48: The crisis hidden in the entrusted matter

“If even a rat is like this, what about humans?”

Qin Chan sighed, piquing their curiosity before getting up and walking out the door.

Cui Xiaobao seemed to have seen something where he stood, chuckled, and followed behind Qin Chan.

Everyone was puzzled and leaned in to look—

On the paper, a short, spiny-tailed rat was politely performing a Confucian bow to everyone present.

Even more strangely, this rat bore a striking resemblance to Huang Juren.

Huang Juren noticed the strange looks from the crowd and quickly went over.

His gaze swept over the poem, then met the rat's eyes.

“You—you scoundrel, how dare you insult me! Pfft!”

With that, he fell backward.

Cui Zou Zhao, who was standing to the side, sighed upon seeing this:

“He’s probably going to become famous. Ah, never mind. Someone, send him back. How did it come to this?”

With that, he no longer bothered with the people in the hall, picked up the poem, and chased after Qin Chan’s retreating figure.

It wasn’t until he reached the main gate that he saw Qin Chan’s back.

“Wen Yuan, please wait!”

Qin Chan turned, surprised, and said, “What does Senior Cui mean?”

Cui Zou Zhao walked beside him and said with a bitter smile, “This situation is truly not what I wished for. Please, Wen Yuan, don’t be angry.”

Qin Chan raised an eyebrow, somewhat unable to tell if this person genuinely lacked airs or was truly a good-natured old man.

He could only say, “It’s fine, I know this matter was not Senior’s intention, and I won’t take it to heart.”

Seeing that Qin Chan’s words did not seem fake, Cui Zou Zhao handed him the poem in his hand.

“You can’t leave your calligraphy behind. This item is priceless. Wen Yuan, please keep it safe.”

Qin Chan took “Xiang Shu” and casually handed it to Cui Xiaobao.

Seeing that Cui Zou Zhao still looked like he had more to say, he waited for him to continue.

Unexpectedly, Cui Zou Zhao had a conflicted expression and couldn’t utter a complete sentence for a long time.

Qin Chan had no choice but to speak frankly: “I wonder if Senior Cui has any other instructions. It’s getting late, and Xiaobao is already tired. He needs to rest early at his age.”

Cui Xiaobao: ゛(‘◇’)?

Qin Chan glared at Cui Xiaobao. This child was quite clever and immediately started yawning.

“Ah, yes, yes, yes, I’m so sleepy.”

Seeing this, Cui Zou Zhao no longer bothered with his composure and could only cover his face and say:

“I heard that Wen Yuan is highly regarded by Minister Wang. I… I hope that in the current Great Zhou, retirement is not for me.”

Qin Chan listened to him speak intermittently and finally understood the general meaning.

—This Cui Zou Zhao was old in years but not in heart; he wanted Qin Chan to help him intercede and recommend him to re-enter officialdom.

After understanding this, he exclaimed in disbelief in his heart.

He was still just a Xiu Cai!

“Minister Wang? Is it Lord Wang Zhongshu? But I have never met him, so it’s really…”

Upon hearing this, Cui Zou Zhao immediately said, “No rush, no rush. We will naturally meet once we arrive in the capital.”

Qin Chan: …

“…Let’s talk about it then!”

“Good! Little friend Wen Yuan, don’t forget, this old man has a heart full of patriotism…”

After leaving the Southern Garden Pavilion, Qin Chan also felt utterly speechless.

—What kind of situation was this?

Just then, Cui Xiaobao suddenly spoke.

“Cousin, rats!”

Qin Chan didn’t even turn his head, casually saying, “Hmm, I know about rats. You just play with them. You can even learn etiquette. Not everything can be solved with a simple ‘I’m just a commoner.’ They won’t steal your lamp oil.”

Cui Xiaobao swallowed: “I feel like they don’t want to play with me.”

“They?”

Qin Chan felt something was off, turned his head, and looked in the direction Cui Xiaobao was staring.

“Woah! What the hell is that?”

He saw dozens, even hundreds, of rats sitting in rows at the intersection ahead, their eyes glowing with a crimson light.

—Are you there? Urgently need a few people from Guangdong Province; there are three-squeak rats everywhere here…

Cui Xiaobao was a little scared: “Cousin, they won’t bite us, will they?”

“Probably… not?”

This was the first time Qin Chan had seen rats so unafraid of humans, so he could only say uncertainly.

Just as he was considering whether to take out the Celestial Change Treatise, he saw the rat from the article in Cui Xiaobao’s hand jump out.

It waved its paws vigorously: “Squeak, squeak, squeak!”

A moment later, the group of red-eyed rats slowly retreated into the shadows.

Cui Xiaobao was also terrified by the bizarre scene and stopped pestering to go play somewhere.

“Cousin, let’s go home.”

“Okay, let’s go back.”

When Qin Chan and Cui Xiaobao returned, they saw the gates of the Cui Residence tightly shut.

After knocking on the door, it wasn’t long before the gatekeeper, Old He, led them back inside.

Seeing the gatekeeper’s appearance, Qin Chan felt he was quite on edge, like a startled bird, and wondered what had happened.

Who would have thought that as soon as they passed through the main hall, they would see a middle-aged man, still in his armor, speaking sternly to Aunt Yun.

“Dad!” Cui Xiaobao immediately ran up to him.

“Hmm, Xiaobao, you’re back? You must be Wen Yuan, right? You truly are a talented young man.”

This person was his aunt’s husband, whom he hadn’t met since arriving.

“Uncle.”

After bowing, Qin Chan scrutinized the other man’s attire, his brows slightly furrowed.

—Not taking off armor upon entering the house means either the situation is critical, or he’s leaving again soon.

Or… both?

Commandant Cui didn’t have time for much small talk with Qin Chan and immediately turned back to continue:

“I’ve left a squad of soldiers to guard. You all must not go out these next few days. If it’s truly impossible, I’ll arrange for someone to send you out of Qiao City in a couple of days.”

Aunt Yun looked distressed: “Why is it so serious?”

Commandant Cui shook his head: “Those aren’t ordinary bandits; their methods are quite bizarre. I still have to go to the training ground. Remember what I said.”

With that, he turned to look at Qin Chan.

“Wen Yuan, the same goes for you. When the provincial examination day comes, I’ll have people escort you there. Do not be careless.”

The three people in the hall saw his solemn demeanor, which didn’t seem fake, so they could only nod in agreement.

Commandant Cui came in a hurry and left in a hurry.

Qin Chan was a little puzzled about what had happened.

Judging by his words… it sounded like there was still danger?

When he asked Aunt Yun, he couldn’t get an answer and could only give up helplessly.

Upon returning to his residence, Qing Mo came to him immediately.

“Young Master, this provincial examination… can it be taken next time? Let’s go back to Yingchuan.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Seeing Qing Mo’s worried look, and considering her special nature, Qin Chan asked.

“Do you know something, or have you sensed something?”

Qing Mo said with a bitter face: “Nothing… I just feel uneasy, like someone is crying, and also like someone is reluctant to leave. Qing Mo doesn’t understand either.”

“Crying? Reluctant?”

Qin Chan frowned, but he had no clue.

He recalled the rabbit he had seen before, and the group of rats he saw on the way home, and a faint realization dawned on him.

He murmured, “Biological weapons? It can’t be… Demonic cultivators? Who would be so bold? It can’t be aliens invading Great Zhou, can it?”

Even with his wild imagination, he couldn’t fathom what kind of city-threatening event could occur in the heartland of the Central Plains.

However, the provincial examination was crucial for his reputation and the completion of his life goals, so he certainly couldn’t give up because of such groundless speculation.

Ultimately, he could only comfort Qing Mo.

“Don’t worry, you go rest first. With Commandant Cui and the others, and me here, nothing will happen.”