184: At the inn, she was assassinated. She rescued Xiaobao and exposed the hypocrisy of Ake.

Steam was still rising from the stove at the Zhuang residence. Shuanger was leaning over to refill a thermos with hot water, her light blue padded jacket stained with a bit of soot at the back, yet it did not detract from her gentleness in the slightest. Hearing footsteps at the courtyard entrance, she turned and saw Xie Hui, her eyes instantly lighting up. She even forgot to put down the iron ladle in her hand: "Brother Hui, you're finally back! The mutton soup is still hot, shall I serve you another bowl?"

Xie Hui walked over and casually brushed the soot off her hem, his heart full of warmth: "No need to fuss, sit for a moment. I have something to tell you." He handed over the secret report about Zheng Keshuang leaving the capital in three days, "I have to intercept him at the post house. Not only do I need to get the forty-two chapter sutra, but I also need to meet AKe, who is by his side."

Shuanger took the secret report, her finger lightly tracing the name "Zheng Keshuang," a hint of worry in her eyes: "There will surely be an ambush at the post house. You should take more people with you. Should I call all the brothers Brother Xu left behind?"

"No need," Xie Hui pressed her hand down, "Too many people will make it easier to be exposed. I'll just take Xiaobao and Longer. You stay home and watch over the Zhuang residence. Pack up the gold and silver we've gathered. When I return, we'll renovate the Zhuang residence to make it even more grand."

Wei Xiaobao, holding a wooden box filled with gold ingots, leaned in, his ears incredibly sharp: "Renovate the Zhuang residence? Brother Hui, you've finally seen the light! I've been saying this courtyard is too small; we need to build a two-story building and dig a pond to raise lotuses!"

Shuanger was amused by him and nodded: "Alright, I'll listen to Brother Hui. I've prepared dry rations and detoxification pills for you all, kept in the food box within the small universe, for you to eat on the way." She turned and went into the inner room, returning shortly with a cloth bundle containing several sets of clean clothes, "I sewed these new clothes for you. There might be a fight at the post house, and old clothes are easily torn."

Xie Hui took the bundle, his fingertips touching the soft fabric, and his heart softened completely—Shuanger always put his safety first, even preparing the clothes for fighting in advance. He tucked the bundle into his inner universe and patted her head: "When I get back, I'll definitely accompany you on a good tour of the capital."

After lunch, the three of them rushed toward the southern city post house. Longer rode a horse borrowed from the Imperial Palace, holding a sketch of the post house layout: "The secret report says there are only five guards, but Zheng Keshuang must have hidden secret guards. We should enter from the back gate; it's close to his bedroom, making it easier to intercept the sutra."

Xie Hui nodded and pulled out three pairs of black gloves from his inner universe—they were tactical gloves from the real world, anti-slip and cut-resistant: "Put these on. They'll keep your grip steady when we fight later. Xiaobao, stay behind me later; don't rush forward. Your job is to throw lime powder to distract them, not to fight."

Wei Xiaobao curled his lip but still obediently put on the gloves: "Got it, Brother Hui, I definitely won't hold you back! But if we find Zheng Keshuang's gold and silver, I get to pick thirty percent first!"

The post house was hidden in an alley in the southern part of the city, with a wooden sign hanging at the door that read "Taiwan Post House." Two guards with sabers at their waists stood at the entrance, their eyes occasionally glancing toward the alley entrance, looking very alert. Xie Hui had Longer and Wei Xiaobao hide at a tea stall at the end of the alley while he pretended to be a customer buying tea, slowly approaching the post house.

"Shopkeeper, a bowl of herbal tea," Xie Hui slapped copper coins onto the table, his eyes glancing at the back gate of the post house—several bundles of firewood were piled there, with only one guard pacing back and forth. He deliberately knocked over his teacup, spilling tea on himself. Taking the opportunity to lean over and wipe his clothes, he pulled out a test strip and dipped it into the puddle on the ground. The strip didn't change color, and he breathed a sigh of relief—fortunately, it wasn't poisoned.

At that moment, the door of the post house opened, and a girl in a pink dress walked out, carrying a food box. Her features were as beautiful as a painting, her skin snow-white—it was indeed AKe, looking exactly like the version played by Michelle Reis, though her brow carried a hint of sorrow. Just as she reached the alley entrance, she was called out to by a Young Master in fine silk: "AKe, where are you going? Don't you know it's dangerous outside?"

It was Zheng Keshuang! He wore a sapphire blue robe and fanned himself with a folding fan, looking refined and elegant, yet his eyes were full of impatience. AKe stopped and said softly, "I'm going to buy you some osmanthus cake. You said yesterday you wanted to eat some..."

"What osmanthus cake!" Zheng Keshuang snatched the food box and threw it on the ground, "Xie Hui's gang might be nearby. If you go out and get caught, what will happen to my forty-two chapter sutra? Get back inside and stay there, don't cause me any trouble!"

AKe's eyes reddened, but she didn't dare to argue, only crouching down to pick up the food box. Xie Hui saw everything clearly from behind the tea stall and sneered inwardly—this Zheng Keshuang was indeed a hypocrite, being so harsh even to his own fiancée. No wonder AKe would have a change of heart in the original story.

Once Zheng Keshuang and AKe returned to the post house, Xie Hui went back to the tea stall and said to Longer and Wei Xiaobao, "The security is tighter than expected. Zheng Keshuang treats AKe very poorly; we can use this to let AKe see his true colors."

Longer nodded: "I just saw that the bedroom window of the post house isn't closed. We can climb in through the window tonight and get the sutra directly."

Wei Xiaobao's eyes lit up: "Nighttime is good! In the pitch black of night, they won't see us. We can just steal the sutra and run!"

Xie Hui tapped him: "It's not stealing, it's taking it openly! Zheng Keshuang's private possession of the forty-two chapter sutra is already wrongful. We are taking it back for the Emperor, which is perfectly justified."

The three waited at the tea stall until nightfall, and the lights of the post house gradually flickered on. Xie Hui led the two around to the back gate. Longer picked the lock with a dagger, and the three slipped in quietly. The courtyard was silent, with only Zheng Keshuang's voice coming from the bedroom: "AKe, go keep watch at the door. If there's any movement, tell me immediately!"

AKe responded with a "Yes" and walked to the bedroom door with a saber, her back to the window, her shoulders trembling slightly—it was clear she didn't want to do this and was only being forced by Zheng Keshuang.

Xie Hui gave Longer a look, and she understood, quietly circling behind AKe. Just as she was about to move, AKe suddenly turned and lunged at Longer with her saber: "Who is it?!"

Longer quickly dodged, the blade grazing her hem. Inside the bedroom, Zheng Keshuang heard the noise and shouted, "What's happening? Is it Xie Hui?"

Fearing they would alert the other guards, Xie Hui quickly vaulted through the window and said to Zheng Keshuang, "Young Master Zheng, I trust you've been well? I heard you're taking the forty-two chapter sutra back to Taiwan; why not let me have a look first?"

Seeing Xie Hui, Zheng Keshuang's face turned pale instantly, and he reached under his pillow for the sutra: "You... how did you get in? Where are the guards?"

"The guards have long been dealt with," Xie Hui took a step forward, his black iron sword unsheathed, the tip pointing at him, "Hand over the sutra, and I can leave you a path to live."

Zheng Keshuang suddenly grabbed AKe and held a blade to her throat: "Xie Hui! Don't come any closer! One more step and I'll kill her!"

AKe's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Zheng Keshuang: "You... how could you do this? I am your fiancée!"

"What does a fiancée matter!" Zheng Keshuang's face twisted hideously, "As long as I can live, I can give up anything! Xie Hui, leave now, or I really will kill her!"

Xie Hui frowned, inwardly cursing Zheng Keshuang's shamelessness, but he didn't dare to charge forward—AKe was still in his hands. If AKe were harmed, winning her over would be difficult.

Just then, Wei Xiaobao suddenly rushed in from the door, throwing lime powder at Zheng Keshuang's face: "Old bastard! How dare you threaten Brother Hui! Take this!"

Zheng Keshuang was blinded by the lime powder and screamed in pain, his grip on the blade loosening. AKe took the opportunity to push him away and ran to Xie Hui's side. Xie Hui seized the chance, leaped forward, and pressed the black iron sword against Zheng Keshuang's neck: "Still want to run?"

Clutching his eyes and trembling all over, Zheng Keshuang cried, "Don't kill me! The sutra is yours! I'll give it to you!" He reached under the pillow and pulled out a brocade box, throwing it on the floor, "The sutra is inside, just let me go!"

Xie Hui picked up the box and opened it; inside was indeed a copy of the forty-two chapter sutra. He breathed a sigh of relief—this was the fourth one, bringing him one step closer to finding all eight. He was about to speak when footsteps sounded from outside, and Longer ran in: "Not good! Zheng Keshuang's secret guards are here! There are over a dozen of them!"

Hearing this, Zheng Keshuang quickly shouted, "Quick, save me! I'm in here!"

Xie Hui kicked him, knocking him unconscious: "Xiaobao, tie him up! Longer, help me hold off the secret guards! AKe, hide under the bed and don't come out!"

AKe looked at Xie Hui's back, her heart filled with complex emotions—just now, Xie Hui clearly could have ignored her, yet he hesitated for her sake; whereas Zheng Keshuang, to save his own life, had actually used her as a hostage. She bit her lip and suddenly picked up the saber from the floor: "I'll fight with you!"

Xie Hui was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Good! Stay behind me and be careful."

The secret guards rushed in, swinging their sabers. Xie Hui met them with his sword; the black iron sword was incredibly sharp, snapping the blades of two guards in a single stroke. Longer was no slouch either, her swordplay as fast as lightning, taking down three in no time. Although AKe's martial arts were not as good as theirs, she was brave, slashing at the guards' legs to slow them down.

After tying up Zheng Keshuang, Wei Xiaobao also picked up a saber to help: "Brother Hui! I'm coming to help! These secret guards must have plenty of silver; let's search them later!"

In a short while, the dozen or so secret guards were dealt with. Xie Hui took a breath and looked at AKe: "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

AKe shook her head, her eyes full of gratitude and admiration: "Thank you for saving me. If not for you, I surely would have died today." She glanced at the unconscious Zheng Keshuang on the floor, her eyes filled with disappointment, "I was truly blind before to actually like someone like him."

Xie Hui smiled and put the brocade box into his inner universe: "Don't be sad. From now on, follow me, and I won't let anyone bully you."

AKe looked up into Xie Hui's eyes, seeing only sincerity and determination. her cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded gently: "Okay, I'll go with you."

Wei Xiaobao leaned over and patted Xie Hui's shoulder: "Brother Hui, you're truly amazing! You've won over another beauty! Let's hurry and take Zheng Keshuang back to the palace to report to the Emperor, and divide up his gold and silver while we're at it!"

Xie Hui nodded and had Longer and Wei Xiaobao escort Zheng Keshuang while he led AKe out of the post house. Just as they reached the entrance, they saw Xu Tianchuan rushing over with several brothers from the Heaven and Earth Society: "Little Brother Xie! We heard you were making a move here and came to help!"

"No need, it's already settled," Xie Hui said with a smile, "Thank you for your hard work. I'll buy you all a drink when we get back."

Xu Tianchuan was startled when he saw AKe, but he didn't ask much—he knew Xie Hui's capabilities, and winning over a few beauties was normal for him.

The group escorted Zheng Keshuang toward the Imperial Palace. On the way, AKe walked beside Xie Hui and whispered, "I heard Zheng Keshuang say before that there are two more copies of the forty-two chapter sutra at the Divine Dragon Cult headquarters. He originally wanted to cooperate with the Divine Dragon Cult to seize the sutras."

Xie Hui's eyes lit up—AKe actually knew about the Divine Dragon Cult headquarters! This was a vital clue! He quickly asked, "Do you know where the Divine Dragon Cult headquarters is? Did Zheng Keshuang ever tell you?"

AKe thought for a moment and shook her head: "He didn't say the exact location, only that it's on an island surrounded by mist, making it very hard to find."

Xie Hui nodded, pondering—though he didn't have the exact location, at least he knew it was on an island, which would make it easier to find later. He pulled out his walkie-talkie and pressed the talk button: "Shuanger, I've dealt with Zheng Keshuang and won over AKe. Everything is fine. Wait for me at home; I'll be back after reporting to the Emperor."

Shuanger's gentle voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Brother Hui, as long as you're okay. I've left some late-night snacks for you; come home and eat."

Hanging up the walkie-talkie, Xie Hui looked at AKe beside him, feeling very satisfied—this chapter not only secured a forty-two chapter sutra but also won over AKe, completing an important plot point in his outline. Next, it was time to handle Zheng Keshuang, report to Kangxi, and then prepare to go to the Divine Dragon Cult headquarters to find the remaining sutras.

At the palace gates, the eunuch sent by Kangxi was already waiting. Seeing them escorting Zheng Keshuang, he hurried forward: "Little Brother Xie, the Emperor is waiting in the Imperial Study. He asks that you go in immediately."

Xie Hui nodded and led AKe, Longer, and Wei Xiaobao toward the Imperial Study. He knew that for this report, Kangxi would surely reward them handsomely. And he could use this opportunity to mention the matter of going to the Divine Dragon Cult headquarters to Kangxi—finding all the forty-two chapter sutras, overthrowing the Qing Dynasty, and establishing a New Dynasty would all have to be done step by step, and now was the perfect time.