Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 73 The Wu Family of the Inner City (310 Chapters Updated Upon Release)

Northwest corner of the inner city of Shanyang County.

A magnificent mansion lay prostrate on the ground like a giant beast.

The Book of Yangzhai Jiuchan states: "A house in the northwest of the Qian direction will be filled with noble energy."

The Qian position is in the northwest, located to the left of the county government office, which coincides with the "Azure Dragon" position. Every inch of land there is extremely valuable, and only powerful and influential families can reside there.

This enormous mansion occupies the entire northwest corner!
Layer upon layer of white walls and green tiles spread out, resembling dragons and beasts lying horizontally, fully displaying a magnificent atmosphere of "swallowing mountains and rivers, who else but me?"

Inside the house, however, there are small bridges and flowing water, surrounded by bamboo and trees. Although it is located in the north, it has created the graceful and elegant style of the south.

According to the laws of the Great Yu Dynasty, only the residences of officials of the fifth rank or above can be called "fu" (府). Otherwise, it would be considered a crime of usurpation.

As Du Bingyan descended the steps, she glanced at the plaque above the gate and saw—

Above the vermilion-lacquered gate with its gold-studded animal-face designation, a gilded plaque bearing the words "Wu Mansion" gleamed in the sunlight.

She withdrew her gaze expressionlessly and said quietly:

"Does the Wu family have officials of the fifth rank or above?"

"This one……"

Lu Dongya awkwardly touched his nose and said nothing more.

If it were at the beginning of the dynasty's establishment, when the court was in a position of power and authority, those local gentry and powerful figures would naturally not dare to do so.

But now, times have changed, and many articles of the Great Yu Code have long become dead letters.

Besides, the emperor is far away and the country is far from the capital.

Especially in Shanyang County, a rural area near the border, if the "usurpation" standard were applied, more than half of the gentry and wealthy families in the city would probably have their homes confiscated, be exiled, or even beheaded and their entire families wiped out.

The world of martial arts has never been about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and worldly wisdom.

Although this Captain Du comes from a prestigious school and is exceptionally talented, he is ultimately inexperienced and too green.

If he hadn't heard that she had borrowed the unique Breath-Seeking Gu from the Five Immortals Sect, he wouldn't have recommended her to the Wu family.

"Is this how the Suspended Mirror Bureau 'loyal' to the emperor?"

Seeing that Lu Dongya hesitated for a long time without giving a direct answer, Du Bingyan glared at him and said coldly:
"I'll help you this time for the sake of Senior Sister Fan, but this is a one-time exception."

"Thank you."

Lu Dongya, being thick-skinned, didn't take it to heart, since he needed someone's help.

According to what the Wu family has been saying these past two days, the brothers Xu Qichun and Xu Qixia are dead, but they must find Xu Qidong.

I want to see him alive or dead.

The two hunting dogs of the Suspended Mirror Division have not yet recovered and are unable to work normally.

Right now, the only thing that can be relied upon in Shanyang County is the Seeking Breath Gu in the hands of this Commandant Du.

A dignified centurion of the Xuanjing Division, a personal guard of the emperor, is now bowing and scraping before a local tycoon. Does he feel aggrieved?
Wrong!

No matter how aggrieved you feel, you have to swallow it down.

Who can blame them when they have such a powerful background and even support a demon?

It is said that Commander Qianhu has an old grudge against the Prince of Jin's mansion. If he were here, we wouldn't have to suffer this indignity.

The problem is, the adults aren't here!
What can I do?

We can only deal with it for now.

"Lord Lu, Lord Du, this way please."

At this moment, a middle-aged man who looked like a butler came out from the side door on the right and waved to them:

"My master just got up and is waiting for you at the Grand Theater."

Just got up?
Du Bingyan looked up at the sky, her pretty face darkening.

It's past 9 AM now, almost noon.

absurd!
-
Upon entering the Demon Suppression Bureau's office, one finds the mission room.

Two days have passed since the news broke that the Xu brothers were attacked and killed by a tiger spirit.

However, rumors about the four brothers continue to circulate and are showing signs of intensifying.

One reason is that Xu Qichun had been in the Demon Suppression Division for many years and was familiar with most of the people there.

Secondly, for the past half month, the Xu family has frequently appeared on the "hot search" and has long become an "internet celebrity," a topic of conversation among everyone.

What's more, all four of them are now either dead or missing. The once extravagant "Four Beasts of the Xu Family" have vanished in the blink of an eye, which is truly lamentable.

"Although Xu Lishi and I have a misunderstanding, we are both of the public interest and have no personal grudges!"

Liu Sheng, his face solemn, spoke with the several beast hunters before him, his expression filled with grief:
"I had hoped to find an opportunity to share a drink with him and resolve our differences, but unexpectedly, in just a few days, we were separated by death forever, and his entire family was wiped out. Alas!" He then covered his face with his hands, his shoulders trembling violently…

I almost burst out laughing!

It must have been so hard to put that on!
The reason I was in such high spirits was, of course, because I was in a good mood.

After he left the Xu family that night, the Suspended Mirror Division arrived at the scene within half an hour.

However, two days have passed, and it is said that even the Wu family in the inner city has stepped in, but they still have no clue.

The rumors circulating were still that a large tiger spirit had attacked the Xu family at night to avenge the killing of its cubs.

The bottle of "Tiger Marrow Warming Yang Pill" that he had deliberately kept behind finally took effect.

The latest development is that someone has linked this giant tiger spirit to the tiger attacks that have occurred in several villages, including Baishui Village and Qiaoxi Village.

Liu Sheng watched this with indifference, having already distanced himself from the situation.

Moreover, this incident also tested the White-Faced Black Puppet Spider's abilities, proving that it could indeed completely sever its aura and evade the search by the court's strange dogs.

In the future, perhaps we can handle some things more... boldly.

At this moment, several beast hunters around him, infected by Liu Sheng's "sorrow," began to speak up—

"I thought you and Xu Lishi had a deep grudge, but I didn't expect you to be so magnanimous!"

"If Xu Lishi could know this from beyond the grave, he would probably be willing to turn hostility into friendship and drink and make peace with Brother Liu!"

"Yes, yes, it's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester. We're all from the Demon Suppression Division; we should be harmonious and united..."

……

For a moment, the mission room was filled with comforting words, warm and peaceful.

As a result, Liu Sheng's shoulders... shook even more violently.

Just then, the room suddenly fell silent, as if it had fallen into an ice cellar.

Even the air seemed to freeze, leaving only a vast expanse...

The sound of breathing that was being tried to be kept quiet.

"Ok?"

Liu Sheng's heart stirred slightly. He peered through his fingers and saw a familiar figure standing at the door.

How familiar are they?
It's ripe...perfect.

After all, I've been through it all, from top to bottom, front to back, inside to outside, coming and going.

Du Bingyan!
After disappearing for a few days, he reappeared at the Demon Suppression Division.

And there was a man standing next to him.

He was at least forty years old, wearing a dark-colored, narrow-sleeved, round-necked robe with the words "Suspended Mirror" embroidered on the chest.

He has a higher rank and looks more powerful than the previous Commander Yan.

It's just... a bit ugly.

"Liu Sheng!"

At this moment, Du Bingyan glanced into the mission room, and when she saw him, her eyes lit up and she waved.

what?
So you found me?

Since there's no talk of fighting or killing, could it be that they're discussing marriage?
But I'm only sixteen, still a baby, I don't want to get married!
Last time, they clearly used "Concealing Breath" throughout, and later used spider silk to completely sever their aura. In the end, they even destroyed that cave with the poisonous mist of the Green-Scaled Serpent.

How could it possibly be found?
Liu Sheng's mind was in a mess. He cautiously stepped forward, only to be slapped hard on the shoulder by her.

"Thank goodness, you're still alive!"

Du Bingyan's pretty face was smiling, as if an iceberg had melted, breathtakingly beautiful, and her tone was hurried:

"I only found out you were still alive after I got back, so I rushed over..."

At this point, her voice faltered, and her mood noticeably somber:

"Everyone else has died in the line of duty. Now, you are the only one left under my command."

what?
So you came looking for me because you just found out I was alive?

I thought you wanted me to take responsibility...

Liu Sheng opened his mouth, feeling both relieved and disappointed, but in the end he just bowed his head and cupped his hands in greeting.

At this moment, Du Bingyan's expression turned serious, and she said earnestly:
"As previously agreed, I have informed Jiageku that you will be promoted to demon-hunting warrior immediately."

Oh wow, you got promoted?

This gigolo... it smells pretty good!
(End of this chapter)