Chapter 421 Arrogance and Rudeness
The sound of the golden bell signaled an impending downpour.
Along with the sound came a middle-aged sorcerer dressed in simple clothes. His attire was very plain, like that of a commoner who often farmed in the countryside; years of exposure to the wind and sun had turned his skin the color of wheat.
He Yuan arrived with three younger men. His eyes were focused and his spirit was radiating, making him appear capable and powerful.
The three younger men following behind him, dressed in the same turquoise robes, walked behind with smiles on their faces, completely oblivious to the mournful atmosphere of the Nangong Prince's Mansion.
Nangong Ming quickly stepped forward to greet him, and proactively cupped his hands to He Yuan, who was walking at the front, saying, "Sir."
He Yuan and Nangong Ming were only a few years apart in age, but Nangong Ming was very well-maintained, exuding an air of luxury and youthful appearance. This made He Yuan seem like he was ten years older than him, like his elder brother.
"Your Highness, please accept my condolences." He Yuan seemed completely unconcerned about his noble status as the Prince of Qingyang, and naturally raised his hand to pat Nangong Ming's shoulder, displaying the demeanor of an elder brother comforting his younger brother.
Nangong Ming didn't mind and led the people inside.
Of the two men and one woman following He Yuan, only Jiang Fengyu, with her hair styled in a Taoist bun, remained calm and composed.
Zhao Tingzhu looked around curiously, her bright black eyes occasionally revealing expressions of disdain or satisfaction; Ji Jingcheng yawned, his hands behind his head, looking completely relaxed.
Yu Sui realized that the He family didn't take the Nangong Prince's Mansion seriously.
For a moment, she didn't know whether to gloat or curse the He family for their arrogance.
Nangong Ming led He Yuan into the mourning hall. Ji's grandmother, who was wiping away tears, turned to the side and nodded to He Yuan. He Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Madam, please take good care of yourself."
Grandmother Ji remained silent.
He Yuan used to offer incense and worship.
The three younger people stood outside the door, showing no intention of going in.
Currently, only two young members of the Prince's Mansion remain: Yu Sui and Sheng Fei. Neither of them has had much contact with the He family.
Yu Sui didn't react, but Sheng Fei had already frowned, his eyes full of dislike for He Yuan and the others.
Arrogant and rude.
Perhaps it was Sheng Fei's aggressive gaze that was too intense, causing the three juniors to turn their heads and look over at the same time.
Sheng Fei neither dodged nor avoided their gazes.
Jiang Fengyu glanced at it, his expression unchanged.
Ji Jingcheng whistled provocatively at Sheng Fei, his playful expression seemingly saying: If you're not happy, come over here.
The only girl among them, Zhao Tingzhu, said directly to Sheng Fei, "He's quite handsome, more handsome than both of you."
Ji Jingcheng glared at her and scolded, "I think you're blind."
Jiang Fengyu ignored him, his gaze pausing for a moment as it swept over Yu Sui.
He Yuan and Nangong Ming came out of the mourning hall together and headed towards the council hall. The three of them followed.
This was the first time Yu Sui had seen Nangong Ming interact with people from the He family, and also the first time she had seen members of the He family appear in public. The Nangong family was, after all, one of the top families in Qingyang Kingdom, yet they showed him absolutely no respect.
He Yuan treated Nangong Ming like a younger brother, and the young people he brought probably treated Nangong Wangfu as He family's backyard.
Upon closer inspection, they certainly appear arrogant and rude.
I wonder what the He family members wanted to discuss with Nangong Ming this time.
For the first time, Yu Sui regretted that he couldn't use the Five Elements Light Core to listen in; these people didn't use the Wind Listening Ruler when they talked.
North and South Thirty-Six Streets.
Han Ziyang led Gongsun Qi and the other two through the underground passage. The passage was wide but low, and they had to hunch over to move forward, which felt somewhat oppressive. Especially for tall people like them, with big bodies and long arms and legs, it was better to crawl on their knees than to walk with their backs bent.
This road is not open to the public on normal days. The array formations on both sides are only activated when the Xingshui Division's guards conduct a large-scale search.
The people in the neighborhood call this road Peace Road. Because although the passageway is low, it is wide enough for two people to walk side by side, so people can go in and out at the same time.
If you encounter enemies on this path, you are not allowed to fight, lest the earthquake-resistant formation of the passage be destroyed.
The exit was still in a dense jungle. The moment Han Ziyang stepped out of the cave, he straightened up: "I heard that this passage is like a tree root buried underground, with many branches and leading in all directions. I wonder if this is the style of your mechanical experts."
Situ Jin was busy breathing fresh air and didn't think much about it, but A-Quan nodded and said, "It does look a bit like what the Baili family would do. They like to carry hoes and dig underground, as if they want to dig up the entire Xuan Gu Continent!"
I think you're the one who likes to use your mouth to relentlessly slander the Baili family's reputation.
Situ Jin rolled her eyes inwardly.
After walking a few steps, you can vaguely see the lights in the neighborhood. There are large fields on the side, and opposite the fields are clusters of houses that are high and low but close together.
"I'm going to Tongtang to find a caravan. What are you looking for?" Han Ziyang asked.
Gongsun Qi said, "Human traffickers."
Han Ziyang remained silent.
What's going on? Aren't they all aiming the same thing?
"Did your child also get arrested?" Han Ziyang asked.
Now it was Gongsun Qi's turn to fall silent.
Ah Quan stepped in to explain, "We've come to Qingyang to uphold justice, to crack down on human slave traders, find the mastermind behind it all, and wipe out their entire organization!"
"I didn't realize you guys were such kind-hearted suckers," Han Ziyang said. "You've come all this way to work for the Qingyang Criminal and Water Division."
Ah Quan: "It's always good to be kind, isn't it?"
Gongsun Qi remained silent, Han Ziyang and Aquan exchanged read replies, and only Situ Jin was seriously studying the map.
The police also patrolled and searched the area, and those wearing black robes were more suspicious and attracted attention.
So Situ Jin suggested that they disguise themselves and change their appearance.
Han Ziyang glanced at them and said disdainfully, "You are wanted criminals, but I am not."
Situ Jin then said to Gongsun Qi, "Then you should try my bone-rubbing technique!"
Han Ziyang couldn't help but prick up his ears.
The bone-rubbing technique of those skilled in manipulation is indeed rare.
"When did you learn that?" A-Quan asked Situ Jin in surprise.
"Just a couple of days ago," Situ Jin said humbly, but his eyes couldn't hide his pride.
He reached out his hand to Gongsun Qi and tentatively waved it. Gongsun Qi took off his hood and looked back at him silently.
"What kind of face do you want?" Situ Jin asked, unable to hide her excitement when he agreed. "A man's face or a woman's face, it doesn't matter!"
Gongsun Qi: "As you wish."
He's not picky.
Situ Jin rubbed his palms together, channeling the five elements of energy. Golden light appeared in his palms and moved across Gongsun Qi's face with his movements. To A-Quan and Han Ziyang, it looked as if Situ Jin had merely patted Gongsun Qi's face, yet his thin face had suddenly puffed up, resembling a steamed bun.
When you pull two fingers back, the sword-shaped eyebrows become flat eyebrows.
Situ Jin's movements were neither fast nor slow, but each movement brought about a noticeable change. His ten fingers moved and altered the bones, tapping and patting on a handsome face, making it appear ordinary.
It even has a clown-like deformity.
This was Situ Jin's first time using the Bone-Rubbing Technique. At first, he was just excited, but now, looking at the face in front of him, he belatedly realized his mistake. He coughed softly and said, "General, don't worry, I've only just learned it. I can only maintain this appearance for about an hour. I'll be able to change back soon!"
Ah Quan bit her finger to suppress a laugh, and immediately turned her head away when Situ Jin looked over, afraid that she would burst out laughing.
Han Ziyang pursed his lips, pretending to be inscrutable as he raised his hand to touch his brow bone, but dared not meet Gongsun Qi's gaze, afraid that he would not be able to hold back.
"Let's go then." Gongsun Qi seemed oblivious to the atmosphere among the younger generation, and without even putting on his hat, he walked straight ahead.
Situ Jin chased after him, calling out, "Hey, General, Jinghong! Take Jinghong back too!"
Ah Quan and Han Ziyang walked at the back, and only burst out laughing when they were far away.
Tongtang was a gathering place for black caravans traveling between various countries. They bought and sold all kinds of contraband, both inanimate and live animals, with no taboos.
Upon entering the main streets of Tongtang, one is immediately struck by the stench of decay mixed with the smell of alcohol. The entire area is extremely damp, and a thin mist pervades the night. If one is not careful, one might step on strange, poisonous farm animals that suddenly appear, or be bitten and poisoned to death.
Because of the large-scale search by the Criminal Investigation Department's guards, the people in the Tongtang area were somewhat restrained and not as lively as before. Many shops had their doors closed, and only laughter could be heard coming from inside.
"Look at the map, where do we go next?" A-Quan asked Situ Jin.
Situ Jin opened the map and frowned.
Han Ziyang casually stopped a passerby and asked, "Do you know where the human trafficking caravan is?"
"Get lost!" The bearded man carrying the wine jar waved his hand impatiently away.
Han Ziyang grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground, snatching the wine from his hand.
The bearded man cried out in pain after falling, but his protective aura ignited. He got up cursing and said fiercely, "You dare to steal my things? You're asking for trouble!"
Han Ziyang didn't even blink. As the other man rushed over, he kicked him, sending him flying through the air and into the air. He was pinned to the ground by the pressure of the Five Elements and couldn't get up.
Ah Quan walked up to him and handed him a token: "Brother, do you know how to recognize this token?"
The bearded man winced in pain, barely managing to make out the sign the man was handed to him. He roared, "Who around here doesn't recognize the Double Scissors Hall sign! This is Double Scissors Hall's territory!"
Double Scissors Hall?
Ah Quan looked thoughtfully back at the token in his hand. The double-scissor swallow pattern could be considered a coincidence, or it could not.
"Do you know where to go to see the people from Shuangjiantang?" A-Quan had a good-natured face, but Han Ziyang next to him was not.
Knowing he couldn't win, the bearded man could only honestly reply, "Just go to the very end of this street."
"Thanks!" A-Quan smiled.
The bearded man thought it was over and was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he unexpectedly met Han Ziyang's backlit figure. He felt as if a mountain had suddenly pressed down on his chest, making him tense again.
"You haven't answered my question yet," Han Ziyang said, dissatisfied.
He was the one who asked first.
The bearded man said irritably, "They're all at the very back of the block! Who's doing human trafficking at the entrance of the block?"
"Are there any caravans from the Yan Kingdom?" Han Ziyang asked again.
The bearded man said, "There are a lot of them. Half of the caravans in this area come from over there!"
Han Ziyang tossed the wine jar to him, simultaneously releasing the Five Elements pressure and freeing the man. They walked a few steps away when they heard the man, who had gotten up from the ground, shout loudly, "There are four outsiders here who want to cause trouble for Shuangjiantang!"
People passing by on the street all looked at Han Ziyang and his group. Many of the doors and windows that were originally closed opened, and people shouted, "Which blind fool dares to come to Shuangjiantang's territory to cause trouble for us?"
"Hey guys, where are you from?"
"The Criminal Investigation Department's guards in disguise?"
Just as Gongsun Qi was about to make a move, Situ Jin stopped him, saying, "These people don't need your sword yet. It would be a waste to expose them prematurely and attract the attention of the Criminal Investigation Department. You should make your move only after you've confirmed that you've found them."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a flash of black light appeared, and countless arc-shaped black flashes of light hovered in the air above the street.
Han Ziyang looked at the restless crowd on the street and said, "I'm coming here tonight to find someone. Anyone who gets in my way will be killed."
Legalist Judgment Technique: Flying Scythe Slash.
"We can't let someone take us over on our own turf, can we? Brothers, let's go!" someone shouted, and they attacked Han Ziyang and his group.
Black light flashed, and blood splattered everywhere.
Han Ziyang made a hand seal with one hand: "Flying Destiny Wind Domain".
Using qi to generate wind, it transforms into countless wind blades that sever the connections between the five elements of another's qi, instantly shattering their protective qi.
In an instant, a fierce wind howled through the street, blowing doors, windows, and people away.
A chaotic fight broke out in the street. In the midst of the chaos, A-Quan told Situ Jin to take Gongsun Qi and run away first, while he retreated and threw a few mechanical spirit orbs to set up an anti-explosion barrier, so as not to attract more attention to the fighting.
Tongtang has four streets forming a square, but they all lead to the same destination: at the very center of the square street wall is the location of the Double Scissors Hall.
Compared to the bustling four streets, the area near the center was much quieter, with not a single person in sight.
Situ Jin sensed something was wrong and secretly became more vigilant.
Gongsun Qi quickened his pace.
They walked through the street and, through the thickening fog, saw a small building with a double-scissors mark.
Seemingly aware that guests from afar were arriving tonight, the small building's main door was wide open, and there were no people watching nearby, nor were there any array barriers.
But the place was deserted.
Gongsun Qi followed the mist into the building. The surroundings were empty, but he noticed the divine wooden divination sticks that were broken in two on the ground.
Situ Jin looked around but found nothing: "Not a single ghost in sight."
He boldly searched inside the building, but Gongsun Qi stopped at the door, looking down at the broken wooden talisman.
After Situ Jin came out, she said, "I have a feeling that they left ahead of time after receiving a tip."
“He’s scared,” Gongsun Qi said, staring at the divine wooden divination stick.
Situ Jin pointed to the sacred wooden divination stick on the ground: "Zhao Yuxiang predicted that we would come, so he ran away in advance?"
He left the broken wooden talisman and told Gongsun Qi, "I know you will come tonight, but I don't want to see you."
Gongsun Qi bent down to pick up the sacred wooden slip from the ground and muttered to himself, "It really is him."
This feeling of his blood boiling awakened the killing intent etched into Gongsun Qi's soul, making him truly want to do something, without any scruples, without needing to think or calculate, just to draw his sword and kill.
The last time he had this feeling was when he learned that Dong Lanli was still alive.
Suddenly, the scabbard of the Jinghong sword plunged into the ground. The moment the longsword was drawn, the road surface shattered into pieces, the earth shook, and the powerful and domineering sword energy howled as it wantonly destroyed everything in the world.
After confirming that Zhao Yu Township was located in the capital of Qingyang, Gongsun Qi began a massacre.
As the small building collapsed, Situ Jin activated his protective aura, using his hands to block in front of him and then grabbing Gongsun Qi's back to avoid being swept away by the sword wind.
When he finally managed to steady himself and looked up, he saw that the previously densely packed houses had collapsed into ruins, with flames raging everywhere and being whipped up by the wind, like several fire dragons rising from the ground.
Those red sword shadows darted about hidden in the starlight.
"Where are you going?!" Situ Jin asked as he saw Gongsun Qi walking out.
Gongsun Qi said without turning his head, "Go find him."
Situ Jin was stunned: "Just like that, we're going to charge out and look for them?!"
Gongsun Qi simply smiled and did not reply.
He looked vibrant and full of life.
Seeing that he showed no sign of stopping, Situ Jin hurriedly followed. He was covered in sweat, whether from anxiety or from the heat of the surrounding fire, it was hard to tell.
Gongsun Qi stopped after walking a short distance.
Amidst the inferno and ruins, a man wields a sword in one hand. He has no protective aura, yet an invisible barrier forms around him, shielding him from the sword's shadow and the fire's poison.
Zhongli Ci was dressed in casual clothes, with a wooden bell pendant made by his daughter when she was a child hanging at his waist. The sword in his hand was snow-white, and the tip of the sword was slightly sharp.
After a long silence between them, Zhong Li Ci said, "It's been many years, and you've become much uglier."
Gongsun Qi: "..."
Situ Jin, who caught up: "..."
Zhongli Ci raised his hand and held his sword horizontally, the blade reflecting Gongsun Qi's face, and said to him, "If you don't believe me, take a look."
With a flash of sword light, Gongsun Qicai saw just how ugly the face had been distorted by the bone-rubbing technique.
He silently looked at Situ Jin.
Situ Jin was drenched in sweat: "...Should I remove it for you now?"
Gongsun Qi withdrew his gaze, and the flow of the five elements accelerated the circulation of blood and flesh, causing him to dispel the bone-rubbing technique on his own and return to his original appearance.
Zhong Li Ci looked at it for a while and said, "I'm getting old."
"Are you here to block our way?" Gongsun Qi asked expressionlessly.
Zhongli Ci pointed his sword at him: "That battle back then wasn't satisfying enough. Meeting again today is just right."
Gongsun Qi laughed and said, "A defeated opponent."
Zhongli Ci also laughed: "I don't remember such a thing."
After a moment of silence, the five elements of energy burst forth.
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