“Ahem…” Lu Zheng coughed twice, quickly saying, “I’m looking for Lord Duan Changzai.”
“Little brother, you look unfamiliar. What business do you have with Blackie Duan?”
A rather seductive voice rang out. The members of the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, who had been staring at Lu Zheng, immediately averted their gazes, returning to their posts or tasks.
Lu Zheng turned to see a woman in a purple gauze skirt with ancient cloud patterns suddenly appear beside him.
She had a voluptuous figure and a bewitching appearance. Her starry eyes were captivating, and her lips seemed to hold unspoken words, stirring one’s imagination.
As their eyes met, Lu Zheng felt a wave of dizziness, as if she were his beloved, urging him to share all his secrets.
Good heavens!
Hitting me with a heavy move right off the bat!
Lu Zheng steadied his spirit, instantly regaining clarity. His eyes sharpened with a glint, and he flashed a warm, charming smile. “I have business with Lord Duan.”
“Oh?” The woman raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smile as she nodded. “So, you’re a Taoist from Baiyun Temple. Why are you dressed like a refined gentleman of the world?”
From that brief test, Lu Zheng knew she specialised in soul techniques. Otherwise, the enhanced soul strength from the *Baiyun Common Refining Scripture* wouldn’t have nearly failed to hold up.
But by guarding his spirit and circulating his true qi, Lu Zheng had inevitably revealed his cultivation path.
Not only was he unaffected, but he also reacted instantly, displaying his profound Taoist skills and identity. The woman, surprised, addressed him as “Taoist,” showing respect for his cultivation.
Lu Zheng smiled, clasping his hands in salute. “Lu Zheng, lay disciple of Baiyun Temple, greets this lady.”
“Lady? You’re not an official of the Great Jing Dynasty. Just call me sister.” The woman laughed.
“Sister!” Lu Zheng promptly complied.
In the Great Jing Dynasty, this was fine, but in the modern world, he might have sweetly called her “little sister.” He suspected she wouldn’t handle that well.
“You shameless Du Huanzhen, still wanting to be someone’s sister at your age,” an old man with dishevelled hair remarked, leaning against a doorframe, eyeing Lu Zheng curiously. “Young Taoist, Blackie Duan hasn’t started work yet. What’s your business?”
“You brought a corpse using the beast-creation technique. Who is it?”
As the words fell, a middle-aged man in a high hat and wide robe stepped out from the main hall. He had a square face, straight brows, and a stern, dignified air.
“Creak!”
The wooden door behind Lu Zheng opened, and Duan Changzai entered, looking surprised. “Young Master Lu, what brings you here?”
…
In the hall, a thin old man’s corpse, covered in white frost, lay quietly on the ground.
Duan Changzai, the purple-skirted woman Du Huanzhen, the dishevelled old man Yan Xiaolou, and the high-hatted Chu Jin stood in a circle, examining the corpse while listening to Lu Zheng recount the events of that night.
Of course, he omitted the identity of Liu Qingyan’s family.
“Spells requiring virtuous women as sacrificial offerings are common in many southern border sects. With only that clue before, we couldn’t identify the culprit.”
“Now, with the corpse and Young Master Duan’s account, it’s easier to confirm.”
“Yuan Sheng Sect.”
“Quite a powerful group. No wonder they dared venture deep into Jing Dynasty territory to abduct people. Bold indeed.”
“If it’s the Yuan Sheng Sect, could it be their *Holy Goddess Descent Technique*?” Du Huanzhen twirled a lock of hair at her temple. “Possessing a body for rebirth, instantly gaining a thousand years of magical power? But only a woman of exceptional virtue can withstand it?”
Yan Xiaolou stroked his messy beard. “Most likely. But if so, this shaman they sent into our dynasty probably isn’t the only one.”
“Alright, the matter’s resolved. Send someone to the prefectural office to notify the others in the bureau to return.” Chu Jin nodded. “I’ll inform Lord Qi.”
He nodded to Lu Zheng, then turned and headed to the back hall.
“Lord Qi is the governor of the Lingbei Circuit’s Anomaly Suppression Bureau,” Duan Changzai explained quietly, gesturing toward Chu Jin’s retreating figure. “Lord Chu is the governor of our Yizhou Anomaly Suppression Bureau.”
Lu Zheng grinned, thinking it was no wonder Chu Jin had seen through his beast-creation technique at a glance. His cultivation was indeed profound.
…
Moments later, Chu Jin returned from the back hall, saying the message had been sent.
Only then did Lu Zheng realise they had means of long-distance communication!
The seat of Lingbei Circuit was in Yanzhou Prefecture, over a thousand li from Yizhou.
But this wasn’t historical reality; it was a fantasy world. The Great Jing Dynasty, spanning six hundred years, had ghosts, demons, Buddhists, and Taoists. Lu Zheng still had no grasp of the top-tier powers.
So, wasn’t long-distance communication quite normal?
“Thank you, Young Master Lu,” Chu Jin said, clasping his hands. “Speaking of which, the information about this Yuan Sheng Sect shaman came from you and your senior brother, Taoist Yuanjing. Now you’ve killed the shaman yourself. That’s no small feat.”
“No, no, it was just that they came knocking, and it happened by chance. Pure luck!” Lu Zheng returned the salute.
“How modest of you, Young Master Lu,” Du Huanzhen said with a smile.
Yan Xiaolou chuckled. “Not straightforward enough!”
Lu Zheng gave a wry smile. Wasn’t it said that courtesy never hurt? Why were they all so blunt?
Chu Jin nodded to Lu Zheng. “I’ll report this matter. If there are rewards, they’ll be sent to Baiyun Temple.”
Lu Zheng nodded, clasping his hands. “Thank you, Lord Chu!”
Then Chu Jin turned to Duan Changzai. “Take Young Master Lu around Yizhou City. Show him proper hospitality.”
Duan Changzai saluted. “Yes, sir!”
…
Leading Lu Zheng out of the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, Duan Changzai noticed the two bundles in his hands. “You came early this morning. Haven’t found an inn yet?”
“I planned to drop off the items and leave,” Lu Zheng said, glancing at the sky. He had spent half the day at the bureau, and it was now mid-morning.
“Stay at least one night,” Duan Changzai said with a smile. “I’ll take you to Xiuyun Tower for a real experience. Open your eyes a bit, instead of treating that Chunfeng Tower in Tonglin County like a treasure.”
Lu Zheng protested. “I’ve never even been to Chunfeng Tower!”
Duan Changzai laughed. “That scorpion demon knows you. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
Lu Zheng’s eyes widened. “I met her by chance when buying jewellery. Don’t misunderstand!”
Duan Changzai gave a knowing look. “Right, right, met by chance, then got acquainted. I get it. Just a coincidence.”
Lu Zheng: Õ_Õ
I’ve got a curse word stuck in my throat! My innocence, gone just like that?
Duan Changzai didn’t give him a chance to explain, leading him to a reliable inn where they stabled the horse and stored the items. Then he dragged Lu Zheng to an old, reputable tavern in the west of the city.
“This place has the best aged wine in Yizhou. You have to try it!”
