Chapter 195 Bai Zhen

Feeling that Luo Xuanyi's breath had completely disappeared, Master Ding Jing silently exhaled, waved his wide robe, stepped onto the city wall, and slowly walked towards Bai Zhen who was talking to an official who kept wiping his sweat and had a hunched back.

Approaching the two men, Master Ding Jing heard Bai Zhen's voice tense as he asked the official, "...Cheng Kehan, don't shirk responsibility. I'm a worldly cultivator, not the naive fool you often try to fool!"

From the familiar tone, it seemed Bai Zhen had privately and frequently cursed the other cultivators from the Six Alliances with the Fenhua Society cultivators. True Man Ding Jing pondered silently, not interrupting their conversation.

Cheng Kehan's handkerchief was dripping wet from the grip it held in his hand. He pressed himself down again and again, "Brother Bai, Master Bai! No matter what, the taxes in Longlan City are beyond our control. Master Lu Gu has been sleeping in the gatehouse for five or six days, waiting for the imperial officials to come and take him away!"

"We are so busy that we can't take care of ourselves! When the new master arrives, you can talk to him."

Bai Zhen sneered, "I'm not aware of the dirty deeds going on between you two. The new Lord of Longlan City must have been chosen from the family of Duke Yu! He's a ruthless person. Even if Longlan City is in this state, the old emperor will definitely issue an edict to exempt taxes, but he won't act according to the edict."

Cheng Kehan was really about to cry, but his drooping old face didn't have the beauty of a tearful pear blossom, it was like a rotten orange soaked in water.

"Since you understand, why do you still embarrass a mere official like me?"

"It's because I know that I need to gain a formal position first." Bai Zhen had his back to Master Ding Jing. Master Ding Jing couldn't see his expression, only his cold voice. "Lu Gu is still the city lord no matter what. He's a descendant of King Yu. Duke Yu's relatives taking office won't overturn his decrees. Even if they're so well-connected that they intercepted Emperor Linwu's edict, they can't pretend to be blind to this implemented decree."

Bai Zhen lowered his voice. Cheng Kehan, who was sitting across from him, remained silent, his eyes rolling. He advised, "Besides, if this decree is issued, the credit will only go to Lu Gu, not you."

"...Ahem." Cheng Kehan's back suddenly relaxed, but his tone still seemed hesitant. He began to call Lu Gu by his first name. "It's not that I want this title, but Lu Gu is going to be sent to Dadu for trial. If such a decree is issued at this time, I'm afraid that Duke Yu will deliberately muddy the waters when sentencing him."

This is asking for benefits. Bai Zhen never thought that there was any real affection between these officials. He did not waver at all, but said lightly: "King Yu loves his people like his own children."

Cheng Kehan understood without further ado. He bowed respectfully to Bai Zhen, his tone already firm, "Yes, if it weren't for Lord Bai's warning, I wouldn't have noticed the intentions of Duke Yu, a traitor who wanted to steal our country! Although I, Cheng Kehan, am only a small official, I will never allow them to harm the people!"

Seeing Cheng Kehan hurriedly leaving, his back straight as if he really believed his lies, and a righteous look on his face as he walked down the city wall, Master Ding Jing raised his eyebrows and saw Bai Zhen turning around and calmly clasping his fists towards him.

"You're not surprised at all." Master Ding Jing stroked his beard lightly, feeling that Bai Zhen was indeed as interesting as Luo Xuanyi said.

Bai Zhen was frank and honest, and his attitude towards Master Ding Jing was much more sincere: "Master, you have never deliberately concealed your aura. Besides, these are all mundane matters. I'm just afraid that they will pollute your ears. I have nothing else to hide."

Ding Jing Zhenren nodded, walked into the air with his hands behind his back, and said, "Follow me."

True Man Ding Jing led the way through the skies above Longlan City and into a vacant inn on Tian Street. Along the way, cultivators cast admiring glances at him, and even the common people who peeked out to watch clasped their hands in prayer. This battle had cemented True Man Ding Jing's prestige beyond the realm of cultivation.

Bai Zhen watched as Master Ding Jing took out the teapot to prepare tea, and hurried forward to take it: "Master, I'll do it."

Ding Jing Zhenren shook his head and just looked at the empty seat opposite, his hands still moving: "No, sit down."

This silenced Bai Zhen for a moment, but he still sat down across from Master Ding Jing. His towering figure, like a mountain of iron, huddled between the armrests of the inn's wooden bench, looked rather pathetic. He watched the tea simmer, but couldn't help but speak first: "Master, are you here to address my offense against Fellow Daoist Yun Po?"

"Yes and no." Master Dingjing gave a vague answer.

"I have indeed caused harm to Fellow Daoist Yun Po this time, and I absolutely do not deny this. I will immediately request punishment from Fu Wenta and do my best to gain Fellow Daoist Yun Po's forgiveness."

Recalling the scene he and Luo Xuanyi had just witnessed, Master Ding Jing was curious for once: "What was the apology you wanted to give to friend Yun Po?"

"It's just a little bit of the "Two Dims Smiling" ink I found from ancient relics. The quantity is very small, but it is already the most valuable gift I can give." Bai Zhen smiled bitterly, knowing that Master Ding Jing had just witnessed it.

"A smile on the cheeks? This is something found only in ancient texts. You've had a lucky break." True Man Ding Jing sighed, but he had no intention of seizing the treasure. It was written into the rules of the six major alliances that elders in the righteous path should not compete with the younger generation for profit. He quickly returned his thoughts to the main point and began to test the waters.

Pour the brewed orange tea into the brown teacup, and Master Ding Jing places the first cup of tea in front of Bai Zhen. The aroma of the tea is slightly sweet and warm, which makes people feel relaxed.

"Personally, I don't want to condemn your actions. You are also considering the interests of the 120,000 people. After all, Yunpo does have a precedent."

Bai Zhen stared at Master Ding Jing's face, trying to see something, but his hand did not touch the tea.

Ignoring Bai Zhen's gaze, Master Ding Jing continued to leisurely pour himself a cup of tea. "Just now, I heard that you wanted the city official to issue a decree to exempt the people from taxes. This shows that you are truly dedicated to the people."

"...Maybe it's just because I already noticed that the real person was standing behind me." Bai Zhen said sullenly.

Zhenren Dingjing smiled and thought to himself, I don’t care whether you are doing this for the people or not. He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"No matter what, what you do is beneficial to the people. This is better than most of our fellow cultivators in the alliance."

Bai Zhen's defensive attitude softened slightly. "The reputation of the Immortal Dao spreads throughout the alliance. I thought you wouldn't care about such worldly matters."

"I had never seen the mortal world before, and I was only focused on seeking the Dao. I've seen many things wrong." Ding Jing Zhenren sighed and said something as if hinting at something. His voice was filled with decadent self-mockery, and he deliberately didn't tell the whole story. "The alliance often preaches that we cultivators are superior to mortals. The emperor-changing dispute a few decades ago... well, it's better not to talk about it."

"Among the six major alliances, the Fenhua Association still sees things most clearly."

The tea in front of Bai Zhen was no longer steaming. He was confused by Ding Jing Zhenren's words, but he nodded in affirmation. "The alliance's exploitation of the mortal world has become increasingly severe in recent years. They support power struggles within the court and even divide territories and collect taxes. What's the difference between this and the Three Kingdoms to the south? They're all just making the people suffer!"

Ding Jing Zhenren put away his smile and looked at Bai Zhen. The serious atmosphere gradually infected Bai Zhen, and he had a premonition of what Ding Jing Zhenren was about to say.

"Young friend Bai Zhen," said Ding Jing Zhenren, emphasizing each word, "Do you know the Vegetable Market?"

Recalling Luo Xuanyi's narration, Master Ding Jing slowly recited the strange and uncatchy nursery rhyme.

"Lotus meat, bean curd paste, one ounce of incense, one copper coin,"

“Every family tastes it and every family sells it.”

"Today I am going to the market. After a full meal, I will take a carriage. When the wheels turn, I will see the kitchen knife."

"First, I hope the elders of the village bring back money, and second, I hope my parents have enough to eat."

"Only when everyone goes to the market can every family be well off."

"I know, we know." Bai Zhen listened, gritting his teeth to stifle his vulgar curses, his voice gradually weakening. "But this is a natural disaster coupled with layers of taxes and labor, a spontaneous phenomenon among the people. It's like eating one's own children. If we don't deal with the remaining natural disasters and the damned... there's nothing we can do. As the alliance announcement said, a hasty ban would only cut off the people's livelihood."

Zhenren Dingjing reached out and picked up the cold tea in front of Bai Zhen and poured it on the ground.

"You are wrong. This is not a natural disaster, nor is it due to the ignorance of the people."

Bai Zhen was stunned.

"This is a man-made disaster, and the worst kind of man-made disaster."

Zhenren Dingjing placed the teacup on the table, and the muffled sound exploded Bai Zhen's thoughts.

"You mean, there is someone behind this?!" Bai Zhen stood up suddenly, his chair broke into pieces and shattered into pieces. However, he just glared at Master Ding Jing with red eyes and almost rudely as he leisurely refilled the teacup with tea.

Although he was angry, his mind was working quickly and he soon connected the sudden change in attitude of Master Ding Jing to the Ghost Buddha.

"I remember there's a Vegetable Market near Longlan City, near Lianshan. The information you sent back to Fuwen Tower about the Ghost Buddha disaster also mentioned Lianshan... Could it be that the Ghost Buddha is being suppressed underground in Lianshan Vegetable Market? The Paper Arts Sect is the one that could do all this!"

Surprised at Bai Zhen's quick thinking despite his rage, Master Ding Jing showed no expression at all. He placed the teacup filled with hot tea back on the table in front of Bai Zhen.

"It's more than that."

"More than that?" Bai Zhen's thoughts turned, his brows gradually furrowed. He asked in surprise, "You're not saying..."

Zhenren Dingjing nodded slowly, with a heavy expression on his face: "Just as you thought." He took out a letter from his arms and pushed it to the corner of the table on Bai Zhen's side.

Bai Zhen stared at the letter and didn't dare to act rashly for a moment. In the room, the only sound was the occasional crackling sound of the flame burning in Ding Jing Zhenren's tea stove.

Finally, Bai Zhen reached out and picked up the letter. His fingers, tempered by countless blows, hadn't trembled even when holding a heavy hammer, but now, this thin letter made his palms sweat.

He opened the envelope, which was ordinary as could be, pulled out the folded letter paper, and at first glance saw three famous characters - Hui Xizi.

Hui Xizi, the nominal leader of the six alliances, was the Daoist name of Ning Peixian, a female sword cultivator at the Spiritual Transformation Stage who served as the main support. Her Daoist name was already blessed by the Heavenly Dao, and this letter could not have come from anyone else.

But the content of the letter made Bai Zhen almost nauseous.

"Fuhe, my recent expansion of the Ghost Market has attracted the attention of my disciples. We have already dealt with it. Please be careful.

In addition, 60% of the proceeds must be delivered as soon as possible and on time, as supplies are in short supply within the alliance. Hui Xizi"

This letter is the most shocking one among the several letters Luo Xuanyi left for Ding Jing Zhenren. Ding Jing Zhenren only saw it after being subdued by Luo Xuanyi. He couldn't sleep at night after reading it, let alone Bai Zhen?

Luo Xuanyi had finally found a way to resolve the issue. Master Ding Jing looked at Bai Zhen, who was bent over and retching due to physical disgust, and a hint of smile flashed across his eyes.

The three thousand words are simply not divided into separate chapters. This line is the public opinion war.

Sister Yi is not just a murderer. This book is a dark story according to my definition. It is dark in every aspect.

However, it will take a long time to build up to the outbreak, so it seems to be progressing slowly and the viewing experience may not be good.