Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 332 Top-Tier Rich and Beautiful Women? Du Jiaji Haitang Gets Picked
The Du family of Bohai was a prominent family in Youzhou, a powerful clan.

Their territory is located in the northeast of Youzhou, situated beside the confluence of the winding Dalong River and the sea, controlling the vital point where the river meets the sea.

For generations, they have traversed the seas by boat, controlling the shipping routes connecting the four seas. They are truly a maritime trading giant in the north, with immense power and wealth, unparalleled in the region.

Cost-saving version: The Great Merchant has been in the maritime trade for hundreds of years and has so much money he's practically burning his hands.

In Du Bingyan's words, "a hall of white jade and horses of gold" is an insult to her family.

She said this in a normal tone, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, without the slightest arrogance.

It is said that her family's "Jihaitang" restaurant has branches all over China, making a fortune every day, and has even expanded overseas to countries such as Izumo, Singapore, and Java.

Various rare seafood items were sold far and wide inland, becoming private treasures of nobles from countries such as Tiele, Yuntu, and Wumeng.

"Soft rice tastes good!"

Liu Sheng muttered something to himself, then reached out and lifted Du Bingyan's chin:

"Fanfan, I'm hungry..."

"I just fed you."

Du Bingyan rolled her eyes in annoyance, her face still flushed, exuding charm.

"A good stomach means you get hungry quickly."

Liu Sheng chuckled and put his plan into action.

The Sky-Splitter beneath him let out a long cry, flapped its wings, and flew back into the sea of ​​clouds.

Below, on the ground, a great river flows like a giant dragon, traversing mountains and valleys, heading eastward to the sea.

The Dalong River, the second largest river in Dayu County, meanders from west to east, traversing six prefectures before flowing into the sea at Zhangwu County.

In the past three years, the world has undergone tremendous changes. Mountains have collapsed and risen, rivers have changed course, deserts have become fertile fields, and small ponds have become large lakes. The changes in the landscape are so great that even Du Bingyan can no longer recognize the way home.

The original Shanyang County has become the current Shanyang Prefecture. How much will the original Bohai Prefecture expand to?
The old map is outdated.

Traveling across several states to return to Bohai County is no easy task.

However, some iconic mountains and rivers ultimately serve as coordinates, indicating the approximate location.

For example, Heilongjiang.

If you follow the river eastward, you will reach Balhae County.

If you're lucky, you might even encounter the Du family's "Jihaitang" shops in various places along the way, which would make things even smoother.

A day can cover ten thousand miles.

With the sky as my back and birds as my mat, it was truly delightful.

To prevent Du Bingyan from getting angry and wanting to return to her sect, Liu Sheng has been taking her to Yunyun for sparring whenever he has free time these past few days.

Intentionally or unintentionally, I overlooked many new towns along the Dalongjiang River.

He was forced to cease fighting only when Du Bingyan, unable to withstand the onslaught, drew her Cloud Water Sword to test the range of his "Indestructible Vajra" technique.

At this point, seven or eight days had passed since they left Wohu Village.

At that time, they were unaware that rumors were already circulating widely and undercurrents were stirring outside.

……

Yangxin Prefecture, the Abode of Immortals.

The restaurant was bustling with noise, a cacophony of accents from all over the country, creating a chaotic and noisy atmosphere.

Yangxin Prefecture was located on the banks of the Dalong River, which gave it a strategic advantage, connecting the east and west, and attracting a large number of merchants.

Restaurants and inns are places where a great deal of information gathers.

Liu Sheng and his companion chose a window seat and enjoyed a drink.

While flying in the sky is liberating and exhilarating, it ultimately lacks the warmth of human presence.

At the same time, we also need to gather some information.

"...That Abbess Jingyue obtained an extraordinary opportunity, instantly becoming an immortal. With a single breath of immortal energy, she annihilated a million elite soldiers and destroyed several large cities!"

"Holy crap, is that true? You wiped out a million soldiers in one go? That's truly divine skill. Otherwise, for an ordinary person, killing a million pigs would take a long time."

"That celestial dew is called 'Sweet Dew.' It's said that just one drop can grant immortality, make one an immortal on the spot, grant them great supernatural powers and boundless magic, and even bring the dead back to life and reverse aging..." "That's called Willow Branch Sweet Dew! Let me tell you, Abbess Jingyue had an old dog that was almost dead, but it accidentally smelled it and became young again, turning into a dog demon..."

……

"The news spread to a million miles away in just a few days, and almost everyone knows about it. That's not normal..."

Liu Sheng put down his chopsticks and gave Du Bingyan a comforting look.

Recalling the information he had previously obtained from the ghost Qiao She and Qian Zhong, his eyes narrowed involuntarily.

Is the imperial court and the Prince of Jin's residence working together, or is it a tacit agreement?
It is said that "keeping quiet makes a fortune." When the imperial court and the Prince of Jin's mansion receive news of a rare treasure like "Yangzhi Ganlu," they will surely try to cover it up first, and then secretly mobilize their forces to seize it.

But now, the matter has become a huge scandal, known to almost everyone in the world...

Was it an accidental leak, or did they suffer a great loss at the hands of Abbess Jingyue, forcing them to incite the world to rise up and attack her?
It's like fighting a boss; if two teams can't handle it, they have to call in reinforcements?
So, not only was Abbess Jingyue out of danger, she even had the upper hand.

Liu Sheng informed Du Bingyan of the analysis results, which relieved her.

Suddenly, a great commotion arose downstairs—

"Jihaitang was attacked, everyone was dead, they died so tragically..."

"Ugh... I just took a look, it's terrifying. From the shopkeeper to the staff, they were all tortured to death..."

"The owner of Jihaitang must have offended some powerful figure; three of their locations have already been taken over in the last two days!"

……

Jihaitang?
It seems that "Jihaitang" is the property of the Du family of Bohai, and it has been taken over by someone else!

Liu Sheng's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Du Bingyan and saw that her rosy face had turned deathly pale.

"I……"

Du Bingyan put down her chopsticks and placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"I'm full, let's go take a look."

Liu Sheng nodded, tossed down a silver ingot, and left the Immortal Abode with the impatient Du Bingyan.

Yangxin Prefecture is a new city, with a similar history to Shanyang County, which was previously just a county town.

Before long, the two arrived at the Jihaitang residence in the West Market.

This place is close to the ferry crossing, making it convenient to load and unload goods. On the water not far away, boats shuttle back and forth, and sails are like a forest, creating a busy scene.

At this moment, a large crowd of onlookers gathered in front of Jihaitang's residence, their expressions varied and their discussions lively.

There was curiosity, doubt, and a desire to investigate; and of course, there was also schadenfreude.

Several constables stood guard at the entrance, their expressions solemn, keeping the crowd at bay.

Through the open gate, one could see more than a dozen constables and constables working inside.

There were even people from the Suspended Mirror Bureau.

Bloodstains were visible on the bluestone slabs, and many corpses lay inside the gatehouse. Judging from their attire, they were all former staff members of the garrison.

"do not go."

Liu Sheng shouted something in a low voice, grabbed Du Bingyan's shoulder, pulled her behind the crowd, and climbed up a tall tree that was several dozen feet high.

"Several branches of your Jihai Hall have been targeted in succession, with a very strong focus on specific individuals, but the identity of the perpetrator is unknown."

He glanced at Du Bingyan, whose face showed confusion, and explained:

"If you show yourself now, won't you expose your identity?"

He pointed to the busy constables, officers, and clerks from the Suspended Mirror Division working in the courtyard:
"How do you know they weren't involved? Maybe the murderer or his informant is among them."

Du Bingyan took a deep breath and gritted her teeth, saying:

"So we're just going to... stand by and watch?"

Jihaitang was her family's business, and among the managers and employees who died tragically, there might even be people she knew.

"Go and take a look at the nearby cities; perhaps we'll find something useful."

Liu Sheng pulled her down from the tree and headed straight for the outskirts of the city.

(End of this chapter)