Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 102
Commander Jing's expression shifted slightly.

The fact that Lu Xingzhou is a judge of the Yama Palace has not yet spread. What people know now is his status as a guest elder of the Tianxing Sword Sect and his ranking of thirty-eight on the list of rising alchemists, which makes him somewhat famous.

Two months ago, in the major case involving the Dongjiang demons, Lu Xingzhou was disguised at the time, so his significant role in the case is not widely known.

However, those within the Demon Suppression Bureau system knew more details than others. At least afterward, the presence of the Heavenly Sword Sect in breaking the Incense Tower was too prominent. Anyone in the Demon Suppression Bureau system could easily guess that the Heavenly Sword Sect must have played a major role in the demon case.

Commander Jing immediately realized this and stared intently at Lu Xingzhou: "The Dongjiang Demon Case isn't as simple as it seems on the surface, is it?"

Lu Xingzhou chuckled: "The prefect is a demon in disguise, and most of the officials in the prefecture are demons."

Commander Jing was taken aback: "You're just telling me that directly?"

“People within the bureaucratic system dare not expose things recklessly, but you are different.”

"What makes me different?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "Sheng Yuanyao's behavior in the Dongjiang incident and your behavior in the Menggui City incident are quite similar. Everyone wants to seek the truth and justice. It's just that the Dongjiang incident wasn't unsolvable because it was suppressed, but rather a matter of how to explain it after it was resolved. That's why Sheng Yuanyao wasn't so vehement. After hearing about your situation here, I wondered if Sheng Yuanyao had encountered a situation like yours that she couldn't resolve. Would she have made the same choice as you?"

Commander Jing was somewhat surprised: "The Sheng family's daughter?"

“Yes.” Lu Xingzhou raised his bowl in a gesture of respect: “This Daqian is rotten to the core. The reason I feel it’s not completely rotten is because people like Sheng Yuanyao and Your Excellency still exist within it. And…”

He paused, then didn't continue.

My wife is a princess.

Little White Hair is from the Holy Land... According to the state religion, he can be considered an official figure.

Commander Jing sneered: "I am a wanted criminal."

Lu Xingzhou drank it all without a care in the world, and then said, "Some people wear the skin of officials, but in reality they are demons or monsters, who can say for sure? Some people are wanted criminals, and their hearts are as clear as the sun and moon."

Commander Jing remained silent for a moment, then suddenly downed his drink in one gulp: "Even if you're here to trick me, I'll drink this wine with you."

Lu Xingzhou finally smiled: "Poisonous or not?"

It couldn't be detected from the outside, but once it was ingested, the sensation became much clearer. Commander Jing looked inward for a moment with a strange expression and confirmed that it was indeed non-toxic.

"You dared to drink it even though it might be poisonous... tsk." Lu Xingzhou poured him another bowl: "So even if the wine looks potentially poisonous, there's still a chance it might actually be harmless... At least there are people like Sheng Yuanyao in the court, so why should Commander Jing despair?"

"Brother Lu, you keep mentioning Sheng Yuanyao, does that mean you will help her deal with the Dongjiang demon case, and therefore you will also help me solve the Menggui City case?"

"Of course. Isn't this what Commander Jing expected, to start by asking about the demon case?"

Commander Jing laughed: "I'm not a commander anymore, it sounds awkward. My surname is Jing, and my given name is Ge, the Ge of spear."

"It suits Brother Jing very well." Lu Xingzhou laughed. "Brother Jing, are you hiding here to ambush the demonic cultivators behind you?"

Jing Ge said, "That's right. I saw you take out the soul banner as soon as you came in, and I thought it was you. But seeing how cute the child next to you was, I hesitated and thought it didn't seem like you."

“My soul banner is just like Brother Jing’s longsword, merely a tool,” Lu Xingzhou said calmly. “Excuse my bluntness, Brother Jing, your attempt to lure demonic cultivators here is tantamount to trying to climb a tree… uh.”

Ah Nuo, who was listening obediently to the side, almost burst out laughing.

A smile appeared in Jing Ge's eyes: "Isn't this the same as traveling by land? Well, here comes the land-based vessel, Brother Lu. What are your thoughts?"

"First, let's clarify Brother Jing's purpose in investigating the case: to expose the demonic cultivators behind it all, to seek justice for the victims, and to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future. Therefore, you appeared to leave, but in reality, you are secretly investigating here."

“Yes.” Jing Ge said, “The Qian family’s Hundred Sons Soup was not completed because I ruined it. If there are demonic cultivators behind it, then this matter will be restarted. I absolutely cannot sit idly by and watch such a heinous thing continue to happen.”

"Then this demonic cultivator must have gone to find a new target by now. How could he possibly come back here and be ambushed by you?"

"This is a last resort for me. I originally thought of secretly investigating the prefect's residence, but it's too difficult." Jing Ge changed the subject: "So, Brother Lu, do you have any ideas? Perhaps you'd like to accompany me to stake out Huo Lu?"

Lu Xingzhou paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Those few words I said to my unworthy disciple were indeed meant for Brother Jing to hear, to let him know that I came for something else and had nothing to do with this demon. But I didn't really intend to trick Brother Jing into dealing with Huo Lu. Brother Jing isn't a blind person, what use would it be for me to trick you with a few words?"

Jing Ge smiled and lowered his head to drink.

Lu Xingzhou continued, "But I won't hide it from you, Brother Jing... Huo Lu may not be related to this case, but he definitely knows who this person is and what he is doing. So when I heard about this case, I felt that I could cooperate with you, Brother Jing, which is why I came to find you."

"How to cooperate?"

"I suppose Brother Jing won't release the hawk until he sees the rabbit... How about this, if I can get this demonic cultivator to reveal himself so Brother Jing can capture him, then when I deal with Huo Lu later, Brother Jing will lend me a hand, how about that?"

Jing Ge raised his bowl and clinked it together: "If you can get this demonic cultivator to reveal himself, then even if I fail to catch him, I promise to help Brother Lu later."

“Then it’s a deal.” Lu Xingzhou tilted his head back and drank the wine in his bowl. “Brother Jing, you can keep an eye on me secretly in the near future. I believe you won’t be disappointed.”

Seeing Ah Nuo push the wheelchair away, Jing Ge suddenly asked from behind, "You specifically came to me just to get a helper to deal with Huo Lu? Why don't you just hire an assassin? Wouldn't that be much more convenient?" Lu Xingzhou didn't turn his head: "Brother Jing wants to stop Mo Xing. Can't I share the same idea? It's a win-win situation. Why hire an assassin?"

Pei Chuyun had been quietly watching their conversation from a distance until Lu Xingzhou left the Qian residence. Suddenly, Pei Chuyun remembered something and was dumbfounded.

Jing Ge is now secretly watching Lu Xingzhou to see if any "demonic cultivators" will appear.

How could Pei Chuyun, a typical demonic cultivator, possibly deal with Lu Xingzhou? She'd probably be the first to unleash her demonic powers and be slashed over by Jing Ge...

I am a demonic cultivator, but I am not that kind of demonic cultivator!

The former commander of the Demon Suppression Division of the prosperous county was definitely a fourth-rank upper-level official, or even possibly a third-rank official. Add to that Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice themselves, and how could they possibly fight?
Pei Chuyun suddenly wondered what had possessed her before—why hadn't she attacked them when they were buying candy on the street? What should she do now?
Meanwhile, Lu Xingzhou and A Nuo leisurely entered a restaurant and ordered a table full of delicious dishes. Pei Chuyun watched expressionlessly, becoming even angrier.

I've been keeping a close eye on that bastard these past few days, afraid of missing anything, so I haven't eaten anything, just been taking pills to replenish my energy. Now it's even worse; I can only watch as the master and disciple eat snacks, drink alcohol, and order lavish meals all the way here!

No, why should I just stand there and watch? I can disguise myself and swagger around to get something to eat!

Without saying a word, Pei Chuyun jumped off the opposite rooftop and entered the restaurant openly.

The waiter approached: "Sir, we're out of tables, how about this..."

Pei Chuyun's beautiful eyes swept over Lu Xingzhou's table: "Aren't there empty seats there?"

The waiter was a little embarrassed: "That depends on whether they're willing to share a table."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Xingzhou smiled, revealing his neat white teeth: "With a beauty sharing the table, how could I refuse? Please sit down, young lady, this meal is on me."

satyr.

Pei Chuyun inwardly cursed, but put on a shy smile: "How could I possibly accept that..."

"Even if my apprentice and I eat this much food, we can't finish it all. To avoid waste, we'll pack it up and take it back to feed the dogs."

Pei Chuyun: "..."

She gritted her teeth inwardly, then sat down opposite him with a faint smile: "This young master is quite the joker."

A'Nuo sat to the side, shoveling rice into her mouth while her eyes darted around, watching her intently. Pei Chuyun ground her teeth even harder, thinking about how this little devil had tricked her into going to the Sword Peak Hall; that teleportation artifact was still burning hot...

Lu Xingzhou casually struck up a conversation: "Are you a local, young lady?"

Pei Chuyun smiled gently: "I'm also new here."

"Alone? No one with you?" Lu Xingzhou was somewhat surprised. "This world is not peaceful. You're such a pretty girl, you should be careful so you don't get bullied."

"You're the only one who's ever bullied me!" Pei Chuyun sighed. "Everything else is fine, but I was almost bitten by a stray dog ​​on the street. It was terrifying."

Ah Nuo almost spat out her food and coughed, covering her mouth with difficulty. Lu Xingzhou remained expressionless, his peach blossom eyes fixed affectionately on Pei Chuyun's face, and said softly, "If you trust me, Miss, we can accompany each other from now on."

Oh, so you're using your charm on me?
No, this isn't a seductive technique, there's no reaction from it... But these eyes are so good at cheating, how come they look like someone is using a seductive technique?

But has this situation unexpectedly achieved her initial goal of "getting close to and seducing Lu Xingzhou"? Pei Chuyun's mind raced, and she put on a shy, bowed head: "Young master, how can you not trust such an adorable child? May I ask your esteemed name?"

Lu Xingzhou's voice suddenly grew louder, as if he were very proud: "My surname is Huo."

The bustling restaurant suddenly became much quieter, with countless diners stealing glances in their direction.

Although Huo Lu hasn't arrived yet, the news that the fourth young master of the Huo family is coming here to serve as the prefectural magistrate has already spread far and wide. This person is openly calling himself Huo in public... could it be...?

Pei Chuyun also gave him an admiring look: "Young Master, could you perhaps be the son of Prefect Huo...?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled knowingly and took a small sip of his drink.

Before the meal was even finished, the news that "the Huo family already has people secretly investigating in the city" quietly spread throughout Menggui City.

Lu Xingzhou smiled and asked, "May I ask your name, young lady?"

Pei Chuyun rolled her eyes and said with a smile, "Young master, you can just call me Ayi."

Xingyi is the rope used to moor a boat.

Pei Chuyun felt she was very cultured, but unfortunately others couldn't understand her.

Ah Nuo looked at her head with great sympathy. How could someone want to be cuckolded? How pitiful.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: Although it's a bit late, I've still finished 10,000 words. Please vote with monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)