Chapter 189: The Unexpected Power of Immortal Qi

"Hey, have you heard? Gao Zhen hasn't shown his face in a month."

Wei Ming lowered his voice as he spoke.

Tan Hu grumbled: "This is Zui Xian Lou—there's no one else here, why are you whispering like you're sneaking around?"

Today.

Wei Ming treated Li Rui, Tan Hu, and Ge Hong to drinks.

After just two cups, Wei Ming eagerly began talking about camp affairs—specifically, about Gao Zhen.

Gao Zhen had been absent from the camp for a full month.

Though rumors claimed he was on an inspection tour elsewhere, everyone knew he'd likely run into trouble.

Gao Zhen was a spoiled brat—he had nothing to do, so why would he go on an inspection?

Besides, a Garrison Commander isn't a Night Scout; even an inspection shouldn't take more than ten days, let alone a whole month.

More importantly, Feng Yu and Guan Xinrong have been leading troops out of the city every single day.

This doesn't look like a simple inspection at all.

The matter had already spread like wildfire through the camp.

"I just thought there might be ears behind the walls."

Wei Ming knew it was just habit, so he awkwardly scratched his head and laughed it off with a weak excuse.

Ge Hong mused: "Could this be Gui Ming Jiao's revenge? After all, Jiang Da Ren killed one of the Twelve Blood Disciples."

At the mention of the Twelve Blood Disciples,

he felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

Wan Du Gui's skull still hung on the wall of Anning Wei—long since dried into a skeleton.

Jiang Lin had killed Wan Du Gui; he'd finally avenged himself.

Next time he visited his master's grave, he could buy fewer bottles of wine.

Ge Hong's words held merit—Gui Ming Jiao had lost many in that battle; retaliation was only natural.

Li Rui's heart stirred slightly, and he spoke:

"There's a possibility."

"See? Even Brother Li thinks so."

Encouraged by Li Rui's words, Ge Hong grew more animated: "Those little demon brats of Gui Ming Jiao deserve to be crushed—they should all be killed!"

Ever since Wan Du Gui died, he'd become especially eager to strike at Gui Ming Jiao.

He planned to kill as many of them as he could, just to avenge his master.

Wei Ming nodded in agreement:

"They truly deserve it."

It was strange, though—Gui Ming Jiao was quiet everywhere else, rarely showing its face, yet it was unusually active around Anning Prefecture.

Large-scale attacks had occurred multiple times.

'Could Anning Prefecture have a treasure—or is Gui Ming Jiao's own father hiding here?'

Wei Ming had once served in Annan Town, so he felt Gui Ming Jiao's activity in Qinghe was excessive.

Looking back, it all seemed to start with the Immortal Artifact.

Tan Hu, however, didn't care: "Who gives a damn? That cockroach Gao Zhen makes me sick—I hope he's dead. If Gui Ming Jiao killed him, tomorrow I'll light a string of ten thousand firecrackers to celebrate."

"Makes sense."

Ge Hong and Wei Ming both nodded in agreement.

Gao Zhen's behavior in the camp had always been deeply unpopular.

Tan Hu still harbored resentment over the Tang Hai incident.

If Gao Zhen really was dead, he'd absolutely light those firecrackers.

Li Rui smiled but said nothing.

Gao Zhen?

Gao Zhen had long since been dissolved into nothing—not even ash remained.

This world had no surveillance, and Gao Zhen was a spy planted by Gui Ming Jiao in Anning Wei—he'd deliberately hidden his trail that day.

Li Rui had followed him closely, watching every moment clearly.

If he wasn't mistaken, Gao Zhen had been searching for clues about Wan Du Gui's death—perhaps even hunting for the Immortal Qi.

After all, three members of Gui Ming Jiao had been involved; two of them possessed Immortal Qi—there was no reason the strongest, Wan Du Gui, wouldn't have it too.

Such a task had to be done without being seen.

He didn't even need Li Rui to erase the traces—Gao Zhen himself had cut off all evidence, saving Li Rui considerable trouble.

Had he not met Li Rui, he'd have carried it out with perfect caution.

But unfortunately, he'd crossed paths with Li Rui.

'Cao Wei won't find Gao Zhen—he'll surely report it to Annan Town, maybe even to the Imperial Capital. Then they'll send investigators.'

'A government official disappearing? They'll demand answers.'

Yet Li Rui felt no real panic.

That was thanks to the heavy rain.

It had washed away nearly every trace he'd left—even if that famed Inspector Di from his past life came, he'd find nothing.

As for being suspected himself—

that was even less likely.

He had no lack of alibis or physical evidence.

He was just an old man who'd never even left Anning Wei—how could he possibly commit murder?

And he was only a Seventh-Rank martial cultivator; to kill a Sixth-Rank Dragon Gate expert would seem like a fairy tale to outsiders.

No one would ever suspect him.

In the end, besides his own caution, it was Gao Zhen's own wickedness that dug his grave.

Heaven's timing, earth's advantage, human harmony—all aligned.

He deserved to die.

Another month passed.

The truth could no longer be hidden.

Reluctantly,

Cao Wei had no choice but to report Gao Zhen's disappearance to Annan Town—continuing to conceal it would only make his own guilt worse.

As expected,

General Xue flew into a rage, then the Gao family flew into a rage, and finally, the Emperor flew into a rage.

A chain of fury led to the Ministry of Justice sending its own investigators to Qinghe.

"I heard the Ministry of Justice's men will arrive in Qinghe in a few days."

Ning Zhongtian grinned.

But his face clearly betrayed glee.

Two months had passed with no sign of Gao Zhen—either, as in the tales, he'd stumbled into a secret realm, or he was dead.

Immortals were gone; secret realms couldn't exist. The outcome was obvious—he was dead.

But since no body was found, Cao Wei still called it a disappearance.

Yet who in their right mind would have a Sixth-Rank official vanish for two full months?

Ning Zhongtian felt deeply satisfied. "I don't collect debts—Heaven does."

He grinned.

Gao Zhen had clearly intended to destroy him; because of his Gao family ties, Ning couldn't kill him outright—but before he could act, Gao Zhen had died on his own.

Truly, karma never fails.

Li Rui and the others listened to Ning Zhongtian's news.

Their expressions varied.

Li Rui, of course, was the calmest—not only because he'd left no evidence, but because he had the Insight Warning; if anyone truly discovered him, he could simply flee early and vanish into the deep mountains.

Of course, that possibility was negligible.

Compared to Gao Zhen's determined attempt to kill him, the danger was negligible.

He could advance or retreat—he had an escape route, so he had nothing to fear.

=9+book_bar

"When the Ministry of Justice arrives, avoid them if you can—cooperate, don't provoke conflict."

Ning Zhongtian had summoned his trusted subordinates today specifically to warn them.

Tan Hu frowned: "Why? We didn't kill him."

Ning Zhongtian knew Tan Hu would ask that—he'd said it just for him.

Tan Hu causing trouble in Qinghe didn't matter—he was Anning Wei's Garrison Commander and could handle it.

But if he provoked the Ministry of Justice, that would be trouble.

Ning Zhongtian: "Hu Zi, do you know why no one from the Gao family has ever been locked up all these years?"

"Why?"

"Because Gao's Second Elder is the Minister of Justice."

This investigation appears to be an imperial court matter, but in truth, the Gao family wants to regain face—we had past conflicts with Gao Zhen, and they may use this as an opportunity to make trouble.

"Chief Ning, understood."

Tan Hu nodded with unusual seriousness.

He simply disliked thinking hard, but that didn't mean he was stupid.

On the contrary.

With a little guidance, he grasped things instantly—more astute than most martial cultivators.

Li Rui and the others all nodded in unison.

The Ministry of Justice is likely here with ill intent.

Even if they can't solve the case, they'll surely find a few scapegoats to quell it.

The Gao family has lost someone; if we provoke them further now, don't blame them for losing control and arresting us outright.

Ning Zhongtian stood up: "Enough. Don't worry too much. The Ministry of Justice is the Ministry of Justice—we're the Annan Army, not under their command. They won't act recklessly."

With that, he walked out of the main hall first.

Li Rui and the others left inside exchanged glances.

Then they too filed out one by one.

Li Rui returned home.

First he heard Liu Tiezhu's hammering in the back courtyard—thankfully the estate was large enough, or he'd have been charged with disturbing military order.

Then came Liang He's low shouts.

A truly thriving scene.

"Master."

Liang He immediately stopped what he was doing and bowed respectfully.

Li Rui noticed Wang Zhao wasn't there, so he asked.

"Is Xiao Zhao at the Horse Supervision Hall?"

"No, he's in the back stable."

Li Rui nodded: "Keep training."

Saying that, he walked slowly toward the back courtyard with his hands behind his back.

A moment later.

He saw Wang Zhao standing by the horse trough, muttering to the Red Dragon Horse.

The scene was bizarre.

"Xiao Zhao, what are you doing?"

Li Rui, curious at Wang Zhao's odd behavior, asked.

Wang Zhao was clearly conversing with the Red Dragon Horse—each speaking back and forth, engaged in lively dialogue.

This was truly a sight to behold.

He'd raised horses for decades; communicating with them was possible.

But direct speech? That was nonsense.

Horses understand human intent through habit—not because they truly comprehend human language; otherwise, they'd be actual spirits.

Wang Zhao, lost in his monologue, was startled by Li Rui's voice behind him.

He turned and saw Li Rui standing right behind him.

He quickly bowed: "Master."

Then he stammered: "Master, I—I think I can understand Hong's words."

Hong was the name Wang Zhao had given the Red Dragon Horse.

"You can understand horses?!"

Li Rui was stunned.

He hadn't expected Wang Zhao was truly talking to the Red Dragon Horse.

Understanding horse speech?

A born Horse-Saint Body?

He glanced again at the Red Dragon Horse. Though it carried half-phantom blood, it certainly couldn't understand human language.

Wang Zhao himself felt his claim was absurd. "I don't know how it happened. This morning, when I woke up, I heard Hong calling me to get up. At first I thought it was a dream—but I really can understand him."

Wait—this morning, he woke up and saw Hong?

Li Rui was speechless.

So his disciple slept in the stable every night—treating the Red Dragon Horse like his wife.

At that moment.

The Red Dragon Horse, Hong, blew a loud snort, its mouth opening and closing as if speaking like a human.

Li Rui's expression turned strange.

"What's it saying now?"

Wang Zhao blinked.

"It says… what I said is true."

"…"

(End of Chapter)