Secret

Qingya County slowly began to recover after the war. Though its population was still sparse, people had already started doing business on the streets. The sense of stability brought by the army gave many commoners courage, and those who had fled were returning one after another. It was even harder to survive outside the city.

Mountain bandits and wild beasts—either one was a deadly danger to ordinary people, let alone the houses their families had left behind for generations in the city. Though many homes had been burned down, the property deeds remained.

Hardship could be endured; things could always be rebuilt. And enduring hardship was what the common people did best.

Early in the morning, Chen Luo finished his qi circulation and headed out.

Having realized he could advance no further, he no longer stayed in the village to waste time. Instead, he intended to seek other avenues. For example, Crippled Ma—he might have connections that could help Chen Luo find better martial manuals.

He was the only high-level martial artist Chen Luo had any connection with.

Though Crippled Ma was crippled, some of the people he had known in the past must still be alive. One person connected to another, and a web of relationships was built—just as Third Uncle had once brought Chen Luo to Master Ma to train.

At first, Chen Luo had planned to go to Yanhu County, but news arrived two days ago that Crippled Ma and the others had returned.

It was not easy to make a living in Yanhu County either. Every city had its local insiders. As an outside gang, the Sha Lake Gang had faced resistance from the local gangs when it went there to develop. Though it had barely gained a foothold, supporting so many people was still difficult.

Everyone who had gone there had suffered greatly during this period. After hearing of the new Qingya County prefect's policies, the gang leader decided to send some people back first to take a look. At the very least, they could not let others seize the rights that belonged to the Sha Lake Gang.

As for killing Prefect Lou, so much time had passed—who would still remember? Even if someone asked, the rebels had done it. What did that have to do with the law-abiding citizens of the Sha Lake Gang? Besides, judging by the higher-ups' reaction, they did not seem inclined to pursue the matter. The new Prefect Zhou began assembling his own faction and lining his pockets the moment he took office. From beginning to end, he had never once asked about Prefect Lou. He had probably already forgotten.

When a man leaves, the tea grows cold. This saying was especially fitting in officialdom.

The main gate of the county road.

A yellow dirt path wound out from the mountain forest and stretched all the way to the foot of the city walls. The walls, scorched by the fires of war, no longer looked quite so miserable after being repaired over this period.

On the official road, some sallow, emaciated commoners carried bundles on their backs, leaned on crutches, and dragged their families toward the county town. They were Qingya County residents who had fled to the surrounding countryside to escape the chaos of war, and now, having received news, were hurrying back.

Some slightly wealthier families had even rented donkey carts, loading their belongings aboard and traveling with their wives and children.

From afar, they looked like ants moving house—an exceptionally lively sight.

Chen Luo was mixed in among them as well.

The house Chen Laosan rented was also in the countryside outside the city. After leaving that morning, Chen Luo boarded a donkey cart and traveled leisurely along with these refugees.

"Make way! Make way!"

The scene was shattered as a lavish vermilion carriage approached from behind. The driver shouted at the top of his lungs, whipping his horse so fiercely that those commoners who moved aside too slowly were struck. Yet these ordinary people had long gotten used to it. Even when whipped, they quickly rolled aside to avoid being hit by the carriage and suffering a second injury.

The owner of the donkey cart Chen Luo was riding had good instincts. The moment he heard the shouting, he guided the cart to the roadside.

Those on horseback were not to be provoked.

This was common sense among commoners. No one would pick a fight over something as trivial as yielding the road. What concerned them most was their own livelihood. Only those who had solved the problem of food and clothing, and pursued spiritual fulfillment, would care about such "face."

Inside the carriage, a richly dressed young nobleman sat facing a black-bearded scholar.

The Middle-aged Scholar sat cross-legged in meditation, his eyes closed as he rested, remarkably composed. The young nobleman was different. His expression made it clear that he was in the middle of a rage. He pulled open the carriage curtain and glanced at the poor, backward scenery outside, his dissatisfaction growing ever stronger.

"They actually threw me into such a remote and backward place. That old bastard is becoming more and more biased," the young nobleman finally blurted out.

This young nobleman was none other than Prince Ning's nineteenth illegitimate son.

A princely young master.

The greatest beneficiary behind the Qingya County incident was Prince Ning. The Qingya County commoners who had died were merely numbers in Prince Ning's ledger of achievements. Even the current Qingya County prefect belonged to the same faction that ate steamed buns soaked in human blood. More absurdly, the Imperial Court had recently issued an official document, delivering a final verdict on the Qingya County rebellion.

The Ning Prince Faction had rendered merit in suppressing the rebellion and received considerable benefits.

Such absurdity was carried out openly in this country.

Imperial authority and local rule were completely severed from one another.

There were already signs of a late dynasty.

"Heir Apparent, speak with caution."

The Middle-aged Scholar opened his eyes. Looking at the young nobleman filled with resentment qi, disappointment flashed through his eyes despite himself.

This was the person he was assisting.

With such a temperament, he fell far too short compared to the other young masters. They were not even in the same league. Most crucially, he had no support from his mother's clan. It could be said that the Nineteen Young Master's fate had been decided from the very beginning. It would be fine if he had no ambitions; he could still enjoy wealth and honor for a lifetime. But if he developed desires he should not have, his final end would certainly not be good.

It was clear enough from how he had been pushed out to Qingya County this time.

The things in the Qingya County valley had already been dug up and taken away by people Prince Ning sent several days ago. What remained were merely scraps, basically worthless.

Yet even so, Prince Ning had no intention of giving up.

Sending his nineteenth son here was a way to squeeze out the remaining value, while also dismissing this not-so-clever son and indirectly preserving his life. Unfortunately, the Nineteen Young Master could not see through any of it. His mind held nothing but complaint after complaint—a complete fool.

"What caution is there to speak of? All the resources out in the open have been divided by that old bastard among Eldest Brother and the others. An illegitimate son like me, unloved by Dad and unwanted by my mother, can only come to a Grade C Resource Point like this to try his luck."

The young heir apparent's face was filled with unwillingness.

"If it weren't for my Bloodline Concentration being insufficient... Hm? Stop the carriage!"

The Nineteen Young Master's expression suddenly changed as he complained, and he immediately shouted at the driver.

Under the driver's control, the speeding carriage came to a swift stop.

"What is it?"

The Middle-aged Scholar glanced at him in confusion.

The Nineteen Young Master did not answer. Instead, he jumped down from the carriage and carefully surveyed the surroundings.

Just then, the jade pendant in his arms had grown hot!

This jade pendant had been given to him by Royal Father. Every one of Prince Ning's children carried one. Ordinary people would only think it was a prince's favor, but the Nineteen Young Master knew the secret behind it.

Immortal destiny!

As long as the power of Immortal Script was nearby, the jade pendant would grow hot. This involved the secrets of cultivation, the ultimate secret of Prince Ning's Lineage. Only direct descendants with "aptitude" like them could know this secret.

His father dared to set his sights on that position because he had come into contact with "immortals."

Strength gave birth to ambition.

This was an unchanging truth since ancient times.

The Nineteen Young Master was eager to prove himself, and perhaps part of it was his desire to use his father to come into contact with "immortals."

After all, who living in this world did not wish for immortality?