Chapter 474: Farewell to Han Han Chuijun

The way Star-Plucking Tower operates is perfectly embodied in this Tower Master himself—

displayed to the fullest!

Even though he was right there beside them, he still had to dispatch someone else to

receive him into the Tower!

At this, Daoist Li felt a bit weary of it, but on the surface he naturally listened attentively, and probed from the side, trying to find out how Star-Plucking Tower intended to arrange things for him!

"You'll know once you enter the Tower!"

Qin Li Shixian said nothing—mainly because she herself didn't know what the old man actually intended to arrange for Li Yuan!

"Senior, aren't you going together?"

Li Yuan asked!

"Mm…!"

Qin Li Shixian gave a slight nod, but didn't reveal too much!

In her heart she was actually rather impatient, but following the old man's lead—this chance was rare; inside the Tower and out, those who needed purging should also be purged in one sweep!

"Being this cautious?"

Li Yuan muttered to himself. Compared to the beginning, after these few times, he found that this Tower Master was not so easy to deal with!

"Right, the Dragon Demon you promised me…"

Hum!

Before Li Yuan could finish speaking, his vision blurred and he was sent out of the Mi Jing!

"I wonder what the Dragon Demon Great Pill tastes like!"

Li Yuan opened his eyes, got up and paced around the room a few steps, then began to stand-stake!

The medicinal power of the second Long Hu Longhu Dadan was completely exhausted when opening the Mud Pellet Palace; he didn't touch the remaining two, those were what he was saving for blood exchange!

Ordinary spiritual pills—medicinal power was far too lacking!

After swallowing a few spiritual pills and feeling the medicinal power spread, Li Yuan was somewhat unaccustomed to it, like having eaten half a meal of delicacies and then gnawing on coarse buns—fullness was achieved, but the flavor fell short by quite a bit!

"I wonder what that Dragon Demon Great Pill tastes like?"

Outside the room lightning flashed and thunder roared, rain poured down in sheets; inside the room, Li Yuan practiced the Long Hu Great Stake, circulating pure Yang true Qi to nourish that newly born soldier-nurturing ground!

A few hours later, he slowly concluded his form, undressed and went to sleep, closed his eyes, first entered the Mystic Whale Mi Jing to run a True Inheritance trial once, then listened to the sounds and fell asleep!

Whoo!

At this moment, the little tiger cub impersonator in the room only then opened her eyes; she gently pushed open the window, squinted at the Dinglong Mountain Range in the night rain, a cold glint flickering in her eyes!

Crack.

In the night curtain, Lei She rolled away, and heavy rain poured down!

Inside the Small City County government office, however, lights blazed brightly; a group of government office Runners stood in the courtyard getting drenched, listening to the reprimand in fear and trembling!

In the great hall, Jin Jin Zhu Feng sat upright and proper, a long spear planted in the ground, blood dripping down the red tassel!

A white-robed youth stood holding his sword, frowning slightly: "Just a band of greenwood bandits, and they could snatch a prisoner right out from under the Pacification Bureau's hands? Anyone with eyes can see there's a trick to it."

Far too crude.

The white-robed youth shook his head!

His name was Sun Xiu; alongside Jin Suifeng in the Pacification Bureau, he was listed among the Eight Great Constables!

"A bunch of greenwood folk, a few petty thieves—catching them or letting them go, it never mattered much!

"

A few traces of baleful aura lingered on Jin Jin Zhu Feng!

That Brother Brother Sikong's bones weren't hard; everything he should and shouldn't have said, he spilled. But the one who actually stole the Yun Xiang Ding was far too cautious and careful!

As he spoke, Jin Jin Zhu Feng couldn't help feeling a bit irritated!

For a full year now,

rushing back and forth over tens of thousands of li, he wasn't just after catching that Brother Brother Sikong—the catching and releasing was to lure out the true thief who had stolen the Virtue Incense Ding!

But that person was truly far too cautious; until now he hadn't shown himself, not a trace of aura left behind, so that even though Jin Jin Zhu Feng had tracking secret arts, he still couldn't find him!

"That thief most likely won't show himself!"

Sun Xiu also shook his head. For half a year, Jin Jin Zhu Feng had been in the open while he was in the shadows; using every method to try to lure that thief out, all to no avail!

"So long as he wants something, he will inevitably show himself again!"

Jin Jin Zhu Feng's expression was cold as he asked: "Brother Sun, the accumulated incense offerings from Leiyin Prefecture these past few years—have you borrowed them?"

"Borrowed? Well, borrowed!"

Sun Xiu was somewhat hesitant: "Your Majesty has issued a decree to transfer incense offerings from across the realm; we privately borrowed one Ding. If we catch that thief, fine; if we don't, we're likely to face censure!

Moreover, if anything goes wrong…"

"It's precisely because I fear something going wrong that I chose Dinglong Mountain!"

Jin Jin Zhu Feng stood up, gazing at the Dinglong Mountain Range through the curtain of rain:

"The Bureau Chief himself is here; even if that thief is Xie Wangsun, once he shows himself, he will inevitably find it hard to escape death!"

"That is true!"

Sun Xiu nodded. It was precisely with this consideration in mind that he had agreed to Jin Jin Zhu Feng's plan!

"Greenwood folk have the heaviest of thief-hearts. Having suffered such a great loss this time, they'll surely think of revenge. If they learn we're transporting the Yun Xiang Ding back to the capital by a small path—"

Jin Jin Zhu Feng gave a cold laugh, reached out and pulled up the long spear, and was about to say something when suddenly his heart gave a jolt. He dropped to one knee and replied respectfully: "Your subordinate respectfully welcomes the Bureau Chief."

"The Bureau Chief?"

Sun Xiu was half a beat slower; he hadn't even sensed anything, but he too dropped to his knees in response: "Respectfully welcome the Bureau Chief."

Clang!

A sword cry pierced through the night rain!

The next instant, a wisp of red light cut through wind and rain, circled the county office once, and landed inside the great hall!

It was a sheathed-less crimson sword, etched with golden dragon-shaped patterns, and in a single spin it transformed into a middle-aged man in a golden python robe, tall and lean of build!

The middle-aged man had a handsome face, his hair and beard tinged with a red glow, his bearing regal and noble!

It was none other than the Chief of the Pacification Bureau!

"Rise!"

After the Chief of the Pacification Bureau appeared, he asked no questions. With a light grab in the air, he pressed a wisp of qi against his brow,

and in an instant, he had gathered the entirety of the two men's earlier conversation into his heart!

"Chief, please forgive us!"

Jin Jin Zhu Feng did not dare rise, keeping his head lowered, cautious and careful!

Whether it was Yun Xiang Ding or the Pacification Bureau, or even Wutang, they all only had the duty of escort, with no right to deploy it on their own authority!

At least he did not have such right; privately mobilizing it was a grave offense!

"Wasting over a year, and not a single trace found?"

The Chief of the Pacification Bureau was neither pleased nor angry. He merely cast a Longhu Longhu Dandan glance, and Jin and Sun were already hearts pounding like war-drums, cold sweat streaming down!

"Mobilizing the incense offerings is not entirely forbidden, but one must capture this

person!

"

The two men were trembling with fear, but the Chief of the Pacification Bureau brushed past it lightly. Whether mobilizing the incense offerings was a grave offense depended entirely on whether the person was ultimately caught!

"Your subordinate will surely capture this beast."

Jin Jin Zhu Feng's heart sank, yet he still answered solemnly!

Mm!

Seeing that their Chief did not seem to have flown into a rage, the two men's hearts eased slightly. Only then did they rise to their feet, cautiously inquiring as to his purpose for coming!

It has nothing to do with you!

The Chief of the Pacification Bureau's expression was cold. He had descended the mountain by splitting his Crimson Dragon Sword, certainly not to see these two men!

He was merely passing by!

"Your Chief has come to see me."

A low voice rang out at just the right moment. The Chief of the Pacification Bureau was not surprised, but Jin Jin Zhu Feng and the other were startled, and looked toward the sound!

They saw a middle-aged man clad in green armor, tall and lean of build, walking slowly out of the curtain of rain. The instant he appeared, everyone felt an unbearable sweltering heat!

"Chi Chi Zhuiyang!"

Jin Jin Zhu Feng and the other's pupils contracted. By their senses, the newcomer's qi and blood were blazingly intense, like a furnace of Wu Gong raging fire!

The pouring rain could not even approach his body before it turned to billowing steam!

The newcomer was none other than Chi Chi Zhuiyang, ranked second on the Heroes List, a peerless fierce man separated from the Grand Master realm by only a hair's breadth!

"Radiant as the sun, blazing as the day—Brother Chi must be close to cultivating the Great Sun Golden Yang, yes?"

The Chief of the Pacification Bureau applauded lightly: "Perhaps in a few years, Brother Chi will be able to fight his way back into Sanmei Cave and contend with that Fang Fang Sanyun once more for the position of Cave Lord."

Martial cultivation requires vast resources, and so the world has never known any Grand Master or Grand Master who appeared from nowhere, with no background!

Chi Chi Zhuiyang was naturally no exception!

This second-ranked man on the Heroes List hailed from Sanmei Cave. He was Fang Fang Sanyun's junior brother, and years ago had failed in his contest for the Dao Child position, leaving the sect in fury!

"Chief, you flatter me!"

Chi Chi Zhuiyang was unmoved. He strode into the great hall, without pleasantries or small talk, and got straight to the point: "Chi has invited the Chief to meet, in truth there is one great matter to discuss!"

"Oh?"

The Chief of the Pacification Bureau raised one brow slightly. Jin Jin Zhu Feng and the other had already bowed and withdrawn. As the two walked out of the great hall, they only dared to glance back with the corners of their eyes!

They saw a layer of faint red light enveloping the great hall, the figures within blurred, and not a single sound could be heard!

"The great matter Brother Chi speaks of—could it be related to Star-Plucking Tower?"

He invited Chi Chi Zhuiyang to sit. The Chief of the Pacification Bureau gave no outward sign, but in truth he had already made several guesses!

After all, for the past three years he had been pursuing the Star-Plucking Tower Master, and Star-Plucking Tower itself!

"Chi was once a Heaven-rank assassin of Star-Plucking Tower."

Chi Chi Zhuiyang spoke concisely, and did not avoid mentioning his joining of Star-Plucking Tower before the Chief of the Pacification Bureau!

What common folk considered a grave offense did not apply to him!

In fact, the Chief of the Pacification Bureau knew this full well, yet did not care, merely watching him with a Longhu Longhu Dandan gaze!

The Chief of Pacification had surely known!

Chi Chi Zhuiyang said in a deep voice: "But you likely do not know that Chi once took that man as my master!"

"That man?"

The Chief of the Pacification Bureau's heart jolted: "Qin Yun?"

Given his Wu Gong and standing, there were only a handful of people in the world he deeply feared, and Qin Yun undoubtedly ranked first.

"He is dead."

Chi Chi Zhuiyang steadied his heart!

"Truly dead?"

The Chief of the Pacification Bureau was half in doubt. The reason his movements these past three years had been sluggish was precisely his fear of this man!

"Dead!"

Chi Chi Zhuiyang nodded: "In those years, he was ambushed by those nine old ghosts, and took a slash from the Demon-Slaying Dragon God Blade. He held on and returned to the Tower, but within a few years, all news of him was lost!"

Chi Chi Zhuiyang was very certain!

Unless he died, given that old fellow's fondness for playing the teacher, he would never let Qin Li Shixian cultivate on her own!

In fact, given Qin Li Shixian's talent and age, the only reason she could cultivate into a Grand Master was that she had inherited that old fellow's mantle!

"Is that so?"

The Chief of the Jingping Bureau neither affirmed nor denied it!

"The Star-Plucking Tower's main headquarters appears to be situated in Dinglong Mountain, but in reality it is hidden within a Yi Fang Mi Jing. Without breaking the Mi Jing, even if

you flipped Dinglong Mountain upside down, you absolutely wouldn't find a single trace!

"

Chi Chi Zhuiyang said calmly: "I know where that Mi Jing is, I can take the Chief there!"

"Why."

The Chief of the Jingping Bureau suddenly asked!

"Hmm?"

Chi Chi Zhuiyang frowned!

"According to this Chief's knowledge, when Brother Chi left the Pan Sect back in the day, your foundation was utterly destroyed and you were Suffering heavy injuries. The jianghu rumors say you had some other fortunate encounter, but in truth, you were saved by Qin Yun, weren't you?"

The Chief of the Jingping Bureau's expression was subtle: "With such a great debt of gratitude, how can this Chief believe that you sincerely wish to cooperate and jointly destroy the Star-Plucking Tower, rather than harboring some other scheme?"

"Qin Yun showed me kindness, but he is dead!"

Chi Chi Zhuiyang paused briefly before saying: "The Star-Plucking Tower's life or death is none of my concern. What I seek is the legacy left by the Dragon Demon Daoist, and the Eight Directions Tower."

"The Dragon Demon Daoist's legacy!"

The Chief of the Jingping Bureau tapped the armrest of his chair lightly: "That reason holds up, but it's still not enough!"

"The Eight Directions Tower is a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing forged by the Dragon Demon Daoist from heaven and earth's rarest treasures, combined with his own supreme-grade spiritual phase!"

Chi Chi Zhuiyang's heart stirred slightly: "Legend has it that in his later years the Dragon Demon Daoist once ventured into the Eight Directions Temple, and left the fortune he obtained within the tower. There was once a person who gained a little of it, and lived for nearly five hundred years."

Chi Chi Zhuiyang's eyes blazed with fervor: "That person was the Great Yun's founding emperor, Pang Pang Wenlong."

"Nonsense."

The Chief of the Jingping Bureau was immediately dis

pleased: "Those are just jianghu rumors and unofficial histories. The founding emperor's cultivation far surpassed that Dragon Demon Daoist—how could he possibly need his things?"

Chi Chi Zhuiyang did not argue further, only saying:

"Does the Chief agree to cooperate?"

"Mm!

"

The Chief of the Jingping Bureau deliberated for a moment before saying:

"That Mi Jing of the Star-Plucking Tower shifted once for no reason—was that related to you?"

"Correct!"

Chi Chi Zhuiyang nodded in admission: "Two years ago, I once broke into the Eight Directions Tower!"

The Chief of the Jingping Bureau keenly detected the emotional fluctuation in Chi Chi Zhuiyang, sensing an intense killing intent that was not directed at himself!

"I failed to breach the tower, but it was not for lack of effort—rather, someone interfered, causing my efforts to fall short at the last moment!"

Mentioning this matter, Chi Chi Zhuiyang could barely restrain the killing intent in his heart!

He and Murong Qing had breached the tower very smoothly, the reason being that they had both entered the Eight Directions Tower before!

If it weren't for Wang Wang Wenyuan and the others activating the contingency Qin Li Shixian had left behind, how could he possibly have been forced out of the Eight Directions Tower by a killer who hadn't even refined his marrow?

"Is that so?"

The Chief of the Jingping Bureau pondered for a moment, then responded: "Where is that Mi Jing?"

"Eight hundred li north of Dinglong Mountain, beneath a cold pond!"

The next day, the small town was put under lockdown, with many government office Runners searching house to house, and occasionally one could see Constables of the Jingping Bureau galloping through the streets on horseback!

"Brother Brother Sikong was actually rescued?"

Hearing this news, Li Yuan found it quite unexpected—how could that group of greenwood bandits possibly have rescued Brother Brother Sikong from Jin Jin Zhu Feng's hands?

Was the Jingping Bureau all show and no substance? Or were there great experts among the greenwood?

Or... "something fishy?"

Li Yuan felt something was off!

There really weren't any experts on the greenwood path, and the few there were would be unlikely to offend the Jingping Bureau just for Brother Brother Sikong, right?

Suspicious though he was, Li Yuan didn't pay it much mind. After all, he and Brother Brother Sikong only had one encounter of robbing each other, and unless Brother Brother Sikong snatched another Yun Xiang Ding, it was unlikely they'd have dealings again!

The small town's lockdown naturally had no effect on Li Yuan!

Following the Star-Plucking Tower Master's instructions from yesterday, he ate breakfast, then went to a teahouse to listen to songs!

In the teahouse, most were storytellers, but there were also quiet rooms where people were invited to sing songs!

Li Yuan sipped his tea without much expression, listening to the songs, his peripheral vision sweeping over the coming and going patrons and the pedestrians on the street!

After last night's heavy rain, most of the experts in the small town had left; half a day passed, and there wasn't even a single person carrying a famed weapon!

Around late morning, when Li Yuan was growing impatient from waiting, he finally caught sight of a pale yellow flash!

"This is..."

Li Yuan stood up, and in his eyes, the light of a weapon gleamed:

【Wind Thunder Wish-Granting Jade (Fifth Grade)】

"Old Han."