Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 108 Beautiful lady, shall we cultivate together?

The city's Demon Suppression Bureau has a four-courtyard public hall.

Xie Bao, fully armed, sat upright in the main seat, his expression indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.

On the left and right sides, the monk Deyun from Fuhu Temple, the commander Situ from Xuanjing Division, the county magistrate Cai Baimao, and others sat in silence.

The atmosphere inside the hall was tense and subtle, eerily quiet.

"This is a false accusation."

After a long silence, Xie Bao broke the silence, glanced at everyone, and continued:
"The aim is to sow discord between the imperial court and the major sects. I hope you will all see this clearly."

This statement is very skillful; it subtly elevates the conflict to the level of the imperial court and the sects.

Once everyone acknowledges the truth, the matter is settled, and he gets through the ordeal smoothly.

"Lord Xie said last night that your guardian white elephant fell to Wu Song's blade?"

Cai Baimao sat upright with a straight posture and changed the subject directly, showing no respect for Xie Bao.

The civil and military officials of the Great Yu Dynasty have always been jealous of each other, with civil officials and military generals looking down on each other.

Moreover, this Magistrate Cai was the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination two years ago, and served as a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy for two years. He has a distinguished background.

Moreover, the Cai family of Hedong, to which he came from, had deep roots and a long history of intermarriage with the Zheng family of Xingyang.

According to seniority, the former county magistrate Zheng Deqing should be called his cousin.

The relationship between the Wu family and the Prince of Jin's mansion was unknown to others, but Cai's eldest son knew it perfectly well.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have given the Wu family face and released Xu Qixia before.

Of course, the reason he publicly contradicted Xie Bao and showed him no respect was also due to his inherent contempt.

For a scion of a noble family like him, who was skilled in both reading and martial arts, Xie Bao was still a rebel even if he wore official robes and ate the emperor's rice!

Even the current Grand Commandant Song...

Forget it, I can't afford to mess with that guy.

Cai Baimao's eyelids twitched, and he said leisurely:
"Why has it come back to life tonight? And why did it make a pact with Lord Xie... to kill another batch of sect disciples?"

He paused, then, ignoring Xie Bao's increasingly unpleasant expression, asked another question:
"Could it be that the deaths of those sect disciples were... intentionally orchestrated by you, Lord Xie?"

These words were incredibly powerful and could be described as a direct attack on the heart.

Once confirmed, Xie Bao's relationship with Shuiyue Nunnery, Feiluan Pavilion, Xingyue Sect, and other sects will likely plummet to a freezing point, or even turn them into mortal enemies!
But since the Wu family has suffered such a misfortune, if the Prince of Jin's mansion were to hold someone accountable, someone would have to take the blame.

The Demon-Subduing General before us is the best candidate.

In an instant, a strong wind arose in the hall, causing the candles to dance wildly.

Xie Bao's beard bristled with anger, his eyes widened like copper bells, and his fists clenched, yet he dared not make a move.

The person behind Cai Baimao was someone he was extremely wary of.

The Overturning Sea Sword, Li Mu.

Chicheng Sword Sect, one of the seven great sword masters.

Ten years ago, he entered the Dao through the sword and became a Qi cultivator.

His cultivation has become increasingly profound, and his aura is like a vast ocean, making people's hearts tremble.

Having learned from past experience, the Cai family of Hedong this time enlisted Li Mu to ensure Cai Baimao's safety in Shanyang County.

"Amitabha!"

At this moment, the monk Deyun chanted a Buddhist prayer. The volume was not loud, but it was like the roar of a ferocious tiger, terrifying and awe-inspiring.
In an instant, the strange wind in the arena stopped, but the atmosphere became even more heavy.

"What happened tonight is quite strange, and there may be something hidden."

The monk Deyun moved his prayer beads, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light:
"In my opinion, the most urgent task is to examine the scene and confirm whether this 'white elephant' is indeed the same 'white elephant' as the other one."

Furthermore, why did that white elephant fight with the demons and ghosts of the Wu family?

If this point can be ascertained, perhaps the truth will come to light.

"What the master says is absolutely right!"

Xie Bao breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and quickly looked at Commander Situ of the Suspended Mirror Division:
"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Lord Situ!"

"Oh."

Commander Situ responded noncommittally and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

He was around thirty years old, tall, with a slightly dark complexion, wearing a black robe with silver trim, the cuffs adorned with taotie patterns, and the words "Suspended Mirror" embroidered on his chest.

Behind him, Lu Dongya looked down at his toes, but his ears perked up.

He was familiar with his boss's habits; whenever he tapped the table, it meant that his mind was made up.

"My mission is to apprehend the criminal Wu Song and prevent him from entering Qingyuan Cave."

Commander Situ raised his head and his gaze fell on Xie Bao:

"General Xie, you recently discovered Wu Song's whereabouts and even had the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation set up. Why didn't you inform our Suspended Mirror Division?" "Military intelligence is urgent; there was no time to inform them."

Xie Bao's breath hitched, and he stroked his beard, making up an excuse.

"What a dire situation! If that's the case..."

Commander Situ chuckled lightly, immediately rose and left, striding away:
"The criminals are rampant, and the Suspended Mirror Bureau is short-handed. We are unable to help the Wu family with their affairs."

However, they used this as an excuse to distance themselves from the matter and avoid getting involved in this mess.

hateful!

Xie Bao's face turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists, but it was to no avail.

The Demon Suppression Division and the Suspended Mirror Division were not subordinate to each other, and there were even some filthy dealings between them.

His official rank and position were equivalent to those of the Commander-in-Chief Situ, so he couldn't do anything to them.

"General Xie, have you forgotten that Commander Situ... once had a conflict with the Prince of Jin's heir?"

Cai Baimao suddenly spoke, glancing at Xie Bao with undisguised contempt in his eyes:

"The ancestors of the Wu family were elders from the Prince of Jin's mansion."

I hate the house and the bird!

Xie Bao suddenly realized why Commander Situ hadn't given him any face at all.

But how could ordinary people know such a secret?
Only those powerful and influential families, with deep roots and extensive connections, could know so clearly.

He took a deep breath and bowed to Cai Baimao in thanks:
"Thank you for informing me. In the future, we will have to rely on Lord Cai a lot in Shanyang County."

Seeing Xie Bao back down, Cai Baimao nodded, his tone changing:
"The earth's veins have been throbbing these past few days, and the mountains are restless. The Qingyuan Cave... may appear ahead of schedule. Everyone should prepare accordingly to avoid jeopardizing His Highness's important plans."

That was his real purpose.

A newly appointed third-place scholar in the imperial examinations and a junior compiler in the Hanlin Academy, he was assigned to a remote county as an official.

Outsiders simply cannot understand it.

However, if we add the fact that the Sixth Prince entrusted it to us privately, then everything becomes perfectly logical.

After all, the prince's maternal clan was the Cai clan of Hedong.
-
"Is this the soul core of the demon?"

Liu Sheng examined the blackish-gray crystal core in his hand, his eyes thoughtful.

The crystal core was about the size of a fist, as clear as crystal, with black and gray mist flowing inside, resembling silk threads.

It feels cold to the touch, as if you are holding a piece of ice.

According to the secret method described on the scroll, during the joint practice, one must hold the object in their mouth, absorb the yin energy within, transform it into saliva, and then transfer it into the other person's mouth to heal the spiritual injury.

This kind of behavior can only be done between husband and wife.

I wonder what kind of expression that beautiful captain will have then?
With eyes closed in a shy manner, feigning composure, her whole body trembling, her cheeks flushed, yet she remained calm and composed.

Really looking forward to it!

With a thought, Liu Sheng put the soul core into his storage bag, stood up and looked in the direction of Shanyang County.

The area was brightly lit and bustling with noise, just like daytime.

He had fought a fierce battle with demons and ghosts earlier, which lasted less than a quarter of an hour, but caused great damage.

Half of the county's buildings collapsed into ruins, and the number of dead and injured is unknown.

In the face of demons and Qi cultivators, ordinary people are no different from ants.

Even if it wasn't specifically targeted at them, the aftermath of the fighting was a catastrophe for them.

"call!"

Liu Sheng exhaled a breath of stale air, his expression changing several times before finally settling on a resolute one.

It's not his fault.

In that situation, if he hadn't fought back, he would have been the one to die.

If anyone is to blame, it's that demon who acted so recklessly, daring to make a move in the city.

He was simply acting in self-defense!

Moreover, he avenged the dead and wounded civilians by killing the demon.

"They should thank a certain company."

Liu Sheng used his "knowledge of learning" to successfully overcome his mental block, then put the matter behind him and chose a secluded cave with hot springs to begin renovations.

Not long after, he transformed into a blue sparrow and returned to the city.

On their own rooftop, they found the devoted and responsible Du Bingyan.

Hey, beautiful lady, wanna do some repairs together?

(End of this chapter)