Chapter 392: Lord Da Fu Ventures My Anger (Three-in-One)

Xu Yuan's heart stirred, and he asked, "Oh? Why would that be?"

For anecdotes of this sort, Zhu Zhanlei, a prodigal from a great surname, would always go to great lengths to find out every detail.

The purpose was to brag to people like Xu Yuan.

Thus, Zhu Zhanlei perked up and spoke rapidly, "Our cultivators from the Seven Great Sects, plus countless 'heterodox' paths, cultivate and cultivate; what exactly are they cultivating?"

Of course, Old Xu, who had returned from the dead, had already told Xu Yuan about this matter.

But Xu Yuan still played along and asked, "What are they cultivating?"

Zhu Zhanlei made a powerful gesture, thinking his words were shocking: "What they cultivate is actually evil spirits! Our entire set of skills and various abilities can actually be traced back to evil spirits and anomalies!"

Xu Yuan successively displayed expressions of great surprise, deep thought, and sudden realization: "It seems... that really is the case."

Zhu Zhanlei's emotions were fully satisfied.

"Therefore, cultivators must constantly watch for their own contamination; if it becomes somewhat uncontrollable, they must immediately find a way to deal with it.

However, the higher the level, the more this contamination accumulates, and the harder it is to clean."

Xu Yuan nodded: "Exactly so."

"Some cultivators, when advancing their level, used very extreme methods, so the contamination their bodies received was even greater.

With such accumulation over and over again, just think how terrifying it must be to reach the Third Rank!"

Zhu Zhanlei then began to speak of that one in the Xiang Wang Fu: "Like these family generals in the Wang Fu, the sole purpose for which the Wang Fu supports them is to let them constantly advance, and then serve the Wang Fu.

Therefore, as long as they can advance, hidden dangers are often deliberately ignored, and no matter what means, they are used on them.

That 'Lord' is a spirit cultivator; advancing to the Third Rank was already very difficult for him.

It is said that after succeeding, he immediately found a place where earth flames surged, lived in seclusion, and used external forces to suppress the yin energy within his body.

From the time he advanced to the Third Rank until now, he has only acted twice in total.

Originally, when he advanced, he had already passed one hundred years of age, with very little lifespan remaining.

Everyone guesses that that Lord can act at most two more times.

The Xiang Wang Fu relies entirely on him to hold up its face; the Crown Princess is already dead, and moreover, this is not just a matter for the Xiang Wang Fu; the Fu family and the Canal Office are both involved, so the Xiang Wang may not be willing to let that Lord act."

Xu Yuan asked, "Are all those in the Upper Three Ranks like this?"

"Of course not," Zhu Zhanlei said. "There are many brilliant and extraordinary figures in both the Northern and Southern Capitals; if they advance by normal means, they can act without any reservations.

However, there is a consensus: only advancing to the Upper Three Ranks before the age of fifty makes one a true Upper Rank!"

Xu Yuan nodded; his father really hadn't told him about these things.

Playing along with Zhu Zhanlei once had its rewards.

Counting this way, the only true Upper Rank in the family currently is the stepmother.

The situation of Aunt Wang and the others is similar to that 'Lord' in the Xiang Wang Fu.

"In that case," Xu Yuan said, "the only experts who can come this time are these two Fourth Rank officials from the Canal Office?"

"That is not necessarily so; the Fu family will certainly send people, but the Fu family has no Upper Three Ranks, at most Fourth Rank, it seems there are a few of them."

Xu Yuan calculated in his heart: Fourth Rank... even if four were gathered, they would probably not be able to do anything about the Ancient Corpse Empress.

While speaking, they passed the Canal Office.

Xu Yuan was puzzled: "Are we not going in?"

Zhu Zhanlei slapped his forehead: "What I just told you was inaccurate; those two Fourth Rank my lords are about to arrive. An Chengyuan asked me to call you to go to the dock together to welcome them."

An Chengyuan had already taken people and gone ahead.

Since a great figure was to be welcomed today, the dock had been specially cleared.

The other cargo ships could only wait on the river and could not approach the dock to unload.

An Chengyuan, wearing official robes, with a serious expression, gazed at the upper reaches of the canal.

When Zhu Zhanlei and Xu Yuan arrived, An Chengyuan didn't even look at them.

Behind Miao Yu waved to the two of them, inviting them to come over and stand beside him.

Xu Yuan did not say much.

But in reality, since he represented the Pollution-Exorcising Bureau, he should have had a dedicated spot.

In this case, An Chengyuan deliberately suppressed the Pollution-Exorcising Bureau, yet stubbornly held him back from leaving.

All these behaviors were simply the standard conduct of a Huang Ming bureaucrat.

Xu Yuan secretly glanced around and, not far beside An Chengyuan, discovered Gao Wanli and the Zhan Chenghe Supervisor.

Although the two had been held accountable, they were not criminals after all, so they were also brought along.

Moreover, their position was even better than Xu Yuan's.

Xu Yuan shook his head inwardly.

Dozens of officials, big and small, waited on the dock for a full shichen; it had already passed lunchtime.

But since An Chengyuan had not given the word, everyone could only endure their hunger.

Finally, a large ship sailed down from the upper reaches.

Seeing this ship, Gao Wanli's eyes immediately lit up; it was forged using the new craftsmen's techniques.

When the large ship docked, An Chengyuan immediately went to welcome them; after a round of formalities, An Chengyuan introduced the main officials who had come to welcome them to the two Fourth Ranks; of course, Xu Yuan was not included.

Afterwards, he welcomed the two Fourth Ranks back to the Canal Office.

After entering the office, An Chengyuan ordered someone to introduce the case details and the recent "investigation progress" to the two.

The one responsible for the introduction was another River Patrol Envoy under An Chengyuan, named Huang Ze.

This one spoke eloquently, detailing all the various measures taken by my lord An since arriving in Zhan Chenghe.

At first hearing, it really seemed like many things had been done.

Thinking again, there was no harvest at all.

The two Fourth-Rank officials held high posts in the Canal Office; in terms of rank, they were half a level above An Chengyuan.

Moreover, one of them, Luo Gongqiao, was the inspector of the Tianxu Tower within the Canal Office.

The Tianxu Tower was the department of the Canal Office specifically dedicated to investigating internal corruption, violations, and dereliction of duty.

After Huang Ze finished speaking, Luo Gongqiao asked coldly, "So, you have been in Champa for seven or eight days, yet have made no progress whatsoever?"

Silence immediately fell over the official hall.

Everyone lowered their heads.

A moment later, An Chengyuan cleared his throat and said, "My Lord Luo, the case is complex, and it involves Ghost Wushan. Before you two lords arrived, we dared not act rashly."

Luo Gongqiao snorted and said, "Then what preparations has Lord An made? You fear Ghost Wushan, but since the case occurred within Ghost Wushan, we must enter the mountains, and guides must be prepared in advance, correct?"

An Chengyuan had indeed made no preparations.

He believed that within the local Shanhe Office and the Canal Office, there must be people familiar with Ghost Wushan, and he could simply order them to be found when the time came.

But now Luo Gongqiao was clearly trying to establish his authority; if he admitted this, he feared he would not pass muster.

An Chengyuan suddenly had an idea, bowed, and said, "Replying to my lord, it has indeed been arranged. Xu Yuan, the Chief Law Officer of the Quhui Bureau's Champa Office, is a native of Shanhe County, has entered and exited Ghost Wushan many times, and is the most suitable person to serve as guide."

Xu Yuan was stunned. You corrupt official, you think of me only at this moment?

Luo Gongqiao nodded: "Where is Xu Yuan?"

Lord Xu stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This humble official is present."

"Lord An has recommended you; you must devote yourself to the task and not be negligent or careless!"

Xu Yuan, however, did not intend to give An Chengyuan this face: "Replying to Lord Luo, this humble official is here only to assist in the case. Previously, Lord An never informed this humble official that he was to serve as this guide."

"Hmm?" Luo Gongqiao frowned and looked displeasedly at An Chengyuan.

An Chengyuan remained calm and said, "I invited Lord Xu here precisely for this purpose. Otherwise, with the Canal Office full of talented people, why would we need someone from the Quhui Bureau?"

Xu Yuan still did not intend to give An Chengyuan face, stating firmly: "This humble official is not a suitable candidate. Although this humble official has indeed entered and exited Ghost Wushan several times, each time I also needed to find someone from the mountains to lead the way. The task Lord An has assigned, this humble official cannot perform."

"Moreover, the case is grave and involves many parties; this humble official dares not delay the progress."

An Chengyuan was truly angered; this young man was truly ungrateful!

He secretly gave Xu Yuan a fierce glare.

Xu Yuan pretended not to see it.

I am a person of the Quhui Bureau, merely cooperating with you on the case.

Luo Gongqiao's gaze moved back and forth between An Chengyuan and Xu Yuan several times—even with his extensive experience and seasoned wisdom, he did not know what to do.

He had encountered many officials like An Chengyuan, old hands at the bureaucracy who held office without doing work and were full of their own petty calculations.

He had also encountered officials like Xu Yuan, young and fiery, unaware of their own importance, who never knew what it meant to "put the greater good first."

Situations where the two clashed were rare, but they had happened before.

Luo Gongqiao could easily handle such situations.

But today's situation was different: An Chengyuan was an old bureaucrat of the Canal Office, while Xu Yuan was a greenhorn from the Quhui Bureau!

An Chengyuan wanted to shift the blame to Xu Yuan, while Xu Yuan firmly refused to take it.

Luo Gongqiao could not reprimand Xu Yuan, because doing so carried extreme risk; if Xu Yuan could refuse to give An Chengyuan face, he might also refuse to give Luo Gongqiao face.

If they truly argued in public, Luo Gongqiao would not only fail to "establish his authority" but would also lose all face!

Could he, relying on his Fourth-Rank strength, kill a Chief Law Officer of the Quhui Bureau right there on the spot?

Nor could he reprimand An Chengyuan.

Although Luo Gongqiao wanted to use An Chengyuan to "kill the chicken to scare the monkey," An Chengyuan was, after all, one of their own from the Canal Office.

Reprimanding An Chengyuan at this moment would make him appear to be protecting outsiders while suppressing his own people.

The "Tianxu Tower" already had a bad reputation within the Canal Office for "investigating their own people"...

Luo Gongqiao found himself stuck in this predicament.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, yet he did not know where to vent his fury.

An Chengyuan was furious; this rascal had made him lose face before two Fourth-Rank officials!

He bluntly scolded: "Your superior has given an order; you must obey it. How can you make excuses and refuse!"

Xu Yuan refused to give face to the end, retorting immediately: "I am a person of the Quhui Bureau; you are actually not my superior."

Luo Gongqiao slammed the table, swept his sleeve, and left: "Nonsense!"

An Chengyuan glared at Xu Yuan with a sinister look, then hurriedly went to chase after Luo Gongqiao.

The other Canal Office officials also hurriedly followed.

They left with a clatter, all gone.

Inside the official hall, only Xu Yuan, Xiang Qinghuai, and Zhu Zhanlei remained.

Zhu Zhanlei raised his eyebrows and smiled: "You are impressive! You put both Luo Gongqiao and An Chengyuan in a position where they lost face."

Zhu Zhanlei gave a thumbs-up; he was not joking, he truly admired him.

The status and position of Luo Gongqiao and An Chengyuan were not low throughout the entire Huangming Empire.

Moreover, both were veteran bureaucrats, yet Xu Yuan had managed to anger them both into leaving.

Xiang Qinghuai was deeply worried: "You were too impulsive; An Chengyuan will surely hold a grudge..."

Xu Yuan said, "Brother Xiang, he has long held a grudge. From the moment we arrived at the dock, he has been finding fault with us, hasn't he?"

Xiang Qinghuai opened his mouth, but in the end could only nod helplessly.

"Since that is the case, why bother pretending to be polite? Just take this opportunity to let them know that people of the Quhui Bureau also have tempers!"

If you don't prick a thorn, people will think you are a soft persimmon and keep manipulating you.

Xiang Qinghuai was still very worried, but since matters had come to this, saying anything else was meaningless.

Xu Yuan asked Zhu Zhanlei: "Everyone else has gone to apologize to Luo Gongqiao; why didn't you go?"

"I'm not going." Zhu Zhanlei's eyes darted away.

Xu Yuan saw there was a reason and smiled as he looked at him.

Zhu Zhanlei waved his hand: "Let's go back first."

Once out of the yamen and in the courtyard where Xu Yuan was temporarily staying, Zhu Zhanlei said: "The other fourth-rank, Shen Chen, has a subordinate named Xu Miaozhi among his troops. I have some history with her, so I'm afraid the coming days won't be easy for me."

Hearing that name, Xu Yuan asked: "A woman?"

Zhu Zhanlei, angry and ashamed, retorted: "What kind of look is that? It's not what you think! This young master has no interest in such things as seducing and then abandoning.

This young master always settles accounts with money and goods!

If I truly took advantage of a Miss, I would definitely arrange everything properly. Whatever the Miss wants, I give her!"

Xu Yuan frowned. Isn't this the same as going to the White Moon Pavilion? How can you say it so righteously?

"So how exactly did this history begin?"

Zhu Zhanlei humphed: "Back then, my family intended to arrange a marriage between us. We met and looked each other over. She was quite willing, but I didn't take a fancy to her.

She then hated me.

Every day outside, she said I had hurt her heart and vowed to become someone I could never aspire to reach.

Since then, she threw herself wholeheartedly into the yamen. As a result, not only did she rise to the position of River Patrol Envoy in just three years, but I also heard her future is very promising. It's possible this young master truly can't aspire to reach her anymore..."

Listening, Xu Yuan laughed: "You're still just a minor patrol inspector?"

Zhu Zhanlei blushed: "This young master's ambitions lie elsewhere."

"Enough, stop making excuses for yourself." Xu Yuan bluntly exposed him: "Even if you tried your hardest to compete, you couldn't beat her."

Zhu Zhanlei was unconvinced, but Xu Yuan waved his hand to cut him off and added: "Have you ever considered that perhaps she didn't take a fancy to you either?"

"How is that possible!" Zhu Zhanlei raised his voice, extremely confident: "She hates me because of love!"

Xiang Qinghuai also saw through the situation and covered his mouth, giggling on the side.

Zhu Zhanlei, ashamed and annoyed: "What are you laughing at?"

Xiang Qinghuai, having long figured out the temperament of this aristocratic prodigal, spoke directly: "Young Master Zhu, that Xu Miaozhi is likely using you as an excuse to deal with her family. From now on, her family won't be able to force her into marriage. She originally aspired to the officialdom and didn't want to be an ordinary woman who just supports her husband and raises children."

Zhu Zhanlei, puzzled, scratched his head and thought and thought: "Really?"

Xiang Qinghuai comforted him again: "Of course, it's also possible that I and Lord Xu guessed wrong, and the truth is she hates you because of love for your handsome and dashing self."

Zhu Zhanlei then felt relieved: "It must be so!"

By dinner time, Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanmei arrived.

"Lord Luo said that the two fourth-ranks from the Fu family will also arrive the day after tomorrow. Everyone should prepare for these two days. Once the four fourth-ranks assemble, we will all charge into Ghost Wushan together."

Zhu Zhanlei pouted: "That Luo Gongqiao flew into a rage right away, blaming us for not daring to enter the mountains. Isn't he the same? He's waiting for the other two fourth-ranks to arrive before he dares to go in. Hmph!"

Zhu Zhanmei raised her hand and gave him a sharp slap on the scalp: "Don't speak recklessly. Disaster comes from the mouth!"

Zhu Zhanlei, annoyed: "Stop hitting people! You're so fierce, be careful you don't end up unmarried!"

Zhu Zhanmei, angry, raised her hand again, but for some reason, held back and lowered it.

"Lord Xu," Zhu Zhanmei ignored her younger brother and said to Xu Yuan: "Lord Luo has assigned the task of finding a guide to our Shanhe Bureau. Lord Xu, are you really unwilling to go?"

Xu Yuan snorted: "Going is possible, but Ghost Wushan is that dangerous. Moreover, since that villain could kill the Heir Apparent's Consort and the Seventeenth Uncle, his skill level must be extremely high. This journey is exceptionally perilous. Why should I, a person from the Pollution-Removal Bureau, accompany the Canal Zhancheng Yamen in taking such a risk?"

Miao Yu then smiled: "How about that? My guess was accurate. This fellow won't let go of the eagle until he sees the rabbit."

Zhu Zhanmei shook her head gently: "It's just a guide. Lord Luo won't offer too many benefits."

Xu Yuan then waved his hand: "You can just go to Qihetai Town and find someone who frequently enters the mountains."

Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanmei said no more.

They didn't necessarily need Xu Yuan to go along.

That night, Xu Yuan controlled the Leather Dragon, swimming upstream for several dozen li.

The speed of the Leather Dragon in the water was truly faster than a galloping horse.

Afterwards, it opened its belly and swallowed quite a few water snakes, giant soft-shelled turtles, crocodiles, and the like.

The daily practice of the Dragon Transformation Method is to feed on these so-called "Dragon Kin."

The higher the level of the prey, the greater the progress.

But one cannot feed on prey exceeding one's own level.

The Dragon Transformation Method cannot refine them.

In one night, the Leather Dragon devoured thirty-six "Dragon Kin," all of which were evil spirits.

Afterwards, it found a calm bay by the river, dove to the bottom, and began refining.

Various tumors, fleshy tendrils, and abscesses constantly grew all over the Leather Dragon's body...

It once became extremely swollen, like a strange mass of flesh resembling a Tai Sui!

The form of a "Dragon" was completely unrecognizable.

The cultivation process of many cultivators is actually like this.

For example, when a Wu Xiu feeds on certain metals, they often become strangely shaped.

Trapped in place, unable to move, they then slowly recover their human form.

In the northwest of Zhengzhou, a meteor once fell, scattering into countless sky-iron across a desert.

Local Wu Xiu who fed on this sky-iron would turn into a half-human, half-insect state.

They needed to seclude themselves for three years to fully recover their human form.

But this sky-iron was extremely significant for the growth of Wu Xiu. Once fed upon, one could comprehend a new "Wu Mi."

However, after three years of seclusion, those who failed to recover their human form and instead mutated into strange beings accounted for over fifty percent!

Until dawn, the Leather Dragon slowly eliminated the various deformities on its body, returned to its dragon form, and then wagged its tail, swimming back downstream to the canal dock.

……

Early in the morning, as Xu Yuan was eating, he heard a chorus of "Awooo!" cries from outside, and Zhu Zhanlei burst in.

"Where is your Dafu? I need Dafu to help me! Lord Dafu! Lord Dafu, are you here? Name your price; how many insects do you want? I'll go catch them for you..."

Xu Yuan was at a loss between laughter and tears: "What are you doing? Dafu is in the city..."

"Gah?"

Suddenly, a goose head stretched out from the doorway.

Dafu stared fixedly at Zhu Zhanlei. I think I heard you talking about insects?

Xu Yuan was also momentarily stunned: "When did you arrive?"

Dafu had arrived yesterday afternoon.

He hadn't come specifically to find a meal.

Rather, because while foraging near the canal wharf last time, although he had felt somewhat unwell after eating, for some reason, after that incident, Dafu suddenly felt his energy was exceptionally vigorous!

Recently, around the Prefecture Office, he had conquered territory spanning several more streets.

Yesterday, he suddenly felt the "medicinal effect" seemed to have worn off.

Dafu then felt uncomfortable all over.

So he quietly slipped out again and went near the canal wharf, where he unexpectedly smelled the scent of the meal and came looking for it.

Seeing Dafu, Zhu Zhanlei was overjoyed, bowed, and said: "Lord Dafu, you must help me vent this anger. In my entire life, I have never been bullied like this!

Come with me; in a moment I will point out a person to you. Help me peck that woman's buttocks hard..."

Xu Yuan quickly grabbed him: "What exactly happened?"

Zhu Zhanlei shook off his hand: "Don't stop me; this time I must make that woman regret it!"

Xu Yuan: "If you don't explain clearly, I will absolutely not lend Dafu to you!"

Zhu Zhanlei, huffing with anger: "You really are not a good friend. I was originally going to arrange a match between you and my third sister, but now that's off!"

Xu Yuan was at a loss between laughter and tears: "Speak quickly, what exactly did Xu Miao do to you?"

"She instigated Luo Gongqiao to order me to impersonate the Heir's Consort's younger brother, Fu Yuhuan, as bait to draw out the villain in Ghost Wushan who is secretly practicing the Dragon-Transformation Art!"

Xu Yuan frowned; this plan... to be fair, was truly a good method.

Since that so-called "villain" practiced the Dragon-Transformation Art, they must also know that devouring others who cultivate the Dragon-Transformation Art can greatly increase one's own level.

As the younger brother of the Heir's Consort, entering the mountain to avenge his sister was entirely reasonable.

Four Fourth-Rank experts attacking Ghost Wushan together could truly frighten that "villain" into not appearing.

If he hides deep within Ghost Wushan and does not appear, the case still cannot be resolved.

From Xu Miao's perspective, the fact that she thought of this method proves that this woman indeed possesses some capability.

"She did this to deliberately trap me!" Zhu Zhanlei was furious: "Who doesn't know that Fu Yuhuan is a eunuch?"

Xu Yuan was stunned; it turned out that Young Master Zhu was not angry about being used as "bait," which would surely be very dangerous after entering the mountain.

Rather, Xu Miao made him play the role of a eunuch.

"My reputation is ruined!"

Xu Yuan, however, noticed another key point and asked: "You were asked to impersonate Fu Yuhuan, but you do not know the Dragon-Transformation Art; how can you make the person in the mountain believe it?"

Zhu Zhanlei said: "That woman possesses a craft object made from materials refined from a vicious flood dragon.

She lent this craft object to me, telling me to find some evil spirits after entering the mountain and perform with them; as long as the villain sees it secretly, he will take the bait."

Xu Yuan asked calmly: "What rank is that craft object?"

"Fifth-Rank."

Xu Yuan calculated in his heart that the "material" used to refine that craft object was at least Fifth-Rank, and could even be Fourth-Rank!

(End of this chapter)