Zhou Xing didn’t come back that night. It wasn’t until noon the next day that he finally returned.

Seeing the unconcealable joy on his face, Qin Fang raised an eyebrow and then broke into a smile. "Looks like... Senior Brother has secured it?"

Zhou Xing waved his hand, coughed, and said, "It’s not confirmed yet... but it’s pretty much a sure thing."

As he spoke, he couldn’t hide his anticipation.

Evidently, Zhou Xing had spent the entire night and morning running around for this matter.

Securing a position of actual power, while it might sound like something the County Magistrate could decide with a single word, actually involved many other things. Naturally, Zhou Xing had to put in the legwork.

...Fortunately, Zhou Xing hadn’t wasted his years at the Government Office Entrance. He had a sterling reputation and was friends with many of the Anjin Martial Artists who now held real power. After all his efforts, it was almost a certainty that the position of City Gate Guard was his.

He was in high spirits. Even though he hadn’t slept for two nights straight, he was still full of energy.

"Want to go see Master?"

He asked Qin Fang.

Qin Fang naturally nodded. "Of course we’re going."

He missed his master and his master’s wife a little, too.

’Now that I’m in True Martial, how could I not go see them?’

But at this thought, his brow suddenly furrowed. He asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother, have you told Master what’s been happening lately?"

His senior brother froze for a moment, then frowned instinctively. "I haven’t mentioned it... Telling him would just worry him for no reason..."

But Qin Fang shook his head and said quietly, "I think we should still let Master know."

"Hm?" His senior brother looked at him.

Qin Fang said in a low voice, "The situation is volatile and unpredictable right now. The enemy’s power is shockingly vast, and no one knows what might happen next... I don’t want to worry Master either, but in comparison... isn’t it more important to make sure he’s on alert beforehand?"

His senior brother was stunned for a moment, then his expression turned serious. After some contemplation, he nodded lightly. "I suppose I was wrong... You’re right, we should definitely let Master know."

"If possible, it would be best to have Master contact Senior Sister... I just have a feeling something big is going to happen in True Martial. It’s better to leave and lie low for a while. If nothing happens, they can just treat it as a vacation to relax. But if something really does happen..." Qin Fang brought up the contents of his previous letter again.

His senior brother mulled it over for a while, then sighed softly. "Alright... Let’s see what the old man thinks first."

Qin Fang let out a sigh of relief... He had finally convinced his senior brother.

...In truth, his senior brother had witnessed the recent events with his own eyes. It was impossible to say he wasn’t worried at all.

He had probably also sensed that something was bound to happen in True Martial County eventually.

At this thought, his senior brother said decisively, "Forget it, should we head over now?"

Hearing this, Qin Fang naturally had no objection and nodded.

The two of them tidied up and prepared to go to their master’s house.

Monkey was still fast asleep in the guest room, and the two of them didn’t disturb him... These past two days had truly exhausted Monkey. He had helped deliver messages without a single complaint and hadn’t slept for three nights.

...One had to remember, he wasn’t even a Martial Artist yet.

Qin Fang said, "When we have the chance, should we ask Master if he can take Monkey in too? ...The kid’s trustworthy."

"That’s probably a long shot. How many years has it been since Master last took a disciple? I was already surprised he took you... Let’s not make things difficult for him. Worst-case scenario, we can send the kid to the True Martial Boxing Hall later. He can learn some skills there, so it wouldn’t be a disservice to him."

Zhou Xing thought for a moment before shaking his head.

After some thought, Qin Fang nodded as well.

That was true.

The True Martial Boxing Hall was overseen by a Huajin expert, and it recruited students from all over True Martial. If Monkey could become an entry-level student, it would indeed be a good outcome for him.

Qin Fang and Zhou Xing went to Huang’s again to buy a good amount of yellow beef and some pastries before heading to their master’s house... They had bought over a hundred catties of Qianqiu Drunk last time, so they figured there should still be plenty left.

When their master’s wife opened the door and saw the two brothers standing outside, her eyes instantly widened.

Then she grabbed Qin Fang’s hand and wouldn’t let go.

...A mother’s love for her youngest.

His master’s wife was a mother, too.

His senior brother, looking on from the side, was clearly a bit jealous.

His master’s wife laughingly scolded him for being a mischievous monkey, getting jealous of his own junior brother.

Qin Fang smiled, feeling exceptionally happy...

...With his master’s wife, he truly felt the kind of preferential love a mother would show.

Their master wasn’t home; he was at Huichun Hall.

Hearing this, their master’s wife looked worried and said, "When your master gets back, you two should try to persuade him... There are rumors everywhere that Huichun Hall might be connected to Demons, and everyone is boycotting it. Even your master has been implicated... He’s so stubborn. I told him to leave Huichun Hall, but he absolutely refuses. It’s enough to worry a person to death!"

Qin Fang didn’t know about this and looked at his senior brother.

His senior brother wore a helpless expression... He had been in True Martial all along, so of course he knew.

To put it simply, the rumors about Huichun Hall’s connection to Demons had been waxing and waning for some time. Although it was still open, business was desolate, and it could shut down at any moment.

Previously, the resident physicians hadn’t been affected, but now even they were being implicated... People were pointing fingers behind their backs, saying they were aiding a villain and were no good themselves.

Especially recently, Ganlu Hall had been riding the wave of success from the Qi Blood Pill, its influence growing stronger and stronger, crushing Huichun Hall to the point where it could barely breathe.

As one of the resident physicians, their master originally held a respected position, but now he was also starting to be criticized, and the number of patients coming to see him was dwindling.

...According to their master’s wife, their master had also been gloomy lately. But when she told him to leave Huichun Hall, his stubbornness flared up. He refused no matter what, even telling her that a woman should meddle less in men’s affairs, which made her so angry her liver hurt.