Chapter 668

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

No matter how difficult, she must do it!

It wasn't that Lin Xingzhi loved the Li Guo dynasty so much or wanted to devote himself wholeheartedly until death. This was purely because the matter was at hand, and he had no choice but to steel himself and press forward.

At least once he broke out, he could still see hope ahead; if he stood still, there would only be a dead end.

Shen Yao leaned against Lin Xingzhi's chest without speaking. The situation in Danxia Cheng was not an isolated case. As for those cities far from Jingcheng, no one knew their internal conditions, and compared to those places, Danxia Cheng's situation was already a blessing in misfortune. As long as they didn't continue making mistake after mistake, stopping the loss in time was the greatest comfort to the Imperial Court.

Perhaps some words had been bottled up for too long; once Lin Xingzhi's chatterbox opened, he could hardly stop.

Shen Yao understood Lin Xingzhi's mood. She raised her hand and patted his chest, softly comforting him that this matter had been satisfactorily concluded. As for other troubles they might encounter next, "As the saying goes, when the car reaches the mountain, there must be a road. I believe Xingzhi will surely think of a better way."

Lin Xingzhi couldn't help but lower his eyes and laugh. Mm, his wife truly never spoiled the mood no matter when.

"Yes, the Emperor and the Imperial Court are not mere decorations. If there's a problem, just write a letter to report upward. Anyway, he's just a tool person executing orders."

Just like this matter of Danxia Cheng, on the surface it was himself and Changsheng Daozhang being busy in various ways, but in reality Changsheng Daozhang had already reported everything to the Imperial Court. Relying on fast communication through special channels, the handling measures for Danxia Cheng were certainly tacitly approved by the Imperial Court.

"Once the matter of Danxia Cheng is settled, we will head north along the way, passing through Shuo Fang Cheng, Shi'an, Chengxing, Changshan, and other places, finally arriving at Qixing Cheng, the northernmost city."

The several cities Lin Xingzhi mentioned were all medium-to-large cities no less than Danxia Cheng, and they would also pass through countless unknown weak small towns along the way, all ignored.

Shen Yao thought to herself that this trip was truly not bad. Not only could she see many landscapes she had never seen before, but she could also gain a deeper understanding of the whole world.

Mm

If the next transmigration mission were placed in Modern Society, she seemed she could try to create the worlds she had once experienced in the form of novels.

Counting it up, she had never been a full-time novelist; she only occasionally made guest appearances in some mission worlds, with her career focus elsewhere.

A new day, a new starting point.

After getting up, Lin Xingzhi continued to diligently serve as his tool person. Changsheng Daozhang had already searched inside and outside Danxia Cheng again and again without anyone knowing, until he was absolutely certain there would be no omissions, and only then did the group leave by carriage amidst the cheers of the Danxia Cheng commoners.

'Aiya, this old Taoist's skills aren't enough; there are still fish that slipped through the net inside Danxia Cheng.'

At least after the system scanned, several loopholes had appeared. Not saying all counted as problems, but half the probability could definitely be reached.

With such a high error rate, how exactly did that old Taoist become so certain? Surely he wasn't cheating, was he?

Shen Yao defended Changsheng Daozhang without changing expression, 'Changsheng Daozhang is human, unlike you.' The system's verification was too objective, and was actually very suitable for the situation before them.

After all, some people could lie to Changsheng Daozhang, but their inner fluctuations couldn't deceive the system's all-around, no-dead-angle monitoring. Who made it that human strength was sometimes limited?

Moreover, the human heart was the hardest thing to fathom. The system was so earnest today, who knew if there would be new changes tomorrow? The old Wuxia Guan no longer existed, but a new Wuxia Guan could still pop up.

Fundamentally, it was human nature.

They couldn't possibly kill everyone for a permanent solution; that would be even more unrealistic.

The carriage beneath them slowly moved forward. Shen Yao leaned against the soft pillow behind her, closed her eyes to rest, and let the system in her mind chatter nonstop.

Only after the carriage had long left Danxia Cheng behind did the system reluctantly close its mouth. Aiya, before reaching a new city, it had once again lost its source of gossip.

Shen Yao:...

'This road north has many mountain ranges and dense forests, with countless demons that have cultivated into spirits.'

Since you like listening to gossip so much, you can change species and keep listening.

System:... Fine

Shen Yao's words made the previously quiet system become active again. After saying bye to the Host, the system swooshed into the surrounding deep mountains and dense forests, searching everywhere for transformed demons to listen to gossip.

Speaking of which, it really found a nest of birds, chirping and twittering bird language while badmouthing the demons on the whole mountain.

What fox demons everywhere hooking up wanting to be Eldest Brother, what tiger demons with bad brains but strong martial force, other demons afraid of it and forced to lower their heads, what wolf demons united and there was also a jackal demon from outside coming up with strategies, faintly meaning to replace the tiger demon's rule...

System:... Wow~

No wonder gossip is interesting. The system found fun in life again, running outside every day during the time Shen Yao and the others were traveling, then coming back with a belly full of gossip to chat idly with the Host.

Shen Yao traveled during the day accompanying her child and husband, and at night when sleeping she perfunctorily dealt with the system. That jackal demon, wasn't it that troublemaking jackal she had met back then? Running from south to north, impressive!

Shuo Fang Cheng

Looking at it, it was just a square earthen city, but upon closer inspection one could still discover the upright earthen walls on all sides. There was wind and sand surrounding it all year round, with yellow earth filling the sky—a place where abnormality could be discovered at a glance.

Changsheng Daozhang knew this place. Back when he had traveled out, there was a sandworm demon in Shuo Fang Cheng. When it appeared, yellow sand filled the sky, covering the heavens and blocking the sun, as if it wanted to bury and cover the entire city.

Back then Changsheng Daozhang's cultivation was not yet complete, and he could do nothing to this sandworm demon, so he could only leave first. Later, after he completed his cultivation to take revenge, unexpectedly the sandworm demon had already died in internal strife among demons, and Shuo Fang Cheng had changed masters, occupied by a beetle demon.

"This beetle demon is usually low-key. Unless a major situation arises, it absolutely never shows itself."

One could say it was excessively cautious. Ordinary people couldn't even see the true face of this beetle demon, and because it acted too cowardly, Changsheng Daozhang's revenge couldn't proceed smoothly. He had no choice but to actively relocate the commoners of Shuo Fang Cheng, leaving an empty city for the beetle demon to occupy.

Times change, and afterward many commoners moved into Shuo Fang Cheng one after another.

Looking at the crowds coming and going ahead, Changsheng Daozhang could only sigh deeply, speechless.

Lin Xingzhi silently touched Changsheng Daozhang's shoulder. Shuo Fang Cheng was too far from Jingcheng; for some matters, even the Imperial Court was willing but powerless.

Back then Changsheng Daozhang had already done everything he could. As for those commoners who moved back to Shuo Fang Cheng, one could only say some things were not simply black and white, and even less could they be resolved once and for all.

"Now there are officials appointed by the Imperial Court within Shuo Fang Cheng, but they are all locals, and their respect for the Imperial Court is far less than their fear of the beetle demon."

Lin Xingzhi placed his hand behind his back, thinking that the travelogue Lin Jinyu gave him had vividly drawn a mighty beetle deep underground in this city. It must be that beetle demon.

However, this couldn't stop them from entering the city. Even though the Shuo Fang commoners, the officials, and even the beetle demon underground didn't welcome them much.

Shuo Fang Cheng had an official courier station, but it had long been abandoned and desolate after being unused for a long time. Now they could only stay at a private inn in Shuo Fang Cheng, and endure the commoners' seemingly discreet scrutiny.

Shen Yao felt uncomfortable all over ever since she came here. It was clearly the northern lands, so why did it have Western characteristics?

The system had been going 'ahhh ahhh' nonstop in her mind since entering the city. It hated bugs!

It was precisely here that the number of bugs was the greatest, the varieties the most extensive, even reaching the point of being seen everywhere.

'Host, let's leave quickly, ahhh ahhh, this place is really terrifying!'

Why are there so many bugs? Is there a flaw in the Heavenly Dao here? Otherwise, how could such a scene exist?

Shen Yao:...

What could Shen Yao say? She could only tell the system to calm down; Shuo Fang was naturally abnormal—many bugs, much sand, little rain, few trees—this place was naturally suited for certain insects to survive.

"No, no, too terrifying! Host, you should leave quickly."

The system felt twisted and uncomfortable inside; those Zerg from before had left a deep impression on it, and it was a bit traumatized.

Shen Yao didn't care whether the system was traumatized or not; what she worried about was that there was great thunder hidden in Shuo Fang Cheng, not the obvious beetle demon, but something else lurking behind the scenes.

When the system temporarily had no strength to shout, Shen Yao mentioned that something was off inside Shuo Fang Cheng, and since it was idle anyway, she asked it to keep watch for her.

System:...

The host is really too much!

"Know yourself and know your enemy, I believe in your capabilities, and besides, you've proven yourself stronger than Changsheng Daoren," so hurry up and do some proper business.

The system left in a huff, feeling rather absurd like washing panties with a cold face.

Finally having thrown the time bomb out for the time being, Shen Yao exhaled in relief, provoking Lin Xingzhi beside her to tease whether his wife was too tired from the journey lately: "I've heard Shuo Fang Cheng has many specialty dishes; Xingzhi is unworthy, but wishes to accompany Yao Niang by your side."

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, "Husband truly means this?"

Lin Xingzhi nodded, "Naturally, say it and do it."

Lin Xingzhi couldn't resolve the matters of Shuo Fang Cheng; he had to rely on the Imperial Court and Changsheng Daoren. It wasn't seen that after stopping, Changsheng Daoren became unusually busy; under the premise of ease and comfort, there was always someone bearing heavy burdens forward there.

After the couple rested well, they went out for a stroll; the three little ones were temporarily excluded, on the grounds that Shuo Fang Cheng wasn't entirely safe, and children's ability to respond to risks was too poor, so it was better to let them experience it first.

Lin Chengyan and the three siblings:...

Fortunately, the three children had no lack of toys and ornaments; even without parental accompaniment, they were still happy, especially since the couple knew what they did was improper, and every time they returned they brought plenty of gifts, so it didn't affect the familial affection between both sides.

The system hurriedly called out to the host to stop playing; Shuo Fang Cheng wasn't a Human Race City, but clearly a bug city densely packed with all kinds of bugs.

"Oh."

Shen Yao continued to ask the system if it had noticed the operation of the bug city? Were these people living in Shuo Fang Cheng still safe?

System:... Not really.

The common people in Shuo Fang Cheng all lived in symbiosis with bugs, and their daily diet couldn't do without bug participation; however, it hadn't yet discovered signs of these people being infected hosts or the like, so it should possibly maybe perhaps 'we'd better leave quickly'.

Urging the host to run away at the slightest disagreement, Shen Yao was completely convinced by the system's repetitive mode.

But they couldn't leave, because the matters of Shuo Fang Cheng hadn't been resolved; they had to wait for Changsheng Daoren's news.

Speaking of which, what was Changsheng Daoren busy with? It seemed he hadn't appeared for quite a while, right?

The forgotten Changsheng Daoren:...

Changsheng Daoren was planning how to efficiently and without losing means to resolve the Shuo Fang Cheng problem; since that beetle demon was unwilling to appear and fight him, he would drive away that beetle demon and take back the ownership of Shuo Fang Cheng.

Lin Xingzhi listened to Changsheng Daoren talking eloquently and had to interrupt the Daoren's daydream; this possibility, to be honest, was a bit difficult.

"Daoren, the beetle demon is deeply rooted underground, and above are the people of Shuo Fang;" there was no need to drive away the beetle demon; as soon as this beetle demon appeared, it could overturn half of Shuo Fang Cheng.

Buildings made of mixed earth and mud could not withstand the impact from underground.

Changsheng Daoren showed an expression of no need to worry; he had relevant plans, guaranteeing this beetle demon would not appear in Shuo Fang Cheng.

Lin Xingzhi:... Fine.

Since there was a plan, then act according to the plan; during the following time, Lin Xingzhi's previous arrangement to accompany Shen Yao was forced to pause.

He first actively summoned the officials of Shuo Fang Cheng, then frequently entered the Government Office to handle those suppressed old cases with extremely bad influence.

In an instant, the entire Shuo Fang Cheng was in an uproar; the people who were originally united and unified began to fight each other over their respective interests.

At this time, Lin Xingzhi achieved success and withdrew, staying at the Inn to accompany his wife and children while seriously and quietly waiting for the good news of Changsheng Daoren's plan passing.

Changsheng Daoren did not disappoint Lin Xingzhi's expectations; at a certain late night, that beetle demon that had long stayed underground in Shuo Fang Cheng appeared in the sand and dust outside the city.

Good news: Changsheng Daoren really led that beetle demon away from Shuo Fang Cheng.

Bad news: besides this beetle demon, there were other demons inside Shuo Fang Cheng.

Feeling the violent shaking like the earth moving and mountains shaking beneath his feet, Lin Xingzhi subconsciously held Shen Yao in his arms and shouted to the Servant waiting at the doorway, ordering them to immediately withdraw from Shuo Fang Cheng.

The three children had not yet woken up and were still a bit dazed; being held in the Servant's arms not only did not make them feel afraid, but instead made them feel excited.

Wow~

Everyone was running out with their heads down, and the whole city seemed to have come alive.

During the running, Shen Yao noticed that people in the team were attacked by bugs, and unknowingly some bugs drilled into their bodies.

Shen Yao:...

Raising her hand to form hand seals, one after another spell techniques centered on her sank into other people's bodies; uncontrollable screams rang out one after another, and some people fell to the ground with a thud.

"Careful!"

Pulling Lin Xingzhi beside her, she immediately made the entire panicked team stop.

A light cough made everyone's muddled minds instantly sober up; Shen Yao secretly tugged at Lin Xingzhi's sleeve.

Lin Xingzhi shouted for the guards and the forbidden army to take charge of the formation, the Servants to stand inside, then quickly leave Shuo Fang Cheng and meet up with Changsheng Daoren.

"Wang Ye"

Lin An quickly came to Lin Xingzhi's side, stating that during the hurried escape, several people had unfortunately died; should they be carried away or just left on the spot?

"Carry them away."

Although leaving them on the spot was the most convenient, who knew what the corpses left behind would turn into; looking at the sky above, pitch black with not a glimmer of light, Lin Xingzhi exhaled deeply, not knowing whether this group of people could leave smoothly, nor where Changsheng Daoren was.