The Slums

"Yuan Hao."

A soft murmur arose.

Xu Xinyao's beautiful eyes were thoughtful, as if she were searching her memory for any recollection of that name.

After a long pause, she looked at Xu Yuan and asked softly:

"Third Brother, why has Xin Yao never heard of this person at the ' Yearly Assembly '?"

The Prime Minister's Estate had numerous branches, including intelligence, finance, grain, and equipment workshops. The higher-ranking managers had to come to the capital to report every three years. Originally, it was once a year, but because some prefectures and counties were too far away and the journey was too troublesome, it was changed to once every three years after the situation stabilized, which coincided with the time when court officials came to the capital to report on their duties.

It's somewhat similar to a company's annual meeting.

Among these people, many important figures had to come to the Prime Minister's Estate to meet Xu Yinhe.

As a child, I didn't know anything and only felt that it was lively, but as I grew older, I learned a lot.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan rolled his eyes:

"Your father doesn't intend for you to succeed him. With so many people under him, both overt and covert, how could he possibly let you know everything?"

Xu Xinyao pouted. "Does Third Brother know about that?"

"." Xu Yuan.

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan shrugged:

"Now I know."

He paused for a moment,

He glanced sideways at Ran Qingmo beside him, then said slowly and deliberately:

"However, the Black Scale Guard contacted me before, saying that this Yuan Hao seems to be in great danger."

"Danger?"

"Danger?" Xu Xinyao's eyes showed a hint of confusion.

Xu Yuan, combining his memories from his past life with the information he already knew, whispered:

"He enjoys killing."

"."

Xu Xinyao's eyes widened slightly.

Xu Yuan leaned back gently on the rough cushion inside the carriage and said softly:

"Five years ago, the Xuanqing Sect of Huaian Province, in alliance with the Prince Xiang, rebelled. This man followed the Marquis of Western Pacification to quell the rebellion, but he ended up killing all the surrendered soldiers who had surrendered to him and turning their heads into Jingguan."

Xu Xinyao hesitated slightly, then asked:

"But is it because of insufficient rations, or difficulty in controlling the troops?"

Apart from the regular security forces, the regular troops of the Great Yan are all cultivators and martial artists. Regardless of the imperial court or sects, even if such an army surrenders and loses its weapons, it can easily cause a mutiny if not careful.

Xu Yuan shook his head. "No, he just enjoys killing."

Xu Xinyao was silent for a moment, then whispered:

"Since he enjoys killing so much, why not send him to the Wanxing Mountain Range?"

"Xin Yao."

Xu Yuan looked into the other person's eyes and said, word by word:

"Yuan Hao preferred killing people, not other creatures."

"."

silence.

Xu Xinyao frowned. "Why?"

How would I know why?

Xu Yuan shrugged. "Probably just a freak, but this freak seems to have pretty strong military leadership skills. Heh, only Father would dare to use someone like this."

Xu Xinyao didn't say anything more.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan didn't say anything, but raised his hand and knocked on the carriage.

Two breaths later, the crisp "tap-tap" sound was followed by the opening of the wooden window in front, and a slightly ingratiating male voice came through:

"Young master, what can I do for you?"

Xu Yuan asked directly, "Do you know Pingshui Bay?"

This Demon Beast carriage was purchased by a traveling merchant at a post station more than a hundred miles Wanxiang City for rest. To avoid attracting attention, they didn't buy anything too fancy, just a mid-range one. The carriage was only equipped with a Sound-Blocking Array, and the Demon Beast was just a Rabbit-Eared Horse. This kind of Demon Horse cannot be guided by the Will Soul, so they also hired a local horseman.

The coachman was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then said hesitantly:

"This old man does know this place, but..."

"But?"

"That area is near the dock, and it's a chaotic place with all sorts of people. If the two young ladies go there, they might run into trouble, and they'll have to pay money."

Xu Yuan glanced at Ran Qingmo and Xu Xinyao opposite him and smiled:

"Is that so? No problem, you can drive there yourself. Your money will be increased by 30%."

"."

The coachman chuckled twice, but his voice became even more respectful:

"Alright, please wait a moment. You should be there in about half an hour."

After saying this, the coachman drove the carriage onto the main road used by animal-drawn carriages and sped off towards the south of the city.

Pingshui Bay.

Upon leaving Horse Hitching Manor, Xu Yuan's first reaction to the scenery was one of chaos, a hundred times more chaotic than the train stations he had seen in his childhood in his previous life.

Shouts, curses, fights, and laughter mingled together, creating an extremely noisy scene.

Passenger and merchant ships came and went in an endless stream, and large cargo wagons drove out of the harbor and flowed to various parts of the city. Groups of porters squatted on the shore chatting and laughing. Merchants, travelers, and peddlers were all present. Xu Yuan also saw many disciples of sects carrying swords.

The area surrounding the dock is a low-rise, densely populated residential area, or slum.

The dense buildings were twisted like a pretzel, and the shantytowns and wooden houses were crooked and crooked, completely lacking the orderly layout of the city gate. It was obvious that no urban zoning had ever been carried out.

I walked all the way to the entrance of one of the alleyways in the slum, asked for directions, and then went inside.

Xu Yuan felt that this alley was like the kind of narrow and dark alley where knights kill in movies.

As they went deeper, Xu Yuan's idea proved to be correct, as traces of blood were occasionally visible in the soil on both sides of the road.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. In this day and age, a slum that doesn't lose a few people every day isn't really a slum.

Perhaps because it was daytime, the men were all out working, and only a few women occasionally sat at their doorways washing clothes or chatting on both sides of the alley.

However, most of these ladies seemed unsurprised to see the three men with Veil Hat. They watched Xu Yuan Xu Yuan his companions approach and disappear, then went about their business. The residents here were mostly native to the area, having grown up in this slum; how could they not have seen a bit of the world?

After turning a few corners, the alleyway became completely silent, with only the faint sound of boots stepping on the mud.

suddenly,

"Third Brother."

Xu Xinyao suddenly spoke, using telepathy.

"Um?"

Xu Yuan, who was walking at the front, slightly turned his head and asked, "What?"

Xu Xinyao suddenly asked in a low voice without any apparent reason:

"Didn't Father say before that we were only here to negotiate and deter?"

Xu Yuan smiled and said, "Of course, as you heard earlier, Father has no intention of waging war for the time being."

Xu Xinyao said in a low voice:

"But Yuan Hao set his destination here."

"."

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

It seems this Fourth Sister is actually quite intelligent.

If he wanted to remain hidden, Yuan Hao would most likely choose a location outside Wanxiang City, in a large, desolate wilderness.

If we're going to entertain Xu Yuan, this new boss who's been parachuted in, we'd need at least a decent inn, if not a top-tier restaurant or brothel.

Yuan Hao was personally recruited by Xu Yinhe; he couldn't possibly be a fool.

The reason for choosing this location is simple: the more chaotic the place, the easier it is for people to hide.

After a pause, Xu Yuan asked softly:

"You think this is inappropriate?"

Xu Xinyao felt a little uneasy:

"Third Brother, you just said that Yuan Hao is a madman. Hiding troops here will likely cause trouble."

Xu Yuan nodded:

"Are you worried that he will disobey his father's orders and directly attack the Wanxiang Sect for his own selfish desires?"

"Mm." Xu Xinyao nodded.

Xu Yuan waved his hand:

"It's alright."

"But."

"Alright, even if you don't trust Yuan Hao, whom you've never met, you should at least trust our father's judgment, right?"

Xu Yuan shook his head, looking at the narrow alleyways around him:

"I don't think Yuan Hao did anything wrong."

Xin Yao

"There's a big difference between negotiating with a sword drawn and negotiating with a sword to the other party's neck."

After a long silence, Xu Xinyao whispered a reminder:

"But the city is City Protection Array."

Xu Yuan shrugged:

"Don't ask me, I don't know. You can ask Yuan Hao directly later."

"All right."

Without saying another word, they continued walking, and after turning another corner, Xu Yuan and his companions arrived at a rather strange alley.

Some women with cheap rouge sat at the doorway. Most of them had plain or even ugly appearances. Their linen clothes were half-revealing, and their figures varied.

Upon seeing this street, Xu Yuan continued walking, but his eyes twitched involuntarily.

When the women saw the man arrive, their eyes lit up, but upon seeing the slender figures of the two women following behind him, hidden beneath the thin Veil Hat, they all wisely reverted to their previous languid postures.

Of course, there were also a few who still tried their best to flirt with Xu Yuan.

What if they've had their fill of delicacies and just want some simple coarse grains?

He silently took a step forward.

Ran Qingmo looked at the scantily clad women with a slightly puzzled expression.

Xu Xinyao lowered her eyes and refused to look.

As I walked along, some doors were tightly shut, and outside some of those closed doors, one or two men were waiting, telling some vulgar jokes.

However, no one dared to gossip and harass Xu Xinyao and Ran Qingmo, because those dressed like that were usually disciples of a sect. If someone was killed for being talkative, they would most likely be killed anyway, and the amount of money they received in compensation would depend on the other party's mood.

One of the men, seeing the three walk away, grinned lewdly and opened his mouth as if to whisper something, but was pulled back by his accomplice:

"The immortal has sharp ears; if you miss, just say so."

This street is very long.

Near the end, Xu Yuan's eye twitched uncontrollably again.

He saw a line, a very long line, about twenty people, most of whom were dressed in cloth and silk, and there were a few low-level martial arts apprentices who stood silently without saying a word, probably because they were not familiar with each other.

Upon seeing these people, Xu Yuan glanced at the tightly closed door with a strange expression.

Just as I was thinking,

Ran Qingmo tugged at Xu Yuan's sleeve:

"Xu Yuan."

Xu Yuan replied softly:

"What's wrong?"

Ran Qingmo looked at the tightly closed door and asked:

"Hmm, what are they doing?"

"Don't you Will Soul?"

"My master said that when traveling, one should not Will Soul to probe others indiscriminately," Ran Qingmo replied Qingqing.

"He's right." Xu Yuan nodded, withdrawing his Will Soul. "It's best not to look at things like this."

"Then do you know what they're doing?" Ran Qingmo asked.

Xu Yuan shook his head without hesitation:

"I have no idea."

"Puff"

Xu Xinyao, who was standing to the side, burst out laughing.

Xu Yuan turned around and glared at her.

Xu Xinyao pouted.

Ran Qingmo looked at the brother and sister with a puzzled expression.

Xu Yuan coughed lightly:

"Alright, I'll teach you another time when I have the chance. Let's stop here for now."

Beneath the Veil Hat, Ran Qingmo blinked her beautiful eyes and nodded gently:

"Good."

As the three walked on...

Within the group, a martial arts apprentice silently left the ranks and followed behind Xu Yuan and his two companions.

Sending, a bit stuck on the code.