[Bonus chapter]42nd Break: Debt 

Lin Ze looked at Meng Xing before he lowered his gaze. "Oh." He muttered as he poured tea in his cup. "That's good, then." He said and smiled.

Meng Xing. "Thanks." He said and resumed eating his snacks.

Lin Ze watched him eat while thinking about what Qiu Yi told him. That Meng Xing appeared in the capital five years ago…

"Meng Xing." He can't help but call.

"Hm?" Meng Xing answered.

"You…" Lin Ze muttered while hesitating. If Meng Xing knows that I am investigating him behind his back again… but, I am not the one investigating him! It was Huichen who told me! He thought, feeling conflicted. "… it is nothing." He sighed in the end and decided not to ask Meng Xing.

...

"You said… Meng Xing came to the capital five years ago?!" Lin Ze was surprised.

"Yes." Qiu Yi nodded in affirmation.

"Why didn't I know…?" Lin Ze muttered to himself.

Qiu Yi can't help but scoff. "Officer Lin was only sixteen five years ago, and was focused on training to prepare himself for entering the jianghu." He spoke. "So, how can Officer Lin know someone like sir Meng?" he asked.

Lin Ze frowned as he glared at Qiu Yi.

Qiu Yi snorted. "Five years ago, sir Meng came to the capital. We found that he was looking for a job." He spoke. "He was an orphan, so had to feed himself. But, no one wanted to hire a child, especially one that was very dirty in appearance, not to mention that he is from the countryside." He said.

"What's wrong with being from the countryside?" Lin Ze's brows knitted, feeling angry.

Qiu Yi looked at it. "Wasn't it that people would think that they have restless hands (thief)?" he said.

Lin Ze froze.

Qiu Yi ignored him. "Then, sir Meng wandered in the capital, lost, until he arrived at one residence." He said.

Lin Ze started. "It couldn't be…?!" he gasped.

"Yes. The Meng residence." Qiu Yi nodded in affirmation. "Sir Meng didn't know anyone in the capital, so he didn't know it was the Meng residence." He spoke. "Having wandered around all day with nothing to eat, he almost fainted near the Meng residence." He said. "Then, a servant found him and fed him. Who knew – " he sighed and shook his head.

Lin Ze's face turned pale. "That food was poisoned?" he asked.

"Yes. Sir Meng said that he faintly heard the servant was muttering about a young master being a picky eater and is in a bad mood." Qiu Yi said. "So, he begged the servant for food. The servant also thought that it was bad to waste food, so she gave it to sir Meng to eat." He said.

Lin Ze frowned. "So, the poison is really intended for someone in the Meng family…" he said.

"Yes. But, we haven't told the Meng family yet." Qiu Yi said and looked at Lin Ze.

Lin Ze then understood. No one wanted their life to be spied on. So, the Meng family would definitely be angry if they were told about this. Even if they were told, with kind intention, that someone wanted to kill one of their family members, their family was still spied on. Even if the Meng family is a small family, they still are one of the influential wealthy families in the capital. The Meng family owns many chains of banks.

"No one also died in the Meng family." Qiu Yi continued. "This is one of the reasons why we asked Officer Lin to catch this woman." He looked at Lin Ze. "To prevent her from harming the Meng family further." He told him.

Lin Ze fell silent. He knows what Qiu Yi means. Not only was this his responsibility as an officer – to protect the citizens, but the Meng family also almost became his in-laws. Plus he could get to kill Ah Yu, and most of all, he could help Meng Xing – and avenge him, too, Lin Ze doesn't see any loss here. So, he agreed.

"Officer Lin." Qiu Yi called before Lin Ze left. "Our people have already found her whereabouts. The address is in there." He told Lin Ze.

Lin Ze nodded, indicating that he understood. Then he left, going to where Meng Xing was.

...

"Officer Lin?" Meng Xing's voice called which pulled Lin Ze from his thoughts.

Lin Ze looked at him. "Meng Xing." He called. "Do you know how you were poisoned?" he finally asked.

Meng Xing paused for a moment. "I remember that I ate something…" he answered. "I was too hungry at that time, and someone was kind to give me food." He said.

Lin Ze, who already knows it was the Meng family's servant who gave Meng Xing food, didn't speak.

"That time, I remember that although the dishes were cold, they also are delicious." Meng Xing continued. "But, who could have expected…" he said and sighed.

Lin Ze knows what he wants to say. That the food was actually poisoned. "Did you ask her why the food was poisoned?" he asked.

Meng Xing shook his head. "No," he answered. "Since she is kind to give me food, she definitely isn't a malicious person." He spoke. "Instead, she also doesn't know that the food was poisoned." He said.

Lin Ze also feels the same way.

"I know that wealthy families have a complicated kinship." Meng Xing spoke and looked at Lin Ze.

Lin Ze frowned. "I beg to differ." He said.

Meng Xing just smiled. "I don't know what family that was…" he said and sighed.

Lin Ze wanted to tell him that it was the Meng family. But, what is the use? Not only Meng Xing is an orphan, but the Meng family doesn't owe him anything, nor that servant does. It wasn't them who poisoned Meng Xing since they didn't even know they were targeted, and that food was poisoned. That servant was also kind to feed Meng Xing.

The one who has a debt to pay to Meng Xing, and the one who wants to harm the Meng family, is that female practitioner. Lin Ze will definitely catch her and ask her who she wants to poison in the Meng family, and why. Also, he had to make her spit out where is the cure to the poison!