Chapter 121: Malice
“That Hall Master Li, oh, the one with the martial world nickname ‘Money Grabber’, wants to borrow the mysterious item called ‘Big Black Hat’ that tops the ‘Big Black Hat’.”
“A mysterious item from Sichuan, it steals breath and imitates form. Once it enters a crowd, it becomes indistinguishable from others… At this moment, it has likely broken up into pieces and is coming from all directions.”
Lu Jing said faintly.
The world is full of mysterious items, and Chen Shun’an’s Chicken Head Pearl is one of them.
As for this Big Black Hat, it was made hundreds of years ago by a Shu person who hunted a monster called the Thousand-Faced Imp. Its face and fur were sewn together, and through special rituals of Nuo Opera and shamanism, it was nurtured for many years.
Anyone who wears it, using their breath as a guide, can perfectly imitate others, including their internal energy, breathing rhythm, body odor, and even subtle physical details like birthmarks.
Therefore, no one, not even those within the Guo Lu Society, knows the true face of this ‘Big Black Hat topper’.
However, it’s likely that now, without this Big Black Hat, the true ‘Big Black Hat topper’ is probably sitting in jail somewhere, holding out.
Hong Junxian sat at another table, speaking with a calm and collected demeanor.
“Heh heh, no matter how they change their appearance or disguise themselves, they will ultimately come to the Vegetable Market Intersection to seize the corpse. We will face their myriad changes with steadfastness, and with the presence of Lord Lu at the center… Can fireflies dare to compete with the sun and moon?”
Nie Zheng said in a deep voice, his face expressionless.
“Such traitors who are disloyal to the court and the people, disregard the imperial laws and regulations. Even if Zheng Shicheng is utterly wicked, and even if Hibiscus Paste Fire is a severe poison, they must be handed over to the government offices and His Majesty for judgment. When did it become their turn, these gangsters, to dispense justice?”
“Furthermore, within Wuqing County, there are still many fence-sitters who fan the flames or even secretly help the Guo Lu Society. After this matter is resolved, I will personally lead a team to apprehend these thieves and expose them one by one, as a warning to others!”
“Our government offices?”
In the teahouse, many martial artists who came from the martial world sneered inwardly at these words.
You, Nie Zheng, were originally a successor of a hidden martial sect, and you even had a blood feud with the court. Now that you have come ashore, your perspective has changed, and you are now defending the court’s interests.
However, regardless of what they thought in their hearts, their faces were full of smiles, and some even showed envy.
After all, many of them wished they could wear official robes and be masters.
Just then, a faint commotion and uproar could be heard from outside the window.
Then, a bailiff, dressed in plain clothes, scrambled into the teahouse. In his haste, he tripped over the threshold and rolled to the ground, not even having time to put on his shoes properly.
“Lord Nie, something terrible has happened!”
Nie Zheng’s brows furrowed sharply, and he said coldly.
“Why the panic? This is utterly undisciplined! How have I taught you all? You should remain unfazed even if Mount Tai collapses before you. Only then can you win the trust of the common people and ensure peace and prosperity in Wuqing County!”
The bailiff shivered from fright, got up by scrambling, and said tremblingly.
“Lord Nie, Eight Treasures Tower to the north of the county is on fire, and there are Guo Lu Society rebels active!”
Upon hearing this, many people began to murmur amongst themselves.
Nie Zheng’s expression remained unchanged. He stood up and strode to the teahouse door, looking out with his hands behind his back.
He saw a mass of crimson fire rising into the sky north of Wuqing County, dyeing half the sky red.
The sounds of firefighting, panic, and shouting could be heard faintly, creating a chaotic scene.
Eight Treasures Tower is the business of County Magistrate Wang’s younger brother, a top-tier restaurant in Wuqing County.
Nie Zheng said in a deep voice, “It’s fine. The area around Eight Treasures Tower is within the patrol range of the Northern District’s Huo. There are at least two first-rate martial artists stationed nearby, so no major trouble will arise.”
“Lord Nie, something terrible has happened!”
Another bailiff rushed in, his expression panicked.
Nie Zheng’s gaze sharpened. This person seemed to understand something and quickly composed himself, standing at attention and saying solemnly.
“The Doujuzi rice shop to the south of the county is on fire. Someone calling himself Bai Manlou not only killed the rice shop owner but also distributed the rice to the poor in the shack area. This is simply lawless!”
Nie Zheng remained composed and said, “It’s fine. That is the property of Changlong Pounding House. They have their own first-rate experts to suppress it and put out the fire.”
“Lord Nie, it’s not good!”
“Lord Nie, it’s not good!”
…
More urgent voices came, and bad news followed one after another.
All over Wuqing County, large shops and mansions were on fire. Flames erupted everywhere, and smoke filled the air. The Guo Lu Society members seemed to have learned the art of multiplication, stirring up trouble all over Wuqing County in an instant.
Nie Zheng’s expression remained as usual, still looking as if everything was under control.
It was obvious that this was merely a ploy by the Guo Lu Society gangsters to lure the tigers away from the mountain, aiming to draw away the first-rate experts ambushing at the Vegetable Market Intersection.
Those who set the fires were likely ordinary martial artists and fierce bandits from the greenwood, merely acting under the name of the Guo Lu Society.
How could he, Nie Zheng, fall for such a trick?
“Damn it, my grandmother, something terrible has happened, something terrible…”
A white servant, carrying a saber and patrolling, covered in blood, rushed in shouting frantically.
Nie Zheng’s face twitched, his expression turned ashen, and he glared at the servant unhappily.
Beside Nie Zheng, the bailiffs who had just reported the news also looked at the white servant with schadenfreude.
The white servant was stunned for a moment, but still agitated like an ant on a hot pan, his voice becoming somewhat shrill.
“Lord Nie.”
“Scoundrel!”
Noticing the amused or mocking glances from many first-rate martial artists in the teahouse, Nie Zheng felt greatly humiliated.
When Nie Zheng first arrived in Wuqing County, he wanted to establish himself by creating a swift and decisive, all-powerful image to suppress any heterodoxy.
These bailiffs and white servants were also his subordinates.
If his subordinates were disrespected, it meant he was disrespected.
Nie Zheng took a deep breath and said, “Speak slowly, speak properly.”
“Yes, yes, yes… Speak slowly, speak properly…” The white servant panted, trying hard to steady his tone. “The county yamen was demolished! The main gate was kicked down! The fire is burning halfway to the sky! County Magistrate Wang… he’s likely in grave danger!!”
Boom!!
An invisible rage spread out like a heavy hammer, causing the qi and blood of several bailiffs and white servants to churn, and they stumbled backward.
Nie Zheng immediately became anxious: “Scoundrel, why didn’t you say so earlier!! I will be the first to punish you after this!”
…
Nie Zheng mobilized several first-rate experts and led a group of elites to depart in haste.
Hong Junxian frowned, his eyes showing a thoughtful expression. He suddenly stood up and said to Lu Jing.
“Leader Lu, the county yamen is on fire, this is a matter of great importance. I, Hong, also wish to contribute my part, and will take my leave now.”
“Elder Hong, please proceed.”
Lu Jing’s gaze remained fixed on the chessboard, and without even raising his head, he replied indifferently.
Hong Junxian quickly walked out of the teahouse, and the clamor and hot wind from outside rushed towards him.
He suddenly stopped and instructed his confidant beside him.
“The county yamen is not far from Grit Well. You must quickly go to Grit Well and tell Lin Shou Zhuo to bring the water carriers to the county yamen to help put out the fire! If there is any refusal or delay, punish him according to the regulations of the Wuqing Stick Bureau!”
“Yes!”
The person’s expression became stern. He tightened his grip on his saber, turned, and sprinted away, his figure quickly disappearing around the street corner.
Seeing this, a hint of cunning flashed in Hong Junxian’s eyes.
As long as he used the banner of righteousness to draw Chen Shun’an to the county yamen.
With many people and the chaos of the fire, he would have opportunities to ‘pressure’ Chen Shun’an.
If any accident were to happen, he could push all the blame onto those Guo Lu Society rebels.
He himself would remain uninvolved.
This is the wisdom of an elder.
…
“Sir, are you looking for my uncle? He moved to Miao Territory twenty years ago and hasn’t returned to Wuqing County for many years.”
“Is that so? To tell you the truth, I am also a martial artist who cultivates the Golden Snake Coiling Silk Hand. I wanted to find a fellow practitioner to spar with. Has your uncle left anything behind, or perhaps… did you personally see him leave Wuqing County?”
In an alley in the South Market, Chen Shun’an stood before a house, holding pastries from Jialan Zhai.
Perhaps it was because of the pastries, but the person hurriedly went inside, rummaged through chests and cabinets, and found a tattered notebook, which he handed to Chen Shun’an.
“This is my uncle’s cultivation insights from back then. Take a look. Of course, he left Wuqing County. I personally saw him onto the ferry.”
“Thank you, thank you.”
Chen Shun’an quickly took the notebook and carefully read it page by page.
After a moment, he returned the notebook with some regret.
The martial arts insights recorded in this notebook were very normal, with nothing unusual. Furthermore, there was no strange molting phenomenon like Master Li’s after qi deviation.
“Farewell.”
Putting down the pastries, Chen Shun’an turned and left.
It was still early, but the streets were already bustling with people. The hawking of various vendors and the rising smoke from teahouses and water shops painted a picture of Wuqing County’s morning life.
Chen Shun’an let out a long sigh.
Two days prior, he had used the excuse of needing to make offerings to deities and sacrifice treasures to fulfill a vow after offering guidance.
He had asked Li Shicheng to present the martial arts insights of Li Mansion’s ancestors, and coincidentally learned who had obtained the Mysterious Snake Transformation Manual in the past few decades.
Chen Shun’an had also traveled to visit many people in the past few days, but without any success.
These people were either still alive or had left Wuqing County.
After comparing the handwriting, Chen Shun’an also found that those who were missing or deceased did not match the copied visualization diagram obtained from inside the snake demon’s belly.
“Whew… there are still a few more households to check. I’ll find them slowly. This matter cannot be rushed, and rushing is useless.”
After all, this matter was merely one of the ways Chen Shun’an, unwilling to deceive himself, actively sought to contact the secrets of the Sacred Dynasty.
The priority and urgency were not high.
Chen Shun’an ate two bowls of hand-pulled noodles at a breakfast shop, barely feeling four-tenths full, and then strode towards Grit Well.
However, after walking only a few streets, he suddenly saw the distant horizon showing anomalies, with thick smoke billowing and flames faintly visible. The people on the street stopped and pointed in that direction, discussing with fearful expressions.
Chen Shun’an glanced twice. Seeing that it was not his own well shed that was in trouble this time, he felt slightly relieved and continued on his way, keeping his head down.
“Old Chen!”
As he reached Weihang Street, a familiar voice called out.
Chen Shun’an looked towards the sound and saw Sun Xiao approaching in a hurry.
“What’s up?” Chen Shun’an asked, surprised.
Sun Xiao quickly approached and said in a lowered voice, “Quick, the Guo Lu Society people are setting the county yamen on fire. We’ve been urgently summoned to go to the county yamen to push carts and fight the fire!”
“The county yamen is on fire?”
Chen Shun’an’s lips curved upwards. This was great news!
