A young friend is in trouble… Is it Number Five, or another junior acquaintance of Taoist Jin Lian?
Xu Qi’an appropriately put on a puzzled expression: “Where is this young friend of yours, Taoist? Do I need to mobilize government forces?”
Taoist Jin Lian shook his head: “She’s in Xiangzhou.”
Xiangzhou is south of the capital, about 400 kilometers away… not too close but not too far. Xu Qi’an frowned: “If Taoist has a matter, this official cannot shirk responsibility. However, I need to go to the yamen to request leave first, given the long journey ahead.”
Taoist Jin Lian nodded: “Have your servants request leave on your behalf tomorrow. We’ll set out tonight to save time… By the way, where is that prophetess?
“To find someone, we must have the help of someone skilled in observing qi.”
“She’s at the Astronomical Bureau…” Xu Qi’an exhaled, saying jokingly: “Alright, I’ll go fetch her from her maiden home.”
This prophetess must be a woman… Number Six Heng Yuan and Number Four Chu Yuanzhen simultaneously guessed in their hearts.
The three then entered the house to wait, while Xu Qi’an led his little mare from the backyard and rode it to the Astronomical Bureau.
The lights at the Astronomical Bureau burned all night. Xu Qi’an entered the first-floor hall and asked the pharmacists who were burning the midnight oil doing research: “Would one of you senior brothers please announce that I’m looking for Senior Sister Zhong Li?”
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. The pharmacists exchanged glances, then said: “Senior Sister Zhong Li is on the underground floor. Please wait a moment…”
A white-robed cultivator went inside. A few seconds later, a shout came: “Senior Sister Zhong Li, Young Master Xu is here to see you.”
With that, the cultivator hurried out, running so fast it was as if a tiger was chasing him.
In the hall, the other white-robed cultivators all abandoned their work and rushed towards the stairs. In an instant, the hall was quiet, with not a soul besides Xu Qi’an.
A few minutes later, Zhong Li came out from inside, her hair disheveled, wearing a coarse cloth robe, and her head slightly lowered.
A very standard “mourning woman” appearance.
“I need to leave the capital on some business. I’ll be back soon, but I need your power,” Xu Qi’an said bluntly, without pleasantries.
“Oh.”
Zhong Li nodded succinctly, very much the obedient tool she should be.
The two left the Astronomical Bureau side by side, Xu Qi’an riding his horse, Zhong Li walking, her speed no slower than the little mare’s.
Soon they returned to the Xu residence and met up with the three members of the Heaven and Earth Society led by Taoist Jin Lian.
Chu Yuanzhen said: “It’s not suitable to fly within the inner city. Let’s go to the outer city. We’ll trouble Brother Xu to lead us out of the city.”
If it were just him alone, flying in the inner city would be no problem. The experts in the city would turn a blind eye out of respect for the Human Realm.
But with more people, they couldn’t overlook it, which would only cause trouble.
So Xu Qi’an led the three out of the mansion. With Xu Qi’an, a Silver Constable, leading the way, whether it was night watchmen or Imperial Guards, they only conducted routine questioning without further obstruction.
On the way, Taoist Jin Lian looked at Xu Qi’an and said solemnly: “Number Five has disappeared.”
Chu Yuanzhen immediately looked at Xu Qi’an.
Xu Qi’an said in confusion: “What are you talking about, Taoist? Hmm, why aren’t you possessing a cat today, Taoist?”
Taoist Jin Lian said calmly: “Number Five is the serial number of an Earth Book fragment holder. You should know this. That day when we rescued Heng Yuan, it was thanks to you. Hmm, what did you say about a cat?”
Xu Qi’an made an “oh” sound, “Nothing, I remembered wrong.”
Taoist Jin Lian nodded with satisfaction.
Xu Qi’an also nodded with satisfaction.
Chu Yuanzhen looked at the two, then glanced at Heng Yuan, and smiled: “Was it Master Heng Yuan who was rescued during the Sangbo case?”
Taoist Heng Yuan pressed his palms together: “At that time, it was all thanks to Sir Xu.”
Heng Yuan was indeed involved in the Sangbo case. He had said in the Earth Book fragment back then that escaping from the night watchmen’s yamen was all thanks to Xu Qi’an… Now it seems there were more inside stories behind this. Taoist Jin Lian had contacted Xu Qi’an through Number Three, which means Xu Qi’an knows about the existence of the Heaven and Earth Society and the Earth Book fragments.
Thus, I’m more certain of a guess: although Taoist Jin Lian gave the Earth Book fragment to Xu Xinnian, a student of Cloud Deer Academy, he wants both.
Chu Yuanzhen smiled without speaking.
When they reached the outer city, Chu Yuanzhen patted his back, and that artifact sword of the Human Realm flew out, hanging in mid-air with its scabbard.
Taoist Jin Lian took out a paper crane from his bosom and gently tossed it, and the paper crane instantly transformed into a large bird seven feet long, flapping its wings and circling.
“Taoist, I’ll go with you!” Xu Qi’an quickly said.
Even an idiot would know to choose. Chu Yuanzhen’s was standing room only, while Taoist Jin Lian’s offered a seat.
Heng Yuan and Chu Yuanzhen leaped onto the sword scabbard, which shot off into the sky with a “whoosh.”
After Xu Qi’an and Taoist Jin Lian sat on the white crane, they realized there wasn’t enough space. Zhong Li had no seat.
“Can cultivators fly?” Xu Qi’an asked the “mourning woman” below.
“No, the teleportation array requires fourth-rank to use,” Zhong Li shook her head.
Xu Qi’an looked around, glanced at his thighs, and suggested: “How about sitting on my whip?”
“No need!” Taoist Jin Lian took off his wooden hairpin and tossed it to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li grasped the wooden hairpin, and under its guidance, she shot up into the sky with a “whoosh,” closely following Chu Yuanzhen’s flying sword.
Taoist, you’ve narrowed your path… Xu Qi’an thought to himself.
The white crane flapped its wings and flew.
…
The flying sword, paper crane, and wooden hairpin flew higher and higher. Gradually, the scenery on the ground began to blur.
Whoosh… The clouds parted, and the sword and crane broke through the cloud layer.
The night sky was clear blue, with a crescent moon hanging. Below, the sea of clouds was frozen, motionless.
The world instantly became silent.
“We’ve entered the stratosphere,” Xu Qi’an transmitted.
The strong wind made it impossible for him to open his eyes. Words spoken would immediately be torn apart by the wind, so communication could only be done through transmission.
Taoist Jin Lian also had his eyes closed, using his primordial spirit instead of his eyes. After receiving Xu Qi’an’s transmission, he asked in surprise: “Stratosphere?”
“I was just making that up. Taoist, tell me about Number Five’s situation,” Xu Qi’an transmitted back.
“After the last internal communication of the Heaven and Earth Society, Number Five stopped responding. At that time, I could still sense the location of the Earth Book fragment in Xiangzhou. The next day, I suddenly lost the connection with the fragment,” Taoist Jin Lian said gravely.
“Did Number Five encounter a demonic Taoist from the Earth Realm?” Xu Qi’an’s expression changed slightly as he guessed.
“That’s a possibility,” Taoist Jin Lian nodded.
So that’s why you invited me, Heng Yuan, and Chu Yuanzhen to act together… Taoist, your survival instinct is quite strong. Xu Qi’an nodded, evaluating their side’s combat power.
Chu Yuanzhen, who appeared to be of the martial arts system but actually practiced the Human Realm’s sword dao, should have combat power at the fourth rank, even if not quite there, it shouldn’t be far off.
Number Six Heng Yuan, who appeared to be of the Buddhist system but was a martial artist, was hard to judge, as they had never fought. Heng Yuan’s combat record was also limited.
Then there was Taoist Jin Lian. As I recall, he was once chased by the fourth-rank Purple Lotus into the capital. Taoist Jin Lian’s strength level should be no weaker than fourth rank.
The reason is, that he wasn’t injured by Purple Lotus, but by that demonized Earth Realm Taoist leader. Even so, he was still able to escape from the pursuit of the fourth-rank Purple Lotus.
If we encounter a demonic Taoist from the Earth Realm, then, below the third rank, we’re as stable as an old dog… Xu Qi’an thought.
An hour later, Taoist Jin Lian transmitted to everyone: “We’ve arrived. The area within a hundred li below should be where Number Five disappeared. I still can’t sense the Earth Book fragment.”
Everyone descended from the clouds, diving towards the ground.
The ground went from blurry to clear. Xu Qi’an saw the outline of a large city to the east, and with the big city as the core, many villages and small towns were scattered around.
The four landed in a mountain forest. Taoist Jin Lian and Chu Yuanzhen sat cross-legged to recover their qi.
Heng Yuan protected them, while Xu Qi’an wandered alone in the mountain forest, catching two pheasants and a muntjac deer.
Returning to the meditation spot, Xu Qi’an asked: “Did any of you bring a pot?”
“I did.”
Chu Yuanzhen opened his eyes and was about to get up to go to the nearby forest to take out the iron pot, but then he thought, since Xu Qi’an knows about the existence of the Earth Book fragment, there’s no need to be secretive.
So he took out the Earth Book fragment, retrieved the iron pot, and the four of them lit two bonfires, one for stewing meat soup and one for grilling.
Regardless of which system one belongs to, after energy consumption, one needs to replenish energy. The body can’t generate power out of thin air.
“I also have some wine…”
Chu Yuanzhen took out two jars of wine to go with the grilled meat and meat soup, explaining: “When traveling far and wide, there are two things you must always carry. One, pots and pans. Two, toilet paper.”
Xu Qi’an raised his porcelain bottle, smiling with raised eyebrows: “Now there’s a third: chicken bouillon.”
Chu Yuanzhen immediately nodded in agreement.
Xu Ningyuan is an interesting fellow, quite amusing!
Chu Yuanzhen showed no flaws, but I can’t give up. I must find a way to make him socially die.
The two exchanged smiles.
After eating and drinking their fill, Taoist Jin Lian casually picked up a dry branch and tied up his graying hair. Then, his face suddenly stiffened.
“Where’s that prophetess?”
Hearing this, Xu Qi’an’s face immediately stiffened. Damn, where’s Zhong Li?
“I remember she was still by our side when we landed, but later, somehow I forgot about her…” Xu Qi’an’s face turned pale.
“She should be nearby. Let’s all look for her, and be thorough. Also, hurry,” Taoist Jin Lian said gravely:
“This is even more urgent than rescuing Number Five. Number Five might be fine, but for the prophetess, if we’re late, she might…”
Heng Yuan, not understanding the cultivator system, asked: “Might what?”
Xu Qi’an said solemnly: “Might be done for.”
Taoist Jin Lian nodded silently.
The four quickly scattered. A quarter of an hour later, Xu Qi’an found Zhong Li. When she landed, she had fallen into a deep pit. Then this woman just squatted in the deep pit without moving.
It wasn’t until Xu Qi’an came looking and she heard his voice that Zhong Li climbed out.
By the bonfire, Zhong Li sat on the ground with her back to everyone, hugging her knees. Her shoulders were thin, her silhouette lonely.
“I didn’t forget about you on purpose. Don’t be angry, okay?”
Xu Qi’an apologized and explained: “I just, I just… accidentally forgot, that’s all.”
Zhong Li sat there hugging her knees, ignoring him.
Chu Yuanzhen clicked his tongue, watching the show with a smile.
Master Heng Yuan pressed his palms together, asking in confusion: “There’s no danger around, why didn’t Cultivator Zhong come out on her own?”
“That’s only for you,” Zhong Li said softly. “Based on my past experiences, in situations like this, staying put and waiting for rescue is the safest option.
“If I had come out, I would have encountered all sorts of crises. Maybe a meteorite falling from the sky or encountering passing great demons, evil cultivators, and so on.
“Misfortune is unpredictable and can’t be divined. It can happen at any time, just like…”
Before she could finish speaking, the bonfire suddenly crackled, sending up a spray of sparks that ignited Zhong Li’s hair.
“Watch out!”
Heng Yuan’s face changed slightly, and he instinctively picked up the scalding meat soup and threw it towards Zhong Li.
At that moment, Xu Qi’an stood in front of Zhong Li, waving his qi to deflect all the scalding soup.
Zhong Li hugged Xu Qi’an’s leg, trembling.
Chu Yuanzhen was dumbfounded.
The scene suddenly fell silent.
In the silent atmosphere, Heng Yuan pressed his palms together and said compassionately: “Cultivator Zhong, even if there were ten thousand Buddha lamps in the world, they couldn’t illuminate the darkness around you. Amitabha.”
Taoists Jin Lian and Chu Yuanzhen also pressed their palms together and said compassionately: “Amitabha.”
Taoist, you’re a Taoist grandmaster, why are you chanting Buddhist scriptures… Although Zhong Li’s situation is pitiful, I can’t help but want to laugh… Xu Qi’an thought to himself.
He reached out and patted Zhong Li’s head to comfort her.
“Just now, just now when we landed, I discovered that the feng shui in the vicinity is problematic. There’s a large tomb under the mountains to the south,” Zhong Li said quietly.