Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 60: Meditation Hall

The hunting team returned to the city of Shuyang. Gu Jingnian first followed Pei Nian to the Kaiping Division to report what happened that night to the Chief Secretary Xu Yun.

“This case cannot be made public any more.”

After hearing this, Xu Yun was the first to make such a statement.

The previous incidents at the Xijiao Parade Ground and Wanchun Palace could not be covered up and had to be investigated. It was better not to cause panic among the people over such a small matter that could be covered up.

Changing the subject, he added: "But raising snakes and refining medicine are all evil ways and must not be tolerated! If you encounter such a monster again, you must kill him!"

"Yes!"

Several people in the hall responded loudly.

Before, Gu Jingnian heard Chao Juzhi say that everything was planned by the prime minister, and felt that the court was gloomy. Now Xu Yun's statement and the momentum of the people... no matter what, at least on the surface he saw justice.

Xu Yun's face became more solemn, and he said, "The duty of the Kaiping Division is to pacify the people, but some people have put the cart before the horse and focused their energy on tracking down the things made by the demon. You must not let them manipulate you and go astray, understand?"

"understand!"

At this point, the political differences between the two commissioners of the Southern Court have become an open secret.

From Gu Jingnian's point of view, it would certainly be a good thing if Xu Yun could get rid of Zheng Kuangfu, Mei Chengzong and others, put an end to the sorcery of refining alien creatures, and stop searching for the Viper Heart.

But he himself is an extraordinary person and is under the control of Mei Chengzong. At least for now, he cannot trust Xu Yun.

Xu Yun left Pei Nian to talk to a few police officers and asked everyone else to leave. He stroked his graying beard and said thoughtfully, "The duties of the Southern Court and the Northern Court have always been different, but Mei Chengzong has not yet adapted to the Southern Court since he was transferred to the position of Chief of Staff. Therefore, I have to take on more responsibilities for many things..."

On the other side, Gu Jingnian left the Suanni Hall and walked through an empty corridor when he was taken to see Mei Chengzong.

Mei Chengzong played with his slender fingers and said leisurely, "Did you come from Old Man Xu?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"They said they wanted to eradicate the evil spirits and forbid raising snakes and refining medicine."

"You're just good at sweet talk." Mei Chengzong stroked the hair beside his ear, "It's as if I indulged them, but things have happened, and someone has to clean up the mess."

"Yes."

Gu Jingnian honestly reported everything he had encountered to Mei Chengzong, but concealed the part about Ying Yao. Finally, he quietly sowed discord with a few words, directing the trouble to the Great Pharmacist.

He could only bet that there was no information exchange between the Great Pharmacist and Mei Chengzong, and take advantage of the distrust between them to find a way out in the cracks.

"Looking back, the Great Medicine Master led me to see him and suddenly died in front of me, and I did nothing. It was as if everything was planned. I suspect he is faking his death again to prevent us from investigating him. Please give me your advice."

"How would I know what that old guy is thinking?" Mei Chengzong said unhappily.

"Tisi doesn't know either?"

"Humph, he is Zheng Kuangfu's man, and the Northern Yamen is not allowed to interfere with his actions. How can I know? I haven't even seen what he looks like."

Mei Chengzong flicked the non-existent dirt from his fingernails and waved his hand, saying, "Go down. Since you suspect he is faking his death, continue investigating. I still have to go find that old man Xu Yun and bring the body over."

Gu Jingnian didn't expect to pass the test so easily, so he withdrew as he was told.

After leaving the courtyard, he looked up and saw the clear sky above the eaves, and his mood inexplicably improved.

He suddenly understood that although the power behind the great pharmacist was so great that even the Kaiping Division could not move against him, what he did could not be tolerated in broad daylight and could only be done like a ghost walking in the night.

Since those people were using unorthodox methods, whether they wanted to deal with him or use him to find Ying Yao, they could only do it in secret.

When he returned to the government office, Yougui was sitting there drinking wine and gnawing on duck bones. He turned around and saw him coming. He was surprised and asked, "Aren't you taking a three-day vacation?"

"It just so happened that I was investigating a case with her. The captain should grant me two more days of leave."

"Eat?"

"it is good."

Gu Jingnian sat down. You Gui looked at him for a while and said, "Are you a little different?"

"What's the difference?"

"Maybe you've gotten to know me a little better, so you're not so strange anymore."

You Gui said casually, holding the wine glass, shrinking his neck, not looking like a little old man, and sighed: "I am finally about to retire. The job of Kaipingsi sometimes feels very dark, full of things such as killing loyal people and setting up unjust imprisonments. But sometimes I feel that, regardless of justice, at least we are maintaining order among the people here. Otherwise, I don't know how chaotic it would be... I said something wrong."

"I didn't understand what the captain said."

Gu Jingnian poured a glass of wine and drank it, choking.

You Gui was, after all, an eighth-rank military officer with a good salary and plenty of benefits, but I didn't expect that all he bought was low-quality wine.

The two of them sat and drank for a while, and then a police officer came running over and said, "The police are here."

Yougui burped, quickly put away the food and wine on the table, rubbed his face vigorously, sat down at the desk and flipped through the files, but he couldn't concentrate.

It was Gu Jingnian who reminded him that he had the file held upside down.

Not long after, Pei Nian came over with a cold face and said indifferently: "Gu Jingnian, follow me."

"Yes."

Gu Jingnian then stood up, followed Pei Nian out of the side door, and walked slowly along the alley.

"Drinking?"

"I drank a little." Gu Jingnian raised his hand and pointed half a finger, "Captain You was on duty and didn't dare to drink. I drank it all."

"Heh." Where Pei Nian's gaze fell, the young man's cheeks were slightly red, and his eyes were a little tipsy. He was not as indifferent as usual, and actually looked a bit... well-behaved.

She was actually three years older than him, but she ignored this fact because he always looked so unapproachable.

"Drinking is not allowed in Kaiping Division, don't you know?" Pei Nian said with a straight face.

"I'm still on vacation." Gu Jingnian said as a matter of course.

Pei Nian had nothing to say.

The alley was very long. When he reached the end, Gu Jingnian looked around and found that he had been here before.

This is the north side of Kaipingsi. Inside the high walls is the Beiya Prison, and outside is a secluded, gloomy alley with no one in it.

Because the walls on both sides were too high, the sunlight could not reach the bluestone floor. The two walked in the shadows until they arrived in front of a small house. Pei Nian knocked on an inconspicuous little wooden door.

After waiting for a while, an old servant opened the door.

"Is Mr. Chu here?" Pei Nian asked.

"Pei Ji will handle the matter later."

The old servant responded and immediately closed the door, not showing any fear or trepidation because of Pei Nian's identity.

After a while, the small wooden door was opened again, and a little boy in blue clothes came in.

"Pei Jishi is here again. Please come in."

Gu Jingnian followed Pei Nian inside and saw an elegant courtyard behind the small wooden gate.

He had indeed been here before. He was seriously injured before, and Pei Nian brought him here to have this little boy in green treat him. At that time, the little boy in green was quite arrogant.

This time, the child's expression was more serious.

A few people walked into the small building behind the bamboo garden, sat down and waited for a while, then a middle-aged man walked over.

When he saw the other person's figure from afar, Gu Jingnian's eyes fixed and he felt somewhat familiar.

"Mr. Chu." Pei Nian stood up and saluted.

The person who came was the host of this place, Chu Danqing, who was in his forties, with an imposing appearance, long flowing hair, three strands of long beard, and wore a spotless white robe, looking elegant and free and easy.

Gu Jingnian had a feeling that this Chu Danqing was the great pharmacist of Wanchun Palace. They had a similar body shape, wore similar white robes, and his servants also wore the same green clothes... These could not be considered evidence, not even clues, as servants wearing this kind of green clothes were everywhere.

Speaking of which, the little boy in green had the same temperament as Liu Ziyan, probably a kind of arrogance that looked down on the world. Although they were servants, they felt that they were superior to others, higher than ordinary people. No matter how high-ranking or noble the other party was, they were still ordinary people.

At the beginning, the reason why Gu Jingnian thought that the great pharmacist was Liu Heng was because he heard Liu Ziyan call the great pharmacist "Master", but why couldn't this master be some other miracle doctor?
But when Chu Danqing approached, Gu Jingnian realized that he was too nervous. He shook his head secretly and said "no" in his heart.

Because there was no scar on Chu Danqing's face, it was so clean that there was not even a spot on it, but the great pharmacist had a deep cut on his face.

"Pei Jishi, please take a seat."

Chu Danqing sat down, glanced at Gu Jingnian, nodded slightly, and turned to the boy in green clothes and ordered, "He Shu, serve tea."

"Yes."

"Why are you here today? What are you doing here?"

"I want to ask Mr. Chu something."

Chu Danqing stroked his beard and pondered, saying, "If I am not mistaken, it should be related to Wanchun Palace?"

Gu Jingnian listened to his voice and found it was indeed different from that of the great pharmacist. After hearing these words, he became alert again.

Pei Nian asked: "How did Mr. Chu know?"

"After the incident in the western suburbs, I was summoned to the parade ground to check on those who were bitten by leeches. Not long after, I heard about the incident in Wanchun Palace, and it was the case you were in charge of."

Gu Jingnian asked, "When the incident happened in Wanchun Palace, was Mr. Chu in the Western Suburbs Parade Ground?"

"That's right." Chu Danqing said, "So you are here to check on me."

"I dare not." Pei Nian said, "My men were incompetent."

Chu Danqing nodded and sighed, "It is indeed a tragic situation, but if you come to ask me if you can be cured after being infected by leeches, I am helpless."

"That's not the case." Pei Nian said, "I want to ask, Mr. Chu, do you know how to refine aliens into medicine?"

"Refining medicine?"

Chu Danqing's eyes flashed with thought, and he said thoughtfully, "So that's how it is."

"Mr. Chu really knows something?"

"Those leeches are probably used to nourish the heart." Chu Danqing said, "I have read that if a leech eats the flesh and blood of an alien and grows a heart, it will acquire the alien's characteristics. Is this true?"

"Where did you see this, Mr. Chu?"

"More than fifty years ago, the imperial court took away a batch of books and manuscripts from Chongjing Academy. In the Fengwuzhi, there was a note by Master Xuandao. In the record about Xionggui, he wrote the sentence just now in small characters."

"Master Xuandao?" Pei Nian asked, "Why have I never heard of this person?"

"Have you heard of the 'Master's Strange Method' of Yue Kingdom?" Chu Danqing said, "When Da Rui eradicated the Master's Sect, you were not yet born. If Master Xuandao is still alive, he would be eighty years old."

"Is he dead?" Gu Jingnian asked.

"It is said that he is dead."

Gu Jingnian then thought, that the great pharmacist was very good at faking his death and escaping, could it be Master Xuandao? But when he recalled again, the age was not right. Although he did not know the great pharmacist's age, he was definitely not eighty years old.

(End of this chapter)