Chapter 378: Almost Exposed

In the Quhui Si’s Chengcheng Office, there really is a Xu Yuan.

It’s played by Lang Xiaoba.

When Xu Yuan left, he tasked Lang Xiaoba and Mao Dabin with “cleaning up.”

Among his instructions, he told Lang Xiaoba to impersonate him—absolutely no room for Gao Wanli to detect a flaw.

Xu Yuan had not forgotten that his own yamen still harbored Gao Wanli as a mole.

After Lang Xiaoba and Mao Dabin cleared the battlefield, they returned to the yamen, and Lang Xiaoba received a so-called “assignment” to go to Luocheng.

Lang Xiaoba circled the city outskirts, then returned transformed into the likeness of Master Xu.

After that, everything proceeded as usual.

No deliberate low profile—such behavior would only invite suspicion.

Lang Xiaoba, impersonating his master, first reported to the Southern Office that he had been assassinated.

Then he ordered a citywide manhunt for the assassin’s accomplices.

Meanwhile, a strange case had arisen within Wan Yun’s jurisdiction; lacking the ability to handle it himself, he had sent a messenger to seek Master’s aid.

But the Master was assassinated on the way.

Lang Xiaoba also took the opportunity to solve the strange case himself.

Lang Xiaoba’s method perfectly mimicked every move Xu Yuan made.

Even Wan Yun, who had been by his side throughout the entire case, detected nothing amiss.

If the Princess Consort chose the second plan, she would surely be deceived by Lang Xiaoba.

…

The Princess Consort then went to the River Guard camp.

The Hejian had prepared a pool of things for her.

The task of capturing these things had been passed down: the Hejian dumped it on the Caobang , the Caobang dumped it on the Fishing Guild, and the Fishing Guild… naturally dumped it on the ordinary fishermen who lived along the river.

Because pressure from above was intense, dozens of fishermen had capsized and drowned in the past few days, never to return to shore.

Ruirui waited in the River Office for news from the four Sixth-Flowers.

Just as she had waited for Xiao Wu before.

Dafu had wandered outside the city for two days.

After eating that nest of ants, he had remained dazed and lethargic.

Today, he suddenly woke up.

Then, as if he had grown smarter, he returned to the city smoothly and found his way home without trouble.

He slinked back into the yamen’s back courtyard and curled up in his nest.

He let out a long breath.

Finally, he felt somewhat at ease.

Then he poked his head out of the nest and peered cautiously into the courtyard.

Has Fan Chezi noticed I haven’t been back in a long time?

If he finds out… he’ll surely scold me senseless.

…

“Master Xu” was not in the yamen.

They were ambushed in the western part of the city.

Ruirui waited for several hours; night was falling, yet no one returned.

But rumors had already spread through the city:

Master Xu had suffered a second assassination attempt.

Four assassins, all Sixth-Flowers!

Within just a few days, Master Xu had endured two assassination attempts—he flew into a rage and burned all four to ash with a single flame.

Ruirui went out and entered the city before the gates closed, going to the scene of the battle to inspect it herself.

The next morning, she was able to leave the city and report to the Princess Consort: “It was the Inner Fire of a Dan Cultivator.”

“To burn four Sixth-Flowers to ash in one blast, the Inner Fire must be at least Fifth-Flow.”

Lang Xiaoba carried Wang Shen’s heart.

When Wang Shen returned from Riverwork Alley this time, Master Shen gave her three medicinal plasters.

She could use them three times.

…

The four dead Sixth-Flowers didn’t matter.

It was now confirmed: the one in the Quhui Si yamen was the real Xu Yuan.

The Princess Consort set out to summon Uncle Seventeen.

Uncle Seventeen, no longer refusing, immediately departed.

The Princess Consort also sent Ruirui to summon Gao Wanli.

…

Gao Wanli firmly refused: she would not go.

I am a Sixth-Flow Artisan!

Do you know what that level of Artisan means?

In this Ming Empire, which power would dare send a craftsman of this caliber into dangerous, remote lands?

So Gao Wanli was full of confidence.

But Ruirui wore a faint smile and said, “This humble servant is of lowly status, merely a messenger. I cannot compel Master Gao to come—I shall return and report. My lord has always honored the virtuous; he will come himself to invite Master Gao.”

Gao Wanli was furious, glaring fiercely at the smiling maid.

“Fine, I’ll go,” Gao Wanli gritted out through clenched teeth.

Ruirui bowed deeply: “Master Gao, please.”

Inside, she sneered: Pretending to be so noble—still had to obey.

After Gao Wanli left, “Xu Yuan” returned with his men.

Dafu instantly felt guilty and quickly pulled his head back into his nest.

As “Xu Yuan” passed by his nest, Dafu suddenly glared with wide eyes.

He shot out of his nest with a hiss and began pecking furiously at “Xu Yuan,” cackling loudly.

Lang Xiaoba hurried to grab Dafu, intending to drag him inside and explain the truth.

Then, embarrassingly, he realized he couldn’t overpower the enraged Dafu!

After getting several bumps on his head, Lang Xiaoba covered his head and fled into the house—Dafu chased him in.

Lang Xiaoba paused, stunned: Though the process wasn’t what I expected, the outcome is the same!

Lang Xiaoba quickly shut the door, reverted to his true form, and gave a thorough explanation.

Fortunately, Gao Wanli had already left the yamen—otherwise, they might have been exposed.

…

The Princess Consort assembled her forces and headed toward Ghost Witch Mountain.

On the way, she deliberately passed through “Datianpo” village and slaughtered every single person, chicken, dog, cow, and sheep.

To fulfill Rongrong’s “last wish.”

Then the party circled Ghost Witch Mountain to Qihé Terrace Town.

Her subordinates hired a young guide in town.

Coincidentally, he was also a laborer at a newly opened inn in the town.

Xu Yuan, perched high and hidden in the mountains, gazed across at the Princess Consort’s party—and when he saw the young guide, he felt a moment of dazed recognition.

It was as if he had returned months ago, when the Holy Maiden had driven Guang into the mountains to hunt him down…

Tian Jing stood beside the Master and couldn’t help asking: “Master, how strong are they?”

Xu Yuan waved his hand, signaling Tian Jing to hurry with him.

“The old man beside the Princess Consort is a Fourth-Flow!”

Tian Jing shuddered: “Fourth-Flow?!”

But Xu Yuan remained calm: “Don’t forget, that one’s permit has been lost in Qidou Village.”

Without the permit, the mountain’s demons won’t recognize her as Princess Consort.

They’ll see only delicious, succulent flesh!

“But… even if we incite the mountain’s demons to attack them, killing a Fourth-Flow seems unlikely.”

Fourth-Flow demons dwell only on Guanghuo Street.

Xu Yuan smiled slyly: “Then we’ll have to see whether our son-in-law is up to the task.”

“Son-in-law? Who?” Tian Jing was baffled.

“Forget that for now,” Xu Yuan teased, “They’ll head to Qidou Village first—we must hurry and prepare.”

Xu Yuan swiftly moved upward toward Tongguan Cliff.

…

Gao Guanzi returned to the village and, with a grim face, ordered everyone to evacuate.

Even though he was the village’s mountain guide, many resisted his order to abandon the village.

Gao Guanzi had already prepared in advance.

He first focused on those most strongly opposed, committing them all to memory.

Only then did he gradually reveal the benefits promised by Master Xu.

When he mentioned, “Newborn children who pass inspection may live beyond the mountains,” everyone fell silent.

“Move!” Someone took the lead, and soon the entire village agreed.

The village was poor; the people had little to speak of.

After securing their grain, iron tools, fire starters, and other essentials, the entire village followed Gao Guanzi in a long procession toward Tongguan Cliff.

They left clear traces along the way, easy to follow.

(End of Chapter)