Wife is hell

Chapter 79 Moon Consort and the Questioning Dao Meeting

In the hall.

Zhao Ling and Shi Xueying are still waiting for Master Hongyuan to arrive.

However, compared to before, both of them were quite unsettled at this moment.

Zhao Ling glanced at her disciple, who was clearly distracted, and said in a cold tone, "What? Do you really think your childhood sweetheart has climbed the social ladder?"

Shi Xueying lowered her head, not daring to speak.

Zhao Ling snorted coldly:
"In my opinion, he's most likely here to investigate a case. Otherwise, how could a mere yamen runner be qualified to associate with someone like you, Master? If you really want to know the reason, you might as well go and ask him directly."

Shi Xueying bit her thin, moist lips, her eyes filled with confusion.

Really... are you just here to investigate a case?

At this moment, Master Hongyuan and Wenhe finally arrived late, but Jiang Mu was nowhere to be seen.

The other party has obviously left.

"I've seen the real person."

Zhao Ling quickly composed herself, stood up and bowed.

Master Hongyuan waved his hand casually: "I've been busy with trivial matters, so I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Zhao girl. Please don't take offense."

Zhao Ling repeatedly said "I dare not," then paused, finally unable to suppress her doubts, and tentatively asked:

"May I ask, sir, did that Officer Mu... Officer Mu come here today to investigate a case on official business?"

"Hehe, it's not about investigating a case."

Master Hongyuan, unwilling to elaborate, lightly changed the subject and said with a smile,

"Zhao girl, it's been more than ten years since I last saw you. I never expected that you would become an elder in the blink of an eye."

Not receiving a clear answer, Zhao Ling could only suppress her doubts and respectfully reply:

"Yes, more than ten years have passed in a flash. I have always kept in mind the teachings and guidance of the Master back then, and I dare not forget them."

Master Hongyuan laughed heartily:
"There was no instruction whatsoever, just a few words of praise for your talent. You little rascal, you've learned to spout these empty official platitudes now, you're getting more and more hypocritical."

Zhao Ling gave an awkward smile.

She composed herself, her expression turning solemn, and got to the point:
"Master, I have come here with two reasons for my unsolicited visit. First, I have not had the opportunity to receive your teachings for a long time and have come to seek your guidance. Second, I would also like to inquire about the progress of the Chongtian Temple's investigation into the remnants of the Lingjiao sect."

Master Hongyuan frowned and asked, "Why are you concerned about this?"

Zhao Ling clenched her fists, her face filled with sorrow:

“Some time ago, my personal disciple was robbed and killed by remnants of the Spirit Cult. Those people even used evil magic to modify her spiritual objects, creating a massacre that wiped out her entire family.”

Master Hongyuan's expression was solemn: "Are you sure it was the work of the Spirit Sect?"

Zhao Ling said, "My disciple suddenly disappeared in the city. She has decent cultivation and is protected by a spiritual object. Ordinary people could not possibly harm her."

The real person also knows that plundering and altering other people's spiritual objects is the most common practice of spiritual cults.

Currently, both the patrol office and Lord Gan, the Xuan Shi investigating the Lingjiao sect, believe it was the work of remnants of the Lingjiao sect.

Snapped!
Master Wenhe slammed his fist on the table and roared, "These remnants of the Spirit Cult are getting more and more arrogant!"

Master Hongyuan fell into deep thought.

After a moment, he shook his head and said:
“Something’s not right. Logically speaking, the remnants of the Spirit Cult wouldn’t rashly ambush and kill a formal disciple of Divine Phoenix Island in the city at this critical juncture. That would be tantamount to inviting trouble.”

“Master, the Lingjiao sect has always acted recklessly and lawlessly. It is not surprising that they would do such heinous things.”

Master Wenhe curled his lip, unconvinced.

Master Hongyuan didn't say anything more, but said to Zhao Ling:

“Young lady Zhao, our Chongtian Temple is indeed doing its utmost to track down the Ling Sect, but they are extremely well hidden and progress has been minimal. If there is any further news, I will send someone to inform you.”

"Then thank you very much, Master."

Zhao Ling quickly bowed and thanked her.

Master Hongyuan seemed to remember something, and then asked:
"It is said that His Majesty has granted Consort Yue permission to go to Divine Phoenix Island for cultivation. Will she come to Yancheng?"

"This junior dares not guarantee anything, but according to sources, Consort Yue should be coming to Yancheng soon. It is possible that she will preside over the Yancheng Inquiry Dao Conference."

Zhao Ling said.

Master Hongyuan nodded: "Hmm, this arrangement makes sense. Besides taking on disciples, did you come to Yancheng to await the arrival of Consort Yue?"

Zhao Ling shook her head:

"No, that's not it. My main purpose in coming to Yancheng was to borrow a spiritual item from Prince Cheng to help me get rid of my inner demons. I just didn't expect my disciple to have an accident, which is why I was delayed."

As she spoke, Zhao Ling took out a brocade box from her sleeve.

Upon opening it, a scarlet dagger was found lying quietly inside, entangled in strands of hair.

Master Hongyuan's expression changed slightly:

"If I remember correctly, this spirit creature first appeared in the Southern Barbarian lands, and once caused a tragedy in which more than four thousand people went mad and committed suicide. It is infamous."

Zhao Ling said:
"It was this very item that was later seized by the imperial court. After years of purification, it has been kept sealed in the Prince Cheng's residence."

Because of its unique properties, it has helped many cultivators to eliminate their inner demons and solidify their Dao heart, which is why I have taken the liberty of coming to ask for its help.

Master Hongyuan solemnly reminded him:
"This item is extremely malevolent and has not been completely purified. Zhao girl, you must be extremely careful when using it."

Zhao Ling nodded solemnly:

“What you say is absolutely right. To be honest, this thing acted strangely for no reason while I was in the carriage some time ago, and its malevolent aura was emanating outwards. I will definitely be extra careful when using it.”

The spirit is acting strangely for no reason?

This is not a good sign.

Hong Yuan felt a chill run down his spine. He had intended to persuade the other party to give up using this spiritual object to sever his Dao heart, but considering the other party's stubborn nature, he knew that the other party would not listen even if he spoke, so he ultimately remained silent.

After chatting about cultivation issues for a while, Zhao Ling took her leave.

After seeing the master and disciple off, Master Hongyuan was about to take the talisman back to his room to study it when a disciple hurriedly came over.

“Grandmaster Uncle, just now, Young Master Wu Jing from Wenhua Mountain sent someone to deliver a message, saying that they voluntarily conceded defeat in their debate with you.”

Give up?

Hongyuan and Wenhe looked at each other in bewilderment.

What on earth is going on today?

First Mu Qingshan conceded defeat, and now Wen Huashan has also conceded defeat. So who really won?

-

-

Meanwhile, Jiang Mu descended the mountain and returned to the city.

But they happened to run into Jiang Xiaoyuan, a constable from the yamen, who was also Uncle An's usual follower.

The other party and several colleagues were going door to door asking questions.

"Xiao Jiang!"

Jiang Xiaoyuan caught a glimpse of Jiang Mu from afar and quickly ran over, "When is Officer An coming?"

Jiang Mu gave him a strange look: "Shouldn't you ask the county magistrate about this? How would I know?"

Jiang Xiaoyuan sighed repeatedly, looking miserable.
"The magistrate didn't say anything, but I, Officer An, might send a message home or something... Sigh, I've been so busy lately. I was exhausted from assisting the patrol department with the city-wide search."

Another murder occurred in town yesterday. With Chief Constable An out of town, the brothers are investigating like headless flies; they're almost at their breaking point.

Another murder?

Jiang Mu asked curiously, "What murder case?"

"It can't really be considered a murder case."

Jiang Xiaoyuan lowered his voice and said,
"Last night, the night watchman found a body in a quiet alley in the west of the city. It was an old woman, who looked to be at least eighty years old."

Moreover... he was completely naked, without any clothes on.

The county magistrate deduced that it was probably some mentally challenged old man who had no one to look after him and wandered out in the middle of the night, accidentally tripped and fell, and died.

So they sent us to go door to door asking if we could find the old man's family, so that they could at least take the body back for burial.

Jiang Mu found it quite novel.

An octogenarian woman was found dead naked in the street in the middle of the night.

(End of this chapter)