The driver exclaimed, "Who are you?"

The policeman outside was stunned, "What do you mean?"

The driver took a closer look and saw that it was still the same policeman outside, no change.

Was he mistaken? Seeing things?

The driver was puzzled for a moment. The policeman asked a few simple questions and then let them go.

On the road, the driver didn’t dare to say much, assuming he just saw things wrong.

Du Wenming asked, "Just now, that person seemed a bit odd."

The driver quickly replied, "He suddenly looked like a beggar, with sores all over his face!"

Du Wenming was shocked and immediately told the driver to turn around and follow that person.

But by the time they got back to the previous intersection, the person had disappeared.

Back at the office building, Du Wenming started to develop a fever, and so did his subordinates. The driver also broke out in a rash.

This was serious, life-threatening.

Du Wenming immediately called Kang Zhenchang. After Kang arrived, he did an initial diagnosis and instructed Du Wenming to seal off the building immediately. No one was allowed in or out without permission.

"This is the Greenwater Beggar’s infection source. As for the severity, further testing is needed."

"Doctor Kang, please confirm again carefully."

Kang Zhenchang said, "The source of the infection has been identified; it’s the Greenwater Beggar. I have dealt with him in Puluo State for quite a while, and I’m absolutely sure about his infection source.

What you need to do now is rest in bed and immediately report the incident to your superiors, initiate emergency measures at once, and prevent the spread of the pathogen."

Report it?

How to report it?

Too many issues in the whole incident remain unexplained.

Du Wenming immediately called Li Qi, but couldn’t get through.

This must be related to Li Qi; that kid is hiding now!

He called Shen Jingye, not expecting that Li Qi was dining with Shen Jingye.

Answering the call, Li Qi was in a good mood, "Little Du, need something from me?"

Du Wenming didn’t know where to start, "Bureau Chief Li, something has happened on my side, and I hope you can cooperate with our investigation."

Du Wenming recounted the course of events.

Li Qi laughed; even at this critical moment, you’re talking about cooperation with me.

"Little Du, I can’t cooperate with you on this. We’ve been very clear before, you handle this yourselves, has nothing to do with me."

After saying that, Li Qi returned the phone to Shen Jingye.

Du Wenming asked over the phone, "Director Shen, when did you go to the restaurant with Li Qi?"

Shen Jingye said, "We came after the meeting, around seven-twenty. It’s nothing special, just a simple meal, and we’re covering our own costs."

Du Wenming compared the time; he encountered the Greenwater Beggar at seven-fifty.

Could this really be unrelated to Li Qi?

No way, to some extent, it’s definitely related to him.

"Director Shen, first keep Li Qi calm, try to strengthen communication with him, Greenwater Beggar has appeared again in Yuezhou. Make sure to find out the whole story from him."

"Alright." Shen Jingye hung up the phone and remained silent for a moment.

Li Qi asked, "You were just talking about offending the Qingyun Society, you haven’t finished the story yet."

"Oh, that," Shen Jingye recalled, "Do you know Han Yaomen, the head of Qingyun Society?"

"I know him," Li Qi nodded, "He’s a ruthless person."

"He really is ruthless!" Shen Jingye agreed, "I made an unintentional mistake back then, didn’t expect Han Yaomen to hold on and insist on taking off one of my arms,

Later, I had no choice but to reveal my identity, and only then did the matter calm down. In the meantime, I went through a lot of hardship!"

Li Qi nodded and said, "Han Yaomen could really do that, Qingyun Society indeed does things ruthlessly!"

Continuing with the topic, Shen Jingye talked until the end of dinner, never bringing up the matters Du Wenming had entrusted to him.

Previously, Li Qi had already explained the causes and effects clearly: Greenwater Beggar wanted five thousand people delivered within five days.

Now five days have passed, the person hasn’t been delivered. There’s a problem, what else is there to ask?

Du Wenming casually asks for clarity, and I can get you clarity?

Is Li Qi so easy to talk to?

Shen Jingye understands his position and his responsibilities. After eating, everyone returns home, and until he receives more explicit orders, he won’t take any action.

...

The next afternoon, Shen Jingye received a document. After reading it, he immediately relayed the contents to Li Qi.

"Five thousand people, the higher-ups agreed. They also agreed to the removal of the Defense Agency from the Soda Kiln."

Li Qi was taken aback: "So straightforward?"

He was a bit surprised; he didn’t expect everything regarding the Soda Kiln to be resolved simultaneously.

Shen Jingye said: "The higher-ups hope we can quickly get in touch with the Greenwater Beggar, explain the situation to him, personnel allocation takes time, advise him not to take any drastic actions.

Additionally, they hope you can quickly head to Three-Head Fork and send the personnel to Greenwater City. The matter is urgent, it would be a burden on you."

Li Qi’s expression was serious: "It’s the Balancer’s unshirkable responsibility. You arrange personnel to make the relevant preparations."

...

At the He Family Mansion, He Yuxiu was listening to the accountant Sheng Shanzhou report on the accounts.

Mother Liu prepared the bedding for He Yuxiu. After listening to the accounting, He Yuxiu lay down to sleep, definitely without insomnia.

After half an hour, Sheng Shanzhou finally finished reading the accounts. He Yuxiu drowsily went upstairs. Just got into bed, suddenly she heard a noise at the window.

Who is it? Who dares to sneak into my room in the middle of the night?

Is it that little brat He Jiaqing again?

He Yuxiu grabbed the candlestick by the bed and swung it, exchanged a couple of moves but didn’t hit the opponent. Instead, she heard the opponent shout: "Such audacity, even hitting me, no family rules?"

"Old Qi?" He Yuxiu was surprised upon hearing the voice.

"Call me Brother Seven when no one’s around!" Li Qi struck a match and lit the candle.

Seeing Li Qi covered in mud, He Yuxiu quickly brought a towel: "Brother Seven, quickly wipe off, I’ll find someone to get you a change of clothes."

"No rush to change clothes, you get someone to get some food, don’t tell others I’m here." Li Banfeng had rushed all the way from New Land without eating.

He Yuxiu asked Mother Liu to prepare a midnight snack. Mother Liu was curious: "Miss, didn’t you just go to sleep?"

He Yuxiu impatiently replied: "Don’t ask, I’m hungry again, quickly prepare it."

Mother Liu prepared a plate of sausage, a plate of roast chicken, a plate of lamb, and a plate of greens. He Yuxiu carried it into the room herself.

Li Qi ate while asking: "Xiuer, let me ask you, what exactly is your cultivation level?"

He Yuxiu smiled sheepishly: "Brother Seven, this matter, anyone familiar knows I’m an Eighth Layer Martial Cultivator."

Li Qi laughed: "An Eighth Layer Martial Cultivator strikes so fiercely?"

He Yuxiu felt a bit embarrassed: "Wasn’t I startled by you just now? I didn’t measure my strength."

"Really the eighth layer?"

"Would I lie to you?"

"Really not lying to me?" Li Qi pulled out the feather duster.

He Yuxiu shuddered, waved her hand repeatedly: "Don’t, Brother Seven, let’s talk it over, I haven’t neglected cultivation over the years. If you say eight layers, perhaps it’s more than that."

"You really are quite subtle," Li Qi sneered, "been a Ninth Layer for a while, huh?"

He Yuxiu whispered: "Others mustn’t know about this, I don’t want to be targeted by the Inner State."

In Puluo State, if a Ninth Layer cultivator’s insights got out, they are likely to be targeted by the Inner State.

Li Banfeng advised earnestly: "Xiuer, it’s only a matter of time before they target you, hiding this way isn’t a solution."

He Yuxiu’s eyes lit up: "You have a good idea?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Xiuer, do you want to be a Local Deity?"

He Yuxiu pondered for a moment: "If it means being a slave in the Inner State, I can’t do it, I’m not cut out for that."

"What if you don’t have to go to the Inner State?"

He Yuxiu was overjoyed: "Is such a thing possible?"

Li Banfeng smiled: "No wonder Brother Seven dotes on you, such good fortune really is yours to seize."