Chapter 12: Wind Rises

Dugu Qingli is not responsible for thinking about these things, nor is she interested. She only guarantees Shen Tang’s safety: "Will Xu Bingkun be detrimental to you?"

"He wants a reputation, so he won't be too public, at most hinting and inciting those elders."

"Then will the matter you asked him to handle this time have problems?"

"This also relates to his political achievements and interests... He will definitely do the matter, but he might secretly let other families compete. But Lu Xingzhou believes we have the first-mover advantage. As long as we use his order to quickly promote the Pill Department’s actions now, other families won't have time to stock up."

Dugu Qingli nodded and continued to push the wheelchair toward the Pill Department.

As long as there is no danger.

Shen Tang thought it was fun to see her cold little face and serious appearance, but in fact, they were not too familiar, so it was not easy to tease, so she could only ask the main topic: "What have you gained in the past few days?"

Dugu Qingli said: "After multiple probes, it is confirmed that there is no treasure under the old Huo family residence, and the spiritual energy is indeed just a relic of the past. This treasure should be in the Huo family in the capital now."

"After so many years, the Huo family hasn't let out any rumors even with such a treasure. They are really tight-lipped." Shen Tang laughed mockingly, and then said: "What I care about is not this... Hmm, how is the investigation of Lu Xingzhou?"

"He has been like he didn't exist for these years. I have already used the sect’s manpower to investigate, but there is still no trace of his activities in the world." Dugu Qingli was very serious: "There is only one explanation for this situation..."

"The absence of traces is a trace in itself." Shen Tang said: "Most likely a demonic cultivator, and a very secretive type of demonic sect."

"Yes."

Shen Tang was silent.

Dugu Qingli also looked down at her without speaking.

Shen Tang’s identity is really not as simple as the Young Sect Leader of the Heavenly Travel Sword Sect, and it is of great importance. To be honest, Dugu Qingli doesn't understand why she would get involved with a person like Lu Xingzhou whose background is unknown, just because of the master’s divination?

The master’s divination only said that the wind rises in Xiazhou, and it didn't clearly correspond to Lu Xingzhou.

Perhaps it is because two broken people see themselves in each other... This is not a feeling that others can personally experience, not to mention that Qingli’s emotions are more indifferent than ordinary people.

If it weren't for the master specifically ordering her to come out to protect Shen Tang, she would still be holding her sword alone in the glacier.

Shen Tang sighed softly, as if talking to herself: "I always feel that a person who can raise a child with such wholehearted gentleness cannot be a vicious person."

Dugu Qingli didn't say anything.

Shen Tang changed the topic again: "How is the Danxia Sect recently?"

Dugu Qingli said: "The Danxia Sect is purchasing a medicinal herb called Cold Crystal Grass. I wasn't in Xiazhou two days ago, and I heard that it was suddenly purchased in large quantities by someone, causing Cold Crystal Grass to be scarce, and the price is now soaring."

Shen Tang: "...I helped Lu Xingzhou buy it."

Dugu Qingli: "..."

After a pause, Dugu Qingli continued: "Originally, not many people grew Cold Crystal Grass in Xiazhou. Now seeing the high price, the Danxia Sect decided to grow more themselves. So after harvesting the mature medicinal herbs in the original herb mountain, they replaced them all with Cold Crystal Grass, hoping to make a fortune after the harvest."

Shen Tang was thoughtful.

Lu Xingzhou seems to not only want to hurt the Danxia Sect, but also seems to have buried another trap?

After talking all the way, the Pill Department was not far away, so Shen Tang didn't think much more and entered the Pill Department to discuss the promotion of sword talismans.

Speaking of which, although Qingli is cold, she does everything she is arranged to do perfectly. With such strength and such quality, why has she not been famous all these years?

…………

Old Steward Huo’s madness was indeed cured after eating Soul-Nurturing Pills for three days.

Sheng Yuanyao asked clearly and understood that the murderer was a bloody child, using the extremely standard Huo family sword technique, the essence of which only Huo family children would know, and even the old steward had not been taught.

Although it was the essence, it was incomplete, which was exactly the part Huo Shang had learned back then.

The servants who died had all bullied Huo Shang back then, not one less. And the young servants who had just arrived were innocent, so nothing happened to them.

Back then, Old Steward Huo personally held Huo Shang’s hands, letting the eldest young master Huo abuse him wantonly, so the murderer also cut the tendons of Old Steward Huo’s hands.

The old man, whose heart disease had not yet healed, couldn't bear this. Looking left and right, no matter how he looked, it was a ghost claiming his life, and he was scared crazy directly.

Sheng Yuanyao sent the old steward back to the Huo residence and sent some subordinates to guard him, sighing.

This case can be closed... The murderer is clearly Huo Shang. I don't know how he survived back then without the Huo family knowing...

The bloody child is either Huo Shang’s inheritance, or Huo Shang himself using bone-shrinking techniques to pretend. All she has to do is submit the report to the higher-ups, and whether to arrest Huo Shang is not something she can decide.

After all, that is the Huo family’s internal affair, and it is not very glorious. The Huo family may not be willing to issue an arrest warrant and make such things known to everyone.

She had already written to the Huo family a few days ago. If nothing unexpected happens, people from the Huo family should be on their way now.

Sheng Yuanyao left the Huo residence and frowned slightly as she looked at the "Shen Clan Trading Firm" across the fields.

It would be one thing if the Huo family only came to investigate the matter of Huo Shang, but if they used the pretext of "searching for Huo Shang" to bully the neighbors again, and that bullying reached inside this Shen Clan Trading Firm...

She thought about it, strode toward the chamber of commerce, and knocked on the door.

The door opened, and the guard looked at Sheng Yuanyao in official uniform, puzzled: "This official, we haven't committed any crimes..."

"I’m looking for your landlord Lu Xingzhou, or Anu. Are they here?"

"Them, master and disciple..." The guard had a strange expression: "They just shrink in the alchemy room all day, and even their faces are rarely seen. Is an alchemist like this?"

Sheng Yuanyao went straight to the alchemy room, but Lu Xingzhou and his disciple were not in it. Sheng Yuanyao poked her head around, but saw Lu Xingzhou sitting by the window in the room next door, reading a book.

Looking from this angle, you can't see the wheelchair, only the young master like jade, reading poetry and books, leisurely and comfortable.

That scene was truly beautiful and could be painted.

She paced over, stood outside the window and stared at Lu Xingzhou for a while, and suddenly said: "Why don't you continue to be a Daoist?"

Lu Xingzhou didn't look up: "I am so good-looking, it would be a pity to become a monk."

The aesthetic sense was instantly shattered, and Sheng Yuanyao couldn't laugh or cry: "Don't you invite me in to sit?"

Lu Xingzhou finally looked at her: "Does the Commander have something to do? Old Steward Huo’s madness should be cured."

"Hmm, basically closed the case."

"Can I ask for the result?"

"No."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said nothing. Anyway, from Sheng Yuanyao’s attitude, she should no longer suspect him, which is enough.

It was not necessary to make that old man crazy, wasting time. It’s a pity that Anu is short and fat, and it’s not easy to mislead her into Huo Shang without interfering with the other party’s mind...

Sheng Yuanyao said: "The Huo family will be here soon. You are adjacent, so it is best to avoid them, and don't go out for a walk if you have nothing to do."

"Are you here to remind me of this?"

"Hmm."

"Remind me, or remind Shen Tang?"

Sheng Yuanyao stopped talking, and finally said: "Of course, remind you."

Lu Xingzhou looked at her for a long time, finally put away the book, leaned over and picked up a small basket, and handed it to her through the window.

Sheng Yuanyao took it strangely and looked, there were dozens of sword talismans in the basket: "This is... for purification?"

"The Pill Department should promote this sword talisman in the next two or three days to purify pill poison for the whole city. Seeing that you actually took the initiative to remind me to be careful of the Huo family... I’ll give you a batch, free of charge."

Sheng Yuanyao "heh" said: "Can a money-grubber like you give me things for free?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled: "There is a request."

Sheng Yuanyao said angrily: "Say it."

"This is for the officials of the Demon Suppression Division. The only request is that when they wear it, don't hide it in their bosom, just stick it on their chest. It’s quite good-looking, isn't it?"

Sheng Yuanyao weighed a sword talisman and looked at it. It was a simple sword shape, which was indeed good-looking: "Tell me, what are you planning to do?"

Lu Xingzhou grinned: "Just to give it a push. Although the Pill Department will promote it, I don't trust the efficiency. Shen Tang and others have a tight time limit for gambling, only three days, so I’m afraid it won't necessarily happen. Once the officials of the Demon Suppression Division wear it on their chests and patrol the city to be seen, the trend can be quickly brought up."

Sheng Yuanyao was shocked: "You are planning for Shen Tang? Doing chamber of commerce business?"

"Can’t I?"

Sheng Yuanyao fell silent, not knowing what she was thinking, and it took a long time to say: "Okay. Anyway, this is a good thing, and it is indeed beneficial to them. Wearing it outside is no different from putting it in the bosom."

Lu Xingzhou bowed: "Then thank you, Commander."

Sheng Yuanyao said angrily: "You also know that you should thank me, instead of claiming to give me things for free?"

Lu Xingzhou just smiled: "Then I will give the Commander another merit, how about that?"

"If you have a fart, let it go."

"Three days later, if the Commander brings people here, you should be able to catch a group of criminals trying to kill their master, or you can prevent a sect conflict."

Sheng Yuanyao gritted her teeth: "Are you sure this is giving me merit, not helping Shen Tang?"

"Preventing sect conflicts and preventing bloodshed, just say whether it counts as a merit."

"..." Sheng Yuanyao was too lazy to speak, carrying the basket and leaving with a flick of her sleeves.

It’s so strange, this Lu Xingzhou is just renting a house, why is he so thoughtful for Shen Tang?

Sheng Yuanyao doesn't know Shen Tang, but she knows what she is here in Xiazhou for.

Before leaving, her father’s meaningful gaze was still in front of her: "Yuanyao, go to Xiazhou, pay more attention to a person named Shen Tang, help her secretly if you can, remember not to be too obvious."

"Who is she?"

"Not for you to know, just do it."

Sheng Yuanyao always felt that the family could agree to her being sent to Xiazhou under the premise of knowing that she wanted to avoid marriage, very likely for this Shen Tang. But no matter how she checked, she only knew that Shen Tang was the Young Sect Leader of the Heavenly Travel Sword Sect. Why does this identity make her father, one of the four deputy chief catchers of the Demon Suppression Division, care so much?

Lu Xingzhou is mysterious enough, plus a more mysterious Shen Tang.

Once these two meet... Sheng Yuanyao frowned all the way, and suddenly felt a sense of heart-pounding, always feeling that Xiazhou could not hold such wind and clouds.

I just came out to gild and eat melons, how did it become like this?

On the roof in the distance, Dugu Qingli, with white hair fluttering, quietly watched the direction of Lu Xingzhou’s room, expressionless, but also a little surprised in her heart.

This man... is actually helping Shen Tang? And it seems that he is helping to consider it very thoroughly.

Lu Xingzhou’s voice suddenly came from afar: "Miss Qingli, let Miss Shen come to meet again, some details need to be arranged clearly."

Dugu Qingli’s blue eyes moved slightly.

How did this Lu Xingzhou discover her?