Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 13 The Wind Rises
Dugu Qingli was not responsible for thinking about these things, nor was she interested. She only wanted to ensure Shen Tang's safety: "Will Xu Bingkun harm you?"

"He wants fame, so he won't be too overt. At most, he'll hint and encourage those elders."

"So will there be any problems with what you asked him to do this time?"

"This also concerns his political achievements, reputation, and personal interests... He will definitely do it, but he might secretly allow other companies to compete. But Lu Xingzhou believes we have the upper hand. As long as we use his orders now to quickly push the Alchemy Bureau into action, other companies won't have time to stock up."

Dugu Qingli nodded and continued pushing the wheelchair towards the Alchemy Department.

As long as it's not dangerous.

Shen Tang found it amusing to see her serious face, but they weren't that familiar with each other, so teasing wasn't an option. He could only ask the main question: "What have you learned these past few days?"

Dugu Qingli said, "After many investigations of the Huo family's old house, it was confirmed that there were no treasures underneath. The spiritual energy is indeed just a relic of the past. This treasure should be in the Huo family in the capital today."

"For so many years, the Huo family has kept this treasure secret, and no one has heard of it. They've kept it a secret." Shen Tang laughed sarcastically, then added, "That's not what I'm concerned about... Well, how's the investigation into Lu Xingzhou going?"

"It's as if he didn't exist these past few years. I've already mobilized the sect's people to investigate, but there's still no trace of him being active in the world." Dugu Qingli was very serious: "There's only one explanation for this situation..."

"The absence of any trace is itself a trace." Shen Tang said, "Most likely they are from the demonic sect, and a very secretive one at that."

"Yes."

Shen Tang remained silent.

Dugu Qingli also looked down at her without saying a word.

Shen Tang's identity is not just as simple as the young master of Tianxing Sword Sect, it is of great significance. To be honest, Dugu Qingli doesn't quite understand why she would get involved with someone like Lu Xingzhou, whose background is unknown, just because of the master's hexagram?

The master's divination only said that the wind would rise in Xiazhou, but it didn't clearly say that it would happen to Lu Xingzhou.

Perhaps it's because these two broken people see themselves in each other... This is not a feeling that others can fully understand, not to mention that Qingli's emotions are more indifferent than those of ordinary people.

If her master hadn't specifically ordered her to come out and protect Shen Tang, she would still be walking alone in the glacier with a sword.

Shen Tang sighed softly, as if muttering to himself, "I always feel that someone who can raise a child so wholeheartedly and tenderly wouldn't be a vicious person."

Dugu Qingli said nothing.

Shen Tang changed the subject again: "How is the Danxia Gang doing these days?"

Dugu Qingli said, "The Danxia Gang is currently purchasing a medicinal herb called Hanying Grass. I wasn't in Xiazhou the other day, but I heard someone suddenly purchased a large quantity, causing Hanying Grass to become scarce and its price to skyrocket."

Shen Tang: "...I bought it for Lu Xingzhou."

Dugu Qingli: "..."

After a pause, Dugu Qingli continued, "Originally, not many people in Xiazhou planted Hanying grass. Now that the price is high, the Danxia Gang decided to plant more of their own. So, after harvesting the mature medicinal herbs in the medicine mountain, they replaced them with Hanying grass, hoping to make a fortune after the harvest."

Shen Tang seemed to be lost in thought.

It seems that Lu Xingzhou not only wants to hurt the Danxia Gang, but also seems to have other plans?

As they talked along the way, they found that the Alchemy Bureau was not far ahead, so Shen Tang did not think about it any further and went into the Alchemy Bureau to discuss the promotion of the sword talisman.

Although Qingli is aloof, she will do whatever she is assigned to do perfectly and meticulously. With such strength and qualities, why hasn't she become more famous in recent years?
…………

As expected, Butler Huo's madness was cured after taking the Soul-Nourishing Pill for three days.

Sheng Yuanyao learned clearly that the murderer was a bloody child who used the very standard Huo family sword technique. Only the children of the Huo family knew the essence of it, and even the old housekeeper had not been taught it.

Although it is profound, it is incomplete, and it is exactly the part that Huo Shang learned back then.

All the servants who died had bullied Huo Shang in the past, without exception. However, the young servants who had just arrived were innocent, so none of them were harmed.

Back then, the old butler Huo held Huo Shang's hands with his own hands and allowed him to be abused by the eldest son Huo, so the murderer also cut the tendons of the old butler Huo's hands.

How could the old man, who already had a heart disease, bear this? No matter how he looked, he saw evil spirits demanding his life, and he was scared to death.

Sheng Yuanyao sent the old housekeeper back to the Huo residence, assigned some subordinates to guard it, and sighed.

This case can be closed... The murderer is obviously Huo Shang. I wonder how he managed to survive without being discovered by the Huo family...

The bloody child was either Huo Shang's descendant or Huo Shang himself, using some form of bone-shrinking technique to fake it. All she had to do was submit the report to her superiors; whether or not to arrest Huo Shang was not her decision.

After all, it was the Huo family's internal affair, and it was not very glorious. The Huo family might not be willing to issue an arrest warrant and make such a thing known to everyone.

She had already written a letter to the Huo family a few days ago. If nothing unexpected happened, someone from the Huo family should be on the way by now.

Sheng Yuanyao left the Huo residence and looked at the "Shen's Trading Company" across the farmland with a frown.

It would be fine if the Huo family came here just to investigate Huo Shang's affairs, but what if they used the pretext of "hunting for Huo Shang" to bully the neighbors and even bully the Shen's Trading Company...

She thought about it, walked straight to the store and knocked on the door.

The door opened, and the guard looked at Sheng Yuanyao, who was dressed in official uniform, in confusion: "Sir, we haven't done anything wrong, have we?"

"I'm looking for your landlord, Lu Xingzhou, or An Nuo. Are they there?"

"They're master and disciple..." The guard said with a strange look on his face, "They stay in the alchemy room all day long. We rarely even see each other. Is this what an alchemist is like?"

Sheng Yuanyao went straight to the alchemy room, but Master Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice were not inside. Sheng Yuanyao looked around and saw Lu Xingzhou sitting by the window in the next room, reading a book.

From this angle, you can't see the wheelchair, you can only see the gentleman as handsome as jade, leisurely reading poetry and books, gentle and leisurely.

The scene was so beautiful that it could be put into a painting.

She walked over and stood outside the window, staring at Lu Xingzhou for a while, then suddenly asked, "Why don't you continue to be a Taoist priest?" Lu Xingzhou didn't even raise his head: "I'm so good-looking, it would be a shame for me to become a monk."

The beauty was instantly shattered, and Sheng Yuanyao didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Why don't you invite me in to sit down?"

Lu Xingzhou finally looked up at her and said, "Commander, is there anything wrong? Butler Huo's madness should be cured."

"Well, case basically closed."

"Can I ask for the results?"

"No."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said nothing. Anyway, judging by Sheng Yuanyao's attitude, she should no longer doubt him. That was enough.

There was no need to drive Old Deng crazy, it was a waste of time. It was a pity that An Nuo was short and fat, and it was so easy to mislead him into thinking he was Huo Shang without interfering with his mind...

Sheng Yuanyao said, "Someone from the Huo family will be coming soon. You live next door to each other, so it's best to avoid them and don't go out and wander around for no reason."

"Is that what you came to remind me of?"

"Ah."

"Remind me, or remind Shen Tang?"

Sheng Yuanyao hesitated for a second before finally saying, "Of course I'm reminding you."

Lu Xingzhou looked at her for a long while, then finally put away the book, bent over, picked up a small basket, and passed it to her through the window.

Sheng Yuanyao took it and looked at it curiously. Inside the basket were dozens of sword talismans. "Is this... for purification?"

"In the next two or three days, the Medicine Bureau should be promoting this sword talisman to purify the poison throughout the city. Since you actually took the initiative to remind me to be careful of the Huo family... I'll give you a batch, free of charge."

Sheng Yuanyao chuckled, "How can a money-grubber like you give it to me for free?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "I do have a request."

Sheng Yuanyao said unhappily, "Speak."

"These are gifts for the officials of the Demon Suppression Division. The only requirement is that they wear them not hidden in their arms but close to their chests. It looks pretty, doesn't it?"

Sheng Yuanyao picked up a sword talisman and examined it for a while. It was a simple and ancient sword, and it was indeed quite beautiful. "Just tell me, what are you going to do?"

Lu Xingzhou grinned, "Just a little push. The Medicine Bureau will push, but I don't trust their efficiency. Shen Tang's bet with someone is too tight, only three days, and I'm afraid it won't happen by then. If the masters of the Demon Suppression Bureau are seen patrolling the city with their armor on their chests, it will quickly lead to a sensation."

Sheng Yuanyao was a little shocked: "You are helping Shen Tang with this plan? Doing business?"

"Isn't it possible?"

Sheng Yuanyao fell silent, not knowing what he was thinking. After a long while, he said, "Okay. Anyway, this is a good thing. It is indeed beneficial to them. Wearing it outside is no different from keeping it in your arms."

Lu Xingzhou bowed and said, "Thank you very much, Commander."

Sheng Yuanyao said unhappily, "You also know that you should thank me instead of giving me something for free as you claim?"

Lu Xingzhou just smiled and said, "How about I give the commander another merit?"

"Let it go if you fart."

"The commander will bring his men here in three days. They should be able to capture a group of thugs attempting to kill their leader, or perhaps prevent a gang conflict."

Sheng Yuanyao gritted her teeth: "Are you sure this is a credit to me, not just helping Shen Tang?"

"Stopping gang conflicts and preventing murders, do you think that counts as a merit?"

"..." Sheng Yuanyao was too lazy to say anything and walked away with the basket in her hand.

It's so strange. Lu Xingzhou is just renting a house, why does he care so much about Shen Tang?

Sheng Yuanyao didn't know Shen Tang, but she knew why she came to Xiazhou.

The meaningful look in his father's eyes before he left was still fresh in his mind: "Yuan Yao, when you go to Xiazhou, pay more attention to a man named Shen Tang. If you can help him, do so secretly, but remember not to be too obvious."

"Who is she?"

"It's not for you to know, just do it."

Sheng Yuanyao had always felt that her family, knowing full well that she wanted to avoid marriage proposals, had still agreed to her exile to Xiazhou, most likely because of Shen Tang. However, no matter how much she researched, she only knew that Shen Tang was the Young Master of the Tianxing Sword Sect. Why would this identity concern her father, one of the four deputy chief constables of the Demon Suppression Division?
Lu Xingzhou is already mysterious enough, and now there is the even more mysterious Shen Tang.

Once these two people meet... Sheng Yuanyao frowned all the way, and suddenly felt a little frightened, always feeling that the mere Xiazhou could not accommodate such a storm.

I just came out to gild myself and enjoy the show, how did it turn out like this?

On the rooftop in the distance, Dugu Qingli, with his white hair fluttering in the wind, looked quietly in the direction of Lu Xingzhou's house, with no expression on his face, but a little surprised in his heart.

This man... was actually helping Shen Tang? And he seemed to be very thoughtful about it.

Lu Xingzhou's voice suddenly came from afar: "Miss Qingli, please ask Miss Shen to come and see you again. There are some details that need to be sorted out."

Dugu Qingli's blue eyes moved slightly.

How did Lu Xingzhou discover me?

(End of this chapter)