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Chapter 370 Let's Test the Quality (Part 3)

The maid bowed, accepted the order, and withdrew to make the arrangements.

The river supervisor, who was listening nearby, felt his eyelids twitch.

The Crown Princess is indeed extravagant. In the eyes of people like them, Ruan Tianye's ticket is a certificate of "making a fortune every day"!

As a result, the Crown Princess casually took out a card.

The river supervisor, eager to curry favor, bowed and said, "Everything you asked me to prepare has been ready."

"Lead me over there."

"As ordered."

The barracks where the river garrison was last stationed are still standing.

The river management bureau dispatched personnel to maintain a tight watch.

In the very center of the camp, where the commander's tent used to be, a huge pit has been dug out.

It measures fifteen zhang in length and width.

The pit was filled with water, which was murky.

Every now and then a few bubbles would rise to the surface, indicating that something was indeed living in the pit.

The Crown Princess stood in front of the pit, her nose twitching slightly.

The cracks in the skin widened further because of this movement.

She frowned in pain.

But she could smell everything in the water and was quite satisfied with the river supervisor: "Not bad."

The river supervisor, flattered by the praise, rubbed his hands excitedly: "Time is of the essence, and this is all we can find for now. Your Highness, rest assured, I have ordered the canal gang to capture as many as possible, regardless of casualties, and more will be sent over soon."

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness." The Crown Princess nodded and walked towards the giant pit. "You may all step back."

"As ordered."

He Jian and Gao Wanli quickly withdrew.

The two burly martial artists brought by the Crown Princess stood to the side, their hands on their swords, facing outwards, their eyes like those of hawks, exuding a murderous aura, not allowing anyone to approach or disturb them.

The Crown Princess walked to the edge of the giant pit, and her clothes fell to the ground.

Then he walked naked into the water.

The water surface immediately boiled over.

Many water snakes, eels, crocodiles, loaches, turtles, and other creatures, as if drawn by the strongest temptation, rushed toward the Crown Princess without regard for anything else.

The Crown Princess relaxed her entire body and floated on the water like a corpse.

Three or four out of ten of these things in the water are evil spirits!

They kept tearing and ripping, pulling off scales and skin from the Crown Princess's body, and then greedily swallowing them!
The Crown Princess was in immense pain, but she gritted her teeth and endured it without uttering a sound.

Hundreds of water snakes and crocodiles managed to tear off less than 10% of the scales and skin from the Crown Princess's body.

Anything swallowed would soon float to the surface, belly up.

They were poisoned to death.

The water churned violently for about fifteen minutes, and all the creatures in the giant pit were poisoned to death.

Everything was calm again.

After the excruciating pain, the Crown Princess let out a groan of immense relief.

Then she came out of the water and put her clothes back on.

"go back."

……

Gao Wanli stirred up some trouble, carefully accompanied the Crown Princess to a meal, and was then sent away.

On the way back, Gao Wanli was full of complaints.

"I'd heard that the Princess Consort of Xiang was good at pretending, but I didn't expect her to be such a good actress!"

"They even sent a maid to question the biggest evil spirit in Ghost Witch Mountain. Tsk tsk tsk, even the Dragon King of the Grand Canal himself didn't have such a grand display!"

“If Master Ruan were so easily manipulated, there would be no place like Ghost Mountain.”

She returned to the Zhancheng government office, cursing under her breath. When she arrived at the gate of her courtyard, she saw Lang Xiaoba seemingly passing by. He then headed towards Xu Yuan's direction.

Gao Wanli glanced at them suspiciously, then scolded them angrily, "You even sent someone to watch me?"

"You're about to be in big trouble, humph!"

……

Lang Xiaoba reported to Lord Xu that Gao Wanli had returned.

Xu Yuan nodded.

Not long after, Miao Yan arrived as well.

The Third Sister Society has already sent people to infiltrate the Canal Gang.

Miao Yanlai reported to Lord Xu everything that had happened at the dock that day.

A little while later, Zhu Zhanlei arrived leisurely: "I found out that the one who came this time is the Crown Princess of Xiang."

Xu Yuan asked, "Be more specific?"

Zhu Zhanlei grinned and said, "It wasn't easy to find out this information for you, hehehe."

Xu Yuan then said, "Then how about I deposit another five hundred taels of silver into the White Moon Pavilion for you?"

Zhu Zhanlei shook his head repeatedly: "Don't save anymore! I haven't even spent much of what I saved last time, but my sister went there and used it all up."

Not only mine, but my brother-in-law also spent all of the 1,200 taels of silver he had deposited there!

Sigh, sigh, sigh—

We two are now filled with anger towards Zhu Sanya, but we dare not speak out.

"Hahaha," Xu Yuan couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

“We’re friends,” Zhu Zhanlei suddenly said. “Friends should help each other, right?”

"That's natural."

"I helped you this time. Next time you have a chance to do something good, don't forget to call me."

Xu Yuan made a gesture: "Absolutely no problem."

Zhu Zhanlei then said, "The Crown Princess has been stuck at the fifth rank for four or five years. It is said that she found a way to advance to the fourth rank a long time ago, but for some reason she has not been able to break through."

The Prince of Xiang's mansion values ​​this Crown Princess very much, and even the Crown Prince... is said to be quite afraid of his wife.

Outsiders say that if you need something from the Prince of Xiang, you don't need to ask him directly; as long as the Crown Princess agrees, the matter is already half settled.

At this point, Zhu Zhanlei paused slightly, then lowered his voice and said, "There's another matter. About four years ago, when the Crown Princess was preparing to be promoted to the fourth rank, the Xiang Prince's mansion suddenly had a new batch of servants."

About 80% of the servants were replaced.

The Prince of Xiang's Mansion claimed that these people were old and, out of consideration for their advanced age and frailty, they were given a resettlement allowance and dismissed.

But in reality, these people are all probably dead. There are even rumors that they all died of poisoning overnight!

Xu Yuan frowned: "Because of the Crown Princess?"

"What kind of 'dragon' the Crown Princess really is remains a mystery to outsiders. But after this incident, everyone speculates that this 'dragon' is extremely poisonous!"

Xu Yuan understood and nodded slowly. At the same time, he planned to contact Bai Laoyan and Gao Guanzi to send him more medicinal herbs to greatly enhance the medicinal pills.

Zhu Zhanlei then asked, "Why are you staring at her?"

"She was invited by Gao Wanli."

Zhu Zhanlei was impatient with these government affairs, so he stopped asking.

"Let's go have a drink."

"Shall we go to the White Moon Pavilion again?"

Zhu Zhanlei, scratching his teeth, said, "Old Xu, something's not right with you. You seem really afraid to go to Baiyue Pavilion lately?"

"Nonsense!" Xu Yuan's voice rose involuntarily: "I simply dislike the White Moon Pavilion."

Zhu Zhanlei stared at him suspiciously, making Xu Yuan feel very guilty. He was racking his brains to come up with various excuses... Zhu Zhanlei waved his hand: "Fine, you don't have to go then."

Xu Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

……

With the river supervisor personally overseeing the operation, the chief steward of the canal gang, along with dozens of trusted subordinates, was carefully retrieving the poisoned creatures from the giant pit.

The head steward of the canal gang at the dock died mysteriously not long ago.

But for the river management bureau, it's just a matter of changing their "leader".

Within the canal gang, the struggle for the position of "head dog" resulted in several deaths.

The current head steward is more highly regarded by the river supervisor than the previous one.

"Be careful," the river supervisor said. "Make sure you don't get it on your hands or feet."

The canal gang members retrieved the corpses and carefully packed them into several large, sealed boxes.

Then they'll be transported out and buried somewhere deep.

However, after it was transported out, the person in charge of burying it was lazy and just dug a hole and buried it haphazardly.

They didn't notice that there was an ant nest nearby.

In the afternoon, a large white goose waddled out of the city.

Dafu has been going hungry for the past few days.

Evil spirits have vanished from the Champa government offices.

Dafu searched through all the irrigation ditches in the yamen, but found only ordinary insects.

Even after eating, I still felt empty inside.

While patrolling the southern city, Dafu could also go out and hunt for a meal.

Although the surrounding streets are free of evil spirits, you can still find good food if you walk a little further out.

However, the Champa administration also has the Shanhe Si (山河司) office.

The surrounding area is quite large, and there are very few evil spirits.

After Dafu left, he walked around and realized that he was lost!
It panicked and wanted to go back.

They searched and searched, but couldn't get back. Instead, they ended up leaving the city.

Then they discovered: the area outside the city was wonderful; they quickly found a large nest of insects.

And it was a really fierce one; Dafu ate half full in one go.

Then they go to find the next nest.

As they searched, they found a nest of ants.

……

The Crown Princess is a woman of deep thoughts.

He wanted to use Gao Wanli, but didn't want her to know all his plans.

After seeing Gao Wanli off, the Crown Princess called out, "Xiao Wu."

A subordinate appeared: "Your subordinate is here."

"Keep an eye on the Exorcism Division. If Xu Yuan shows up, test him to see if he has actually secretly practiced the Dragon Transformation Technique."

Xiao Wu then asked, "To what extent should I probe?"

The Crown Princess said calmly, "If there are indeed traces of the 'Dragon Transformation Technique' on him, then kill him, capture his soul, interrogate him carefully, and see if he has leaked it to anyone else."

After all, he was the head of the Exorcism Bureau, so the Crown Princess still had some reservations. If he hadn't secretly practiced the "Dragon Transformation Technique," she wouldn't want to kill him without knowing why.

"As ordered!"

Xiao Wu was a retainer trained by the Prince of Xiang's mansion from a young age.

Fifth-rate martial arts practitioner!

Xiao Wu received the order and came out. He also selected a sixth-rate magician and a sixth-rate literary cultivator to act with him.

Gao Wanli has informed the Crown Princess that Xu Yuan has been promoted to the fifth rank.

Xiao Wu couldn't help but think more highly of Xu Yuan.

He's so young and already a fifth-rate person; I'm far inferior to him at his age.

So Xiao Wu was cautious and found two helpers.

"The target is a fifth-rate alchemist who also practices 'business law'," Xiao Wu explained to the two in detail.

"He may have also practiced the Dragon Transformation Technique."

"The level of commercial law and dragon transformation law should not exceed the sixth rank."

"I'll lead the attack, and Lao Chu will assist me."

Old Chu is that Dharma practitioner.

"Hong Huai, you stay on the perimeter and use the calligraphy to restrict the target's movements as much as possible."

"Okay," they both agreed.

"If he really has cultivated the Dragon Transformation Technique, his physical strength is probably no less than mine. I will confront him head-on. Old Chu, you need to be swift and decisive. Don't be afraid of hurting me. I won't die."

All the martial arts practitioners were very confident that they could kill any opponent of the same skill level!

Martial arts practitioners are born for killing and warfare.

But since he was working for the Crown Princess, Xiao Wu still had to make sure everything was arranged properly.

"If..." Xiao Wu still made some arrangements: "If the operation fails, Hong Huai, you should retreat immediately. Don't worry about the two of us. Take the intelligence we risked our lives to obtain to the Crown Princess!" Hong Huai smiled and said, "I understand. Fifth Brother, you always have to make these arrangements. It would be a dereliction of duty not to. But we really don't need to use them."

Old Chu also joked, "Although your fifth brother is a martial arts practitioner, he grew up in the royal palace and read a lot of books, so he always has some 'heroic' fantasies."

Xiao Wu glared at him: "Stop grinning! Serving the Crown Princess is no child's play!"

The two had no choice but to stop smiling and said together, "We've remembered it."

Xiao Wu nodded: "Get ready, we're leaving right away."

Honestly, Xiao Wu didn't think the final arrangement would be necessary.

This stems from confidence in their own abilities and recognition of Lao Chu's abilities.

Old Chu's method is very special.

The three changed their clothes and went to the Champa office.

They did not gather together.

They separated when they entered the city, pretending not to know each other.

But they were both within each other's sight.

There was a teahouse at the street corner of the Champa government office, and Xiao Wu sat in a window seat on the first floor.

You can clearly see what's happening on the street.

When it's time to act, you can just rush out.

Another important point is that it allows two companions to clearly see each other's every move, making it easier for them to coordinate their actions.

In the bookstore diagonally opposite, Old Chu was dressed up as a fortune teller, having somehow acquired a set of clothes. On the other side of the street, he was holding a beautiful woman's hand and solemnly reading her palm.

While you're at it, give their hands a few squeezes.

They waited until evening, but Xu Yuan still didn't come out.

Xiao Wu couldn't help but shake his head inwardly; it seemed he had come for nothing.

He was about to get up and leave when he suddenly saw a captain from the Bureau of Purification rushing through the street and into the government office.

Xiao Wu thought for a moment, then sat down again.

Not long after, Xu Yuan was seen leading several captains, hurrying eastward.

Xiao Wu got up, put a stack of copper coins on the table, and then followed at a leisurely pace.

Old Chu and Hong Huai followed.

……

When they were roughly between the Champa Office and the East City Patrol Office, Xiao Wu wiped his face with his hand.

A milky white film covered her face.

This is also a crafted item, of low quality; it can cover the face but does not obstruct vision.

If Xiao Wu dies, this craftsman will immediately devour his face.

That way, their identity won't be revealed from their appearance.

His gesture was also a signal to take action.

Old Chu, who was hiding in the shadows, then circled around to the front of Xu Yuan's group.

Hong Huai silently slipped into a nearby alley, climbed onto a rooftop, and lay there holding several calligraphy scrolls in his hand.

Xiao Wu flicked his sleeves, and a pair of short knives, each about the width of a palm, appeared in his hands. With a swing of his arms, he became like a heavy and enormous wheel of blades, hurtling towards Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan only brought Mao Dabing and Lang Xiaoba with him, along with the captain who came to report the news from Wan Yun's subordinate.

Lang Xiaoba reacted instantly, turning around and drawing his sword as he did so, cursing, "You scoundrel!"

He slashed at it with his sword.

Clang!
Lang Xiaoba's sword flew high into the air.

Whether it's martial arts cultivation or magic cultivation, he is far inferior to Xiao Wu.

laugh--

Xiao Wu slashed his chest with his knife. He thought this one cut would disembowel the lackey, but unexpectedly, as the blade sliced ​​through him, Xiao Wu felt something was off.

He had already killed his way past Lang Xiaoba, and when he turned around, he saw that Lang Xiaoba's chest was covered with a layer of skin.

Lang Xiaoba's clothes were all cut open, but this layer of skin, which he didn't know what it was, actually withstood the knife, leaving only a white mark!
Xu Yuan became alert the moment Xiao Wu made his move.

However, the fifth-rate martial artist was too fast. Xu Yuan only had time to flick Pi Dan away, saving Lang Xiaoba's life.

Lang Xiaoba was pale and still in shock.

Xiao Wu had already charged forward, his twin blades flashing as he moved with them, lunging straight at Xu Yuan.

Mao Dabing patted himself, and with a whoosh, eight mechanical arms opened up behind him like fan ribs.

Each of the mechanical arms was equipped with a short gun or a hand cannon.

During this period, Mao Dabing cautiously sought guidance from Lin Wanmo several times, and his craftsmanship skills greatly improved.

Boom boom boom...

Gunshots rained down on Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu ignored it completely, and instead, the guns were blasted away!

"Ah!" Mao Dabing screamed in agony as several bloody holes appeared on his body! He had been wounded by bullets that had bounced back from his own musket.

Xiao Wu clasped his hands together, and two thick, short swords stabbed towards Xu Yuan's face.

At the same time, a pale yellow tinge flashed across Xiao Wu's face.

Its power then increased dramatically.

Three feet of yellow light also emanated from the twin swords!
Xu Yuan's sword pellet flew out and crashed heavily into the twin swords.

when!
The sword pellet and the twin swords collided with a deafening roar.

Xu Yuan took two steps back, but Xiao Wu advanced instead, wielding his twin swords with dazzling blades, slashing and cutting as he pursued closely.

The yellow glow on his face grew even stronger.

The yellow light on the twin swords extended another five feet!

This is the "five internal organs qi" of martial arts practitioners.

When martial arts practitioners reach the sixth level, they can cultivate the Qi of the five internal organs, with different internal organs corresponding to different colors.

The Qi of the five internal organs can attach to the body and weapons.

For martial arts practitioners, the Qi of the five internal organs is the Qi that governs all things.

It can greatly increase strength, protect the body, enhance attacks, and so on.

For example, these two swords were made by a sixth-rate craftsman, but after being enhanced with the Qi of the five internal organs, they were not afraid to clash head-on with Xu Yuan's fifth-rate sword pellets!

With a thought, Xu Yuan unleashed his pair of Dragon-Slaying Swords, blocking Xiao Wu's twin blades on either side. However, he couldn't withstand Xiao Wu's formidable strength and was pushed back repeatedly.

Sword Pill, however, unknowingly circled around to Xiao Wu's back.

laugh!
Kenmaru also made a foot-long flying sword, which pierced Xiao Wu's back.

But Xiao Wu shouted loudly, and the skin and flesh on his back tightened. He actually managed to clamp the flying sword with his incredible physique!
The flying sword pierced in only two inches before it became immobile.

After Xiao Wu shouted this, his body swelled up again, becoming even larger than before, standing in front of Xu Yuan like a giant.

He pressed down sharply, forcing the two Dragon-Slaying Swords almost to Xu Yuan's face.

Xiao Wu suddenly opened his mouth: *Pfft*

A sharp aura shot out, which turned out to be a sword pellet that was in no way inferior to a fifth-rate one!

This is Xiao Wu's secret technique: to injure people with anger!

Xu Yuan suddenly snapped open a folding fan.

The moment that bright yellow, sharp aura hit his face, Xu Yuan suddenly vanished.

Then, Xu Yuan fell from mid-air dozens of feet away, and with a crack, he stepped on a roof that collapsed.

Xu Yuan's face was ashen as he closed his folding fan.

At the same time, a pair of dragon-slaying swords flew back into the sword box behind him.

Xu Yuan produced a pair of weapons.

The object in his right hand resembled both a sword and a dagger.

In his left hand was a bell.

A thin, long chain connects the two objects.

Xu Yuan shook the bell: Clang clang...

Xiao Wu suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded, his soul trembled, and he fell heavily to the ground.

Xu Yuan had already arrived swiftly on his fiery wheels, and with a hiss, his right-hand spike pierced into Xiao Wu's back!
Even Xiao Wu's powerful Five Elements Spirit couldn't withstand this craftsman's work.

This was given to Xu Yuan by his stepmother this morning after she came out of seclusion.

It is a fourth-rate craftsmanship item that combines Qi Yue's treacherous spikes and seashells, three hairpins and counting rods, as well as Xu Yuan's previous car bell, and was finally made with painstaking effort and thought!

Xiao Wu slammed his head against the ground: Thud!
The ground shattered instantly.

The enormous shockwave, like the undulating surface of water, spread rapidly outward from the point of impact.

Xu Yuan was caught off guard and was sent flying.

This is Xiao Wu's second secret technique: War Drum Beating!

Originally, it was supposed to be generated by stomping on the ground, but since Xiao Wu was lying on the ground, he simply used his head instead.

Xiao Wu quickly stood up, coughing up a mouthful of blood, but then took a deep breath, and his body was enveloped in a yellow light.

The wound on his back closed, and not a drop of blood flowed out again.

Holding two swords, he roared at Xu Yuan, "Come on, what other skills do you have? Show them to me!"

Xiao Wu felt a little uneasy, but he had to find out whether this guy had secretly practiced the "Dragon Transformation Technique".

Xu Yuan was blasted seven or eight feet away, and staggered a few steps after landing, seemingly indicating that his physique was not strong.

Xiao Wu stomped on the ground and crashed out with a bang, his twin swords creating countless afterimages, moving so fast that it was difficult for anyone to react.

shhhhh--

He slashed at Xu Yuan, one cut at a time.

Suddenly, something got tangled under his feet, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

Then the rope binding his feet tightened rapidly and spread into a large net, enveloping him completely.

"Trying to trap me? Dream on!"

Xiao Wu exerted all his strength and actually managed to stretch the net open!
Xu Yuan was also taken aback; this was the first time someone had managed to break free of the animal sinew rope.

Martial arts practitioners are truly formidable!

Xu Yuan seized the opportunity to attack.

Xiao Wu scoffed and spat out "using anger to harm people" once again.

Xu Yuan was prepared and suddenly dodged, simultaneously donning his leather jacket.

A bright yellow stream of air swept past Pidan and slammed into the ground next to Xu Yuan, leaving a deep black hole.

With a flick of his wrist, Xu Yuan sent the long thorn piercing Xiao Wu's stomach from bottom to top.

Xiao Wu let out another scream, and with a slap of his knife, he knocked Xu Yuan's long dagger out of his stomach.

Xu Yuan's hand went numb, and the long thorn slipped from his grasp.

However, the bell on the other hand was still attached to a chain.

Xu Yuan retreated quickly, but Xiao Wu caught up and stomped down.

Xu Yuan's fire wheel increased in speed, and Xiao Wu stepped into the air, landing on the ground with a "thud," releasing a shockwave.

Xu Yuan was like a leaf in a storm, blown around wildly in the air.

Just then, Old Chu suddenly appeared, as nimble as a rabbit, and in an instant, he was in front of Lord Xu, slapping a ticket stub onto Xu Yuan:

"Impose taxes!"

"A poll tax, one-tenth of the total!"

Old Chu was revising the "Tax Law"!
Once it's started, it's an unreasonable collection of taxes!
How much he charges is entirely up to him.

This law is exceptionally domineering, but it also has a serious problem: you have to get the tax collector to accept your tax invoice.

If the other party doesn't answer, there's no target to collect taxes from.

This method cannot achieve the desired result.

Even if Xu Yuan is a fifth-rate actor, his skill level is higher than Lao Chu's, as long as he takes this job, Lao Chu can still collect taxes!

Old Chu had been hiding to the side, waiting for this opportunity. Xu Yuan was hit by the "War Drum Beating" secret attack for the second time, so he should be dizzy and unable to avoid being "given a ticket".

However, even when Old Chu shouted "Collect taxes!", he was unable to take even a tenth of Xu Yuan's life away.

Old Chu felt that his plan had not been fulfilled!
"how come……"

But the ticket was wrapped up by Pidan.

A fire burst out from inside, burning the ticket stub to ashes.

When Xiao Wu appeared, Xu Yuan opened "Looking at Fate" and took a look.

This is a fighting instinct.

Naturally, they also saw Old Chu standing to the side and Hong Huai hiding.

Someone was trying to assassinate him, and there were two low-level accomplices nearby—they could only be the assassin's accomplices.

(End of this chapter)