the force of those six deflections combined, knocking him off trajectory, sending him plummeting into the alley below.

After landing, the man glanced back, searching through the heavy snow for Chen Ji's figure.

Nobody.

Chen Ji did not leap back onto the rooftop.

The man panted, hesitated for an instant. That Whale Blade was too fast, so fast that even he couldn't tell if Chen Ji had blocked all seven Bone-piercing Nails.

He turned to continue his escape.

Just as he was about to leap onto another rooftop, a sudden flash of the knife lit up the alley.

The blade light was brighter than the snowstorm, sweeping upward from the shadows of the alley.

The man's right leg was severed cleanly below the knee, hot blood splattering onto the snowy ground, melting a depression in the snow. He fell into the alley, not even having time to scream before a cold blade tip was pressed against his neck.

He looked up, seeing Chen Ji holding the Whale Blade inverted, the ice-cold tip just resting against his throat, a fraction away from taking his life.

Chen Ji stepped on the man's chest, looking down from above: "Where have Brother Pao and Er Dao been taken?"

The man gritted his teeth, fingers stealthily reaching for the deerskin bag at his waist, which held Iron Thorns.

A flash of the blade again.

The man let out a beast-like howl, his right hand severed at the wrist, falling into the snow, fingers still twitching.

Chen Ji's voice was steady, without a trace of emotion: "I will ask only once more."

The man trembled all over, blood gushing from the severed wrist, staining a large area of the snow dark red.

Breathing heavily, he finally spoke: "I… I don't know either, the people were taken by Jiazi, I'm just Yichou's side, merely delivering a message."

Chen Ji calmly said: "How many people are with Jiazi, and how many are with Yichou, are there any others?"

The man wheezed: "Jiazi twelve people, Yichou twelve people. There's also Bingyin, Dingmao, Wuchen, Jisi, Gengwu, Xinwei, Renshen, Guiyou."

All are the years of the Earthly Branches, ten Heavenly Stems, ten Earthly Branches, a total of one hundred and twenty people.

The Death Soldiers raised by the Qi family, far more than just those on the surface.

The man seemed about to say more, but as he opened his mouth, he saw Chen Ji drove the Whale Blade into his mouth, pinning his head to the ground.

Chen Ji wasted no time, turning around and striding back into the wind and snow.

Who were the ones who took Brother Pao and Er Dao?

Undoubtedly the Qi family.

Now that Mr. Qi is in a coma, Qi Xianzun and Qi Zhenwu returned to Ji State, Qi Xianshu is far away in Jiaozhi, the only ones left to call the shots for the Qi family are Qi Zhenzhuo and Qi Zhong…

It's Qi Zhong, the death soldiers of the Qi family are also under his control.

This adopted son of the Qi family was raised as a death soldier from a young age. His behavior is completely different from the officials and nobles of the Imperial Capital, being reckless and having a heavy killing intent.

But according to Bai Long, the Qi family has always wanted to exile me to Lingnan over the engagement cancellation. Not going to the engagement is exactly what they want, so why are they now forcing me to go?

Chen Ji frowned, pondering for a long time.

Right, the Qi family also knows it's impossible to exile me to Lingnan over such a trivial matter as canceling an engagement. Maybe exiling someone like Li Xuan, who has no roots, might be possible, but exiling me is absolutely out of the question.

But why does the other side want me to go to the engagement?

Do they want to raise me in the Qi family's koi pond like Li Xuan?

Shaojiu Alley.

Xiao Man, clutching a bone-cutting knife, squatted at the kitchen door, staring intently at the courtyard gate.

The little monk stood behind her, muttering scriptures in a low voice.

Xiao Man lowered her voice: "So annoying, I don't see you working hard any other time. Every crucial moment, you cling to Buddha's feet temporarily."

The little monk closed his mouth, but his lips were still moving slightly.

Chen Ji returned to Shaojiu Alley with the blood-dripping Whale Blade, pushed the door open and entered.

Xiao Man hurriedly asked: "Master, did you catch the messenger?"

"Killed him, but he was just a runner. The people who tied up Brother Pao aren't stupid enough to tell him everything."

Xiao Man was anxious: "What do we do, Brother Pao and Er Dao aren't even officers."

Chen Ji thought for a moment and instructed Xiao Man: "You two go to the Eagle House Office and find Jiao Tu and Yun Yang. Have them lead spies to search the entire city. To abduct two living people on the street, they must use a carriage for cover; maybe someone saw a suspicious carriage."

Xiao Man looked at Chen Ji: "What about you, master?"

Chen Ji left with the Whale Blade: "I'm going to find Jin Zhu to see if I can persuade Heavenly Horse to use the 'Chou.' I need to know where Qi Zhong is now. Did Jin Zhu mention where to find him when he was at home earlier?"

In the Spy Department, roles of Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou vary. Chou are servants and drivers scattered in the homes of officials, though they don't hear big secrets, they're best for tracking people.

Xiao Man recalled: "Yes, yes, he said if we encounter trouble at home, go to him. He's at Desheng Tea House in the morning, Han Family Alley in the afternoon, Eagle House Office or West Gate in the evening, and at Donglaishun during meal times."

...

...

Noon.

Chen Ji lifted the heavy cotton curtain of Donglaishun with the Whale Blade, a wave of heat hit him, a mixture of loud conversations from diners.

The main hall was packed with guests. Each wooden table held a copper hotpot, lively charcoal roasted under the copper stove, while clear broth boiled the mutton and tofu inside.

A sharp-eyed waiter quickly approached, using a white cloth to pat the snow off Chen Ji: "What would you like to eat, guest?"

Chen Ji pushed the waiter aside: "I'm looking for someone."

He walked straight to the table where Jin Zhu and Heavenly Horse were seated, when suddenly someone at a neighboring table stood up to block his path. Jin Zhu snickered: "Are you tired of living? Mr. Chen is in such a murderous mood that he could eat a person, and you dare to block him?"

The spy quickly stepped aside.

Chen Ji sat down at Jin Zhu's table. Jin Zhu, smiling, handed over a bowl of sesame paste: "Congratulations on being released, have some mutton. The sesame paste with mutton at Donglaishun is a real treat. Put the thick-cut mutton into the pot; once it changes color, it's ready to eat. It doesn't get scummy even after a long dip. Nowadays, everyone complains about Donglaishun's taste, but every connoisseur's first stop has to be here. To become a hotpot master, you must start by criticizing Donglaishun. But you can't just criticize aimlessly; you have to do it right to truly understand..."

Chen Ji didn't accept the sesame paste: "Brother Pao and Er Dao were kidnapped by the Qi family. They want me to go collect the bride from the Qi family tomorrow."

Jin Zhu's face showed surprise: "When did this happen?"

Chen Ji calmly said: "Just now, I want to ask Heavenly Horse to use the 'Chou' to help me find Qi Zhong's whereabouts. Maybe finding him will lead us to Brother Pao."

Jin Zhu looked at Heavenly Horse.

Heavenly Horse, however, silently picked up a piece of mutton with chopsticks, covered it with sesame paste, stuffed it into his mouth, and ignored them.

Jin Zhu signed in hand language: "That old bastard Qi Zhong killed my men stationed in Luocheng City, and West Wind almost died by his hands. Even though it was arranged by the Prime Minister, I can't swallow this. When I get the chance, I'll kill him."

Heavenly Horse continued ignoring them.

Jin Zhu signed again: "Among the dead was a young man named Er Bing. Your favorite mutton noodles were made by him."

Heavenly Horse's chopsticks paused, he stood up and left Donglaishun.

Jin Zhu handed a pair of chopsticks to Chen Ji: "Food is the priority for the people; even if the sky falls, you have to eat first. Our Spy Department's Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou are more formidable than you think; Qi Zhong has always been a key figure we've been watching. Rest assured, within two hours we'll find him. Even if we can't find the person, we'll at least know approximately where he is."

Chen Ji mumbled an acknowledgment, then started wolfing down his food.

As Jin Zhu predicted, within two hours, Heavenly Horse returned.

Jin Zhu signed in hand language: "Where's that old bastard?"

Heavenly Horse dusted snow off his sleeves, looked at Chen Ji, and signed something.

Chen Ji looked puzzled: "What does that mean?"

Jin Zhu hesitated: "He says Qi Zhong is waiting right at your doorstep on Shaojiu Alley... with Third Miss Qi, Qi Zhaoning."

Chen Ji threw down the chopsticks, stood up, and left.