Druid Fairy

Chapter 127 I am Li Qian (Seeking monthly votes)

"Looks like your 'cheat code' has expired."

A voice filled with laughter rang in his ears.

Liang Zhiyuan suddenly looked up and saw that the man in black whom he hated to the core had appeared in front of him at some point, looking at him with the eyes of someone looking at a clown.

"It was you! You're the one who did this!"

At that moment, Liang Zhiyuan had a sudden flash of inspiration and instantly understood everything.

No wonder he's been feeling unlucky lately, no wonder there were problems at the altar!
It turns out that from the very beginning, there was an unseen hand secretly stealing his foundation little by little, severing his connection with the dynasty!
And he, this self-righteous hunter, was, from beginning to end, merely the prey in the other's net!

"Who...are you?"

"It's too late to ask now."

Li Pingcan shook his head, his eyes no longer showing any mockery, only a cold killing intent.

Without the protection of the dynasty's fortune, Liang Zhiyuan was just an ordinary Qi Refining Level 6 cultivator, completely unable to contend with a Divine Martial Realm cultivator.

With a swift movement and an incredible agility, he turned around and instantly appeared behind Liang Zhiyuan.

In the next instant, the longsword was drawn, the Returning Wind Sword emerged, and the sword energy stretched like a rainbow, lightly slicing across Liang Zhiyuan's neck.

A large, fine human head shot into the sky, tracing a desolate arc in the air.

Finally, with a "plop," it rolled into the snow.

Those wide-open eyes, filled with shock and resentment, were still fixed on Li Pingcan's direction.

Blood stained the desolate valley red.

Seeing this, Li Pingfu felt a surge of satisfaction. This arrogant and domineering magistrate, who treated human life with contempt, had finally received his just deserts.

However, before he could even catch his breath, a terrifying pressure that made his very soul tremble suddenly descended!

On Liang Zhiyuan's corpse, an incomparably dazzling golden dragon aura, containing majestic heavenly power, soared into the sky like a true dragon awakening!

The dragon energy was not a physical entity, but it carried an undeniable majesty that judged all living beings.

It circled once in mid-air, and the dragon head, formed from pure luck, suddenly turned towards Li Pingcan, its golden eyes instantly locking onto his aura!
"Oh no! It's the backlash from the dynasty's dragon energy!"

Li Pingfu's expression changed drastically. Although he did not understand the mystical arts of immortals, he had heard that killing an official of the imperial court would inevitably lead to being tracked down and punished by the fate of the nation, a fight to the death!

The golden dragon let out a silent roar, carrying an aura of annihilation, and rushed straight at Li Pingcan!

This is no longer magic, but an attack at the level of rules, which is unavoidable and unstoppable!
Li Pingfu's heart leaped into his throat, and he instinctively rushed forward to shield his younger brother from the deadly pursuit.

Li Pingcan stopped his elder brother's actions, his face showing no sign of panic. He looked at Long Qi and coldly snorted, "Trying to cause trouble in my house? Did you ask me first?"

In an instant, an even more ancient and gentle, yet equally vast and boundless power quietly emerged from the void.

Centered on Li Pingcan, the space within a radius of several miles seemed to be gently shrouded by an invisible emerald green veil.

The golden dragon energy slowed down visibly the moment it entered the area.

Like a drone experiencing signal interference, it began to circle aimlessly in place. Its once invincible and majestic aura seemed to be "shielded" by something, becoming somewhat "signal-poor."

“This is…” Li Pingfu was stunned. Everything that was happening before his eyes was completely beyond his comprehension.

"Come here, you!"

Emerald Dreamland, Druid Dojo!

Li Pingcan's lips curled into a wicked smile. He reached out and made a grasping motion towards the golden dragon energy that was still swirling around in confusion.

Inside the dojo, the "Heart of Nature" shone brightly, and a domineering suction force was generated out of thin air, forcibly "intercepting" the golden dragon energy.

The golden dragon aura let out a reluctant roar, but it was powerless to resist the force and was forcibly dragged into that emerald green dream.

Under the purification of the white jade lotus platform, the personal mark representing "Liang Zhiyuan" and the "tracking" attribute belonging to the Great Yu Dynasty within the dragon energy were instantly stripped away.

Immediately afterwards, this dragon energy, no longer pure, was cleverly "packaged" by the Druid Dojo and then "thrown" out fiercely towards the direction of Old Yin Mountain!

Then, the body was thrown into Old Yin Mountain, and the scene was disguised with the yin energy of the token, thus completing the operation.

…………

Deep within the Old Yin Mountain lies a blood-red abyss where the yin energy is most concentrated.

A sleeping, lifeless, gray-eyed zombie, over ten feet long and covered in bone spurs, opened its lifeless eyes.

It seemed to sense something and was just about to wake up from its slumber.

"call out!"

A golden light descended from the sky with incredible speed, and before it could react, it was precisely imprinted on its brow.

"Roar?"

The stiff creature tilted its enormous head, seemingly somewhat confused.

It felt as if it had been "bumped" by something, but upon closer inspection, it seemed as if nothing had happened.

But somehow, an inexplicable black pot, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, was added to the mix.

It couldn't figure it out, so it simply stopped thinking about it, turned over, found a more comfortable position, and continued to sleep soundly.

…………

Having resolved the backlash from the dynasty's dragon energy, Li Pingcan felt refreshed and clear-headed.

He turned his head and couldn't help but laugh when he saw his older brother's dumbfounded expression.

"Big brother, snap out of it."

"Little brother, is this how it ends?"

Li Pingfu was in a daze. He hadn't held back when he attacked, but seeing Liang Zhiyuan die in front of him and witnessing the unpredictable aftermath still felt somewhat unreal.

"Otherwise what?" Li Pingcan shrugged, walked to Liang Zhiyuan's corpse, and began his favorite part without any hesitation.

"Big brother, don't just stand there! Come help us loot the spoils! First come, first served!"

As Li Pingcan spoke, he skillfully untied the storage bag from Liang Zhiyuan's waist, roughly erased the marks on it with his divine sense, and began to examine it.

"Tsk tsk, no wonder he's a county magistrate, he's really fat!"

He instantly beamed with joy, "Big brother, look! Top-grade spirit stones! And these bottles of pills, you can tell they're good stuff just by the smell!"

Li Pingfu's lips twitched. Looking at his younger brother's money-grubbing appearance, the shock in his heart was finally lessened a bit.

Oh well, I'm used to it anyway. He shook his head, squatted down, and began to grope Liang Zhiyuan and Lao Wu.

Soon, all the spoils were inventoried and piled together, gleaming alluringly in the moonlight.

First and foremost, of course, is all of Liang Zhiyuan's possessions.

The combined value of over thirty mid-grade spirit stones and a large pile of low-grade spirit stones is enough to drive any Qi Refining cultivator crazy. This is much faster than robbing a poor rogue cultivator!
Several bottles of first-tier healing pills, "Muscle Regeneration Pills," and mana-replenishing pills, "Qi Gathering Pills," were of extremely high quality and were clearly treasures that Liang Zhiyuan had obtained through his achievements.

A jade slip containing insights into formations detailed Liang Zhiyuan's understanding and application of the "Sword Formation" and several first-order formations. Although Li Pingcan found it still rough, it contained some ingenious ideas that could be learned from.

There's also the first-grade high-quality magic weapon, the "Seven Star Peach Wood Sword," and Old Wu's menacing "Soul-Chasing Sword."

What Li Pingcan cared about most was the token he had taken from Liang Zhiyuan's arms; it was completely black and ice-cold to the touch.

It was that "Ghost Soldier Order"!
The token is engraved with a ferocious ghost head, and a pure Yin energy flows within it.

"This is good stuff!" Li Pingcan's eyes lit up.

This Yin Soldier Token is practically a "golden touch" tailor-made for the trip to Old Yin Mountain!
With it, wouldn't the chances of obtaining the Martial God's Treasure be even greater?
He contentedly put the Yin Soldier Token into his pocket, then looked at the "Cloud and Water Mirror" that symbolized the magistrate's authority.

This item is a dynastic artifact, linked to the nation's destiny. Although Liang Zhiyuan is dead, the mark on it will be difficult to erase in the short term. However, Li Pingcan is not in a hurry. He has plenty of time to use the power of the Jade Dream to slowly "turn it against" him, leaving only a hidden lotus seed to be integrated into it. Once successful, he can use this to more secretly monitor and influence the flow of fortune throughout Yunshui County.

"Brother, you can choose from these first." Li Pingcan pushed several bottles of pills and the "Soul-Chasing Sword" in front of Li Pingfu.

"What would a martial artist like me need these magical artifacts for?" Li Pingfu waved his hand. "Keep them for yourself."

“This ‘Body Tempering Pill’ will greatly benefit your consolidation of your Innate Realm.” Li Pingcan stuffed it into his arms without further ado. “And this sword, it can cut through iron like mud. You can carry it for self-defense, but it’s not good to show yourself to others on ordinary days.”

Li Pingfu couldn't refuse him, so he had no choice but to accept it. Watching his younger brother skillfully sort the remaining treasures and put them into his own storage bag, he was filled with emotion.

He didn't know when it started, but this younger brother he had watched grow up had quietly grown into a towering tree capable of protecting the entire family.

“Brother, the magistrate is dead. This matter… I’m afraid it can’t be kept secret for long.” A trace of worry appeared on Li Pingfu’s face.

"Don't worry, brother. Liang Zhiyuan didn't disappear; he... sacrificed his life for the country."

Li Pingfu was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

"Think about it," Li Pingcan laughed, "Yunshui County Magistrate Liang Zhiyuan, in order to find out the source of the strange phenomenon, disregarded his own safety and went deep into Laoyin Mountain. He fought a three-day and three-night battle with the ghosts that had been entrenched in the mountain for thousands of years. In the end, he was exhausted and perished together with the demons."

"Is this okay?"

"Why not?" Li Pingcan was not flustered at all. "Liang Zhiyuan is dead. Whether he is infamous for eternity or remembered in history is all up to us. As long as he is dead, it will be a good thing for us, for him, and for all the people of Yunshui County. It's a win-win situation!"

Although Li Pingfu felt something was off, it also seemed... to make a lot of sense.

History is written by the victors; who would bother to investigate a dead person?
Looking at his younger brother's serious-looking nonsense, he finally laughed, and the worry in his heart vanished.

With such a steady and reliable younger brother, even if the sky were to fall, it would be interpreted as an auspicious sign.

Just as Li Pingcan had predicted, news of Liang Zhiyuan's "disappearance" quickly reached the state government.

The investigation team dispatched by the prefectural government was undeniably impressive. Led by a late-stage Qi Refining realm immortal master, a single sweep of his divine sense covered the entire Yunshui County.

They investigated very carefully, following the last remaining traces of the dynasty's dragon aura all the way to Laoyin Mountain.

But when they reached Laoyin Mountain, the trail went completely cold.

The place was filled with a dense, malevolent aura that made people's hearts tremble, and there was also a faint, terrifying presence that made them dare not go any deeper.

They only found a battlefield with lingering intense Yin energy on the outskirts of Laoyin Mountain, and... a tattered corner of Liang Zhiyuan's official robe.

Both witness testimonies and physical evidence are available.

Just when the investigation team was at a loss, the people of Yunshui County were "boiling over".

No one knows who started it, but overnight, thousands of petitions signed in blood flew into the state government like snowflakes.

The complaint listed all of Liang Zhiyuan's misdeeds over the years.

Exorbitant taxes and levies, disregard for human life, forced labor, and large-scale construction projects... the list goes on and on.

Now, even the officials in the state government have a headache.

On one side, a celestial official mysteriously "died in the line of duty," and on the other side, countless people wrote letters of condemnation in blood.

Whether Liang Zhiyuan was a meritorious official or a sinner became a confusing mess for a time.

In order to appease the public and prevent the scandal from escalating and affecting the state government's "performance," the matter was raised high but then gently dropped and left unresolved.

The state government simply announced that Liang Zhiyuan had mistakenly entered a dangerous place while investigating the disaster and unfortunately died. They posthumously conferred upon him a meaningless title and considered the matter closed.

As for the vacant position of county magistrate, the prefectural government quickly found a new candidate.

The newly appointed magistrate, named Wen Yuzhi, comes from a small cultivation family in the prefecture that has a marriage alliance with the Mu family.

This Magistrate Wen, though only forty years old, had already reached the late stage of Qi Refining, but his personality was completely different from Liang Zhiyuan's.

He disliked power struggles and fighting. His greatest hobbies in life were drinking tea, playing chess, and reading Taoist classics. He only wanted to cultivate peacefully and achieve the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible.

He sounds like someone who wants to be a hands-off boss.

Upon taking office, the first thing he did was review the county government's files. When he saw the Li brothers' impressive resumes, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

"One is a martial artist at the innate level, the other is a top-ranked immortal official, and they even have a past connection with the Mu family..."

Wen Yuzhi stroked his beard, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "Not bad, not bad, they're all capable of getting things done. With them around, I can finally have some peace and quiet and properly pursue the path to immortality."

Just then, the elderly county magistrate submitted a letter requesting to resign, saying that he was too old and could no longer bear the burden, and asked to retire to his hometown.

Wen Yuzhi readily agreed, writing with a flourish of his pen.

Subsequently, a new appointment was delivered to Li Pingfu's desk.

Yunshui County Magistrate!

A sixth-rank military officer, in charge of military affairs, security, and patrols in a county, wielding real power, was a true local tyrant!
From then on, the Li family had no more worries about future troubles in Yunshui County and could finally establish a firm foothold.

…………

Li Pingfu's promotion to county magistrate was a popular and well-deserved honor. The people of Yunshui County all remembered this "good official" and celebrated with lanterns and decorations.

Looking at his elder brother in that imposing official robe, Li Pingcan was filled with emotion.

He calmed his breathing and went to the largest restaurant in Yunshui County, "Wangjianglou," to enjoy the view from above and, incidentally, "participate" in his elder brother's "promotion ceremony."

Instead of choosing a private room, we sat down at a window seat on the second floor and ordered a few signature dishes when we were drawn to a burst of clear, bell-like laughter from the next table.

Turning my head, I saw a girl in a pale yellow dress, resting her chin on her hand, listening to an elderly man with white hair at the same table talking. Her bright eyes were smiling and curved into crescent moons.

The girl had skin as white as snow, and her eyebrows and eyes were like paintings. When she smiled, two shallow dimples would appear on her cheeks, making her look both charming and lively.

She possessed an ethereal, otherworldly aura that seemed somewhat out of place amidst the bustling atmosphere of the restaurant.

Li Pingcan's heart stirred slightly. The two men concealed their auras, making it impossible for ordinary people to discern their true identities. Even if they were not cultivators, they were still related to cultivation and carried some kind of "magical treasure" to conceal their auras.

“Master, stop bragging! What ‘one sword's light chills nineteen provinces’? Your sword strike would at most chop down Uncle Wang’s pancake stall downstairs!” The girl’s voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of girlish coquettishness.

The white-haired old man puffed out his beard and glared, "Hey! You little brat, how dare you talk like that! Back in my day..."

Before he could finish speaking, the girl suddenly turned her head, her curious eyes landing squarely on Li Pingcan.

To be precise, it landed on the plate of "sweet and sour carp" that had just been served on his table.

Li Pingcan was taken aback, and subconsciously looked at himself, then at the fish on the table.

The girl pointed unabashedly at his plate and said to the old man, "Master, I want to eat that!"

The old man looked in the direction she was pointing, and his face immediately turned red. He coughed and said, "Ahem, disciple, you mustn't be rude."

Seeing this, Li Pingcan couldn't help but laugh. This master and disciple were quite interesting, and it was rare to find cultivators who didn't treat ordinary people like pigs and dogs.

He instructed the waiter to bring the plate of fish to the girl, and said with a gentle smile, "If this young lady likes it, this plate of fish is a gift for her."

"Really?" The girl's eyes lit up, her face full of surprise.

"A gentleman does not take what others cherish." Li Pingcan placed the fish on the table, bowed slightly to the old man, and said, "Since you two get along so well, this meal is on me."

The white-haired old man sized him up, noticing his extraordinary demeanor and polite manners. A hint of approval appeared in his eyes, and he stroked his beard and chuckled, "Hehe, young friend, you're too kind. My surname is Sun, and this is my unworthy disciple. He's useless, and I'm sorry for making you laugh."

The girl, however, ignored all of that and eagerly picked up a piece of fish, putting it in her mouth and happily squinting her eyes: "Mmm! Delicious!"

She spoke indistinctly, but didn't forget to give Li Pingcan a grateful smile.

"Thank you for your hospitality, young master!" After finishing her meal, the girl wiped her mouth and said to Li Pingcan in a graceful manner, "To express my gratitude for the fish, I would like to present this jade pendant to you. I hope we will meet again someday."

She paused, a beautiful blush rising to her cheeks, her voice clear and melodious like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

"My name is Li Qian."

(End of this chapter)