Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Madam Niu's expression softened slightly. She grasped Feng Zongqi's hand and sighed, "Husband, the whole city is searching for Erlang. What if... I'm still uneasy. Let's find a way to send Erlang out of the city."

Feng Zongqi shook his head: "We can't get out. It seems like the city is easy to enter and leave now, but it's actually tight inside. I tried to send Erlang out of the city immediately after the incident, but I was worried that there might be problems when he left."

"I specifically found a caravan that had received favors from me and gave them an entry and exit permit. When the caravan tried to leave the city with my permit, they were stopped and prevented from leaving. When asked, they said it was an order from above."

“From that moment on, I knew something was wrong. Zhou Qingfeng is as cunning as a fox and has a deep mind. He clearly suspected us, but he quietly took precautions. He is so decisive in his actions that he is not afraid of offending me at all.”

"Under these circumstances, how could I dare to let Erlang risk leaving the city?"

"To be honest, I even suspect that he might be an old monster who possessed and was reborn through forbidden techniques."

Upon hearing this, Madam Niu couldn't help but feel anxious: "What should we do... Could we ask the commander for help?"

Feng Zongqi's expression changed drastically: "No, if you want to protect Erlang, you absolutely cannot let the commander know that Erlang has not left Sword Tower City, otherwise Erlang will surely die. You don't need to know the specific reason; the less you know, the better for you."

Upon hearing this, Madam Niu frowned deeply, her face full of worry.

Feng Zongqi held his wife's hand and comforted her, "It's alright. I have prepared enough food and water for Erlang. He won't lack food or clothing for two or three months. Besides, only I know where he is hiding."

“I won’t be going to see Erlang for the next few months, and you shouldn’t ask about it either. I’m afraid you’ll go to see him if you find out. If Zhou Qingfeng secretly sends people to watch you and me, then Erlang’s hiding place will be exposed, understand?”

"Remember, remember this: as long as we don't go looking for him, no one will be able to find Erlang. As long as we get through this crisis, everything will be alright."

Mrs. Niu nodded, looking worried: "I hope so."

Feng Zongqi's face was resolute as he pulled his wife into his arms and whispered, "It's alright, it's alright, I'm here..."

……

In the cellar of an abandoned courtyard in the city.

Yun Zongqi knelt down and kowtowed: "Father, your son is incompetent and unfilial. I have caused you suffering. Please rest assured, your son will not let you hide here forever. Just wait patiently, and your son will send you out of the city in a while."

A look of relief appeared on Yun Li's aged face as he patted Yun Zongqi's head with a smile: "Fan'er, there's no need to feel guilty. As your father, I'm satisfied as long as you're doing well. Take good care of yourself; the family still needs you."

"Don't come to see me until things calm down. If I am unfortunately arrested, I will take full responsibility for this and will never involve you. After all, it hasn't been easy for the Yun family to get to where we are today."

Commander Yun felt as if his heart was being torn apart, his eyes welled up with tears, and he choked back sobs: "Father, have you ever felt regret? Your son regrets it, regrets following the Commander in the human trafficking business."

"If you hadn't participated, why would you have hidden yourself in this dark and gloomy place and suffered like this?"

Yun Li straightened his increasingly hunched back, his upright spine seemingly piercing the darkness of the cellar. He said in a cold tone, "Fan'er, don't regret it. In this evil world, if you want to be superior to others, you have to eat people!"

"The good are only fit to struggle at the bottom. You have to learn to be evil, not only evil, but also the most evil one. Everything we do is for our families. For our families, we can give up everything."

Yun Zongqi silently kowtowed, looked up at his father, and tears welled up before he could speak.

Yun Li patted his son's shoulder and said, "Let's go." Then he turned around and went back to the bed, covered himself with the quilt, and turned to his side. When Yun Zongqi saw this, he turned around and climbed out of the cellar.

……

"Ah Gou, are you on duty today?" Outside the Night Patrol Office, Lu Sifu got off the carriage, casually gestured to the coachman to move the carriage, looked at Ah Gou expressionlessly, and asked a question as if it were very casual and indifferent.

Upon seeing this, Ah Gou quickly cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Your Excellency, what brings you to the Ministry today?"

Lu Sifu looked at Agou with a fleeting hint of kindness in his eyes, and said coldly, "I'm here today to inspect the work within the department and handle some important matters. Where is Commander Zhou?"

Upon hearing Zhou Qingfeng's name, Ah Gou immediately changed his demeanor, saying with great enthusiasm, "Commander Zhou has just solved a group abduction and kidnapping case and is currently overseeing the follow-up work in the main hall. Commander, Commander Zhou is very capable."

“I can learn a lot from him. He also gave me the opportunity to make meritorious contributions. He also promised to teach me the basics of cultivation when the case is closed in a few days. Chief Zhou is a great person, just like you.”

A hint of a smile flashed across Lu Sifu's eyes, but his tone remained indifferent: "Is the wage enough to cover your expenses?"

Ah Gou scratched his head and grinned foolishly: "Hehehe, enough to spend, enough to spend. My wages plus the monthly allowance from the commander are enough for me to support my mother. Speaking of which, I should thank the commander for letting me join the Night Patrol Division."

"Do your job well and take care of your health." Lu Sifu nodded and stepped into the Night Patrol Office.

Who would know that in the eyes of everyone in the company, Lu Sifu's act of treating his subordinates kindly and subsidizing everyone with his own money was actually just to let things take their course and benefit Agou, since Agou was the only family member left in the Lu Sifu family.

In the main hall of the Night Tour Division, Zhou Qingfeng had just finished dealing with the matters at hand when dozens of kidnapped people were taken back by their families. Among them was the old woman's son, Mu Zili. The mother and son left with profuse thanks.

"My lord, why isn't my brother Sun Haoyu among these people?" Madam Sun was very disappointed.

Zhou Qingfeng said, "These are the most recent batch of people who were kidnapped. The people who were kidnapped before have all disappeared. If you want to know where your brother is, you'll have to wait until I catch Niu Erlang and Yun Li."

The woman, surnamed Sun, said firmly, "It's alright, I can wait. I've already waited three years, so what's a little longer?"

Zhou Qingfeng nodded slightly: "Okay, go back first. I'll send someone to let you know if there's any news."

At this moment, Lu Sifu walked in with a smile, and from a distance clasped his hands and said, "Commander Zhou, you are young and promising. I am very pleased. You have just taken up your post in the department and have already solved such a major case. Your future is limitless."

Seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng waved to Jin Wei to send the bystanders away, then cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Your Excellency is too kind. I was just doing my job. May I ask what important matter Your Excellency has brought to you today?"

"I've come to congratulate you, and I've brought you a little gift." Lu Sifu smiled and pulled Zhou Qingfeng to sit down. He then took out two bamboo tubes of milk tea and two bamboo straws from his food box and gave one to Zhou Qingfeng: "Try it, the milk tea I bought on the way is delicious."

"Thank you for the tea, Your Excellency." Zhou Qingfeng smiled slightly, took the bamboo tube of milk tea, inserted the bamboo straw, and took a sip: "The taste is indeed very good, sweet but not cloying, extremely refreshing. One sip and I feel refreshed. Your Excellency has good taste!"

Lu Sifu said with a smile, "I knew you knew your stuff. The teahouse will be holding a tea party at the end of this month, where all kinds of tea connoisseurs and tea masters will gather. Commander Zhou, would you be interested in joining us? I'll let you in on a secret: there will be beauties, lots of stunning beauties!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng stood up and solemnly clasped his hands in a salute: "I would never dare to refuse the invitation from Your Excellency, but I am currently preoccupied with official duties and busy investigating the whereabouts of the two criminals. I am truly unable to leave. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."