Chapter 372: Try Out the Quality (Combined Three-in-One)

The maid bowed and withdrew to make arrangements.

The River Inspector, listening nearby, felt his eyelid twitch.

The Princess Consort truly has influence—Master Ruan Tian's permit, in the eyes of people like them, is a document guaranteeing "daily gold influx"!

Yet the Princess Consort casually pulled out one.

The River Inspector's eagerness to flatter surged; he bowed forward and said, "Everything you requested has been prepared."

"Lead me there."

"As you command."

The barracks where the river camp was previously stationed have not yet been torn down.

The River Inspector had assigned strict guards.

In the center of the camp, where the commander's tent once stood, a massive pit had been dug.

It measured fifteen zhang in length and width.

The pit was filled with water, murky and thick.

Bubbles occasionally rose to the surface, proving something truly lived within.

The Princess Consort stood before the pit, her nose twitching slightly.

The cracks on her skin widened further with the motion.

She grimaced in pain.

But she sensed every scent in the water—and was satisfied with the River Inspector: "Good."

The River Inspector, thrilled by the praise, rubbed his hands together: "Time was short, so I could only gather these for now. Your Highness, rest assured—I've ordered the Canal Guild to spare no lives and capture as many as possible; more will arrive soon."

"You've done well." The Princess Consort nodded, walking toward the pit: "All of you, withdraw."

"As you command."

The River Inspector and Gao Wanli and others swiftly retreated.

The two burly Wu Xiu accompanying the Princess Consort took up positions beside the pit, hands on their blades, facing outward, eyes like falcons, killing intent radiating from their bodies, forbidding anyone from approaching.

As the Princess Consort reached the edge of the pit, her entire robe fell to the ground.

Then she stepped bare-skinned into the water.

The surface instantly boiled like a pot.

Countless water snakes, eels, crocodiles, loaches, turtles, and more, as if seized by the strongest temptation, rushed toward her without hesitation.

The Princess Consort relaxed her entire body, floating motionless like a corpse upon the water.

Three or four out of ten of these creatures were demonic!

They bit and tore relentlessly, peeling off scales and skin from the Princess Consort, greedily swallowing them down!

The Princess Consort endured unbearable pain, gritting her teeth in silence.

Yet the hundreds of water snakes and crocodiles had only torn off less than one-tenth of her scales and skin.

Anything that had been swallowed soon flipped belly-up, floating to the surface.

Poisoned to death.

The water churned violently for about a quarter-hour, until all the creatures in the pit were dead.

All fell silent again.

After the excruciating pain, the Princess Consort let out a deeply soothing moan.

Then she stepped out of the water and redressed herself.

"Return."

…

Gao Wanli fussed over her, carefully accompanying the Princess Consort through a meal, then was dismissed.

On the way back, Gao Wanli seethed with complaints.

"I always heard the Xiang Prince's Princess Consort was a pretender—but I never imagined she could be this theatrical!"

"She sends a mere maid to confront the greatest demonic entity in Ghost Wushan—tch, tch, tch—even the River Dragon King himself wouldn't dare such a display!"

"If Master Ruan Tian could be so easily controlled, Ghost Wushan wouldn't exist."

She grumbled inwardly as she returned to the Zhancheng Office, and at the gate of her courtyard, she saw Lang Xiao Ba passing by—heading straight toward Xu Yuan's direction.

Gao Wanli shot a suspicious glance that way and cursed: "They're spying on me now?"

"You're about to meet disaster, hmph!"

…

Lang Xiao Ba reported to Master Xu: Gao Wanli has returned.

Xu Yuan nodded.

Not long after, Miao Yan arrived.

The San Niang Society had already infiltrated the Canal Guild.

Miao Yan came to report to Master Xu everything that had transpired at the dock today.

A while later, Zhu Zhanlei strolled in: "I found out—it's the Xiang Prince's Princess Consort."

Xu Yuan asked: "More details?"

Zhu Zhanlei grinned: "Getting you this info wasn't easy, hehehe."

Xu Yuan said: "Then I'll deposit five hundred taels into Baiyue Pavilion for you?"

Zhu Zhanlei waved his hand: "Don't bother! I haven't even spent the last deposit—then my sister went and wiped it all out!"

Not just mine—my brother-in-law still had twelve hundred taels there, and she drained that too!

Sigh, sigh, sigh—

"The two of us now dare to be angry at Zhu Sanya but dare not speak out."

"Hahaha," Xu Yuan couldn't help but laugh heartily: "Then what do you say we do?"

"We are friends," Zhu Zhanlei suddenly said: "Friends ought to help each other, right."

"That is natural."

"This time I helped you; next time you have an opportunity to earn merit, don't forget to call me."

Xu Yuan made a gesture: "Absolutely no problem."

Zhu Zhanlei then said: "The Heir Consort has been stuck at the Fifth-Rank for four or five years. It is said she found the method to advance to Fourth-Rank long ago, yet for some reason has been unable to break through.

The Xiang Wang Fu values this Heir Consort highly; even that Heir... it is said he is quite afraid of his wife.

Outsiders say that to get Xiang Wang to handle a matter, one need not beg Xiang Wang; as long as the Heir Consort agrees, the matter is half done."

Speaking to this point, Zhu Zhanlei paused slightly, then lowered his voice: "There is another matter. About four years ago, when the Heir Consort began preparing to advance to Fourth-Rank, the Xiang Wang Fu suddenly replaced a batch of servants.

About eighty percent of the servants were replaced.

The Xiang Wang Fu told outsiders that these people were old, and out of consideration for their age and frailty, they were given settlement funds and dismissed.

But in reality, these people should all be dead. There are even rumors that overnight, all of them died from poison!"

Xu Yuan frowned: "Because of the Heir Consort?"

"What kind of 'Dragon' the Heir Consort truly is, outsiders have never known. But after this matter, everyone speculates that this 'Dragon' is extremely poisonous!"

Xu Yuan had an idea in mind, nodded slowly, while calculating that he must contact Bai Laoyan and Gao Guanzi to send him more medicinal herbs, to perform a major enhancement on his Medicine Pill.

Zhu Zhanlei then asked: "Why are you watching her?"

"She was invited by Gao Wanli."

Zhu Zhanlei was impatient to deal with such matters of the yamen, so he asked no more.

"Let's go drink."

"To Bai Yue Guan again?"

Zhu Zhanlei clicked his teeth: "Old Xu, something is off with you. Recently you seem very afraid to go to Bai Yue Guan?"

"Nonsense!" Xu Yuan's voice involuntarily rose: "This official simply does not like Bai Yue Guan."

Zhu Zhanlei stared at him suspiciously, making Xu Yuan feel very guilty as he racked his brain to think up various excuses... Zhu Zhanlei waved his hand: "Forget it, if you don't want to go, then don't."

Xu Yuan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The River Supervisor personally presided, while the Grand Steward of the Canal Gang, leading dozens of trusted subordinates, was carefully hauling those poisoned things up from the giant pit.

The Grand Steward of the Canal Gang on the original dock had died mysteriously not long ago.

But for the River Supervisor, it was merely a matter of swapping one "head dog."

Within the Canal Gang, several lives were lost in the struggle for this "head dog" position.

This current Grand Steward is valued highly by the River Supervisor even more than the previous one.

"Be careful," the River Supervisor said: "Absolutely do not touch or get them on you."

The Canal Gang people hauled all the corpses up, carefully packing them into several sealed large boxes.

Then they transported them out, preparing to find a place to bury them deeply.

But after transporting them out, the people responsible for burying them got lazy and simply dug a hole to bury them.

They did not notice there was an ant nest nearby.

By afternoon, a big white goose wobbled its way to the city outskirts.

Da Fu had been starving these past few days.

Evil spirits had vanished from the City Occupation Office.

Da Fu had turned over every water channel in the yamen, finding only ordinary insects.

After eating, he still felt empty in his belly.

When on patrol at the Nancheng Duty Station, Da Fu could still go out to hunt wild food.

Although evil spirits had vanished from the few streets nearby, if he walked a bit further, he could still find good food.

But this side of the City Occupation Office also has the Shanhe Office yamen.

In a large surrounding area, the number of evil spirits was scarce.

After Da Fu came out, he walked and walked, then discovered: he was lost!

He panicked, wanting to return.

Searching here and there, he failed to return, and instead ended up all the way out of the city.

Then he discovered: the city outskirts are great; he quickly found a huge nest of insects.

And they were the fierce kind; Da Fu ate until he was half full in one go.

Then he went to search for the next nest.

Searching and searching, he found a nest of ants.

The Heir Consort's thoughts are profound.

She wanted to use Gao Wanli, but did not want Gao Wanli to know her full arrangements.

After sending Gao Wanli away, the Heir Consort called out: "Xiao Wu."

A subordinate appeared: "Subordinate Shu is here."

"Go watch the Evil-Dispelling Office. If Xu Yuan appears, act to test him, to see if he has secretly practiced the 'Dragon Transformation Method'."

Xiao Wu then asked: "To what extent should I test?"

The Heir Consort said indifferently: "If there are truly traces of the 'Dragon Transformation Method' on his person, then kill him, capture his soul, interrogate him carefully, and see if he has leaked it to anyone else."

After all, as the Chief Lawkeeper of the Pollution-Removal Bureau, the Princess Consort still had some reservations; if Xu Yuan had not secretly practiced the "Dragon Transformation Method," it would be wrong to kill him without clear cause.

"As you command!"

Xiao Wu was a family general raised from childhood by the Wang Fu.

A Fifth-Rank Wu Xiu!

Having received the order, Xiao Wu came out and selected another Sixth-Rank Fa Xiu and a Sixth-Rank Wen Xiu to act alongside him.

Gao Wanli had already informed the Princess Consort that Xu Yuan had advanced to Fifth-Rank.

Xiao Wu couldn't help but look at Xu Yuan with a bit more respect.

To reach Fifth-Rank at such a young age; at his own age, he was far inferior to him.

So Xiao Wu, being cautious, found two helpers.

"The target is a Fifth-Rank Dan Xiu who also practices the 'Merchant Art'." Xiao Wu detailed the situation to the two of them.

"He might also have practiced the 'Dragon Transformation Method'."

"The proficiency in the Merchant Art and the Dragon Transformation Method should not exceed Sixth-Rank."

"I will take the main attack; Old Chu will assist me."

Old Chu was that Fa Xiu.

"Hong Huai, you stay on the periphery and use the talismans to restrict the target's movements as much as possible."

"Good." The two agreed together.

"If he truly cultivates the Dragon Transformation Method, his physical strength likely won't be inferior to mine. I will block him head-on; Old Chu, you must strike decisively. Do not fear injuring me; I cannot die."

All Wu Xiu were very confident; at the same rank, they could kill any opponent!

Wu Xiu were born for slaughter.

But since they were serving the Princess Consort, Xiao Wu still had to arrange everything meticulously.

"If..." Xiao Wu still made an arrangement: "If the operation fails, Hong Huai, you must retreat immediately. Do not worry about us two; take the intelligence we bought with our lives to the Princess Consort!"

Hong Huai smiled: "I understand, Fifth Brother. You always have to state such an arrangement; not stating it would be negligence. But it truly won't be needed."

Old Chu also teased: "Although your Fifth Brother is a Wu Xiu, he grew up inside the Wang Fu. Having read so many books, he always has some 'heroic' fantasies."

Xiao Wu glared: "Do not be frivolous! Serving the Princess Consort is no game!"

The two could only stop smiling and said together: "We have all noted it."

Xiao Wu nodded: "Prepare yourselves; we depart immediately."

From the bottom of his heart, Xiao Wu did not think the final arrangement would be needed.

This was out of confidence in his own strength and recognition of Old Chu.

Old Chu's technique was very special.

The three changed their clothes and arrived outside the Zhan Cheng Office.

They did not gather together.

They separated upon entering the city, pretending not to know each other.

But they were all within each other's line of sight.

At the street corner of the Zhan Cheng Office, there was a tea house; Xiao Wu sat in a seat by the window on the first floor.

He could clearly see the situation on the street.

When the time came to act, he could charge out directly.

There was another very important point: it allowed his two companions to clearly see every move he made, facilitating their coordination.

Old Chu was in the bookshop diagonally opposite; Hong Huai, having obtained a set of attire from somewhere, disguised himself as a fortune-teller on the other side of the street. At this moment, he was holding a beautiful woman's hand, seriously reading her palm.

He also took the opportunity to rub the woman's hand a few times.

They waited until evening, but Xu Yuan did not come out.

Xiao Wu couldn't help but silently shake his head; it seemed they had come for nothing today.

He prepared to stand up and leave, but suddenly saw a Captain from the Pollution-Removal Bureau running through the street and rushing into the government office.

Xiao Wu thought for a moment, then sat back down.

Not long after, he saw Xu Yuan leading several Captains hurrying eastward.

Xiao Wu stood up, placed a stack of copper coins on the table, and then followed at a leisurely pace.

Old Chu and Hong Huai also followed.

Roughly at the position between the Zhan Cheng Office and the East City Patrol Station, Xiao Wu wiped his face with his hand.

A layer of milky-white film covered his face.

This was also an artisan-made object; its standard was not high, but it could conceal his face without affecting his vision.

If Xiao Wu died, this artisan-made object would immediately devour his facial skin.

Thus, his identity would not be revealed by his appearance.

This action of his was also the signal to attack.

Old Chu, in the shadows, circled around to the front of Xu Yuan's group.

Hong Huai silently slipped into a nearby alley, climbed onto the roof, and lay there, holding several talismans in his hand.

Xiao Wu flicked his sleeve, and a pair of palm-wide short blades appeared in his hands. He swung both arms, and his entire body became like a heavy and massive blade wheel, rushing over Xu Yuan with a whooshing sound.

Xu Yuan had only brought Mao Dabin and Lang Xiao Ba, along with the Captain who had come from Wan Yun's subordinates to deliver the news.

Lang Xiao Ba reacted immediately; while turning around, he had already drawn his sidearm, cursing angrily: "You villain!"

He slashed forward with a single strike.

Clang!

Lang Xiao Ba's dagger flew high into the air.

Whether in the standards of a Wu Xiu or a Fa Xiu, he was far inferior to Xiao Wu.

Sss—

Xiao Wu slashed his blade across the man's chest. He had thought this strike would slit open the dog's belly, but as the blade passed, Xiao Wu felt something was wrong with the sensation.

He had already surged past Lang Xiao Ba, but only upon turning his head did he discover a layer of skin covering Lang Xiao Ba's chest.

Lang Xiao Ba's clothes were all sliced open, yet this layer of skin, whatever it was, had withstood his strike, leaving only a white mark!

Xu Yuan had also become alert the moment Xiao Wu moved.

But the speed of a fifth-rate Wu Xiu was too fast; Xu Yuan could only manage to flick out a Skin Pill, saving Lang Xiao Ba's life.

Lang Xiao Ba's face was pale, his soul still shaken.

Xiao Wu had already surged forward, twin blades fluttering, body following the blades as he rushed straight at Xu Yuan.

Mao Dabin slapped his body, and with a clatter, eight mechanical arms unfolded from his back like fan ribs.

Hanging from each mechanical arm were short guns, hand cannons, and the like.

Recently, Mao Dabin had carefully sought instruction from Lin Wanmo several times, and his craftsmanship had increased greatly.

Boom boom boom...

Bullets hammered into Xiao Wu's body.

Xiao Wu paid them no mind; instead, the bullets were blasted straight back!

"Ah!" Mao Dabin let out a scream of agony; several bloody holes appeared on his body! He had been wounded by his own bullets rebounding.

Xiao Wu clapped his hands together, and two broad, thick short blades thrust simultaneously toward Xu Yuan's face.

At the same time, a pale yellow hue flashed across Xiao Wu's face.

Strength surged violently by several degrees.

On the twin blades, three feet of yellow light also spat out!

Xu Yuan's Sword Orb flew out, crashing heavily against the twin blades.

Clang!

When the Sword Orb met the twin blades, a deafening roar erupted.

Xu Yuan retreated two steps, but Xiao Wu did not retreat; instead, he advanced, the twin blades dancing with bright, snowy blade flowers as he pressed forward with relentless cuts and slashes.

The yellow light on his face grew even more intense.

The yellow light on the twin blades extended further, reaching five feet in length!

This was the Wu Xiu's "Five Organs Qi."

When a Wu Xiu reaches the sixth rank, they can cultivate the Five Organs Qi; different internal organs correspond to different colors.

The Five Organs Qi can attach to the body or weapons.

For a Wu Xiu, the Five Organs Qi is the all-purpose Qi.

It can greatly increase physical strength, protect the body, enhance attacks, and so on.

For instance, these twin blades are sixth-rate craft items; after being enhanced by the Five Organs Qi, they dared to clash directly with Xu Yuan's fifth-rate Sword Orb!

Xu Yuan shifted his mind, and a pair of Dragon-Slaying Swords flew out, blocking Xiao Wu's twin blades on left and right, yet they could not withstand Xiao Wu's formidable strength and were pushed back step by step.

Meanwhile, the Sword Orb had silently circled around to Xiao Wu's back.

Sss!

The Sword Orb had also formed a one-foot-long flying sword, piercing Xiao Wu's back.

But with a loud shout from Xiao Wu, the flesh and skin on his back tightened; relying on an incredible physique, he actually clamped the flying sword in place!

The flying sword had only penetrated two inches before it could move no further.

After that shout, Xiao Wu's body expanded again, growing a size larger than before; standing before Xu Yuan, he looked like a giant.

He pressed down violently, forcing the pair of Dragon-Slaying Swords down until they nearly crushed Xu Yuan's face.

Suddenly, Xiao Wu opened his mouth: Pfft—

A mass of sharp Qi shot out, no less formidable than a fifth-rate Sword Orb!

This was Xiao Wu's Wu Mi: injuring others with Qi!

Xu Yuan suddenly snapped open a folding fan with a clap.

At the very instant the bright yellow sharp Qi sprayed onto his face, Xu Yuan vanished.

Immediately after, Xu Yuan fell from the sky dozens of zhang away, crashing through a roof with a crack.

Xu Yuan's face was as calm as water as he closed the folding fan.

At the same time, the pair of Dragon-Slaying Swords flew back into the sword case behind him.

A pair of weapons appeared in Xu Yuan's hands.

The object in his right hand resembled both a sword and a spike.

In his left hand was a bell.

Connecting the two objects was a long, thin chain.

Xu Yuan shook the bell: Dangling-dangling...

Immediately, Xiao Wu felt heavy-headed and light-footed, his soul trembling, and he crashed heavily to the ground.

Xu Yuan had already arrived at blinding speed, riding fire wheels, and his right-hand long spike pierced Xiao Wu's back with a sss!

Xiao Wu's formidable fifth-rate physique could not withstand this craft item.

This was what his stepmother had just handed to Xu Yuan after emerging from seclusion this morning.

It was a fourth-rate craft item finally forged after merging Qi Yue's Guise Spike, the shell, the three hairpins, the counting rods, and Xu Yuan's previous carriage bell, consuming great effort and mental energy!

Xiao Wu slammed his head hard against the ground: Dong!

The ground shattered instantly.

A massive shockwave spread outward like rippling water from the point of impact.

Xu Yuan was caught off guard and blasted flying.

This was Xiao Wu's second Wu Mi: War Drum Beats!

It was originally performed by stomping the ground, but Xiao Wu, lying flat, simply used his head instead.

Xiao Wu sprang up quickly, spat out a mouthful of blood, then drew a deep breath as yellow light spread over his body.

The wounds on his back sealed shut, not a single drop of blood leaking out.

He gripped his twin blades and roared at Xu Yuan: "Come on! What else have you got? Use it all on me!"

Xiao Wu felt a faint unease, but he had to test it out—this guy had definitely practiced the Dragon Transformation Art.

Xu Yuan was blasted eight to seven zhang away, stumbled upon landing, as if his physique wasn't particularly robust.

Xiao Wu slammed his foot into the earth and crashed forward with a thunderous roar, his twin blades leaving countless afterimages too fast to react to.

Swish-swish-swish—

Each blade sliced toward Xu Yuan.

Suddenly, something tangled around his feet, and he crashed to the ground with a boom.

The rope that had bound his feet tightened rapidly, spreading into a vast net that wrapped him entirely.

"Think you can trap me? Dream on!"

Xiao Wu unleashed all his strength and actually pried the net open!

Xu Yuan was startled—this was the first time anyone had torn free from Beast Sinew Rope.

Wu Xiu are truly formidable!

Xu Yuan had seized this opportunity and charged in.

Xiao Wu let out a "Hah!" and spat out another "Qi-Infused Injury."

Xu Yuan had anticipated it—he twisted aside and donned his Pi Dan.

A bright yellow stream of qi slashed across the Pi Dan and slammed into the ground beside Xu Yuan, leaving a deep black hole.

Xu Yuan thrust forward—his long spike drove upward into Xiao Wu's abdomen.

Xiao Wu screamed again, slammed his blade against the spike, and knocked it clean out of his belly.

Xu Yuan's hand went numb; the spike slipped from his grip.

But the chain was still attached to the bell in his other hand.

Xu Yuan retreated swiftly, but Xiao Wu chased after him and kicked down.

Xu Yuan's Huo Lun accelerated violently; Xiao Wu's kick missed, but when his foot hit the ground, there was a deep "Dong!" as another shockwave erupted.

Xu Yuan was tossed like a leaf in a gale, spinning wildly through the air.

At that exact moment, Lao Chu suddenly appeared, moving as agile as a rabbit, arriving before Xu My Lord and slapping a receipt onto Xu Yuan's body:

"Tax collection!"

"Head tax: one in ten!"

Lao Chu cultivates the Tax Law!

Once activated, it enforces taxation without reason.

How much he collects is entirely up to him.

This method is exceptionally tyrannical, but has one grave flaw: you must make the target accept your tax receipt.

If the target refuses it, there is no recipient for the tax.

The method cannot be completed.

Even though Xu Yuan is Fifth Stream, far superior to Lao Chu, if he accepts the receipt, Lao Chu can still tax him!

Lao Chu had been hiding, waiting for this exact moment—Xu Yuan had just been struck by the second "War Drum Beats" Wu Mi; he should be dazed and unable to dodge Lao Chu's "delivery."

But when Lao Chu shouted "Tax collection!", he failed to extract one-tenth of Xu Yuan's life force.

Lao Chu felt his method had failed!

"How could this…?"

The receipt was wrapped in the Pi Dan.

A burst of flame erupted from within, burning the receipt to ash.

When Xiao Wu lunged, Xu Yuan had already activated "Wang Ming" to take a glance.

It was a combat instinct.

Naturally, he saw Lao Chu beside him and Hong Huai hiding nearby.

Someone was trying to assassinate him, and two Sixth Streams were lurking—must be accomplices.

(End of Chapter)