Watching Fang Shuwen, who was already on his feet, Lu Guiyan bit her lip and had no choice but to stand up and follow behind him.

’It would be better to wait here than to just barge in like this,’ Lu Guiyan thought.

Even if they couldn’t see Wu Lingxiao, Liu Qi, the Chief Steward of Flying Snow City, was here, which would be enough to complete the handover.

But she didn’t have the courage to part ways with Fang Shuwen.

’After all,’ she thought, looking over the group, ’I can’t afford to offend a single one of them.’

Now, the Book Immortal, Murong Qingchen, had no intention of waiting any longer, and Fang Shuwen was also heading in to join the commotion. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

She could only sigh inwardly at how strangely masters behaved. Beyond that, she was speechless and could only follow along obediently.

The group thus sauntered into the inner hall. Seeing this, the few people remaining in the outer hall simply stared at one another.

Finally, the old man named Gu, rubbing the red palm print on his face, was the first to follow.

The others, not to be outdone, all rushed into the inner hall as well.

This was by no means the way a guest should behave, but anyone who came to Flying Snow City at a time like this naturally had their own agenda.

They hadn’t come to be guests in the first place, so of course they couldn’t be bothered with guest etiquette.

Just as everyone entered the inner courtyard, they heard the sound of footsteps surrounding the main hall they had just left. Before Liu Qi even arrived, his voice carried over:

"My apologies, everyone! Just now, in the City Lord’s Mansion, there was an assass—"

His words came to an abrupt halt.

The main hall was completely empty. Where was everyone?

Only a few maids were left, standing to the side and looking at each other in confusion.

Liu Qi’s expression changed.

"Where are they?"

"They... they went into the inner courtyard."

Liu Qi’s face darkened.

"This is outrageous!!"

He said the words, but he was helpless.

None of the people who had arrived today were easy to deal with, especially with Murong Qingchen himself among them.

His presence alone was enough to put all of Flying Snow City on high alert, as if facing a great enemy.

Liu Qi quickly ordered his men to surround the City Lord’s Mansion and not let anyone escape, while he himself hurried toward the inner courtyard.

Fortunately, Fang Shuwen’s group hadn’t gone far, and Liu Qi caught up to them in just a few strides.

He shouted in a hurry:

"Hold on, everyone! You cannot simply trespass into the inner courtyard of the City Lord’s Mansion!!"

At this, Murong Qingchen actually stopped. He glanced back at Liu Qi, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Liu Qi’s heart tightened.

"Elder Murong..."

"What just happened in the City Lord’s Mansion?"

Murong Qingchen asked, cutting him off before he could finish.

Lu Guiyan was taken aback by his words. The question seemed to come out of nowhere. ’Could it be that Murong Qingchen discovered something?’

She couldn’t help but tug on Fang Shuwen’s sleeve.

"Do you know what’s going on?"

Fang Shuwen smiled.

"A moment ago, it was utter chaos in the City Lord’s Mansion. I figured some sort of incident occurred."

Only then did Lu Guiyan understand. It wasn’t that masters were just eccentric... it was that they often had sharper senses, allowing them to perceive things ordinary people could not.

They had sensed it in advance, and that’s why they had acted.

To anyone not in the know, it would just look like they were acting strangely, wouldn’t it?

Faced with Murong Qingchen’s question, Liu Qi hurriedly explained:

"Elder, if I may. An Assassin just appeared in the City Lord’s Mansion. The entirety of Flying Snow City is now under martial law. The city gates are sealed, and no one from the outside is being admitted."

"I was just..."

Murong Qingchen had no patience for his rambling and waved his hand dismissively.

"Is Wu Lingxiao dead?"

"...No."

Liu Qi felt utterly exhausted. ’Why can’t this Murong Qingchen ever let me finish a sentence?’

Murong Qingchen nodded at the news.

"Give me the Seven-String Ancient Chapter."

"Huh?"

Liu Qi thought he must have misheard.

’One second he’s asking if the City Lord is safe, the next he’s demanding a treasure?’

Confused, Fang Shuwen asked Lu Guiyan:

"What’s the Seven-String Ancient Chapter?"

But as it turned out, Young Chief Lu, who usually seemed so knowledgeable, was no help this time.

She looked completely lost.

"I don’t know either..."

So Fang Shuwen looked toward Chen Yan.

’This kid’s background is probably extraordinary; he seems to know a lot of secrets.’

But Chen Yan was just standing there, motionless, glaring at a nearby rockery with an expression of profound suffering, as if the inanimate object had done him a great wrong.

’I consider myself a gentle, refined person,’ Fang Shuwen thought. ’Otherwise, I’d really be tempted to kick him right now.’

It was the young woman who had entered with Chen Yan who spoke up softly:

"The Seven-String Ancient Chapter is the legacy treasure of Flying Snow City. It’s said to hold a profound secret and a great destiny."

"You’re not here for this treasure, young man?"

Fang Shuwen shook his head gently.

"I’m just helping escort two people to Flying Snow City."

The young woman gave Fang Shuwen a surprised look, then suddenly smiled.

"Then you’d best leave quickly. This group, including Murong Qingchen, is all here for the Seven-String Ancient Chapter."

"Including you?"

"Including me."

’She’s refreshingly honest,’ Fang Shuwen thought.

Fang Shuwen smiled.

"I haven’t had the pleasure?"

"Xiao Yanyu, of the Golden Bell Tower."

Fang Shuwen was stunned, and Lu Guiyan’s eyes widened.

Seeing their reaction, Xiao Yanyu was a bit taken aback.

"Have you had some dealings with my Golden Bell Tower?"

Fang Shuwen took the strange golden bell from his robes.

"I killed a man and took this from him. He had accepted a commission from the Golden Bell Tower to rob us of our Escort."

Xiao Yanyu smiled.

"I see. That golden bell is a token, a credential that allows one to do business with our Golden Bell Tower."

"You should keep it safe, young man. You never know, it might come in handy one day."

"Oh? You’re not going to avenge that man?"

"I didn’t even know him. Why would I avenge him?"

"He accepted a commission from your Golden Bell Tower..."

"If he didn’t have the skill to complete it, why did he accept? He took the job, and he died. What does that have to do with the Golden Bell Tower?"

"...Fair enough."

Fang Shuwen nodded, but then his head snapped up to look at a nearby roof.

A series of sharp whistles cut through the air.

It was the four people who had led them into the city earlier—three men and a woman.

Liu Qi could no longer hold back Murong Qingchen. As soon as the four arrived, they blocked Murong Qingchen’s path.

Murong Qingchen’s gaze was calm. He merely narrowed his eyes, sweeping his gaze over each of the four before speaking coolly:

"Hand over the Seven-String Ancient Chapter, and I will turn and leave without a moment’s delay."

The man in the lead simply shook his head.

"Not even the Book Immortal, Murong Qingchen, can hope to take the Seven-String Ancient Chapter."

"You wish to fight me?"

Murong Qingchen moved the hand holding the book behind his back, letting his other hand hang naturally at his side.

"In that case, let me see what you’re capable of."

When words failed, a fight was inevitable.

Just as the confrontation was about to erupt, a voice called out:

"Hold!"

Everyone turned at the sound. The one who had spoken was none other than Fang Shuwen.

Murong Qingchen narrowed his eyes and glanced at him.

"What is it, young man?"

Fang Shuwen smiled, pointed at Liu Qi, and said:

"We’re not here for any of that. Someone entrusted the Lu’an Escort Agency with bringing two Escorts to Flying Snow City, and now they’ve been delivered. Your reasons for fighting have nothing to do with us."

"But before you all start, could we get him to sign and mark the Escort Order for our Young Chief of the Escort?"