Chapter 351

The surface calm could not hide the surging undercurrents.

Scouts could be seen entering and leaving the Anning Guard every day.

Even the soldiers who were unaware could feel the tension in the atmosphere.

However, none of this had anything to do with Li Rui.

In the courtyard.

Wang Zhao stood obediently in front of Li Rui.

"Not bad, you've already reached the Seventh Rank."

"In the future, change into some better clothes. Little Zhao, you are not particular at all. If you can't find a wife, your Uncle Yang will worry himself to death."

Li Rui looked at his disciple with gratification.

Although Wang Zhao's face still looked somewhat youthful, in terms of age, he was already in his thirties.

In the Yu Kingdom.

In one's thirties, those who were faster might already be holding grandchildren.

Wang Zhao's progress was pitifully slow.

Old Yang had worried quite a bit about this, always feeling that he had no hope of living to see Wang Zhao marry and hold a grandchild; recently, he had even become slack in practicing his health-preserving boxing.

Li Rui had persuaded him several times, but it was useless.

This kid was more serious about the horses Da Hong and Xiao Hu in the stable than about the pretty girls.

Wang Zhao: "It's all thanks to Master's teaching."

The current Wang Zhao had shed the simplicity of that little stable apprentice and gained a bit of composure, even a touch of nobility.

Although he couldn't be called handsome, he wouldn't be rejected by any girl because of his appearance if he went out.

Li Rui felt some emotion.

Unknowingly, his three disciples were all already at the Seventh Rank.

Liu Tiezhu's progress was the fastest; perhaps in a few years, he could become a Sixth Rank.

There was no help for it.

Just like staying with such a great expert as Tie Kuang, coupled with his innate Diamond physique, it would be hard not to be formidable.

Liang He and Liu Tiezhu had become figures who could stand on their own, only this youngest disciple...

"Little Zhao, I know your nature."

"But you can't stay by Master's side forever; it's time to go out and move around. Master has already arranged a position for you in the Wu Kingdom; go in a few days."

Li Rui said.

Wang Zhao widened his eyes, full of disbelief: "Master..."

He hadn't expected Li Rui to drive him away, and to such a far place as the Wu Kingdom.

Li Rui: "When you grow up, you have to go out and venture; what's the point of staying in Qinghe forever?"

Since he was the Master, he naturally had to think for his disciple.

Liang He and Liu Tiezhu had already found their own paths; according to the old generation in Qinghe, they had already been led through the door, and after that, it depended on the individual.

They couldn't stay by his side forever.

Among the three disciples, only Wang Zhao was still youthful and needed tempering.

This matter had to be done with a hard heart.

Thinking of leaving Qinghe, Wang Zhao felt somewhat lost for a moment.

He hadn't yet reached adulthood when he was bought into the Zhu family to learn the skill of feeding horses from Li Rui.

Later, he was brought out of the Zhu family by Li Rui and had been following Li Rui ever since.

He had long been accustomed to this life of listening to Li Rui.

To have him go alone to a place ten thousand miles away.

How could he not be lost?

Li Rui sighed lightly.

Keeping Wang Zhao by his side, although it had many conveniences for him, was actually harming Wang Zhao.

Since he was an eagle, he had to fly alone.

He couldn't stay under his wings forever.

Before, he had thought about sending Wang Zhao to the Imperial Horse Bureau in Yunzhou, but as Wang Zhao's talent was revealed, he changed his mind; letting Wang Zhao go to the Wu Kingdom was the most suitable place.

Perhaps many years later, a great Demon-Tamer named Wang Zhao could appear in the Wu Kingdom.

"Alright, in a few days, follow the merchant caravan to find your Senior Brother Liang; he will make arrangements."

"If you run into trouble after you go, just find someone; Master still has quite a few friends in the Wu Kingdom."

Wang Zhao still had difficulty digesting today's information, but seeing that Li Rui had already made up his mind, he knew it was impossible to refuse, so he could only nod blankly.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have broken through."

He said with a mournful face.

Until he was driven back to his room by Li Rui.

Only then did he move his feet woodenly and walk toward his room.

Li Rui looked on and shook his head.

Everyone eventually has their own path to walk; the same goes for master and disciple.

This day.

"Lord Li, General Nie invites you to the General's Prefecture."

One of Nie Siming's personal guards came to the Military Advisor's Prefecture.

Li Rui nodded without thinking: "Good."

Immediately.

He went out and headed toward the General's Prefecture.

Just as he walked into the General's Prefecture, he saw a room full of people sitting there, besides Nie Siming and Cao Wei.

Additionally, there were two others.

Li Rui recognized one of them; it was Yuan Dingting's eighth adopted son, Yuan Xiong.

Besides that, there was another person.

Li Rui had never seen him, but he had long heard of his name: Soul-Snatching Sword, Liu Qing.

It was said that he was originally a wandering knight in the Northwest, and later, for some reason, he followed Yuan Dingting into the army, only unlike other soldiers, he never went to the battlefield.

As for why his reputation was so great, it was because he often performed miraculous feats of assassinating enemy leaders.

He made the Northwest barbarian tribes tremble with fear, which was why he earned the title of Soul-Snatching Sword.

"I heard Liu Qing's sword is fast, very fast."

"Very few people have seen him make a move, or rather, those who have seen him make a move are already dead."

"A born assassin."

Li Rui walked into the main hall. He consciously sat beside Cao Wei and, without asking, closed his eyes to rest his mind.

After about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn.

Two more people walked in from outside the hall.

They were the Qinghe County Magistrate Jia Qi and the Commissioner of the Trade Office, Yan Zhongxing.

The two sat opposite Li Rui and Cao Wei.

Looking at their surprised expressions, they probably didn't know what was about to happen today either.

Almost at the same time Li Rui opened his eyes, Nie Siming's voice rang out: "Everyone, this is Mr. Liu, a staff member of my adopted father. This time, he is specifically entrusted by my adopted father to come and assist us in Qinghe to pacify the Purple Chai Jingong."

Hearing the words "Mr. Liu."

Jia Qi and Yan Zhongxing both sat up straight unconsciously.

Among Yuan Dingting's staff, there was only one person surnamed Liu, the famous Liu Qing of the Northwest.

!

The two hurriedly stood up and bowed to Liu Qing:

"Greetings, Mr. Liu."

Although Liu Qing had no official rank, and being a staff member was an empty title, his status depended entirely on the attitude of his master.

But who told Liu Qing to serve the Annan Marquis Prefecture, and he himself was a Second-Rank Earth Immortal.

No matter which point.

It wouldn't be too much for the two to be polite.

Liu Qing was a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance, even carrying a bit of a scholarly air. He smiled slightly: "The two lords, no need for such formalities. This time, I am acting under the Marquis's orders and need everyone's assistance."

His every gesture made people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the people in the hall, the atmosphere suddenly became a bit softer.

But his next words made the atmosphere in the room turn icy cold instantly:

"I presume everyone is clear about the matter of the Purple Chai Jingong."

"Our dynasty's attitude toward evil sects has always been one of zero tolerance. Although the Purple Chai Jingong is in the Ten Thousand Mountains, it engages in bewitching the masses and shaking the peace, so it cannot be left alone."

"It must be suppressed."

The intent to kill was evident in his words.

Hearing Liu Qing's words, Jia Qi, Cao Wei, and Yan Zhongxing could not help but show joy.

They had had quite a headache over the matter of Song Shi these past few days.

It was now certain that Song Shi was killed by people from the Purple Chai Jingong.

But the Purple Chai Jingong was powerful and had a Second-Rank powerhouse like the Blood Shadow Old Ancestor sitting in command; a single Qinghe was simply no match for them.

Now that a powerhouse from the Marquis's Prefecture had stepped forward, and even a great expert like Liu Qing had come, as long as they suppressed the Purple Chai Jingong, they could use this to make up for their mistakes.

A great good thing.

The few couldn't help but look at each other.

They could all see the other party secretly heave a sigh of relief.

In comparison, Nie Siming and Li Rui were much calmer.

Because they had long known some inside information; the Purple Chai Jingong was highly likely related to Transcendent Immortals.

So they would not be punished at all.

Of course, because the matter was of great importance, they tacitly did not reveal these things to Cao Wei and the others.

As for Liu Qing, he likely knew about the Transcendent Immortal matter as well.

Cao Wei stood up first:

"We are willing to do our utmost to eradicate the demons and evil!"

"Correct!"

Jia Qi and Yan Zhongxing also nodded in agreement.

Li Rui naturally joined in, expressing his firm support.

Seeing this, Liu Qing nodded with satisfaction: "The lords are righteous; I thank you once again."

Having reached a consensus, the subsequent matters became much clearer.

Liu Qing said a few polite words and then, without hesitation, began to make arrangements.

First, of course, was to assemble manpower.

Because the Purple Chai Jingong highly likely had eyes and ears planted in the city, this matter had to be done covertly, and the number of people could not be too large; a surprise attack by elites was best.

The manpower needed would, of course, be handled by the Anning Guard, the County Magistrate's office, and the Trade Office.

Secondly.

Of course, it was to negotiate with the Wu Kingdom.

Now, the Third Princess of the Wu Kingdom had become the Imperial Prince's consort of the Yu Kingdom; by relationship, the two countries were relatives.

To send troops without even notifying them would be a breach of etiquette.

Before sending troops, it was natural to communicate with the Wu Kingdom first.

Otherwise, it would embarrass the Fourth Imperial Prince, and the Emperor's face would also be damaged, which was a major matter.

Even if not handled well, the result might be more serious than losing a battle.

A suitable and capable person needed to be found to negotiate with the Wu Kingdom.

Liu Qing gave detailed instructions on everything, then turned to look at Li Rui:

"I have often heard that when Lord Li was a Trade Captain, he forged a deep friendship with the Wu Kingdom. This matter of negotiating with the Wu Kingdom could not be more suitable for Lord Li to handle."

Li Rui nodded without hesitation: "As you command."

Before, because of He Qiannian, he had never needed to participate in the Purple Chai Jingong matter.

Cao Wei had personally led people to look around the Purple Chai Jingong several times.

And he didn't even need to leave the city.

Now that Liu Qing had come, it was naturally not good to remain a bystander.

It was time to contribute some effort.

Compared to other things, this task arranged by Liu Qing was not difficult for him.

Xia Xiaotang had already returned to the Wu Kingdom from the Imperial City.

With this disciple of the Great Shaman to bridge the gap, many things became easy to handle.

Liu Qing's mouth curled up.

"Very good."

"Evil ways and heretical paths should be eradicated by everyone; next, I will have to trouble you all."

Li Rui and the others stood up together, their expressions solemn and full of righteousness:

"Slay the demons and eradicate the evil!"

(End of chapter)