Chapter 272: The Inspection Master is So Cowardly

In late autumn, light rain fell.

The golden fallen leaves all over the ground drifted into the small puddles reflecting the sky, and were finally crushed by the passing wheels.

This was a grain-transporting carriage used in Fengzhou, marked with the name of the Wulu Trading Firm.

And behind the carriage, the workers who had been busy for a year, wearing coir raincoats and bamboo hats, were walking with the carriage, heading in the direction of home.

Although the weather was already cold, the chill in the air could not extinguish the joy on their faces.

Passing through the checkpoint, the rumbling wheels gradually slowed down until they stopped.

After the inspection by the government office runners sent by the Fengzhou government, they traveled another ten miles and encountered the inspection by the government office runners sent by Zhongzhou.

Both inspections were very detailed; not only did they search their bodies, but even the grain carts filled with grain were stabbed a few times with iron blades.

The workers who came with the carriage didn't find it strange, because they had heard that Barbarians had appeared in the Qingyun world a few days ago, and all the major immortal sects had sent people to hunt them, but they hadn't been caught yet.

So not only Fengzhou, but even Youzhou and Yunzhou were under martial law; anyone crossing the border had to be verified.

In fact, they had already been searched during the autumn harvest some time ago, and were already accustomed to it.

"Whoa, there's mutton? Where did it come from?"

"Reporting to the official, we raised it ourselves."

"Oh?"

Tie Niu bowed slightly toward the official: "We have several pastures in Fengzhou, and I work in one of them. This was rewarded when I left."

Three or five officials gathered together: "There's such a good thing? Who rewarded it?"

"The immortal master who manages that pasture."

"So that's it. Looking at the sky, it's estimated to rain heavily later, so hurry up."

"Thank you, official."

Watching the carriage team from Fengzhou slowly set off, the slightly older official sat back on the stool and picked up his teacup.

A government office runner who had just come to work at the government office looked at this scene with confusion: "Brother Li, we haven't eaten meat for a long time. Why not ask them for some?"

The government office runner surnamed Li glanced at him upon hearing this: "Didn't you hear that it was rewarded by an immortal?"

"What about the grain on that carriage? So much grain, we could always keep a few bags. The tax collection this year is about to start, and my cousin's share hasn't been settled yet."

"That grain is tax, and every dou is counted. How many heads do you have to dare to take it?"

"?"

Seeing the newcomer's confusion, government office runner Old Wang couldn't help but speak: "Those people are all from our Zhongzhou."

The young government office runner was somewhat surprised: "Isn't it forbidden to wander privately? How did our Zhongzhou commoners run to Fengzhou?"

"More than a year ago, a trading firm called Wulu hired a large number of commoners in our state who couldn't pay their taxes to work, and our county magistrate went with the flow and agreed to let them enter and exit."

Old Wang held his teacup: "But going to work requires leaving wives and children as hostages, and every year at this time, they need to return to their household registration place to pay the grain share as tax."

The government office runner opened his mouth: "There's such a thing..."

"This isn't it. The autumn harvest in Fengzhou just ended, and that Wulu Trading Firm greeted our magistrate early. The grain on the carriage is tax for the immortals, and it's full amount and full quantity. Who dares to touch it?"

The carriage team hanging the Wulu Trading Firm flag passed through a long journey, several suns and moons rotated, braving the stars and moon, and finally drove into Zhongzhou territory.

At this time, Tie Niu and several uncles and brothers from the same village left the team first.

They lived not far from the border of Zhongzhou; after saying goodbye to their traveling friends and watching them head to more distant towns, several people returned home with large and small bags of things.

At this time, in a courtyard in the east of the village, Tie Niu's wife was rubbing clothes in a wooden basin.

Seeing her family who had been away for a long time, this strong man felt a sourness in his nose and couldn't help but start to tear up.

The wife who was washing clothes seemed to feel someone, turned her head with a dazed expression, and upon seeing Tie Niu, immediately let out an "ah" and ran over.

It was this short moment of standing up, and the wife's tears had already flowed down.

The two had known each other for a long time, and finally embraced, their crying sounds becoming louder.

"You heartless thing!"

"Where am I heartless?"

"You... you've gotten fat outside!"

Tie Niu laughed loudly and lifted that half-side of mutton.

The wife was somewhat surprised after seeing it: "Where did it come from?"

"Rewarded by the masters."

"Is it hard to work in Fengzhou? Did you get beaten?"

Tie Niu immediately shook his head like a rattle: "I won't get beaten. The people who work with us are all very good, and those immortal masters speak very politely. Some things you might not believe even if you heard them."

Tie Niu left after the New Year last winter. They first went to work for the Wulu Trading Firm, selling grain at a low price to those who couldn't afford grain after paying taxes.

Then they were taken to Fengzhou and arranged by the government to stay.

During the period before spring plowing, they were always fed for free, helped to plow after spring plowing, and then sent to the pasture.

After saying these things, Tie Niu took out a money bag from his bosom, and the broken silver inside made his wife cover her mouth.

Seeing his wife's expression, Tie Niu smiled slightly and told her that the days ahead would definitely get better and better.

The bottom-level commoners knew very little about this world; not to mention relics, they didn't even know how evil seeds came to be.

One reason was their low social status, and another was that they used all their strength to try to live, fundamentally having no time or energy to learn characters.

It was precisely because they knew so little that they optimistically felt that the days would definitely get better and there would be no more accidents.

Little did they know that even the best days could have sudden disasters happen, crushing everything.

Back then, the human race and the Demon race secretly joined forces, chose a suitable time to rise up and resist, and suppressed them with holy artifacts.

The scene at that time was as if the sky had been smashed down.

Later, there was an old saying circulating among the people, saying that even if the sky falls, there is a tall one to hold it up.

But in fact, the matter of the tall one holding up the sky was actually little known.

And as the workers returned home one after another, the grain carts of the Wulu Trading Firm were sent into the county government office together.

The government office runners and private secretaries responsible for counting arrived in the courtyard early, checked the worker list compiled a year ago, and calculated the share to be paid according to the head count.

And the same scene happened in several other states and counties, with carriages coming and going through the streets and alleys.

At this time, in an inn in Anyuan City, Qingzhou, Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi was standing on the second floor, watching those carriages with trading firm flags entering the government office.

Spring plowing, autumn harvest—such things had always been small matters in the eyes of cultivators.

Even Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi hadn't paid attention to them before, but at this moment, she was watching with extra seriousness.

Although she hadn't participated in the Dongping Mountain Range matter throughout, she was actually very clear that people from all the major immortal sects regarded what happened to the Bu family members as an immortal fate, scrambling for it.

Especially those Elders with little lifespan left, wishing they could kill the whole world to hold it in their hands.

Only that guy with no great ambitions had always just wanted to slash the troublemakers and lead the common people to farm well.

Just at this moment, the Lingjian Mountain disciple responsible for walking in Qingzhou came here and handed over a letter: "Inspection Master, there is news from the disciples searching for the Barbarian race and the Heavenly Jianfeng disciples."

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi received the letter and looked at it twice, her eyelashes trembling: "Pass my imperial order, except for those walking outside the sect, all Lingjian Mountain people must return to the mountain within half a month."

"But the Heavenly Jianfeng Elder seems unwilling to return to the mountain, and the disciples in the peak also cannot return for the time being because of the pressure of the Heavenly Jianfeng Elder."

"Then you go and tell them, if they don't want to return, then never return."

"Yes!"

The Qingzhou walking disciple put away the jade token and turned to go downstairs, but couldn't help but turn to look at the direction of the guest room when leaving.

Just at this moment, footsteps sounded in the corridor of the inn.

Ding Yao walked from the direction of the guest room and bowed slightly: "Inspection Master."

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi turned her head upon hearing the sound and glanced at her: "Awake?"

"Awake..."

"What about the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan disciple with no great ambitions?"

"Uh, the Young Master is also awake."

The reason Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi went to the Dongping Mountain Range was also because she was afraid that the Bu family members would fall into the hands of those with deep greed.

So after seeing Bu Qirong's aura disappear, she took people away and "by the way" took away the sleeping Ji You, coming to the inn in Anyuan City to rest temporarily.

According to Zhuo Wanqiu's report, Ji You had been searching for the Bu family's trail in the Dongping Mountain Range, using spiritual sense with high intensity, and had engaged in successive battles; his spirit had long been exhausted, so deep sleep was inevitable.

But what made her feel incomprehensible was that not only did Ji You sleep for three days, but Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu also didn't wake up after reporting.

This made the Little Inspection Master of Lingjian Mountain somewhat confused about what these three had done in the mountains. However, Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi, who heard that Ji You was awake, didn't think too much and turned to walk toward the strange man's room.

Step, step, step, embroidered shoes stepped lightly on the wooden floor, but before long it turned into a "da da da" sound.

However, after "da da da"-ing for not long, the footsteps slowed down rapidly, becoming lady-like and graceful, and the expression also became much more indifferent.

Pushing the door to enter, Ji You was sitting at the dining table, eating a bowl of white porridge in front of him.

Just as Ding Yao said, his consumption was huge; although his spirit recovered quite a bit, his strength still hadn't recovered, and the muscle soreness was very severe.

At this time, Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi stepped into the threshold, looking at the strange man in front of her with a posture of looking down on the world, and then came to sit beside him.

Feeling the fragrant wind approaching, Ji You looked up lightly: "Where is this?"

"Anyuan City."

"How could we be in Anyuan City?"

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi also picked up chopsticks: "The three of you slept like logs, unable to go too far. This is the closest place to the Dongping Mountain Range, so I could only settle you here."

Ji You's expression froze slightly when hearing "three," and he soon thought of who the other two were.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu, in order not to dream of the Master-in-law while sleeping, insisted on staying up with him for the whole process; their spirits were estimated to have weakened to the extreme.

Ji You looked up at this time: "What happened after I fell asleep?"

"The Elders of various sects still didn't give up, still chasing the matter about the Bu family, constantly checking the interpersonal relationships of the Bu family over the years, but so far they haven't found any key things."

"Still checking?"

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi nodded: "This matter is not that simple, because some things don't make sense."

Ji You pondered for a long time: "Do you also think the Bu family is too small?"

"The Bu family has declined for a hundred years; not to mention comparing with the Zheng family, they can't even compare to some small families in Zhongzhou, but they completed things that even the Zheng family didn't complete. This is very strange."

Hearing this sentence, Ji You couldn't help but think of the conversation before Bu Qirong died.

He said that only he knew about this matter, and also said it was a god's descent selection, but he wasn't sure if this was the truth or a lie for survival.

However, having read a large number of relevant books in the Library Hall, he knew clearly that in fact, over these thousands of years, the human race had never given up on the research of relics.

But until now, only then did someone secretly grasp a clue, indicating that this matter was not easy.

After he killed the Bu family members, he cut off the direct possibility of disaster; even if there were really traces to follow, there wouldn't be any results in a short time.

Ji You thought of this and couldn't help but think of another matter: "What about the Barbarian race? Were they caught?"

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi shook her head: "The major immortal sects are all busy following the Bu family, and only disciples of various sects chased after them. A Clan King with eight General Kings—how could they be so easy to catch."

"There is an Immortal-Slaying Array in the northern border; how did they enter the Nine Provinces?"

"The garrison soldiers of Luoyue Pass died; it was suicide."

Ji You frowned: "Suicide out of fear of crime?"

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi said "um": "The report I received is like this. The guards of Luoyue Pass secretly colluded with the enemy and temporarily opened the city gate with a command token."

"If you don't look at the clues, what other ways are there to open the array?"

"Holy artifact."

Those who are suspicious by nature will never easily believe the evidence and answers given by others, so they always want to explore deeper places.

But if the Immortal-Slaying Array really required a holy artifact to open, besides the command token in the hands of the Northern Town Army, then this matter would be too big.

But the problem was, those who held holy artifacts were already the strongest in Qingyun; why would they need to secretly collude with the Barbarian race.

Ji You thought for a long time, and suddenly heard Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi's voice from his ear.

"My Lingjian Mountain and your Heavenly Tian Shuyuan have always been at odds. You might be confused why this Inspection Master would protect you. In fact, it's not because of anything else, purely because of my appreciation for you as a person."

"Disaster is disaster, absolutely not some immortal fate; the previous warning of Qiling has already explained this point, so you did the right thing."

"If you were a disciple of my Lingjian Mountain, I would definitely reward you this time, making you a personal disciple, but it's a pity you are not."

"In addition, many people saw me take you away in the mountains, so it's hard to avoid people saying that this Inspection Master manages too broadly, so after eating, I will send you away."

"You don't need to worry after returning to the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan. If anyone finds trouble with you because of the mountain matter, I can come forward to testify for you."

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi arranged it with a faint tone, like a senior in a high position.

This was the appearance she imagined she should have when facing Ji You: looking down from above, proud, calm, not a bit "ying."

However, Ji You didn't buy it at all, reaching out to pinch her face.

Still sending me away after eating—are you doing it for my own good? You're just afraid.

The last time the two of them met was before entering the Sages' Sacred Land; at that time, he had intimidated her, saying that once they came out, they would have to be together forever.

As it turned out, after they came out, this girl didn't even go to the Void Mountain; she only dared to send letters with stick figures to threaten him, cowardly to the extreme.

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi discovered that she hadn't suppressed him, so she maintained a stern gaze: "You and I have known each other for a long time, and on several winter days, I have been under your care. I will not blame you for your rudeness, but you and I are not a suitable match."

"?"

"In fact, I only recently discovered that my heart is set on the Dao, and I have long since had no interest in the affections of children."

When Ji You was pinching her, his waist had been straight, but at this moment, he suddenly felt some discomfort in his waist area.

So he reached down and discovered that his belt was tied very, very tightly.

Just as he touched the left side of the belt, intending to pull it open, his expression couldn't help but freeze slightly.

His belt seemed to have been untied and retied by someone; at this moment, it had already been knotted into a dead knot.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu had been in a deep sleep for three days just like him; it couldn't have been them who untied it.

Moreover, the clothes on his body hadn't been changed; untying his belt just to tie it back up again was a very illogical thing to do.

In other words, that person untied his belt simply for the sake of untying his belt.

Ji You suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked at Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi.

That was also reasonable, because the tsundere ghost had been served by others since she was a child, and her belt-tying technique was truly beyond words.

Before, when they were kissing in the Sages' Garden, there were a few times when he accidentally pulled her belt open, and it was he who tied it for her; it really wasn't strange that it was tied into a dead knot...

【Heart set on the Dao】

【Long since had no interest in the affections of children】

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi also noticed that Ji You had discovered the strangeness of the belt; she couldn't help but turn her gaze aside, revealing the coldness unique to an Inspector who wields a Sacred Artifact.

Ji You looked at him: "Inspector?"

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi had an "it has nothing to do with me" expression: "What's wrong?"

"My belt was untied by someone, it seems, as if they carefully observed something, and then tied it into a dead knot. Has the Inspector ever seen the suspect?"

"Ding Yao did it."

"?"

You really know how to shift the blame; after hearing this, Ji You couldn't help but look at her.

He thought to himself, according to the plot that Ding Yao called out that night, if it really was her who untied it, then she wouldn't just be untying it—she would be devouring him.

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi saw that he didn't believe her; sword Qi condensed in her palm, and she had the urge to kill him once and for all.

Ji You felt the sword Qi and subconsciously leaned back slightly, but his brow instantly furrowed, and a "hiss" sound escaped his lips.

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi turned her head: "What's wrong?"

"Some internal injuries..."

Elder Fang hadn't lived that long for nothing; that fierce iron blade was indeed not to be underestimated.

Although he won in the end, he had also taken a solid blow from the opponent, the blade Qi had pierced through his waist and abdomen, and combined with lying down for three days, the pain was like his muscles and tendons were twisted together.

Seeing this scene, Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi's eyes became thoughtful, and a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in her cold, arrogant eyes.

Ji You was currently pressing on the major acupoints of his waist, attempting to suppress the pain with spiritual energy, when he saw the tsundere ghost with the exquisite figure before him gently raise her arms.

"?"

Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi lifted her chin slightly, her eyes looking at him coldly and arrogantly, in a posture of wanting a hug.

Seeing this scene, the corners of Ji You's mouth twitched; he thought to himself that this tsundere ghost really knew how to trim her sails, knowing that he had an injury to his waist and abdomen, she felt she could do it again, right!

However, facing Kuangcheng Yan Shuyi's condescending gaze, Ji You still reached out with both hands, and a fragrant breeze instantly assailed his face.

Lowering his head, the little Inspector in his arms still had that cold and aloof expression, as if she were treating him like a chair.

In fact, even Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu knew that their cold and dignified Inspector had a very sharp tongue, but actually liked being held by her husband.

But because she was shy, she hadn't dared to show this intention since they met again.

(End of chapter)