Universe Infinite Canteen-Chapter 366 Gu Qingyi

"Of course, this Ruined Temple is ownerless; feel free to make yourself at home," Ma Lu didn't expose the visitor's identity.

The three from the Songxi Sword Sect didn't seem like good characters, and they vaguely represented the strongest force in the Ruined Temple at the moment; naturally, Ma Lu wouldn't push someone into the fire pit at a time like this.

Relieved by these words, the person led the horse over.

However, it was at that moment when He Qisheng suddenly stood up, gesturing to the white horse rider with a jerk of his chin, "Take off the bamboo hat."

"Why?"

"It's simple; everyone here is forthright except for you, hiding your head and showing your tail," stated He Qisheng, righteous in speech, but the sly look in his eyes betrayed his true inner thoughts.

Although the white horse rider had spoken softly to Ma Lu, He Qisheng's keen hearing had allowed him to discern that the newcomer was disguised as a man, so he decided to amuse himself.

The two fellow disciples beside him appeared to be eagerly waiting for the show.

"Take it off, why don't you? Or do you want this young master to do it for you?" one of them taunted as he grasped his Longsword and began to approach.

Seeing the situation turn sour, the woman warming the child by the fire took the initiative to mediate, "Young heroes, we are but strangers who have met by chance, seeking shelter from the rain in this temple. We will go our separate ways at dawn, so there's no need to dig too deep."

"My Songxi Sword Sect is a renowned and upright faction; how can we turn a blind eye to thieves and villains?"

That person had already reached the white horse rider and, with a casual flourish of his sword, was about to lift the stranger's bamboo hat.

But at the next moment, his wrist suddenly stiffened.

Because he was facing away, He Qisheng couldn't see what had happened, only noticing that his companion had become suddenly motionless. Assuming something had gone wrong, he hastily got to his feet.

However, before He Qisheng could reach him, the disciple from the Songxi Sword Sect had already retreated as if flying, his face filled with fear.

That's when He Qisheng saw the item in the hands of the unexpected guest.

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It was a small Iron Token, with three vigorous and powerful characters etched onto it — Iron Clothes Sect.

He Qisheng's pupils shrank sharply, and he hurriedly clasped his fists, "It turns out to be an esteemed figure from the Iron Clothes Sect; we were blind and offended you just now. Might I ask which Divine Detective you are?"

The white horse rider cleared her throat twice, "Ignorance is not a sin; after all, you were trying to capture a criminal. As for my identity, um, I am currently investigating a major case in secret, so it's not convenient to disclose it."

As she spoke, she pushed the Iron Token back into her clothes. However, not securing it properly, the token slipped from beneath her bamboo hat, fell to the ground, and rolled to the sick man's side.

"..."

The atmosphere in the temple became somewhat awkward; fortunately, He Qisheng was quick to react, picking up the Iron Token and respectfully returning it with both hands.

"Ahem, thank you," the white-clothed rider took back the Iron Token and expressed her thanks.

Based on the scene that had just unfolded, Ma Lu drew two conclusions. First, the Iron Clothes Sect must be an extremely formidable force, evident from the stark difference in how He Qisheng and others treated the Xingtong Escort Agency compared to the Iron Clothes Sect. Second, the identity of the white-clothed rider as a Divine Detective from the Iron Clothes Sect seemed questionable; secret investigations were difficult to judge as true or false, but from her earlier reaction, she genuinely believed He Qisheng and the others' excuse of punishing the evildoers.

It was hard to believe that a Divine Detective predominantly responsible for investigations, accustomed to deceit and subterfuge, would lack even the basic Jianghu experience to see through He Qisheng and his company's lies.

Of course, there was another possibility, that the white-clothed rider was going along with He Qisheng's story in order to quickly gloss over the matter, which in turn just proved her identity was flimsy, hence her reluctance to discuss it further.

He Qisheng seemed to have realized something as well and exchanged glances with his two fellow disciples. However, clearly fearful of the Iron Clothes Sect, and since the other party had shown the Iron Token and claimed to be on a case, He Qisheng found it difficult to press further.

In the end, it was better to leave well enough alone, so they treated the white-clothed rider as a distinguished personage from the Iron Clothes Sect.

And with the latter's identity exposure, the originally tense atmosphere in the Ruined Temple had significantly relaxed.

Once the Divine Detective Token from the Iron Clothes Sect was produced, the people from the Songxi Sword Sect all acted like honorable gentlemen, sitting upright and properly, no longer daring to covet the beautiful woman, and the martial artists and couriers from the Xingtong Escort Agency visibly relaxed.

Even the scholar who had been avoiding Ma Lu sighed in relief.

But Ma Lu didn't strike up a conversation with him, having found a better target: as soon as the white horse rider had settled his mount and taken out his dry food, Ma Lu approached him again.

"I have yet to ask for this brother's esteemed name."

"Oh, I am, I am Gu Qingyi," said the white horse rider.

"Brother Qingyi, where might you be heading?"

"Why," Gu Qingyi became wary upon hearing this, "are you inquiring so much for?"

"Because I am lost," Ma Lu replied truthfully.

"What?"

"I am not from around here, and somehow, upon opening my eyes, I found myself here, completely ignorant of the area."

The highest realm of lying is to mix truth with falsehood, making it nine parts truth, one part lie, the most difficult to expose.

However, even if Gu Qingyi lacked experience in the Jianghu, he found Ma Lu's statement a bit too far-fetched, and he responded with suspicion, "This place, this is Qingzhou."

"Where in Qingzhou?"

"Err, let me think, it should be within the boundaries of Yuchang County."

"Where is the closest town then?"

"The closest would be the county seat of Yuchang County. If you go southeast from here for about a hundred li, you'd reach it."

Ma Lu then asked, "Are there many People of the Jianghu here?"

"Many," Gu Qingyi nodded affirmatively, "There's the world's largest Beggars' Sect, and they seem to be changing their Gang Leader recently. They've invited many from the martial arts circles, so right now, Qingzhou is teeming with People of the Jianghu everywhere. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here either."

Gu Qingyi's last sentence also slipped out a bit, and immediately after speaking, he privately watched Ma Lu's expression, breathing a sigh of relief when he detected nothing unusual.

Gu Qingyi thought it was fortunate that this man wasn't too smart, which was normal after all; how could a smart person not even know their current location?

Ma Lu was unaware he had just been categorized as a fool by Gu Qingyi; he thought for a moment before continuing to ask, "Is medicinal herbs very precious here? How can one obtain them?"

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"Medicinal herbs, what kind are you referring to? Ordinary herbs used for healing aren't expensive, but those that assist in martial arts cultivation are quite rare."

"Assist in cultivation?"

"Sigh, you really are quite slow, not even knowing that herbs are needed for Martial Arts training."

"This... could you elaborate, please."

"How to put it, the recipes for herbs used to aid in practicing Martial Studies are closely guarded secrets for each sect, and the Iron Clothes Sect is no exception. The higher the levels of cultivation in Martial Arts, the greater the power during battles, because you can't expect to always draw a divine stroke, and enhancing the power of your techniques is the correct path."

"What?"