Chapter 13

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The Winds Rise

Dugu Qingli wasn’t responsible for thinking about these things, nor was she interested. She only ensured Shen Tang’s safety. “Will Xu Bingkun act against you?”

“He values his reputation, so he won’t be too overt. At most, he’ll subtly hint at and incite those elders.”

“Then will the matter you entrusted to him this time be problematic?”

“That also concerns his political achievements, official reputation, and personal interests… He will definitely do it, but he might covertly allow other factions to compete. However, Lu Xingzhou believes we have the first-mover advantage. As long as we immediately use his directive to quickly push the Elixir Bureau to act, others won’t have enough time to prepare their stock.”

Dugu Qingli nodded, continuing to push the wheelchair towards the Elixir Bureau.

No danger, that’s fine.

Shen Tang found her small face, so stiff and earnest, amusing. But in reality, they weren’t particularly close, so it wasn’t appropriate to tease her. She could only ask the main question. “What have you gained these past few days?”

Dugu Qingli replied, “After multiple probes of the Huo family’s old manor, it’s confirmed there are no treasures beneath. The spiritual energy is indeed merely a residual trace of what once was. The treasure should now be with the Huo family in the capital.”

“After so many years, the Huo family has this kind of treasure, yet no rumors spread. They’ve kept it truly well-hidden,” Shen Tang sneered mockingly, then added, “That’s not what I’m concerned about… Hmm, how are your investigations into Lu Xingzhou progressing?”

“He’s been like he doesn’t exist for all these years. I’ve already mobilized our sect’s personnel to investigate, yet there’s still no trace of his activities in the world.” Dugu Qingli was very serious. “There’s only one explanation for this…”

“No trace itself is a trace,” Shen Tang said. “Most likely someone from the demonic path, and a very secretive kind of demonic sect.”

“Yes.”

Shen Tang fell silent.

Dugu Qingli also looked down at her, saying nothing.

Shen Tang’s identity was truly not as simple as merely the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Young Master; it involved something far more significant. Honestly, Dugu Qingli didn’t quite understand why she would get entangled with someone of unknown background like Lu Xingzhou. Was it just because of her Master’s divination?

Her Master’s divination only said that “winds rise in Xiazhou,” and it didn’t explicitly point to Lu Xingzhou.

Perhaps it truly was because two broken people saw themselves in each other… That was a feeling outsiders couldn’t truly comprehend, especially since Qingli’s emotions were even more detached than most people’s.

If her Master hadn’t specifically ordered her to protect Shen Tang, she would still be alone, carrying her sword in the ice mountains.

Shen Tang sighed softly, as if to herself. “I always feel that someone who can so wholeheartedly and gently raise a child wouldn’t be a terribly wicked person.”

Dugu Qingli said nothing.

Shen Tang then changed the subject. “How is the Danxia Gang doing these days?”

Dugu Qingli replied, “The Danxia Gang is currently acquiring a medicinal herb called Cold Dew Grass. I wasn’t in Xiazhou the past two days, but I heard it was suddenly purchased in large quantities by someone unknown, leading to a scarcity of Cold Dew Grass, and now its price is soaring.”

Shen Tang: “…I bought it for Lu Xingzhou.”

Dugu Qingli: “…”

After a pause, Dugu Qingli continued, “Originally, not much Cold Dew Grass was cultivated in Xiazhou. Now, seeing the high price, the Danxia Gang decided to plant more themselves. So, after harvesting their mature medicinal herbs from their original herb mountain, they replaced all of them with Cold Dew Grass, hoping to make a large profit after harvest.”

Shen Tang looked thoughtful.

Lu Xingzhou seemed to want to do more than just hurt the Danxia Gang; he seemed to have laid another trap?

As they talked, the Elixir Bureau was not far ahead. Shen Tang didn’t dwell on it further and entered the Elixir Bureau to negotiate the promotion of the sword talismans.

Speaking of which, although Qingli was cold, whatever she was asked to do, she would inevitably do it perfectly and meticulously. With such strength and quality, why had her reputation not been prominent all these years?

The madness of Old Steward Huo was indeed cured after three days of consuming the Soul Nurturing Elixirs.

Sheng Yuanyao’s inquiries yielded clear answers: the killer was a blood-blurred child, using an extremely standard Huo family sword technique, the profound essence of which was known only to the Huo family’s direct descendants, not even taught to the old steward.

Although profound, it was not complete, precisely the part that Huo Shang had learned back then.

All the deceased servants had bullied Huo Shang back then, every single one. The newly arrived young servants, being innocent, were all unharmed.

The old steward had personally restrained Huo Shang’s hands, allowing Young Master Huo Da to wantonly abuse him. Thus, the killer also severed the old steward’s hand tendons.

The old man, with his heart condition still not fully recovered, couldn’t bear this. From every angle, it seemed like a vengeful spirit seeking retribution, and he was simply scared mad.

Sheng Yuanyao sent the old steward back to the Huo manor, assigning some subordinates to guard him, and sighed.

This case can be closed… The killer is clearly Huo Shang. She wonders how he survived back then without the Huo family knowing…

The “blood-blurred child” was either Huo Shang’s successor, or Huo Shang himself was using techniques like bone shrinking to feign his appearance. All she needed to do was submit the report to her superiors; whether to apprehend Huo Shang was not for her to decide.

After all, that was an internal Huo family matter, and not a glorious one. The Huo family might not be willing to issue an arrest warrant and make such matters widely known.

She had already sent a letter to the Huo family a few days ago. If nothing unexpected happened, the Huo family’s people should already be on their way.

Sheng Yuanyao left the Huo manor, looking at the “Shen’s Business Alliance” across the fields, her brows slightly furrowed.

It would be fine if the Huo family’s people only came to investigate Huo Shang’s matter. But what if they used the pretense of “apprehending Huo Shang” to oppress the locals again, and troubled the Shen’s Business Alliance inside…?

She thought for a moment, then strode with her long legs directly towards the Alliance, knocking on the door.

The door opened. A guard looked at Sheng Yuanyao in her official uniform, puzzled. “Officer, did we do anything wrong…?”

“I’m looking for your landlord, Lu Xingzhou, or Ah Nuo. Are they in?”

“The master and disciple, huh…?” The guard’s face was strange. “They just stay cooped up in the alchemy room all day, barely showing their faces. Is that how alchemists are?”

Sheng Yuanyao headed straight for the alchemy room, but Lu Xingzhou and his disciple weren’t there. Sheng Yuanyao peeked around and then saw Lu Xingzhou sitting by a window in an adjacent room, engrossed in reading a scroll.

From that angle, his wheelchair wasn’t visible. All one could see was a young master, jade-like, leisurely reading poetry and books, refined and at ease.

The scene was truly beautiful, worthy of a painting.

She sauntered over and stood outside the window, watching Lu Xingzhou for a while, then suddenly spoke. “Why don’t you continue being a Daoist priest?”

Lu Xingzhou didn’t even lift his head. “I’m too handsome; it would be a pity to become a renunciate.”

The aesthetic appeal instantly shattered. Sheng Yuanyao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

Lu Xingzhou finally looked up at her. “Commander, do you have business? Old Steward Huo’s madness should be cured by now, right?”

“Yes, the case is basically closed.”

“Can I ask about the outcome?”

“No.”

Lu Xingzhou smiled, saying nothing. In any case, judging by Sheng Yuanyao’s attitude, she no longer suspected him, and that was enough.

There was no need to drive the old man mad in the first place; it was a waste of time. But Ah Nuo is so short and chubby; without interfering with the other party’s mind, it wouldn’t have been so easy to mislead them into thinking it was Huo Shang…

Sheng Yuanyao said, “The Huo family’s people will arrive soon. Since you’re neighbors, it’s best to avoid them. Don’t wander around unnecessarily.”

“You came just to remind me of this?”

“Yes.”

“Remind me, or remind Shen Tang?”

Sheng Yuanyao hesitated, then finally said, “Of course, to remind you.”

Lu Xingzhou looked at her for a long time, then finally closed his book, leaned down to pick up a small basket, and passed it out the window to her.

Sheng Yuanyao took it curiously and looked inside. The basket contained dozens of sword talismans. “These are… for purification?”

“In two or three days, the Elixir Bureau should start promoting these sword talismans for purifying elixir poison, targeting the entire city. Since you actually took the initiative to warn me about the Huo family… here’s a batch for you, no charge.”

Sheng Yuanyao scoffed. “You, a money-grubber, actually giving me something for free?”

Lu Xingzhou chuckled. “There’s one request, though.”

Sheng Yuanyao said impatiently, “Speak.”

“These are for the officials of the Demon Suppressing Bureau. The only request is that when they wear them, they don’t hide them in their robes, but wear them on their chests. Don’t they look quite good?”

Sheng Yuanyao picked up a sword talisman and examined it. It had an ancient sword shape and indeed looked quite nice. “Tell me straight, what are you planning?”

Lu Xingzhou flashed a toothy grin. “Just a little push. Although the Elixir Bureau will promote it, I don’t trust their efficiency. Shen Tang’s bet is on a tight deadline, only three days. I’m afraid it might not succeed otherwise. But once the venerable officials of the Demon Suppressing Bureau wear them openly on their chests while patrolling the city, visible to everyone, that trend can quickly pick up.”

Sheng Yuanyao was somewhat shocked. “You’re scheming for Shen Tang? For her business alliance?”

“Why not?”

Sheng Yuanyao fell silent, pondering for a long time before finally saying, “Fine. Anyway, these are good things; they genuinely benefit the officials. Wearing them outside or keeping them in their robes makes no difference.”

Lu Xingzhou cupped his hands. “Then I thank the Commander.”

Sheng Yuanyao said irritably, “So you know you should thank me, and not claim you’re giving me something for free?”

Lu Xingzhou simply smiled. “Then how about I give the Commander another merit?”

“Spit it out.”

“In three days, if the Commander brings people here, you should be able to apprehend a group of culprits attempting to assassinate their superior, or at least prevent a gang conflict.”

Sheng Yuanyao gritted her teeth. “Are you sure this is giving me merit, and not just helping Shen Tang out?”

“Preventing a gang conflict and stopping bloodshed and death—just tell me, isn’t that a merit?”

“…” Sheng Yuanyao was too exasperated to speak further. She picked up the basket and stormed off.

How strange. This Lu Xingzhou just rented out a place, yet he’s thinking so much for Shen Tang?

Sheng Yuanyao didn’t know Shen Tang, but she knew why she came to Xiazhou.

Her father’s meaningful gaze before she left still lingered in her mind: “Yuanyao, when you go to Xiazhou, pay close attention to someone named Shen Tang. If you can help, subtly assist her, but remember not to be too obvious.”

“Who is she?”

“Not for you to know, just do as instructed.”

Sheng Yuanyao always felt that her family, knowing she wanted to avoid arranged marriages, still agreed to her assignment in Xiazhou very likely because of this Shen Tang. But no matter how she investigated, she only knew Shen Tang was the Young Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect. What about this identity made her father, one of the four Deputy Chiefs of the Demon Suppressing Bureau, care so much?

Lu Xingzhou was already mysterious enough, and now there was an even more mysterious Shen Tang.

Once these two converge… Sheng Yuanyao frowned all the way, then suddenly felt a chill in her heart, sensing that Xiazhou might not be able to contain such a confluence of events.

I just came out to gild myself and “eat melons,” how did it turn into this?

On a distant rooftop, Dugu Qingli, with her white hair flowing, quietly watched the direction of Lu Xingzhou’s room. Her face was expressionless, but her heart was somewhat surprised.

This man… he’s actually helping Shen Tang? And he seems to have considered it very thoroughly.

Lu Xingzhou’s voice suddenly drifted from afar: “Miss Qingli, please ask Miss Shen to meet again. There are some details that need to be clearly arranged.”

Dugu Qingli’s blue eyes flickered slightly.

How did this Lu Xingzhou even spot her?

– Mochinuna.