[Three: Don’t worry, I’m fine. But I didn’t rescue Heng Yuan.]
Didn’t rescue Heng Yuan… So that’s why he said it was an initial exploration… The Tian Di Hui members felt slightly disappointed but immediately regained their spirits, waiting for Xu Qi An to explain the situation.
[Three: I can’t determine if the other end of the array is the imperial palace because it’s also an underground passage and completely dark. But according to the rules of earth traversing techniques, it’s almost certainly the palace…]
Xu Qi An told the Tian Di Hui members about his experience in the underground passage, including the terrifying sound of breathing, the golden light that seemed to be Heng Yuan, and the warning of his silent death.
[Four: So, you can’t determine the source of that strange sound, whether it’s caused by the dragon vein or something else. And none of us are experts in feng shui. Oh, wait, that unfortunate girl in your house is a Fifth Rank occultist. She would know best.]
[Three: I haven’t returned to the Xu residence yet. I’m still in the underground stone chamber.]
Hearing this, Li Miao Zhen sent a message: [I’ll go ask her.]
Zhong Li was at the Xu residence, and she was staying in Xu Qi An’s room.
Xu Qi An was alarmed and quickly messaged: [No, no, no, don’t go to my room, don’t disturb her…]
His reaction was so strong, was he hiding something? Was he afraid I’d see something I shouldn’t in his room, like a Bureau of Astronomy and Calendars senior sister lying in his bed after just having enjoyed intimacy?
Li Miao Zhen’s imagination ran wild.
[Three: Her condition is very stable now. If no one disturbs her, there shouldn’t be any accidents for the time being. If you enter the room, she’ll interact with the outside world, and various crises might occur.]
As he said this, Xu Qi An muttered: I’ve even put the Taiping Saber into the Earth Book to prevent it from suddenly taking a dislike to Zhong Li again.
[Four: Like the situation when we went to find Li Na?]
Chu Yuan Zhen recalled when they went to Yong Prefecture to find Li Na. When they descended on their swords, Zhong Li disappeared and it took a long time to find her. She was curled up motionless in a pit.
The reason was that if she was hiding somewhere temporarily safe, as long as she didn’t move, this safety would be prolonged for a considerable time. But if she left the pit, various crises would occur.
Remembering how Zhong Li was almost killed by the Taiping Saber that day, nearly choked to death by Xu Ling Yin’s pastries, and had her soul nearly scattered by himself… Li Miao Zhen believed Xu Qi An’s words.
[Three: Besides, Zhong Li once said that the dragon vein is the concentration of a nation’s fortune. Even the Supervisor can’t easily control it. I don’t think Zhong Li would have any profound understanding of dragon veins. Rather than discussing this, why don’t we think about how to deal with the situation next? There are restrictions set up on the other side of the underground passage. Even I would certainly die.]
The Earth Book chat group fell silent for a moment, then One sent a message: [Why does it have to be you? Why does it have to be us?]
Xu Qi An’s heart stirred: [You mean, report this matter to the Supervisor?]
[One: It could also be the National Preceptor.]
Brilliant! The strongest in the capital is the Supervisor, followed by the Second Rank Daoist, the Tribulation Stage Luo Yu Heng. If they intervene, we won’t even need to rack our brains over this.
Xu Qi An was delighted. He hadn’t thought of this approach at first, mainly because he was constrained by his professional habits.
Whether as a police officer in his previous life or a night watchman in this life, he was always the one to take the lead in handling problems. So when facing similar situations, he instinctively thought about shouldering the burden himself.
[Four: Heh, if there’s only the Dragon Vein and Heng Yuan underground, what can the Supervisor and National Preceptor do? However, it’s worth a try.]
With the main issue discussed, Li Miao Zhen sent a message asking: [Chu Yuan Zhen, you’ll reach the northern border in about two days, right?]
[Four: The army has already arrived in Chu Prefecture.]
[Three: So quickly?]
[Four: Of course, warships are faster than ordinary official ships. Speed is crucial in warfare. Don’t worry, I’ll protect Xu Ci Jiu well.]
[Three: Thank you.]
Xu Qi An wanted to say that it would be fine to let Er Lang experience some hardship, but he held back. The battlefield changes in an instant, with too many unexpected situations. It’s not something you can casually decide to use for training.
He might just end up dead.
Such talk is only appropriate when there’s a Third Rank expert protecting Xu Er Lang, ensuring absolute safety.
…
The next day, Xu Qi An rode his little mare, clip-clopping to the Star-Observing Tower. He tied it to the white jade railing and entered the tower alone.
Chu Cai Wei wasn’t at the Bureau of Astronomy and Calendars, Yang Qian Huan had been missing for a long time, so Xu Qi An could only seek out Great Feng’s “science fanatic,” the Bureau’s “coding workaholic” obsessed with alchemy, Song Qing.
Song Qing was a dedicated person, as evidenced by his perpetual dark circles under his eyes.
“Why has Young Master Xu come? Have you finally found time to guide your senior and junior brothers in alchemy?” Song Qing was overjoyed, smiling widely as he opened his arms.
After the embrace, Xu Qi’an scrutinized Song Qing and said, “Senior Brother seems a bit unhappy lately.”
The alchemy fanatic’s depression was written all over his face.
Hearing this, Song Qing sighed desolately: “It’s because of the war, isn’t it? The court wants the Bureau of Astronomy and Calendars to craft magical devices to enhance military equipment. This repetitive and monotonous work is simply an insult to geniuses like me.”
It’s not just geniuses like you, anyone would hate assembly line work… Xu Qi An pondered for a moment, then said, “Regarding military supplies, logically, the court’s arsenal stock shouldn’t be low.”
Song Qing’s voice lowered: “Great Feng hasn’t had any major campaigns in twenty years, so military equipment lacks maintenance and upkeep. Additionally, the items produced by the Bureau of Astronomy and Calendars are valuable and, for some people, are the best means of profiteering. Like the former Minister of War. Like our Emperor who takes a large pill every season.”
In terms of corruption, Great Feng has indeed rotted to the core. Even Prime Minister Wang was dragged into accepting bribes, and even Lord Wei usually turned a blind eye to the corruption of his subordinates and officials… Xu Qi An shook his head.
In the face of the overwhelming trend, even the brilliantly talented Wei Yuan and the cunning Prime Minister Wang couldn’t single-handedly hold back the tide.
That’s why Wei Yuan had emphasized the phrase “blend in with the world” to him back then.
“Let’s not talk about this. Today I’ve come to visit the Supervisor. I have important matters to report to the old man,” Xu Qi An said.
“Hmph!” Song Qing snorted coldly in displeasure: “Supervisor-teacher has misled me. I don’t want to see him.”
Science dogs are something… Xu Qi An inwardly admired.
But at Xu Qi An’s request, Song Qing reluctantly agreed to go up to the Eight Trigrams Platform to see the Supervisor. Shortly after, he returned, looking dejected, and waved his sleeve saying:
“What a coincidence, the teacher doesn’t want to see me either, and he doesn’t want to see you. He told me to scram back.”
The Supervisor won’t see me… Xu Qi An silently sighed and said, “Then I won’t bother you further.”
“Don’t go! You’ve come all this way, I have so many ideas I want to discuss with you,” Song Qing forcibly pulled Xu Qi An to his alchemy room. After they sat down, he said, “Wait a moment, I’ll show you a few things.”
Song Qing brought over a tray with bizarrely shaped “fruits” on it: a fist-sized watermelon, a watermelon-sized peach, an apricot with feathers growing out of it, and a bunch of crystal-clear grapes with tiny eyes inside each grape.
“I’ve thoroughly studied the grafting technique you taught me and have been actively experimenting since early spring this year. Although there have been breakthroughs, the results have some issues…”
Song Qing pointed at the watermelon and said, “I grafted peaches and watermelons together. Sometimes it produces watermelon-sized peaches, and sometimes peach-sized watermelons. They’re edible, but the taste is a bit off, and the yield is low. Would Young Master Xu like to try some?”
“No, no, no…” Xu Qi An quickly waved his hands, his gaze somewhat fixed.
“As for the apricots, I grafted apricot trees with birds. Small apricot trees grow on the birds’ backs and can bear fruit, but they’re not edible. My initial intention was to give apricots a meaty flavor. As for the grapes, well, I haven’t figured out why eyes are growing inside them yet. It might be because the grape vines grew from a dead horse’s eyes…”
I’ve always felt that among the Supervisor’s group of eccentric disciples, Song Qing is the craziest and most dangerous… Xu Qi An hypocritically praised, “Not bad. By the way, how’s the human transmutation going?”
Hearing this topic, Song Qing was overjoyed and said, “I already know your request. To repay Young Master Xu’s kindness to us, my senior and junior brothers plan to create Great Feng’s most beautiful woman based on the Princess’s appearance for you.
“Unfortunately, we’ve never seen the Princess’s appearance. Later, when Miss Fu Xiang passed away… my brothers decided to create a Miss Fu Xiang. But regrettably, we still haven’t seen Miss Fu Xiang.”
Yes, how would you science dogs care about such vulgar creatures as women? They’re all passing clouds… Xu Qi An’s mind was full of criticisms.
Song Qing continued, “Of course, we’re most familiar with Junior Sister Cai Wei, but after discussion, my senior and junior brothers unanimously agreed that a lecher like you, Young Master Xu, doesn’t deserve Junior Sister Cai Wei.”
“???”
Xu Qi An stared at him in shock.
“Oh, I speak rather directly, I didn’t mean anything else by it,” Song Qing hurriedly explained.
No other meaning, just purely insulting me… Xu Qi’an thought to himself.
“But we’ve created many men.”
What are you trying to say? Xu Qi An glanced at him and said coolly, “Senior Brother Song, I have other matters to attend to. I’ll be leaving now.”
Ignoring Song Qing’s attempts to make him stay, he quickly left.
…
After leaving the Star-Observing Tower of the Bureau of Astronomy and Calendars, Xu Qi An rode his little mare while glumly pondering the Supervisor’s attitude.
To be turned away at such a critical moment, the Supervisor clearly didn’t want to get involved, or perhaps the old fox had other intentions and thus didn’t plan to intervene.
As for what those intentions might be, even Wei Yuan couldn’t see through this peak occultist’s existence, so Xu Qi An decided not to trouble himself over it.
Fortunately, he still had Luo Yu Heng’s beautiful legs to hug.
Returning to the Xu residence, he sent away Zhong Li, who was in a good mood today because nothing unusual had happened.
“Don’t go on the roof!”
Xu Qi An warned, then took out the sword talisman, reached into his primordial spirit, and transmitted, “National Preceptor, National Preceptor, I am Xu Qi An.”
A few breaths later, a golden light invisible to ordinary people descended, penetrating the roof ridge. Within the golden light stood the tall and beautiful female National Preceptor.
Wearing a lotus crown and feathered robe, her cold face was like that of a noble and holy immortal. Yet upon closer look, she also resembled an alluring mature woman waiting for the favor of rain and dew.
Xu Qi An, who hadn’t been intimate with a woman since Huang Xian’er, glanced to the side, composed himself, then turned back with a normal expression and said:
“National Preceptor, I have a matter to discuss with you.”
The word “discuss” was somewhat presumptuous. But Luo Yu Heng didn’t mind, slightly nodding her delicate head, waiting for him to continue.
“I have some clues regarding my investigation of Emperor Yuan Jing…”
Xu Qi An recounted everything, describing in detail the dragon vein, the teleportation array beneath Earl Ping Yuan’s mansion, and his encounter last night.
How could Luo Yu Heng not be clever? She understood his meaning and her cherry lips parted slightly: “You want me to intervene in this matter, even hope that I’ll help you rescue someone?”
Xu Qi An led the great beauty to a seat, smiling shamelessly, “I hope the National Preceptor can lend a hand.”
Luo Yu Heng slightly pursed her lips, her beautiful eyes looking at him with a flash of playfulness: “Help you intervene and rescue someone, breaking ties with Yuan Jing?”
Xu Qi’an thought for a moment, “Yuan Jing must certainly be problematic. The National Preceptor’s intervention would be upholding justice.”
Luo Yu Heng snorted coldly, her beautiful eyes showing displeasure as she said lightly, “Since you can’t confirm what’s in the dragon vein, asking for my help so abruptly shows that you’ve never taken me seriously.
“If there’s indeed a problem with the dragon vein, that’s one thing, but if it’s just imprisoning a monk, how should I conduct myself? Whether I can continue being the National Preceptor afterward, whether I can use the national fortune to suppress the karmic fire, whether I live or die, you don’t care about any of it.”
A hint of disappointment flashed across her flawless face.
Xu Qi An didn’t speak for a while, then after a long thought, he sighed, “Indeed, I was rash. I only thought of the National Preceptor as the head of the Human Sect, an invincible expert, Great Feng’s number one extraordinary woman. I was somewhat blindly worshipful of you.”
Luo Yu Heng was stunned, looking at him in surprise.
So in his heart, he held her in such high esteem and admired her so much?
Xu Qi An continued, “To the extent that I forgot the National Preceptor also has her difficulties. This wasn’t my intention.”
Luo Yu Heng’s expression softened slightly, and she said gently, “If you want me to intervene, it’s not impossible. But you need to provide solid evidence, not just a guess or an ambiguous clue.”
After she spoke, the room fell into silence.
Luo Yu Heng sat for a moment, and seeing he didn’t speak for a long time, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, “Is there anything else?”
Oh? The National Preceptor seems reluctant to leave but has no reason to stay longer… Xu Qi An keenly sensed this unusual atmosphere.
In the past, even if he had noticed this anomaly, he probably wouldn’t have paid much attention to it. But now it was different. He knew that he had already entered Luo Yu Heng’s pond.
This peerlessly beautiful, mature and charming, cold and picturesque super beauty was seriously considering dual cultivation with him…
So on Luo Yu Heng’s side, she yearned for more contact and communication with him, to better evaluate him.
But as the National Preceptor and the head of the Human Sect, she couldn’t bring herself to show enthusiasm beyond bounds towards a young man.
Thus, she was in an awkward position, unable to advance or retreat.
At times like this, the man needs to take the initiative. I don’t know if I’m thinking correctly, but it’s worth a try… Thinking of this, Xu Qi An chose his words carefully and said:
“I can’t delve deeper into the earth vein, and my clues have come to a dead end. I wonder if the National Preceptor has any better suggestions?”
As he spoke, he put on an expectant and admiring expression.
This was both finding a topic for them to discuss, to “work” together, and also increasing Luo Yu Heng’s sense of involvement, subtly making the investigation a matter for both of them, rather than just Xu Qi An working alone.
Whether it was his imagination or not, Luo Yu Heng’s expression softened slightly, and with a faint smile, she picked up the topic: “Didn’t you say there was an earth-traversing teleportation array beneath Earl Ping Yuan’s mansion?”
Xu Qi An nodded, looking at her with intense focus.
His worshipful and attentive gaze seemed to please Luo Yu Heng greatly. Her smile deepened slightly, and she spoke calmly: “Those who can master earth traversing techniques are already rare. Those who can build teleportation arrays based on dragon veins are even rarer.”
“It involves both feng shui and array techniques. Apart from high-ranking occultists, only the Earth Sect, which possesses the Earth Book treasure, could accomplish this. Isn’t this a clue?”
…
The border.
Ten thousand troops trudged across the somewhat desolate plain. Both cavalry and infantry maintained a high degree of silence.
In the long procession, Xu Er Lang chewed on preserved fruits as he turned his horse around. Gently squeezing the horse’s belly, he slightly broke away from the formation to gaze back at the militia and infantry transporting cannons and crossbows.
He thought to himself, that if enemy cavalry were to launch a sudden attack now, there wouldn’t be time to dismantle the cannons and crossbows… So the importance of scouts becomes evident…
However, while cannons and crossbows are certainly powerful weapons on the battlefield, they also severely slow down the army’s marching speed. It’s a trade-off. In marching and warfare, one must consider the advantages and disadvantages of both sides, the terrain, and other factors. There’s no fixed formula…
Book learning and actual marching and fighting are two different things. Since arriving in Chu Prefecture, he has been constantly summarizing and thinking. His brain hadn’t rested for a moment.
Fortunately, I brought plenty of preserved fruits to keep my spirits up during intense thinking. According to my elder brother, sugar is the only energy the brain can directly utilize…
Yesterday, the army had arrived in Chu Prefecture. After resting for a night, they immediately set out to rendezvous with Yang Yan’s troops.
Yang Yan had already been involved in the war earlier, engaging in several battles, big and small, with Jing Guo’s iron cavalry.