Revival on the Spring Sacrifice Day (8,000-word chapter)
Xu Qi'an was furious; anyone would be furious in such a situation.
If he hadn't known he couldn't win, Xu Qi'an would have already gone up to cause trouble, grabbing him by the collar with one hand and slapping him with the other, questioning him as he did so:
You promised to save me, you liar! Give me back my life!
This damn monk completely betrayed his trust! We agreed that I'd offer you my body in exchange for your help in killing the enemy! Even though it was a verbal agreement, can't you at least have some sense of contractual obligation?
At this moment, Xu Qi'an aptly thought of a song:
You betrayed my love, you've become a burden on your conscience, and when I finally learned the truth, tears streamed down my face.
"What should I do now? Can I still live? Will I be reincarnated, or will I be possessed and reborn? Is there such a thing as reincarnation in this world?"
With a mix of trepidation and unease, Xu Qi'an suppressed all his emotions and spoke kindly to Monk Shenshu.
Things have come to this point, turning against each other is pointless; we should be thinking about how to face the future. This isn't cowardice; it's the mindset of an adult.
Given the choice between reincarnation and possession, Xu Qi'an preferred the latter, since it would take a very long time.
An adult's soul, trapped in an infant's body, would go insane from sheer boredom within a few years.
As Xu Qi'an was lost in thought, Monk Shenshu opened his eyes, his expression serene, and said, "You seem to be blaming me?"
No, it's not your fault, it's just that I trusted the wrong person, Xu Qi'an thought to himself.
"How much do you know about the martial arts system?" Monk Shenshu asked with a smile.
Xu Qi'an thought for a moment.
Master Shenshu paused slightly, as if he hadn't heard, and said calmly, "Martial artists temper themselves, using human strength to contend against the power of heaven and earth. This 'body' refers not only to the physical body, but also to the essence, energy, and spirit, which are one."
"You stinky monk, you can't even catch a joke, you're not funny." Xu Qi'an nodded in sudden realization. "So, even though the master was sealed in Sangbo for five hundred years, his Primordial Spirit remained intact, that's the reason?"
That makes more sense. If it's just about training the physical body, then a martial artist's weaknesses are too obvious. Wouldn't a system like Daoist School, which focuses on cultivating the Primordial Spirit, be able to possess a martial artist in no time?
Although martial arts are not as flashy as the major systems, they feel the most stable in the later stages, at least more stable than the Daoist School.
Look at the three major sects of Virtue Daoist School, they're useless at everything, and number one in terms of chaos.
Monk Shenshu nodded, "But below the third rank, martial artists mainly focus on tempering their physical body and practicing breathing Qi Refinement. Only the seventh rank Spirit Refining Realm, involves tempering the Primordial Spirit."
Upon hearing this, Xu Qi'an suddenly realized something was amiss. If the proportions of essence, energy, and spirit were equal, why was there only a seventh-grade level for tempering the Primordial Spirit?
"Now you understand the importance of the Spirit Refining Realm, right?" Monk Shenshu explained.
"Ordinary martial artists who refine their spirit only scratch the surface and reach their limits; this is the lower level. Constantly pushing those limits in dire situations is the higher level. The more solid your foundation at this stage, the deeper your foundation will be when you reach the higher level."
"Master, seventh-grade Spirit Refinement, which grade is it laying the foundation for?" Xu Qi'an's heart stirred.
"Second-rank Dao Integration."
This is too far away for me; it's hard to say whether I'll ever reach that level in my lifetime. Xu Qi'an thought to himself, "That's true, but... but I still died in the end."
He felt it was a huge loss to sacrifice his life just to lay the foundation for the elusive second rank.
"To live is to face death; how can one live without dying?" Monk Shenshu said with a smile.
"So, should I be reincarnated or reborn through possession?" Xu Qi'an pressed, pondering before replying, "If I could choose, I would prefer to be reborn through possession. I don't have any major requirements, well, first of all, I must be incomparably handsome."
"Secondly, he must be the eldest son of a prominent Aristocratic Clan, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Of course, his cultivation level should ideally be at the Qi Refining Realm, and definitely not the Essence Refining Realm. I don't want to go back to those miserable days of sitting with my hand on my groin and sighing."
"Finally, there needs to be a seductive older sister in her early twenties, the kind who can whine and whimper."
The monk Shenshu ignored his request, his face seemingly etched with eternal peace, and said:
"Third-rank martial artists can regenerate severed limbs and are extremely difficult to kill. Those who cultivate to the highest level are said to be immortal. This humble monk was fortunate enough to reach such a level."
Xu Qi'an's heart stirred, and then he heard the monk Shenshu say, "Before you died, I seized and preserved your last wisp of life. I used your body to nourish my remaining form, which can also give back to you. This humble monk gives you a drop of Essence Blood. If you refine it, you can be brought back to life."
"Is that glimmer of life what I am now, that's why I'm here?" Xu Qi'an asked. "Thank you, Master. When will I be able to awaken?"
"This is a long process," said the monk Shenshu.
Thankfully, there's no cremation in this world, otherwise my aunt and uncle would have raised me for nothing. No wonder Master Shenshu didn't save me; so this is what "living towards death" means. You should have said so earlier! I could have shouted a few more slogans and acted like a sane little brat. After confirming that he could be resurrected, Xu Qi'an's mood brightened, and he happily complained.
Outside the city!
The crude brute charged at her head, and the Dream Witch gasped for breath, as if she were facing a collapsing mountain or a tsunami.
At this moment, confusion and regret are useless emotions; killing the enemy is his only way out.
The Dream Shaman formed hand seals and chanted incantations. His body erupted with dazzling blood-red light, and his aura surged upwards.
Blood Spirit Technique: This technique temporarily boosts combat power by burning Essence Blood.
Jiang Luzhong's unparalleled fist intent had arrived.
The Dream Witch countered with her fists.
The two fists collided. The first moment was silent, but a few seconds later, a deafening roar erupted like a thunderclap.
The ground beneath their feet suddenly sank, and dust instantly billowed up, covering an area of hundreds of meters.
Yang Qianhuan couldn't dodge in time, and in her haste, she stomped her foot on the ground. Array patterns lit up and transformed into barriers, but they shattered in the next moment.
The arrogant man felt as if he had been hit hard on the back of the head, and his back was slammed by the carriage. He almost cried out in pain, but he held back, because it was not in keeping with his status.
Bang bang
Two more punches followed, and the Dream Witch's body was covered in blood and black smoke exploded from his head. He was sent flying backward like a cannonball.
Jiang Luzhong's reason had been overwhelmed by anger. Now, he was in perfect harmony with the State of Mind of a martial artist, fighting against heaven and earth without fear.
Suddenly, it felt as if steel nails had pierced Jiang Luzhong's brain, and his heart had been cleaved in two by a blade. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, and the sudden change made it impossible for him to continue his pursuit.
Curse Killing Technique!
In that brief moment, the dream witch stole a piece of his clothing and used it to unleash a curse.
If it were a low-level martial artist, they would already be dead on the spot.
In battles between high-level experts, this kind of interference can almost determine the outcome, with victory hanging in the balance. However, the Dream Witch decisively gave up this opportunity because her opponent was a martial artist.
Copper skin and iron body.
The various systems dislike martial artists, considering them crude and unskilled. Besides their monotonous methods and reliance on violence, there's another reason: martial artists are difficult to kill.
They can make ten, twenty, or even more mistakes; you can't kill them, you can only wear them down slowly.
If you make just one mistake, they'll smash your brains out.
They might even lift the top of your head, take a look at your brain, and then walk away disappointed.
Bah, you crude brute.
After the curse took effect, the dream witch quickly retreated and fled into the distance.
"Bang!" He then crashed into an invisible wall.
"Yang Qianhuan!!" the Dream Witch roared angrily.
"Among the formations I'm proficient in, six are techniques for trapping enemies. You'd better break through them quickly, there are five more formations waiting for you." Yang Qianhuan appeared not far away, his back to Meng Wu.
In this scene, just looking at his back, anyone would exclaim, "A reclusive master!"
The Dream Shaman had no chance to break the formation; he wasn't a martial artist, and his margin for error was far too low. Jiang Luzhong arrived, and the battle spirit, shattered by the previous three punches, rendered the Dream Shaman no longer a "martial artist."
It is common knowledge that in close combat, all other martial arts systems are no match for a martial artist.
"Puff!"
Jiang Luzhong punched Meng Wu in the face, and her head exploded, scattering red and white fragments of bone everywhere.
The headless corpse stiffened instantly, then slowly shriveled up.
"Bastard, bastard!"
A phantom figure appeared in mid-air, looking down at Jiang Luzhong and Yang Qianhuan, its face contorted.
That was the Primordial Spirit of the Dream Wizard. After a high-level expert dies, their Primordial Spirit can remain for several days. Moreover, in the realm of Primordial Spirit, wizards are second only to Daoist School.
"What should we do with this guy?" Yang Qianhuan asked.
Jiang Luzhong shook his head. "I'm helpless against the Primordial Spirit; I can't kill it, nor can I trap it."
If it were a physical body, a single punch would be enough to kill it. However, the Primordial Spirit is special and immune to fist attacks. While the shockwave energy can indeed damage the Primordial Spirit, its effect is limited. At this point, if the Dream Witch's Primordial Spirit wanted to escape, Jiang Luzhong would be completely helpless.
Yang Qianhuan proudly declared, "I can trap him! There's a girl in the city who's from the Heavenly Sect; she has a way to refine this ghost."
After saying that, he said leisurely, "To hold the bright moon in one's hand and pluck the stars from the sky, there is no one like me in this world."
Boom!
The power of the Primordial Spirit surged wildly, and the Dream Witch self-destructed.
Jiang Luzhong slowly turned his head, staring at the white-robed Warlock, and said, word by word, "He destroyed himself."
"You're too impatient," Yang Qianhuan said, annoyed.
"Isn't the main issue that you talked too much nonsense and wasted time?"
Goodbye!
"Yang Qianhuan!" Jiang Luzhong shouted, but the white-robed Warlock had already disappeared, and he didn't finish his sentence.
Xu Qi'an sacrificed himself.
In the dead of night, a somber atmosphere permeated the inn. The bright candlelight dispelled the darkness, but it could not illuminate the gloom in people's hearts.
It is now 11:45 AM. The seriously injured gongmen remain at the post station. The governor is not here, nor is Yang Chuannan, because he has been released.
The governor personally released them.
When Governor Zhang, looking disheveled but expressionless, returned, he came before him and asked, "Are you willing to atone for your crimes through meritorious service?"
Yang Chuannan immediately agreed, not because he was eager to get away with his crime, but because at that moment, Commander Yang saw a storm brewing in the scholar's eyes.
Yang Chuannan then left the post station and was ordered to mobilize the garrison troops into the city to cooperate with the Flying Swallow Army in annihilating the rebels in the other three gates.
During the suppression of the rebels, Zhu Guangxiao and Song Tingfeng took the lead and went on a killing spree, sustaining multiple arrow wounds and having to return to the post station to recuperate.
After taking over Baidi City, Yang Chuannan and Li Miaozhen led their troops to surround the Five Cities Military Command, arresting everyone from the Principal Sixth Rank "commander" down to the clerks.
After that, Governor Zhang forcibly summoned all officials of Baidi City and ordered the white-robed Warlock to interrogate them one by one, uncovering 34 members of Song Changfu's traitorous party. Together with the officials and clerks of the Five Cities Military Command and the captured soldiers, a total of 408 people were arrested.
Without further interrogation or imprisonment, Governor Zhang acted arbitrarily, taking the group of rebels to the execution platform and beheading them. While a governor has the authority to act expediently, this does not include the private execution of convicted officials.
However, these are extraordinary times, and any overstepping of boundaries can be explained away as the suppression of rebels. As long as Governor Zhang quells the rebellion in Yunzhou, the court will only reward him.
The execution platform was a scene of carnage, with heads rolling and blood flowing like a river.
The matter is not over yet. According to the dream witch who was punched in the head by Jiang Luzhong, the rebels' plan is to kill the governor first, then seize Baidi City, and then cooperate with the mountain bandits to capture Yunzhou.
Governor Zhang has dispatched messengers to various prefectures and counties, ordering local garrisons to be on high alert and vigilant against bandit attacks.
Li Miaozhen and Yang Chuannan actively prepared for the defense of the city, conscripting militia, transporting and repairing defensive equipment, and eagerly awaiting the enemy.
They waited until late at night, but there was no sign of them, and the scouts they sent out did not return to report.
The South Gate is located inside the barbican built on the city wall.
Governor Zhang, Jiang Luzhong, Yang Chuannan, and Li Miaozhen sat at the table discussing matters. Jiang Luzhong squinted as he studied the city defense map.
Li Miaozhen looked depressed and remained silent.
Governor Zhang glanced at the two of them, then looked at Yang Chuannan, humbly seeking his advice. "Commander-in-Chief, did the bandits receive news of the failed mutiny and cancel their operation?"
He was a scholar who had studied military strategy for a few years, but theoretical knowledge was not worth mentioning. The two martial artists and the Daoist School disciple present were all experienced and fierce generals.
Yang Chuannan's face remained pale, and his chest ached faintly.
Fortunately, he was a talented general. Although his cultivation was temporarily crippled, his ability to command troops on the battlefield was more important than his personal martial prowess.
When they're useful, they call me Commander-in-Chief; when they're not, they call me a traitor. Yang Chuannan couldn't help but feel resentful inwardly, but outwardly remained calm and solemn, saying:
"In a multi-front war, the speed of information transmission will not be so fast. Even if the army attacking Baidi City receives the news, the other armies will not be able to keep up with the information."
"Logically, if what that dream shaman said is true, war should have already broken out in the various prefectures and counties. If we wait another hour and no rebels attack Baidi City, we will send troops to support the various prefectures and counties."
Yang Chuannan looked at the close female knight Feiyan, "Miaozhen, what do you think? Miaozhen, Miaozhen."
Li Miaozhen exclaimed "Ah!" as if just coming to her senses, and asked, "What is it?"
Yang Chuannan repeated the question, then asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Li Miaozhen shook her head, and the image of the young Tongluo standing guard at the entrance of the courtyard without retreating an inch reappeared in her mind.
Tragic and desolate.
But what Li Miaozhen truly couldn't forget wasn't just the visual impact, but the fact that she never imagined the man she thought was lecherous and shameless could actually go this far.
When everyone was on the verge of despair, and while the other gongs chose to heal their wounds through breathing exercises, it was that lecherous fellow who truly stepped forward.
The most impactful effect comes from the stark contrast.
Every time Li Miaozhen recalls the image of him standing with his sword, she feels a pang of sadness. Perhaps years later, when she thinks back to this scene, it will still be vivid and profound.
"Where is Yang Qianhuan?" Governor Zhang asked.
"He's gone. I couldn't stop him," Jiang Luzhong said.
He harbored some resentment towards Yang Qianhuan. Whenever he thought of the sacrifice of his three subordinates, Jiang Luzhong would feel a surge of impotent rage, hating himself and also taking his anger out on Yang Qianhuan.
Although Yang Qianhuan offered a brief explanation.
Self-blame and regret will accompany him for a long time, until the passage of time washes away his inner turmoil, allowing him to "meet with a smile" and let go of the past.
"Why did he come to Yunzhou?" Governor Zhang frowned.
Jiang Luzhong shook his head.
Suddenly, Jiang Luzhong's ears twitched, and he turned his head to look at the dark night. Li Miaozhen was a second slower, and she also turned her head.
"They're here!" Jiang Luzhong said in a deep voice.
The crowd immediately rushed out of the barbican and onto the city wall. Looking into the distance, they saw continuous flames appearing in the darkness, slowly floating like a flowing river.
Waaaaah... thump thump thump.
The sounds of horns and drums rang out simultaneously, echoing in the silent, cold night.
The soldiers who had been dozing against the parapet were suddenly awakened, grabbed their spears, crossbows, shields, and other weapons, and went into battle.
Li Miaozhen stood atop the wall, squinting as she gazed into the distance. Suddenly, she snapped to attention and shouted, "Watch out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a silver light pierced through the air, the tip of the spear making a sharp whistling sound as it scraped against the air.
Fourth-rank martial artist!
Moreover, he was a peak fourth-grade martial artist!
Li Miaozhen was shocked and her delicate body tensed. Yunzhou actually had a master of this caliber? Were there such powerful figures among the bandits?
What happened next took her by surprise. Jiang Luzhong actually stepped forward and calmly reached out to take the silver spear. He showed absolutely no seriousness or vigilance as one would expect when facing a powerful enemy.
What surprised her even more was that the seemingly fierce silver spear was actually weak and powerless, and willingly handed herself over to Jiang Luzhong.
Li Miaozhen stared intently at it. It was a heavy silver spear, its silver paint mottled and weathered, bearing the marks of time, but the tip gleamed coldly, the bloodstains still fresh.
Compared to the ordinary silver spear in her hand, this spear was a true weapon.
Li Miaozhen's natal weapon is a flying sword. The reason she uses a gun is mainly because after joining the army, she needs a weapon that matches her status.
A loud "boom" resounded in the distance, and a figure leaped up hundreds of meters away, tracing a high arc in the air before crashing onto the ramparts of the city wall.
The man was dressed in a dark night Nightwatchers's uniform, with a golden gong embroidered on his chest. His expression was cold and hard, like a sculpture.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Luzhong was both surprised and delighted, and tossed the silver spear over.
"I am here on my godfather's orders to suppress the bandits in Yunzhou." Yang Yan took the spear and answered succinctly.
Governor Zhang was taken aback, as if he had grasped something, and pressed for an answer, "What did Duke Wei say to you?"
"My godfather said that bandits in Yunzhou would cause trouble, and ordered me to come secretly," Yang Yan said.
"I secretly took control of the military forces in various garrisons in Yunzhou a few days ago. I originally planned to wipe out the mountain bandits after a while, but unexpectedly, at dusk this day, more than a dozen groups of mountain bandits caused trouble everywhere. I just led a team to wipe them out, and guessing that something might have happened in Baidi City, I rushed over immediately."
"Sixty miles outside Baidi City, we encountered an army of two thousand men, and just finished them off."
Li Miaozhen glanced at the tip of the gun and thought to herself, "No wonder there's blood on it."
Governor Zhang breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that we were just pawns on the surface, while Duke Wei had other plans in the shadows.
Yang Yan's gaze swept across the crowd, searching through them, and he frowned, asking, "Where's Xu Qi'an?"
Governor Zhang's expression suddenly froze, and the surprise in Jiang Luzhong's eyes gradually faded.
Yang Yan's heart sank, and his already expressionless face became even colder and harder.
"He," Governor Zhang said, his eyes filled with sorrow, "He died in battle."
Li Miaozhen lowered her head slightly and sighed.
With a crack, the stone bricks beneath Yang Yan's feet suddenly crumbled, and streams of energy uncontrollably spilled out, indicating that the Golden Gong had lost control of his emotions.
His eyes were sharp as knives, and his usually expressionless face twisted in a rare grimace as he forced out a single sentence through clenched teeth. "How did he die?"
Governor Zhang recounted the day's events to Yang Yan in detail, and when he spoke of Xu Qi'an's unwavering defense to protect everyone, the governor's eyes reddened.
He was struck by thirty-one arrows and suffered over sixty knife wounds. He remained standing until his death, refusing to retreat once he had promised. A promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold, a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold indeed.
Jiang Luzhong slowly exhaled, looking at Governor Zhang's grief-stricken appearance, he felt a pang of pity and said in a deep voice:
"It was my fault, I'm sorry."
Without warning, Yang Yan swept his spear horizontally, bending the shaft and slamming it heavily into Jiang Luzhong's chest.
Bang!
A resounding boom, like the grandest bell, echoed throughout the heavens and earth.
Jiang Luzhong crashed through the female wall and was thrown out.
Yang Yan stomped on half of the city wall, then soared into the sky, his roar echoing far and wide, "Jiang Luzhong, you piece of trash, I'll kill you today!"
Inside the post station, in the main hall.
The bodies of Xu Qi'an, three silver gongs, and one bronze gong lay in the center of the hall, covered with white cloth.
The arrows had been removed from Xu Qi'an's body, and his blood-stained face had been cleaned. Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao, who had been sleepless late at night, came downstairs in tacit agreement, brought two chairs, and sat down on either side of Xu Qi'an.
He didn't say anything, just sat quietly, keeping me company.
A man's sorrow is silent.
During this time, Song Tingfeng said two things, "Consider it a vigil for you," and "Let's be brothers again in the next life."
Zhu Guangxiao said, "In the end, it's still just the two of us."
As the candle burned to its last flame, its wax dripped and solidified. In this somber atmosphere, Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao remained silent.
The sound of heavy footsteps came from outside the post station. A Nightwatchers arrived at the post station, led by Yang Yan, who looked as if he had just gone through a big battle and was in a sorry state.
Behind him were several silver gongs who had come to Yunzhou with him; Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao both knew them.
Xu Qi'an also knew people like Min Shan and Yang Feng, who had investigated the Sangbo case together, and Li Yuchun, their superior.
Li Yuchun looked like a walking corpse at this moment. He walked slowly towards Xu Qi'an, taking small steps. In just a dozen or so steps, it seemed as if the path was full of thorns, and each step would cause excruciating pain.
Li Yuchun reached out and lifted the white cloth. He swayed.
"Boss."
Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao quickly went to help him up.
Li Yuchun looked down at Xu Qi'an's face and said, "I heard Ningyan died, but I don't know how he died or the specific details. Can you two tell me?"
Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao exchanged a glance, both somewhat worried; their boss was too calm.
Song Tingfeng told Li Yuchun what had happened. The latter listened quietly and nodded slowly, "As expected of the gong I trained. Well done, you didn't embarrass me."
"He's always done things to my liking, just like when he killed that little bastard surnamed Zhu. He's never greedy for money, which is better than both of you. You should learn from him."
"The only downside is that I'm too lax in my practice, and I often sneak off to brothels to listen to music while I'm patrolling the streets. Several people have come to me to complain about this."
He rambled on about trivial things, reminiscing about the past.
The situation was relatively calm, which relieved Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao. They knew that their leader valued and appreciated Xu Qi'an highly; he had even dared to publicly humiliate Duke Wei over the matter of the silver gong being cut off.
However, when he lifted the white cloth to examine Xu Qi'an's clothes, he suddenly flew into a rage:
"Which son of a bitch tidied his clothes? Which son of a bitch tidied his clothes? The collar isn't symmetrical! The collar isn't symmetrical!"
He cursed and swore, looking as if he were about to draw his knife in anger, as if by doing so, others would ignore the tears welling up in his eyes.
"Boss," Song Tingfeng called out.
"The hem of my clothes isn't symmetrical, the hem of my clothes isn't symmetrical." Li Yuchun held her face in her hands, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
Li Miaozhen returned to her residence in Baidi City and sat quietly in her study for a long time, with a small jade mirror beside her.
She wanted to pick it up several times to tell everyone about Number Three's death, but she held back.
Let's save him some face this last time. Li Miaozhen sighed, then picked up the small jade mirror and sent a message:
[Master, I have something to discuss with you privately.]
In the dead of night, the members of the Heaven and Earth Society were suddenly awakened by the trembling sound of a message being delivered. They were furious, and their anger intensified after reading the contents of the second message.
Not again?
[Nine: I have blocked everyone else.]
[Second: Master, the matter in Yunzhou has been resolved.]
[Nine: This is a good thing.]
[Two: I already know that number three is Xu Qi'an.]
Master Jinlian chuckled: [Nine: This is a good thing.]
[Part Two: Xu Qi'an died in battle.]
[Nine:???]
[Second: I will find a way to retrieve the fragments of the Earth Book. Next spring, I will leave Yunzhou and make a trip to the capital.]
[Nine: Are you sure Xu Qi'an died in battle?]
[Two: Hmm.]
[Nine: That's impossible.]
[Second: Why do you say this, Daoist Master?]
[Nine: Xu Qi'an is a person of great fortune and will definitely not die young.]
[Second: But he is indeed dead; I personally prepared his body for burial.]
Master Jinlian asked, "[Has any Primordial Spirit been released?]"
Li Miaozhen frowned: [When I arrived, he was already dead. Moreover, he wasn't even at the Spirit Refining Realm; his Primordial Spirit wasn't strong. The impact of the Sha Qi and Blood Qi likely caused him to dissipate on the spot.]
Besides, with her level of skill as the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect, how could she not tell whether a corpse still had any signs of life?
Master Jinlian didn't reply for a long time, then after a few minutes: [I understand. You don't need to worry about the fragments of the Earth Book. I will personally verify whether Xu Qi'an is dead or alive.]
Li Miaozhen raised an eyebrow; Daoist Jinlian clearly didn't believe her judgment. However, she didn't refute it; the message had already been conveyed, and whether the Daoist believed it or not was up to him.
However, the Earth Book fragments were a supreme treasure of the Earth Sect, and Li Miaozhen felt that Daoist Jinlian had handled them too casually and did not take them seriously enough.
The block was lifted, and Number One immediately sent a message: [Number Two, is the case in Yunzhou closed?]
Li Miaozhen replied: [If you want to know the specifics, you can exchange them for equivalent information.]
[One: Okay, no problem.]
[2: The one who truly colluded with the Witch God Cult and supported the mountain bandits was Provincial Governor Song Changfu. After the incident was exposed, he blockaded Baidi City and summoned rebel troops to besiege and kill Governor Zhang. Although he failed, the Nightwatchers also suffered heavy losses.]
[The Xu Qi'an we often talked about when we passed on messages has sacrificed himself.] In the end, she still didn't reveal the fact that Xu Qi'an was Number Three.
Number Three will never appear again. Li Miaozhen added to herself, feeling somewhat sad.
Did Xu Qi'an sacrifice himself?
Within the Heaven and Earth Society, the most vehement reaction came from Number Six, Hengyuan, followed by Number Four, though Number Four's reaction was purely out of regret for the loss of a talented individual.
Unlike other monks, Hengyuan once again experienced the grief he felt when his junior brother Henghui died.
[Second: After spring begins, I will travel to the capital. On the first, I need to obtain information on all the younger generation of disciples of the Human Sect.]
Number One never replied to her again.
Yunzhou is now a complete mess, the officialdom in Baidi City is in turmoil, and people are filled with anxiety.
As the governor appointed by the imperial court, Governor Zhang could not leave. He wrote a memorial detailing the events of the Yunzhou case and submitted it to the court. He then remained in Yunzhou to oversee the overall situation and awaited instructions from the court. Only after the new provincial governor arrived in Yunzhou could he return to the capital.
Jiang Luzhong and Yang Yan stayed in Yunzhou to suppress bandits and protect Governor Zhang's safety.
However, the bodies of Xu Qi'an, along with three silver gongs and one bronze gong, must be transported back to the capital. They are heroes and should not be buried in a foreign land. In the dead of winter, the bodies will not decompose in the short term, but they cannot remain in Yunzhou for long either.
The task of escorting the four bodies back to the capital was assigned to Min Shan and Min Yinluo.
Li Yuchun and his two companions decided to stay in Yunzhou to participate in the bandit suppression, venting their unsettled grief. At the same time, deep down, they dared not bring Xu Qi'an's body back to the capital, fearing to face his family.
Governor Zhang prepared coffins for the five Nightwatchers had sacrificed their lives, bowed deeply, and remained seated for a long time.
When sealing the coffin, Governor Zhang placed four letters sent from the capital on Xu Qi'an's chest.
February 2nd, Spring Festival Day.
There is no Spring Festival in this world, but there is a festival similar to the Spring Festival called Spring Festival.
On this day, the emperor led civil and military officials to offer sacrifices to Heaven, praying for favorable weather, national prosperity, and peace. It was the most important day of the Great Feng Dynasty.
Every household participates in the spring festival to worship heaven, slaughtering sheep and cattle. Even the busiest people will return home on the spring festival day to reunite with their families.
The spring chill lingered, and a thin layer of ice floated on the canal. The official boat slowly headed north, embarking on its journey home.
Xu Qi'an awoke on the day of the Spring Festival.
PS: I was delighted to see a surge in monthly votes yesterday, returning to 4th place on the monthly vote ranking. Thank you all for your support. Well, words are cheap, so here's a long chapter. Also, thank you to "Qidian Eight Million Great Eagle Knight Chief Instructor" for the generous donation.
Oh right, I still owe three bonus chapters to the Alliance Leaders: "A Flawed Life," "Brother Peiqian," and "The Head Coach." I'll add them when I have time. This long chapter isn't a bonus chapter; it's a thank-you note for the monthly ticket ranking.
I will never shout things like "one more chapter for every number of monthly votes," never, because I feel that would put pressure on you. But if you all vote a lot, I will voluntarily add more chapters.