Anticipation I

"Troublesome matter?" Zhang Rongfang's eyes narrowed slightly. "Asking Master, what troublesome matter?"

He couldn't help but think of the provocation from the Wish Woman and the Blood God. Long ago, to avoid his Civilian Skill being watched by Master Yue, he had always kept the Token away from his body.

Now, hearing what Ran Xin Yue said...

He suddenly felt a stirring in his heart and secretly connected certain things.

Lately, one thing after another has been happening, and the increasing number of things has distracted him. He had actually overlooked this suspicious point before, which was truly regrettable.

Ran Xin Yue did not answer immediately, but looked around.

"Something's not right here. It seems someone has come looking for you, but since they didn't reach you, it means the outcome was pretty good."

"This is not the place to talk. Uncle Ran, please come this way. Let's eat and chat at the banquet." Zhang Rongfang calmly held the Token, spread his hand, and invited the other party to walk out of the dojo.

His Toad Seal Art can only last for a hundred breaths at most. If the time is up and he hasn't removed the Token and moved away, his true nature will no longer be able to be concealed.

"I don't have time to eat. Since you're alright here, I need to leave immediately. I have some important matters to attend to nearby," Ran Xin Yue said in a deep voice.

"Can"

"No need for further words. Finally, let me ask you one question: why didn't you bring your Token?" Ran Xin Yue stared intently at Zhang Rongfang, scrutinizing every expression on his face.

Clearly, the other party's response at this point may determine something.

"It's just that my Civilian Skill Cultivation too slow, and I'm worried about disappointing Master Yue. Every time I see the Token, I feel ashamed because I'm not worthy of the Daoist Title that my master personally carved on it."

Zhang Rongfang lowered his head and sighed, his expression remarkably lifelike.

"How advanced is your Civilian Skill now?" Ran Xin Yue frowned.

"Nascent Soul Late Stage," Zhang Rongfang replied in a low voice.

"..." Ran Xin Yue choked on her breath and almost couldn't get up.

After listening for a while, she still thought that this guy's Civilian Skill were weak and that he had failed Yue Dewen's expectations.

Unbelievable! He's already a Nascent Soul cultivator at such a young age!?

This is ridiculous. When she first Worship God, she was only at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, and it took her over fifty years to reach that level. And yet she's still called a little genius.

This young man in front of her, only in his thirties, had already reached the level she was at back then, and was still putting on airs. Looking at Zhang Rongfang's pretentious act, Ran Xin Yue felt a pain in her chest.

Fortunately, she could comfort herself by thinking that it was a secondary pursuit.

"Forget it, I'll avoid you like the plague from now on. I don't want to see you, and you shouldn't come looking for me either."

Without saying a word, she turned and left.

With a light touch of his toes on the ground, he leaped over the wall and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Rongfang watched her leave, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Then he quickly took the Token and headed towards the study.

With the hundred-breath time fast approaching, he had to hurry. With a creak, he pushed open the exit door of the dojo.

"That's right!"

Suddenly, a face wearing a white veil was looking directly at him.

It was Ran Xin Yue! Zhang Rongfang trembled slightly. This girl's movements were completely silent?!

"I forgot to mention earlier. Your master is currently riding high and plotting something big, so don't cause him any trouble."

"Oh, I see! Thank you for reminding me, Uncle-Master," Zhang Rongfang said seriously.

He sensed the disguised aura of the Toad Seal Art within his body beginning to fade. On the surface, he remained calm, but inwardly he was starting to feel anxious.

"And one more thing," Ran Xin Yue continued. "Once you're done here, it's best to go back to Qingchuan Prefecture. Don't wander around outside anymore; it's not safe. There are too many people in the world who want to scheme against your master right now. If they can't find your master's weakness, they'll target you."

"Heaven and Earth understand!" Zhang Rongfang nodded emphatically.

"Okay, that's good." Seeing Zhang Rongfang's good attitude, Ran Xin Yue nodded in satisfaction, turned around, and leaped over the wall, disappearing from sight.

Whoosh! The instant she left, Zhang Rongfang tossed the Token out with a whoosh, and it landed precisely in the flower bushes not far away.

The distance was created in less than three seconds.

His skin pores suddenly opened, releasing wisps of heat.

For a moment, Zhang Rongfang looked as if he had just finished strenuous exercise, his whole body drenched in sweat.

How strong is one's Civilian Skill?

He struggles as much as he tries to suppress his disguise.

After resting for a while, he resumed his disguise, picked up the Token, quickly went into the study, and gently placed it in a hidden compartment in the wall.

He recalled everything Xue Tong had said.

Zhang Rongfang suddenly had an urge to tear the Token apart and see if there were any Spirit Thread inside.

But after a moment's hesitation, he sealed the hidden compartment in the wall and restored everything to its original state.

Looking at the hidden compartment where the Token was located, Zhang Rongfang sighed softly.

'After dealing with Master Yue, I had to handle the matter of the Wish Woman while investigating the person behind the scenes who guided my master here.'

We also need to keep an eye on the movements of the rebel forces in the surrounding area, in case they affect my sister's situation.

There are more and more things to do.

They came in a flurry, like layers of hazy white veils constantly covering his face, preventing him from tearing them off and resolving the situation quickly.

The situation was similar outside, with Five Kings vying for the throne and Master Yue's ambitions reaching far and wide, making the situation increasingly unpredictable. The world was growing more and more chaotic, and the days of stability seemed to be numbered.

"The Blood Flesh Completion, and there's still no news about the Golden Toad Skill medicine."

Sitting in his chair, Zhang Rongfang closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He seemed to be accumulating feelings of repression, suffocation, and restlessness.

But there's nowhere to vent these frustrations.

Because none of the problems he faces can be completely solved instantly.

He just wanted a quiet, safe life. Why couldn't he ever find An Ning? ***Inside Wushan Prefecture.

Two green pines stubbornly grew out of the crack between the houses, their feet planted on stone slabs and their heads reaching for the sky.

Under the shade of pine trees, several winnowing baskets are filled with various hand-woven small animals.

An elderly man with white hair was guarding the stall and selling his wares.

People come and go on the street, and every now and then someone passing by will glance at it.

How much is one of these?

A young woman wearing a white veil stood by the stall, picked up a small bamboo camel, and asked a question.

"One big coin for each, pick whichever you like," the old man replied with a smile.

"It's a bit expensive. I'm buying it as a gift for a child, can you make it cheaper?"

One large coin is worth ten coins. This handmade trinkets are just for fun; if you really want to play with them, they'll break in no time.

"Take five, and I'll give you four large sums," the old man replied with a smile.

"Alright." The woman quickly picked out five: a rabbit, a monkey, a pony, a camel, and a hand-woven ant.

Pay with one hand and take the goods with the other.

Five small bamboo woven items, packed in a small bamboo cage, were handed to the woman.

The woman picked it up and left.

But she hadn't gone very far.

"Um?"

Suddenly, the woman paused slightly. In the bamboo cage she was walking around looking at, besides the five small items, there was another thing—a pale yellow slip of paper.

She looked back at the stall, where the old man seemed oblivious to everything and was still selling bamboo trinkets.

"Not bad. Let's see who dares to cause trouble in front of me." A glint of shrewdness flashed in the woman's eyes.

She was Ran Xin Yue, who had delivered the Token and verified Zhang Ying's identity before strolling and resting in the city.

As for what he told Zhang Ying about having urgent business to attend to, it was just an excuse.

She just wanted to take the opportunity to rest in the city for a while and relax.

Unexpectedly, even her trip to relax was clearly under the watchful eyes of some people, which made them somewhat uneasy.

Walking to a corner, Ran Xin Yue quickly took out the note, held her breath, unfolded it, and read it.

"Zhang Ying secretly colluded with the rebel army, actively rescuing high-ranking rebel leaders, murdering Daoist Sect masters, and wantonly slaughtering surrounding powerful Great Clans, all to satisfy his own selfish desires. This man is selfish, wicked, and utterly disregards the Great Ling Imperial Court. We urge the envoy to see the truth!"

The note was written in tiny, rice-grain-sized characters, filled with numerous accusations against Zhang Ying.

Ran Xin Yue glanced at it and her brows furrowed.

She turned it over. There were words on the note.

"If you don't believe me, you can ask the Shang Family of the Jade Void Palace or the high-ranking leader of the rebel army, Flying Bear King, for details."

"They even know his name and surname; they know him quite well." A hint of amusement flashed in Ran Xin Yue's eyes.

Colluding with rebel forces, especially with the status of Daozi of the Great Dao Sect, if this is true, it is no small matter.

She originally planned to buy some things and then leave Wushan Prefecture.

I never expected someone would actually file a complaint against her. And they even know her every move.

There's something interesting going on behind this, Ran Xin Yue thought to herself.

She immediately crumpled the note into pieces, turned around, and quickly walked away into the distance.

The best way to verify this is not to follow the path suggested by the other party.

Instead, she went directly to observe Zhang Ying herself! With her strength, she could easily find out whether Zhang Ying was colluding with the rebel army after observing her secretly for a period of time.

Just after she left the spot and disappeared at the end of the street.

Across from the stalls selling bamboo woven items.

On the second floor of a two-story restaurant, a Black-Clad Elder slowly stood up in front of the window.

The old man glanced in the direction Ran Xin Yue had left, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

"Yuwen Sheng, what's the point of all these tricks? In the end, you still don't dare to actually take action."

Opposite the old man, a White-Clad Old Woman, leaning on Iron Staff, spoke with displeasure.

"With the establishment of the Great Bright Teaching Alliance, the practical matters will naturally be handled by them. We, True One, are merely filling in the gaps for the Yue family. We have no other ill intentions," the Black-Clad Elder said with a faint smile.

"You're still as disgusting as ever. Hiding your face and doing nothing but shady things, scheming against a junior, you've disgraced your seniority and reputation. Don't you know shame?" the old woman scolded rudely.

"I was just following the Grand Master's orders. Regardless of the reasons, three of the Ming Mountain Five Sons have died. What? I only took revenge on one of his disciples. Is that going too far? Is that losing face?" the Black-Clad Elder retorted.

"Besides, there's quite a bit hidden in this Zhang Ying, it's very interesting. I'm just trying to find some fun to pass the time." His smile returned.

The White-Clad Old Woman snorted coldly, clearly disapproving of his behavior. She immediately stood up and left her seat.

"Then go play by yourself. I'm busy and don't have time to play childish games with you. Send me a message when you need to take action."

She turned and went downstairs, leaving without any hesitation.

Yuwen Sheng sat alone in his original spot, his smile unchanged.

"Next, I'll add fuel to the fire."

He cooperated with the Shang Family to send Zhang Xuan and others, verifying that Zhang Ying was indeed Zhang Rongfang. This also confirmed that Zhang Rongfang was indeed involved with the Rebel Alliance.

Then, during the investigation, all of Zhang Rongfang's information was obtained.

Compared to Yue Dewen, Zhang Rongfang now has far more weaknesses.