"Brother, don't misunderstand us. We have no ill intentions. We are from the Huaxia group. This is our proof." The middle-aged man said, producing a jade token with a dragon pattern engraved on it.

  Lin Qingyao didn't reach out to take the jade symbol, and even if she had taken it, she wouldn't have recognized what was written on it.

  However, Huaxia's words seemed to have given Lin Qingyao a guess: "Are you people from the special department?"

  The middle-aged man nodded.

  Lin Qingyao took a deep breath and felt at ease since they were from a special department. These people, being in the business of serving the country, must be upright individuals who wouldn't do anything detrimental to her.

  It's just that... Lin Qingyao still has a bit of worry, this matter, whether she likes it or not, she's been dragged into it. She doesn't want to get entangled with the country's people, if by any chance... Lin Qingyao doesn't want to become someone who offends the country. If that really happens, then she'll inevitably become a street rat, with everyone shouting and chasing after her. Her own power is far from enough to contend against the entire nation.

  Lin Qingyao had no choice but to cooperate now, it seemed like she couldn't escape even if she didn't want to.

  "I don't know what you want me to do." Since she couldn't leave, Lin Qingyao tried her best to show a hint of kindness and avoid stirring up trouble.

  "Do you know this person?" the middle-aged monk asked in a low voice.

  Lin Qingyao nodded: "Consider it an old friend."

  "Take her with you and follow us," said the middle-aged monk with a smile.

  Lin Qingyao hesitated for a moment, following them? Where to go? Lin Qingyao really didn't want to follow a group of strangers, even if these people were from the so-called special department.

  "Fellow Taoist, you don't have to be afraid. Once we've investigated the cause of things, we'll naturally let you go." The middle-aged cultivator explained calmly.

  Just as Lin Qingyao was hesitating.

  A massive oppressive aura arrived, and then a person wearing black Taoist robes appeared in front of everyone.

  The three monks present bowed their hands and paid their respects: "Greetings, Master Mu."

  The aura on the black-clothed man's body made people's hearts palpitate, this should be a Foundation Establishment cultivator... Yes, this is a Foundation Establishment cultivator! Lin Qingyao was greatly shocked in her heart.

  At a glance, only the black-robed monk standing in front of him with his hands behind his back was seen. His face was handsome, as if carved by a knife and axe, with a pair of thin lips tightly pursed, which perfectly set off his cold arrogance.

  Lin Qingyao trembled slightly at the sight of this monk and wished she could slip away unnoticed.

  This black-robed monk was the one who chased after her relentlessly on the train!

  The so-called narrow road of grievances is nothing more than this.

  Lin Qingyao lowered her head, trying not to attract the attention of the black-robed monk, but how could that be possible? The black-robed monk's sharp gaze fell on Lin Qingyao.

  It was just for an instant, and then those sharp eyes dispersed.

  "It's you, what a coincidence." The black-robed monk spoke up.

  The voice fell into Lin Qingyao's ears, as if it were a death sentence, Lin Qingyao raised her head to look at the black-robed monk, her eyes clear and bright, with an unyielding aura.

  It all fell into his hands anyway, and there was no escape. There was also no need to be humble and flattering, Lin Qingyao thought helplessly.

  The black-robed monk did not take action, but instead asked Lin Qingyao: "Last time's matter was my misunderstanding with you, this time, why are you appearing here?"

  Lin Qingyao almost thought she had misheard, and didn't expect that this black-robed monk would actually explain these things to her. Lin Qingyao let out a long breath, the implication of his words being that he wouldn't forcibly hold onto her anymore?

  Lin Qingyao's heart was still hanging, and it hadn't fallen yet. Although she didn't know what the reason was last time, he had indeed hurt her. Most monks are vengeful, and this black-robed monk might not treat himself as he did when he chased people in the past, but it's hard to say whether he will or won't create new grudges with her.

  Looking at these monks' respectful attitude towards him, Lin Qingyao guessed that this person should be a high-ranking official in a special department.

  She sighed in her heart, today she was really unlucky, as the saying goes, there is a way to heaven but she doesn't take it, and there is no gate to hell but she rushes into it!

  Lin Qingyao carefully chose her words and replied, "I unintentionally heard someone shouting for help here, so I came to take a look." It's better to clarify things clearly. This black-robed monk, even if he doesn't hold grudges, but if he misunderstands me about something, it'll be real trouble.

  The black-robed monk nodded and shifted his gaze towards the middle-aged monk.

  The middle-aged monk told the black-robed monk about what happened here one by one.

  Lin Qingyao was shocked as she listened on, never expecting that it wasn't just Cao Meifen who had met with misfortune.

  In this building, there were already over a dozen corpses, all of whom were pregnant women!

  The black-robed monk looked at Lin Qingyao: "We still need to ask you to come with us, once we've investigated clearly, we will naturally let you go."

  People are the cutting board, I am the fish meat. If Lin Qingyao still wanted to struggle a bit earlier and not follow, but now she must go. She didn't suspect at all that if she had any unusual movement, the black-robed monk in front of her would crush herself without hesitation.

  A cultivator in the foundation building stage wants to subdue her, isn't that as easy as turning one's hand over?

  Lin Qingyao sighed and helped Cai Meifen up, then followed several people away.

  The black-robed monk casually formed a seal, creating a barrier that concealed everyone, then released a flying boat-like treasure that carried the crowd away.

  In some deep mountains in Chuan City, the flying boat stopped.

  This is a mountain valley. As it was already winter, in the valley, apart from a few trees of the Holly family that still stubbornly had leaves on them, everything else had withered and fallen.

  In the valley of the river city, it is rare to see snow, so at a glance, the mountains and valleys are gray and dusty, full of desolation.

  A streak of spiritual light shot out from the hand of the black-robed monk, and Lin Qingyao felt that the scene in front of her suddenly changed.

  Flying eaves and corners, rotating pavilions, mountains and streams, green grass, strange flowers and weird rocks...

  Here is actually hiding a small exquisite garden.

  As I stepped into the boundary, a warm breeze rushed towards me, carrying with it a sweet fragrance and air filled with dense spiritual energy.

  Lin Qingyao couldn't help but take a deep breath, and the negative emotions that had been born out of her reluctance to come here dissipated by half.

  Compared with this place, her six hutongs are nothing but small tricks, completely can't be shown off!

  The spiritual energy at the bottom of the well is not necessarily weaker than here, but the environment in the house is absolutely not as good as here!

  Lin Qingyao couldn't help but think that after she returned, she must properly manage Liu Hutong. Since she had bought it, and the Yunmen Mountain Gate was temporarily inaccessible, Liu Hutong would be her future place of residence and also a temporary gathering place for Yunmen. She had to make sure Liu Hutong was well-managed.

  It's best to wait until one day when she opens the mountain gate and replaces Yunmen as the abbot, then those who come will not want to leave!

  Lin Qingyao recalled her thoughts and smiled wryly, she seemed to have thought too far ahead, now she should think about how to safely escape from this dragon's lair.

  Lin Qingyao put Cao Meifen on the bed in an empty room and took good care of her. One reason was to repay the kindness of Cao's brother back then, and the other was that she hoped Cao would wake up soon so that she could identify the murderer quickly, and only then could Lin thoroughly escape.

  After settling Cao Meifen down, Lin Qingyao walked out of the yard and went to the side of the small stream.

  This stream is filled with spiritual energy and seems to be a small spiritual spring.

  Lin Qingyao scooped up some water and washed her hands, then sat down by the stream, staring blankly at the flowing water.

  "What are you thinking?" Suddenly, someone sat down beside Lin Qingyao and said this in a cold voice.

  Lin Qingyao turned her head to look, and saw that the black-robed monk was looking at her. He didn't seem to be seeking revenge, so she slightly put down her guard and said: "I'll think again... why have I been having such bad luck lately? Can I still turn this crisis into an opportunity?"

  "Why didn't you kill me last time?" The black-robed monk's words were astonishing.

  "Cough...cough..." Lin Qingyao was indeed startled, not expecting that the black-robed monk would ask this, could it be that he had already detected her murderous intentions at that time?

  "You had already made up your mind at that time, so why did you let me go?" The black-robed monk's words were laced with understanding, deeply aware of Lin Qingyao's thoughts at the time.

  "At that time, I wanted to kill you because you were going to kill me. I didn't take action because I thought you were a good person."

  The black-robed monk suddenly burst out laughing, his low and clear laughter echoing into Lin Qingyao's ears.

  "He suddenly said: 'My name is Mu Shaoqing.'"

  Lin Qingyao knew that the black-robed monk was willing to tell her his name, which meant that past grievances and debts were forgiven, otherwise who would say such things to someone they thought was about to die?

  Lin Qingyao had a certain admiration for Mu Shaoqing in her heart. He seemed not as bad as she thought...

  Lin Qingyao smiled and said to Mu Shaoqing, "Mu senior, my name is Lin Qingyao." As a cultivator in the foundation-building period, they had all staked their lives on this path. If they were willing to reveal their names, it was a sign of intentional friendship, so how could she not introduce herself?

  "So young and yet so calm in the face of danger, he's a good seedling indeed. Which sect is he from?" Mu Shaoqing asked with approval.

  "I'm a loose cultivator." Lin Qingyao muttered to himself in his heart, he looked quite young too, yet he said that he was very young.

  Suddenly, Lin Qingyao thought again, Mu Shaoqin had at least the cultivation of the foundation period, although he looked young, but to cultivate to the foundation period, it was a genius, and it took thirty or forty years, if the talent was mediocre, at least eighty or ninety years were needed. Where was Mu Shaoqin's cultivation? It was not certain that under this tender skin, there was an old heart.

  Perhaps he is even older than Song Lao!

  Lin Qingyao superimposed Mu Shaoqing and Song Lao in her mind for a moment, and a chill ran down her spine.