In the southern part of the county town lay a barren area, where various goods were sold, especially to the peasants from outside the city.
It was already past noon, and few people remained. A man in gray clothes walked around, inspecting goods meant for peasants. He checked their quality and inquired about prices. After completing a circuit, he headed towards a nearby tea shop.
Sitting down at a table, he said to the owner, "Tea for me!"
"Alright, please wait a moment," a servant replied.
At that moment, a horse-drawn carriage pulled up, catching the attention of the man in gray. Only, he didn't notice two figures flanking him, subtly pressing daggers to his waist.
"..." He felt the dagger begin to press painfully against him.
The two men remained silent, merely gesturing for him not to make a sound.
They tossed a few coins onto the table and escorted the man into the carriage.
As soon as they got him inside the carriage, they immediately gagged and bound him. The hostage was pressed to the floor, and the carriage set off.
Back at the tea shop, the servant emerged with the teapot after brewing the tea. However, the client had vanished without a trace. The servant collected the coins, stepped outside, and looked around, but saw no one...
Outside the manor, Lan Ruo Ting emerged with the county scholars. He personally saw them off.
"Lord Lan, please don't trouble yourself!" the group constantly urged him to stop.
And as they themselves descended the mountain, they walked merrily.
The Princess herself had received them and engaged them in conversation, then treated them to a fine meal. Although she constantly wore a hat, her graceful figure, exquisite demeanor, elegance, and gentle voice captivated everyone.
Some had said she was a disfigurement, but now everyone understood that wasn't the case. How could one be disfigured with such a figure, manners, and tender voice? Many of the scholars were already considering how they might grow closer to the Princess. They fantasized about enjoying her company. However, these were mere pipe dreams. After all, their social standings were vastly different. How could mere county folk stand beside a maiden of imperial lineage?
After the meal, they had another good talk with Lan Ruo Ting. Lan Ruo Ting had asked for their opinions on the situation in Cang Wu County. And before their departure, he presented each of them with 100 silver taels, which delighted everyone.
The originally timid Ling Shang Po was now cheerful. He realized he had overthought many things. He recalled the moments spent near the Princess and involuntarily compared her to his own wife.
Many were pleased. Only those like Su De Kang appeared quite reserved. They clearly understood that the Prince wished to gain popularity among them.
As for Lu Sheng Zhong's disappearance, the Princess replied that he had soon returned home. The others reacted indifferently. In truth, many considered him unworthy of being among them. He had only been invited out of respect for Jin Mo Xuan, due to the shop's popularity. He himself was an uneducated man.
Having descended the mountain, everyone dispersed to their homes. By then, dusk was falling.
In a dark alley, the scent of someone cooking dinner could already be detected. The courtyard door opened, and a scholar from the study called out:
"Tomorrow, slaughter a chicken and cook it for me." he said, making it clear he had returned.
His wife came out, scolding, "Will the Princess then take care of our hunger?"
The scholar from the study looked at his wife, then tossed a bag of coins onto the table.
Upon hearing the jingle of coins, his wife's eyes widened immediately, and she exclaimed:
"Did you steal from someone?" She couldn't believe anyone would lend them so much money.
"Steal? What are you thinking!" The scholar's eyes bulged, then he said:
"The Great Princess gave us a parting gift. Can't scholars earn money now?" he replied cheerfully.
"The Great Princess gave it?" His wife's eyes popped out, and she immediately went to close the courtyard doors so no one would hear or, more importantly, see their money. Then she began to count the money in the bag.
"No need to count. It's 100 coins. This will be enough for us to eat for a whole year! Tomorrow, we'll buy you new clothes. And slaughter a chicken for me tomorrow..."
As all the scholars returned home, a carriage also entered Cang Wu County. It pulled up to Jin Mo Xuan. Lu Sheng Zhong stepped out, and the carriage immediately drove away.
He glanced around, and a crowd of onlookers immediately surrounded him. Everyone wanted to know how things had gone.
"Nothing, nothing. Disperse!" Lu Sheng Zhong appeared agitated and didn't speak with anyone.
Seeing that he wasn't in the mood to tell all, everyone dispersed. Lu Sheng Zhong entered the shop and went directly to the back of the building. His magical powers had been suppressed; now he couldn't escape.
As soon as he entered the room behind the curtain, he froze.
For Bai Yao was already waiting for him there. Lu Sheng Zhong didn't know when Bai Yao had appeared. All he could do was offer a bitter smile.
An hour later, as darkness fell, Lu Sheng Zhong approached the doors and lit the lamps.
An hour later, a silhouette appeared on the street. It was none other than Liu Zi You, disguised. He immediately entered Jin Mo Xuan. But no sooner had he stepped inside than sounds of blows echoed. A moment later, Liu Zi You tumbled out of the shop.
"Thud!"
He coughed up blood.
At such a commotion, a group of people appeared at the end of the street. They immediately headed towards Liu Zi You. But halfway there, they were intercepted by others.
Bai Yao flashed out from the house and stepped on the crawling Liu Zi You. He swung his sword and decapitated Liu Zi You.
Seeing that Liu Zi You was already dead, the other cultivators realized there was no longer any need to save him. Especially when they saw Bai Yao himself. They understood they were no match for him, so they immediately began to flee.
"Run!"
In the dark of night, cries of pain rang out. Two more figures appeared and pursued the group.
In the surrounding houses, many people peered out through their windows.
The city's patrol carriage also pulled up; from it emerged Shang Chao Zong's bodyguard and Yuan Gang. Yuan Gang immediately entered the shop and dragged Lu Sheng Zhong out with him. He sent him into the carriage.
Bai Yao and the others flickered in the night's darkness and vanished.
On the city wall, someone lit a signal fire, pouring oil over kindling.
Meanwhile, at the manor on the mountain, Niu You Dao stood leaning on the railings. Upon seeing the signal fire, he indifferently said, "Bear, release it."
Standing behind him, Yuan Fang released the Bird King from its cage. It immediately disappeared into the night sky.
Shang Chao Zong and the others standing nearby exchanged glances. Then Shang Chao Zong couldn't resist asking:
"Have the assassins been caught yet?"
"Whether the assassins are caught or not, it doesn't matter. The ones who sent them, *they* are the real problem. And they can't be caught so easily." Niu You Dao then turned to Shang Chao Zong and said with a smile:
"Prince, if you manage to seize Qingshan County, I will give you a generous gift!"
A generous gift!? The three men again exchanged puzzled glances. Lan Ruo Ting joyfully asked:
"I wonder, what kind of gift?"
Niu You Dao smiled but didn't reply. Lan Ruo Ting was at a loss for words. He knew that if Niu You Dao didn't want to speak, he wouldn't answer.
Niu You Dao immediately changed the topic: "If it's convenient, I would like to seclude myself for cultivation tomorrow."
Shang Chao Zong nodded, "Alright. We'll arrange it." Yet, he was still curious about what this generous gift could be.
Niu You Dao clasped his hands and departed, with Yuan Fang accompanying him.
The three men remained on the attic.
Lan Ruo Ting sighed and said, "This Lord Dao is not simple."
Shang Chao Zong asked, "What does Sir mean?"
Lan Ruo Ting posed a rhetorical question in return:
"Prince, have you not noticed? That Bear already obeys him completely and docilely. Even the monks treat us with detachment, yet they obey him without question. He is simply a demonic force!"
Under the moon, Yuan Gang returned to the courtyard with Lu Sheng Zhong. The latter had a sorrowful expression on his face.
"Everything is calm now."
These words were enough for Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao said to Yuan Fang:
"Bear, take him and put him under guard. Tell the others to watch him closely. He must not speak to anyone, let alone escape. If anything happens, use extreme measures!"
"Lord Dao, rest assured." Yuan Fang pledged, then seized Lu Sheng Zhong and led him away.
Deep in the night in a building within the city of the Southern Domain, the Bird King landed in its nest.
"Hoo-hoo."
An Xiao Man emerged and took the Bird King. He retrieved a secret letter from its talons.
When he returned to his room, he read the letter. In it, Lu Sheng Zhong reported that he had been discovered. And for the sake of his life, he had betrayed Liu Zi You and the other brothers. Only one disciple from the Liuxiang Sect remained alive and would likely report everything. Lu Sheng Zhong asked An Xiao Man to warn the Wuliangshan Sect about potential trouble.
Gazing at the letter, An Xiao Man's expression changed. Who was Liu Lu? He shouldn't be underestimated, merely thought of as a simple manager of the Song family's affairs. He had an only son, Liu Zi You. Would he really remain calm? Even if he said nothing, would the Liuxiang Sect remain silent? They would head to the Wuliangshan Sect to settle scores. The Wuliangshan Sect was in trouble!