Catching Monsters

Chapter 476 Yan Jiu Appears
Although Zhao Gongcheng's business was not small, his network of connections in the capital was not particularly deep.

Because he didn't know any powerful or influential people, he had been scheming to get close to them all these years.

A few months ago, the Imperial Guards needed to purchase some winter clothing.

According to the normal procedures of the imperial court, the procurement should be handled by the imperial court itself.

However, this batch of cotton-padded clothes was quite large and the profit was substantial, so Zhang Yao contacted several merchants outside and persuaded them to take on the order.

Zhao Gongcheng was one of them. Although he didn't make much profit from this business, he still managed to have two meals with Zhang Yao.

Then he would boast to everyone he met about how familiar he was with Zhang Yao...

That's not surprising; businessmen always need to use powerful figures and make grand pronouncements.

The problem is that Zhang Yao is finished.

After understanding the whole story, Jiang Yun smiled and said, "Brother Zhao, this is a small matter. I'll write a letter later."

When Zhao Gongcheng heard Jiang Yun say that it was a small matter, his heart finally settled down, and he couldn't help but sigh at the benefits of getting on Jiang Yun's good side.

It should be noted that Zhang Yao's matter has caused a great uproar in the capital. It is said that his entire family will be executed, and almost everyone in the capital who is close to Zhang Yao will be imprisoned.

The four merchants who supplied goods to Zhang Yao at the time also knew many powerful and influential people, but it is said that they were all arrested because of this incident.

Soon, Jiang Yun wrote a letter and handed it to Zhao Gongcheng, inviting him to stay for dinner. Zhao Gongcheng gratefully replied, "No need to trouble yourself. Once you're done with your work, Lord Jiang, I'll treat you to a good meal."

After saying that, Zhao Gongcheng turned and left.

Jiang Yun watched Zhao Gongcheng's departing figure, narrowed his eyes slightly, and then said, "I'll go to the Eastern Garrison Command early tomorrow morning. I haven't had a chance to go there since I came back."

"I wonder how well that kid Shujian has improved his swordsmanship these days."

"I'll go with you tomorrow," Xu Suwen nodded from the side.

Being granted a title and the position of prime minister is a major event for anyone, and once the news spread, the entire Duke's mansion was naturally filled with joy.

Tao Yuelan was overjoyed and ordered the kitchen to prepare a banquet. She also rewarded each servant of the Duke's mansion with ten taels of silver.

When the servants saw Jiang Yun, they stopped calling him "son-in-law" and started calling him "Lord Marquis."

Jiang Yun was somewhat unaccustomed to this.

……

The next morning, Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen took a carriage and headed towards the location of the Eastern Garrison Command.

On the carriage, Xu Suwen bought some osmanthus cakes from a roadside vendor. While eating them, she said, "By the way, Jiang Yun, there's something I want to discuss with you. My mother said last night that she's thinking of preparing a large house for us..."

"Now that you have been granted the title of Marquis, if you continue to live in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion after marriage, it will prevent people from gossiping about you."

"We have several large mansions inside the city. Would you like to choose one?"

"At that time, my mother will find a steward to help you select some servants."

Hearing Xu Suwen's words, Jiang Yun quickly waved her hand and said, "Don't trouble your mother with this matter..."

They're giving away houses, butlers, and servants.

"Alright, it's settled then." Xu Suwen said happily, "Consider it my dowry. Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it."

During the conversation, Jiang Yun looked at the pedestrians outside the carriage, suddenly narrowed his eyes, locked his gaze on one person, and his expression changed.

Seeing that Jiang Yun's expression was off, Xu Suwen took his hand and looked at the ragged boy on the road, who looked like a beggar, and asked in a low voice, "What? Do you know this boy?"

Yan Jiu was walking somewhat blankly on the streets of the capital. After following Jiang Yun back to Haiyan City and killing his wicked stepmother, he followed Jiang Yun's advice and hid in the mountains.

But life in the mountains and forests was not easy. He had now become a demon, and his skills and speed were beyond those of ordinary people.

Logically speaking, it shouldn't be difficult to catch some prey to eat in the mountains and forests.

The problem is that he can't control the demonic energy emanating from his body.

The demonic aura emanating from it would scare away any animals in the mountains and forests just by getting close, leaving them with only wild fruits to barely satisfy their hunger.

Later, due to the war in the south, Yan Jiu was first captured by the rebels and almost conscripted into the army.

He escaped from the military camp with two boys of similar age and fled north.

However, all they knew was to flee northwards; they had no specific destination in mind.

Later, they met an old man who warmly treated them to a meal and suggested that they come to the capital to make a living.

Finally, after a brief discussion with his two companions, Yan Jiu arrived in the capital.

Life in the capital was not easy. They had no travel permits, no place of origin, and no identity. They could only be treated as refugees and were placed in refugee settlements in the outer city.

They could only do simple jobs like begging in the outer city.

A few days ago, one of his companions fell seriously ill, so he risked sneaking into the inner city to see if he could beg for some food to take back to his companion.

But as he begged his way through the city, the people in the inner city frowned. Many of them thought to themselves, "How did this stinking beggar get into the inner city? What are those people from the Five Cities Garrison doing?"
Generally speaking, in the outer city, there are occasionally poor beggars begging along the streets, and everyone is used to it.

However, the inner city was strictly managed, and the people living there were either rich or noble. The guards would stop such people.

"Brother, my companion is seriously ill. Could you give me a few copper coins so I can buy him some sesame cakes to take home?" Yan Jiu pleaded as he stopped a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe.

In Yan Jiu's opinion, this person was clearly a cultured man who had read books, and perhaps he would be more compassionate than others.

Upon seeing this, the middle-aged man quickly covered his nose, took a step back with some disgust, looked Yan Jiu up and down, and casually took out a copper coin and threw it on the ground.

Yan Jiu quickly picked up the copper coins from the ground: "Thank you, brother, thank you, brother."

He rubbed the copper coin between his somewhat darkened hands, wondering how many coins he would need to buy herbs. Thinking of this, Yan Jiu took a deep breath and prepared to continue begging.

Behind him, a familiar voice rang out: "When did you come to the capital?"

Yan Jiu looked at Jiang Yun with some surprise.

"Brother Jiang."

Jiang Yun looked him up and down, her heart sinking slightly: "Come with me."

"Yes."

Seeing that Jiang Yun recognized this person, Xu Suwen handed over the osmanthus cake she was holding.

Yan Jiu was clearly starving, and he wolfed down the osmanthus cake before getting into the carriage.

While eating osmanthus cake, Yan Jiu recounted his experiences on this trip.

After hearing about these experiences, Jiang Yun suddenly changed the subject and asked, "What kind of person was that old man who suggested you come to the capital? Was he human or a demon?"

Yan Jiu awkwardly scratched his head: "Looks like he's in his eighties or nineties, a kind-hearted old man..."

Jiang Yun felt a slight chill in his heart. What a kind-hearted old man who met Yan Jiu and then guided them to the capital to find a way to make a living.

still is……

Jiang Yun scrutinized Yan Jiu's appearance and couldn't help but say, "I remember, when you left the Demon Kingdom, you obtained a cultivation technique called 'Cold Seeking Technique' from Ao Yu, right?"

"You don't seem to have any cultivation skills?"

Yan Jiu shook his head and said, "I have been studying the 'Cold Seeking Technique' diligently, but I haven't made much progress."

This was rather strange. During the conversation, the carriage soon stopped at the entrance of the Eastern Garrison Command.

Yan Jiu also said, "Brother Jiang, how about you lend me one tael of silver? I'll go back first and treat my companion's illness."

"Don't worry, I will definitely pay you back."

Jiang Yun wasn't short of money. He quickly took out a ten-tael silver note and handed it over: "Take your two companions and stay at the Sanqing Temple for the time being."

"Yes."

As Xu Suwen watched Yan Jiu's departing figure, she suddenly remembered and asked, "Is this the half-human, half-demon boy you once mentioned that you met in the Demon Kingdom?"

"Hmm." Jiang Yun took a deep breath, his expression somewhat solemn, and said in a deep voice, "This kid is of great importance. If the demon race finds out his whereabouts, he may not survive."

"After settling him in briefly, I had someone send him further north, the farther the better. As for whether the kid can survive, that's up to fate."

With that, Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen headed toward the archives.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I approached the archives, I could smell a strong aroma of wine wafting from the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, there were more than a dozen wine jars.

Qu Lanyu was holding a wine jar, eating some simple snacks and drinking fine wine.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around drunkenly: "Oh, Lord Jiang has returned safely?"

"Drinking like this so early in the morning?" Jiang Yun stepped forward and looked around. "Where's Qin Shujian?"

"He's not in the capital." Qu Lanyu hiccuped and said drunkenly, "That kid was sent to a place for seclusion by me. It will probably be a while before he comes out."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Senior Qu, you've gone to so much trouble."

Qu Lanyu shook her head: "It's not about whether it's troublesome or not, but mainly that the kid's swordsmanship is progressing well, but sometimes he can't control the intensity of his sword energy."

"It's such a pity that he accidentally broke several jars of wine in this yard."

"So I simply let him find a quiet place to practice on his own."

At this point, Qu Lanyu suddenly changed the subject and asked, "As for Lord Jiang, I've heard from many people that you went to the legendary overseas immortal island? It truly is a land of immortals. In just four or five months, Lord Jiang's progress in cultivation is truly astonishing."

Even someone like Qu Lanyu was filled with curiosity and even a bit of longing for the legendary Penglai Island.

Seeing that Qu Lanyu was interested, Jiang Yun briefly explained the situation of the fairy island.

After listening, Qu Lanyu touched her nose and asked, "Was that kid at the gate of our Eastern Garrison Command just now also someone you brought from the Immortal Island?"

The archives room was quite a distance from the gate of the Eastern Garrison Command, but Qu Lanyu hadn't expected to sense Yan Jiu's presence.

Qu Lanyu chuckled and said, "Lord Jiang, I didn't mean to investigate you. It's just that this legendary half-human, half-demon is something I've never seen before in all my years of life."

"However, that half-demon had a rather strong human scent."

Jiang Yun slowly opened his mouth and asked, "Senior Qu, there is a proverb in the Demon Kingdom that says that half-human and half-demon is related to the legendary resurgence of the Demon Saint."

"Do you know anything about this?"

"I don't know, and I'm not interested." Qu Lanyu leaned back in her recliner and said slowly, "However, strictly speaking, he's not a half-demon yet."

"Someone needs to fully unleash the demonic nature within him."

"Of course, the aura of a half-human, half-demon is very special, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to detect it from such a distance so quickly."

Jiang Yun's expression gradually turned serious, and he asked in a deep voice, "If Yan Jiu's demonic energy is fully activated..."

"Let's assume he was deliberately led to the capital."

Thinking of this, Jiang Yun's pupils contracted slightly, and he quickly stood up: "Oh no, I have to go to the outer city right away."

(End of this chapter)