Chapter 174: Departing Tomorrow

“I understand. But may I ask why you’ve come back again?”

“Why are you the only one here? Where’s Constable Zhao?”

The old constable chuckled and replied, “Constable Zhao is handling other matters… County Magistrate Lu sent me to escort the three of you to the county office for your safety!”

“You’ve seen how crazed those thugs were. If you stay in this small courtyard, your lives could be in danger!”

Gu Ning’an waved his hand dismissively. “No need. We can protect ourselves.”

“Protect yourselves?”

The old constable frowned. “Mr. Gu, you may not be aware, but those thugs are backed by ruthless bandits who kill without hesitation!”

“If the three of you stay here and end up captured, you’ll find yourselves in a fate worse than death!”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh? So Constable Luo is quite certain that if we fall into the hands of those bandits, our suffering will be unbearable?”

Noticing the implied meaning in the green-robed man’s words, the old constable’s expression stiffened for a moment before returning to normal. “Mr. Gu, what exactly are you implying?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Gu Ning’an smiled. “Sending the three of us to appease the bandits’ fury, stalling for time until the Imperial Preceptor arrives—isn’t that the plan you came up with?”

Impossible!

How could he have found out?!

Or is he just testing me?

A storm raged in his heart, but the old constable maintained a composed expression, feigning ignorance. “Mr. Gu? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Gu Ning’an sighed and chuckled. “Why bother? I’ve already exposed you—there’s no need to keep acting…”

At these words, the old constable’s smile vanished instantly. “Mr. Gu, since you already know, what do you plan to do?”

“Will you come with us peacefully and spend the night safely, or will you force us to take harsher measures?”

“To be frank, we’ve already surrounded the place. You won’t be able to escape…”

“Escape?” Gu Ning’an smirked. “I must say, Constable Zhao has a better sense of judgment than you.”

“Could it be that you hold an official position? Or perhaps you’re a student of the Imperial Preceptor?”

The old constable simply couldn’t understand why Gu Ning’an remained so calm.

He was desperate to know where the man’s confidence came from.

Gu Ning’an shook his head. “Neither… But if you’re truly planning to make a move, please do so quickly.”

The more composed and indifferent Gu Ning’an appeared, the more uneasy the old constable felt.

His gaze shifted to Mao Cuicui, and he suddenly recalled the earlier scene—how a blade had flown out on its own and slain Zheng Er’s group!

Back then, they had suspected it was the work of a ghost, likely the spirit of the stone broker!

Now, with Mao Cuicui present and this green-robed man so unfazed, he couldn’t help but connect the dots.

Could it be that these three had nothing to fear because the stone broker’s ghost was still lingering?

A chill ran down his spine. The old constable instinctively drew his blade and shouted, “All of you, get in here!”

The next second, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard gate.

In no time, the not-so-spacious courtyard became crowded and tense.

Dozens of figures clad in yellow uniforms, countless gleaming blades, and pairs of sharp, unwavering eyes.

At a glance, they looked like a seasoned battalion, undefeated in a hundred battles!

Gu Ning’an sighed. “If only you showed this level of resolve when dealing with the bandits, would Shanyang County have fallen to such a state?”

“Seize them!”

With a loud command from the old constable, he prepared to step forward—only to find, to his utter shock, that his limbs were no longer under his control.

Instead, his body started moving backward against his will.

When he turned his head, he saw that all the constables in the courtyard were just like him—bodies stiff, moving step by step toward the courtyard gate like puppets on strings!

“Clack—Clack!”

The old constable’s face turned red as he struggled to make a sound, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t utter a single word.

At that moment, beyond fear, he finally understood why Gu Ning’an had remained so calm.

Even when facing so many of them, he had been completely at ease.

It turned out that from the very beginning, what Gu Ning’an relied on was not some “background” but rather his own supernatural “ghostly power”!

As the last one to leave, the old constable suddenly halted just before stepping out of the courtyard. Once he crossed the threshold, he turned back, reached out to close the gate behind him, and only then continued walking away…

“Mu Sheng, take Ms. Mao to rest.”

“Tomorrow morning, we set out.”

Hearing this, Mu Sheng took Mao Cuicui with her to her own room.

Meanwhile, Gu Ning’an shut his door, extinguished the oil lamp, and lay down on his bed. His mind emptied, and soon he drifted into sleep.

Crunch… crunch… crunch…

A horse-drawn carriage, carrying a coffin-shaped wooden box, trudged through the snowy path, leaving two deep tracks behind.

Gu Ning’an walked ahead, leading the horse by the reins.

Mu Sheng and Mao Cuicui followed closely behind.

When they arrived at the city gate, they saw a large number of soldiers gathered there.

These soldiers appeared to be searching for someone. They paid no attention to those entering the city, but anyone leaving was carefully inspected before being allowed through.

“They’re looking for us, aren’t they?” Mao Cuicui whispered.

Gu Ning’an chuckled. “Just walk forward confidently. They won’t see us.”

If it had been before, Mao Cuicui would never have believed such a strange claim.

But after what happened last night, she completely understood—this green-robed gentleman was a living deity with immense spiritual power!

After all, he communicate with ghosts and spirits, and with just a thought, he had forced over thirty constables out of the residence.

Someone with such abilities, yet so kind and benevolent to people like her, who lived at the very bottom of society… if he wasn’t an immortal sent to aid the world, then what else could he be?

“Stop! What are you hiding in your arms?!” a soldier suddenly shouted, pointing in Mao Cuicui’s direction.

She froze in place, startled, and instinctively looked at Gu Ning’an in panic.

Gu Ning’an simply smiled. “Go on, he wasn’t talking to you.”

Sure enough, just moments after he spoke, the soldier strode past Mao Cuicui and went after a cook standing not far behind her.

After that brief scare, Gu Ning’an and his group safely passed through the city gate and left Shanyang County behind.

They continued along the main road for about three miles until they reached a fork in the path.

There, Gu Ning’an turned to Mao Cuicui and pointed to the right. “Do you remember what I told you this morning?”

Mao Cuicui took out a letter from her sleeve and nodded. “I remember!”

“Then this is where we part ways… Follow this road for about half an hour, and you’ll see the Imperial Preceptor’s men.”

With that, Gu Ning’an took hold of the carriage reins and led the horse down the left path.

Mao Cuicui clutched the letter tightly, watching as Gu Ning’an and Mu Sheng walked away. She bowed deeply and called out, “Mr. Gu, Miss Mu, safe travels!”

“I will never forget your great kindness!”

Neither Gu Ning’an nor Mu Sheng looked back, but in perfect sync, they raised their hands and waved, acknowledging her farewell.

Only when their figures disappeared into the distant road did Mao Cuicui take a deep breath, straighten her back, and stride forward along the right path.