Chapter 37: Please Request a High-Gong from Longhu Mountain

Sanyin Temple, main hall.

The County Lieutenant is responsible for catching thieves, maintaining public order, and handling criminal and judicial affairs within a county; sometimes they are also responsible for tough tasks like collecting taxes. For instance, the heads Chen Ci chopped off at the vegetable market were nine times out of ten captured by the County Lieutenant.

The Head of the Family of the Wang Family is named Wang Qingyuan, and he has held the post of County Lieutenant of Changping County for over ten years. The Wang Family of the County Lieutenant is said to be a branch of the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture, but in reality, they have long since left the five degrees of mourning; aside from visiting during the New Year and holidays, there is not much contact left.

To be honest, the relationship between Wang Qingyuan and Huang Defa might even be closer than their relationship with the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture.

Those who understand business understand.

"That young master has gone missing?"

Chen Ci looked astonished: "If he's missing, you go look for him; why come to me?"

The expressions of both Wang Qingyuan and Huang Defa were not very good. They exchanged a glance, and in the end, Wang Qingyuan gave a bitter smile: "It's not entirely missing. That Wang Qiong went to Qingquan Village in the Spirit Spring Ravine to discuss a medicinal herb deal, and a week has passed without a single bit of news."

"Our two families sent people to search, but they entered the mountains and didn't return either. As for the specific situation now, we have no idea."

Chen Ci blinked, glancing at Huang Defa without changing his expression. Good heavens, this old fellow's methods are quite ruthless.

However, one must clean up the mess one makes oneself. Chen Ci would not wade into this muddy water, so he put on a confused look: "Why don't you just go look again?"

Huang Defa looked helpless and said cautiously: "The two of us came to visit today to ask the True Person to step in and accompany us to see if it was just a false alarm at Qingquan Village or if there really was an incident."

Heh, so they're putting on an act now, are they?

Proving their innocence and distancing themselves from the matter?

Chen Ci waved his hand directly: "I'm very busy lately and cannot go out. You two handle it yourselves."

Having said that, he gave Huang Defa a look: How about that, your Master Chen is being reasonable enough, right?

But if they kept acting, it would be impolite.

That would require extra payment.

"No, sigh!"

Huang Defa complained repeatedly: "Don't say it's just this bit of medicinal herb business; even the Sword Master Ruan who was by Young Master Qiong's side is not someone my Huang Family can deal with. If ten old men like me were tied together, we'd probably be chopped down by a single sword."

It didn't look like acting.

But no one said your Huang Family did it. You saying it directly like that seems frank, but it's actually a blunder.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes."

Chen Ci, acting out of good intentions, quickly echoed: "This matter definitely has nothing to do with your Huang Family."

Huang Defa: "."

"True Person Chen, I would like to interject."

Wang Qingyuan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said in a low voice: "To tell the truth, based on my many years of experience, Young Master Qiong and his party are more likely than not in grave danger. This is not a small matter."

Chen Ci stifled a yawn; whether they lived or died was none of his business.

"True Person Chen may not know, but True Person Wang of the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture is the third uncle of the current Head of the Family. He went to Quanshan to seek the Dao when he was young and should be over a hundred years old by now. It is said he is preparing to strike at the Dao Foundation Realm."

"That True Person Wang never married and left no descendants, so the Wang Family is preparing to have the third branch's lineage adopted under that True Person's name. Although there has been no news from Quanshan yet... but how can such things be certain?"

Chen Ci sat up a little straighter; he understood the meaning behind it.

If a cultivator dedicates their body to the Dao, they might seek a Dao companion along the path, but they generally do not leave descendants, as it only adds a burden.

But that Longhu Mountain apprentice of the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture is nearing the end of his life; whether he attains the Dao Foundation or dies and dissipates is uncertain. Whether he will consider his legacy and leave behind a bloodline is also uncertain.

"Because of my duties, I often deal with criminal cases and need to write case files, so some things need to be clarified."

Wang Qingyuan organized his words slightly: "If this case remains unsolved, there are only four analytical reports that can be sent in the case file to Xishan Prefecture."

"The Huang Family of Changping County competed for profit with Young Master Qiong, so they have a motive."

"Within the territory of Changping County, only True Person Chen, an Apprentice of the He Mountain Sect of Sanyin Temple, has the strength."

"Qingquan Village in the Spirit Spring Ravine is the location of the disappearance."

"An unexpected accident occurred while entering the mountains, remaining unknown."

Chen Ci: "." No, wait, how did I end up eating the melon that was meant for me?

"If we can enter the mountains to confirm where the incident happened, the case file can be finalized, which will also save a lot of trouble."

Wang Qingyuan's meaning was as good as saying it outright: in Changping County, the only person with the strength to make Wang Qiong and his party disappear without a trace is Chen Ci.

Whether it was him or not, if it became an unsolved case, he would definitely write this into the case file.

"County Lieutenant Wang, are you threatening me?"

Chen Ci pondered for a moment and asked with a half-smile.

"I wouldn't dare, I hope True Person Chen will calm his anger!"

Wang Qingyuan looked bitter: "Whether I write it in the case file or not, if the Wang Family sends people to investigate, these are the only possible results."

Huang Defa's old face was also wrinkled: "A disaster from the blue, truly a disaster from the blue. I hope True Person Chen can take the two of us to Qingquan Village to take a look, sigh."

Chen Ci understood; these two fellows were also afraid of not returning, so they wanted him to lead the way.

Cowards.

Trying to use your Master Chen for free, thinking of something beautiful.

Chen Ci leaned slightly, sipped his tea, and said leisurely: "I know you two are in a hurry, but don't be in a hurry yet; your starting points are all good, but don't start yet; why? Because as far as I know, I know nothing about this matter yet, so you two go look for yourselves first. If the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture is not satisfied, they can go and invite that True Person Wang~"

It seemed he said something, yet it seemed he said nothing at all.

Huang Defa was the first to react, taking a small gift box from his sleeve that was only slightly larger than a palm: "True Person Chen, this is a Mountain Ginseng over three hundred years old. Now that the spring chill has just passed, it is just right to eat ginseng to nourish the Qi and blood."

"Hmm~"

Chen Ci nodded; whether he was in a hurry was hard to say, but the Huang Family was definitely more in a hurry than him.

"Uh, True Person, I came out in a hurry. This is a piece of evil iron, which is quite effective against ghosts and can be considered decent."

Seeing this, Wang Qingyuan also took out a somewhat damaged bronze-colored piece of metal from his bosom and placed it respectfully on the table.

"Fine, after all, this matter cannot be rushed, but it must be quick."

Chen Ci waved his sleeve, as if these two small items had never appeared, and stood up: "Bring more men. Let's be clear beforehand, just this little bit... *cough*, I don't guarantee anything."

Once the two retreated to prepare their men, Chen Ci's brows furrowed slightly; recalling the strange, eerie reports of missing people and livestock mentioned earlier, could it be that besides the Apprentices of the He Mountain Sect, someone else was also fishing in troubled waters?

"Is this Qingquan Village?"

Although the surroundings were filled with the constant chirping of birds and appeared peaceful and secluded, Chen Ci still felt a slight sense of unease.

"True Person Chen, this is the Dawu Village of Qingquan Village, and it is also where they receive outside guests; further inside is the Medicine Field of Qingquan Village, which is never open to outsiders."

Huang Defa also sensed something was wrong and said in a low voice, "In the past, whenever we arrived, someone would come out to greet us, but since it is currently the busy season for the Medicine Field, it is hard to say if they are just short-handed."

"You, and you, go call at the gate and see."

Wang Qingyuan frowned, picked one man each from the groups brought by his own family and the Huang Family, and sent them up to call at the gate.

The two did not hesitate; both were skilled men brought by the two families, so they gripped their swords and blades and walked up boldly, calling at the gate from a distance of five zhang, but they received no response.

"Search again!"

Seeing Wang Qingyuan's gesture, the two had no choice but to walk to the village gate; just then, several figures suddenly appeared on the gate, two men and one woman, who seemed to be discussing something before opening the gate and welcoming the two inside.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two quickly emerged from the village and ran back.

"Reporting to the masters, the people in the village said that a strange illness suddenly broke out in the village a few days ago, and many people fell ill; Young Master Qiong and his party are among them, and they are currently recuperating in the village."

The leader of the two panted heavily, and only after catching his breath did he continue his report: "Young Master Qiong is quite ill; the villagers told us to take Young Master Qiong back and send him to Xishan Prefecture immediately, saying he might still be saved—oh, and this is Young Master Qiong's token."

Something is wrong!

Chen Ci, Huang Defa, and Wang Qingyuan exchanged glances and all discovered the discrepancy.

Although Qi-refining cultivators also experience heat, cold, aging, sickness, and death and are not immune to all illnesses, they would certainly not be so sick that they could not walk or send word; it would be one thing if Wang Qiong were a mortal, but that Sword Master Ruan was a true expert who had stepped onto the path of cultivation after achieving Zhoutian Consummation—if their party did not come looking for them, were Wang Qiong and the others just going to wait in the village to die?

There is a problem with Qingquan Village.

But to run back without knowing the situation—Chen Ci would be fine, but if Huang Defa and Wang Qingyuan just slipped away like that, they would definitely face consequences; this was what they called being unable to act according to one's own will.

"Bring the token over first."

Wang Qingyuan waved his hand in irritation, but was stopped by Chen Ci: "Wait a moment."

Chen Ci then pulled out a Soul Fixing Talisman and threw it over: "First, slap this talisman onto the token to dispel—what the hell!"

The Soul Fixing Talisman landed on the man's hand, and it was as if a branding iron had been plunged into oil; the palm visibly caved in by a large chunk, and then the leading man fell silent for a short moment before large swaths of red smoke suddenly drifted out from his seven orifices, swirling toward the direction of Qingquan Village.

Huang Defa and Wang Qingyuan were both given a huge fright and instinctively retreated half a step, wanting to seek protection from Chen Ci, their anchor in the storm.

Yet they found that this True Person Chen had already taken up the mantle of righteousness, firmly shielding them behind him.

Then, with a Soul Fixing Talisman in each hand, he struck fiercely at those two things of unknown origin.

He hadn't even discovered what was wrong directly; heaven knows what kind of thing it was!

"Retreat, now!"

"I only earn a few coins a month, why would I risk my life?"

"Send a letter to Xishan Prefecture immediately, and request a high-ranking Daoist from Longhu Mountain to come and subdue the demons!"

Watching the human skin collapsing on the ground, Wang Qingyuan suppressed his fear, wrapped his copper mace in baleful Qi, and picked up the token and the skin; by the time he turned around, Huang Defa had already retreated more than ten zhang, and True Person Chen, a heavyweight indeed, was already fifty zhang away, with only his back visible.

Run!

Having done this much, he had already fulfilled his obligation to the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture!

(End of chapter)