It was intolerable, and they were bound to put her in her place.

But if the reprimand came from someone else, it would inevitably lead to a falling out.

However, if Qing Qing were given a title, like a commandery princess, it wouldn't create any conflict of interest. It would also be a slap in the face to his teacher, Xiao Rongqi, a subtle form of reprimand.

Truly worthy of being the Crown Prince, he could use anything and anyone.

While internally criticizing him, Yu Qingwu also breathed a sigh of relief.

With this, Yan Qingqing's matter could be considered resolved.

She wouldn't have to worry about Qing Qing encountering any danger...

And so, the next morning, the three parted ways. Yan Qingqing returned to Yan Family Village, while Yu Qingwu and Xie Jin Yan continued on their journey to Yun Province.

It would take another two days and two nights to travel from Qing Province to Yun Province.

After passing through two more prefectures, the two finally arrived in Yun Province.

Yun Province had treacherous mountains, and compared to Qing Province, the people were even more valiant, but the bandits were also more rampant.

As soon as Yu Qingwu got out of the carriage, she saw a thief brazenly picking a young master's pocket.

Just as she was about to step forward, Xie Jin Yan stopped her.

Seeing Xie Jin Yan stop her, Yu Qingwu was a little puzzled. She frowned and asked him, "Your Highness, why are you stopping me?"

"Did you see the mark on that man's hand?"

Xie Jin Yan held Yu Qingwu's wrist with one hand and pointed to the thief's hand with the other.

Yu Qingwu followed his finger and saw a cyan crescent moon tattoo on the back of the thief's hand.

This is…

If she remembered correctly, she had heard her master mention it when she was young—the Bai Yue Hui (White Moon Society).

The Bai Yue Hui was a cult in the martial world. They usually did all kinds of evil deeds, and they always liked to burn, kill, and plunder. They were destroyed thirty years ago, and then disappeared from the martial world.

Why are they back now?

"Before I came here, I had already sent someone to investigate. The mountain bandits entrenched in Yun Province are the Bai Yue Hui."

Yu Qingwu was puzzled, and Xie Jin Yan's low voice came from her ear.

While scanning the crowds coming and going on the street, he lowered his voice even more and said, "A Wu, look, eight or nine out of ten people on this street are members of the Bai Yue Hui, so the bandits in Yun Province are never completely wiped out."

"Because as soon as one group is wiped out, a new one will immediately appear, endlessly."

"I used to think Xie Qiyun was too stupid, but now it seems that he can't be completely blamed."

"It seems that this matter is a bit tricky."

A trace of helplessness appeared on the corner of Xie Jin Yan's mouth. While speaking, he gently pulled Yu Qingwu and said softly, "Let's go, A Wu, let's find an inn to rest first."

"Also, this place is really a bit abnormal. Don't leave my sight."

Yu Qingwu hadn't paid much attention when she first arrived.

But after being reminded by Xie Jin Yan, she subconsciously looked at the back of everyone's hands on the street and found that half of the people had the mark.

That is to say, half of the people are members of the Bai Yue Hui.

But isn't the Bai Yue Hui a cult?

Why would these people join such a cult?

If all the people of Yun Province became members of the Bai Yue Hui, it would be almost equivalent to this place being independent. The consequences would be even more serious than Song Tusi of Qing Province entrenched in one place. It would not be impossible to rebel.

Thinking of this, Yu Qingwu suddenly understood why the Emperor told Xie Jin Yan not to reveal his identity.

If he revealed his identity, he might not even be able to save his life.

At this moment, Yu Qingwu suddenly felt a little sympathy for Xie Qiyun.

The Emperor blatantly appointed Xie Qiyun and the You family to come here, wasn't he clearly using them to shield Xie Jin Yan?

Looking at the people on the street, who inexplicably exuded a strange aura, Yu Qingwu involuntarily took Xie Jin Yan's arm.

Her soft little hand, with a bit of warmth.

Yu Qingwu's initiative made Xie Jin Yan slightly stunned, but he quickly returned to his usual expression, simply putting his arm around her waist, turning his head to look at her with a smile, and said, "Are you afraid?"

"No... no..." Yu Qingwu said so, but her eyes betrayed her.

Although she had also personally killed Yang Cheng and poisoned those two flower-picking thieves.

But… what she was facing now wasn't just one or two people, but half the city's population. Perhaps, if she wasn't careful, she and Xie Jin Yan would both die here.

Thinking of this, Yu Qingwu leaned closer to Xie Jin Yan.

The two entered the inn room all the way, and she slowly broke free from Xie Jin Yan's arms.

Xie Jin Yan sat opposite her, tested the tea with a silver needle, looked at her with a smile, and teased, "Why are you so scared? I've never seen you so scared when you were on a mission before?"

Had he never seen her so scared when she was on a mission before?

When had she not been scared by him before?

It's just that, at that time, there was no shoulder to rely on.

Even Xiao Fengyun, whom she had a crush on at that time, she didn't seem to feel that she could rely on him.

Now, she probably had some dependence on Xie Jin Yan, or perhaps trust, that she dared to reveal her most authentic side in front of him.

However, seeing Xie Jin Yan's smug look, Yu Qingwu suddenly didn't want to admit it.

She just frowned and glanced at him, and said angrily, "Those people in the past were at least normal people. Now, the people on the street, including the waiter in the inn, don't look normal. And it's not just one or two who are not normal, almost half the people in the city are not normal, why can't I be afraid?"

"Then you have to hug me tight when you sleep at night."

"..."

This man, he could still be so frivolous in this situation.

After all, he was the Crown Prince, and he didn't show any panic in any situation.

Compared to this, Yu Qingwu felt for the first time that she was really not Xie Jin Yan's senior sister, but his wife.

After a pause, she glared at him and said, "You're so improper."

"Would you like me if I were too proper?" Xie Jin Yan curled his lips, and a hot light flashed in his deep eyes. As if on purpose, he stared at Yu Qingwu for a moment, until she was a little dodge, and then he withdrew his gaze and smiled, "Okay, pack up, let's go eat something."

While speaking, Xie Jin Yan had already gotten up and began to check the beds, furnishings, and all the big and small objects in the room. He checked everything that could be checked, and only after confirming that there was no poison did he feel relieved and lay down on the bed.

Yu Qingwu also lay down beside him.

After resting for a while, they got up and went to the lobby.

However, as soon as the two arrived at the inn lobby, they found that the lobby was particularly strange.

It was evening now, and there should be many people eating dinner.

But at a glance, there were only two or three scattered people, and even the shopkeeper was nowhere to be seen.

Looking outside, some people were hurrying forward, as if they were rushing to a certain place.

"Waiter, waiter." Xie Jin Yan frowned, quickly called the waiter over, and then pointed to the hurrying people on the street, and asked in confusion, "What are these people doing in such a hurry in the middle of the night?"