Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 326 Huo Zhang
After bidding farewell to Sheng Qingfeng, Lu Xingzhou went to the back garden to pick up A Nuo. The master and disciple left the Sheng residence, heading straight for the Dan Academy.

She still carried in her arms the results of her alchemical trials written by her teacher, "Madam Ye." Even the wording was personally considered by Lu Xingzhou, and she wrote exactly what he said. She was so obedient.

Oh, right, graduating from the Alchemy Academy will require writing a thesis-like document to demonstrate one's understanding of alchemy, which must be completed under the guidance of a tutor. Lu Xingzhou wondered if he'd ever have the chance to get Ye Tinglan's signature; the world was getting increasingly chaotic… So before leaving, he wrote one and had his tutor sign it in advance…

I don't know when this graduation thesis will be used, but it's been in the student's pocket for so long in advance. I wonder how many people throughout history have received this kind of treatment.

By the way, from the thesis to the results of this trial, the signature is hard to miss; it really is just "Ye Zhuoyu" (meaning "Leaf Catches Fish").

So Ye Tinglan really did use this name at the Dan Academy, and it wasn't something she made up on the spot!
This thing, which was so similar to modern regulations, made Lu Xingzhou feel as if he had returned to the mortal world from the celestial realm he had been in a few days ago.

The bustling activity and fireworks displays in the capital city further highlight this point.

"You're back?" He hadn't walked more than a few steps into the Pill Academy when he ran into Instructor Meng Li. Meng Li looked him over with curiosity for a long time: "You started your trial a month earlier than others, but you came back a month later. The time you've spent studying at the Pill Academy isn't even as long as the time you spent in this so-called trial. Seeing you suddenly makes you feel like a rare guest."

“What are you saying?” Lu Xingzhou could only say, “I went out for the trial with my teacher. When I go and when I come back is not something I can decide for myself.”

Meng Li was one of the very few who already knew who Madam Ye was. It was precisely because he knew from the beginning that he was even more horrified, thinking to himself that this matter was simply bizarre: "Why do I have a feeling that you really have the final say?"

Lu Xingzhou was both amused and exasperated: "I really don't have the final say."

"Never mind." Meng Li held out his hand: "Just give me the trial report. Qin Yuanzheng has been in the palace recently and has no time to deal with you. I can handle this matter entirely."

Lu Xingzhou handed him the report and asked curiously, "The palace... is it for treating His Majesty's illness?"

"Yes."

"Can it get better?"

"It's hard to say, but it's said that there have been some breakthroughs."

Three months is indeed enough time to change many things. Even though the emperor's injury had been treated for ten years without improvement, three more months is not a short time. It is not hard to understand that medical breakthroughs have been made.

However, Lu Xingzhou still had a gut feeling that the emperor's injuries wouldn't heal so easily. There was no reason, but he just felt that this matter was a major karmic connection between the Great Qian Dynasty and the demon race, with far-reaching consequences. From the perspective of karmic cause and effect in the immortal path, it should never end in such a silent way.

Moreover, Lu Xingzhou now possesses some ability to observe qi (vital energy), and looking back at the palace, he still senses a gloomy atmosphere, unlike the scene of spring warmth and blooming flowers after the matter has been resolved.

Therefore, it is highly likely that Gu Zhanting deliberately created the appearance of recovery to intimidate Long Qinghuang.

But what makes Long Qinghuang, that tigress, afraid of you? She doesn't care if your injuries have healed or not...

"Oh, right," Lu Xingzhou remembered something and asked, "Has Chen Yu been released?"

Meng Li shook his head: "No... His Majesty even sent an envoy to negotiate on this matter, but the envoy was sent back."

"The Demon Emperor is quite principled, huh? He doesn't kill envoys?"

"To be honest, we only heard various rumors about the Demon Emperor and didn't know much about her. We always thought she was very cruel. The envoy was really prepared to die there, but she was fine. This incident has given the court and the public a new understanding of the Demon Emperor. Perhaps she is not as unreasonable as she seems."

Lu Xingzhou was speechless.

Having spent less than an incense stick's time with Long Qinghuang, Lu Xingzhou had already discerned the Demon Queen's temperament. As long as you don't provoke her, she won't kill people indiscriminately, but if you do provoke her, even the slightest offense could result in death.

This is something that can be understood in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. How many years have you been fighting with them, and you're only finding out now?
As if sensing his thoughts, Meng Li sighed: "Demons can infiltrate human society, and as long as they don't encounter a powerful being who can sense demonic energy, they can stay there for a lifetime. How can humans infiltrate demon society? We can't even infiltrate spies; we can only risk our lives as scouts to gather information. How much imperial secrets can we possibly uncover? All we'll know are things like who the Demon Emperor killed..."

Lu Xingzhou pondered to himself, "Judging from this, Long Qinghuang must also be ruthlessly suppressing internal factions, which is why such news keeps spreading."

Actually, being a scout requires a lot of talent. Extracting valuable information from ordinary intelligence is not something everyone can do. I reckon Gua Mei is perfectly suited for it, but unfortunately, this profession is very dangerous… no wonder Sheng Qingfeng is so worried.

Meng Li added, "However, on the other hand, demons lurking in human society are afraid of encountering powerful individuals who can sense their demonic aura, so they at least dare not venture into places like the military or the Demon Suppression Bureau. Therefore, they don't have that many secrets they can uncover."

Lu Xingzhou suddenly asked, "What about Chen Yu? How much does he know?"

Meng Li's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant, and he fell silent.

Chen Yu probably wouldn't know much on his own, but he was a man of the Prince of Jin.

How many secrets and military arrangements he learned from the Prince of Jin is beyond what others can guess.

In the end, Meng Li could only say, "I am just an instructor at the Alchemy Academy, and these matters are beyond my knowledge. As for me, I just want to know how your alchemy is progressing. You must have learned a lot from Madam Ye, right?"

Why bring up something you shouldn't talk about... Does learning something that leads you astray count?

Lu Xingzhou bid a somewhat embarrassed farewell to Meng Li, then led A Nuo back to his "dormitory," where he collapsed onto his bed, refusing to move. Why does human society feel more tiring than cultivating immortality...?

Ah Nuo said, "Ah Lu is still waiting for you to make Pei Qingyan open his middle gate wide, so you just lie on the bed."

Lu Xingzhou said, "...I'm not talking about today. Why should Pei Qingyan open the main gate today? Even if I were the Grand Preceptor's husband, it wouldn't be right. The Pei family still needs to keep some distance from the Grand Preceptor."

Ah Nuo said, "So what are your plans? Just to lie to Ah Lu? That would be great."

Lu Xingzhou was both amused and exasperated: "What I meant by that was that I have no demands of her, not that I wanted her to introduce me to Pei Qingyan. Chu Yun naturally understands what I mean. Look how happy she is."

"So it wasn't a lie after all. No point."

"..."

Ah Nuo was too lazy to deal with Pei Chuyun's matter, and said with her chin in her hand, "Are we really going to fight with Sister Long? Actually, I think Sister Long is a pretty good person."

"Now it's her who wants to fight us, not the other way around."

"But I feel that as long as Master goes to her door and brushes her a couple of times, this battle won't start, and there's no need to think about so much."

Lu Xingzhou was stunned for a moment.

Ah Nuo said, "Doesn't that make a lot of sense? That's what they mean by a skilled warrior who doesn't boast... Ouch..."

Lu Xingzhou withdrew the finger that had been tapping her head: "You're peddling your master."

Ah Nuo held her head and mumbled something unintelligible.

In truth, Lu Xingzhou himself felt that if he actually went to meet them, he probably wouldn't die, and most likely nothing serious would happen. But why gamble with his life?
Moreover, it's unlikely that Long Qinghuang would start a war simply because of a man's affairs; that's a feud between clans, and it can't be treated so lightly.

However, Sheng Qingfeng also hoped that he could communicate with Long Qinghuang to see if there was any possibility of reaching a ceasefire... According to Meng Li's statement that envoys could be sent to deliver messages, could he try sending a message to see how Long Qinghuang would react?

But I have no idea how to write this letter.

Just as he was pondering this, a voice suddenly came from outside the cave: "Is Xingzhou here? I heard you've returned, so I came to visit you."

Lu Xingzhou and A Nuo exchanged a glance, both certain they had never heard this person's voice before, yet it sounded so familiar...

"Excuse me, I can't recognize your voice. Who are you?"

The voice outside the door was very cheerful: "I am Huo Zhang."

Lu Xingzhou narrowed his eyes.

Huo Zhang, the second son of the Huo family, served in the military for a long time. The Huo family planned to groom their eldest son, Huo Qi, for a position in the court, and their second son, Huo Zhang, for a military career. The plan went relatively smoothly, and these two were the only truly capable members of the Huo family, along with their third son, Huo Heng, who served as a vice minister in the Ministry of Works. The rest were all fools.

But based on his own interactions with these three, Huo Qi and Huo Heng weren't all that great. Huo Qi was relatively clever and somewhat calculating; for example, he was the one who orchestrated the scheme with Ye Wufeng. However, while he was full of petty schemes and plots, he lacked the grand vision and ambition expected of someone succeeding as the head of a powerful family. Huo Heng, on the other hand, was even more of a fool and not worth mentioning.

The Huo brothers often reveal the shallowness of the Huo family's nouveau riche lifestyle.

The only one I've never met is Huo Zhang, the second son who joined the army. Judging from the messy incident of losing the city last time, he seems pretty stupid too. But if there's always been some shady business between the Huo family and the demon race, it's not entirely incomprehensible that he couldn't figure out the situation of those demons who attacked the city and were taken advantage of. It's not necessarily because he's that stupid.

Theoretically speaking, those who have been on the battlefield and tempered by iron and blood will generally be better than others. It is quite possible that the most successful member of the Huo family may not be the eldest son, Huo Qi, but rather the second son, Huo Zhang.

After being tricked by himself and Ye Tinglan last time, Huo Zhang is now dismissed and staying at home. No normal person wants to see this war, and the person who most wants it to happen is Huo Zhang, because only by fighting can he take the opportunity to be reinstated.

At this critical moment, Huo Zhang came knocking on my door before I had even settled back into the capital. What was he planning to do?
These thoughts flashed through his mind, and Lu Xingzhou said lazily, "I'm sorry, Second Young Master, I've returned from a long journey to the capital and am exhausted both physically and mentally. I've already rested. If you have nothing urgent to attend to, how about we reschedule for another day?"

Huo Zhang said, "I know you're angry with us brothers, but at least I never bullied you when we were kids, right? I started practicing martial arts away from home when I was very young, and I only came home for holidays. But you... well, it seems like you never had a chance to see me during holidays."

Huo Zhang is still referring to the tragic seventh son, Huo Shang. Huo Shang lived like a servant in the Huo family, and had nothing to do with the New Year's gifts. If Huo Zhang had indeed been away from home since childhood, perhaps he really didn't have any grudge against Huo Shang.

Similarly, due to his long absence from home, Huo Zhang and Lu Xingzhou did not have any direct grudges... Of course, such grudges cannot be calculated in this way.

Lu Xingzhou was using Huo Shang's name to stir things up, and so far he still wanted to play the role of Huo Shang's cause and effect, so he said, "Second Young Master, you may speak frankly."

Huo Zhang laughed and said, "I'll treat you to drinks, are you coming? If you're really tired today, we can do it tomorrow."

Lu Xingzhou exchanged another glance with A Nuo. Just from this casual attitude of treating him like a brother, this man was much more comfortable to be around than the other brothers in the Huo family. But it might also mean that he was the most difficult one to deal with.

(End of this chapter)