Returning from the abyss

Chapter 1362 Northern States

One year old is eliminated amidst the sound of firecrackers.

Spring always comes earlier in the south of the Yangtze River, and the news of Dong Zai's death spread across the country along with the delivery of another official report.

The old emperor died and the new emperor was enthroned.

When Lu Ning returned to the house, she saw Lu Qingxu sitting in the yard, basking in the rare sunshine, looking at a new official newspaper, with a pot of wine at hand, and reading the newspaper.

Lu Ning scraped off the blood on her wrist and walked into the house.

"You're back? How's the water bandit?"

"They were not forced to become bandits, they were just a bunch of bandits. There were just too many of them, and there were several dens of bandits on the river, so it took some time to find them." Lu Ning replied, "But no evidence was found. I think such a conspiracy to harm people would not leave any trace."

"It's within expectations. But apart from Huai Lingyi's harm, I hope the people will have an easier time this year." Lu Qingxu nodded.

"The report has arrived. What about the situation in the capital..."

"First of all, the tone of this article is different from what was expected. The previous emperor passed away in Xingyin, but the officials had not returned yet, so they sent messengers from the palace to deliver the news. The officials in the capital, on the grounds that the country cannot be without a ruler for a day, first supported the crown prince to succeed the throne."

As soon as Lu Ning heard it, she knew something was wrong.

"Prime Minister Yuan..."

"Prime Minister Yuan was overly worried upon hearing the news of the late emperor's passing. He died of illness on New Year's Eve, following the late emperor." Lu Qingxu pointed at the official newspaper. "Perhaps Prime Minister Yuan had done something wrong, but if he were still alive, his words would still carry weight. Now that he is gone, no one will consider his thoughts anymore."

"People leave and the tea gets cold..."

"This is the current officialdom in the capital." Lu Qingxu sneered, "And since they acted first and reported later, even if Prime Minister Pei and Prime Minister Li brought people back to the capital, they would not be able to push down the emperor who has already ascended the throne for the sake of stability, even if they heard the imperial edict."

"Similar things must have happened. It's a pity that so many people died in the battle of Xingyin..."

"No, they didn't die for someone who met the requirements to inherit the throne. It was more like what you said - to establish a new human race between heaven and earth. Even though we don't know how to do it now, someone has to start it."

"Father, do you think this will have an impact in the future?"

"If you ask me, it's possible that this matter, which may be quite important to us, will actually be insignificant in the future." Lu Qingxu smiled and said, "Don't think too much. Go take a shower and have a rest."

"Okay." Lu Ning untied her hair tie and walked inside. Suddenly she remembered something and asked, "When are you leaving?"

"After the Lantern Festival, they didn't expect you to return to Huai Ling so soon." Lu Qingxu said, "By then, you will have to leave too."

"Yes."

"Going to Saibei?"

"Maybe I'll go around for a while first and then go there." Lu Ning hasn't thought it through completely yet. The activity scope of the fifth-level scene is too large, and the time span is long. She doesn't have the sense of urgency and clear goals she had before, so she still needs to adapt.

"I know you will definitely go, so I will give you a suggestion." Lu Qingxu waved his hand, "First, go to the various states in the north to take a look, and then go there."

Even if all the five northern states of the Wei Dynasty were transferred here, it would not be a large number. Lu Ning nodded and accepted the suggestion.

In the following days, she stayed at home, enjoying the rare leisure time. The death of the largest bandit force in Huai Ling within a few days did panic many people for a while, but later there was nothing else. Gradually, various rumors came out. The most outrageous one was that during the New Year, the gods passed by and saw the bandits making trouble, and struck them to death with a thunderbolt.

However, time passed quickly. Lu Ning felt that after she had rested for a few days, Shi Jun had already gathered everyone and prepared all the horses and vehicles. Lu Qingxu had saved some wealth for himself when he was an official. The state when he came back before was purely a sudden event. He left Beijing in a hurry to avoid subsequent problems.

Of course, Lu Ning felt that the bigger reason was that Lu Qingxu just wanted to come back like that and take her to see the local customs and practices along the way.

Lu Ning had already packed her bag. She didn't need to prepare too many things. According to Lu Qingxu, it was time for her to visit the important provincial capitals in the north.

=

When the Wei Dynasty was founded, it divided the world into eleven states, but later, due to the succession of the monarchs who were also very martial, the world was expanded to nineteen states. Among the five northern states, Lingzhou, the northernmost state, is the central area of ​​the current battle. Most of the towns have been captured by the Saibei army, and Qin Zhong is stationed here to confront the demon star.

On the flanks of Lingzhou are the two important places of Kuizhou and Yongzhou. Kuizhou has produced many heroes since ancient times. One quarter of the generals in the early years of the Wei Dynasty came from Kuizhou. When Qin Zhong sent troops this time, Kuizhou also provided enough troops.

Yongzhou was named "Yong" because of its geographical advantage and abundant water and grass. The products of the state alone were enough to meet the expenses of the entire Wei army in the northern part of the Great Wall. However, this year was a disaster year, and it was unknown whether it would be enough.

Huazhou is located in the heart of the Central Plains. Its capital city, Shangyu, was once the ancient capital of four dynasties. Even though Wei did not establish its capital here, it was still the most densely populated state in Wei. There were many famous families, and many officials from the northern faction came from here. Prime Minister Yuan Weinong also came from here.

With these four important states around, the fifth state in the north seems a little too ordinary.

There were dozens of cities and counties under Siming Prefecture in Dianzhou, but less than half of them had adequate officials. And in the rural areas below, although it was not as miserable as nine out of ten houses being empty, it was visibly sparsely populated.

In a roadside shed with a tattered tea banner, the rider took a pot of cold water from the boss, poured it into the water bag, kept a sip and poured it into his mouth, then wiped his mouth: "Ha! Boss, is this the Siming Prefecture?"

"Sir, you've taken the wrong road. To get to Siming Prefecture, you have to turn right from the intersection ahead." The boss took the kettle and pointed at the road. "Go right. Ride your horse for more than ten miles and you'll see a ruined temple. From there, turn left and you'll reach Siming Prefecture."

"so far."

"It's not that far. If I were ten years younger, I could go to Simingfu to sell vegetables every day." The boss said slowly, "But I'm old now. I can't do it anymore. My legs and feet hurt when I walk too much. It hurts in this cold weather. It's a late spring cold. A late spring cold."

The young man who asked for directions got on his horse, walked back for a while, and after retreating to the previous intersection, he whistled, and then a group of people came out from the human-high weeds around him.

"Boss Yuchi, how is it going ahead?"

"Go this way to Siming Prefecture." Yuchi Long pointed in the direction, "But before that, I have to tell you, once you take this road, you have to follow me all the way to the end. Once we get to the battlefield, if any of you is afraid to fight, don't blame me for not thinking about our brotherhood." "Boss, we all followed you out of that damn place Xingyin alive, what else is there to be afraid of?" a man responded.

"...A real battlefield is different from the fighting place like Xingyin." Yuchi Long shook his head with emotion. "Anyway, if you don't want to follow me, this is your last chance."

No one suggested leaving, Yuchi Long nodded with satisfaction and said loudly: "Okay! Then let's go to Siming Prefecture to make some corrections, and then go straight north to join Grand Tutor Qin!"

A group of people shouted in unison and then set out on the wild road.

At this time, the entire city of Siming Prefecture was in mourning.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he only issued a decree for three days of mourning for Dong Zai's death. However, there were always some people who made a big fuss in the hope of being noticed by some big shots in the capital and getting a chance for promotion.

This was exactly what happened in Siming Prefecture. The mourning period was supposed to be three days, but the prefect stretched it to a month and a half. The entire New Year atmosphere was washed away, and the city was bleak. Even if the inn was open, it couldn't use any means to attract customers - not only would the government investigate, but the surrounding colleagues would also report it.

But this kind of environment is quiet.

When night fell, Lu Ning rolled down from the house and landed lightly in the house.

The bleak situation in Siming Prefecture was not the norm in Dianzhou. There were even so many people here that Lu Ning felt that people were really good at forgetting. After all, this place was once the base camp of the Demon Cult. The old site of the Demon Cult was still in Yunyue Mountain within the jurisdiction of Siming Prefecture. Although the Demon Cult was destroyed in the battle, the large amount of demonic energy used by the Demon Cult caused poisonous gas to be emitted from time to time, and many unknown monsters were bred there. If they had not never left that area, it is estimated that there would be no one in this place now.

But Lu Ning felt that in this place, her skill cultivation speed was much faster—not the Senluo Jiuzhuan, but the two "immortal skills" that she accidentally obtained.

Breathing when the sun rises and sets every day has become her habitual practice. When she finished breathing, she returned to the house, took a handful of copper coins, and went downstairs to buy some food.

The first floor of the inn is a restaurant, which becomes much noisier at this time, at least making the place more popular. People always have to eat, and the food sold in the inn is not expensive, and is even much cheaper than many places dedicated to eating.

Lu Ning found a corner to sit down, not because she liked it, but because there was no other place today. This time she ordered a bowl of noodles, a pancake, and some side dishes as usual. There was no meat because there was not much meat in the inn, but some side dishes were mixed with lard, which made the dishes more meaty.

While waiting for the food, someone walked into the inn. The waiter looked around and finally led the guest to Lu Ning's table.

"Excuse me, young lady. Your table is the only one left. Can this guest share the table with you?" the waiter asked a little embarrassedly. "How about we give you another pot of tea?"

Lu Ning raised her head and saw a woman in green holding a long sword standing there, looking at her with a faint smile.

"...It doesn't matter."

"Thank you. Please take a seat, sir. The menus are on the wall. Please take a look and call the waiter when you have made your choice." The waiter seated the woman opposite Lu Ning and then went to greet other guests.

Lu Ning just listened to the discussion of those people in the inn and thought it was normal for the woman to sit here. However, the woman stared at Lu Ning for a while without hiding her gaze, so Lu Ning had to turn to her.

"What's up?"

"Fellow Taoist, do you have a master, or are you self-taught?" the woman asked.

This title is not common, and Lu Ning is not dressed as a Taoist priest, so this sentence can only refer to something else.

"——Fellow Daoist?" Only then did Lu Ning notice that the woman's internal energy was very strong. Even with her current internal energy of the seventh level of Senluo Jiuzhuan, she was unable to see through the other party's cultivation level.

"It seems that you don't have a master, and you just entered Taoism by chance. However, there are no sects in the world today. The teachings are passed down by word of mouth among the independent cultivators. No one knows what the canon is, so it doesn't matter whether you have a master or not."

"You are also a cultivator? How did you spot me?"

"Bone Contemplation is just a trivial skill." The woman chuckled. "When you cultivate the way of immortality, your bones and muscles begin to change, and you become different from ordinary people. Although you have just glimpsed the way, your bones and muscles have changed, and you are much better than those who don't know the way."

Lu Ning was still a little hesitant.

"Your doubts are normal. There are very few people who practice Taoism in the world. Regardless of whether they are human or demon, they all want to seek the Tao but cannot find the right way. Occasionally, there are lucky ones who happen to find the right path, but they suffer from a short life span and die with regrets. It is rare to find someone as young as you."

"You don't look old."

"Your constitution has changed. In ten years, you will still look like this," the woman replied.

Lu Ning touched her face in some confusion. Although breathing exercises did make her feel her strength improved, she couldn't directly detect the bone problems that the woman mentioned.

"It's just that we have the opportunity to meet, so I will say a few more words. Since you have entered this path, unless you die unexpectedly, we will meet again in ten or a hundred years. Then you will believe me." After the woman said this, she raised her hand to call the waiter and ordered some light dishes.

Lu Ning looked at the woman and could not see any difference between her and other people. However, after the Demon Eyes left the "Heaven", the effect was not as good. Now it can only be said that it is stronger than when she first got it. She can only say that below the Demon General, no demon can escape her eyes.

"If we meet again in the future, maybe. But since it's so rare to see you, may I know your name?"

"In and out of the world, practicing in the mortal world, I have used countless names, all of which are my real names, and none of which are real names." The green-clothed woman said, "If we are in this worldly relationship, you can just call me 'Li Ji'."

"I--"

"No need to tell. You are still a beginner, and your real name is not something that can be easily revealed to a cultivator." Li Ji pointed at his eyes, "There are many different people in the world, and their bone structures are all different. I remember your bones, so I can recognize you. If we meet someday, you just need to recognize me."

Lu Ning nodded as if she understood.

After Li Ji finished his meal, he did not stay and left after paying the bill, as if they were just casual acquaintances. However, Lu Ning paid more attention to the "cultivation" she mentioned.