novel-bin 66, Wu Xiucai
66, Wu Xiucai
Jiang Shi'an stepped forward and pulled down Wang Quanxin's pants, revealing a dragon-shaped tattoo three inches below Wang Quanxin's dantian. He frowned slightly and said, "It is indeed there."
"I have high hopes for him."
"Just now I saw this person seemingly searching for something; perhaps Brother Li took something he shouldn't have."
Ren Qingshan, with a clear mind, was already searching through the messy room. After a pause, he said, "Tell me about the Divine Dragon Sect in detail."
"It is an extremely mysterious martial arts sect."
"To gain fame by killing officials."
"There aren't many followers, but they are all highly skilled. The court has already labeled it a heretical sect, and anyone who sees a follower must be killed. There will be a hefty reward for their efforts."
"The leader of the sect is said to be a concubine who escaped from the cold palace, and later passed the throne to the prince she gave birth to."
Having traveled the martial arts world for many years, Jiang Shi'an was well-informed and shared the information he knew.
Ren Qingshan glanced at him and licked his lips: "I suggest that Lord Fang gather all the experts in the county together and take a bath."
Strangely enough, Ren Qingshan felt a slight burning sensation in his heart, and even a hint of restlessness.
It was as if some unknown factor within me had awakened.
Big melon!
This is juicy gossip!
The emperor, the deposed concubine, the prince... they've started fighting!
Jiang Shi'an was speechless. This Ren Qingshan had quite the nerve. What kind of time was this to still be joking around?
Ren Qingshan tapped on the wall one by one.
They quickly discovered that the ancestral shrine was hollow, and carefully took out the ancestral tablets and incense burner of the Li family, reaching inside to touch them.
He gathered his inner energy between his fingers and took out three pieces of blue bricks in succession, finally touching something wrapped in oiled paper.
Like a book?
Ren Qingshan immediately took it out and glanced back at Jiang Shi'an.
"Brother Jiang, you wouldn't happen to be from the Divine Dragon Cult, would you? How about we take a bath together tonight?"
Jiang Shi'an coughed lightly, remaining silent. This man was truly meticulous and bold, capable of capturing criminals, searching for treasures, and joking around. He was a martial artist who had never suffered much hardship, full of vigor and ambition.
Ren Qingshan opened the oil paper package and saw what was inside.
They were two thin booklets.
The cover of the first book reads: "Nine Transformations of Fish and Dragons".
It is a complete lineage of skills, from copper skin to chalcedony.
With a slight stirring in his heart, Ren Qingshan quickly flipped through the pages and memorized everything.
The second book had no words on the cover, but when you opened it, it looked like an account book.
The format is as follows: 【Year of Renyin, Jia Yi, 8,000 taels.】
I took notes for dozens of pages.
It seems that the "Ghost-Fearing" gang of river bandits had once paid tribute to their superiors.
As for who "above" is, it's really hard to say.
The ledger records show that there are about five people "above" each year, with the number varying from year to year, sometimes seven, sometimes four, which is probably related to changes in positions.
However, I don't know which bastard "Jia Yi" is, but he is present every year, twice a year, without fail for more than ten years, and he pays tribute of 16,000 taels of silver every year.
This... is for paying rent!
Ren Qingshan mentally scoffed, recalling what Lu Haichuan had said about the bandits at Shahu Pass who had always paid generous tributes to the officials in the prefectural city. He understood the situation perfectly well.
"Take a look at this."
Ren Qingshan handed the account book to Jiang Shi'an.
But Jiang Shi'an turned his head and waved his hand, refusing decisively: "I won't look. The Jiang family cannot suffer a second massacre. Please understand my prudence in protecting myself."
"cough……"
Ren Qingshan coughed lightly and sighed, "You son of a bitch, Jiang Shi'an, I wasn't nervous at all, but you, you bastard, have made me a little nervous!"
Jiang Shi'an's facial muscles twitched slightly: "Sorry."
……
It was evening.
Wang Quanxin has been handed over to the yamen (government office) and imprisoned for severe interrogation.
Ren Qingshan handed over the cultivation manual, account books, and the token, and learned about the situation at the location of Li Xiaoting's body outside the city: the Divine Dragon Sect had left a message there, saying that they would clean up their sect and only punish the ringleaders.
The Divine Dragon Cult's public acts of violence were ferocious and intimidating, yet they surprisingly displayed a "refined" approach of stopping short of causing harm.
After reviewing the account book, Fang Yanping first sneered, then praised Ren Qingshan a couple of times, and explained that the "Nine Transformations of Fish and Dragon" was passed down by the county magistrate who had sent Li Xiaoting to infiltrate the area. It was an unclaimed technique, and if anyone wanted to learn it, they could refer to it. He also instructed that the practical test the next day should proceed as scheduled without any mistakes.
This county magistrate had a certain composure; before the matter was fully investigated, he was able to distinguish between what was important and what was urgent.
The crisis management was handled well.
That night.
The entire Huaiyin County town was brightly lit, with many government officials, guards, and even members of the Demon Slayer Bureau mobilized to patrol and search the entire town.
The barking of dogs inside and outside the city continued all night.
……
The next morning.
On the last day of the recommendation examination, the military drill ground remained solemn and dignified, with all the officials in their positions. The audience was even larger, with crowds thronging the ground.
This surprised Ren Qingshan somewhat.
However, he quickly came to his senses. In a land of martial spirit, the people are full of bloodlust. How often do people not die in the city?
Moreover, Fang Yanping should be in charge of the arrangements and setting the pace.
Fang Yanping stepped onto the arena and gave a brief account of yesterday's events, saying that the Divine Dragon Cult had caused chaos and killed his meritorious officials, and that he would avenge them after completing today's assessment.
Many people in the arena shouted "Revenge!" The sound gradually rose, like thunder crashing over the martial arts arena, making everyone's scalp tingle.
Even Lu Haichuan and Lu Qingyi in the crowd, as well as many elderly, weak, women and children, were raising their arms and shouting, showing a sense of shared hatred for the enemy.
Ren Qingshan watched all this silently, his soul seemingly undergoing a purification.
This is roughly the spirit of a martial artist.
A warrior shall not be humiliated!
Martial artists are not afraid of death!
From top to bottom, although petty scheming may inevitably occur in the details, the grand trend in people's hearts still exists.
An eye for an eye.
Blood for blood.
The person in charge of the third trial was Zheng Hong, a clerk from the Jade Marrow Realm of the Prefectural City Martial Arts Office.
Perhaps because of what happened yesterday, he made his moves in a conventional manner, without any unexpected complications, allowing the two to pass the test smoothly.
After the third level is completed.
With a solemn expression, Fang Yanping announced the matter in front of everyone. As was customary, he sent someone to announce the good news. He also led Jiang Shi'an, Ren Qingshan, and other witnesses to burn incense and play music, and solemnly worshipped the founding emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty to express his gratitude for the emperor's grace.
Thus, the system of recommendation and examination came to an end.
In the spring of the year Yi Si, Huaiyin County produced two more martial arts scholars who were officially registered by the imperial court.
……
Ren Qingshan sensed an impending storm.
But at least for today, it is still the calm before the storm.
The government effectively covered up the massacre of the Li family in Tianyifang, and the bodies were quietly removed in the dead of night.
When the good news was announced today, many neighbors came to offer their congratulations.
The children, asking for candy and money, were especially happy.
Two daring little girls with pigtails even clung to Ren Qingshan's legs and acted coquettishly. Seeing that he wasn't fierce, more children followed suit, resembling a group of little monkeys hanging from the old tree.
Ren Qingshan was covered in children, and feeling the vibrant joy, his smile was exceptionally bright.
I love this world.
I also like this kind of life.
I am thirty-five years old, a martial arts scholar, and Ren Qingshan, who has lived two lives!
……
……