Lu Sheng Zhong himself didn't know how dangerous Shao Ping Bo was. But he would come to understand in time.
Although Lu Sheng Zhong could act as he pleased, Shao Ping Bo would not be easy to kill. After all, he was surrounded by high-level cultivators. Whether openly or covertly, it would be difficult to attack him. Therefore, Lu Sheng Zhong pondered his next move.
Returning to his rented courtyard, Lu Sheng Zhong entered his room, placed a map on the table, and unrolled it, beginning to examine it.
Later, he took out a blank sheet of paper and began writing down the names of people and their connections to Shao Ping Bo. He did this so as not to forget the information he had received from Wu San Liang. After all, Wu San Liang hadn't been in Beizhou for long, so he hadn't managed to learn much about Shao Ping Bo.
"Thud!"
A sound, as if something had fallen, echoed from outside.
Lu Sheng Zhong immediately swept the items from the table and hid them. Then he opened the door and stepped out into the courtyard.
No one was in the courtyard. Only a crumpled piece of paper lay on the ground. He looked at the paper and noticed there was a stone inside it. Lu Sheng Zhong pushed the door open wider, looked at the constant stream of people on the street, but didn't see who had thrown the stone.
Closing the door and returning inside, he looked at the drawing on the paper. It was Niu You Dao's secret sign for communication. This meant it was a message from Niu You Dao.
He couldn't directly contact Niu You Dao. Using Bird Kings in the city was dangerous because it could easily arouse suspicion. This was also important for his own safety.
Niu You Dao had left him a street vendor for contact. If Lu Sheng Zhong needed to pass anything to Niu You Dao, he just had to tell the vendor. And the vendor would, of course, relay everything to Niu You Dao.
The message on the paper was encrypted. Lu Sheng Zhong took out a brush and began deciphering it. From the message, it was clear that Niu You Dao was suggesting he find a connection with Shao Ping Bo's brothers. Through Shao Wu Bo and Shao Fu Bo, something might be unearthed.
After reviewing the message, Lu Sheng Zhong burned the letter and its decipherment.
Turning his head, he once again took out the map and paper and began to formulate a plan of action.
Lingbo Palace.
In the library, Shao Ping Bo was busy with documents, reviewing and signing them.
Shao San Sheng entered and said,
"Young Master, please rest." Saying this, he handed over a report with both hands:
"News from Qingshan. Shang Chao Zong has taken command of Qingshan and Kuangai County!"
Shao Ping Bo's eyes gleamed. He raised his head, took the report, and began to read.
After finishing, he said in a low voice,
"I knew Feng Lin Bo was no match for Shang Chao Zong. But I didn't expect Shang Chao Zong to absorb him so quickly. What speed!"
He continued to read the report:
"New policies... Farmers who cultivate fields will be exempt from taxes; they only need to share with the two counties. And taxes for merchants have been halved. Where do they get their finances?"
Shao San Sheng replied, "It must be the Heavenly Jade Sect helping them. Otherwise, where? Without the sect's support, they wouldn't even have an army."
Shao Ping Bo leaned back in his chair and sighed, "Abolishing taxes on arable land will attract many peasants from all sides. This will greatly increase the population in the counties. They also halved taxes for businessmen, which will attract even more merchants. They can't possibly incur losses this way. Their new course is good. It's aimed at accumulating people, finances, and products. All of this will lead to a rise. There will be many people, much money, and much grain. In this regard, the Heavenly Jade Sect is better than Dachang Mountain!"
Shao San Sheng said, "Dachang Mountain manages a huge territory, while the Heavenly Jade Sect only needs to manage small lands. In this respect, it's easier for the Heavenly Jade Sect. If the Heavenly Jade Sect had to manage such a vast territory as Beizhou, it would be much harder."
Shao Ping Bo waved his hand, unwilling to argue on the subject. However, he admired the Heavenly Jade Sect and at the same time, he feared it. If Dachang Mountain also supplied the Shao Family, it would spare him a lot of trouble.
Shao San Sheng continued, "It has been confirmed that Niu You Dao has returned to Qingshan. He has settled quietly in a mountain valley outside the city."
"Outside the city, in a mountain valley?" Shao Ping Bo asked,
"Was there an opportunity to eliminate him?"
Shao San Sheng shook his head, "Extremely difficult. We sent people, they tried, but it was utterly impossible to get close to him. The Liuxiang Sect, Flowing Clouds Sect, and Wuyou Mountain have completely relocated there. Niu You Dao is surrounded by a crowd of cultivators. He has more high-level cultivators than Shang Chao Zong himself. There's no way for an outsider to get close to him. Even if you take a group of cultivators, most of them will simply perish."
"So many people guarding him? What a scoundrel!" Shao Ping Bo said in a cold tone, then slowly replied,
"The three sects that relied on the Song Family have now turned to him? It seems he has annihilated the Song Family."
"Young Master, he has already returned to Qingshan. Should we continue with the Red Yang Fruit matter?"
Shao Ping Bo asked, "Was there anything strange in Qingzhou?"
"Nothing yet."
"How long has it been since the Red Yang Fruit was lost at the Ice and Snow Palace?"
"Almost three months now."
Shao Ping Bo said in a cold tone,
"We'll wait a little longer! To attack or not to attack, we cannot let him evade us. That bastard is cunning. We must only capture him when we are fully confident. Otherwise, we will fall into his trap ourselves..." As he finished speaking, he was startled.
Then he slowly turned his head to Shao San Sheng:
"If an experienced doctor came to examine Xiao Tian Cheng, would you, in Hai Ru Yue's place, agree to the examination?"
"Of course. If there's even a small possibility, she would certainly agree. Over the years, how many doctors has Hai Ru Yue received...?" As he finished speaking, Shao San Sheng also froze. He seemed to understand something.
He understood what Shao Ping Bo wanted to say. What if Niu You Dao had no intention of using the Red Yang Fruit at all? Hai Ru Yue might have agreed to their condition if he had already cured her son. And if another doctor came, there would be no need to examine her son again.
We must check! Shao San Sheng nodded and said,
"Understood. I'll find suitable people."
House of Spring Wind. Beizhou's largest brothel.
This place was always filled with beauties, attracting a huge number of people.
Opposite the House of Spring Wind stood a tavern. On the second floor of this tavern, Lu Sheng Zhong sat by the window. He slowly sipped wine and ate.
"Lord Wu, no need to rush." The voice of the brothel madam rang out.
Lu Sheng Zhong turned his head and looked out the window. Three luxuriously dressed young men were leaving the brothel. Among them was the gentleman named Wu Tian Nan, whom the brothel madam was looking after very well. This meant Wu Tian Nan was an important person. This young master was the assistant chief of Pingchuan County, and he happened to have good relations with Shao Wu Bo and Shao Fu Bo.
Lu Sheng Zhong had been watching him for several days.
There was nothing else to do. Niu You Dao had said that Shao Ping Bo was a very dangerous person, so caution was necessary. And Shao Ping Bo's relationship with his brothers wasn't very good. This meant they were probably being watched. So it was dangerous for Lu Sheng Zhong to approach and contact them directly. It was better to first establish contact with their subordinates.
As soon as Wu Tian Nan left, Lu Sheng Zhong tossed a coin onto the table and also departed...
Two days later, outside Beizhou, in another city, Lu Sheng Zhong entered a brothel.
"Dear guest, looking for a girl? Perhaps me? Would you be interested in me?" The plump and powdered madam asked.
Lu Sheng Zhong took out a banknote and placed it on the table.
The madam stopped laughing and looked at the banknote for 10,000 gold.
"Young, beautiful, with a graceful figure, able to sing, dance, knowledgeable in Shi Ci Ge Fu, beautifully dressed, and capable of expertly playing her role!" Lu Sheng Zhong gestured with his finger, then said, "Find one like that, and the money is yours!"
Eventually, a carriage stopped behind the brothel. A beauty in a conical hat with a exquisite figure emerged from the brothel and, following Lu Sheng Zhong, got into the carriage.
The wheels creaked, and the carriage set off...
In a mountainous forest, someone was singing. Several riders were traveling along the road when, suddenly, in the shade of the forest, they saw a girl in white clothes. She had an astonishing figure, her slender fingers playing a flute. And a melancholic melody echoed throughout the forest.
As if discovering someone was watching her, she turned and saw the people. The girl frowned and began to descend the mountain.
Wu Tian Nan and several of his accompanying men were surprised. What was such a beauty doing in this mountainous region?
Several people exchanged glances, then followed the girl and found a stopped carriage.
Several people dismounted their horses. They immediately climbed a slope to see what was there. They saw the girl below the slope, but next to the girl was also a man. They were sitting before a grave and were performing a memorial ceremony.
This was Pingchuan County territory, so Wu Tian Nan and his company boldly approached them.
The man and the girl turned their heads and looked at them. The man was none other than Lu Sheng Zhong.
When the young men came closer and saw the girl's face, they were astonished, because she was truly beautiful. The girl had a beautiful and ample bosom, with white and delicate skin. Wu Tian Nan had never thought such beauties existed in his Pingchuan County.
"Clang!" A metallic sound rang out.
Lu Sheng Zhong drew his sword and instantly cut a bush in half.
Wu Tian Nan was startled. He realized they had encountered a cultivator.
"What are you planning?" Lu Sheng Zhong asked in a cold tone. He looked at them warningly.
Wu Tian Nan waved his hand, "Instructor, this is a misunderstanding. We were just passing by this road and saw a lonely girl in these desolate mountains. We were simply concerned. Did anything happen to her?"
Lu Sheng Zhong said in a cold tone,
"Do you think I'll believe you?"