Chapter 129: The Shadowy Figure

"Appreciative eyes, Master Zhuang."

Qi Cheng let out a shrill, eerie laugh.

"Today I came across a most intriguing little fellow—had a profound insight."

"Oh?"

Zhuang Renhe opened his eyes, revealing a look of surprise.

Qi Cheng laughed again: "A little fellow who doesn't want to die."

"Congratulations."

Zhuang Renhe regained his composure.

He knew Qi Cheng was a beast-tamer, fond of playing with things no one dared speak of.

"Master Qi, is it truly true that another immortal treasure was lost in Qinghe?"

"Mm."

Qi Cheng nodded firmly.

"Jiang Lin delivered the immortal treasure to the Emperor, but one piece remains missing—no word of it for years. Either Jiang Lin hid it himself, or it's still out there. Since the incident occurred in Qinghe, it's most likely still here."

Zhuang Renhe fell into thought:

"But what if the treasure has already been consumed?"

"No matter."

A cold smirk curled at Qi Cheng's lips—he cared not for the spiritual lure, but for the immortal art.

The Ghost Ming Sect is still in its exploratory phase; transforming the mortal into treasure is no easy feat—so any lost immortal treasure must be reclaimed!

Consumed?

If there's no object, then study the person.

Either way, it's the same.

"Good."

Zhuang Renhe gazed at Qi Cheng, a faint, almost imperceptible revulsion flickering deep in his eyes.

Qi Cheng was a beast-tamer of the Ghost Ming Sect.

His strength was mediocre, but his status was high.

Simply because his surname was Qi.

This might not be known to most.

Put it this way: the former dynasty's imperial family also bore the surname Qi. Yes, Qi Cheng is a remnant of the fallen imperial line—the Ghost Ming Sect was the former dynasty's state religion; as a direct descendant, his status naturally runs high.

Otherwise, how could a major figure of the Nanliang Zhuang clan share a carriage with a Ghost Ming Sect beast-tamer?

"It is said the former imperial family excelled in beast-taming—this beast-taming technique originated from their art."

Zhuang Renhe mused.

"But later, the Qi imperial clan grew increasingly deviant, increasingly sinister—until they reached the state where everyone now denounces them."

Had the Qi imperial clan not become so obsessed with beast-taming, perhaps the people's resentment would never have boiled over.

Eventually, the founding Emperor of Yu rose in rebellion and swept across the Six Directions.

After establishing his empire, the founding Emperor drew lessons from the former dynasty.

He reformed the Equal Teachings into the Ghost Ming Sect and banned beast-taming as a forbidden art.

Why was it banned?

Was it, as legends claim, because its power was too immense and drew heaven's envy?

Of course not.

Had it merely been that, the forbidden art would have become the number one technique, universally sought after. The real reason was that it threatened the ruling dynasty—that's why it was suppressed.

As for that immortal art…

Zhuang Renhe knew little of it, and dared not ask.

The Zhuang family rose to power within three centuries precisely because the Ghost Ming Sect backed them.

Even his appointment as County Magistrate of Qinghe would not have happened without the Ghost Ming Sect's maneuvering.

Since he relied on them, Zhuang Renhe had no choice but to cooperate with the Qi family.

They were merely using each other.

"Master Qi, the immortal treasure is lost, and Qinghe is a tangled web—finding it won't be easy."

Qi Cheng's face, like ancient tree bark, twisted into a grin more chilling than a ghost's wail: "You needn't trouble yourself—I have my own methods."

"There's another person."

Li Rui stared at the carriage, his brow slightly furrowed.

In his spiritual vision,

the carriage glowed golden—but clearly divided into two sections, meaning besides the newly appointed County Magistrate Zhuang Renhe, there was another occupant.

"A personal advisor?"

Li Rui speculated.

The most likely person to ride in the same carriage as Zhuang Renhe was his closest confidant.

He didn't know.

What kind of storm this new magistrate would stir in Qinghe remained uncertain.

But none of that was his concern.

He shifted his step—and vanished into the alley.

In the military camp:

"Big Brother Li, have you heard? The new County Magistrate took office today—what a grand procession!"

When Li Rui returned, he met Ge Hong, and the two chatted awhile.

"I saw it myself."

Ge Hong clucked his tongue: "The Zhuang clan of Nanliang is a mighty family—this Master Zhuang is their great dragon. With him here, things will get lively."

Previously, Qinghe was a stalemate between Jiang Lin and Cao Wei.

Now, with Zhuang Renhe added, it must change.

Those who know history understand:

With only two sides, it's usually a fight to the death. But with three, they become mutually restrained—far more stable.

Perhaps that's precisely why the court sent a new magistrate.

In Li Rui's past life terms, a triangle is more stable.

Li Rui's mind flashed again to the five towering steeds and the carriage like a small mountain: "Indeed impressive. By the way, Brother Ge, do you know who the new magistrate's close aides are?"

Ge Hong shook his head:

"The Zhuang clan is far away in Yunyang Prefecture—I don't know."

Li Rui nodded. Ge Hong had once been merely a small martial arts school master in Qinghe; it was normal he knew nothing of great clans.

He'd only thought suddenly of the other person in Zhuang Renhe's carriage—that's why he asked.

Ge Hong chuckled: "Big Brother Li, don't worry—we're now men of Anan Army. No matter how powerful the magistrate is, he can't touch us."

"That's true."

Li Rui smiled.

After parting ways,

Li Rui returned straight to the arms depot.

He resumed reading and practicing, as unshakable as ever.

The Dragon Form had reached minor completion—the Flying Dragon in Heaven Qi Diagram now completed thirty-six circuits in just one hour, a great reduction in time. By contrast, the Nine Mystical Spirit Sky Diagram's progress was much slower.

Besides the dragon blood's effect, this was because the Nine Mystical Spirit Sky Diagram's rank was inherently higher than the Flying Dragon Diagram.

Higher rank meant harder to cultivate, requiring more time and energy.

Thus, many sects chose Qi Diagrams based on disciples' talents—not blindly pursuing higher rank.

Of course,

Li Rui had no such constraint.

His talent was too high—he practiced the Nine Mystical Spirit Sky Diagram regardless, merely slower.

"Too bad the dragon blood's potency is spent."

He still savored the taste of seventy-two great circuits.

He could only sigh inwardly.

His Xuanqing Qi was still too weak—he needed more time nourishing it with the Changchun Technique before he could attempt seventy-two great circuits. "Deep night, silence reigns—nothing forbidden!"

Bang!

Bang!

The night watchman tapped his bamboo clapper as he walked the streets.

When he spoke these words, it meant the fourth watch had begun—Chou Zheng Er Ke, corresponding to 2: 4 a. .

This was when most residents slept soundly.

Qinghe had no curfew.

Yet even the most seasoned night revelers now either returned home to sleep or lay entwined with some plump girl beneath one blanket.

Only the night watchman walked the streets.

This place is close to Anning Guard Battalion, so there's no need to worry about security—the night watchman walks steadily.

When he passed a lane entrance.

A massive figure, eight feet tall, emerged from the alley's shadow.

=9+ Shu _ Ba

"Anning Guard."

A hoarse, muffled voice came from the figure's mouth.

He was shrouded entirely in a huge black cloak, perfectly blending into the pitch-black night.

"Jiang Lin, Cao Wei!"

The words carried clear resentment and fury.

Zhang Hao, transformed into a ghost-ghoul, gazed coldly at the Anning Guard camp nearby.

Ghost-ghouls are aggregates of resentment and negative emotions; though his consciousness dominated, it had been warped, becoming more extreme.

He followed Qi Cheng to Qinghe.

He had always hidden in the shadows.

He had also heard from some people about what happened to the Zhang family after his death.

Cao Wei showed not the slightest mercy.

He drove all the Zhang family members away, leaving them to meet a miserable end.

Zhang Hao had devoted himself entirely to the Zhang family in life; now dead, his emotions were amplified, nearly becoming an obsession.

But what he now desired was not to help the Zhang family, but to kill those who had harmed them.

Remember.

Ghost-ghouls amplify only negative emotions.

They are cold-blooded killing machines.

Jiang Lin and Cao Wei are beyond his reach now, but killing others is still possible.

The murderous intent on his grotesque face could not be restrained.

Suddenly!

A voice exploded in his mind.

"Worthless fool, do your job—don't stir up trouble!"

Zhang Hao's eyes, drowned in murderous intent, regained a flicker of clarity; he took a deep breath.

He had been turned into a ghost-ghoul by Qi Cheng.

Every move he made could be sensed by Qi Cheng—he was trapped, unable to live, unable to die.

Zhang Hao turned his gaze once more toward the Anning Guard camp.

He carefully sensed.

Qi Cheng had sent him here for the Immortal Treasure.

Three days ago, he had already come alone to Qinghe City.

Ghost-ghoul, ghost-ghoul—in essence, still a ghoul, only that its original beast intelligence had been erased by its master, replaced by human resentment, yet its instincts remained.

For instance, its sense for rare spiritual treasures.

If the Immortal Treasure's spiritual lure appeared—or even the person who consumed it—within a hundred zhang, he could sense it.

Following the trail, he came here.

Zhang Hao's eyes narrowed slightly:

"Who could it be?"

"Jiang Lin?"

Jiang Lin killed the Mother of Ten Thousand Ghosts and seized the Immortal Treasure—his chances were highest.

Of course.

Though he hated Jiang Lin, he knew he had no chance of killing him; moreover, Jiang Lin and Cao Wei had been absent these past days, yet the spiritual lure's aura still lingered within Anning Guard.

"Kill, kill, kill!"

Zhang Hao's remaining spiritual awareness was once again flooded with frenzied murderous intent.

His tower-like form flickered.

Vanished.

The next morning.

Li Rui finished his training as usual and ate his meal.

He stepped out of his residence.

"Hmm?"

Li Rui frowned slightly, puzzled: "What's going on? Why are patrols increased so drastically?"

As he pondered,

He spotted Ge Hong leading a patrol; he walked over: "Brother Ge, what's happened?"

Ge Hong, seeing Li Rui, explained: "Someone broke into the camp last night."

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

Broke into the camp?

That was a new thing.

What kind of place was Anning Guard?

It was the most powerful military stronghold in all of Qinghe—who would be so foolish as to sneak in and steal? Did they want to die?

Ge Hong also found it unbelievable: "At the fourth watch last night, someone broke into Anning Guard and was spotted by Lord Ning—he struck the intruder down and drove him off."

Li Rui heard "drove off," not "killed."

"He escaped?"

"Yes."

Ge Hong nodded.

Word was the intruder had been struck by Lord Ning's palm, severely wounded, and fled; Lord Ning personally led troops to pursue him.

"Truly a knife to the buttocks—never seen anything like it."

Ge Hong also found it absurd.

Li Rui's heart stirred slightly.

Unusual events always conceal something sinister; someone who survived a blow from Lord Ning Zhongtian must be formidable.

Someone with such strength would never commit petty theft—it was ridiculous.

He must have another motive.

"Forget it—I'm just an old man of seventy; I don't need to worry about this."

Since Lord Ning Zhongtian had already acted, things shouldn't go wrong.

Even if Lord Ning failed,

There was still Jiang Lin; if Jiang Lin failed, there was the Viceroy of Annan; if all of them failed, the Central Dragon Court still had experts.

That's why the imperial court crushes ordinary sects.

Isn't that why everyone wants to become an official?

Total peace of mind!

(End of Chapter)