Blind Ghostwriter: Starts with the full level of Nine Yang Magic Skill

Chapter 230 The Third in the World, Zhang Daoyi (1.2-word long chapter, please vote with monthly tickets)

Ye Jinglan continued, "Shang Wujiu disappeared three years ago. The last place he was seen was in the capital. He suddenly vanished three years ago. Whether it's the Six Doors or our Ministry of Justice, they almost all assume that he was probably killed in some conflict. This kind of thing is very common. There are many villains in the martial arts world who are not caught by the government, but die in martial arts battles."

Some time ago, I was ordered to investigate a murder case. The case was very simple: two rich young men got into a fight over a woman on a pleasure boat, and one of them accidentally fell into the water and drowned.

The case was simple, but during my investigation, I discovered traces of sonic power. I carefully examined the scene, reviewed the files of the Six Doors, and conducted multiple verifications, confirming that the sonic power was indeed the unique skill of the Blood Hand Qin Master Shang Wujiu, the Wuwang Heartstring Tribulation.

So I immediately began investigating and eventually pinpointed Shang Wujiu's whereabouts. However, before I could delve deeper, I was assigned to this coastal prefecture.

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "Then I'll go to the capital with you after you've finished dealing with things here, Brother Ye."

Ye Jinglan cupped his hands and said, "With Brother Gu's help, we will surely succeed in solving the case of the human-faced monster."

Gu Mo smiled and said, "Brother Ye, you can't really believe the rumors in the martial arts world. I'm only good at fighting; I'm not good at investigating cases and catching criminals."

Ye Jinglan chuckled and said, "But that's the strange thing. Every wanted criminal you've set your sights on, Brother Gu, can't escape. Take the case of the head manager, for example. When we were reviewing the process yesterday, many of our colleagues were wondering why, since Mr. Dongjing knew he couldn't beat you, he didn't deny it when you exposed his identity. Given his status, even if you really did take the Star Pattern Stone from his body, Brother Gu, he could still claim he was framed."

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "He wouldn't dare to gamble. I was carrying a knife and exuding murderous intent. He had something to hide, so how could he dare to truly open his mind and let me use my methods on him? Secondly, he knew that people in the martial arts world wouldn't care too much about his status as a great scholar. If they said they would kill him, they really would. Whether he admitted it or not was irrelevant."

Ye Jinglan nodded and said, "That's true. But Brother Gu, aren't you afraid that Mr. Dongjing will discover that you made preparations in advance with your Star Pattern Stone and then turn around and bite you?"

“I’m not afraid,” Gu Mo said. “His betrayal only proves that he’s the head manager. I should just kill him.”

Ye Jinglan: "...What you said makes a lot of sense."

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "Brother Ye, you've been in the imperial court for so long that you've almost forgotten the rules of the martial world."

Ye Jinglan smiled helplessly, then asked, "By the way, Brother Gu, I heard that you were seriously injured in your battle with Mr. Dongjing. Have you fully recovered yet?"

Gu Mo nodded and said, "It's basically fine."

"That's good," Ye Jinglan asked, "I heard that during your fight with the head manager, Chen You, the prefectural commander of Linhai County, activated a battle formation. Brother Gu, what were your feelings about the battle energy gathered in that formation?"

Gu Mo asked, "Brother Ye, you haven't experienced this?"

Ye Jinglan smiled and said, "I haven't had the chance. I've always heard that the army's battle aura is the nemesis of martial arts masters, but I've never been on the battlefield, so naturally I haven't had the opportunity to witness it."

"How should I put it?" Gu Mo thought for a moment and said, "Battle Qi is indeed very peculiar, but it doesn't seem to be as strong as the legends say. It's a special kind of Qi formed by combining the military formation with the soldiers' momentum and will. It has limitations against martial arts masters, but those limitations are limited."

For me, the most noticeable feeling was that the air seemed to tighten, limiting the range of my internal energy release. Also, my lightness skill was somewhat suppressed. But overall, it wasn't as exaggerated as the legends suggested.

Ye Jinglan nodded slightly and said, "No wonder when I asked those military officials in the court, they all said that battle qi is not the nemesis of martial arts masters, but the battlefield is the nightmare of martial arts masters."

It's likely that battle aura has high requirements for both the environment and the army, making it difficult to form. Generally speaking, martial artists can simply run away when they encounter an army, giving the army no chance to gather battle aura. Moreover, the more soldiers there are, the more elite they are, and the better their coordination, the better the effect of battle aura. But if it's in a city or in the mountains, the army can't even set up a formation, so how can it possibly restrain a master?
However, if we change the location, and it's on an open battlefield, with hundreds of thousands of troops from both sides, all kinds of elites, and countless heavily armored cavalry charging, and both sides suppressing each other's battle aura indiscriminately, it's rumored that it can suppress martial arts masters so much that they can't leave their true qi. It's probably true that it can!
Since entering the court, I've come into contact with several high-ranking generals, and without exception, they all relied on brute force. Frankly, in a one-on-one fight, I feel none of those generals are my match. Now that I think about it, it's probably because our approaches are different; their strength lies in the battlefield. Someone like me, I'd probably only be able to unleash two or three tenths of my abilities on a large-scale battlefield.”

Gu Mo asked curiously, "But actually, I have a question: why doesn't the imperial court use the methods for training battle qi in the Six Doors? Otherwise, why would the Six Doors be burdened with the Fish-Dragon Iron Chain for so long, often not even having time to set up an array when encountering experts!"

Ye Jinglan chuckled and said, "Military formations are not so easy to train. Moreover, the Six Doors are always on missions, so who has time to train them every day? But the army is different. As the saying goes, 'It takes a thousand days to raise an army for one day to use it.' Most armies may not be deployed for several years."

Furthermore, the Six Doors' opponents are江湖人 (jianghu people), who are constantly on the move, and most of them are individuals or small groups. They are not annihilating entire families every day, so why would they need to spend so much energy and money training them like an army? Moreover, the Six Doors needs talents from all walks of life, not the kind of thousands of people in the army who are all the same.

Of course, the most important factor is cost. Brother Gu, you should know that county soldiers are basically not trained. Generally speaking, a county has three or four hundred county soldiers, half of whom are local militia who are half civilians and half soldiers. Even so, many counties cannot afford to support them.

A typical prefecture's garrison strength is three to four thousand men. Only about one in ten men are selected for combat training, totaling three to four hundred. Five households support one soldier, ten households support one elite soldier. The cost of soldiers truly stationed on the frontier long-term is even greater, and the number of archers, light cavalry, heavy cavalry, etc., needs to be increased many times over.

At this point, Ye Jinglan sighed deeply and laughed, "So, Brother Gu, now you understand why the Six Doors can't train military formations, right? If a nationwide organization like the Six Doors were managed like a military, it would directly empty the national treasury."

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "As expected, our level of understanding as martial artists is far from sufficient."

Ye Jinglan laughed and said, "This is not a matter of level, but because we don't pay attention and are in different positions. When I was traveling around the martial arts world, I often heard people say that a certain sect or clan has thousands or even tens of thousands of disciples, more than the government, the army, and the Six Doors. How could they be afraid of the government!"

Gu Mo chuckled.
He had heard many opinions, just like when he and Zhuo Qingfeng investigated the cat demon case in Qingyang County and finally uncovered the scandal of the Four Directions Sword Sect. The Six Doors quickly purged the Four Directions Sword Sect.

Later, many people in the martial arts world scoffed and mocked the Four Directions Sword Sect, saying that the Four Directions Sword Sect had thousands of disciples and tens of thousands of followers, which was several times more than the Six Doors of Qingyang County, yet it was still suppressed by the Six Doors!

Many people don't understand,

Faced with the violent institutions of the government, most of the gangsters are not much different from the thugs on the street; they are just individuals with stronger fighting skills, and when they gather together, they are just a mob.

Again,
A martial artist facing an elite soldier will undoubtedly win. Ten martial artists can also gain the upper hand against ten elite soldiers, but if there are a hundred or a thousand, the martial artist will be unilaterally crushed.

Just as Gu Mo and Ye Jinglan continued their casual conversation,
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard. Soon, a constable came to the door, cupped his hands and said, "Lord Ye, there's been progress. Lin Jing is willing to confess, but he has made a request."

"What are your requirements?" Ye Jinglan asked.

"He requested that sandalwood incense be burned in his cell," the officer said.

"To hell with him," Ye Jinglan said speechlessly, "This bastard has gotten used to embezzling and cheating, hasn't he? He's already a prisoner, and he's still thinking about using Yunlu sandalwood?"

Gu Mo asked curiously, "Brother Ye, what is Yunlu Sandalwood?"

Ye Jinglan said, "It is a kind of sandalwood that is particularly popular in Chang'an City. Countless high-ranking officials, nobles and wealthy merchants consider it an honor to use this sandalwood. It is very expensive. A single ounce can easily sell for forty or fifty ounces, and even so, the supply cannot meet the demand."

"Is Chang'an really this extravagant?" Gu Mo asked in surprise.

Ye Jinglan chuckled and said, "It has nothing to do with Chang'an. Which wealthy person doesn't live a life of extravagance?"

"That's true."

……

The case of the Seven Absolutes Pavilion is progressing very smoothly.

Of course, it's impossible for things not to go smoothly, because the situation itself is quite clear.

Lin Jing secretly embezzled public funds and colluded with the Seven Absolutes Pavilion to resell military equipment.

Under a joint investigation by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice, a large number of officials in the coastal defense battalion were dismissed. In addition, Chen You, the prefectural commander of Linhai County, arrested a large number of prisoners from the Seven Absolutes Tower in Yanluo County and sent people to track down the escaped soldiers of the Seven Absolutes Tower.

Finally, they located the stronghold of the Seven Wonders Tower in the Tiansha Islands.

However, when the Qian Kingdom's army entered the island, they discovered that the rumored descendants of Prince Kangde were nothing more than puppets of the Grand Manager, kept like pigs and serving only a symbolic purpose. The so-called Seven Secret Guards had long since been reduced to only the Grand Manager's lineage.

This matter lasted for nearly twenty days.

The city of Linhai was teeming with people, and many who had colluded with the Seven Wonders Pavilion were discovered, including many well-known merchants and officials.

Finally, officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War escorted many high-ranking coastal defense officers back to the capital.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong left with Ye Jinglan and Princess Li Li of Chengyang.

The city gate of Linhai City.

Prefect Pei Yuanzhen saw the returning procession out of the city, greeted the officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War, and then rode his horse to the carriage carrying Gu Mo and Gu Chudong.

Pei Yuanzhen handed Gu Mo a calling card and said, "Master Gu, when you go to the capital, you can first visit my grandmaster at the Imperial Preceptor's residence. This will help you avoid a lot of trouble in the capital."

Gu Chudong took the visiting card and said, "Prefect Pei seems to have something in mind?"

Pei Yuanzhen slowly said, "Chang'an City is the power center of the Qian Kingdom, with many factions and a very complicated situation. Hero Gu, you are going there at the invitation of Physician Ye Jinglan, so it is inevitable that people may misunderstand that you have joined a certain faction."

However, if you visit my master after you arrive in the capital, he will understand the reasoning behind it and will naturally convey some information to the outside world. Although there are rumors that my master has already taken sides, those in the capital know that my master is absolutely neutral.

A few days ago, something happened in the capital, making it even more impolite for anyone to provoke my master.

Gu Mo asked curiously, "What is it?"

Pei Yuanzhen rubbed his nose and said in a muffled voice, "His Highness Prince Ji was attacked... his leg was broken!"

Gu Mo asked in surprise, "Did your two grandmasters do this?"

“Absolutely not, absolutely not!” Pei Yuanzhen said with a serious expression. “The murderer acted very discreetly. The people at the scene only saw an old Taoist priest with a mask on. Neither the Kyoto Prefectural Government nor the Six Doors were able to find any clues. This is an unsolved case.”

"What a fine mystery!" Gu Mo chuckled. "I understand. After I arrive in the capital, I will definitely pay a visit to Master Zhang first."

In fact, even without Pei Yuanzhen's introduction, Gu Mo would have tried to meet Zhang Daoyi when he went to the capital. After all, this man was a true legend in the martial arts world, the undisputed number one in the Qian Kingdom, nominally the third in the world, but in reality the second in the world, and the spiritual leader of the Taoist sect!

"By the way," Pei Yuanzhen added, "Master Gu, I have already informed my grandmaster about the matter of going to the Ascension Platform, and he has agreed. After you arrive in the capital this time, he will write an imperial edict for you, and then you can go to Longhu Mountain at any time to visit the Ascension Platform."

"Thank you, Prefect Pei," Gu Mo said, bowing slightly.

Pei Yuanzhen said, "I should thank you. If it weren't for your help, Master Gu, I would have been in big trouble this time. Not to mention imprisonment, I would have at least lost my official position! But, thanks to you, I have turned misfortune into blessing."

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "Congratulations in advance on Prefect Pei's promotion!"

Pei Yuanzhen grinned.

He has indeed turned misfortune into blessing this time. The matter is too big, especially the fact that Mr. Dongjing is actually the head manager of the Seven Absolutes Pavilion, which has shaken the court and the public.

Prince Ji, Li Zhongde, took the blame for misjudging people in court and then wholeheartedly recommended him. Before long, he would be transferred to the capital.

……

After seven days, the procession escorting the prisoners arrived in Chang'an.

However, Gu Mo did not enter the city. Instead, he found Ye Jinglan when he was still more than ten miles away from Chang'an City, bid farewell to Ye Jinglan, and said that he was going to the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion.

Princess Li Li of Chengyang ran over and said, "Gu Mo, I'll send someone to take you there. Hmm, is it alright if Chu Dong doesn't go? I want to take her to my house to play!"

Gu Mo asked Gu Chudong, "Chudong, what do you say?"

Gu Chudong said, "Of course I'll go with you, brother."

Li Li grumbled pitifully, "It's early winter, and your brother will only be at the Imperial Preceptor's residence for a few days. Since you'll be going into the city anyway, why don't you come with me? There are so many fun things to do in the capital!"

Gu Chudong shook her head slightly and said calmly, "We'll talk about it later!"

"Early winter..."

Li Li wanted to say something, but Ye Jinglan interrupted her, saying, "Your Highness, it is not appropriate for Brother Gu and Miss Gu to go to your princess residence right now. If you really want to be able to play with Miss Gu without any worries later, it would be best to have them go to the Imperial Preceptor's residence now."

Li Li pouted and asked, "Why?"

Ye Jinglan said, "Go back and ask His Highness Prince Jin!"

"Alright," Li Li said helplessly, looking at Gu Chudong with a pitiful expression, "Then you must come and find me after you enter the city in a few days!"

"We'll see how things go then!" Gu Chudong replied.

Li Li: "..."

Ye Jinglan walked to Gu Mo's side and said, "Brother Gu, the Imperial Preceptor's identity is extraordinary. He is one of the few people in the court who can stay out of the power struggle. If you can get him to intervene, you won't need to worry too much about factional struggles in the capital."

"I know," Gu Mo nodded.

Ye Jinglan said, "That's perfect. I need to hand over cases these few days. Also, I'll use these few days to thoroughly investigate the case of Bloodhand Qin Master Shang Wujiu. Then you can arrest him directly!"

Subsequently,

After exchanging a few more words, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong rode away on their horses.

Shortly after the two of them left,
Many people gradually arrived in the group, openly and secretly inquiring about the whereabouts of Gu Mo and Gu Chudong from Ye Jinglan and Princess Chengyang.

When they learned that the two of them were going to the Imperial Preceptor's residence, their expressions varied. Some secretly breathed a sigh of relief, while others secretly frowned.

Imperial Preceptor's Residence
It is located on a small mountain called Wuwei Mountain on the outskirts of Chang'an City.

Compared to the famous mountains and rivers where Gu Mo had previously visited, where the major sects were located, Wuwu Mountain was not worth mentioning at all. It was only thirty or forty feet high and looked like a small mound from a distance.

The Taoist temple on the mountain is also very simple, with green tiles on the roof and mottled mud walls, standing quietly among the pines and cypresses. Faded copper bells hang from the eaves, tinkling softly when the wind blows.

The gate was ajar, and the character "Dao" on the lintel had long since lost its sharpness over the years.

A young Taoist boy, about seven or eight years old, stood at the entrance. He was fair-skinned, with chubby cheeks and two pigtails, but he had an old-fashioned look on his face. When he saw Gu Mo and Gu Chudong arrive, he stepped forward, bowed, and said, "I am Huaisu, and I am here to greet you two distinguished guests on the orders of my master!"

Gu Chudong looked at the little Taoist priest Huaisu and found him very cute. She reached out to poke the little Taoist priest's pigtails, but the little Taoist priest avoided her. She smiled and asked, "Little Taoist priest, who is your teacher?"

The young Taoist priest Huaisu solemnly declared, "My master is the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, whose Dharma name is Daoyi!"

Gu Chudong exclaimed in surprise, "You're Zhang Tianshi's disciple? Wow, you're so young, yet you're of such a high seniority! Even Pei Yuanzhen has to call you 'Uncle-Master'!"

The young Taoist Huaisu nodded and said, "Nephew Yuanzhen has always been very polite." Then, he turned around, waved his whisk, and said, "Distinguished guests, please come in!"

"Brother, he's so mature!" Gu Chudong whispered in Gu Mo's ear.

Gu Mo smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "Master Zhang of Longhu Mountain has thirty-six true disciples. The youngest one is fifty years old. His Dharma name is Huaisu, and he is respectfully called Master Huaisu by people in the martial arts world!"

Gu Chudong: “???”

To Gu Chudong's astonishment, the young Taoist Huaisu pushed open the creaking wooden door. In the courtyard, several old plum trees with gnarled branches lay sprawled, and pale yellow leaves lay on the stone table. The scent of ink mingled with incense, drifting gently in the morning mist, creating an atmosphere of ancient tranquility.

Beside the stone table was a reclining chair, on which lay an old Taoist priest who was as fat as a ball of flesh.

His belly was as big as a drum, and his round body was wrapped in layers of dark Taoist robes, making him look like a large cloth bag stuffed with cotton. His eyes were slightly closed, and a few strands of silver hair hung down on his oily red face. His chubby fingers were slowly fiddling with the wine gourd at his waist, and he would occasionally smack his lips and make a satisfied sound.

The young Taoist priest Huaisu approached and bowed, saying, "Master, Hero Gu and Heroine Gu have arrived."

Upon hearing the title "Huaisu Daotong," Gu Mo and Gu Chudong knew that this person was Zhang Daoyi, the contemporary Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, the third-best martial artist in the world, the National Preceptor of Qian Kingdom, and the leader of the Taoist sect.

Gu Chudong's eyes were full of surprise.
She had always imagined Zhang Daoyi to be a wise and venerable old immortal, but upon meeting him today, she found that apart from being old, he did not fit her expectations at all.

Gu Mo stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Junior Gu Mo, along with my younger sister Gu Chudong, pays respects to the Venerable Celestial Master!"

Zhang Daoyi rolled over and said with a smile, "Distinguished guests, distinguished guests! Huaisu, go and slaughter that Eight Treasures Chicken in the backyard to entertain our guests!"

The young Taoist priest Huaisu stared wide-eyed and said, "Master, Master, is that chicken mine?"

"Good boy, we'll kill some for our guests today, and I'll buy you candied hawthorns in a couple of days."

“Master, I’m over fifty years old…”

"Do you look like you're over fifty? A child should act like a child. Would you go to a brothel? Would you..."

"Master, I'll go kill a chicken for you right away!"

The young Taoist priest Huaisu ran off with his short legs.

Zhang Daoyi then turned to Gu Mo and Gu Chudong with a smile and said, "Oh dear, please excuse my apprentice. He's good in every way, except he's too stingy. He can't even bear to part with a chicken..."

From the backyard came the exasperated voice of the young Taoist priest Huaisu: "Master, put your hand on your heart and tell me, was that a chicken? There was only one left, wasn't there?"

Zhang Daoyi: "...Don't listen to his nonsense. Come, come, please have a seat."

"I'm sorry to bother you, Elder Celestial Master!"

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong sat down.

Zhang Daoyi sized up Gu Mo and exclaimed, "Incredible! Gu Daxia is so young, yet his cultivation level is so profound. I have never seen anything like it in my life. In no more than ten years, no... five years at most, you will be able to beat that bastard Su Qianqiu black and blue!"

Gu Mo asked in confusion, "Does the Old Celestial Master have a grudge against Su Qianqiu?"

“No,” Zhang Daoyi said, “Chun Chun just can’t stand that guy. He’s too arrogant and too rude. Sigh, how should I put it, Master Gu, you haven’t seen that guy. If you had, you would definitely want to beat him up. I’ve never seen anyone who didn’t want to beat him up after seeing him.”

Gu Chudong blinked her big eyes, full of curiosity, and asked, "Is he really that deserving of a beating? What did he do?"

Zhang Daoyi waved his hand and said, "It's not about what he did, it's just that he's really annoying, you know? It's that arrogant attitude of his, just looking at his face makes you want to slap him a few times. Nobody can beat him, otherwise he would have been beaten to death long ago. I've met countless people in my life, but I've never seen anyone so arrogant and so deserving of a beating!"

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong couldn't help but think of Qi Miaoxuan. Qi Miaoxuan had mentioned more than once that he hoped Gu Mo would quickly become the number one in the world and beat up Su Qianqiu.

Like Zhang Daoyi, Qi Miaoxuan had no grudge against Su Qianqiu, and the two had only met once, yet Qi Miaoxuan still wanted to beat Su Qianqiu up.

Now I've heard another person of the same generation say this about Su Qianqiu.

For a moment, Gu Mo was filled with curiosity: what kind of person was this, how arrogant could he be, to the point that everyone hated him?

"Forget it, let's not talk about that annoying guy anymore. Although I really want to beat him up, I have to admit that I'll never have the chance in my life." Zhang Daoyi waved his hand and sighed.

Gu Chudong asked in surprise, "Old Master, you are the second best in the world! Isn't it said in the martial arts world that you are the closest to Su Qianqiu? You should be about the same as him, right?" "No, no, no," Zhang Daoyi said, "Little girl, there are two mistakes in what you just said. First, I am not the second best in the world. Well, I'm not talking about how many hidden masters there are in the martial arts world, just according to the martial arts rankings, I am the third best. Second, I am not about the same as Su Qianqiu, I am far behind him."

Gu Chudong said, "You're third on the martial arts ranking list, but there's only one Su Qianqiu ahead of you!"

Zhang Daoyi chuckled and said, "Although I really dislike Su Qianqiu, I have to admit that he is right to only acknowledge himself as the second best in the world. Anyone who has met Jiang Ruoxu would not believe that Jiang Ruoxu could be besieged and killed by an army that did not mobilize the entire nation. It is certain that Jiang Ruoxu deliberately hid himself. Therefore, although Su Qianqiu is arrogant, he still has some shame and does not dare to claim himself as the best in the world."

As for the gap between me and Su Qianqiu, how can I describe it? It's like this: I can only be ranked third in the martial arts rankings because that's all I can do. And aside from Jiang Ruoxu, Su Qianqiu is ranked second because that's the maximum ranking he can reach, not because that's his limit!

To put it simply, I fought Su Qianqiu, and we exchanged about twenty blows. I took nineteen of them, transforming me from a handsome, otherworldly Taoist into what I am now. The reason I'm so fat is because he beat me so badly that my skin swelled up, and I never recovered!"

Gu Mo: "??"

Gu Chudong: “???”

"Do you think I'm just a body of fat?" Zhang Daoyi asked.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong nodded blankly.

Zhang Daoyi said, "No, I was beaten by Su Qianqiu. It's been many years now, and I still haven't recovered because he damaged my Great Formless Tribulation Qi."

"Is it incurable?" Gu Chudong asked.

Zhang Daoyi shook his head and said, "Only by overeating every day and replenishing enough nutrients can the injury be stabilized!"

Gu Chudong frowned and said, "Old Celestial Master, you're so pitiful!"

"It's nothing, nothing at all, just a little bit of hardship," Zhang Daoyi waved his hand and said, "If Miss Gu takes pity on me, she can bring a few more chickens when she comes to visit me in the future."

“That won’t do,” Gu Chudong said decisively.

Zhang Daoyi: "Why?"

"I have no money," Gu Chudong said.

Zhang Daoyi asked suspiciously, "But didn't your brother just capture several notorious bandits in Linhai County, with bounties of ten or twenty thousand taels of silver?"

Gu Chudong said warily, "Oh, so you're saying all this just to scam me out of my money!"

Zhang Daoyi: "..."

At this moment, the young Taoist Huaisu came out with a pot of freshly brewed tea, poured it for Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, and then said, "Miss Gu, don't listen to my master. His weight is not Su Qianqiu's fault. He fought with Su Qianqiu and came back to recuperate. He ate and drank excessively every day and gained weight, but he blames Su Qianqiu."

The sect leader, having no other choice, ordered strict control over the master's diet, and his entire salary was withheld. Lacking money to buy food himself, he often lied to people to buy him chicken. I was ordered by the sect leader to explain this to everyone.

Gu Chudong snorted angrily, her big eyes staring at Zhang Daoyi with great dissatisfaction. Anyone who had designs on her wallet was a bad person.

Zhang Daoyi felt a little awkward under Gu Chudong's gaze, so he picked up Huaisu Zhenren and threw him into the backyard, saying, "This rebellious disciple, I only ate a few chickens from him, and he still holds a grudge, actually making up stories about me like this!"

Gu Chudong: "Hehe!"

Zhang Daoyi: "..."

"Well..." Zhang Daoyi changed the subject and said, "Well, Yuanzhen has already written to me about your purpose. You two siblings can stay here for a few days first, and then go into the city. No one will suspect that you have secretly joined someone else's side."

Also, when you leave the capital, come find me before you go, and I'll give you a note so you can visit the Ascension Platform at Longhu Mountain. Hmm, Yuanzhen is a bit stingy; it'll be boring for him to go alone. You two siblings should both go. Besides, there are many nice places on Longhu Mountain; you can explore them all.”

Gu Mo cupped his hands and said, "Thank you very much, Elder Celestial Master!"

"Don't be so polite," Zhang Daoyi waved his hand and said, "We're all on the same side. Speaking of which, Longhu Mountain owes you a lot of favors. Your trip to Cangzhou a while ago helped Chunyang Temple overcome its crisis, and this time you saved Yuanzhen in Linhai County. Don't underestimate that kid just because he doesn't hold a high official position. He's one of the leading figures among the Ren generation disciples of Longhu Mountain, and his status in Longhu Mountain is quite high. So, if you need anything in the capital, just come to me. Don't be shy!"

……

Although Zhang Daoyi's image was completely different from what Gu Mo and Gu Chudong had imagined, he was indeed a very interesting fat Taoist priest. Although he did not have the air of a celestial being, he made people feel very kind and approachable.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong settled down here without feeling any pressure.

The Imperial Preceptor's Mansion is divided into a front courtyard and a back courtyard. The front courtyard is very crowded with Taoist priests and pilgrims coming and going. However, the back courtyard only has two people: the young Taoist Huaisu and the Celestial Master Zhang Daoyi. Now, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong have joined them.

I stayed there for seven days in a row.
Gu Mo and Zhang Daoyi discussed the Dao for seven days. Only on one day in the middle did Zhang Daoyi attend the morning court session. He was extremely lazy and did not look like a national advisor or a first-rank official in charge of the Imperial Observatory.

On the eighth day,
Ye Jinglan has arrived.

However, Zhang Daoyi did not give him face and refused to let him in.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong packed their things and bid farewell to Zhang Daoyi.

"If you encounter any problems you can't handle, don't be afraid, just come to me. Okay?"

Zhang Daoyi lay lazily in the chair and began to speak.

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "Okay."

"Before you leave the capital, don't forget to ask me for a note."

"it is good."

Zhang Daoyi said with a serious face, "Also, and most importantly, remember to bring a few more roast chickens when you come to visit me. Don't be as stingy as your sister!"

Gu Chudong: “…”

The young Taoist priest Huaisu saw Gu Mo and Gu Chudong off at the door, then returned to the courtyard and said, "Master, you seem to admire Hero Gu quite a bit?"

Zhang Daoyi said, "He is the only person I think has the potential to defeat Su Qianqiu, so I naturally admire him."

Huaisu said helplessly, "Is that all the reasons?"

"Isn't this reason enough?" Zhang Daoyi turned his head to look at Huaisu and said, "Do you know what the greatest significance would be if Gu Mo were to one day truly become the number one in the world, given this reason?"

Huaisu shook his head slightly.

Zhang Daoyi said, "Gu Mo has no sect, no family, no powerful backing. Such an unrestrained person became the number one in the world. His only emotional bond is his younger sister, who is already a grandmaster at a young age."

What does this mean? It means that this is someone who can be divine, human, or demonic in an instant. Such a person, the greatest in the world, is terrifying. I admire him, but I also fear him. My deepest subconscious tells me to befriend him, so that whether I become a god, a demon, or remain human, I will try my best not to become his enemy.

Huaisu asked in surprise, "Master, is it really that terrifying?"

Zhang Daoyi said, "Whether it was Jiang Ruoxu back then, Su Qianqiu now, or even me, no matter how strong we are, we are still human and will never become gods. As long as we have our bottom line, we will not fall into demonic ways."

Jiang Ruoxu's bottom line is Kunxu, Su Qianqiu's bottom line is the Su family, and my bottom line is Longhu Mountain. As long as these exist, no matter how high our cultivation level, we will always be human. But Gu Mo is different. His emotional ties are too weak. He can become a god at any time, or fall into demonic possession at any time. The moment he became the number one in the world, it meant a sword was hanging over everyone's heads.

Huaisu said in a deep voice, "It can't be that bad. What about the army? The imperial army might be mobilized, or the sect's grand formation might be activated...?"

Zhang Daoyi rolled his eyes and said, "Is he stupid? Why would he enter the army's encirclement? If he doesn't actively enter the battlefield, what can he do even if there are a million or ten million soldiers? What can he do but be clueless? How can the army chase him?"

Conversely, if anyone offends him, he'll hide in the shadows and carry out assassinations. Who can stop him? Can the royal family or martial arts sects keep everyone holed up and never leave their homes? Just think about it from Longhu Mountain's perspective: they can activate their sect's grand formation and suppress him with their millennia-old heritage, but then what?
Are all of us on Longhu Mountain hiding up the mountain and not venturing out? If we go out, we'll be killed. What can we do? We have resources, but resources can't be moved. If he doesn't come up the mountain, what can we do? We can only wait it out!

But Gu Mo is still so young. No matter how long he grows, he can't beat him. How long can he live? He's only in his twenties. In a few years, I'll say he becomes the number one in the world when he's thirty, and no one can suppress him. At that time, he can easily live for another forty or fifty years. Can Longhu Mountain be closed for forty or fifty years? Can any royal family hide in the capital for forty or fifty years?

Military formations and battle aura are indeed the bane of experts, but the problem is that you need the right conditions! Battle aura doesn't suppress experts, but rather experts who have entered the battlefield! So, Huaisu, thinking about it this way, don't you think Gu Mo is terrifying?

Huaisu took a deep breath and slowly said, "Terrifying, truly terrifying. So, I understand now, Master, you're just being cowardly, afraid of being beaten later, so you're trying to please Gu Mo first!"

Zhang Daoyi: "..."

……

When Gu Mo and Gu Chudong walked out of the Imperial Preceptor's residence, they saw Ye Jinglan being refused entry.

The top expert in Qingzhou, a grandmaster who briefly appeared on the Qian Kingdom's Heavenly Ranking, and now a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Justice, a rising star in the officialdom with a promising future, had no face whatsoever with Zhang Daoyi.

“Brother Ye,” Gu Mo said as he stepped out the door, “Master Zhang is rather unconventional, so he won’t let you in…”

Ye Jinglan waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Brother Gu, there's no need to say more. I'm an official in the court now, and I know the Imperial Preceptor's personality better than you do. Not to mention me, even His Majesty has been turned away here before!"

Gu Chudong asked in surprise, "Is Zhang Tianshi really that powerful?"

Ye Jinglan smiled and said, "The leader of the Taoist sect, although our Qian Kingdom is not governed by sects like the Chu Kingdom, the position of the Grand Preceptor is still extraordinary, and the influence of the Taoist sect in the court is also considerable. Of course, the most important thing is that the Grand Preceptor himself has too much influence. He is the only Taoist leader in the past hundred years who is without any controversy."

To put it simply, when news of what happened in Linhai County recently reached the capital, everyone knew that Lin Jing's attempt to use Pei Yuanzhen as a scapegoat had failed. And everyone knew that Lin Jing was backed by Prince Ji, but no one dared to say it.

However, the very next day, Prince Ji was murdered. Right outside the imperial city, his leg was broken. The murderer… well, the Imperial Advisor did try to conceal it a little. Although he hadn't even taken off the Taoist robe he was wearing when attending court, he directly tore a piece of cloth from his clothes in front of many people, covered his face, and broke Prince Ji's leg in front of many court officials.

Finally, the Six Doors, the Kyoto Prefecture, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Ministry of Justice all said they couldn't find any clues about the murderer, and even His Majesty said the Imperial City Guard hadn't found anything..."

Gu Mo: "Amazing!"

Gu Chudong scratched the back of his head and said, "Is he that good? I even stole his chicken leg yesterday. Is he going to come and beat me up masked too?"

Ye Jinglan chuckled and said, "That's not the case. Everyone in the capital knows that you are the Grand Preceptor's people. A few days ago, during the court meeting, all the civil and military officials were debating how to deal with the officials implicated by Lin Jing. Some members of the Prince Ji's faction were so irrational that they actually said things like, 'Brother Gu, you are a commoner and have no right to kill Mr. Dongjing. You should be punished.'"

Then, the Imperial Preceptor beat that man in front of the entire court and His Majesty. He's still lying in the clinic now... well, both his legs were broken!

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "Master Zhang has a bit of a violent tendency."

Ye Jinglan nodded and said, "That's right. But it's good. Anyway, the Imperial Preceptor has already said that you are a disciple of the Daoist sect. Although he didn't say which branch of the Daoist sect you belong to when faced with questions, it doesn't matter. At least it can help you avoid court disputes. All factions will maintain an attitude of not recruiting you but not offending you."

Gu Mo nodded and said, "That's good. Um, Brother Ye, have you investigated the Bloodhand Musician?"

Ye Jinglan said, "It has been investigated. The case of jealousy and rivalry originated from Su Qingyu, the famous courtesan of Wanhua Tower in the capital. During the fight between the two groups, Su Qingyu's guards also intervened to protect her safety."

After our covert investigation of the scene, we finally identified the source of the attack as a musician under Su Qingyu's command—a disfigured musician. Further verification confirmed that the person was none other than the Bloodhand Musician, Shang Wujiu!

Gu Mo frowned slightly and said, "A courtesan? Shang Wujiu works as a musician in a brothel? Has he fallen so low?"

Ye Jinglan said, "Perhaps it's love. Su Qingyu is the top courtesan among the ten most beautiful women in the capital. Her beauty is so stunning that fish would sink, geese would fall from the sky, and the moon would hide its face in shame. Many high-ranking officials and heroes of the martial arts world have fallen at her feet. The main thing is that this woman is different from ordinary courtesans. She is a true talented woman. She is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs. She is also a pure courtesan, the kind who sells her art but not her body. She has many admirers."

According to my men's covert investigation, Shang Wujiu likely harbors feelings for Su Qingyu. Therefore, it's possible that he's hiding around Su Qingyu to secretly protect her.

Gu Mo listened to Ye Jinglan's description and was momentarily speechless.

"Actually, I've never really understood what it means to be a 'pure courtesan' in a brothel," Gu Mo said.
Ye Jinglan chuckled lightly, "The way to raise one's status, distinguishing them from ordinary courtesans, is just like this. Brother Gu, do you really believe that anyone in a brothel can truly remain chaste?"

Gu Chudong asked, "What about Su Qingyu, whom you just mentioned?"

Ye Jinglan said, "Su Qingyu wasn't always the most beautiful courtesan. Hmm, let's not talk about that. Let's get back to Shang Wujiu. Brother Gu, shall we go and catch him now?"

Gu Mo said, "Of course, it's up to you, Brother Ye, to arrange it."

Ye Jinglan said, "Then let's go catch them now. Wan Hua Lou is open at night, so there are relatively fewer people during the day, making it easier to catch them."

……

Chang'an City was the most magnificent and prosperous city in the Qian Kingdom. Its city walls were thirty or forty zhang high, making it extremely imposing. The city was even more bustling, with carriages and horses flowing like a rushing river. Wine flags fluttered among the carved eaves and painted beams, and the hustle and bustle of the market and the majesty of the imperial court coexisted.

However, because she had important business to attend to, Gu Chudong didn't have much time to appreciate the scenery and quickly followed Ye Jinglan and a group of constables from the Ministry of Justice through the bustling streets.

By the time they arrived at Wanhua Tower, it was already noon.

The Wan Hua Lou is a manor located on a bustling street. Although it operates at night, it is open during the day and still has some customers.

"The Ministry of Justice is handling this case!"

Ye Jinglan led a team of constables straight into the Wan Hua Lou and headed straight for the backyard. The servants in the Wan Hua Lou dared not stop them and hurriedly went to report the news.

Just as Ye Jinglan and his group were about to reach the backyard, a middle-aged woman hurriedly led a group of people out. The woman was adorned with jewels, her scarlet lips were slicked back, and she spoke in a somewhat high-pitched voice as she bowed to Ye Jinglan and said, "Oh dear, sir, what kind of case are you handling? Why didn't you tell us in advance so we could prepare to welcome you?"

As she spoke, the woman quietly slipped a stack of silver notes into Ye Jinglan's hand.

But Ye Jinglan waved his hand and said, "I will count to three. If you do not move aside, I will arrest you for obstructing official business and shut down your Wan Hua Lou!"

Hearing Ye Jinglan's heartless words, the woman's face immediately turned ugly, and she said, "Sir, my Wan Hua Lou is a legitimate business. Even if you are an official, you should still abide by the law..."

Ye Jinglan took out a search warrant and said, "The Ministry of Justice search warrant is here."

The woman choked on her words, then said, "Since that's the case, sir, you may investigate if you wish. However, let me make this clear first: there are many guests staying overnight in this courtyard, all of whom are wealthy and influential. If you disturb my guests..."

"Snapped"

Ye Jinglan slapped the woman to the ground and said coldly, "A brothel madam, where do you get the courage to threaten me? Do you really think you're someone important just because you've entertained a few high-ranking officials?"

Having said that, Ye Jinglan waved his hand and said, "Search! Anyone who dares to stop us, kill them!"

Immediately, the group of constables from the Ministry of Justice rushed into the backyard. The guards of the Wan Hua Lou were all frightened and hid to the side. The madam, who had been slapped to the ground, had a bright red handprint on her face and dared not say another word.

Soon, chaos erupted in the backyard, with chickens and dogs running amok and a great deal of noise. Many of the disturbed guests began to curse and swear, especially some of the privileged sons of wealthy families. However, when they saw the constables from the Six Doors drawing their swords, they all shut their mouths. No one dared to be so arrogant as to provoke the Ministry of Justice.

"My lord, no!"

"Sir, we couldn't find it!"

"..."

Soon, the constables from the Ministry of Justice returned, but their searches yielded no results in finding Shang Wujiu.

Ye Jinglan's expression gradually turned somewhat unpleasant. He had clearly received definite intelligence that Shang Wujiu was currently in the Wan Hua Lou.

"Surround it! No one is allowed to leave!" Ye Jinglan ordered. "Summon all the people in charge!"

"Lord Ye, please wait a moment!"

Just then, a woman walked out from a small courtyard. She wore a moon-white silk dress, her delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes were like spring water reflecting stars, her fair face was as white as snow without any rouge, and her cherry lips were like newly blooming crabapple blossoms. Her hairpin swayed gently and released a subtle fragrance. She was truly a woman of unparalleled beauty.

The woman walked up to Ye Jinglan, bowed, and said softly, her eyes seemingly brimming with tears, "I am Su Qingyu, and I pay my respects to Lord Ye. I wonder what Lord Ye is searching for in such a large-scale operation? Please tell me directly, as our Wan Hua Lou still needs to do business. Please have mercy on us!"

Ye Jinglan said calmly, "Su Qingyu, you've come at the right time. You have a musician under you named Wu Qiu. Where is he now?"

Su Qingyu was slightly taken aback and asked, "Lord Ye, what crime has Wu Qiu committed?"

Ye Jinglan said coldly, "What, do I need to explain myself to you when I'm handling a case?"

Su Qingyu seemed startled, displaying a pitiful and frightened expression. Her delicate and frail appearance, coupled with her delicate features, would evoke pity in any woman, let alone a man. She quickly said, "No, sir, please don't misunderstand. It's just that Wu Qiu has served me for many years, and we have a master-servant relationship. Now that you've come with such force, I simply cannot ignore it, so..."

"Noisy!"

Ye Jinglan slapped Su Qingyu across the face, snorted coldly, and shouted, "Guards! Su Qingyu is attempting to protect a criminal! Seize her and interrogate her under torture!"

Immediately, two constables stepped forward and used iron chains to bind her. Su Qingyu covered her face, her eyes filled with confusion and astonishment. She clearly had no idea that Ye Jinglan would be so unromantic and that a man would treat her so roughly.

The constables were also quite surprised.

Only Gu Mo and Gu Chudong thought it was normal; this was the real Ye Jinglan. After all, he was a ruthless man who could use a stunningly beautiful woman like Nangong Yuexi as a tool without batting an eye.

This Su Qingyu is very beautiful.

However, in terms of both appearance and temperament, she is still far inferior to Nangong Yuexi, the number one beauty in Qingzhou back then.

Nangong Yuexi spent so many years trying to soften Ye Jinglan's heart, but she couldn't do it at all, let alone Su Qingyu.

"You've really got some nerve! A brothel madam and a courtesan, who gave you the audacity to obstruct the Ministry of Justice's investigation? Beat them up!"

Immediately, one of the constables swung his scabbard and struck at Su Qingyu.

"I'll tell you, I'll tell you..." Su Qingyu was so frightened that her face turned pale and tears welled up in her eyes. She hurriedly said, "Just a stick's time ago, one of my maids suddenly had a stomachache. Wu Qiu said he could treat her, so I asked him to try. But after a while, there was no movement. When I went in to check, I found that the maid had been knocked unconscious and her clothes had been stripped off. Wu Qiu... must have run away disguised as a woman!"

Ye Jinglan said in a deep voice: "Tell me clearly what color clothes you wore, the specific time, and all the details!"

Su Qingyu dared not dodge the question any longer and recounted everything in detail.

After listening, Ye Jinglan pointed at Su Qingyu and said coldly, "I know you have powerful backers running your brothel. Your reputation in the capital must be due to someone powerful behind you. But if Wu Qiu escapes today, your Wan Hua Lou will be finished. You can try and see if your backers can protect you. You've been flattered a few times and you've lost your sense of who you are and what you're worth!"

Immediately,

Ye Jinglan waved and said, "Second team, stay here and be ready to seal off Wan Hua Lou at any time. The rest of you, come with me to chase after them!"

(End of this chapter)