Bai Ji quickly rolled over, then trotted happily on its short legs to Mu Nanchi’s feet, looking up at her expectantly.

Mu Nanchi bent down to pick it up. Bai Ji turned its head to look at Xu Qi’an and asked sweetly:

“Has Her Majesty left? Did your deal succeed?”

“She was very satisfied with the deal and specifically praised your cleverness,” Xu Qi’an said.

Bai Ji immediately beamed with pride, like a kindergartener who had just received a gold star—proud yet trying to contain its excitement.

Xu Qi’an guided gently: “So, from now on, you should listen to everything I say, understand? What bad intentions could I have? I’m thinking of your fox clan’s best interests.”

Bai Ji gave a soft “mm-hmm.”

It felt closer to Xu Qi’an now.

“Did Her Majesty say anything else?” Its bright eyes looked at Xu Qi’an, hoping to hear that Her Majesty had shown concern for it.

Mu Nanchi pursed her lips, snorted, and said:

“Your Her Majesty wants to give you to him as a child bride.”

“What’s a child bride?” Bai Ji didn’t understand.

“It means while you’re still young, he raises you, and when you grow up, you have to serve him like a servant, attend to him in bed—that means sleeping with him—and bear his fox cubs.”

Mu Nanchi explained the meaning of “child bride” in detail.

With such a clear explanation, Bai Ji immediately understood. It looked Xu Qi’an up and down, its expression turning somewhat unhappy.

Damn, I’ve been rejected… Xu Qi’an pretended not to notice the fox cub’s expression.

Cubs truly couldn’t appreciate this Silver Bell Officer’s charm.

As they spoke, Li Lingsu was the first to return, descending into the courtyard on his flying sword.

“How’s the situation?”

Xu Qi’an asked.

“She is indeed critically ill. It was originally just a cold—if she had taken medicine earlier, she would have recovered quickly. But that old man chose to pray to the temple god…”

Li Lingsu shook his head:

“His wife drank blessed water for several days, making her condition worse. She has at most two days to live. Fortunately, though her body is weak, her internal organs haven’t failed. I gave her a Cold-Dispelling Pill and a Qi-Replenishing Pill to suppress the illness.

With proper care and nourishment afterward, she should recover within ten days.”

Since Xu Qi’an had already given them a tael of official silver, there was no need to worry about the couple’s livelihood.

Li Lingsu continued:

“I just made a round through the county and learned something. The county magistrate of Shengyi County lures poor people with the promise of free porridge, then kills them and uses their heads to pose as vagrants, seeking merit from the court and requesting disaster relief funds and grain by claiming vagrant troubles.

That’s why you rarely see beggars in Shengyi County, and villagers who can’t survive outside the city don’t dare enter.”

Vagrants were unregistered people who wandered about, having left their homes due to crime, tax evasion, or other reasons.

Without land to farm, they usually turned to illegal activities like theft and human trafficking.

Some chose to work as laborers.

In peaceful times, vagrants were a small minority, not worth worrying about.

But during great famines, when people couldn’t survive, they would become vagrants. Currently, the vagrant problem in Great Feng is extremely severe. Wealthy areas were fine, but in poor areas, vagrant uprisings were terrifying.

This was why the Yongxing Emperor had been forced to promote donations—the situation was too dire.

Just when father and son had reconciled, they encountered a once-in-a-century “cold disaster,” on top of the mess left by the previous emperor…

Xu Qi’an’s expression darkened. “I understand.”

He glanced at the Holy Son and said flatly: “You’re subtly mocking me, saying that saving one person is like a drop in the ocean, unable to change anything.”

Li Lingsu naturally denied this, chuckling: “Just reminding, just reminding…”

After a pause, the Holy Son sighed: “Great Feng’s situation is already very bad and will only get worse. If it can’t be improved promptly, if the disaster continues unchecked, uprisings everywhere are just a matter of time.”

In historical terms, this phenomenon is called peasant rebellion… Xu Qi’an thought deeper—if the disaster couldn’t be effectively alleviated when Xu Pingfeng raised his banner, many martial arts factions would likely respond.

They would believe that overthrowing the corrupt dynasty was everyone’s only way out, just like at the end of the Great Zhou Dynasty when heroes rose everywhere.

At this moment, Miao Youfang walked in from outside the courtyard, carrying a bamboo basket. The three people and one fox, with their keen sense of smell, had already detected the pungent scent of blood.

Clang!

Miao Youfang crossed the courtyard, put the basket before everyone, and said proudly with hands on his hips:

“Mission accomplished!”

Xu Qi’an peered in—the basket was full of heads, each with eyes wide open, expressions of terror frozen on their faces.

“Seven?”

He frowned. There had only been four thugs in the courtyard.

Miao Youfang made an “oh” sound and said: “I also killed the county magistrate, deputy magistrate, and county captain.”

The temple fell silent. Li Lingsu gaped: “Why did you kill the county magistrate and deputy magistrate?”

“This is where you don’t understand.”

Miao Youfang crossed his arms with an “I’m an old hand at this” expression and said:

“That mother and son dared to oppress people and violate women freely, yet the officials didn’t intervene—this means they must have had backing. After questioning these lackeys, sure enough, they were in cahoots with the county magistrate and deputy magistrate.

When I investigated further, well well, the county captain was also black-hearted, having committed countless crimes. So I stormed the county office and took them all out.”

Such efficiency… Li Lingsu and Xu Qi’an exchanged glances, speechless.

The latter pinched his brow and said: “Alright, just leave the heads here as a warning to the county clerks.”

After speaking, he took out the Earth Book fragment and briefly explained the situation to Huaiqing.

[One: This princess understands.]

Only then did Xu Qi’an relax. Miao Youfang had eliminated all the high-ranking officials in the county office, which would certainly cause panic. Reporting to Huaiqing early would let her notify the court.

The court could then promptly arrange for a new county magistrate to stabilize the situation.

The group returned to Shengyi County and found lodging at an inn. In the room, Xu Qi’an summoned the Pagoda of Six Realms and had the Pagoda Spirit release the mirror’s seal.

“This thing can illuminate all nine provinces—what an amazing ability. It’s the trump card for intelligence gathering.”

Xu Qi’an examined the Chaos Sky Divine Mirror repeatedly while praising it.

Mu Nanchi leaned over the water vat, stirring the water, and looked back:

“The Nine-Colored Lotus Root is almost ripe.”

Xu Qi’an, holding the half “Chaos Sky Divine Mirror,” walked to the vat and looked closely. In the shallow mud, the Nine-Colored Lotus Root had grown from its initial small segment to the length of an adult’s arm.

“Isn’t it already ripe?” Xu Qi’an said.

“Not yet, it needs about ten more days,” the Flower God’s reincarnation said with certainty.

She raised her chin proudly and said: “This supreme spiritual treasure is unique in heaven and earth. If not for my spiritual essence nurturing it, hmph!”

Her bright eyes fixed on Xu Qi’an, seemingly waiting for his praise and flattery.

“Amazing!”

Xu Qi’an cupped her chin and lifted it slightly.

Slap!

Mu Nanchi swatted his hand away and spat angrily: “Keep your hands to yourself.”

With her tsundere personality, she couldn’t tolerate such teasing.

Ripe in ten days, time to visit the Martial Arts Alliance… Xu Qi’an walked to the bedside and gazed southeast.

Sword Province was southeast of River Province.

When the Martial Arts Alliance’s ancestor was in seclusion, he divided his power to help fight Xu Pingfeng, taking an enormous risk.

Xu Qi’an only knew that he had encountered trouble while attempting to break through to Second Rank, stuck in a dilemma.

In such circumstances, dealing with a Second-hand expert could have broken the balance the old man had been carefully maintaining.

“No, that balance might have already been broken, and he’s now sliding into the abyss…

But since the Martial Arts Alliance hasn’t sent word to the capital asking me to fulfill my promise, the situation must not be too severe…

A major force like the Martial Arts Alliance, and an expert like the old Alliance Leader at the peak of Third Rank—we must bring them into our camp.

Oh right, Sword Province has the Ten Thousand Flowers House, full of beautiful women. Given the Holy Son’s nature, he must have some favorites there. Haha, there’ll be quite a show.

I can fan the flames, saying Li Lingsu is fickle, and given the relationship between the various martial arts sects and the Ten Thousand Flowers House…”

Xu Qi’an suddenly felt impatient to go.

He walked to the desk with the mirror, his Primordial Spirit extending like “tentacles” toward the Chaos Sky Divine Mirror.

The bronze mirror surface once again showed the lashless single eye, coldly staring at Xu Qi’an.

“What should I call you?”

Xu Qi’an transmitted friendly thoughts.

“Long live the Monster Kingdom’s Ruler!”

The mirror’s spirit transmitted back.

“Let’s get acquainted. I’m the handsome and charming Great Feng Silver Bell Officer Xu Qi’an, beloved by all.”

Xu Qi’an attempted to communicate.

“Death to the Buddhist sect! May the bald ones die a thousand deaths!”

The mirror spirit said.

…This is completely impossible to communicate with! Xu Qi’an scratched his head, feeling troubled.

He thought for a moment and said: “I’m your father.”

The bronze mirror suddenly shook, that lashless eye becoming somewhat deeper and more animated as if examining Xu Qi’an.

At the same time, an authoritative thought entered Xu Qi’an’s mind:

“Lowly human child, are you trying to blaspheme against this god?”

Awake now? Xu Qi’an was both surprised and delighted, responding mentally:

“I’m an ally of the Monster Kingdom.”

“Silver-tongued!” The mirror spirit snorted coldly: “The Monster Kingdom was destroyed long ago.”

“The former ruler left a daughter, who now leads the Monster Kingdom’s remaining forces…”

Xu Qi’an patiently explained his karmic connection with the Monster Kingdom.

“Lowly human child, don’t try to deceive me. You Buddhist sect lackey, may you die a horrible death.”

The spirit wouldn’t accept this.

When the Nine-Tailed Fox descended, it had been sealed by the Pagoda Spirit and hadn’t sensed its old master’s daughter.

The Pagoda of Six Realms is a traitor… Xu Qi’an pondered, then said:

“Regardless, you’re in my hands now. Why don’t we cooperate? Serve me, and I’ll nurture you.”

“A tempting offer, but I refuse!”

The mirror spirit showed its backbone, sneering:

“This god and the Buddhist sect cannot coexist. Even if this god turns to ash, gets thrown out of here, abandoned, sealed—I won’t accept even a whiff of your incense.”

Too stubborn; I respect you as a true man… Xu Qi’an chose to compromise with the mentally unstable artifact.

It wouldn’t be right to have Bai Ji summon the Monster Kingdom Princess again—that would be too disrespectful to the great one.

“Fine, I won’t force you. In a month, I’ll hand you over to the Monster Kingdom Princess. Until then, you can recuperate in the dragon qi.”

Xu Qi’an said.

“What nonsense dragon qi, this god won’t accept your favor.”

The spirit said stubbornly.

Not bothering to argue… Xu Qi’an took out the Earth Book fragment and threw it in.

When the Chaos Sky Divine Mirror touched the Earth Book fragment, ripples spread across the jade mirror’s surface as it swallowed it.

Xu Qi’an used his Primordial Spirit to “carry” the Chaos Sky Divine Mirror and placed it into the lifelike golden dragon.

“This god won’t accept your favor, Buddhist lackey!”

The mirror was cursing as it entered the dragon qi, but its shouts suddenly stopped.

A warm, vast power enveloped it, nourishing its consciousness, making it feel as if it were lying in the Monster Kingdom Ruler’s embrace.

“Ahh~~”

The mirror involuntarily moaned: “So good, so good, what is this… why does it feel so amazing?”

This nourishment was countless times better than incense, even soothing the chaos and pain from its damaged consciousness.

Given time, I might be able to repair my damaged consciousness and restore my former state… This thought naturally arose in the mirror’s mind.

It immediately became exciting.

The Peaceful Blade, seeing another magical treasure enter and compete for dragon qi, transmitted “wronged” thoughts, hoping its master would drive it away.

Don’t worry, you’re my real son; it’s adopted… Xu Qi’an consoled it thus.

“It seems you quite enjoy the dragon qi. Now, shall we cooperate?” Xu Qi’an smiled.

The mirror played dead, not responding.

It neither wanted to submit nor leave the dragon qi.

Xu Qi’an made a “hmph” sound and used his Primordial Spirit to carry it out.

“Let me back in, let me back in.”

The mirror suddenly became anxious.

Xu Qi’an expressionlessly stared at the protruding eye in the mirror surface.

“Alright, alright…”

After a standoff of about ten seconds, the mirror finally surrendered: “I can serve you.”

The law of “true incense” is truly the world’s hardest rule; Nobel owes someone Wang a prize… Xu Qi’an smiled:

“Pleasure working with you.”

He said eagerly: “Now, I want to see your abilities.”

Illuminate the Nine Provinces!