Huangxiu

Chapter 1146 White Pearl
Fifteen minutes later, the surroundings quieted down.

All evil has been vanquished.

Ding Huanchun told them to take the demon's corpse back to the imperial city, while he went to Chu Zhiyuan.

“Mr. Chu, we wouldn’t have been able to kill these demons without your help this time.”

"Everyone has the right to kill evil spirits." Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head.

Ding Huanchun said, "This is our biggest victory this year."

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

Ding Huanchun shook his head and said, "We wish we could kill them all, but these demons are cunning and slippery, impossible to guard against. After striking once, they immediately flee, and we can't catch them."

"Difficult."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

He guessed that the army must have selected top-notch light-footed experts and had considered using these experts to hunt them down.

It seems there have been no results.

“If it weren’t for your help, sir, that vixen would have escaped.” Ding Huanchun said, “Not only would our city guards lose face, but the imperial court’s prestige would also be greatly damaged.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Only the Divine Travel Sect? There must be other evil sects too, right?"

"It's not just the Divine Travel Sect." Ding Huanchun's expression was grave. "The Spirit Flight Sect, the Purple Illumination Sect, the Bright Heart Sect, and many other evil sects!"

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Have you figured out why they are doing this?"

"No." Ding Huanchun shook his head: "It's inexplicable, they've all gone crazy."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned and said, "The imperial court is so powerful, yet it has taken a year to find out the source of their madness?"

Ding Huanchun shook his head: "These evil sects are very difficult to infiltrate. We can't get any information from them, and we can't capture them alive or get any information out of them."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

It is difficult to infiltrate evil sects. Just as the imperial court can prevent demons and monsters from entering the capital, evil sects also have ways to distinguish between non-demons and monsters.

Ding Huanchun said with emotion, "Mr. Chu, you have helped us a lot."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, "Brother Ding, shall we go and take a look in this valley?"

"Please." Ding Huanchun extended his hand.

The two floated towards the valley.

At first glance, the valley appears dense and deep, but after walking a dozen meters in, the view suddenly opens up.

It was a wide, open, lush green meadow with a pond about ten meters in diameter in the center.

The pool is like a clear mirror, reflecting the sky covered with red clouds.

A row of wooden houses, about nine in total, was built on the north side of the pool.

A pond can be seen right outside the wooden house.

Chu Zhiyuan arrived at the pool and peered inside.

Ding Huanchun also glanced at the pool.

They discovered that there were many fish swimming in the pool, and the water was so clear that the fish seemed to be floating in the air.

He exclaimed, "Such clean water, such a fine place! These evil spirits certainly have good taste!"

Chu Zhiyuan stared at the pool.

The strange power at the bottom of the pool was exceptionally strong, even more so than in other parts of the valley.

The strange power that fills this valley originates from the bottom of this pool.

At the bottom of the pool was a bead, a white bead the size of a longan.

This white bead is very likely the source of the abnormal power.

Thinking of this, he leaped into the air, then swooped down and plunged into the pool like a fish.

Ding Huanchun was surprised.

He quickly looked down.

The water was crystal clear, and one could see Chu Zhiyuan diving into the bottom of the pool like a fish, walking a dozen steps before surfacing again.

Chu Zhiyuan leaped out of the pool and gently bounced in the air.

Suddenly, the white mist exploded, forming a cloud of water vapor.

He broke free of the water vapor and landed on the edge of the pool.

"Sir, this is...?"

"There's nothing good inside," Chu Zhiyuan said, holding the white pearl in his palm.

Ding Huanchun glanced at it and lost interest.

In his view, it was nothing more than a luminous pearl, and a faded one at that, probably because it had been soaked for too long.

Chu Zhiyuan handed it to him: "Brother Ding, take a look and see if there's anything unusual about it."

Ding Huanchun said "Oh" and laughed, "Is this some kind of treasure? If it really is a treasure, then it belongs to Mr. Gui."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I do think it's unusual, but it's hard to say what kind of treasure it is."

Ding Huanchun held it in his palm, examined it carefully, and found nothing unusual. He then handed it to Chu Zhiyuan: "Let's see what their accommodations are like."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded, took it and put it in his sleeve, storing it in the silver bracelet.

Ding Huanchun indeed did not sense anything unusual.

That's understandable. There are probably very few people in the world who can sense supernatural powers; it's far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

……

They searched nine cabins, which contained various daily necessities such as clothes and jewelry, as well as personal belongings.

After Chu Zhiyuan and Ding Huanchun had seen the wooden houses, they went to the pool to talk.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "There is still one person living here. Judging from the traces, they must have left a few days ago."

Ding Huanchun nodded.

He shared this assessment.

As an elite soldier, he was also skilled in tracking and realized that the person had been gone for some time.

He immediately perked up: "If we set up an ambush here..."

If we set up an ambush here, we might be able to catch that guy, and maybe even kill a demon.

For them now, killing a demon is already a great achievement.

They wouldn't disregard a single demon just because they've already killed so many.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "It's worth a try... How about this, we'll leave this place to our separate courtyard."

“Okay,” Ding Huanchun readily agreed.

Chu Zhiyuan helped kill eight demons, so it's only right that the remaining one be left to the Heavenly Sword Sect.

They can't get all the credit and all the benefits.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands in thanks.

In Ding Huanchun's view, the Heavenly Sword Sect also wanted to gain merit through this.

He was too lazy to explain, so he just accepted it as such.

The two left the valley and headed towards the imperial city.

As dusk settled over the surrounding fields, weary birds returned to their nests.

As they arrived at the imperial city and entered the city gates, Chu Zhiyuan felt a rare pang of melancholy.

He always kept his family company through Chu Liezhao and Leng Tieya, and through them, he escaped the pain of separation.

But now that I've arrived in the capital and stepped into the bustling crowds, looking at the prosperity and noise around me, I feel a strange sense of homesickness.

There is a sense of melancholy, like being a stranger in a strange land.

Ding Huanchun clasped his hands in farewell and headed to meet up with the city guards, excited and high-spirited, thinking about the great achievement he had just accomplished.

Chu Zhiyuan then walked north along the main street, and then turned east onto another avenue.

Surrounded by this bustling and noisy place, he felt nothing but melancholy, not a sense of wonder.

Despite the different styles of clothing, architecture, and the varying degrees of prosperity and bustle they displayed, having experienced several worlds and seen so much splendor, I no longer find it particularly remarkable.

They quickly passed through the bustling crowd and arrived at a house on the side of the street.

On either side of the purple gate, there is a white stone beast statue.

The gate was tightly closed, and almost no passersby stopped.

The plaque above the main gate bears the two large characters "Heavenly Sword," gleaming in gold.

The handwriting was sharp and fierce, like the crisscrossing sword energy, making those who approached feel inexplicably cold and dare not linger.

The presence of this plaque is akin to having several guards standing in front of the gate, inspiring awe and fear.

Chu Zhiyuan stopped in front of the gate, examining the two large characters on the plaque.

The plaque looks like it's made of wood, but it's actually a unique material that's harder than iron.

He was even certain that even the Shadowless Divine Sword could not harm it.

Such material could clearly be used to forge swords, yet it's used to make plaques. Truly befitting the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The fact that someone could write these two large characters with just their finger strength, despite the material being harder than iron, demonstrates their astonishing cultivation level.

These two characters contain not only the power and intent of swordsmanship, but also a formidable spiritual force.

The ability to so profoundly concentrate one's spiritual power into words is truly admirable and awe-inspiring.

After looking him over for a while, he stepped forward and knocked on the door knocker.

Soon an old man came out from the side door. After seeing his token, he quietly went in to announce his arrival.

Soon, a young man followed the old man into the courtyard and led Chu Zhiyuan to the front hall.

Chu Zhiyuan met Gu Junqi, the head of the Heavenly Sword Courtyard and an elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Gu Junqi was slender and upright, with a refined appearance and three wisps of fine beard under his chin, giving him a somewhat otherworldly air.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats and were served tea.

After hearing Chu Zhiyuan's purpose, Gu Junqi's expression turned solemn, and he slowly said, "Nephew Chu, it's best to wait and see about Prince Zhuang."

Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled.

Gu Junqi shook his head and said, "Prince Zhuang has recently gotten himself into big trouble. It would be best if he avoided suspicion."

"What big trouble?" Chu Zhiyuan asked curiously, "Does the sect leader know?"

If the sect leader knew, then I would have to make this trip.

If the sect leader is unaware, then he must first seek permission before personally delivering the message.

(End of this chapter)