Chapter 2393: Magnificent Voice

The alley was wide enough for two people, but even with just one person walking, it felt crowded.

Even if that person was very thin.

A pair of cloth shoes, a single layer of clothing, a small hat hiding long hair.

Single eyelids, slender willow-leaf eyebrows, thin lips, and a cold face.

The woman's steps were light and slow, constantly observing her surroundings, as if she was diligently searching for something. And there was a hint of stern coldness, hidden but not yet unleashed.

Her thin body was emaciated yet sharp, like a highly aggressive mantis.

You knew she wouldn't retreat even if a cart blocked her way, she would single-mindedly move forward.

This solitary walk didn't last long, because at the end of the narrow alley, someone turned in.

The distant light from outside the alley was blocked by the human figure, and the distant sunset was sinking behind the high wall.

That person's shadow was long and thick, like fog or night.

The voice also spread out with the night's shade.

"Lonely girl! You've resided in Qingyang Town for so long without movement. Why have you suddenly entered Linzi today? Is it because that esteemed figure in Taixu Pavilion has some instruction?"

The woman in single clothing and cloth shoes looked up, clearly seeing the official uniform and the blue plaque on the other person's waist.

Capital Patrol Inspection Office, a fourth-rank blue plaque head catcher, an expert in the Outer Building realm.

Compared to the other person's tall figure, she truly appeared small and thin. But with just a lift of her eyes, she showed a kind of sternness: "When did a minor figure like me entering the city require the Capital Patrol Inspection Office to monitor? Is the Patrol Inspection Office too idle, or am I too targeted?"

She slightly raised her head, like a bright edge being unsheathed: "What kind of character is my master now? Who in the world doesn't know? Could there be matters that require me? Stepping back, if this trip truly has my master's intent behind it, how could you question it?"

Having served Zhu Sui in Qingyang Town for many years, she was no longer the same as she used to be.

After Jiang Wang proved his Dao to the absolute peak, she, Jiang Wang's only 'devout believer', with her Small Zhou Heaven manifestations all for Jiang Wang, a person truly branded with the red heart divine seal, could display terrifying power at any time!

A fourth-rank blue plaque head catcher generally had cultivation in the Outer Building realm.

But she no longer took it seriously.

Once upon a time, a wandering pulse realm elder was a nightmare she couldn't shake off.

"Please forgive me." The young blue plaque head catcher bowed his head in reverence, revering the master that Lonely spoke of, but he didn't step aside because of it: "That esteemed figure's virtue and prestige are too high, his status is too heavy, his influence is too great, one word can move the world. If there truly are matters in Linzi, we must prepare early... The Capital Patrol Inspection Office has the duty of monitoring within the borders, and this subordinate is merely following routine procedure. We absolutely do not target you, much less dare to target that esteemed figure."

"You want to know my intention?" Lonely asked.

"If possible, it would be best if you could say a word," the young blue plaque head catcher said.

"Otherwise?"

"Otherwise, I'm afraid I can only follow you."

"Do I have a criminal record?"

"According to what I know, no."

"This is still the treatment of a suspect."

"You are neither from Qi Country, and you possess power, it's hard to say you are stable. We guard the capital, and our duty lies here, please forgive us."

These words were polite and proper, truly not a simple character.

"What is your name?" Lonely looked at him.

The young blue plaque head catcher had sharp eyebrows. Hearing her voice, he cupped his hands: "This subordinate is Yan Jing, eighteen years old this year, from Linhai County. If you have any dissatisfaction with how this subordinate has handled official business, you are welcome to report it to the Patrol Inspection Office at any time."

An eighteen-year-old fourth-rank blue plaque could be called a promising young man!

Given time, he might not necessarily not become a dazzling figure in the Qi Country political arena.

Linhai County... The former city master of Tianfu City, Lü Zongxiong, is now the governor of Linhai County. The former Tianfu City became more prosperous because of the widespread use of the Taixu Illusion Realm.

After all, the Tianfu secret realm is a twelve-year cycle, while people enter and exit the Taixu Illusion Realm every day, every moment.

Three days ago, Zheng Shangming formally took the seat of the Capital Patrol Inspection Office— of course, this was partly due to Zheng Shangming's outstanding performance, and perhaps also compensation for his father Zheng Shi's inability to grasp the Zhan Yu Army as he wished.

The Emperor still trusted Zheng Shi greatly. After all, he was the person who had sat in the seat of the North Yamen Commandant for the longest time, and he was also the person the Emperor used most handily, he could be said to be 'deeply favored by the monarch'.

As for the previous North Yamen Commandant, Yang Weitong, he went to the Southern Xia Governor's Office and would be fully responsible for the security of the former Xia land. This was considered a lateral transfer, slightly lower in status, but with more autonomous power, and his cultivation was not restricted. This matter was not without the efforts of his teacher, Yi Xingchen.

These people are more or less all related to her master, or rather, have a vague connection with the current Bowang Marquis.

Years of experience in government affairs had honed Lonely's keen political sense. Her master was impatient with these trivial matters, so she was very willing to worry about these things.

These years she had stayed in Qingyang Town, keeping an eye on world affairs, and clearly seeing how that old master's close friend, the kind and fat adult, had grown step by step into a towering giant tree within this vast empire, and how he had cast his thick shadow.

A true hereditary state marquis of Great Qi, his power was overwhelming!

But this also meant that his old man's enemies must also be colossal.

So Lonely was very cautious, absolutely not allowing herself the possibility of becoming a burden— as a personal maid who had followed her master for many years, it was possible she could be tied to her master, thereby involving the Bowang Marquis.

"Head Catcher Yan! In the past, when my master was in Qi, he took responsibility for the world and strictly punished lawbreakers. You wear a blue plaque and uphold the public heart, what dissatisfaction could I have?" Lonely cupped her hands: "This time I have come to Linzi, to Yu Li Workshop, not related to my master, but following the order of Elder Mister Zhu Sui— I can only say this much. If the Capital Patrol Inspection Office has any doubts, you may send a letter to Zheng Sheng Hall in Qingyang Town."

The night patrol god of Great Qi... Zhu Sui.

A night patroller who had continued from the era of Emperor Wu to the current empire. Although he was now retired, his merits could not be erased so quickly.

Hearing this name, Yan Jing had nothing to say.

He cupped one hand, said "disturbed," and then silently retreated.

Finally, only Lonely was left in the narrow alley.

This is Linzi, this is Yu Li Workshop.

The place where the famous scholar Xu Fang once took refuge during his most destitute period.

Of course, the so-called "taking refuge" was just a shed, a pile of dry grass, with disheveled hair and a dirty face.

Xu Fang, who had laid bare his heart and soul outside the Qing Shi Palace, has already been buried in Gan Ma Mountain for some years.

The grass on his grave is not high, and every year on Qingming, someone always goes to offer sacrifices—

Many soldiers who once followed her master in battle are also buried in that place.

Today's Yu Li Workshop can no longer see sheds.

The vagrants who used to be seen everywhere, curled up on the ground sleeping, the beggars who chased pedestrians begging for food, are almost relics of an old era.

Since De Sheng Business moved in here in previous years, building a business headquarters on the front street and extensively recruiting workers, Yu Li Workshop is no longer the poorest place in Linzi.

Poverty has its reasons, chaos has its causes. The cost of operating a headquarters in Yu Li Workshop is far higher than in other places. Many people don't understand why that shrewd Bowang Marquis would make such a choice that doubles the effort and yields half the result.

But Lonely understands, that was her master's decision.

Her master didn't say it, but just like how he initially saved her, he was not stingy with what he could do, and he didn't care about what he got in return.

Her master wasn't the kind of person who distributed grain and porridge, he was the kind of person who was willing to give people opportunities.

Lonely was quiet for a while, borrowing a wisp of dusk light to weave a letter in her fingers.

Only two things were written on the letter—

"Elder Zhu Sui has some lingering doubts in his heart about the past. Some of the clues are in Yu Li Workshop, and he has ordered me to come here to seek answers from history."

"A fourth-rank blue plaque from the Capital Patrol Inspection Office named Yan Jing blocked me in Yu Li Workshop, seeming to be very interested in my master's affairs."

Her master had unreserved trust in the Bowang Marquis.

So she was also unreserved.

She knew deeply that the Bowang Marquis's wisdom far surpassed her own, so she only stated the facts, without adding any analysis.

Then she continued to walk in this narrow alley.

Zhu Sui's past doubts are naturally old matters from the Wu Emperor dynasty.

More specifically, they involve a female nun from the Ku Rong Court during the Wu Emperor period, and a book named 'Gui Pi Ma' from a more distant time.

Looking at Emperor Wu of Qi's life, among his many beautiful confidantes, there is one existence whose traces can absolutely not be erased, honored as 'Heavenly Concubine', very transcendent in the Wu Emperor's harem. This woman is very mysterious, not recorded in official history, but instead in some unofficial histories.

Even Zhu Sui, a close confidant of Emperor Wu, only knew a little about this person, not deeply— only knowing that she was astonishingly beautiful and her cultivation was absolutely high. Originally a meditating nun, she had great influence in the Ku Rong Court.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Qi, the Ku Rong Court had made great contributions to this country.

When Zhu Sui was in the position of night watchman leader, he had enough authority and opportunity, yet he did not pursue his heart's doubts.

Now, nearing old age, with years ending and people declining, he unexpectedly thought of these things again.

Perhaps everyone inevitably recalls life.

Or as the Bowang Marquis said— when people are weak, they are inevitably fragile.

As for what exactly Zhu Sui's heart's doubts were, Zhu Sui didn't say clearly, and Lonely could only guess. What she came to Yu Li Workshop to find, following orders, were clues about 'Heavenly Concubine' and 'Gui Pi Ma'.

How many years of vicissitudes have passed? The building style here, and the people who live here, are all greatly different.

To find some clues from the past is really not an easy matter.

Yet Zhu Sui affirmed that they exist here.

She heard that the Zi River once flowed through here, and many of the people who lived here were fishermen— that perhaps was something from a more distant time, possibly tracing back to the Yang Country period. Because from the time of Qi Country's founding, the Zi River had issued a fishing ban.

The occupation of "fisherman" largely exists only in the coastal counties.

If tracing back to the history of the Yang Country period, Lonely seemed to see a vague line— Wu Zhai Xue, who wrote 'Gui Pi Ma', precisely disappeared in the Dao Li year 1321, when he participated in the Sun Palace Long Hua Lecture.

The book 'Gui Pi Ma' also disappeared with him, becoming a work in history that only had a name but no content.

Elder Zhu Sui said that after completing this task, she could leave.

She also didn't know if the skills she had learned over the years could still be of some help to her master?

Lonely raised her eyes and looked at the sunset, then continued to walk forward.

Her master liked to watch the sunset, and she also felt the sunset was very beautiful.

A wheel of sunset hung on the edge of the sky.

That colored light edge seemed like a door, being gently pushed open.

Jiang Wang, in his green shirt and with his sword, walked out of the sunset.

This startled Zhong Li Yan, who was in the middle of a bout with Ji Fei, causing him to pick up his Nan Yue and chop.

Jiang Wang saw the two people in front and was also stunned for a moment: "How are you together?"

This was the Yu Yuan battlefield. He had descended from the Shura Heaven Dao on his own, with astonishing speed. He had specifically followed a point connection between the Taixu Hook and Jade to come look for Li Yi.

But why would Zhong Li Yan be standing beside Li Yi?

These two... couldn't be more different.

Zhong Li Yan's heavy-momentum sword strike was lightly floated open, and he spun a sword flower on the spot, putting his sword behind his back.

He raised his eyebrows again: "Why shouldn't we be together? What do you mean? I'm not worthy to stand beside him? Is it that I'm also not worthy to stand beside Dou Zhao, not worthy to stand beside you?"

He became more and more agitated as he asked.

What nonsense!

The Taixu Pavilion is holding a meeting to discuss such important matters, and they don't even ask for the opinion of him, Grandpa Zhong Li.

Have they forgotten who is the orthodox successor of the Taixu Pavilion?

Have they forgotten who helped him achieve the Dao?

True Monarch is impressive?

Absolute peak is just a scene that he, Grandpa Zhong Li, will definitely see!

"That's not what I meant." Jiang Wang found it a bit difficult to parry. This guy had astonishing momentum, and when being unreasonable, he could still occupy three points. Finding an excuse this time, his words were much sharper than his swordsmanship: "I'm just curious, curious. Because you are both heroes of the world, and noble people are busy, it's usually not easy to meet."

Zhong Li Yan then snorted from his nostrils, somewhat satisfied.

Li Yi was more concise: "Passing by."

Jiang Wang was also straightforward: "I have something to find you for."

He didn't ask Li Yi why he was passing by here. It was nothing more than those matters of the Dao Gate again. Li Yi himself had no leisure time. He had known Li Yi for so long, but he had never seen this guy have any 'matters of his own'.

Li Yi only said: "What matter?"

Zhong Li Yan's voice almost simultaneously rang out: "Speak, let me hear."

There was no need to avoid Zhong Li Yan in this matter. Jiang Wang opened his mouth and said: "There are human demons in the world, gathered in Wu Hui Valley. I intend to draw my sword and eliminate them."

An extremely calm sentence, yet it seemed like thunder resounding through the sky.

Human demons exist in the world, never stopping.

Human demons bring harm, never for a day.

Why are human demons exterminated in waves, without being rooted out? Because the head of the human demons, the Forget-Self Human Demon Yan Chunhui, is an absolute peak of the world!

Many people can defeat him, but killing him is not so simple.

Moreover, his stay in Wu Hui Valley also has some constraints.

Once he is killed and flees everywhere, he will bring fierce and immeasurable harm.

An absolute peak with constraints and scruples, and a completely unbridled Forget-Self Human Demon, are fundamentally two different things.

Zhong Li Yan seriously pondered: "Wu Hui Valley is actually nothing, Chen Country can also completely ignore it. The most troublesome thing is Yan Chunhui— now he often resides in Wu Hui Valley, foolishly unaware of world affairs year-round, and fundamentally does no evil. Do you really want to kill him?"

Jiang Wang said: "In my life, I have seen many evils, with human demons being the worst. Sheltering other human demons is his biggest evil! If this person is not killed, human demons will not cease. Now, with the sword as a plow, we can also cut the root."

"You are someone who, having reached the peak, wants to settle all your old regrets!" Zhong Li Yan was quite envious.

Damn it, why didn't he prove the absolute peak first?

He also had many unfinished regrets!

For example, exiling Dou Zhao, for example, defeating Jiang Wang, for example, making his old man remove his armor.

Jiang Wang didn't hide it, and said directly: "Today my long sword is sharp, strengthening my voice!"

In the past, in Qing Yun Pavilion, there was very little he could do.

In the past, on the Xing Yue Plain battlefield, he could only watch Yan Chunhui take away Jie Mian.

Now, he could open his mouth and say, he must kill Yan Chunhui!

Although Zhong Li Yan's heart was sour, he didn't delay in thinking about positive matters, and said thoughtfully: "The name Wu Hui Valley is not for nothing. Yan Chunhui's strength is unfathomable. To kill him, we must make full preparations."

We?

Jiang Wang was slightly stunned, then heard Li Yi say: "I have heard of this person, not easy to kill, very strong."

Li Yi, who was as concise as gold, rarely said so many words, showing that Yan Chunhui's reputation outside was indeed fierce.

Jiang Wang said: "So I came to find you. The Taixu Pavilion has the responsibility to maintain order, it has received world renown, and should bear world responsibility. Now that we have the power to eliminate demons, and yet let human demons go, how can our hearts be at ease? Let's join hands and move the Taixu Pavilion again. In addition, I have also invited Master Gongsun from the Criminal Palace. He has long had the intention to eliminate this harm—"

"Just as it should be!" Zhong Li Yan suddenly struck his palm and said with great energy: "You have arranged it very well. We four join hands. Killing him is not difficult."

Jiang Wang: ...

Jiang someone, who had just been promoted to True Monarch, originally thought he would just take Li Yi and leave.

But it wasn't good to just leave Zhong Li Yan here like this.

After all, when he begged himself and him for help during the Immortal Dragon Dharma proving the Shura Heaven, this favor shouldn't be forgotten so quickly.

After thinking for a bit, True Monarch Jiang said quite seriously: "I know where Dou Zhao is. Didn't you say last time that he deceived you and you were very annoyed?"

He added: "I have the detailed address. I can even draw you a route map."

Zhong Li Yan waved his big hand: "I don't care. Now is the time to eliminate harm for the people, how can we stick to private grudges? — When doing big things, the drums thunder; when indulging lightly, it loses its benefit. We cannot hesitate too much, let's go now!"

He took the lead, turned around, and flew towards the outside of Yu Yuan: "Everyone follow me!"

After thinking for a bit, he added to Jiang Wang: "Give me the address after we eliminate the harm."