Uncle Nine: Scattering beans to create soldiers? I'm using plants and trees to create soldiers.

The butler drove the carriage slowly through the crowd.

Lin Xuan and his companion strolled towards them.

Just as it brushed past Lin Xuan and Uncle Jiu, Lin Xuan suddenly stopped in his tracks.

A faint floral fragrance drifted out from the gaps in the carriage curtains.

"This scent is wrong!"

Lin Xuan frowned slightly and turned to look at the carriage that had already driven past.

With his affinity for plants, he was able to clearly distinguish the medicinal properties contained in the fragrance of flowers.

That fragrance has an extremely strong hallucinogenic effect!

It can not only make people feel drowsy and weak, but it also contains a special force that can hinder the flow of Dao Qi.

Why would there be this fragrance in an ordinary carriage?

Just then, a passing townsman recognized the butler driving the carriage and approached him with a smile, "Butler Zhang, are you going out on errands?"

The butler's shoulders visibly tensed for a moment, but he quickly turned his head and put on a smile that was no different from usual.

"Yes, the master instructed me to go out and take care of some business."

The townsman glanced into the carriage; the curtains were tightly closed, and he couldn't see what was inside.

"Is Mr. Li in the car too?" a town resident asked.

"No," the butler shook his head and said with a smile, "Master is unwell and is resting at home. The carriage only contains some things to be delivered to the other residence."

"I see... Butler Zhang should remind Master Li to get plenty of rest and not to overwork himself because of the water ghost incident. He's the best and most virtuous man in Huaiyuan Town!"

"Okay, I'll definitely pass on that message! I have some things to attend to, so I'll be going now!"

Upon hearing this, the man cupped his hands in greeting and quickly passed by the carriage.

Lin Xuan heard their conversation clearly and knew that this was the carriage of the Li family.

Lin Xuan turned to look at Uncle Nine, "Master, something was wrong with that carriage just now."

Uncle Nine nodded slightly. "I sensed it too. Since something's not right, let's stop them and take a look."

As soon as he finished speaking, Uncle Nine lightly tapped his foot.

With a flicker of his yellow Taoist robe, he had already covered several meters and landed gracefully in front of the carriage.

Lin Xuan quickly followed.

"Wait a minute!" Uncle Nine suddenly appeared in front of the carriage.

The horses pulling the cart were startled and suddenly reared up on their front hooves.

"Whoa!" The steward's expression changed, and he hurriedly pulled hard on the reins, bringing the carriage to a near stop.

When he saw the Taoist priest's attire of the person blocking his way, his eyes immediately became tense.

"What are you doing?"

"Didn't you fear being run over and killed by suddenly running in front of the carriage?"

The butler, outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, questioned.

Just then, Lin Xuan arrived at the other side of the carriage. "What's inside?"

The butler had been focusing his attention on Uncle Nine, but Lin Xuan suddenly spoke from the side, startling him so much that his body trembled violently.

He turned his head and saw Lin Xuan's youthful face. He breathed a slight sigh of relief, and his tone became firmer.

"What's it to you?"

"This is my Li family's carriage!"

"Who are you, and what gives you the right to block my way?"

Seeing that the other party did not answer, Lin Xuan did not bother to talk nonsense and reached out to pull the carriage curtain.

Upon seeing this, the butler's expression changed drastically.

"What are you going to do?"

"This is a private carriage!"

"You mustn't move!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly reached out and grabbed Lin Xuan's arm.

However, as soon as his hand landed, he felt as if he had grasped an iron pillar buried deep in the ground.

No matter how hard he tried, Lin Xuan's arm remained completely still.

After being repeatedly nourished by the exotic blood lotus, Lin Xuan's "Blood Lotus Horizontal Training Technique" has reached the third level.

In terms of sheer physical strength and power, let alone a pampered steward of the Li family, even three or five strong men together might not be able to budge him in the slightest.

"Let go!"

The butler grabbed Lin Xuan's arms with both hands, leaned back, and his face flushed slightly.

Lin Xuan seemed not to feel his pulling.

With a slight jerk of his arm, he flung the butler's hands away.

Then, he lifted the carriage curtain, and a rich, exotic fragrance immediately wafted out of the carriage.

"Um?!"

Lin Xuan waved his hand, dispersing the strange fragrance, then looked inside.

Inside the carriage, several Taoist priests lay sprawled on the platform, their eyes closed, seemingly unconscious.

And one of them was Chen Bingwen!

"Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Lin Xuan's pupils contracted slightly.

He never expected that after parting ways in Renjia Town, he would actually run into the other person in Huaiyuan Town. What a coincidence!

But then his face turned cold. His former fellow Daoist had been drugged and placed in a carriage. If he hadn't discovered it, he would probably be in grave danger.

Lin Xuan slowly turned his head, his gaze as sharp as a knife as it fell on the butler. "What's going on with these people?"

The butler trembled at the sudden aura emanating from him, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.

"He...they are all my master's friends."

"I drank too much at the mansion just now."

"The master told me to take them to the inn to rest."

"Drunk on alcohol?" Lin Xuan pointed to the carriage. "They don't smell of alcohol at all, yet the carriage is filled with incense specifically designed to lock away a cultivator's Qi! You're telling me this is just drunkenness?!"

The commotion had already attracted many locals to come over.

Upon hearing Lin Xuan's words, they all looked towards the carriage.

Some people smelled the lingering fragrance of flowers, swayed slightly, and quickly covered their mouths and noses before backing away.

"This scent is definitely not right."

"Just smelling it makes my head feel heavy."

"How come a drunk person doesn't smell of alcohol at all?"

"But this is the Li family's carriage..."

"Could there really be some misunderstanding?"

When the steward heard that some people among the commoners were still speaking up for the Li family, he felt as if he had grasped at a straw.

He immediately retorted, stiffening his neck, "I told you, they're just drunk!"

"This incense was brought by the Taoist priests themselves."

"Perhaps it's some kind of incense used for cultivation. What does it have to do with my Li family? Don't spout nonsense!"

Lin Xuan interrupted him directly, "It seems you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin."

After saying that, he turned to look at Uncle Nine.

"Master, please wake up Fellow Daoist Chen first."

"Once he wakes up, he'll know exactly what happened."

Uncle Nine nodded and stepped to the side of the carriage.

Seeing that Uncle Nine was about to make a move, the butler's eyes darted around.

He knew that once Chen Bingwen woke up, all his lies would be exposed on the spot.

We absolutely cannot stay here any longer!

While Lin Xuan and Uncle Jiu were focused on the carriage, the butler quietly took two steps back.

He then suddenly turned around and rushed out of the crowd.

But he had only taken half a step when his collar was suddenly tightened, and a hand reached out from behind and firmly grabbed his collar.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Lin Xuan's calm voice came from behind.

The butler froze instantly.

He turned around, grabbed his collar with both hands, and pulled it outwards with all his might.

"Let go! Let go of me now!"

"What exactly do you want?"

"They forcibly intercepted the Li family's carriage in broad daylight and even tried to arrest people! Is there no law left?"

Lin Xuan's hand was like an iron clamp, and no matter how the butler pulled and struggled, it remained unmoved.

The commotion on the street grew louder, and shop assistants and customers from nearby shops came out one after another.

Many of them knew Butler Zhang.

Seeing him being captured by a Taoist priest from out of town, several unsuspecting villagers immediately frowned.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you grabbing Butler Zhang like that?!"

"Do you know who he is? He's the butler of Boss Li Fuhai's household!!"

"Boss Li has built bridges and roads, and even funded the renovation of the town's temples. He's a well-known philanthropist in Huaiyuan Town! Why are you outsiders making things difficult for the Li family for no reason?!"

"If you don't let go, we'll report you to the authorities!"

"..."

The crowd grew larger and larger.

Several people made accusations while trying to approach.

Lin Xuan glanced around, his expression unchanged, his hand still firmly gripping the butler's collar.

the other side.

He first tapped Chen Bingwen's chest and dantian, then placed his fingers together on Chen Bingwen's brow, and a wisp of pure Dao Qi flowed into Chen Bingwen's body through his fingertips.

The Daoist Qi flows rapidly along the meridians, gradually dispersing the cold medicinal power attached to the inner walls of the meridians.

Uncle Nine used his other hand to perform the Heart-Cleansing Mantra.

"With a clear mind, all evil spirits will be dispelled. Awaken!"

As the last two words were uttered, Chen Bingwen's body trembled violently.

After his chest heaved violently a few times, he suddenly opened his eyes.

"That son of a bitch, Li Fuhai!"

Chen Bingwen was not fully conscious, and his first reaction after opening his eyes was to start cursing.

However, the next second he saw Uncle Nine's dignified and square face, and his expression froze slightly.

"Master One-Eyebrow? What brings you here?"

Uncle Nine withdrew his finger. "I came to Huaiyuan Town with my apprentice to investigate some matters, and we happened to run into this carriage. If we had come any later, you might have already been sent away."

Chen Bingwen followed his gaze and quickly spotted Lin Xuan standing outside the carriage. "Fellow Daoist Lin?!"

Lin Xuan nodded to him, then asked, "Fellow Daoist Chen, how did you get drugged? What exactly happened?"

The effects of the incense had not completely worn off; his face was still somewhat pale, and his limbs were a little weak.

However, upon seeing the Li family's steward, the anger in his eyes surged once more.

"It's Li Fuhai!"

"He used a sleeping potion to knock us all out!"

"This hypocrite is the one who created those water monsters!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding people were immediately in an uproar.

"Did Master Li create a water monster?"

"How is this possible?!"

"Could this Taoist priest be under some kind of spell?!"

"Exactly! Boss Li is a renowned philanthropist! He not only takes good care of us ordinary people, but he has also donated many schools and temples. How could he be the one who created the water ghost?!"

"That's right! It was clearly that wretched son of Master Li who did it! How can you try to pin this dirty water on Master Li?!"

Hearing the doubts around him, Chen Bingwen immediately retorted angrily, "I am perfectly sober!"

"The night before last, I encountered the Li family's fish caravan on the official road and saw with my own eyes four strange babies crawling out of the water tanks they were transporting."

"Those things are all covered in scales, they bite anyone they see, and they suck the lifeblood of living people."

"I tracked them all the way to Huaiyuan Town. Li Fuhai recognized me and, fearing that things would be exposed, tricked us into his mansion and used a sleeping potion to kill us."

At this point, Chen Bingwen seemed to have thought of something, and his expression suddenly changed.

"Oh, right!"

He also said he would send me to some Fifth Young Master.

"I will nourish the spiritual mud with my own flesh and blood!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding chatter immediately fell silent.

Lin Xuan slowly looked at the butler he had grabbed, "Now what do you have to say? Where does that Fifth Young Master live? Speak!"

The surrounding people also began to whisper among themselves.

"This Taoist priest's story sounds so plausible, could it really be true?!"

"Who knows? But that strange thing he's talking about does look a lot like the water ghost my cousin's been talking about..."

"What?! So, so, Master Li and his son have colluded?!"

"Fifth Young Master...could this person be Master Li's fifth son?!"

"I think it's probably true, otherwise, why would they have drugged all these Taoist priests?! It's definitely a case of the thief crying 'stop thief!'"

"..."

As the butler listened to the sounds around him, cold sweat poured down his forehead.

"You...you're making false accusations!"

"The water ghost incident has nothing to do with my master."

"This is slander! I'm reporting this to the authorities! I'll have you all arrested!"

Lin Xuan frowned slightly. "If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences."

With a slight exertion of his hand, he lifted the butler off the ground.

The butler kicked his legs incessantly, his face quickly turning red.

Just then, something slipped from his arms.

blah-

The thing fell right at Lin Xuan's feet.

Lin Xuan looked down.

It was a bluish-black scale, its surface covered with strange patterns, and a wisp of moisture still lingered at the edge.

The butler's heart pounded violently when he saw the scales fall out.

"That's mine!"

"Don't touch it!"

His reaction was far more intense than when he saw Chen Bingwen wake up.

Lin Xuan's eyes flickered slightly. Judging from the other party's behavior, this scale was obviously very important.

He released his grip and bent down to pick up the scales.

After landing, the butler, without even catching his breath, turned and rushed out of the crowd.

At that moment, only one thought remained in his mind.

escape!

Once you leave here, immediately go back and inform them.

We absolutely cannot let these Taoist priests find the Fifth Young Master's residence with the scales!

However, he had only taken a few steps when Lin Xuan, without even raising his head, casually waved his hand behind him.

A dark shadow suddenly flew out from the sleeve.

Whoosh!

The dark shadow swept across several meters and, in the blink of an eye, wrapped around the butler's legs and waist.

boom!

The butler fell heavily to the ground, and then the vines quickly tightened, binding him tightly.

Chen Bingwen felt a blur before his eyes, and when he looked closely, he found that the butler was wrapped in a black "rope".

The rope's surface was slightly rough, with many small forks, and it looked somewhat familiar...

Suddenly, the great battle on the Beiqing River flashed into Chen Bingwen's mind.

Those eerie vines that emerge from the wounds of the zombies, capable of controlling the corpses and absorbing yin energy!

His pupils immediately contracted.

Those vines were full of evil energy. They could not only burrow into corpses and devour flesh and blood, but also control the corpses' movements, and even almost took his life!

But now, Lin Xuan has refined it into a magical artifact!

Moreover, this object no longer possesses any evil aura; on the contrary, it contains a pure golden light and magical intent!

Fellow Daoist Lin Xuan is also a weapon refiner?!

Judging by appearance, their weapon-refining skills are quite high!

Chen Bingwen was deeply shaken.

Lin Xuan then reached out and picked up the bluish-black scales.

The scales felt cold to the touch, and the patterns on them didn't look like they grew naturally; rather, they seemed to have been artificially carved.

Several lines intertwine, faintly forming a keyhole-like pattern.

It looks like a special key no matter how you look at it.

At this moment, Uncle Nine also revived the other Taoist priests in the carriage.

When the group regained consciousness and learned that it was Uncle Nine who had saved them, they all bowed and expressed their gratitude.

Lin Xuan took the scale to Uncle Nine's side and handed it to him. "Master, look, this thing looks a bit like a key. Could it be something that opens the door to some kind of secret room?"

Uncle Nine took the scale, examined it for a moment, and gently ran his fingertips along the surface patterns.

"They do look somewhat alike."

"Moreover, a very distinct scent still lingers on it."

"You can try using the Qi-finding method to find its original location."

After saying that, Uncle Nine held the scale in his palm.

With his left hand forming a mudra, he gently touched the surface of the scale with his right fingers together, and a wisp of yellow Daoist energy flowed into it.

"The sky is clear and the earth is fertile, and the water's essence remains."

"Follow the trail, and you'll find it!"

The butler, who was lying on the ground, turned pale instantly upon hearing their conversation.

Done! ! !

If these Taoist priests find the Fifth Young Master's residence, the Li family will surely suffer a devastating blow.

His body went limp, and he lay on the ground, powerless, with no more thoughts of struggling.

hum-

The bluish-black scales trembled slightly, then detached from Uncle Nine's palm and slowly floated into the air.

The scales spun in the air a few times before finally flying towards a certain place in Huaiyuan Town.

Uncle Nine looked up in the direction the scales were flying. "Let's go take a look."

After saying that, he immediately took a step and followed.

Lin Xuan raised his hand and the golden-patterned Soul-Suppressing Vine wrapped around the steward quickly loosened, turning into a black shadow and flying back into Lin Xuan's hand.

He wrapped the vines around his arm and quickly followed Uncle Nine.

Chen Bingwen jumped out of the carriage and was about to chase after him when he glanced at the butler lying on the ground.

He hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the other person and slashed hard on the back of their neck.

The butler's eyes rolled back and he fainted on the spot.

Chen Bingwen grabbed him by the collar and threw him back into the carriage.

Lin Xuan turned around and glanced at him.

Chen Bingwen said earnestly, "I'm worried that after he wakes up, he might run back and warn us. I have absolutely no intention of revenge! Absolutely not!"

Lin Xuan nodded upon hearing this and gave him a thumbs up, "Fellow Daoist Chen is indeed cautious."

The double negative signifies affirmation, indicating that Lin Xuan still trusted this fellow Daoist Chen.

Chen Bingwen smiled slightly, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "You flatter me, you flatter me~~"

The three of them did not linger any longer.

Following the direction the dark blue scales were flying, they quickly pursued them deeper into Huaiyuan Town.