Hanging Notice

Qin Yi knew that although the Nanli Kingdom lay in a remote corner and was self-sufficient, it was not without enemies at its side.

The Western Wilderness Kingdom was Southern Li's sworn enemy. Unlike Southern Li, which had stood as a nation for a thousand years and whose culture had already come close to the Central Lands model, the Western Wilderness Kingdom was merely a nation formed by barbarian tribes that had risen over the past century. Savage and fierce, they invaded time and again. Of course, the people of Southern Li were no easy prey either. Many great generals had resisted the Western Wasteland and even launched counterattacks. The two nations had been at war for a full century.

Just over a month ago, Southern Li had repelled another Western Wasteland invasion, and the one stationed in the capital, directing troops and deploying generals, had been this Prince Qing Lin before him. How could Qin Yi have imagined that this fellow had been fighting the Enemy State one moment, then accompanying his sister in search of immortals the next?

Moreover, Li Qinglin had personally taken the battlefield many times before, and his long spear had been stained with the blood of countless Enemy State soldiers.

Qin Yi's own ambitions were not lofty, but he still held considerable admiration for such a man. No wonder Li Qingjun believed her brother's conflict with the National Teacher was a struggle between righteousness and evil. It truly resembled a battle between a fine general of the nation and a monstrous fiend that brought ruin upon it.

"So, Brother Li, are you the Crown Prince?" Qin Yi did not know much about this.

"No. I have an elder royal brother. He is the legitimate eldest son, so he is the Crown Prince." Li Qinglin smiled carelessly. "My royal brother has studied the art of governing since childhood. Unlike Qing Jun and me, who possess only the courage of common fighters, we can do little but wage war."

Qin Yi studied his expression carefully, but could read nothing from it.

Li Qingjun said, "What do you mean, the courage of common fighters? Whether leading armies into battle to protect the borders and bring peace to the people, or roaming the martial world to slay traitors and eliminate evil, that is what we desire. Must we learn from those women, embroidering in their boudoirs and putting on delicate, helpless airs?"

Li Qinglin smiled and explained to Qin Yi, "Our Southern Li founding ancestor came from the martial world. The Ancestral System decreed that royal descendants must conceal their identities and venture out alone, tempering themselves in the mortal world. Though every generation has produced some unspeakable incidents because of this, overall it has greatly benefited the royal family's character, so the practice continues to this day. But precisely because of this, the households of princesses who marry out have always been somewhat... you know..."

Qin Yi could not help laughing as well. No wonder this prince and princess traveled alone; it turned out there was such a rule. Still, this founding ancestor's decree was rather interesting... Yet with princesses raised this way, ordinary imperial consorts would probably find them hard to handle.

Li Qingjun scoffed. "Why marry at all? Once I find an immortal, I can roam the sun and moon from then on, slaying demons and exterminating devils. Wouldn't that be splendid?"

Li Qinglin merely smiled and did not respond.

Qin Yi smiled too. He always felt this girl should not have been born a princess. How wonderful it would have been if she had been a wandering heroine instead.

Come to think of it, since this girl craved an Immortal Opportunity, what would happen if she met Liusu? Given how vastly different their values were, they would probably quarrel even more fiercely than Liusu and him.

By then, the three of them had been traveling for quite some time, and the outline of the county city could already be faintly seen ahead.

"This is Hengshan County. Once we pass through here, we can reach Lihuo City in less than two days if we travel quickly. We can rest here first." Li Qinglin dismounted and led his horse into the city like an ordinary martial wanderer. Qin Yi dismounted as well and followed behind, surveying this great county city.

He had only been here for a little over two months. The farthest he had ever gone from the village was the county seat, so he truly had not properly taken in the splendor of a great ancient city.

Southern Li did not have a large population, and the county city did not feel particularly bustling. Many pedestrians carried sabers or swords, highlighting the people's fierce temperament, wholly different from the secluded atmosphere of Immortal Trace Village. Various notices were posted at the city gate, along with private rewards. They appeared to have been hanging there for a long time, and passersby ignored them as they walked past.

Qin Yi stopped and looked through them. There were notices recruiting soldiers, as well as notices seeking certain items. Among them was one requesting Blazing Flint. Its seal differed from the recruitment notice; it instead resembled a Daoist talisman, showing that this was a notice posted by the National Teacher, not in the court's name. Its purpose, then, might not necessarily have been to refine pills for the king. Perhaps it was for the National Teacher's own affairs.

Yet when something went wrong, others would only dump the blame onto the king. Of course, local officials currying favor with the National Teacher, or taking the chance to line their own pockets and stir up public resentment, was another reason.

In short, this Southern Li Kingdom was truly somewhat unhealthy.

Li Qingjun glanced at him from the side, her meaning difficult to discern.

Qin Yi knew what she meant. When she had previously tried to recruit him, she had said she could help him obtain some rare medicinal ingredients. Given her status, those words had not been empty. Just as the National Teacher could use the strength of an entire nation to search for resources, she would be far more capable than him wandering about alone and searching blindly without a clue.

Li Qingjun spoke flatly. "If you can truly be of help, then letting you replace him would not be impossible."

Qin Yi shook his head and did not take up the subject. Though Li Qingjun was speaking to him, her gaze was fixed on another notice, so he followed her gaze.

Li Qingjun was looking at an official county reward notice. It said that Zhang Family Village outside the city seemed to be haunted. Estate workers kept disappearing for no reason, and even the village master had recently died without illness or calamity. The notice called for capable people and unusual talents to investigate, promising a reward.

This was also the matter Qin Yi had heard the martial wanderers mention before. That Pine Hermit Priest had gone to take a look and said there were no ghosts.

In truth, Qin Yi also felt it was more likely that this was the work of humans.

Judging by Li Qingjun's eager expression, her curiosity and chivalrous spirit had stirred again. But with Lihuo City so near, Li Qinglin should have been preoccupied with his conflict against the National Teacher. He probably would not be in the mood to create complications by investigating a case, would he?

"Shall we go take a look?" Li Qingjun finally asked her brother.

To Qin Yi's surprise, Li Qinglin only pondered briefly before turning to ask him, "Brother Qin, would you be willing to delay for a day?"

So he actually thought Qin Yi was not the sort who liked meddling in other people's affairs.

"Doesn't the National Teacher handle such strange incidents?" Qin Yi asked.

"I have never seen him do anything proper." Li Qinglin smiled mockingly. "Besides, this may not necessarily be a haunting. Human calamity is more likely."

"Mm, then let's go have a look." Qin Yi did not refuse. "Being bound for the capital, we are not pressed for this moment or half a moment."

A smile appeared on Li Qingjun's previously stern face.

Liusu was utterly astonished. It knew better than anyone that Qin Yi truly was not someone who loved meddling in others' business, much less with a case that was clearly likely to have been caused by humans. It could not resist asking in the Sea of Consciousness, "Hey, don't tell me you have taken a fancy to this princess? Didn't we agree that a bootlicker gets no house?"

Qin Yi ignored it. The three turned around and left the city again, heading straight for the village outside.

As they approached the village, dusk had fallen once more. Looking out, they could vaguely see white mourning banners still hanging within, and the place was bleak and desolate.

Farmers were finishing work by the fields. When they saw the long spears carried by the Li Family Siblings, they all trembled as they bent at the waist and stood aside to make way, scarcely daring to breathe.

Li Qinglin said meaningfully, "Now these are normal villagers."

Naturally, he meant that the villagers of Immortal Trace Village were different from the rest. Qin Yi did not answer and simply entered the village. Immortal Trace Mountain, that peculiar space, Liusu's dwelling place, the origin of his transmigration. He did not know whether the villagers were special, but he himself was clearly the most special one. Better not drag that subject out too much...

The village gate was not closed, and a servant guarded it. Qin Yi asked, "The city gates have already closed, and we missed the lodgings. Might we borrow a place to stay for the night in your village?"

The servant froze. "You are not here to catch ghosts? Then leave quickly! This place is haunted. Why would you seek lodging here?"

Li Qingjun said, "You live here without fear, so what ghost are you talking about?"

The servant stamped his foot. "If we were not tied to the fields, we would have left long ago! Even the village master has died. This village truly has ghosts!"

"Lai Fu!" A soft, beautiful voice came from within the village. "Why are you blocking guests at the door? Let them come in."

Lai Fu helplessly bowed. "Yes, Madam."

Qin Yi had never imagined that the so-called Madam Zhang would be such a breathtaking beauty.

The woman before him could not have been more than twenty. Dressed in plain white mourning clothes and wearing no makeup, her fair face was already flushed like vermilion. Her face bore much sorrow, yet when those peach blossom eyes glanced sideways, they shone with life. A casual look alone could hook souls and seize spirits. Coupled with her mourning clothes, she possessed an added, intoxicating flavor.

Moreover, she smelled wonderful. Her fragrance even overwhelmed Li Qingjun's fresh scent beside her. Such a scent could undoubtedly stir men's desire. The servants standing behind her all had unconcealed admiration and passion in their eyes, Lai Fu included.

Even Qin Yi's usually steady heart could not help skipping a beat. He secretly thought that perhaps the village master had died from...

Madam Zhang's gaze swept over Qin Yi without lingering at all. Clearly, Qin Yi's thin young body and rough cloth clothes and shoes held no interest for her. Her gaze passed over Li Qingjun, and she pursed her lips in a faint smile, showing no particular reaction.

When her gaze fell upon Li Qinglin, Qin Yi could clearly see her eyes abruptly brighten. Her voice became so soft it seemed water could drip from it. "When traveling abroad, who does not encounter inconvenience? If the three of you do not mind this village's impurity, why not stay for a night?"