Knife splashing

Chapter 739 The Conspiracy Begins to Emerge
At the end of Jiangmi Lane in the west of Beijing.

Inside the "Forget-Worries Residence" tavern, the lights were dim.

A light rain was falling outside the window, and several strings of dried chili peppers hung under the eaves. The shop was filled with the spiciness of liquor and the aroma of braised meat.

Kuai Dayou and Kong Shangzhao sat facing each other in a corner. On the table were a plate of peanuts, half a pot of loose wine, as well as braised beef and pork knuckle.

Kuai Dayou, with a full beard and bloodshot eyes, slammed his wine bowl down heavily, spilling wine that soaked his clothes.

He spat, "You son of a bitch Zhao Qingxu! You were just one step away, Brother Shang Zhao, from getting that Peach Capital Mountain wood! If you had known this would happen, you could have just gone straight to the execution ground. Why bother with all this trouble?"

Kong Shangzhao lowered his head and sipped his wine, his fingers tracing the rim of the bowl.

He was still wearing that faded scholar's robe, and he didn't say a word, clearly lost in thought.

As the saying goes, "friends forged in life and death," after going through a calamity, Lin Pangzi and his two companions became friends and would occasionally get together for drinks.

Kuai Da admired Kong Shangzhao's knowledge, and thus became closer to him.

Seeing Kong Shangzhao's state, Kuai Dayou moved closer and lowered his voice: "Brother Kong, you've been absent-minded ever since we came back from the Nine Gates Yinxu. I saw your pen trembling when you were copying 'A Study on the Evolution of the Grand Canal' in your room earlier."

"What's bothering you? Tell me. With our friendship, why would you keep it to yourself?"

Kong Shangzhao sighed deeply, pushed away the wine bowl, and his eyes became bloodshot: "Dayou, it's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's just that this cage... I've really had enough."

He looked around and saw that only their table was left in the small shop. Even the shopkeeper had gone to the back kitchen to take a nap. He complained in a low voice, "The Duweisi Courtyard is not much better than this. All day long, we are in that cramped corner, taking testimonies and checking case files. We are like machines that make people gain merit."

"I recently went to great lengths to find some clues about demon worship, but the credits were ultimately signed by those few yellow-robed sorcerers from the Imperial Clan Court!"

"I am nothing but a piece of paper, bowing and scraping before others, only to face the long, dark nights by the dim lamp in my room!"

Just as Kuai Dayou was about to offer some words of comfort, Kong Shangzhao suddenly clenched his fist, his voice hoarse: "I want to leave, Dayou! People like the Twelve Yuanchen, roaming the world freely, traveling north and south, that's what life is all about!"

"But...but I can't leave!"

"What's preventing you from leaving?"

Kuai Dayou rolled his eyes. "Your legs are your own, can't you even leave the Commandery? I've said it before, the government is a deep sea, not a place to stay for long."

"However, following the Twelve Yuan Chen is not a good idea either. Look at the powerful enemies those people have provoked. With your small frame, you'll only end up dying sooner or later!"

"In short, the Commandery is definitely not a good place; it's best to leave as soon as possible."

"It's not that easy."

Kong Shangzhao lowered his voice, full of shame, "As you know, I offended the main branch of the Qufu family back then. If it weren't for Lord Luo Mingzi's intervention, I would have been expelled from the ancestral hall by the family and become a vagrant. I might even have lost my life."

"The lord himself promised me: 'Shang Zhao, stay in the capital and I will quell the troubles in your family.' If I leave, wouldn't I become a treacherous coward? The walls of the capital are thicker than the imperial prison!"

Kuai Dayou's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he slammed his hand on the table, laughing so loudly that the bowls and plates rattled: "Just for this? You bookworm, you've been going around in circles!"

He grabbed the wine jug, filled Kong Shangzhao's cup, and grinned, revealing a sly smile. "Lord Luo keeps his promises, and you uphold righteousness, that's true. But can't we 'ride the wave'?"

Kong Shangzhao was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

After downing his drink in one gulp, Kuai Dayou laughed and said, "Those guys from the Twelve Zodiacs are now frequent visitors to the Commandery—the steam engine case, the Japanese demon rebellion, every major case is related to them."

"Tomorrow, find an excuse to go to the archives and spread the word that a 'ghost mask' has recently appeared in the Caohe River, possibly related to the theft of the Taodu Mountain timber. The Commandery will definitely request the Twelve Zodiacs to take action!"

"Then I'll have someone feign a report saying: 'The case involves ancient illustrations and scriptures, and only someone as knowledgeable in ancient texts as you, Kong Shangzhao, can decipher it!'"

“We can also come up with some ‘tricks,’ such as ‘losing’ a few key tokens during the handover, or having a sorcerer launch a feigned attack to force you to leave the capital with the team—if the case is halfway through, you can then legitimately follow Li Yan, thus saving face and fulfilling your wishes!”

Kong Shangzhao froze, the smell of alcohol rising in his head, his cheeks flushing red:

"This...this is deceiving Lord Luo, isn't it?"

Just as Kuai Dayou was about to explain in detail, the wooden door of the tavern creaked open, and Fatty Lin rushed in, his clothes damp. He shook off his oil-paper umbrella and placed it aside. "Damn it! The East City inspection of ship materials has failed again. You two are hiding here having a good time!"

He brushed the rain off his sleeves, plopped down, and without any ceremony, picked up Kong Shangzhao's bowl and started gulping it down.

Kuai Dayou's eyes flickered, and he turned to Fatty Lin: "It's perfect timing that you're here. I really can't stand this foolish scholar anymore. Come with me and try to persuade him..."

Then he recounted what had just happened.

Fatty Lin pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "This method is inappropriate."

"What kind of place is the Commandery? They can see through your little tricks at a glance. If things turn sour, past favors won't matter. But I have something I need your help with."

"Although my Lin family is a prominent clan in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the rise of maritime trade, the heavy taxes imposed by the imperial court, the misfortunes suffered by our fleets at sea, and the invasion and plunder by Japanese pirates have resulted in heavy losses. The situation of our clan is now very bad."

"Although I dislike getting involved in these things, I can't bear to see my father's hair turn white with worry, so I have to find a way to help the clan get through this calamity."

As he spoke, he turned and stared intently at Kuai Dayou: "Brother Dayou, you are skilled in esoteric arts and can forge water and fire spirit weapons. Would you be willing to help me find spirit wood to make the hull of the ship? Ancient books record that there were many spirit woods in ancient times that could withstand the Qi of Gang and Sha. If we can find them, the ship can cleave through the waves like a god and pass through those dangerous areas."

"Easy to say!"

Kuai Dayou patted his chest generously, “But there’s one thing: ordinary spirit wood can’t withstand the storms of the ocean. We have to find good materials. We may be familiar with each other, but I can’t ruin my own reputation.”

Fatty Lin said with a wry smile, "I sought out the Peach Blossom Mountain wood precisely for this matter, but alas..."

Hearing the two talking, Kong Shangzhao seemed to be thinking. He took out half of the "Illustrated Study of Mountains and Seas" from his bosom. The corners of the pages were yellowed. He read in a low voice, "This rare copy of 'Hailing Guangji' mentions 'the Bohai dragon tree that connects to the Nine Abysses,' which seems to be in the vicinity of Jinling."

"oh?!"

Fatty Lin's eyes lit up, and he smiled and said, "Brother Kong, don't worry, leave this to me. It will not only free you from your suffering, but also make things perfectly legitimate!"

…………

Emperor Xiao Qixuan's determination was as overwhelming as a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down.

Less than half a day after Zhao Wujiu left, a secret order in vermilion and gold was sent like thunder to the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Treasury. In an instant, resources from the entire capital region began to flow towards Qiankun Academy.

On the main road from Chengtianmen to the academy, there was an unprecedented flow of carriages and horses.

The heavy wooden wheels creaked and groaned as they rolled over the bluestone slabs. The goods being transported were no ordinary cargo; they were all covered with thick felt and guarded by elite soldiers of the Beijing garrison, clad in iron armor and with sharp eyes.

A specially made carriage pulled by six strong horses slowly drove into the side gate of the academy, and dozens of shirtless men shouted in unison as they carefully unloaded a huge object covered with an oilcloth.

When the tarpaulin was lifted, a strange stone, the size of a water vat, was revealed. Its color was as dark as ink, yet it faintly shimmered with gold threads.

This is a newly discovered Zhenhai Stone Essence in Lingnan. It is impervious to swords and blades, and unaffected by water and fire. What is even more precious is that it contains a trace of innate water energy, making it a top-grade material for carving the base of deity statues.

Another group of people were escorting rare treasures in sandalwood boxes.

The box was opened, and a fragrant mist filled the air.

The mutton-fat white jade, formed from the depths of the Kunlun Mountains in the Western Regions and condensed from millennia of icy cold; the "Cloud Thunder Crystal," formed over a thousand years beneath the Lei Huo Rock strata in Sichuan; and a whole piece of warm and lustrous green jade mined from an old pit in Liaodong…

Each and every item is priceless, yet they have been transported here without any hesitation. These are all rare treasures of heaven and earth.

Each piece, potentially stained with the blood of many, is priceless, yet now it is to be used as ordinary material to shape the bones, flesh, tendons, and fascia of "True Lord Suilun's" body.

The once spacious warehouse area of ​​the academy was instantly filled with all kinds of rare treasures piled up like mountains, making Yan Jiuling, who was in charge of counting the items, feel his scalp tingle.

This is no longer a simple extravagance, but rather the mobilization of the entire nation's resources, all for the purpose of forging that divine statue—a crucial instrument for the transformation of humanity and a symbol of the Great Luo Dharma Realm—before midnight the day after tomorrow.

The pressure, like a mountain, weighed on Yuanfeng and Yan Jiuling's shoulders, and permeated every inch of the air in the entire academy.

Zhao Wujiu's words, "At all costs," still echoed in my ears.

With only two days and two nights left, the time was limited.

In the core area of ​​the workshop where the casting furnace is located, the furnace fire burns day and night, and the temperature is terrifyingly high.

Tao Fengchun, the master of the Mo Sect, had not closed his eyes for a day and a night. His muscular body, which looked as if it had been cleaved by a knife and axe, showed signs of fatigue and relaxation. However, his bright eyes were sharper than ever before, as if they were burning with two flames of spirit.

"Hurry up! You brats from the Xuan Gong and Jing Yi departments, mark the Three Talents Inlay Array patterns you learned yesterday clearly on the mold! If you make even the slightest mistake and delay the statue's finalization, I'll break your legs!" Tao Fengchun's roar, mixed with the deafening sound of hammering, was powerful and resounding.

He knew the significance of the idol.

If the forging is successful, it will be recorded in history.

Even if I die from exhaustion because of this, my life will have been worthwhile.

Countless craftsmen shuttled back and forth, their faces covered in dust and sweat, which was then dried by the high temperature, leaving behind white salt stains.

The top craftsmen from the Imperial Workshop, the Five Military Commissions' Office of Works, and even major shipyards in the south were temporarily recruited and gathered here.

These once arrogant and prejudiced master craftsmen now had to humble themselves and work together under Tao Fengchun's coordination.

Disputes and arguments are inevitable, but the efficiency achieved is something that is usually hard to match.

The main body of the statue has been basically finalized. It uses a unique "thousand-forged gold bone" technique, with a special alloy as the skeleton, and rare "mica glue" mixed with refined metal powder to fill and shape it. Finally, magical artifact components carefully carved by Xuan Gong disciples are embedded in it.

The most important part is the ritual of "filling the statues with filth".

Ordinary deity statues are simply filled with scriptures, grains, gold and silver, and silk symbolizing the five internal organs, in order to pray for the deity to return to its rightful place.

However, the birth of "Suilun Zhenjun" is of far greater significance than that of ordinary mortal gods.

Its essence is to embed the core of that original steam engine into the belly of the statue, as the central hub for communicating the will of human reform and the two vital energies of heaven and earth!
This core is already quite large, and it uses Lu Ban's secret method to encase the unknown magical materials inside. Once it is disassembled, it will be destroyed.

Yuanfeng had already learned about the properties of the treasures inside through secret methods.

The steam engine capable of driving the Yin-Yang and Qi-Qi is the highest secret of the Academy and the Mo Sect. Only three people know about it, and it will never be revealed to outsiders.

Li Yan stood on the temporary wooden corridor erected high up in the workshop, looking down at the bustling yet orderly scene below.

He frowned, his expression grave as he looked around.

Despite having so many guards, including Grandmaster Huo Yin, he remained uneasy, a chill lingering in his heart.

The Heavenly Official's mission requires you to protect the statue until it is stable.

If anyone covets this item, they can only wait until the statue is successfully forged and then send it to the Temple of the God of Earth for consecration and worship. Even the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect can do nothing about it.

Among the busy craftsmen in the distance, an old man looked up and quickly glanced at him before lowering his head again, carrying several boxes, and walking towards the warehouse.

His hair and beard were all white, and he was thin and somewhat hunched over.

Although he is not particularly striking in appearance, he has quite a background.

His name was Lu Chengye. He was a senior official in the Imperial Workshop of the Five Military Governors' Office and a top woodworking master of his time, especially skilled at handling ancient and rare wood materials imbued with spirituality.

When the academy was established, he was specially invited to be a master craftsman.

Although not as famous as Tao Fengchun, he was still very well-known.

Upon arriving at the warehouse, the security was even tighter.

Not only were there experts from the Divine Fist Sect personally selected and appointed by Huo Yin, but also several inner court officials, all of whom were sinister old eunuchs with faces as pale as paper.

Just by standing there, his eyes sent chills down your spine.

Lu Chengye frequently visited, so he was naturally not made things difficult for.

Rumble~
The heavy black iron gate slowly opened a corner, and an aura mixed with sandalwood, metallic sharpness, and the unique scents of various spiritual materials and treasures surged out.

"Master Lu, you've finally arrived!"

Yan Jiuling, who was taking inventory, saw this and hurried over, saying helplessly, "The imperial court has sent too many treasures. We need to register which ones are usable and which ones are not, and return the ones we don't need."

“There are many things that even treasure hunters don’t recognize; we still have to rely on you.”

"You're too kind, Lord Yan."

Lu Chengye nodded blankly, then went to the pile of treasures and examined them one by one, his eyes focused, his calloused fingers trembling slightly.

"This is the essence of the sea, from the imperial treasury, isn't it? I remember it was a congratulatory gift from Jiaodong during His Majesty's birthday celebration. It's a fine item, but we're not really needed..."

"This item is made of metal, stone, and wood. See the jade-like insects on it? They are remnants of strange insects from the prehistoric era. You can keep it and send it to Master Tao..."

"Master Lu is indeed very knowledgeable!"

He selected them one by one, drawing praise from everyone.

Finally, at the end of this batch of top-grade spirit wood, there stood a single piece of charred black ancient wood, about three feet long and as thick as a bowl.

At first glance, the wood looks unremarkable, as if it had been severely burned by lightning or fire, with twisted and broken grain and some carbonized peeling on the surface.

Mixed among the radiant and precious woods like sandalwood and dragon blood yew, it looked out of place, as if it were a second-rate product just to make up the numbers.

The list was simply marked: "Spare ancient lightning-struck wood," which is said to have the effect of warding off evil spirits and attracting lightning, and was temporarily requisitioned.

No one noticed the barely perceptible tremor in Lu Chengye's hand as he brushed against the black wood, a tremor caused by extreme fear.

No one noticed that when his fingertips touched the black, cracked wood, a chilling yet maddening evil thought pierced his mind along his fingertips.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, save me..."

The girl's voice echoed in his mind.

A flicker of pain crossed Lu Chengye's eyes, but he said calmly, "This item is usable. I will take it with me later as a belt buckle for a divine lord..."

(End of this chapter)