The Strange Beggar Loli

The door to the side hall was pushed open, and a troop of black-armored cavalry filed in, the leader wearing bright armor and a heavy sword at his waist.

Cao Zhengde, who was standing nearby, was startled and quickly stepped forward.

"General Zhou."

The newcomer was Zhou Cang, the deputy general of the Zhenbei Army. He strode into the main hall, first bowing respectfully to Eunuch Gao.

"Eunuch Gao, I have come to the Investigation Department to assist in the investigation of the mission case on the orders of Marquis Tiebi. The Marquis said that this case occurred in the Zhenbei Army's defense zone, and the Zhenbei Army has an inescapable responsibility. He requests that the Imperial Household Department cooperate with our army in the investigation."

Before Eunuch Gao could speak, Zhou Cang had already taken out a gold medal from his robes and held it above his head. The medal was engraved with the character "Emperor."

"His Majesty has decreed that the case of the mission shall be handled by Cao Zhengde, the chief of the Investigation Department, with the assistance of the Zhenbei Army and the supervision of the Imperial Household Department. Each of the three parties shall perform its duties and shall not hinder each other."

Eunuch Gao's face turned ashen. He stared at the gold medal for a few moments, his lips twitched, and finally he bowed to accept the decree.

He then flicked his sleeves and strode out with four imperial guards.

Once the people from the Imperial Household Department left, the air in the side hall felt a bit more relaxed.

Zhou Cang put the gold medal back into his pocket, turned to look at Xu Xian, and grinned.

"You're tough as nails. Marquis Tiebi read your case file and said you're a capable man. A capable man shouldn't die in prison, much less at the hands of his own people."

  

He put away his smile and said seriously, "Although the Marquis sent me to back him up, the pressure in the court is not small either, and there are many who oppose the Jingdi Alliance..."

He glanced at Cao Zhengde and said, "His Majesty means that this case must be investigated as soon as possible. The longer it drags on, the more variables there will be. The Di Kingdom has only given us half a month. If the case is not solved in half a month, it will be difficult for the two countries to reach a peaceful resolution."

As he spoke, he turned to Xu Xian and said, "Xu Xian, you brought back three envoys, which is a great achievement. However, you are still under investigation. There is only one way to clear your name: investigate this case thoroughly."

Xu nodded, "I understand, I will do my best to cooperate and find out the truth as soon as possible."

Zhou Cang slapped him with satisfaction, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"Go back and rest today. We'll officially begin the investigation tomorrow. The fifty personal guards I brought will be stationed around the Investigation Division to protect the survivors of the mission."

Mr. Xu clasped his hands in thanks.

Zhou Cang waved his hand, "If you want to thank someone, thank yourself. If it weren't for your own efforts in bringing them back from the Northern Region, you would be a wandering ghost by now."

...

It was almost dark when I left the Inspection Bureau. Most of the shops on the street were closed, with only a few taverns still lit up.

Xu stretched his arms and headed west of the city.

His residence was in a narrow alley, an old house left by his adoptive father. It consisted of two rooms and a small courtyard, and was considered the most ordinary dwelling in Tiemenguan.

After nearly a month of hard work, having fought his way out of death row, his body was completely exhausted, and he was only holding on by sheer willpower.

When we turned into that narrow alley in the west of the city, it was already completely dark. There were no lanterns in the alley, only moonlight illuminating the uneven bluestone pavement.

Xu Xiangang had just turned the corner of the alley when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. A dirty little girl was squatting in the corner of the wall, holding a turtle in her arms. She looked about twelve or thirteen years old, with messy hair and clothes so dirty that their original color was unrecognizable.

He walked past her, took three steps, then stopped, took out a tael of silver from his pocket, and threw it in front of the little girl.

"Let's go get some food."

He continued walking forward, took out his keys, and was about to open the door when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a small figure standing by the door—

The little girl from before had somehow followed him over, holding the turtle and looking up at him with bright, sparkling eyes.

Xu was startled and took half a step back.

"Why are you following me? Didn't I tell you to go eat?"

The little girl lifted the turtle in her arms a little higher. "Prince Xiang said that once I enter this city, the first person to give me money will be the one to help me. You are the one."

Xu Xian frowned slightly, looked down at the tortoise. It was about the size of a palm, with several old scratches on its shell. It was craning its neck to look at him, its two beady green eyes staring unblinkingly.

He then looked at the little girl, "Who is the Prince Xiang?"

"The Prince Xiang is indeed the Prince Xiang."

Xu Xian rubbed his temples.

He was too tired and had no energy to get entangled in all sorts of nonsense with some random young girl. He sighed.

"I can only provide you with one meal at most. After you finish eating, just leave. There's nothing I can do to help you."

Xu Xian entered the house first, and the little girl followed him in. She sat obediently at the table, holding her turtle, without making a fuss, but her eyes kept following Xu Xian as he busied himself in the kitchen.

Xu Xian rummaged through the cupboard and pulled out half a bag of rice, two pieces of cured meat, and a few wilted greens. He quickly washed the rice and chopped the vegetables.

He honed his cooking skills during his previous life when he lived alone. As a criminal police officer, his salary was low, and he couldn't afford to eat out every day. Cooking for himself saved money and was healthier.

...

Before long, a pot of braised pork and vegetables with rice was served. The little girl's eyes shone like two little lanterns. She reached out, grabbed a handful of rice, and stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like a steamed bun.

Xu Xian sat opposite her, watching her eat, and sighed.

The world is wicked and the roads are treacherous; the border regions are full of such displaced people.

He filled half a bowl for himself, and while eating, asked, "What's your name?"

"Hua Xi".

Her mouth was full of food, and she answered indistinctly.

How old are you?

Hua Xi thought for a moment, "I don't know."

"Where is home?"

"have no idea."

Hua Xi focused intently on the cured meat in her bowl, without even looking up.

Well, he's a little idiot!

Xu Xian's lips twitched, and he asked her again why she was squatting alone in the alley. She swallowed a big mouthful of rice, looked up at Xu Xian, and stared at him intently.

"Looking for something."

"What are you looking for?"

Hua Xi didn't answer the question. She stuffed the last piece of cured meat in her bowl into her mouth, chewing until her cheeks were bulging. Then she put down her chopsticks, picked up the turtle on the table with both hands, and held it up to Xu Xian.

"Prince Xiang said you can help me find it."

Xu Xian stared at the glans, speechless for a moment, and then ignored her.

After finishing his meal, Xu Xian put the bowls and chopsticks in the kitchen to soak, then came out and looked at Hua Xi.

"You can leave now."

Hua Xi sat motionless at the table, holding the tortoise and looking up at him.

"No."

Xu Xian frowned. "Aren't you leaving?"

"You help me."

Hua Xi's eyes sparkled. "In return, I'll protect you. The Prince said that way you won't send me away. It's a deal. Will you agree?"

Xu Xian squatted down in front of her and chuckled softly.

He was at the second level of Body Tempering. Although he was only considered a beginner in the entire martial arts system, and the Body Tempering Realm was nothing more than "an infant who had just learned to stand" in the eyes of martial artists, he was already someone who could kill a snow wolf demon with a single strike among the ordinary people in Iron Gate Pass.

A twelve-year-old girl saying she wants to protect him is like a sparrow saying it wants to protect an eagle.

How will you protect me?

Hua Xi blinked. "I'm very capable."

Xu Xian couldn't help but raise his hand to pat the little girl's head. Just as he was about to say something, a noise suddenly came from the doorway.

He turned his head to look, and Hua Xi also looked towards the door, the turtle in his arms sticking its head out of its shell.

A man dressed in black walked in through the door.

Xu was startled, abruptly stood up, grabbed his knife, and squinted at the other man.

"You've come to the wrong door, haven't you?"

The man in black was of medium build, his face completely covered by a black cloth, revealing only his eyes, which were filled with indifference.

"You haven't gone to the wrong place; you're the one I'm looking for."

Before he could finish speaking, a palm struck him.

The speed was so fast that Xu Xian only had time to use both palms to block.

The two men's palms collided, and a tremendous force surged from each other's hands. Xu Xian's Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, which was at the second level of Body Tempering, was torn to shreds like paper in the face of this force.

He was sent flying by a palm strike, his back slamming against the wall and smashing the plaster, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The man in black looked down at the lingering force on his palm, somewhat surprised.

"Body Tempering Level Two? I didn't expect a mere clerk to have reached the rank of Second Level, and even withstood my palm strike. Very interesting. No one below Level Four can withstand my slap... What a waste of talent."

He paused, then walked towards Xu Xian at a leisurely pace. "It's a pity you're too clever, and clever people often don't live long. My father-in-law said you ruined things, so you have to die."

Father-in-law?

The eunuch from Kyoto wants his life?

Was it because he brought back Tuoba Yue and the others? So this Eunuch Gao is the mastermind? But what's his motive?

Xu Xian leaned against the wall, the pain in his chest leaving him no energy to think. If it weren't for the unparalleled external martial arts of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, he probably would have died.

Now he is no longer capable of fighting, and no matter how you look at it, he is doomed to die.

Just as he was in despair, an absurd thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and he immediately looked at the table.

Hua Xi was holding the turtle and tilting her head to look at him, as if she was waiting for something.

Xu Xian didn't bother to think about why she wasn't afraid, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Didn't you say you were going to protect me? Why aren't you doing anything!"