The Dream Shaman Appeared

Number Three's words were strange; even though he was far away in the capital, it was as if the situation was urgent and happening right next to me. Li Miaozhen's slender and delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

She actually had something to do tonight. After the turmoil of the daytime mutiny, with the keen intuition of a Tianzong cultivator, she vaguely sensed the murderous intent hidden beneath Governor Zhang's smiling exterior.

Therefore, I plan to go to the post station before dusk to try and negotiate, and see if there is any room for maneuver.

But Number Three was an online friend she valued highly; he was upright, brave, intelligent, and a respectable scholar. She couldn't possibly ignore him if he needed help.

Just as this thought crossed my mind, I saw a line of text slowly appear on the surface of the jade mirror:

[In the Yunzhou case, the real mastermind was Provincial Governor Song. Governor Zhang solved the mystery and originally planned to arrest Song Changfu with swift and decisive action.]

However, Song Changfu sensed the danger beforehand, devised a plan to mislead Governor Zhang and the Nightwatchers, and secretly sealed the city gates. Now, Baidi City is murderous intent, and the governor's entourage is in grave danger. Number Two, you must immediately send troops to reinforce them.

The mastermind behind this is Provincial Governor Song?!

Li Miaozhen felt as if she had been hit on the head with a heavy hammer. She was stunned for a moment. Song Changfu was the mastermind behind it all. In other words, it was Song Changfu who colluded with the Qi faction of the Witch God Cult.

Was Song Changfu a member of the Qi faction?

There's no time to think about it anymore. If what Number Three said is true, then unrest in Baidi City is imminent, no, it may have already begun.

If Governor Zhang were to meet with an accident, the entire Yunzhou would slide into an uncontrollable abyss. Jiang Luzhong is a fourth-rank martial artist, and once war breaks out, the people in the city will inevitably be affected.

This is only the beginning of the turmoil. Next spring, the imperial court will definitely send a large army to attack Yunzhou. Under the flames of war, countless people will suffer.

Li Miaozhen suddenly stood up, her hand already grabbing the silver spear leaning against the table, but at that moment, she suddenly froze.

A series of big question marks flashed through my mind, then coalesced into one question: How did Number Three know all this?

How did Number Three, who was far away in the capital, know about what happened in Yunzhou?

She had a vague suspicion in her mind, a suspicion that stirred up a huge storm within her, no less shocking than the mutiny of the Song Provincial Governor.

Li Miaozhen paused, standing still, her fingers trembling slightly as she sent the message: "[How did you know about this?]"

After the message was sent out, no one responded for half a day.

Li Miaozhen raised an eyebrow, turned to the female ghost Su Su who was sitting by the bed, reading a book, and said, "Pass on my order: assemble the Flying Swallow Army."

The way Su Su looked down at her book was just like that of a gentle, intellectual, and well-educated lady from a prominent family. That kind of elegance was ingrained in her very being.

If the book I'm reading isn't "XX's Erotic History," then it'll be perfect.

"Oh!"

Su Su reluctantly put down the little Liu Bei in her hand, swaying her slender waist as she walked out of the tent.

She was somewhat annoyed; the male protagonists in the book were all handsome scholars, gentle and refined, and extremely learned.

If she were to have her physical body reconstructed in the future, she would become a concubine for Xu Qi'an, that lecherous man.

The difference is too big.

Watching the female ghost maid leave to mobilize troops, Li Miaozhen, not wanting to waste any time, sent a threatening message with a grim face. "[If you don't tell me, I will not send a single soldier.]"

This was, of course, just a threat; Li Miaozhen now wished she could sprout wings and fly to Baidi City.

[Part 3: Actually, I received a mission from the academy and secretly headed to Yunzhou.]

[Two: Do you think I'm stupid?]

Number Three is a student of the Cloud Deer Academy. As everyone knows, the Spring Examination is held after the start of spring, a time for scholars from all over the country to strive for success. Number Four mentioned before that Number Three would participate in the Spring Examination, and Number Three did not deny it.

Cloud Deer Academy and Yunzhou have absolutely nothing to do with each other. What could possibly make Number Three abandon his precious exam preparation time to go south? The academy is full of talented people, so why must it be Number Three?

It seems highly improbable that the students of the Cloud Deer Academy, sent south on their teacher's orders, possessed such thorough and clear knowledge of the Yunzhou case. Unless someone leaked it to them. Xu Qi'an would indeed have leaked it to his cousin, assuming Number Three was that cousin.

So, there's another way to verify whether Number Three is lying: ask Number One to go to the Cloud Deer Academy and find out.

However, that would take too much time, and in the current situation, time is life. So Number Two asked directly, hoping that Number Three would tell the truth.

[Three: Okay, I'll lay my cards on the table. I am Xu Qi'an, and I am number three.]

Number three is Xu Qi'an!?

Li Miaozhen froze on the spot, her pretty oval face frozen as if carved in stone.

She seemed to hear something inside her collapsing, rumbling and disintegrating.

An upright, kind-hearted, and righteous scholar (×)

The despicable, shameless, hypocritical, and lecherous Nightwatchers (√)

The image of Number Three underwent a series of processes in her mind, including collapse and reconstruction.

Upon hearing the devastating news, Li Miaozhen was filled with rage. She felt deceived, her emotions toyed with, and she had been made a fool of.

To be honest, she had a good impression of Number Three. Unlike Number One, who was deep and scheming and always liked to spy on others, Number Three was also unlike Number Four, who seemed gentle but was actually extremely proud.

As for numbers five, six, and nine, they each have their own characteristics, but in terms of appearance, none are as good as number three.

But it was all a lie.

At that moment, Li Miaozhen recalled Number Three's evaluation of Xu Qi'an in her mind.

"Shameless! Utterly shameless!" She gripped the silver spear tightly, her chest heaving violently.

If this happened in modern times, Li Miaozhen would be the protagonist of a talk show, with the headline. "Eighteen-Year-Old Girl Deceived in Love by Online Friend."

Etc!

In her anger, Li Miaozhen suddenly remembered some unhappy things:

If number three is indeed Xu Qi'an, then she earnestly sought help in the Earth Book group that day, asking them to help analyze the case.

The next day, feeling a little proud, she boasted to Governor Zhang and Xu Qi'an that she had solved the case. Thinking of this, Li Miaozhen's chest heaved more violently, her face flushed red, and she felt an urge to draw her sword and commit suicide.

Xu Qi'an was probably laughing at himself in his heart at that moment.

She cupped her face in her hands, her voice trembling, "You slut."

In the distant capital, Daoist Jinlian stared at the fragments of the Earth Book for a long time, but Number Three and Number Two did not continue their conversation.

"They didn't even say a word when the private meeting ended," Master Jinlian complained.

Xu Qi'an, that kid, always brags without thinking. Now look what's happened, his identity exposed, he's probably ashamed to death.

However, this is nothing. Master Jinlian has cultivated for decades and has seen all kinds of storms. She won't lose her composure over such a trivial matter.

"Kukuku"

A few minutes later, an orange cat jumped onto the fence in the yard and peered warily inside, seemingly planning to sneak into the kitchen to steal some food.

But then, the orange cat suddenly froze, standing motionless on the wall. A few seconds later, its amber eyes regained their liveliness, and it happily walked away, tail wagging.

Inside the room, Daoist Jinlian lay on the bed, her expression serene.

Xu Qi'an glanced at the small jade mirror one last time. Number Two remained mysteriously silent, offering no sarcasm, accusations, or insults.

It was somewhat unexpected, yet also somewhat anticipated.

"She must have remembered what she said that day, in a moment of arrogance: 'This is the benefit of dying together,'" Xu Qi'an remarked with emotion.

Then, he calmed his mind, focused on his inner self, and called out to the monk Shenshu in his sea of consciousness, "Master, Master."

"Master, I am in danger and hope to get your help."

I called Monk Shenshu for ages, but there was no reply.

Xu Qi'an was a little flustered. The reason he dared to rush to the scene first was because he had a source of confidence: Monk Shenshu was his source of confidence.

The two initially agreed on three conditions: Xu Qi'an would offer his body to heal his severed arm, and the monk Shenshu would lend a helping hand in times of crisis.

But now, it seems the cheat software vendors have run away?

"Living towards death."

The ethereal voice of Master Shenshu echoed in my mind.

"Living towards death"? What does that mean? Is your reply asking whether to save me or not?

Xu Qi'an tried to communicate with Shen Shu in his mind, but the damn monk was asleep again and couldn't be woken up.

The Provincial Administration Office, the backyard.

The sounds of clattering and clanging filled the air; it was the Tiger Guard searching for evidence. Governor Zhang and Jiang Luzhong stood in the courtyard, while the Prefect of Yunzhou waited respectfully to one side.

Governor Zhang smelled a faint, sweet fragrance, unlike that of plum blossoms; it was a scent he had never smelled before.

With a quick glance around, he easily found the flower—a pure white flower that looked no different from the wildflowers by the roadside, but it emitted a rich and lingering fragrance.

"Flowers in the dead of winter?" Governor Zhang asked in surprise.

Upon hearing this, the prefect turned his head to glance at it, then looked away, shaking his head dismissively. "Perhaps it's some special variety. I don't recognize it either. But Governor Song is certainly a flower lover."

Governor Zhang nodded slightly.

The Tiger Guards failed to gather any useful evidence.

"Strange." Governor Zhang frowned.

The Song residence and the provincial governor's office were too clean, as if they had been specially tidied up, leaving no evidence of wrongdoing.

However, Song Changfu was secretive in his actions and may have had other bases, so it's not surprising that he couldn't collect evidence.

Before long, the officials who had been summoned gathered at the Provincial Administration Commissioner's office.

In the main hall, Governor Zhang stood under the eaves by the entrance, his hands behind his back. In the courtyard, a dozen high-ranking officials stood on either side, silently watching him.

"Everyone!"

Governor Zhang's sharp eyes swept over the two rows of high-ranking officials on either side, and he said in a deep voice, "Song Changfu colluded with the Witch God Cult, embezzled military supplies, and raised bandits to enhance his own power. The people around Yunzhou are suffering from poverty and frequent rebellions."

"I have been ordered by His Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation. After the incident came to light, Song Changfu committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

"From this day forward, all military and political affairs in Yunzhou shall be handled by this official. Anyone who has sided with this traitor shall immediately report to this official and explain the situation, and shall be punished according to the severity of the offense."

"I will obey your command!"

The officials bowed their heads.

At that moment, Governor Zhang saw a group of Nightwatchers rushing in through the main hall entrance, looking menacing. One of them, a silver-gong-wielding man, was carrying someone in his hand.

The officials inside the hall looked over upon hearing the sound.

"Why are they here?" Governor Zhang asked, glancing at Jiang Luzhong beside him.

Jiang Luzhong shook his head.

"Your Excellency, something terrible has happened!"

The man carrying the silver gong hadn't even arrived yet, but he was already shouting.

Jiang Luzhong squinted and recognized the person in the silver gong's hand. He was surprised to see that it was the coroner from the government office.

What happened?

Governor Zhang's gaze fell on the coroner, and his expression immediately became extremely serious.

The silver gong player handed the coroner's document to the bronze gong player beside him, quickly stepped forward, and whispered in the player's ear.

After listening to Xu Ningyan's analysis, the group of Nightwatchers rushed to the residence of Governor Song, only to find that the governor had already left.

After inquiring at the prefectural office, I learned that the governor had gone to the Provincial Administration Commission.

The experienced silver gongs did not leave immediately, but kept Xu Ningyan's analysis in mind, and instead re-examined the body of the Provincial Governor Song.

Only then did they realize that the blood-stained face was actually a human skin mask.

It turned out that it wasn't Song Changfu who died.

The Nightwatchers immediately arrested the coroner and rushed to the Provincial Administration Commission.

"I see!"

Governor Zhang's expression changed several times, from shock to solemnity, and now to a blank expression after calming his emotions.

He slowly swept his gaze across the assembled officials, then looked at the coroner and asked, "Who ordered you to do this?"

The coroner was terrified and kept glancing to his side and behind him, where the prefect of Yunzhou was standing.

"Reporting to Your Excellency the Governor, it is indeed your humble servant," the prefect bowed and clasped his hands, readily admitting it.

Governor Zhang snorted coldly, and without further ado, waved his hand and said, "Take him down."

He didn't wave his hand; it was a simple gesture, yet it felt as if he were lifting a thousand-pound weight.

Immediately afterwards, he collapsed limply to the ground. Jiang Luzhong, who was beside him, instinctively tried to help him up, but unexpectedly stumbled, and the dignified fourth-rank martial artist was pulled down by Governor Zhang.

"Poisoned?" Jiang Luxin's heart skipped a beat.

"Jiang Jinluo, Your Excellency the Governor!" The Nightwatchers were terrified and rushed over.

In the courtyard, a group of officials were filled with fear and unease; the prefect of Yunzhou seemed so unfamiliar to them at this moment.

"You bastard!"

A gong-wielding man drew his sword, ready to kill the prefect.

The prefect remained expressionless and raised his hand to form a seal.

"Heh heh." The coroner who had been abandoned on the ground suddenly mutated, his muscles bulged, his eyes turned red, and a beast-like growl burst from his throat. He then rammed his head into the gong that was drawing its sword.

Puff!

The blade sliced through the coroner's shoulder, severing his entire arm. He was completely unaware and crashed solidly into the arms of the gong.

Everyone heard the sound of bones breaking.

The gong flew backward, and the sword in his hand clattered to the ground.

The Nightwatchers reacted quickly and caught him. But this could not change the outcome; the light in the gong's eyes dimmed rapidly, and the flame of life was extinguished.

"Dream Shaman!" Jiang Luzhong said in a deep voice, "So you are the fourth-rank Dream Shaman of the Witch God Cult. Did you kill Zhou Min?"

The prefect smiled and said, "Exactly!"

With a whoosh, the officials quickly retreated, watching the prefect warily.

Was that mysterious and unpredictable dream sorcerer always hiding among us? What methods did he use to counter the Qi-Watching Technique of the white-robed Bureau of Astronomy?

The coroner, his red eyes now filled with savagery and devoid of humanity, silently picked up the severed arm and pressed it against the wound.

The deep crimson veins shimmered, and blood-red threads wrapped around the severed arm, reconnecting it.

Blood Spirit Puppet!

This is a secret technique mastered by ninth-rank wizards. It can refine living people into puppets and, at the cost of burning their Essence Blood, catalyze the puppets into fearless and incomparably powerful assassins.

Therefore, a ninth-rank wizard is also called a "blood spirit".

Of course, a ninth-rank wizard can only increase the combat power of a puppet to a limited extent, let alone reattach a severed arm.

"What kind of poison did I ingest?" Jiang Luzhong seemed unwilling to accept it.

"This poison is called pine flower worm. Burning the corpse of the worm produces a colorless and odorless poison. This poison will not have any effect on the body, but it can remain dormant in the body for up to ten days."

"During these ten days, once the poisoned person smells the fragrance of a flower called pine pollen, their body will become weak and powerless, turning them into lambs to the slaughter. This is the poison formula of the Poison Tribe of the Southern Frontier Gu Clan."

"Jiang Luzhong, I've really gone to great lengths to deal with you. You're a high-level martial artist, so ordinary poisons are ineffective against you and are easily detected. Only this combination of poisons, with its gentle and long-lasting effects, can catch you off guard." The prefect looked smug.

Governor Zhang, breathing weakly, asked, "Is it the flower in the backyard?"

"That's right."

"So, you deliberately led us to the backyard."

"The governor's wisdom and talent have come a little too late," the prefect mocked.

"Then, what about the poison of the white worms?"

"The candles you burn every day, that's it. You were so careful, you never imagined the poison would be on the candles, did you? While the governor was away on inspection, the candles in the post station were secretly switched without anyone noticing."

It's impossible to have someone guarding the post station all the time, especially when people are out on inspection tours; it's hard to prevent someone from stealing candles.

Governor Zhang forced a smile and asked, "Where is Song Changfu?"

"Once you're all dead, he'll naturally take over the Yunzhou officialdom," the prefect sneered. "After taking over Baidi City, the bandits who have been gathering in various places will attack the prefectures and counties. By the end of the Capital Evaluation, Yunzhou will be separated from Great Feng."

Just then, everyone heard a jumble of loud footsteps; a large group of people was approaching.

"The poison will subside after two incense sticks have burned, but unfortunately you won't live to see that day," the prefect laughed loudly.

PS: Sorry, my writer's block hasn't improved, so I'm writing slowly. Also, this chapter is 4600 words; the 3000-word chapter was updated a while ago. The next chapter will be after midnight, but please don't wait; it will definitely be around 2 or 3 AM, or even later.

Update first, then revise.