Luo Yuheng's Social Death

The courtyard gate opened, and Baihu led eight cloaked figures into the hall.

The hall was brightly lit by candlelight, where Ji Xuan and his team, as well as a fourth-rank secret agent from the Tianji Palace stationed in Yongzhou City, were seated.

Ji Xuan rose to greet him, cupping his hands in greeting:

"I've met several senior colleagues."

The leader, Canglong, grunted in acknowledgment, nodded to Xu Yuanshuang and Xu Yuanhuai, and took his seat. The seven cloaked figures stood silently behind him.

"Have you found that person?"

"I ask," Canglong asked, his voice hoarse and low, as if he had injured his throat.

"You should know that even if the Palace Master himself came, it would be very difficult to find that person."

"A fourth-rank secret agent from the Heavenly Mystery Palace said calmly."

Azure Dragon nodded, and a hoarse, deep voice came from beneath his cloak:

"Where is the host of the dragon energy?"

"Still searching," replied the secret agent from Tianji Palace.

After a moment of silence, Canglong spoke in an icy tone:

"I am very dissatisfied with your efficiency. The Buddhist School, the Heavenly Mystery Palace, and you lot have been working for days, and not only have you failed to find that person, you haven't even found a single host of dragon energy."

Was that person referring to Xu Qian or Sun Xuanji? Ji Xuan and the others wondered to themselves.

"Yongzhou City has a population of hundreds of thousands; finding a single person accurately is like searching for a needle in a haystack," said a fourth-rank secret agent.

"The length of time doesn't matter, as long as we find the dragon energy host before that person."

"Tell me your plans." Canglong remained noncommittal, not dwelling on the topic.

The secret agent from the Heavenly Secrets Palace slowly said:

"It's simple. Find the dragon energy host that Young Master Ji Xuan encountered in Qingzhou. He is one of the nine dragon energies, enough to lure that person out. In order to be faster than the opponent, Buddhist School monks will be 'patrolling' Yongzhou City day and night."

"He will inevitably hesitate to act rashly and hinder the search. We can then take this opportunity to find the host."

"Currently, it is known that Xu Qian has two close associates: the head of the Daoist sect, Luo Yuheng, and the Bureau of Astronomy, Sun Xuanji."

Azure Dragon raised his hand, interrupting:

Does he know our fighting strength?

"The Buddhist School has already alerted them; they know the number of Buddhist School experts. As for you," Chen, the secret agent, glanced at Xu Yuanshuang and said:

They probably already know what's going on.

Canglong glanced at Xu Yuanshuang, but didn't ask any further questions, and said:

"In that case, he's more likely to give up on this dragon energy. There are nine dragon energies; giving up one that's almost impossible to obtain and leaving Yongzhou to search for the others is a better choice."

A secret agent from the Heavenly Secrets Palace laughed:

"No hunt is guaranteed to be fruitful, so the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations will cease all missions, lie in wait in the martial world, track Xu Qian's whereabouts, and capture him."

"If he backs down, we will gladly accept the dragon energy and bring the host back to Qianlong City. Preventing the Great Feng from gathering the dragon energy is also our task. The longer the dragon energy is scattered outside, the more chaotic the Great Feng will become."

At this moment, Xu Yuanhuai shouted, "Azure Dragon, when we hunted Xu Qian, I want you to kill him."

Azure Dragon let out a hoarse laugh:

"His life is extremely precious. Does Young Master Yuan Huai have a grudge against him?"

Xu Yuanhuai gritted his teeth. "The hatred runs deep."

Xu Yuanshuang, sitting next to him, had her head down, elbows resting on the armrests of the chair, and her right hand supporting her forehead, looking like she didn't want to talk.

She knew that Xu Yuanhuai was convinced that she had been defiled by Xu Qian, and he didn't believe her explanations at all.

If you can't find a supporting explanation for this kind of thing, no one will believe you; it will only make things worse.

Xu Yuanshuang has given up.

Canglong said calmly, "When the time comes, capture Xu Qian, and let the young master torture him as he pleases, just spare his life."

His tone was relaxed and confident.

Qi Huan Danxiang chimed in:

"This person's methods are bizarre; he is proficient in several types of Gu poison, and is well worth investigating."

Liu Hongmian chuckled:

" With Buddhist School second-grade Arhat, a third-grade Vajra, and the Seven Constellations of the Azure Dragon, plus our assistance, we can form an encirclement. Once Xu Qian takes the bait, he will have no chance of escape, and no one can save him."

Everyone agreed with her.

The main force of the hunt consisted of experts at the Transcendent Realm, but Ji Xuan's team, as well as the fourth-rank experts from the Heavenly Mystery Palace, were equally formidable.

Every fourth-rank master is a renowned figure in the martial arts world, far from being a nobody.

Ji Xuan suddenly asked, "How can we guarantee that the Buddhist School will not go back on its word and will not compete with us for the dragon energy?"

The Seven Constellations of Azure Dragon possess combat strength comparable to a third-rank official, but they are still far inferior to the Buddhist School forces within Yongzhou City.

Chen, the secret agent, replied:

There's no need to worry about that.

He offered no explanation.

Ji Xuan slowly scanned the crowd, lowered his head, and a slight smile played on his lips.

The snow fell heavily, and soon a thin layer of snow accumulated on the official road outside the city.

Two figures draped in cloaks moved through the wind and snow, their footsteps making a soft "crunch" sound.

"The city gates are closed."

The tall and robust Hengyuan raised his head and glanced at the dark city wall.

Between the tightly closed city gates and the dark city walls, two characters are engraved: Yongzhou!

They followed the two seniors of the Heavenly Sect all the way to Yongzhou.

After a period of arduous training, Hengyuan finally mastered the Vajra Divine Skill, and his combat strength reached the fourth rank.

But the solemnity and sorrow between his brows also increased day by day.

Chu Yuanzhen summoned his flying sword and said, "Let's enter the city."

"Etc."

Hengyuan looked towards the city gate and whispered, "Someone's there."

He slowly approached. Two figures were huddled at the city gate, one tall and one short, dressed in tattered clothes. One was an old man with a wrinkled face, and the other was a thin, bony child.

They appear to be a grandmother and grandson.

They clung to each other tightly in the cold wind and snow, their last embers of life long since extinguished.

"Amitabha."

Hengyuan tried to separate them, but found that the grandfather and grandson were completely frozen, like cold, lifeless sculptures.

This monk, who was clearly a martial monk but had a strong sense of compassion, dug a pit in the ground, which was mixed with icicles and as hard as iron, with his bare hands and buried the bodies of the grandfather and grandson.

He sat in front of the grave, reciting scriptures for the deceased.

Chu Yuanzhen stood aside watching, remaining silent.

They have encountered this many times since the beginning of winter.

Every year people freeze to death, but this winter has been particularly hard. Those from impoverished families are still managing to survive.

Those who are displaced, whether refugees or beggars, are unlikely to survive this winter.

So, how many people will die this winter?

Chu Yuanzhen didn't know, but he did know that such a population reduction would bring extremely terrible negative consequences.

He knew all too well that this was just the prelude.

Winter has only just begun.

But the whole winter is still just the prelude.

"Let's go back!"

Chu Zhuangyuan said softly, his words unclear whether he was speaking to the grandfather and grandson in the grave or to himself.

Green Apricot Garden.

Xu Qi'an woke up at the appointed time and felt the soft, warm body in his arms. He subconsciously wrapped his arms around the other person's waist and buried his face in the beauty's neck.

The next moment, he suddenly opened his eyes and realized that something was wrong.

Last night's dual cultivation ended in the hot spring with the "conservative" Luo Yuheng half-heartedly resisting, adding another point to Xu Qi'an's "experience".

The physical pleasure derived from dual cultivation in water is no better than that in bed.

But the experience of dual cultivation, the sensory stimulation, and the level of psychological satisfaction... hehehe.

After returning to the room, Luo Yuheng, who was in a state of sagehood, did not let him in; Xu Qi'an rested in the outer room.

So the question is, who is the woman in his arms?

It's Luo Yuheng!

In Xu Qi'an's sight, the Imperial Preceptor's stunning face appeared. Today, she was like a lilac in the morning mist, bearing a faint sorrow.

"Woke up?"

Luo Yuheng smiled, rested her head on his shoulder, and whispered:

"Don't move, I want to lean against you like this, it makes me feel more at ease."

As she spoke, she closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly like fans.

The Imperial Advisor seems different today. Xu Qi'an observed the enemy's situation, his mind racing through the seven emotions. Fear, anger, and desire had passed; of the remaining four emotions, which one represented her now?

After an unknown amount of time, listening to the sound of wind and snow outside, Luo Yuheng wrapped her arms around his neck and said softly:

"Go up to the attic to view the snow."

There are many pavilions in Qingxingyuan, the tallest of which is a four-story building.

Each floor has an observation deck, which Gongsun Xiangyang used to entertain guests and enjoy panoramic views.

In the fourth-floor bar, on a soft mat, Luo Yuheng nestled in Xu Qi'an's arms, wearing a long Daoist robe, her breasts half-exposed, her hair disheveled.

Her face was flushed, her eyes were alluring, and she was still immersed in the afterglow of pleasure.

Xu Qi'an held a wine glass in one hand and had the other arm around the National Preceptor's shoulder. He entered a state of sagehood, gazing at the gray sky without joy or sorrow. The snow continued to fall.

Luo Yuheng took the wine cup from his hand, drank it all in one gulp, and sighed softly:

I raise my cup and drink alone, watching the snow fall as another year passes in a daze.

"Xu Qi'an, do you know my age?"

Xu Qi'an tentatively asked, "Forty?"

Luo Yuheng remained silent, his sorrow deepening.

"What's this? Once you overcome the Heavenly Tribulation, you'll become a terrestrial immortal, with a long lifespan and eternal youth. Even at four hundred years old, you'll be more beautiful and captivating than an eighteen-year-old woman."

Xu Qi'an immediately showered him with sweet words.

Luo Yuheng shook his head slightly, "I'm old enough to be your mother, Mu Nanzhi is right."

She looked sorrowful. "I know I'm not a good match for you; if word gets out, it will only make me a laughingstock."

Xu Qi'an's lips twitched; he was somewhat at a loss for how to respond.

This imperial advisor is a literary young woman!

When talking to a female intellectual, a careless remark might touch a raw nerve.

If it were any other female literary youth, Xu Qi'an wouldn't bother with them.

But since he was the Imperial Advisor, a thought stirred within him, and he said with deep affection:

"Love knows no age or race. My feelings for the Imperial Advisor are mutual, so why should I care about other people's opinions?"

Life is precious, but love is even more so.

"The Imperial Advisor is more important to me than life itself."

When it comes to sweet talk, Xu Bai Piao's skill level is actually no worse than that of the Holy Son.

However, the women he's involved with are all highly skilled, so sweet talk doesn't work well; only the most beautiful women will be delighted.

Xu Qi'an said these words because he wanted to drag the Imperial Advisor down with him.

While she's in her artsy, intellectual mode, encourage her to say things that she'll later be so ashamed she'll want to roll on the floor in embarrassment.

Life is precious, but love is even more so. Luo Yuheng murmured this several times, a strange blush rising on her face, and softly said:

"My twenty years of hardship have not been in vain; I refused to compromise with Emperor Yuanjing. Once your journey through the martial world is over, we will officially become dao companion."

Xu Qi'an patiently and skillfully guided him:

"Say you love me."

Luo Yuheng's face flushed red, and she said reproachfully, "You're so annoying."

"Quickly call Xu Lang."

"Xu, Xu Lang."

Xu Qi'an shivered, his skin crawling with goosebumps, but he felt incredibly excited.

Haha, Grand Preceptor, you've finally met your match! Once the dual cultivation is over and you're back to normal, you'll be rolling on the ground in shame when you think back on these seven days. Let's see how you put on airs in front of me then.

Luo Yuheng blushed for a moment, then her expression turned to sorrow, and she sighed, saying:

"On that day, Jinlian told me that I possessed great fortune and was the best partner for dual cultivation, capable of helping me extinguish the fires of karma, which I initially resisted."

"Dual cultivation means becoming dao companion, but at that time, you were just a lowly silver gong."

"But later, as you gradually began to show your talent, after the massacre of Chuzhou, I actually came to accept you in my heart. I felt that if you grew up, it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to be my dao companion."

"From that time on, I thought about how to improve our relationship. But I'm old enough to be your mother, and as both the Imperial Preceptor and the Daoist Master, I really couldn't bring myself to do it. I was troubled by this for a long time."

"I hesitated for a long time just to give you the talisman sword. Later, when you went to Chuzhou, I still only sent the talisman out through Chu Yuanzhen. Actually, I wanted to give it to you in person."

"Later, because you needed to investigate Yuan Jing, you had to ask for my help, and I was secretly delighted at the time."

The more Xu Qi'an listened, the more uneasy he felt. At this point, he suddenly panicked.

Imperial Advisor, please shut up, I beg you.

I just wanted you to die, I didn't want to die.

Luo Yuheng has revealed her innermost feelings. What does this mean?

This means that once she recovers and remembers these words, she will most likely kill him to silence him.

"What's wrong? Your heart is beating so fast."

Luo Yuheng frowned.

"No, it's nothing, I'm just a little scared."

Xu Qi'an gave a stiff, forced smile.

That said, this also confirmed that Luo Yuheng did indeed have feelings for him, and it wasn't just a matter of her using him.

The "Ai" personality inherited his goodwill towards him, but it was likely exaggerated; the real Luo Yuheng's feelings for him were not so exaggerated.

However, that was in the past.

After this dual cultivation, this affection will more or less undergo a qualitative change.

At this moment, Luo Yuheng frowned slightly and looked outside. "Someone is attacking the barrier."

She quickly wrapped her robe around herself and fastened her belt to cover her exposed skin.

Xu Qi'an had already gotten up and strolled to the observation deck, looking down at the viewpoint.

Below the white expanse, Li Lingsu stood on the path, manipulating her flying sword to continuously attack the barrier.

He didn't seem to notice Xu Qi'an on the lookout tower.

Only after Luo Yuheng removed the talisman did the Holy Son sense something, look up, and loudly proclaim:

"Senior, a message has arrived from the Gongsun family; they've found the boy you're looking for."

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