Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 197 Death Soldier
Half an hour earlier, Sheng Yuanyao looked at A'nuo, who had come to her door, with a strange expression: "Why do you want me to close Qingyao Garden? Do you know how much a cup of tea costs at Qingyao Garden now?"

Ah Nuo honestly replied, "Because Master is dealing with the assassins there and is afraid of accidentally harming tourists."

"Why did your master swindle my money when he was dealing with assassins... uh, no, your master was dealing with assassins, where were you?"

"I'll go in a bit, anyway they're on their way."

"Them...?" Sheng Yuanyao asked alertly, "Who else is there?!"

Anuo quickly covered her mouth, her eyes darting around.

Sheng Yuanyao exploded: "Using my money, my garden! To flirt with Pei Chuyun, huh?!"

Ah Nuo turned to run away: "Um, I'm going to help Master..."

"Stop right there!" Sheng Yuanyao grabbed her. "I'm going too! It's just staking out assassins, are you going to be scared just because an assassin shows up?"

"Yes, yes, Sister Yao is invincible! No assassin would dare to come out if they saw her!"

"Don't give me that." Sheng Yuanyao carried A'nuo out of the office, and a subordinate came in with a manuscript: "Editor-in-chief, this is a report on the rising stars from the south, and several of them have quite impressive achievements..."

"Put it there for now, I need to ask for leave this afternoon." Sheng Yuanyao rushed to the office of the deputy chief constable: "Deputy Chief Zhou, I have something to do this afternoon, please ask for leave."

The deputy chief constable looked up from his desk, his eyes sweeping over A'nuo's face: "What is it? Could it be another trip to Qingyao Garden? The chief has ordered that such matters are no longer permitted."

Ah Nuo smiled.

Everyone knows Sister Gua quite well.

Sheng Yuanyao gritted her teeth. "You won't approve the truth, you have to come up with a reason, right? That's easy enough."
She stated matter-of-factly, "My father is sick."

Deputy Chief Constable Zhou: "?"

He casually called out to one of his subordinates, "Go and see if the chief is here."

Sheng Yuanyao grew anxious: "Why tell the Chief about such a trivial matter?"

Deputy Chief Constable Zhou paused for a moment: "I'm just checking if he's sick... Has Editor-in-Chief Sheng forgotten who his sick father is?"

Sheng Yuanyao: “…”

The subordinate quickly returned: "The chief is indeed not here today."

Deputy Chief Constable Zhou was stunned for a moment, then saw Sheng Yuanyao put her hands on her hips: "See? Do you think I would lie?"

Deputy Chief Constable Zhou had no choice but to grant leave, and Sheng Yuanyao grabbed Anuo and ran off in a flash.

Watching Sheng Yuanyao's hurried disappearing figure, Deputy Chief Constable Zhou sighed: "If the Chief is really unwell, I need to gather some colleagues and go to the Sheng residence to inquire about her condition."

While Sheng Yuanyao rushed to Qingyao Garden, a group of high-ranking officials from the Demon Suppression Division carried gifts to the Sheng residence.

A passerby asked out of curiosity, and the reply was: "Master Sheng is unwell, and we are going to visit him."

Before long, news spread throughout the capital that Chief Sheng was ill.

It's strange that a peak second-grade expert could contract an illness. Could it be that a powerful demon is trying to assassinate him?
Sheng Qingfeng didn't go to work on time in the afternoon because he was receiving Pei Qingyan, who was visiting, at home.

Pei Qingyan came to pull strings for his daughter. Pei Chuyun wanted to go to the second level of the Demon Subduing Domain to find a succubus and asked her father to give Sheng Qingfeng face. Although Pei Qingyan didn't know his daughter's true intentions for wanting to go to the second level of the Demon Subduing Domain, he thought that place was quite suitable for his daughter's trial, so he came to do her a favor.

Sheng Qingfeng was expressing that he would of course give Prime Minister Pei face for such a trivial matter as the second level of the Demon Subduing Domain. The two were chatting happily when a servant came in, wiping his sweat, to report: "Master, colleagues from the Demon Suppression Division have come to visit. They said they learned that you are unwell and came to inquire about your health."

Sheng Qingfeng was dumbfounded: "What illness? How come I didn't know?"

"They said the young lady asked for leave because her father was sick."

Sheng Qingfeng was dumbfounded.

Pei Qingyan almost burst out laughing, and kindly reminded her, "Chief, it's not good for your daughter if this gets out. I think you should just pretend to be sick."

Sheng Qingfeng said irritably, "How can I get sick while cultivating? If I were to suffer from qi deviation, I'd be out of a job."

Pei Qingyan comforted him, saying, "Just framing an assassin will be considered a work injury... I'll be your witness."

A month after the newly appointed head of the Demon Suppression Division took office, the demons of the Northern Border, fearing his reputation, sent a powerful demon to infiltrate and assassinate him. Headmaster Sheng, with unparalleled bravery, repelled the assassins. Upon hearing the news, the Emperor bestowed upon him a large quantity of medicinal herbs to commend his loyalty and courage. The entire Demon Suppression Division's elite guards were dispatched to search for the powerful demon.

Amidst the commotion, Pei Chuyun and Lu Xingzhou sat side by side by the lake, watching the gently rippling water: "Speaking of which, Qingyao Garden is usually so crowded, why is it so deserted today?"

Knowing that people from the Dan Academy were lurking, the little demon girl didn't even dare to lean on the man's chest. This seemingly secret rendezvous was not as good as the private time between Lu Xingzhou and Sheng Yuanyao, where at least they weren't afraid of being intimate.

Lu Xingzhou replied, "Of course, it's because the people of the capital are all sensible and know that Miss Pei is going to meet her lover here in secret."

"Don't give me that." Pei Chuyun said with a smile, "How could I be with my lover? Would my lover dare to touch me?"

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

“Hey…” Pei Chuyun nudged him: “You used the place where Sheng Yuanyao was, and even had her clear the area, but you used it to flirt with me. Won’t Sheng Yuanyao be heartbroken?”

“Yuan Yao and I are friends… not what you think.”

“You’re just fooling yourselves.” Pei Chuyun chuckled. “But she’s suffering much more than I am. I’m just giving the Pei family some face on the surface; I don’t really care. She, on the other hand, can’t even let it go.”

Lu Xingzhou was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "She deserves a better ending too."

"You're not telling the truth." Pei Chuyun glanced at him and laughed, "But right now, you really can't say with any pride that you're a good match, or that someone would be willing to be your concubine."

Lu Xingzhou didn't boast; he just smiled and didn't answer.

Pei Chuyun's words, while referring to Sheng Yuanyao, were also a reflection of herself.
In terms of cultivation speed alone, aside from the past when his meridians were severed and he couldn't progress, Lu Xingzhou's growth since his legs were healed is unprecedented. Going from the seventh rank to the fourth rank in a mere six months is unheard of in history; Huo Heng even suspected he was taking elixirs...

Reaching the fourth rank is just a matter of time for energy replenishment, which is manageable. The key is the third rank hurdle, a major obstacle that no one can confidently claim can be overcome in a short period of time; it's something that has stuck many people for their entire lives.

It's something that requires passing a minor heavenly tribulation; even the Heavenly Dao considers it a huge watershed. If you can't overcome it, forget about everything else. Even if it delays you for several years, it's hard to bear. Not to mention anything else, even your currently affectionate little vixen might abandon you.

But Lu Xingzhou never thought this would be a problem... If even this kind of hurdle is going to be an obstacle, then he has no face to stand in front of them.

He thought for a moment, and finally replied with this: "You got one thing wrong."

Pei Chuyun asked curiously, "Which line?"

"You say your lover doesn't dare touch you... of course he does." Lu Xingzhou moved closer and closer: "How can you catch fish without creating a false impression of passionate intimacy..."

Pei Chuyun pushed his mouth away: "If you go fishing, what will happen to my reputation... Your husband is watching..."

That's what they said, but their refusal was utterly powerless.

She said hurtful things, like "I need to get rid of your influence" and "You're not a good match," but it was all just a reason to harden her heart and leave. She had been suppressing her longing to snuggle in his arms and kiss him for who knows how long.

She was completely powerless against his advances, and could only feign resistance.

To the lurking onlookers, this appeared to be Lu Xingzhou using the date as an excuse to start making unwanted advances, and Miss Pei was resisting.

Just because a young lady is willing to go on a date with you doesn't mean she's willing to do *that* with you so soon, you lecherous scoundrel!
"choke!"

Just as Lu Xingzhou's lips were about to touch Pei Chuyun's flushed face, a sword light suddenly appeared, like a celestial being descending from the heavens, arriving in an instant.

The shimmering lake before my eyes seemed to be illuminated by the dazzling sword light reflected from this sword strike, as if I were trapped in a formation of ten thousand swords.

The young couple, seemingly deeply in love, simultaneously stepped aside. One hand, swaying like a butterfly, brushed against the swordsman's tiger's mouth, while the other delivered a sharp, whipping kick to the swordsman's waist.

Just as the swordsman's seemingly divine sword strike approached the young couple within a few feet, he felt himself sinking into a quagmire, hindered by a formation.

"Trap!" The swordsman thought to himself. Without getting bogged down in the fight, he twisted his body and kicked Lu Xingzhou in the leg, using the force to drift away and escape.

The space behind them suddenly collapsed, as if they had fallen into another dimension.

Madam Ye appeared in the distance behind them, her face veiled, her hands forming a mudra, her long hair flying in the wind.

Even though it was daytime, it was as if countless stars had appeared in the sky, weaving a net that offered no escape.

"First-class!" The swordsman was shocked and decisively crushed a jade talisman.

"Bang!" The air exploded on the spot, and the assassin had vanished.

"Spatial escape technique, instant teleportation..." Ye Tinglan glanced at Pei Chuyun meaningfully, quickly locked onto the direction of her escape, and instantly chased after her until she disappeared.

Pei Chuyun broke out in a cold sweat: "Your husband is incredibly strong..."

"The way she glanced at you meant she knew you also possessed this kind of escape technique." Lu Xingzhou asked urgently, "Can you pinpoint the location where she left?"

"No. I don't even know how this gentleman locked onto me..." Pei Chuyun's blood almost froze after being stared at by Madam Ye, and she was still shaken by the look in her eyes: "She suspects that I'm in cahoots with this assassin?"

Lu Xingzhou turned to look at the spot where the swordsman and Madam Ye had disappeared, and shook his head: "There are many spatial escape techniques, it's not like only the Joyful Union Sect has them..."

It is unknown which faction possesses top-tier swordsmen of the demonic path, as well as spatial escape techniques.

Logically, any first-rank power could do this, but if it wasn't the Huo family or the Prince of Jin, then which family would have such capability? Was Madam Ye's glance a sign of suspicion towards the Pei family?

It's not impossible... It's logical that Pei Qingyan wouldn't want his daughter to associate with Huang Mao, so sending someone to assassinate her would be reasonable.

Pei Chuyun also realized this, her face turning deathly pale: "No, it shouldn't be..."

Lu Xingzhou rubbed her head: "It's okay. Actually, if it's your family, it's a good thing, because it means if I know what's good for me and leave, there won't be any follow-up. It would be troublesome if it were some unknown force, because we wouldn't even know their purpose."

Pei Chuyun's expression was very unpleasant: "Then I hope that you, sir, can catch the assassin and reveal the truth."

The assassin on the other side teleported instantly and was already somewhere in the city, even more shocked than Lu Xingzhou.

Who is that masked woman? She's so terrifying! She can even track him with her spatial teleportation technique that can move him several miles in an instant. Her aura is already following behind him. This is the first time he's ever seen anything like it in his life!

Fortunately, I teleported first, which created a brief time difference. As long as I hid in the alleyway where the kings and nobles lived, the woman wouldn't be able to come in and search me.

Just then, several fierce generals from the Demon Suppression Division swept past: "This person just came out of the spatial escape technique. He might be the demon who tried to assassinate the chief. Take him down!"

swordsman:"?"

Why is the Demon Suppression Division searching for demons at this time? Who the hell is trying to assassinate the Chief at this hour?

In that instant of obstruction, Madam Ye had already appeared behind them.

Surrounded by wolves in front and tigers behind, the swordsman had nowhere to go, neither to heaven nor to earth. With a bitter laugh, he suddenly severed his own meridians and collapsed dead.

Ye Tinglan frowned and stepped forward to examine him, feeling astonished. She really hadn't expected the other party to be so resolute, severing his own meridians without saying a word.

Death squad...

How many of the world's top experts at the third rank are qualified to be their assassins? Even the Pei and Huo families, despite having many third-rank experts under their command, are not qualified to use them as assassins!
Whose people could this be?

"Madam," the members of the Demon Suppression Division stepped forward and surrounded Ye Tinglan, "what is your relationship with this person?"

"This person was the assassin who killed the students of the Pill Academy in the Demon Subduing Domain that day. This time, the Pill Academy lured and captured him, so thank you all for your help. Your Chief Editor Sheng witnessed the whole incident firsthand and knows the details quite well. Please ask the Demon Suppression Division to take the body back and investigate its origins in detail. Hmm... perhaps your Chief's assassination is also somewhat related to him?"

As Ye Tinglan spoke, she stood up, her beautiful eyes fixed on a spot not far to the side.

The assassin instinctively fled to this location, so it's highly likely that he came from here.

But this area is mostly filled with the mansions of princes and nobles...

It contains not only the Prince of Jin, but also many others.

(End of this chapter)