Reverse social death

In the dead of night, in the northern lands, the desolation was tinged with a biting cold.

Xu Xinnian, who had been dozing by the campfire, woke up regularly, placed his hands on the shoulders of two soldiers, and whispered, "Blood boiling!"

The two soldiers groaned comfortably, no longer curling up for warmth as before, and a slight sense of satisfaction appeared on their faces as they slept.

The combined forces of the Yao and Great Feng were scattered by the Jingguo heavy cavalry, and many things were left behind, such as rations and daily necessities.

Without tents, beds, and blankets, sleeping outdoors in the autumn in the North is a very difficult thing. Soldiers may even catch a cold and die from the disease.

In the absence of supplies, contracting the disease is tantamount to death.

Therefore, Xu Erlang would periodically wake up in the middle of the night to cast Law Technique to warm the soldiers and dispel the cold.

He had already reached the seventh rank of benevolent person. Besides being physically stronger than ordinary people, Confucian scholars at this level had also grasped the rudiments of the Law Follows Speech.

Language is power!

Xu Erlang can, within a certain range, inflict any status on a target, such as weakness, courage, or relief from pain.

The so-called "certain degree" means maintaining rationality.

To give a specific example, Xu Erlang's current skill level is only enough to unleash the soldiers' potential to ward off the cold. But if Dean Zhao Shou were here, he would sing a song. "Beautiful scenery of the desert, a spring day in March!"

The surrounding climate will then change from autumn to spring and remain so for a considerable period of time.

After applying the cold-dispelling Law Technique to each soldier, Xu Erlang looked exhausted. He pulled out a piece of dried meat from his pocket and tore into it forcefully.

Only then did he realize that Chu Yuanzhen was not asleep. The top scholar was sitting with his back against the carriage, his feet digging deep into the ground.

His expression was off too. Wow, a grown man with such a complicated expression. Xu Erlang got up, walked over, and sat down next to Chu Yuanzhen, saying:

"What's wrong? Your expression has been off ever since the message was delivered."

"I just feel that the trust between people has suddenly disappeared."

Chu Yuanzhen looked at Xu Cijiu with a withdrawn expression, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered:

"Erlang, I've said a lot of strange things to you and done strange things before, I hope you don't mind. Thinking back on them now, I get goosebumps all over, and I feel like my lifelong reputation has been ruined."

Xu Erlang thought for a moment and said, "You mean someone standing on the street and smiling at me for no reason?"

Chu Yuanzhen was struck dumb. "No, don't say it."

The truth is obvious: Number Three is Xu Qi'an, who has been impersonating his cousin Xu Xinnian. Number Three said that he does not want his identity to be exposed, so it is best not to mention the Earth Book when they meet.

Number Three said, "I am about to go on a military expedition, and I will temporarily entrust the fragments of the Earth Book to my eldest brother for safekeeping."

These are all deceptive and misleading attempts to cover up the fact that Xu Ningyan is indeed Number Three.

However, Xu Erlang's cooperation was too good.

Chu Yuanzhen asked unwillingly, "You said you didn't know about the fragments of the Earth Book, but you always seem to treat me specially, well, tolerantly. No matter what strange things I say or do, you never react."

Many of the conversations that he thought were tacitly understood at the time, now seem like a one-man show, because Erlang didn't know about the Earth Book and didn't have that tacit understanding.

Xu Xinnian said frankly, "My elder brother instructed me that no matter what strange things you say or do, I shouldn't be surprised. I'll either smile at you, nod, or ignore you."

Chu Yuanzhen's feet dug deeply into the ground once again.

But soon, the quick-witted Chu Yuanzhen realized that Xu Ningyan had been impersonating his cousin all along. In order to fit the persona, he often boasted about being the "elder brother" in the fragments of the Earth Book and said many things that made people's scalps tingle just by thinking about them.

If Xu Ningyan knew I knew his identity, he should be the one feeling embarrassed!

We absolutely cannot let him get away with this!

Chu Yuanzhen immediately smiled, which made his mind clear.

The Xu Residence in the capital.

Xu Qi'an felt a tap on his head and instantly woke up. Because he had had similar experiences several times before, he didn't suspect that Taiping Dao and Zhong Li had tapped him on the head.

Seriously, a private chat in the middle of the night, that bastard, is it Huaiqing who doesn't have a nightlife again? He skillfully pulled out the fragment of the Earth Book from under his pillow, then got up, walked to the table, and lit a candle.

In the fiery glow, he sat down and examined the message.

[Four: Xu Qi'an, you're number three, right? You've been lying to us all along.]

Xu Qi'an was completely stunned.

When did Chu Yuanzhen find out my identity?

When was I exposed?

He finally saw through my identity by exploiting the flaw Xu Erlang revealed?

At that moment, a wave of shame, no, a tsunami, engulfed him completely.

After Chu Yuanzhen sent the message, he remained silent. Xu Qi'an, overwhelmed by shame, lost the "courage" to reply.

After a long while, Xu Baipiao finally composed himself and replied with a message: [That's right, you are the first person in the Heaven and Earth Society, besides Master Jinlian, to see through my identity.]

No matter how shameful or embarrassing I may be in real life, online I remain wise and ruthless.

The key is that only with such a calm and collected attitude can an awkward situation be resolved.

[Four: Ha, you kept it a good secret. Actually, I had my suspicions for a while, but I only recently became completely certain.]

[Three: No wonder he's the top scholar!]

One of them wished he could fly back to the capital on his sword and kill the man surnamed Xu with a single stroke. The other was so ashamed that he wanted to cover his face, feeling that there was no point in living anymore.

But they all deliberately put on an indifferent attitude.

[Part Three: Recent Discoveries?]

[Four: Ah, two hours ago, after I asked your second uncle about his comrade-in-arms, Erlang confessed to me.]

Erlang is so unreliable, huh? What about my second uncle's comrade-in-arms? Xu Qi'an frowned and sent a message: [My second uncle's comrade-in-arms?]

Xu Ningyan, it turns out, wasn't really indifferent after all; he was just putting on an act. Chu Yuanzhen then recounted the story of Zhou Biao and Zhao Panyi.

Clang!

The sound of the stool tipping over startled Zhong Li awake. She rubbed her eyes and looked up.

I saw Xu Qi'an rush to the desk like a madman, grind ink, pick up the brush, and write furiously.

About fifteen minutes later, she saw Xu Qi'an blow on the ink to dry it, fold the paper, carefully place it between the pages of a book, exhale, and murmur:

"So that's how the secrets of heaven are concealed."

"How does it work?" Zhong Li pricked up her ears and asked in a low voice.

"Don't ask, it's a secret." Xu Qi'an rolled his eyes at her. "You're a professional in this field, how dare you ask me, an outsider?"

Zhong Li lowered her head in shame, curled up in the blanket, seeking the little warmth left in the world.

Xu Qi'an let out a breath, calmed himself, and sent a message: "[Brother Chu, could you please keep this a secret for me?]"

Chu Yuanzhen replied via letter: [Your identity is not a secret; there is no need to hide it.]

Xu Qi'an seemed to see the distant northern border, with Chu Yuanzhen wearing a mocking and cold expression.

[Three: Alright then, if it's to be made public, I hope to confess myself. I did indeed act inappropriately, causing Brother Chu to mistake Cijiu for Number Three and believe him without question, leading him to say and do many wrong things.]

[Four: Actually, I don't care whether your identity is exposed or not.]

That despicable Xu Qi'an, wait until I return to the capital, I'll sever your golden body with a single sword stroke.

After a pause, Chu Yuanzhen sent another message: [Xu Erlang knows about the Earth Book, and also knows that Hengyuan and I were deceived by you, causing him great distress.]

Xu Qi'an sent a letter to test the waters: [So?]

I feel so ashamed, I can't hold my head up high. I need something to use to balance things out between Erlang and Erlang. Chu Yuanzhen sent a message: [I feel somewhat guilty.]

[Three: I understand. When you have time, chat with Erlang about poetry. His famous work is: "If Heaven had not given birth to me to Xu Xinnian, the Great Feng Dynasty would have remained in eternal darkness."]

[Four: Hmm.]

After calming the top scholar down, Xu Qi'an returned to his bed, stuffed the fragments of the Earth Book into his pillow, and then wriggled around like a maggot.

They were venting their overwhelming sense of shame.

I've never been so embarrassed in my life. It's so shameful! My image and Xu Qi'an are completely ruined. Now, everyone except Hengyuan knows about it. Wait a minute, everyone knows, but nobody says anything. Doesn't that mean I'm not completely dead?!

Even though everyone knows, everyone is keeping it a secret for him, even covering it up, trying to make others believe that Xu Cijiu is Number Three.

In that case, it's as if I haven't died.

Conversely, even if we all come to a show of things someday, since it's already common knowledge, I think I'll have no one left to blame but myself. On the contrary, those guys who are trying so hard to cover for me and mislead others are the real culprits.

Xu Qi'an's eyes lit up.

I'm relieved. Okay, I'll go to sleep early. Tomorrow is the day I'm going to explore the dragon vein with my aunt.

The next day.

After washing up and having breakfast, Xu Qi'an sat in the house waiting. Before long, golden light pierced through the roof ridge without causing any damage. In the brilliant light, Luo Yuheng's tall and graceful figure appeared.

She was wearing the same Daoist robe she had seen before, cinched at the waist and emphasizing her ample bosom.

This undoubtedly enhanced her feminine charm and her presence as a woman, while diminishing her aura of being aloof and unapproachable like a fairy.

"Imperial Advisor!"

Xu Qi'an greeted him with a warm smile.

Luo Yuheng nodded slightly, gave a cool and indifferent "hmm," and said, "I'll take you there."

Despite having full confidence in Luo Yuheng, he cautiously asked, just to be on the safe side, "Won't the other side find out?"

"Won't!"

Luo Yuheng spoke calmly, his exquisitely sculpted face expressionless, "I will conceal my presence."

Aside from martial artists, all the other systems were flashy and elaborate, making Xu Qi'an smile with envy, "There's no time to lose, let's act as soon as possible."

Luo Yuheng nodded, waved his sleeve, and golden light enveloped Xu Qi'an, carrying him away from the room.

With a blink of an eye, Xu Qi'an saw the artificial hills in the back garden of the Pingyuan Marquis's mansion, and heard Luo Yuheng's textured female voice ask, "Is this the place?"

He responded and walked to a certain artificial hill, skillfully pressing the mechanism.

A "door" is opened on the surface of the artificial hill, revealing a dark hole.

"Imperial Preceptor, this is the underground cave," Xu Qi'an said.

Luo Yuheng nodded reservedly and followed him into the cave.

Soon, the two arrived at the stone chamber and saw the large stone disc, which was covered with twisted, strange incantations.

Luo Yuheng stood by the stone plate, looked at it carefully, and said, "The Earth Escape Technique is extremely high, and it does look like the handiwork of Senior Brother Jin Lian."

"Senior Brother Jinlian?"

Xu Qi'an expressed his doubts.

According to the feedback from the late emperor's daily records, Daoist Jinlian and the previous leader of the Human Sect were of the same generation. Back in Jianzhou, the avatar of the lsp Black Lotus once made a wild statement, calling Luo Yuheng his niece and saying that he wanted to cultivate with her.

The tall and beautiful Imperial Preceptor casually explained, "The leaders of the three sects are equal."

In terms of status, the three sect leaders are equal, so Master Jinlian is her senior brother. However, in terms of age, Jinlian and her father are of the same generation, so could he also be her uncle-master?

Xu Qi'an suddenly realized what was going on, and without stopping, he took out the fragment of the Earth Book and placed it on the stone plate.

Huaiqing Prefecture, Study.

With her hair piled high in a bun, wisps of hair hanging down, Huaiqing, who looked somewhat languid, sat on a soft chair in the study, in front of her a purple rhinoceros horn and sandalwood table that had been passed down from the Great Zhou Dynasty.

A sheet of paper was spread out on the table, and a purple brush dipped in ink rested quietly on a white jade brush rest. She lowered her eyes and stared blankly at the paper.

After a quarter of an hour of silence, Huaiqing finally picked up his pen and wrote down "26th year of Zhen De", "Pollution", "The first leader of the Earth Sect Daoist entered the demonic path", "The massacre of Chuzhou", "Soul Pill", etc.

If we assume that the leader of the Earth Sect is the culprit behind everything, Xu Qi'an's conjecture is reasonable and plausible.

Many of the clues discovered so far can be matched one by one. Although there are some inconsistencies, this is because the investigation has not yet been fully completed.

Therefore, there will be discrepancies in details, such as the purpose of the Earth Sect Master in corrupting the Emperor and the Prince of Huai.

"Father wanted to kill Hengyuan because Hengyuan saw the secret passage in the Pingyuan Marquis's mansion. In other words, Father knew about the existence of the Earth Sect leader. From the Chuzhou massacre until now, Father has been working for the benefit of the Earth Sect leader. What is his purpose?"

This is what Huaiqing finds most unreasonable. From her perspective, any alliance is unstable without mutual benefit.

"Unless Father is completely controlled by the leader of the Earth Sect, can Daoist Jinlian truly understand the intricacies and complexities of the court's power struggles?"

"The incident that exposed the collusion between the Emperor, the Prince of Huai, and the leader of the Earth Sect was the Chuzhou massacre. This shows that the Chuzhou massacre was very important to them, and the essence of this case is the Blood Pill and the Soul Pill."

"The Soul Pill is very important."

Time passed quietly, and before long, Huaiqing's bright and lovely ears twitched slightly as she caught the sound of footsteps approaching the study.

She quickly crumpled the paper into a ball, held it in her hand, and tucked it into her sleeve.

After waiting for about ten seconds, footsteps stopped at the door, and a palace maid's soft voice came from inside. "Your Highness, Miss Caiwei has arrived."

Huaiqing replied coldly, "Let her in."

After the palace maids withdrew, Chu Caiwei entered with cheerful steps, holding an orange in each of her small hands, and said sweetly, "Huaiqing, I want to eat mandarin fish."

Osmanthus fish is the specialty of the head chef at Huaiqing Mansion; it's unique and can't be found anywhere else.

Huaiqing smiled and said, "Alright, I'll have someone inform the kitchen."

Chu Caiwei happily pulled out a large bag of pastries from her deerskin pouch and shared the treat with Huaiqing.

They ate pastries and drank tea, chatting casually for a while. Huaiqing asked in his usual tone, "Caiwei, do you know about Soul Pills?"

"Huh, why is everyone asking about Soul Pills lately?"

Chu Caiwei looked at her best friend in surprise. "Xu Qi'an also came to the Star-Gazing Tower to check the Soul Pill a while ago, and even asked me about it. How could I possibly know? So I took him to the library."

"What is the use of the Soul Pill?" Huaiqing asked humbly.

Chu Caiwei immediately gave her a "you're lucky" look and snorted, "I didn't know at first, but I found out after reading a book with Xu Qi'an last time."

She paused, then said, "Soul Pills are wonderful things, with a wide range of uses: enhancing the Primordial Spirit, serving as materials for alchemy, crafting Law Treasure, repairing damaged souls, and nurturing artifact spirits."

As Huaiqing tried to repair his incomplete soul, his breathing suddenly became rapid, and he accidentally knocked over his teacup.

P. S.: Requesting monthly votes, and also official subscriptions. Also, a small piece of advice: read the book carefully.