Catching Monsters

Chapter 333 Miss Liu, if you keep this up, I'm going to call for help!
Wuling Prefecture in Beihu Province is close to the central part of Zhou State. It is the hub between the Central Plains and the Southwest, and a vital passage for those entering the Central Plains from the Southwest.

The most convenient and quickest way is to travel from here in the Central Plains.

For this reason, Wang Longzhi's army was mainly stationed here to prevent the rebels from the three southwestern provinces from entering the Central Plains.

Although there was rebellion in the southwest, it did not affect the prosperity of Wuling Prefecture in the slightest. Merchants and caravans from all over the world flocked to Wuling Prefecture.

The caravan of merchants led by Yang Liunian, composed of Imperial Guards, also entered Wuling Prefecture at this time.

On the carriage, Qin Shujian saw the bustling scene of Wuling Prefecture and was surprised. He couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect Wuling Prefecture to be so prosperous."

Although this bustling scene couldn't compare to the capital, Qin Shujian, having just come from the impoverished southwestern provinces, couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.

Sitting in the carriage, Yang Liunian chuckled and said, "Not surprising, I came here many years ago."

"This place is a thoroughfare connecting five provinces, and merchants from all directions pass through here. How could it not be prosperous?"

"Moreover, there is also a large army led by General Wang Longzhi stationed near Wuling Prefecture. The food, clothing and other necessities needed by this army alone can feed many merchants."

After making a few inquiries, the group headed towards the General's Mansion behind Wuling Prefecture.

This general's mansion was originally the residence of a wealthy merchant. After Wang Longzhi arrived, he requisitioned it as his living quarters and the place where he handled his daily military affairs.

Looking out the carriage window, Qin Shujian asked curiously, "Aside from the soldiers we saw patrolling at the city gates, there haven't been many soldiers patrolling inside the city?"

Yang Liunian nodded and said, "I don't know, but a large number of troops are mainly stationed outside the city."

They chatted all the way and soon arrived at the gate of the general's mansion, where there were quite a few elite armored soldiers on duty and patrolling.

Upon seeing the caravan approaching, the guards frowned slightly and stepped forward to stop them.

Yang Liunian took out his waist token and handed it over: "Yang Liunian, commander of the Eastern Garrison, wishes to see General Wang Longzhi."

Upon hearing the words "Eastern Garrison Command," the soldier's expression changed slightly. After carefully examining the waist token, he politely told the group to wait a moment before turning around and going inside to report.

After a short while, the soldier returned, made a gesture of invitation, and said with a smile, "General Wang invites you all to come in."

The General's Mansion is a standard five-courtyard mansion.

Led by the soldiers, the group soon arrived outside a living room.

Soon, a rather handsome general, around thirty years old, dressed in a white robe, came out.

Duke Jingguo, Wang Longzhi.

Although Yang Liunian had been in the capital for many years, Wang Longzhi spent the vast majority of his time leading troops in battle.

He had never met him, but Wang Longzhi's deeds were already famous in the capital.

Before Xu Xiaogang achieved a great victory in the battle against the Northern Barbarians, the title of the nationally renowned young general belonged to Wang Longzhi.

He comes from a distinguished family; his ancestors were founding fathers of the nation.

It is said that when he was eighteen, he was ordered to suppress bandits, and with more than thirty soldiers, he defeated more than a hundred bandits.

The battle that truly made him famous was eight years ago, when he was twenty-two years old, when he led five hundred men in a surprise attack on a band of three thousand mountain bandits.

As a result, out of 500 people, only a few dozen died and 100 were injured.

They defeated and forced the three thousand bandits to surrender.

The storytellers in the capital have told countless versions of his story.

Now he is a top-level noble who commands an army of 400,000.

With a smile on his face, Wang Longzhi said, "Yang Qianhu of the Eastern Garrison, right? Please."

After entering the living room and sitting down, Wang Longzhi had tea served.

Wang Longzhi was quite enthusiastic and asked with a smile, "What brings you imperial envoys here?"

After accepting the tea, Yang Liunian waved his hand repeatedly, saying, "We are not worthy of being called imperial envoys in front of General Wang."

"You've come here this time because of the banditry in the three southwestern provinces?" Wang Longzhi asked with a smile, holding a cup of tea in his hand.

“Yes, we…” Yang Liunian paused, then said, “We have something quite important that needs to be escorted back to the capital. We hope General Wang will send a team of elite troops to escort it back to the capital.”

“That’s easy. I see you all look quite tired. Let’s rest for a bit. I’ll arrange for my men to join you before we set off,” Wang Longzhi said, then called out to the outside, “Prepare two tables of good food and please enjoy a good meal, Your Excellencies.”

"Yes."

Seeing Wang Longzhi's enthusiasm, Yang Liunian didn't know how to refuse. His original intention was to set off immediately to avoid any unforeseen complications.

After settling the group down, Wang Longzhi made an excuse that he had military business to attend to and would come over to have a meal with them later.

After leaving the living room, Wang Longzhi straightened his clothes, his expression turned serious, and he hurried towards the backyard of the General's Mansion.

Upon arriving at the backyard, a woman who appeared to be about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old was sitting inside.

The woman was dressed in a light blue gauze dress, and her appearance was absolutely stunning. Unfortunately, she was sitting in a wooden wheelchair and was paralyzed on one side.

She was sitting by the flower bushes in the yard, pruning the plants with shears in her hand. Hearing footsteps, she turned around and looked at Wang Longzhi: "Longzhi, what happened?"

Wang Longzhi quickly came to her side and whispered, "Min'er, a group of Imperial Guards has arrived. According to my estimation, they have probably come from the three southwestern provinces and claim to have brought something important out of the three southwestern provinces."

Xiao Min'er frowned slowly and said in a deep voice, "The Imperial Seal of the State?" "Yes." Wang Longzhi nodded emphatically and said in a deep voice, "Should we let them leave?"

Xiao Min'er closed her eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Leave them here."

……

Inside the prison of the prefectural government in Chongshan County.

"Jiang Yun, how many Taoist techniques do you still haven't finished writing?"

Behind Sun Wuji were two baskets of Xuan paper, each sheet inscribed with a different Taoist technique.

Jiang Yun was imprisoned in a cell. Although he was chained, he could move around freely inside the cell.

His cell contained a wooden table and the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper).

He was writing furiously inside, glancing at Sun Wuji as he wrote, and said, "This is just the beginning. Even if we finish writing, it will probably take another month or two."

"Anyway, I'm locked up here by you guys, what are you worried about?" Jiang Yun rolled her eyes at him.

"But why can't I use it?" Sun Wuji then took out a piece of Xuan paper and pointed to the Samadhi True Fire incantation on it: "You're not just writing nonsense, are you?"

"How could that be?" Jiang Yun waved his hand, signaling him to bring over a basket of Xuan paper. After searching through it, he found a sheet and handed it over: "This is the Five Ghosts Curse. Try it."

"The Samadhi True Fire Incantation is a Taoist practice. It's no wonder you, who practices evil arts, can't use it."

In fact, Jiang Yun had haphazardly modified most of these incantations. If you actually tried to practice them, you'd be lucky if you didn't go berserk.

Of course, it contains a mix of truth and falsehood, and also includes some less powerful evil spells and incantations to increase its credibility.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wuji channeled his inner energy slightly and performed the incantation of the Five Ghosts Curse. After feeling the power of the incantation, he nodded slightly.

However, his eyes also held a hint of curiosity as he slowly asked, "I've been in the martial world for so many years, and I've rarely seen someone like you."

"He had both the waist badge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the identity badge of the Red Lotus Sect protector."

"He was proficient in Taoist magic and also knew a lot of unorthodox incantations."

"What exactly do you do?"

Jiang Yun grinned and said, "Uncle Sun, how is it? Have we received any news from His Majesty?"

Sun Wuji frowned and asked, "You mean the matter of joining us?"

“Otherwise what? I’m also a dignified third-grade expert. It would be such a waste to kill me.” Jiang Yun paused. “You should have already checked and confirmed that my Red Lotus Sect protector’s identity token is genuine, right?”

"I was originally a member of the Red Lotus Cult, and I've always dreamed of rebelling."

"We are our own people."

Sun Wuji's face darkened, and he slowly sat down in front of Jiang Yun, saying in a deep voice, "Can you be trusted, kid?"

“It’s packed.”

Jiang Yun's eyes held a hint of sincerity.

"Hmph." Sun Wuji snorted coldly, glanced at the wastebasket, and said, "You should write down all the Taoist techniques you know first."

After saying this, Sun Wuji waved his hand and turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, not long after Sun Wuji left, the prison door opened again, and Liu Ruyan, dressed in a pink gauze dress, could be vaguely seen wearing a bodice underneath.

She swayed her slender waist as she carried the food over, pushing open the cell door: "Oh, still writing so diligently, huh? Take a break and have some food. I made this myself."

As she spoke, she moved closer to Jiang Yun, and the fragrance emanating from her body wafted into Jiang Yun's nose.

Honey trap?
Jiang Yun's smile remained unchanged: "Isn't this what Uncle Sun instructed?"

"Why write to that old geezer? Play a game with your sister." Liu Ruyan smiled and came closer.

Jiang Yun's heart skipped a beat, and he said in a deep voice, "Miss Liu, you must have practiced the Art of Union, right? It can absorb a man's cultivation essence and blood."

Liu Ruyan's expression froze slightly, then she smiled again: "Look at what you're saying, do you think I'm some kind of jackal or tiger? The people here are all dull and lifeless, and none of them are as handsome as you."

"I actually agree with the last sentence."

"Hey, why are you taking my clothes off..."

"Miss Liu, if you keep this up, I'm going to call for help!"

Jiang Yun was immediately pinned to the ground by Liu Ruyan. Liu Ruyan narrowed her eyes and said with a smile, "Go ahead and scream. No one will pay attention to you even if you scream your lungs out."

As she spoke, Liu Ruyan wildly tried to tear off Jiang Yun's clothes.

There was no other way; as Jiang Yun had said, Liu Ruyan was practicing the Art of Union.

The stronger the person you are, the greater your cultivation will be.

Where can you find a third-rank master like Jiang Yun these days, who is young, strong, and handsome?
Liu Ruyan had been craving him for a long time.

(End of this chapter)