Chapter 2170 - 2174: The Dragon Slayer Department Comes Knocking

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Feili Xue's face suddenly change, both Gongsun Sanniang and Qin Tian were utterly baffled.

By now, the relaxed expression from just moments ago had vanished from Feili Xue's face, replaced by tension and unease!

"What on earth is wrong?" Seeing this rare look on her face, Qin Tian also began to feel a little uneasy inside.

With fear on her face, Feili Xue lowered her voice and said, "If this poison was administered by people from the Dragon Slayer Department, then we have a problem!"

Before Gongsun Sanniang and Qin Tian could ask, Feili Xue explained, "The poison used by the Dragon Slayer Department isn't that different from ordinary poison, but the poison they use, they always add a special mark into it!"

"The reason they add this mark is because sometimes the criminals they've caught get snatched away. Once someone is rescued, with that special True Qi mark, they can use their own unique methods to track down the person who's been marked!"

Hearing this, Qin Tian and Gongsun Sanniang both felt their faces change as well.

Feili Xue continued, "Just now, when I administered medicine to the Gongsun Family Head, I didn't anticipate there being a True Qi mark, so I used the most standard method…"

"Can that mark be removed?" Gongsun Sanniang asked nervously.

"It can. But I need time… When the Dragon Slayer Department used poison imbued with a True Qi mark before, they even consulted me for my opinion. I know what method they use."

There was obvious tension in Feili Xue's voice as she said to Qin Tian and Gongsun Sanniang, "I don't know if it's already too late. It's possible that the Dragon Slayer Department has already found you and surrounded this place."

With that, Feili Xue walked out and ordered the guards in the courtyard to strengthen the defenses.

She walked back in two quick steps and said, "Qin Tian, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't let you stay here any longer."

Qin Tian said solemnly, "We can leave, of course, and I absolutely don't want to drag you down. But before we go, can you remove the mark from Gongsun Sanniang?"

"Removing this mark takes half an hour, and I'm afraid we don't have that kind of time now," Feili Xue said seriously.

Qin Tian knew very well that if Gongsun Sanniang kept carrying this mark, then from now on, wherever she went, the people of the Dragon Slayer Department would be able to find her.

So, with Feili Xue here tonight, he had to help Gongsun Sanniang remove this mark!

"How about this, Teacher Fei, why don't you come with us for a bit and help her remove the mark somewhere outside? That way, it won't implicate you and your people. What do you think?"

Seeing Feili Xue looking troubled at his suggestion, Qin Tian went on, "Don't worry, I'll absolutely guarantee your safety, and I won't let anyone discover you."

"All right…"

She hesitated for a moment, but in the end still agreed.

However, just as she agreed, a voice sounded from outside the courtyard: "This is Pharmacist Fei's side courtyard, right? Is Pharmacist Fei here? Have her come out and see me."

Hearing this voice, Feili Xue froze for a second and said, "That's Deputy Commander Zhao Zhenggang of the Dragon Slayer Department. They've tracked you here. You two need to go! This way!"

Without giving them a chance to argue, Feili Xue led Qin Tian and Gongsun Sanniang out through the side of the courtyard and said, "Go wait for me at the Guanyin Temple in the Southern City. I'll be there before dawn."

Qin Tian nodded and was just about to leave with Gongsun Sanniang when he suddenly sensed the True Qi fluctuations outside the courtyard. He turned back, his face grave, and said, "It's over. The outside is already surrounded. For us to break out is no problem, but if we do, you'll be exposed, and I'm afraid the Dragon Slayer Department won't let you off easily."

Qin Tian looked at Feili Xue and said, "Teacher Fei, why don't you come with us?"

Feili Xue shook her head. "I could go with you, but the moment they confirm I'm connected to you, our entire Alchemy Bureau is finished. My disciples, my servants, my senior brothers, senior sisters, and junior sisters will all be implicated…"

Just then, a servant came hurrying from the front courtyard, and Qin Tian and Gongsun Sanniang quickly hid.

The servant's face was anxious as he said, "Master, a lot of people from the Dragon Slayer Department have arrived outside. Commander Zhao is out there; he wants to see you."

Feili Xue glanced out of the corner of her eye at where Qin Tian and Gongsun Sanniang were hiding and drew in a deep breath. She knew that words were useless now; she had to go meet Zhenggang first. Otherwise, once they pinpointed the exact location of the True Qi mark, it would all be too late.

"All right, take me to him."

Feili Xue smoothed out the tension in her expression and followed the servant to the main gate.

Zhenggang and Feili Xue could be considered acquaintances.

When they met, Zhenggang chuckled at Feili Xue and said, "Pharmacist Fei, sorry about this, disturbing you so late at night."

Feili Xue forced a smile and said, "Commander Zhao, it's so late and you've brought so many people, making such a big fuss coming here. Has something happened?"

Zhenggang said, "We're tracking a criminal. According to the clues we've obtained, that criminal has hidden in your courtyard. Have you seen anyone?"

"No. I was just refining alchemy earlier and didn't sense anything out of the ordinary," Feili Xue said.

At her words, Zhenggang flashed a crafty smile. "Pharmacist Fei, sorry, but as a routine procedure we have to go in and search. You don't mind, do you?"

After all, the Alchemy Bureau where Feili Xue worked had always cooperated closely with the Dragon Slayer Department. In many matters involving medicine and antidotes, the Dragon Slayer Department needed the professional help of the Alchemy Bureau, so Zhenggang's attitude remained fairly polite.

Feili Xue hesitated for a moment, but before she could speak, Zhenggang chuckled and said, "Pharmacist Fei, never mind. We'll just go in and search ourselves. Even if you don't let us in, we're still going in today. If a criminal ends up being connected to you, that wouldn't be good, would it?"

Zhenggang fixed his gaze on Feili Xue. She had nothing to say and could only step aside. "Since it's routine, I naturally have no reason to stop you. Please."

At this, Zhenggang frowned slightly and ordered the two soldiers behind him, "You two, carefully sense where that mark is. You must lock onto its position. This courtyard is already surrounded by us. As long as they're hiding inside, they won't escape even with wings!"

"Yes, sir!"

The two soldiers furrowed their brows, focusing their senses, and followed Zhenggang into the courtyard.

Feili Xue's heart was hanging in midair at this point.

It was just a small courtyard; for these two soldiers to sense the True Qi mark would be as easy as lifting a hand.

It's over. She would end up being branded by the Dragon Slayer Department as "treasonous, colluding with the enemy" as well…

Feili Xue's heart suddenly sank. It felt like the end of the world had come; the Alchemy Bureau was about to be destroyed by her own hands…