Chapter 74: Changing Faces Like Turning a Page

As the heavy rain just began, Daoist Yan Song hurried the carriage along, then turned onto a narrow path; after walking only a dozen meters, they arrived at the entrance of the dilapidated ancestral hall.

He drove the carriage straight into the courtyard and stopped beneath a covered porch, allowing the horses to finally settle.

Xiu Niang jumped down first, entered the main hall of the ancestral hall, and noticed the dust was not heavy—there were even signs of recent cleaning. "This place seems to be visited often."

Bai Ke rested on her shoulder, "It's close to the official road and the nearby Xiao Yi River; people often come here to rest and shelter from the rain."

"If that's the case, why was it abandoned?" Xiu Niang asked curiously.

Bai Ke shook his head, "I don't know."

"Because thirty years ago, during the chaos in the Water Mansion of Wuhe County, the Xuanweishen Sect smashed every River God shrine afterward," Zhu Qingyan walked in. "All these years, nothing has been restored."

Xiu Niang suddenly understood, "I've heard my grandfather mention it!"

Daoist Yan Song looked up at the darkening clouds, "It seems this rain won't stop anytime soon."

Xiu Niang glanced around and quickly arranged four seats for resting, inviting everyone to sit, then moved to gather scattered firewood—but Gu Zhao stopped her.

"Our clothes aren't wet, and we're not spending the night here—no need to light a fire. Just sit and rest."

"Oh oh!" Xiu Niang nodded, then found a small, corner-chipped table, propped it up with a stone, took out snacks from the carriage, along with a small stove and a teapot. "Still, let's light a fire—it's no trouble. I'll brew some tea to keep warm."

Gu Zhao opened his mouth but said nothing.

Moments later, the small stove was lit; Xiu Niang poured tea onto it, heating water while warming herself.

Gu Zhao asked Zhu Qingyan, "Do you know about the events in Wuhe County?"

Zhu Qingyan spoke softly, "I know little—only that a river demon was causing havoc, seeking to sacrifice the entire county's population, until a high-level cultivator suppressed it, after which the Xuanweishen Sect tore down all the River God shrines."

"Now I think about it, it must have been a demon that reached a certain realm, seeking to advance further by blood-sacrificing Wuhe County," Zhu Qingyan speculated.

"Ah!" Xiu Niang was stunned. "Wuhe County had tens of thousands of people!"

Zhu Qingyan nodded, sighed, "About that many—I'm not certain. I was still alive then, completely absorbed in music, paying no attention to such news."

"By the way, what instrument do you play? Your neighbor's old woman said people near the Zhu family compound sometimes heard your singing at night," Gu Zhao asked. "But no one ever heard you play an instrument."

Zhu Qingyan's expression was cold. "After I performed a duet with Yuan Wenrui, my family was destroyed. Since then, I swore never to touch the jade zither or the bamboo flute again."

Gu Zhao shook his head. "It's not your fault. The real culprit is Yuan Wenrui. You're only punishing yourself, while the murderer walks free."

Gu Zhao urged, "Now that you've found him, vengeance will come. Don't keep punishing yourself. Think—would your parents want you happy and joyful, or sad and broken?"

Zhu Qingyan fell silent, then nodded—but said nothing more.

At that moment, a commotion arose outside the hall; a group of riders surged in, parked their carriage in the courtyard, and several guards—some holding umbrellas, others carrying a small wooden box—ushered a young man into the main hall. It was Liu Qingfeng, whom they had just seen.

Seeing Gu Zhao, especially Zhu Qingyan beside him, Liu Qingfeng's eyes lit up. He immediately bowed. "Fate has brought us together on the same road."

Gu Zhao gave a slight nod in greeting.

Liu Qingfeng's expression darkened, but he said nothing more.

While Gu Zhao's group had only lit a small stove, the guards were soaked through, so they hurriedly lit fires to dry their clothes.

After a brief chaos, everything was settled. Liu Qingfeng took a leather flask from one guard and walked over, smiling. "Rainy days are cold—this is Xiangchang wine, a specialty of Changping Prefecture. Let everyone warm up."

Daoist Yan Song sipped his tea in silence; Zhu Qingyan didn't even look up.

Liu Qingfeng's eyes flickered. "You're not from Changping Prefecture—what brings you here? Don't get me wrong, but in this territory, I still have some influence."

Gu Zhao sighed and raised his hand.

But before he could snap his fingers, he looked up toward the hall's entrance—and Daoist Yan Song and Zhu Qingyan turned as well.

The next instant, a black-clad figure appeared suddenly in the hall, like a ghost.

Gu Zhao studied him closely: black robes with silver embroidery, half-armor, a broadsword at his waist, and an air of arrogant dominance.

Liu Qingfeng turned to follow their gaze and saw the black-clad man—but showed no fear. "General Yan! What are you doing here?"

The black-clad man's gaze softened upon seeing Liu Qingfeng. "Trouble has stirred around Wuhe County. Your parents, knowing you might be here, offered prayers and incense, begging me to protect you."

"Huh?" Liu Qingfeng blinked. "Wuhe County? I'm going there right now to audit accounts!"

"I'll go with you," the black-clad man gripped the hilt of his sword.

Liu Qingfeng immediately grinned. "With General Yan accompanying me, I'll have nothing to worry about!"

The black-clad man nodded proudly. "With me, you're safe."

"Thank you, General Yan!" Liu Qingfeng's heart settled. He turned sharply, his earlier friendly smile instantly twisting into a mocking sneer as he challenged Gu Zhao. "Brother?"

Gu Zhao looked up. "What do you want to say?"

Liu Qingfeng chuckled. "I just wanted to share a drink with your lady wife. You don't mind, do you?"

Zhu Qingyan's eyes flickered, glancing sideways at Gu Zhao.

So direct?

Gu Zhao shook his head, not outright refusing Liu Qingfeng, but asking softly, "Have you ever considered killing me to silence me?"

"Hahaha!"

Liu Qingfeng thought Gu Zhao was afraid and burst out laughing. "I'm the eldest son of the Changping Liu family. My uncle-in-law is the Prefect of Changping. I've killed plenty of people in my day—killing you would be no more effort than swatting a fly. Why bother silencing you?"

Daoist Yan Song raised an eyebrow in surprise; Zhu Qingyan suddenly lifted her head.

Yet Gu Zhao lowered his hand, smiling warmly. "Funny how this feels… like it was arranged."

Liu Qingfeng didn't understand. "What do you mean? Do you know my uncle-in-law?"

"I know him," Zhu Qingyan rose slowly, her voice flat and cold. "Our enmity runs deeper than the sea."

The guard captain reacted instantly, drawing his blade. "Protect the Young Master! Kill them!"

The other four guards rose at once, drawing swords, eyes blazing with malice.

But the next instant, a cold wind swept through—the four guards collapsed instantly. Only the captain remained standing, face contorted in pain, struggling to resist—until he too fell face-first to the ground.

The black-clad man drew his sword. A shadow emerged from behind him. Seeing Zhu Qingyan's flowing robes and frost-laced eyes, he cried out in shock, "A hundred-year ghost!"

The moment the words left his lips, Zhu Qingyan was already beside him, palm descending.

The black-clad man swung his broadsword; the shadow beside him twisted and cast a spell—perfectly synchronized, the man and spirit moved as one, yet retreated swiftly as they struck.

"I am a Divine General of the Golden Wind Sect. Who are you, sir? Do my king a favor!" the man in black roared.

"Golden Wind Sect?" A smile touched Zhu Qingyan's lips, and the chill radiating from her intensified. "I am the one who kills the Golden Wind Sect's followers!"

Although Zhu Qingyan was no match for the Golden Wind Divine King and had fallen to a disadvantage against the Rain Concubine, she possessed a solid hundred years of cultivation, not much weaker than Ren Tian, and thus far surpassed this Golden Wind Divine General.

Even as the man in black resisted with all his might and tried to flee, Zhu Qingyan, without needing Gu Zhao's help, easily killed him and his contracted ghost.

Gu Zhao and Daoist Yan Song exchanged a glance.

"We didn't even lift a finger, yet we still gained the evil qi."

"Is it an automatic party formation, or can we absorb any unowned evil qi nearby?"

On the other side, after killing the man in black, Zhu Qingyan retracted her aura and approached the stunned Liu Qingfeng, speaking softly, "You just said you wanted to have a couple of drinks with me?"