National Division

Chapter 130 The Eldest Princess: We must prioritize the overall situation!

County government office, government office

After Shen Xian inquired about the situation in Ningyang County and Linchuan County from Wang Shence, he instructed someone to take Wang Shence down to rest, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense.

In both counties, corpse demons have gathered, and behind them are also demonic members of the Corpse Yin Sect causing trouble.

Shen Bin's resolute face was full of worry, and his tone was anxious: "The situation in Ningyang County is more complicated than I imagined."

Xue Zhihua frowned, her clear eyes showing a thoughtful expression, and said, "Leaving aside the seventh and eighth realms, according to what Wang Shence just said, the Corpse Yin Sect still has some fifth and sixth realm inner sect protectors and inner sect stewards in Ningyang County. So the sect has sent out its entire force."

Shen Xian picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and said, "The Corpse Yin Sect has mobilized its entire force; their ambitions are immense."

If it were just a small county like Ningyang, the Corpse Yin Sect wouldn't have gone to such lengths, sending out a powerful immortal cultivator at the level of a Supreme Elder.

Although others would handle it and he didn't need to worry about it, he still felt a sense of pressure coming at him.

However, when demonic cultivators cause trouble, they have no choice but to mobilize their entire forces, because the Three Pure Ones sect is too powerful.

Shen Bin said, "We have already sent letters to the surrounding prefectures and counties, urging them to be on high alert against the corpse demons, and at the same time dispatched troops to reinforce Anzhou."

"After the notice is posted, how about young and middle-aged people sign up?" Shen Xian asked.

Registrar Pei took over the conversation and said, "Scholar Shen, I have heard that demonic people are causing trouble. The able-bodied men in the county are eager to join in, and two thousand men have already been recruited. However, wealthy merchants and magnates in the city have fled to other counties with their families."

Zhao Lang, standing not far away, looked displeased and said, "We should block the main roads and strictly restrict escape!"

Shen Xian sighed and said, "Letting them escape and ignoring them is much better than them all becoming food for the corpse demons."

Shen Bin agreed, saying, "For every additional person who becomes a corpse demon, the demonic path gains one more point of power."

Zhao Lang was angry upon hearing this, but he didn't say anything.

Shen Bin turned to Shen Xian and asked, "When are you going to the prefectural city?"

"Once we receive the confession of Qiu Ying, the Prefect of Anzhou, we will proceed to Wan'an County," Shen Xian said in a deep voice, setting down his teacup.

Then, he turned to the guard standing beside him and instructed, "Go and see if there's any progress on Lord Jiang's side."

"Yes."

Qianniuwei clasped his hands in a salute, then turned and left.

Xue Zhihua asked, "Do you plan to accept the refugees that Wang Shence mentioned earlier?"

“There shouldn’t be any refugees left in Ningyang County. They should mainly be the surviving people from Linchuan County. They might flee to Guhe and we’ll recruit able-bodied men from there.” Shen Xian thought for a moment and then added, “But we also need to be wary of spies from the demonic path who have infiltrated.”

Shen Bin said, "This matter is difficult to verify."

A short while later, the Imperial Guard and Jiang Rui returned. Jiang Rui held a book in his hand and said, "Scholar, there has been progress in the interrogation."

"Oh?" Shen Xian asked, casting a questioning glance.

"Scholar, Qiu Ying has confessed. Cui Xu, the Prefect of Anzhou, has formed cliques for personal gain, embezzled public funds, and perverted the law. He frequently criticizes the government and has repeatedly slandered the Empress. Not long ago, he colluded with the Yuqing Sect, allowing demons to wreak havoc in the prefectures and counties, and he outwardly complied with the Empress's decrees but inwardly defied them. In addition, besides Chief Secretary Qiu Ying, Prefect Feng Chong and Military Advisor Huo Shu are also in cahoots with Cui Xu. They have essentially turned Anzhou into an independent kingdom of the Cui family!" Jiang Rui said vehemently, handing over the ledger in his hand, and said, "This is Qiu Ying's confession."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian took the book and began to read it. His face was ashen, his eyes gleaming, and he was deep in thought.

Jiang Rui cupped his hands and asked, "Scholar, what should we do next?"

"Go to Wan'an County to arrest Cui Xu, Feng Chong, and others, take over the state affairs, and deploy troops," Shen Xian said in a deep voice, putting down the ledger.

In the name of Anzhou, the entire province's able-bodied men can be mobilized to intercept the impending zombie horde.

Xue Zhihua said in a clear voice, "Your Highness is still at Qingyang Temple at the moment."

Shen Xian said, "Contact His Highness and tell him that we are setting off for Wan'an County."

Xue Zhihua nodded and agreed.

"We should not delay. Let's pack up and head to Wan'an County," Shen Xian said in a deep voice.

Jiang Rui bowed and agreed.

……

……

Qingyang Temple

In early summer, the pond in the southwest direction of the temple is covered with lotus leaves, water chestnuts and lotus buds, some pink and some red, and the air is filled with fragrance.

Standing by the water, a beautifully crafted and elegant pavilion with upturned eaves and upturned corners—

The Taoist He Shou was personally brewing tea to entertain the princess, with the small clay stove bubbling and steaming.

The Taoist priest, with his hair tied up in a topknot and his wide sleeves flowing gracefully, solemnly poured tea for the beautiful woman opposite him.

"Your Highness, please."

The princess, dressed in a magnificent purple wide-sleeved dress, took the teacup with her slender hands. Spiritual energy surged in her palm, and the steam from the originally scalding tea disappeared. She brought it to her lips, took a small sip, and praised, "Good tea."

"This is bitter tea, a gift from a fellow Daoist in the North Sea," Crane Guardian said with a light laugh.

The princess smiled and said, "Bitter yet sweet, this tea blends a hundred emotions of life, allowing one to experience the myriad flavors of life. You, my fellow Daoist, must be a Divine Illuminator, right?"

"Your Highness has keen insight, I admire you greatly." Daoist He Shou sighed, "My fellow Daoist, after experiencing a hundred different lives, went back and planted tea trees. When the tea trees turned lush and green, he entered the realm of divine illumination."

The eldest princess simply sipped her tea, smiling without saying a word.

"Seven or eight years have passed since we parted in the capital. Her Highness the Princess is even more radiant than before, and her cultivation has also reached new heights." Daoist He Shou looked at the beautiful and elegant woman opposite him and couldn't help but sigh.

“Yes, it has been seven or eight years since the Daoist gathering at Bailu Manor in Shendu.” The beautiful woman smiled charmingly, her eyes fixed on Daoist He Shou’s face, and said, “Fellow Daoist He Shou has been teaching in Anzhou for several years, and his cultivation has also improved a lot.”

"My magical powers and supernatural abilities are a bit more profound, but I still have no clue about the Divine Illumination Realm." As Crane Guardian Daoist spoke, he picked up his teacup and gave a self-deprecating smile.

The beautiful woman spoke up: "I have not heard of any extraordinary immortal geniuses emerging from the Taiqing lineage in the past two years while I was in the capital. The Eight Views Palace is becoming increasingly desolate."

By the end, his tone seemed rather wistful.

“Back then, the Grand Princess came to the Eight Views Palace seeking the Dao with her hair tied up, and now she should have reached the seventh realm,” Crane Guardian Daoist suddenly said.

The case of the Li Jing royal family was clearly used to refute the eldest princess's words.

The beautiful woman remained silent for a moment, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and she parted her lips slightly: "My aunt has few kinship ties and only seeks a carefree and immortal life, which is rare in my Li family. I think that if one extinguishes emotions and severs one's nature, even if one achieves immortality, one will be nothing more than a rock or a withered tree. What fun is there in that?"

Then, a pair of eyes fell on Crane Guardian's face, and he said, "At the beginning of the founding of the nation, the Taiqing lineage supported the Dragon Court and slew demons, producing many rogue immortals. It is said that the Taiqing Sect Leader even became a Dao Lord and ascended to heaven because of supporting the Dragon Court. Now that the world is in turmoil, does Crane Guardian not have any intention of doing so?" Crane Guardian was silent for a moment, then said, "This humble Daoist, this humble Daoist..."

Recently, he has actually been feeling somewhat lost.

There has been a lot of commotion in the county town recently. He has noticed it and even knows more about it. The Corpse Yin Sect is coming in with great force, and experts of the seventh and eighth realms are hiding among them. One careless move could mean certain death.

"If this road is blocked, why not try another? Why be so stubborn?" The princess's bright and beautiful face was as cold as jade as she spoke gently: "In Ningyang and Linchuan counties, the Corpse Yin Sect demons are causing havoc and harming the people. Soon, the Corpse Demons will swarm towards Guhe County. He Shou, you have been in Guhe County for so many years. Have you really been indifferent to seeing your familiar elders and fellow villagers die at the hands of the Corpse Demons?"

Upon hearing this, Daoist He Shou was slightly shaken. After a moment of silence, he said, "Your Highness, may I have time to consider this?"

"I won't force you." Upon seeing this, the princess's bright face turned ashen, and she sighed softly, "I will go to Anzhou to persuade Senior Brother Dongyang to take action."

Under the nest, how can there be a complete egg?
If the Corpse Yin Sect wreaks havoc on the entire Anzhou, the state school will also be affected. Now is not the time for internal strife; we should prioritize the overall situation!

Upon hearing this, Crane Guardian nodded.

The eldest princess smiled and said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I will not stay any longer."

It was clearly sensing the unusual movement of the sound transmission jade tablet.

"Your Highness, please take care." Daoist He Shou's expression turned solemn as he rose to see him off.

The princess then said no more, leaving only a few wisps of fragrance before her figure vanished into thin air.

Crane Guardian stood up, his mind in turmoil. For some reason, he went to the screen on the west side of the pavilion and looked at the calligraphy he had recently written.

The handwriting is simple and unadorned, with a quiet, unrestrained Taoist charm flowing through it, but there seems to be a bit of complexity between the strokes, just like the mood of the person who wrote the inscription.

"So many things have happened in the rise and fall of dynasties, like the endless flow of the Yangtze River. From afar, one sees lotus leaves swaying in the wind; up close, one sees a sick horse resting its hooves. The gathering of three flowers at the top of the head is but an illusion, and the soaring clouds beneath one's feet are not real either. A great dream must eventually end, and without roots or limits, one returns to dust." Crane Guardian Daoist couldn't help but murmur, and suddenly sighed softly.

Just then, a Taoist priest entered the pavilion with light steps and bowed: "Abbot, Gu Mian requests an audience."

Crane Guardian was taken aback, wondering to himself, "What is he doing here?"

I had a vague premonition deep down.

I'm afraid there might be some changes?
Gu Mian was a student valued by Daoist He Shou. His original intention was to examine him and accept him as a disciple. Therefore, the day before yesterday, he gave Gu Mian a copy of the "Huang Ting Jing" that he had made many notes on in his youth, asking him to study it carefully so that he could understand the methods of entering the Dao and be given the seeds of talismans.

"I'll go take a look," thought Crane Guardian Daoist. With a flash, he left the pavilion and headed for the side hall.

In the side hall, Gu Mian, dressed in a faded blue robe, sat upright in a chair with a thin face and handsome features. Upon seeing Daoist He Shou arrive, he immediately stood up and bowed deeply, saying, "Student Gu Mian greets teacher."

"Gu Mian, why aren't you at home studying? What are you doing here at the temple?" Crane Guardian asked with unusually warm eyes.

Gu Mian asked anxiously, "Teacher, I saw notices posted by soldiers in the city saying that corpse demons will attack Ningyang County and Linchuan County, and Guhe County is in imminent danger. I want to ask you, is this true?"

As Guhe County posted notices recruiting able-bodied men and began large-scale construction on the Guhe River, a sense of impending doom enveloped the entire county, making the people feel a sense of urgency and impending doom.

Upon hearing this, Daoist He Shou remained silent for a moment before saying, "It is true."

Gu Mian cupped his hands and said, "This student wishes to enlist in the army to defend my hometown."

"If you don't study hard and prepare for the Daoist exam, how can you still want to join the army?" Daoist Heshou raised an eyebrow, his ancient face showing worry, and instructed, "You should sit quietly and recite the Huangting Jing that I gave you recently, and don't get involved in such things."

"Will demons retreat if I sit quietly and recite the Yellow Court Classic?"

Upon hearing this, Daoist He Shou paused for a moment, then said, "At least it can ensure my own safety."

Gu Mian's resolute face showed a determined look as he said, "Teacher, my whole family is in Guhe County, and their lives are at stake. How can I continue my studies?"

“The demons and monsters are the business of the court officials who eat meat. Your priority now is to study the Taoist scriptures well and prepare for this year’s Taoist examination.” Crane Guardian frowned, then said, “These past two days, I intend to travel to Yangzhou. If you would like to go, you can come with me.”

If he doesn't participate in this calamity at Guhe, then traveling to Yangzhou in Jiangnan would be the best option.

“The students aren’t leaving.” Gu Mian’s gaze was firm as he shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Crane Guardian pondered and said, "Why are you doing this?"

“If a student abandons their family and flees alone, even if they survive the rest of their life, their conscience will not be at peace,” Gu Mian said in a clear voice.

The teacher can take him away, but can he take his relatives with him? Even if he could take his relatives with him, he couldn't take away the people of Guhe County.

When Crane Guardian met those eyes, his heart couldn't help but tremble.

conscience?

Gu Mian thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Teacher, I would like to work in the county government. Now that Senior Brother Shen is in charge of the county government, even if I am just a clerk under him, I can still do my part in the work of eliminating demons and monsters in Guhe County."

As he spoke, he took the Huangting Jing from his sleeve and handed it over, saying sincerely, "It's just that I may not be able to read the Huangting Jing for the time being. I'm returning it to you, teacher. Please don't be offended."

Crane Guardian was quite unsettled. He sighed and said, "Since you have made up your mind, I will not stop you. However, you should keep the Yellow Court Scripture safe and read it often. It contains the methods of immortality. You may achieve something great on your path in the future."

Upon seeing this, Gu Mian bowed deeply to Daoist He Shou, expressed his gratitude, accepted the "Huang Ting Jing," and left Qingyang Temple without saying anything else.

After Gu Mian left, Daoist He Shou looked at the strangely shaped rocks and overlapping, flickering artificial mountains in the courtyard, lost in thought, and sighed.

Perhaps he really was wrong before?

The Taiqing lineage also had a history of supporting the imperial court in the early days of the dynasty. Could he be more capable than the immortals of the Taiqing lineage?
Moreover, if the zombie horde were to ravage his Taoist practice in Guhe County, he would have to go to another place to start over.

Thinking of this, Crane Guardian's eyes flickered, and he made up his mind.

Meanwhile, the eldest princess returned to the county government office and ran into Shen Xian and Xue Zhihua. She asked, "Are you and Zhihua all ready?"

Shen Xian nodded, looked at the late-arriving princess, and asked curiously, "Your Highness, did you go to Qingyang Temple just now?"

I wonder if Master Crane Guardian has changed his mind.

He actually wanted to use Crane Guardian as an experimental subject to see if the Taiqing lineage could be inspired and how to arm the Taiqing lineage to protect the Great Jing.

The eldest princess chuckled and said, "I just tried to persuade Daoist He Shou, and he seemed somewhat interested, but his cultivation is limited, so the effect he can have is also limited."

Shen Xian nodded and said, "Every bit of strength we can contribute is a bit more strength."

"Have all the affairs in the county government been planned?" the Princess asked.

Shen Xian said, "Everything is settled, let's prepare to depart for Wan'an County."

Princess Qin nodded and said, "Then we can fly over there, which will save a lot of time."

Shen Xian nodded, then summoned Jiang Rui, and together with Qiu Ying, Zhang Xun and others, led the Thousand Bull Guards to Wan'an County, where Anzhou Prefecture was located.

(End of this chapter)