Plans Afoot, Wind Rises over Qingshan

Plans Afoot, Wind Rises over Qingshan

Qiao Xuan, Wenren Jie, and Young Master Kongxu exchanged glances.

They were not fools who had been swept away by dreams of slaying demons and monsters to make a name for themselves.

Each of them had their own demands; they had gathered here for profit.

Qiao Xuan sought official positions for himself and his disciple, planning for future stability.

Wenren Jie sought fame, as well as the cultivation techniques promised by Qingshan County.

Young Master Kongxu sought fame and several resources Qingshan County could provide that he needed.

Xu Xiao was here for her close friend and for her sect's reputation.

As for Jiang Sheng, there was no need to mention him. If the demon of the Taiping River had not been so close to his Qingping Mountain cultivation grounds, he could not be bothered with whether Qingshan County lived or died.

It could be said that they had gathered because their interests were intertwined. Discussing matters in public was one thing.

But entering someone else's secret chamber on their territory was another. If something truly happened, their corpses could rot before anyone found them.

Moreover, though Zhang Qing trusted Xu Xiao, her handkerchief friend, the most, Jiang Sheng had been personally invited by Zhang Qingyun, the Qingshan County Magistrate. Who could say there was no collusion between them?

What if slaying demons and monsters was a lie, and the true aim was to wipe out Rogue Cultivators like them in one fell swoop?

As they pondered this, Xu Xiao had already entered the hidden chamber first.

Only after carefully sensing the surroundings did Jiang Sheng say, "If this were merely a secret chamber of your Qingshan County, this poor Daoist would naturally not be bothered to accompany you."

"But as the Moon-Embracing Sect is a Golden Core Realm sect of Qing Province, this poor Daoist is willing to place some trust in it. Miss Zhang, do not disappoint this poor Daoist."

Wenren Jie laughed loudly upon hearing this. "Daoist Jiang speaks reasonably. I naturally trust the Moon-Embracing Sect's reputation."

Seeing Wenren Jie say the same, Young Master Kongxu gave a feminine smile. "Hehe, indeed! If we do not even have this much trust between us, then what talk is there of slaying demons and monsters?"

Old Master Qiao Xuan puffed away at his dry tobacco pipe and nodded in agreement.

After they entered the secret chamber, Zhang Qing followed them in.

The secret chamber had been built roughly ten zhang beneath the county yamen's rear courtyard, exceptionally well hidden.

Clearly, Xu Xiao had only just opened up this chamber. Its furnishings were simple, and spiritual power flowed through the walls. It was evidently a one-use secret chamber.

Once inside, Zhang Qing first poured tea for everyone, then took out a map of Qingshan County and spread it before them.

Jiang Sheng looked at the map. It depicted the mountains and rivers within Qingshan County in great detail.

Qingshan County bordered Qingping Mountain to the east and had the Taiping River to the south. Aside from Qingshan County City, its territory held fifteen towns and more than two hundred thousand commoners. Nearly half the population was gathered in Qingshan County City, while the rest was scattered among the various towns.

Qingping Town lay at the junction of Qingping Mountain and the Taiping River. With a thousand households, it could be considered blessed by heaven.

Seeing that none of them had touched their teacups, Zhang Qing did not mind. Instead, she pointed at the map and said, "Please take a look. The Taiping River runs straight through Qingshan County, passing through seven towns. It can be said that nearly half of Qingshan County lies along the Taiping River."

"Though there are many villages and towns along its banks, the location where our county holds the annual River God Grand Sacrifice is fixed. It is at East River Town."

Jiang Sheng looked toward East River Town. It was the closest to the Taiping River, and the town was particularly prosperous, with a large population and many roads. It truly was an excellent place.

Zhang Qing continued, "Of course, that is not what I wish to discuss."

Zhang Qing looked at them with blazing eyes. "Everyone, Qingshan County sent out hero invitations far and wide, gathering the heroes of Qing Province in Qingshan County to slay demons and monsters. The matter has caused an enormous stir. I imagine everyone believes that we will kill the demon during the River God Grand Sacrifice."

A shadow passed through Young Master Kongxu's eyes. "Is that not the case?"

"Of course not!"

As Zhang Qing spoke, her bright eyes were filled with pride. "Once everyone knows something, it is no longer a secret. How could something known to all possibly succeed?"

"Though the demon in the Taiping River has always slept beneath the riverbed and awakens only during the annual River God Grand Sacrifice, who can guarantee it has no eyes and ears in the outside world?"

"Therefore, our true time of action will not be the day of the River God Grand Sacrifice, but before it! Only by striking where it least expects can we defeat the enemy and claim victory!"

After hearing Zhang Qing's words, Jiang Sheng and the others all nodded.

Indeed, Zhang Qing's plan was exceedingly clever. First, she had made the matter into a great uproar, drawing everyone's eyes to the River God Grand Sacrifice. Then she would secretly cross at Chencang, taking the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the demon. It had to be said that this was an excellent move.

Simple, yet extremely effective.

After a moment of silence, Wenren Jie asked, "Then what about the others?"

Zhang Qing answered decisively, "Bait! Father will tell them that we intend to strike against the demon during the River God Grand Sacrifice, to see whether any of them are secretly the demon's eyes and ears."

"Afterward, I will lead them into action ahead of time. If there truly are the demon's eyes and ears among them, the demon will certainly awaken in advance. Then the operation will inevitably fail, and the demon will lower its guard and continue sleeping."

"If there are no eyes and ears of the demon, then it will simply become a frontal assault. Once they have tested the demon's methods and true strength, several of you will strike and kill it!"

As she spoke, rare killing intent appeared on Zhang Qing's pretty face. "The demon will never expect that after one killing move comes another!"

Qiao Xuan and the others looked at Zhang Qing. It was difficult to imagine that a girl in the bloom of youth could devise such a scheme!

"I truly underestimated the people of this world. Miss Zhang is using the lives of so many cultivators as bait. Truly, one cannot judge a person by their appearance." Qiao Xuan gave Zhang Qing a surprised look.

Jiang Sheng, however, said calmly, "But Miss Zhang's method is the most reliable, is it not?"

"That water demon commands several hundred li of river. Who can say how strong it truly is? If we do not let them test it first, are we supposed to let the few of us take the risk?"

With those words, Qiao Xuan fell silent.

Indeed, someone had to test the demon's strength.

And testing it required pieces on the board. Those pieces were destined to be sacrificed.

Which among them was not a Rogue Cultivator famous throughout Qing Province?

Who was willing to become a lowly pawn destined for sacrifice?

Thus, everything had been inevitable. The reason Zhang Qing had kept so many Qi Refinement Rogue Cultivators around was to use them as pieces for probing the enemy.

Wenren Jie said, "Miss Zhang's words make sense. We do need people to scout the way. I believe this can be done."

Young Master Kongxu also looked as though it were only natural. "Those Qi Refinement juniors swarmed here like flies drawn to honey. Was it not because they wanted fame in Qing Province? Since they want fame, they must bear the corresponding risks and price."

Even Xu Xiao of the Moon-Embracing Sect voiced no doubts about the matter. Clearly, none of them cared about the lives of those Qi Refinement Rogue Cultivators.

From beginning to end, these people had never come out of compassion or to prevent the devastation of living beings. It was all driven by profit.

And this was the truest face of this world: at all times, strength spoke, and interests bound people together.

Without strength or backing, one was destined to be a piece on the board, perhaps not even worthy of being one.

Had one not seen countless Rogue Cultivators lured by profit into serving as cannon fodder?

And how many ordinary people who yearned for the immortal path were sold like pigs and sheep to evil sects and demonic schools, turned into heaps upon heaps of expendable materials?

Even the righteous Daoist sects merely upheld orthodoxy. So long as it did not concern themselves, who would spare such excess kindness for the countless masses?

Jiang Sheng had never been a kind-hearted man, much less one who pitied others!

At the same time, within Dongjun City, though it was deep into the night, some areas remained brilliantly lit as though it were day.

The city guards patrolling near those places were also the most numerous. Some were even separated from other districts by dedicated inner rivers, displaying their extraordinary status.

These places were the family residences of Dongjun's cultivation clans.

So-called cultivation clans were all local powers that had endured for several centuries.

Either their families had produced Foundation Establishment cultivators for generations, or they had Purple Mansion Realm ancestors overseeing them. They could be called Dongjun's local tyrants, the true controllers of the region.

In the world today, whether it was Qi Kingdom, Wei Kingdom, Chu Kingdom, or the other states of the Eastern Domain Continent, all were jointly ruled by the imperial court and the great clans.

The royal family was the greatest cultivation clan in all of Qi Kingdom, while the great clans were the local cultivation families second only to the royal family.

Though the Dongjun Governor had been appointed by the Qi Kingdom royal house, once he arrived in Dongjun, he still had to cooperate with these cultivation clans.

Otherwise, he would be unable to govern at all, much less administer the region or collect its taxes and resources.

Thus, these cultivation clans of Dongjun—especially those with Purple Mansion Realm ancestors overseeing them—were in practice no different from the local emperors of Dongjun.

The Cha Family was one of Dongjun's renowned cultivation clans. With Purple Mansion Realm ancestor Cha Liangcai presiding over it, the Cha Family had flourished for more than two hundred years.

If nothing unexpected occurred, the Cha Family could continue flourishing for another two hundred years.

Even if none of its descendants could open a Purple Mansion, maintaining generations of Foundation Establishment cultivators would still guarantee the family wealth and glory.

At this moment, Purple Mansion Realm ancestor Cha Liangcai of the Cha Family was speaking with a jade statue inside a secret chamber.

"Do you know that the Qingshan County Magistrate intends to eliminate the River God of the Taiping River? If your avatar still wishes to continue absorbing Qingshan County's incense offerings, you should make preparations early." Cha Liangcai held a cup of spiritual tea, looking quite at ease.

The jade statue spoke. "I know. My avatar has Purple Mansion Realm early-stage strength, after all. So long as you Purple Mansion Realm cultivators do not act, a group of Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators alone will not be able to take down my avatar."

"That is for the best."

As Cha Liangcai spoke, he seemed to suddenly recall something. In an apparently casual tone, he said, "Come to think of it, after so many years of cooperation between us, I have truly grown curious about your origins. Just who are you?"

"Thirteen early Purple Mansion Realm avatars... that is truly frightening."

The jade statue said irritably, "Why concern yourself with that? You only need to know that I can help you form a core!"

"Just as we agreed before, you help me absorb faith and incense offerings in Dongjun, and I will naturally help you form a core. Could it be that you wish to go back on your word?"

"Do not forget: whether it is the Moon-Embracing Sect, the Azure Cloud Sect, or the Heavenly Sword Sect, none of them will permit a fourth Golden Core Realm power to emerge in Qing Province."

Cha Liangcai choked on those words. His expression turned ugly for an instant, but soon returned to calm. "That is precisely why I chose to cooperate with you."

Today's second update is here~