Chapter 1978

People felt that every breath they took in the morning was like standing in a blessed land of caves and grottoes, with all their aches and fatigue driven away clean and pure. Even after taking the spirit elixir, their stomachs were not hungry, and their desire for food greatly diminished.

However, the night raid operation launched by Mount Tu had to be forcibly interrupted, and by daytime, Guo Bai Yu often came to attack.

War and spirit rain—this extraordinary half-month made Fan Shuang unforgettable for life.

That afternoon, he had just arrived home when his father pulled him aside and said in a low voice:

"There's something off, help me think it over. You know my relationship with Liu Jixu of the county office is decent, right?"

"Yeah, what's up?" Liu Jixu's real name is Liu Honghua. At the county office, he drafts notices and memos for Huang Xianshou, doing clerical work. Both are cultured people, and being close in age, he and Fan's father get along well, often eating together and chatting. Back when grain wasn't tight, they often went for a small drink after work.

"We sometimes chat about a bit of county secrets that ordinary civilians don't know. The past two evenings, Liu Jixu somehow got hold of a jar of wine. I hadn't drunk in a long while, so I had two cups with him and chatted for a bit."

"Where did it go wrong?"

"We were chatting happily about other things, but when that jar of wine was nearly empty, Liu Jixu casually brought up the city guardian beasts, saying that Miancheng could hold out until now, and these guardian beasts must have contributed at least seventy percent of the merit."

"That's not wrong."

"It's a pity that in resisting Guo Bai Yu these days, the city guardian beasts have suffered heavy losses, with two actually smashed to pieces, and no one in our city knows how to repair them. If they're all ruined, it'll be troublesome."

Fan Shuang nodded: "Ten days ago, when the Guo army attacked the city, one city guardian beast burst out from the wall and bit people, but then it was ambushed and attacked by three strange-looking demonic creatures. Although it killed two of them, it also had its neck pulled apart. Since then, Miancheng has been especially cautious in using the city guardian beasts."

These are all secrets unknown to civilians. Working in the county office allows them to come into contact with some inside information.

Fan's father continued: "Liu Honghua then told me that Huang Xianshou mentioned these city guardian beasts are named 'Zhuo Qing,' all transported from Mangzhou in Yao State, originally guarding the Zhengdacheng Gate of Mangzhou, and are relics left over from the ancient era. After Bai Tan's rebellion, Mangzhou was also attacked, and these city guardian beasts were somehow taken away, smuggled out of the country, then purchased at a high price by the Yangshan Merchant Guild and installed on Miancheng's city walls."

Mangzhou was originally the second-largest city of Yao State, enjoying nearly a hundred years of peace, prosperous and flourishing. The father-in-law of Xuezongwu lived in the Xiaotaoshan Villa in Mangzhou. Thus, that place became a killing ground for the Nine Abysses Great Emperor.

Fan Shuang shook his head: "So high-end? No wonder no one in our city knows how to repair them."

"Liu Honghua also asked me if I'd seen these city guardian beasts in Mangzhou?" Fan's father said, "At the time, I was drunk and blurted out, 'Those aren't Mangzhou's city guardian beasts.'"

"Father knows?" Fan Shuang had also been to Mangzhou, but had never paid attention to the city guardian beasts. Because this thing usually doesn't show its face.

It is said that over a hundred years ago, the driving talisman formations of the city guardian beasts had to be drawn on stone walls, making them easy to destroy; but in the past hundred years, with exquisite craftsmanship, the talisman formations of the city guardian beasts can merge with the city walls, almost showing no trace, greatly increasing security and making the beasts themselves much more concealed.

"I know! I once followed Lord Wang on an inspection tour of Mangzhou, and at that time I even climbed onto the city wall to see the city guardian beasts. Mangzhou's city guardian beasts have lion heads and lion claws, appearing completely different from the Zhuo Qing beasts. Moreover, the numbers don't match—Miancheng's city guardian beasts total eight."

Fan Shuang felt his heart skip a beat: "Wait, did you say the same thing to Liu Jixu?"

"Ah, I did." Fan's father lowered his voice, "Then Liu Jixu naturally asked me, 'How is it different from here?'"

"I just said a 'no,' suddenly recalled what you said earlier, and swallowed the rest of my words back." Earlier, my son had said, 'Don't mention the city guardian beast matter to anyone, anyone!'

He held up five fingers: "Miancheng's city guardian beasts, that's how many there are."

"These past two days I've been uneasy in my heart. Thinking back, even after class, Liu Honghua often intentionally or unintentionally brings up personnel and secrets within the county office." Fan's father self-mocked, "Have you ever seen a normal clerk who, after work, still enthusiastically discusses these things?"

"... That really doesn't happen." They're both clerks; after work, no one wants to carry the work atmosphere with them. Fan Shuang then asked:

"Does he often ask about matters in the county accounts?"

Fan's father thought for a moment: "Now that I think about it, it seems…… we've casually talked about that two or three times."

Could it be?

"What background does this Liu Honghua have?"

"He seems to be a native of Miancheng; otherwise, Huang Xianshou wouldn't have employed him."

Fan Shuang said solemnly: "Father, you're quite observant—this Liu Honghua is indeed suspicious. I'll go find Captain Tu Shanfang and tell him."

The reason he wanted to find Tu Shanfang is that father and son usually have to go through Liu Jixu to see Huang Xianshou.

Tu Shanfang was frowning over a list when he saw Fan Shuang arrive, and he waved: "Help me look, what are these two characters?"

He's learned quite a few characters over the past year or so, but when he encounters obscure ones, he scratches his head.

Latest⊥release⊥on⊥⊥⊥first⊥release!

Fan Shuang lowered his head and saw it was a prescription. He pointed to the two characters and said: "This herb is 'xiong,' used to treat internal injuries, swelling, pain, and wind-induced headaches."

Then he pulled Tu Shanfang into a side alley, lowered his voice, and relayed his father's suspicions.

"Liu Honghua, right?" Tu Shanfang's eyes flashed with a fierce light, he grunted in acknowledgment, "Understood."

In the evening, Tu Shanfang found Fan Shuang to report:

"Liu Honghua is a spy."

Indeed it is! Fan Shuang started slightly: "Whose spy is he?"

"He's from a faction on the eastern side, led by Ran Hao, who has now joined forces with Guo Bai Yu." Tu Shanfang pointed westward, "Liu Honghua devoutly believes in Miao Zhantian and thus hates the Dragon God. Guo Bai Yu entrusted him with the task of gathering all information on the city guardian beasts! This secret isn't written in the county accounts, but he knows that on the day Miancheng received the city guardian beasts, your father also went to inspect and verify, so he deliberately tried to pump you for information. His method of questioning was rather subtle, and no one in the mansion noticed—except your father. So, he really did extract quite a bit of secret information!"

Fan Shuang shuddered. The city guardian beasts are now Miancheng's main means of defense; once Guo Bai Yu figures them out, the consequences would be unthinkable.

"When we caught him, he had already gathered much information from within the city, preparing to concentrate and secretly hand it over in two days! If we let him, or let Guo Bai Yu succeed, Miancheng's defense will become even more passive!" Tu Shanfang patted his shoulder, "Fan brother, you and your father have rendered great service!"

Fan Shuang let out a long breath: "As long as we caught him and the information didn't leak out, that's good!"

Sure enough, the next day, Huang Xianshou of Miancheng publicly praised the Fan father and son, awarding them thirty taels of silver and promoting them on the spot.

Amid the admiring and envious gazes from inside and outside the county office, father and son straightened their backs.