Chapter 685

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"Does His Majesty and the Imperial Court know of this matter?"

"It was arranged by them; the three parties form a triangle, and only then is the situation stable."

A single party or two parties would easily overturn, but three forces can maintain stability to the greatest extent, because they mutually dread each other and also fear the other two joining forces; this also exploits the evil in human hearts — it is an open and aboveboard stratagem.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yao leaned lightly against Lin Xingzhi's shoulder with a soft laugh; by now their party had already left Zhuying Town and was heading toward the next new city.

The dense bamboo forest spread out behind them slowly receded, also concealing their tracks.

Qingke City

Here, the mountains and fields are covered with a green medicinal herb named Qingke Grass; its seeds, stems, and leaves possess strong medicinal properties and are often used to treat bruises and injuries — a must-have herb for the city's medicine shops.

"Because there are many mountains and forests here, and wild creatures abound, many people love to climb the mountains for scenery, and bumps and knocks are common," this led to more and more Qingke Grass being planted, until it finally evolved into a veritable Qingke City.

"No wonder the mountains are clear and the waters beautiful here — there is actually such a reason behind it." She hadn't expected the market to determine the direction; don't look at these Qingke Grass still growing in the fields now — by month's end they will all become medicinal herbs sent to the city's medicine shops, and finally take effect on people's bodies.

The carriage advanced all the way; the view ahead suddenly opened up. Shen Yao lay on her side by the window, raising her eyes to gaze in all four directions.

Before long, flying birds passed above her head, leaving a string of melodious birdsong; accompanied by the panting of mountain streams and the rustling of grass and trees in the forest, they played out one lingering tune after another.

"Official Wei Cheng Hong pays respects to King Jing; Your Highness has worked hard — I wonder if the journey was smooth?"

"Official Wei, quickly dispense with the formalities; this trip has been smooth. All that this King has seen and heard along the way is a scene of abundance.

For Li Guo to have a capable scholar-official like Official Wei is truly Li Guo's fortune."

Shen Yao sat properly in the carriage compartment listening to Lin Xingzhi and the local officials flatter each other, only feeling that this inspection tour was truly exhausting; speaking human words to humans and ghost words to ghosts is basic operation — on the surface they praise extravagantly without principle, but in private each harbors calculating thoughts, wishing they could consider every angle.

"Your Highness, please stay"

"Official Wei, walk slowly"

Lin Xingzhi watched Wei Cheng Hong and the others leave, then turned, raised his hand to help Shen Yao down from the carriage; Lin Chengyan and Lin Chengjue, who had been sitting in the carriage behind, had long been unable to contain their temperaments and ran into the relay station — now only the two adults remained outside.

"Husband"

Seeing Lin Xingzhi's expression was not right, Shen Yao opened her mouth and called out softly.

"Nothing"

Lin Xingzhi smiled and shook his head; the two entered the door together, and only when the room was empty did he mention that Yuan Kong Master had just transmitted a message to him across space.

Transmit a message across space? Yuan Kong Master?

Yuan Kong Master is different from Changsheng Daozhang — he was never a meddlesome person to begin with. Back in Zhuying Town, if it weren't for Lin Chengyan and Lin Chengjue running out to play and cause trouble every few days, even she would not have seen Yuan Kong Master's figure.

It seems this Master truly positioned himself as the two children's enlightenment master; daily, aside from teaching Lin Chengyan and Lin Chengjue cultivation, his presence was zero at other times.

You must know Zhuying Town also had demons; there were even demons who actively appeared to seduce Lin Xingzhi, yet Yuan Kong Master didn't even lift a hand to stop it — one can see how rigid and unyielding this person's code of conduct is, impossible to interfere with.

But just such a person would, at the moment they had just arrived, actively transmit a message across space to Lin Xingzhi.

Could it be that Qingke City's problem is very big?

"Amitabha, not so; it is merely that this old monk's heart stirred, and he received a strand of revelation passed down by the Buddha Ancestor."

A strand of revelation?

Lin Xingzhi: ……

Lin Xingzhi looked somewhat bewildered, not understanding what this strand of revelation had to do with him — could it be hinting at him?

Upon hearing this, Yuan Kong Master merely chuckled and did not waste more words on it; instead, he took the opportunity to hand Lin Xingzhi a string of prayer beads made from Bodhi Seeds, asking him to carry it on his person.

"All is destiny; it cannot be dodged or avoided. This old monk cannot speak too much; still, I ask Your Highness to take care."

Lin Xingzhi parted from Yuan Kong Master with a strange expression; turning to tell Shen Yao, he couldn't help but feel a lingering dread — it was as if an extremely dangerous trouble awaited him ahead, yet Yuan Kong Master had sensed it but, profound and unfathomable, endured without speaking.

Shen Yao: ……

Is it not possible that, given Yuan Kong Master's current attainment, he truly does not know?

Moreover, the prayer beads Yuan Kong Master gave clearly have a protective dharma array engraved on them, storing protective power — commonly known as a Universal Protection Item.

【System, have you sensed anything?】

【……Host, the System is real-time monitoring, not future prediction.】

The System aggrievedly indicated it didn't have that supernatural ability; otherwise it wouldn't have ended up in its current predicament, striving to transmigrate through so many worlds, still having to painstakingly rely on itself to accumulate energy.

"Husband, don't be afraid — soldiers come, generals block; water comes, earth covers." Besides, since Yuan Kong Master could provide protection to Lin Xingzhi in advance, she, as a Great Demon, would naturally help too.

She drew several protective runes in the air, which entered Lin Xingzhi's body; Shen Yao raised her hand and lightly patted his back, indicating that they had experienced so many dangers and hardships before — no matter what tricks Qingke City plays now, they have the ability to cope.

Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi laughed and exhaled, saying he wasn't truly afraid of encountering danger himself, but human instinct fears the unknown.

Moreover, he still has his wife and two children by his side — if something happens to him, what will become of Yao Niang and the children?

With Yuan Kong Master's sudden reminder, never mind how cautious the person involved Lin Xingzhi will be in his actions — even Shen Yao has placed most of her attention on Lin Xingzhi, including the System being properly arranged.

System: ……

The System indicated it wanted to take a good look — just what danger could make them so jittery, especially when inside Qingke City everything is clearly calm and peaceful.

After seriously observing for several days, the result was that aside from Wei Cheng Hong, this Qingke City Prefect, acting overly enthusiastic and fawning, there was nothing else.

System: ……

The System couldn't help but whisper to the Host, grumbling whether Yuan Kong Master's perception might be somewhat inaccurate — perhaps, probably, the Buddha Ancestor's intention isn't on Lin Xingzhi at all.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao couldn't be bothered with the System in her mind that would go crazy and roll around at any moment; she thought Yuan Kong Master's strand of revelation wasn't wrong — in reality, the string in her heart was also stretched very tight, always a hair-raising feeling, unable to say what the reason was.

Night; Lin Xingzhi lightly held Shen Yao's arm, speaking of tomorrow's matter of going to the Qingke City Government Office — this is the most basic and crucial step of the inspection tour: audit the accounts!

Every city's accounts, good or bad, must be gone through by Lin Xingzhi.

Generally speaking, the government office's account books posed no major problem (because of those precedents, before Lin Xingzhi even arrived, clever people had already found ways to plug the holes, and even if they fell short they would have greased the palms in advance).

As the words fell, Shen Yao's previously calm chest suddenly ached.

Hm?

Shen Yao's expression shifted slightly; realizing something was wrong, she said without changing her face, "Do the government office officials all know about this matter?"

Lin Xingzhi gave an "mm" and nodded, "It was still Lord Wei who took the initiative to invite me."

Originally there were also major households in the city who needed to have their accounts audited together; after all, Lin Xingzhi's skill at pocketing money was renowned far and wide. But Lin Xingzhi felt his time was not pressing, so he had these major households send their organized account books to the relay station for him to examine slowly.

A soft knife carving meat — most effective!

"Husband, may we husband and wife go together?" Shen Yao gripped Lin Xingzhi's arm in return; before her words fell she had already provoked Lin Xingzhi's suspicion.

Hm?

Usually Yao Niang never spoke up on her own; why so special today? Could there be some problem here he doesn't know about?

As his mind turned over, Lin Xingzhi asked directly; after all, concealment was not the best policy — if good intentions led to bad results, the ones affected would still be themselves.

Shen Yao told Lin Xingzhi about her body's anomaly. She was originally a yaojing, fundamentally without human ailments; any anomaly could count as a warning reminder. Based on this, she held a suspicious attitude toward tomorrow's trip.

This Lord Wei looked fine at first glance, but his conduct was truly a bit too eager. They had not failed to encounter such people before; only those people's style differed from Wei Cheng Hong's — genuine feeling or false intent, how could one not tell the difference.

Lin Xingzhi: ……

"Then we go together; if anything unexpected happens, Yao Niang must take good care of herself." This life of his was retrieved thanks to Yao Niang; Lin Xingzhi was unwilling to let Yao Niang take risks for him.

Shen Yao's face naturally had no refusal; of course there was no shortage of other moving words either.

Some words, when Shen Yao opened her mouth to say she would go with Lin Xingzhi, were already louder than silence.

Rested one night, got up and washed.

Lin Xingzhi wore common clothes, folding fan held horizontally in hand — truly handsome, carefree, elegant and unrestrained. Shen Yao was still in her previous style of dress, pearl hairpins full on her head, magnificent robes on her body.

The two rode a carriage to Qingke City government office, only to see the office gate already gathered with many people, among them the major city households Lin Xingzhi had refused.

Indeed there was fraud!

Clearly no one was told to come, yet those who came were complete.

Lin Xingzhi couldn't help a cold snort; before getting down from the carriage he still reminded Shen Yao that everything was to prioritize self-preservation, including Yuan Kong Master lurking in the surroundings waiting — since there was danger, bring full preparation.

The two got down from the carriage and, amid the welcomes of the crowd, walked through the government office's main gate, heading for the back courtyard where the account books were stored.

Wei Cheng Hong was naturally there too, but today he behaved especially manic; his words and actions were extremely urgent, as if something were chasing and sticking to him.

Seeing this, Shen Yao lightly tapped the fingers resting in the crook of Lin Xingzhi's arm, silently warning him to be careful of that room where the account books were placed.

Indeed

The problem lay right there.

And this Lord Wei, from beginning to end, had been constantly urging Lin Xingzhi to enter that room.

"No rush, Lord Wei; why not send someone to move out a portion of the account books inside? In weather like this, staying cooped up in the house is so uncomfortable." Lin Xingzhi shook the folding fan in his hand — merely a decorative prop he carried, never expecting it would actually see use.

Wei Cheng Hong: ……

How could they be moved out? His heart's blood, his everything was inside the house; if Prince Jing didn't enter, how could he replace him and enjoy the glory belonging to the Prince?

Good fellow, such a sinister purpose — turns out he was waiting right here!

'Truly shameless, old vegetable gangster actually still wants to pull a "deceive heaven and cross the sea, steal heaven and change day," ptooey ptooey ptooey!'

The System cursed up a storm in the Host's mind, hands on hips, wishing it could scold this Wei Cheng Hong — who looked human enough but was actually weird inside and out — into a sieve.

Shen Yao smiled and coaxed the System to calm down; she was intensely curious about this audacious Lord Wei.

Curious?

'This skin of his has neither rotted nor decayed; unlike human skin yet more exquisite than human skin, even able to age naturally with the years — no different from a real person at all.'

If not for the turbid mixed Qi here, and the account-book room's evil, sinister gloom, it would be hard to associate this court official with Demon Evil.

Judging from the other party's rather urgent arrangements and his coveting of Lin Xingzhi's body, this was not his first time doing this; even this Wei Cheng Hong's near-perfect skin — who knows how long the thing inside has occupied it.

'No wonder Yuan Kong Master said he received Buddha Ancestor's revelation; this place is probably a den of thieves.'

Not only Wei Cheng Hong — there were others too.

Putting on colored glasses to observe again, Shen Yao could effortlessly discover all sorts of problems: the emotions at the corners of eyes and brows, the arc of revealed smiles, the tone of speech, the sound of conversation, the pace of walking…

Tsk tsk tsk

System: ……

'Host, isn't it a bit too dangerous? What kind of yaoguai is this exactly?'

Must absolutely not come up with any "body-snatching" theory — that's Cultivation World exclusive.

'We saw it in Floating Clouds City, forgot?' Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, raised her hand and pulled Lin Xingzhi behind her, then before the crowd could react struck out with a palm.

Ah???

Saw it in Floating Clouds City, that's not right — Floating Clouds City was just lizard yaoguai and snake yaoguai? Where was any other yaojing?

The System couldn't recall which yaojing it was; in the end Shen Yao spoke: 'Painted Skin!'

Painted Skin?!

Wei Cheng Hong had already been slapped into the room by Shen Yao; a dark gleam flashed, and the person inside suddenly let out a terrified scream.

The sound was nicely locked inside the government office interior; not half a ripple transmitted outside.

"I, I'll go notify Yuan Kong Master," Lin Xingzhi said, reaching for the wrist beads, but Shen Yao pressed his hand down.

"Yuan Kong Master is probably very busy; he likely won't make it in time to rescue us."

Shen Yao looked at the courtyard that had instantly lost half its people, once more formed hand seals and cast a spell, simultaneously taking Lin Xingzhi flying into mid-air and dodging sideways to avoid the oncoming attack.

Lin Xingzhi: ……

To tell the truth, he wasn't the first to be attacked, but to be carried flying by his own wife like this, and incidentally get to spectate — such opportunities are really few.

In the end it was still Shen Yao's arts that were profound; these Painted Skin yaoguai's abilities were fundamentally not in combat, but in those miraculous Painted Skin techniques of theirs.

Wei Cheng Hong, who had been patted into the room by Shen Yao earlier, stumbled out.

"Ah! It's you! It's you! It's all your fault! Hmph! You (plural) should never have been allowed to leave Floating Clouds City back then!"

His everything, his prominent identity, his beautiful plans, the hard work of enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens for so many years — all turned to nothing!

"Oh? You recognize me? Truly not easy; back then in Floating Clouds City, you were still a woman," (I) didn't expect that in just a few short years, even (your) gender has been swapped.

System:...?!!!

(I) remember now, remember now! It's that painted-skin demon who lived in Floating Clouds Inn; back then it even opened its mouth to mock, only the two people's focus wasn't on the painted-skin demon, therefore (they) didn't pay much attention.

Nowadays the two sides meet again, (I) didn't expect there would actually be such an old connection inside.