More than a month ago.
South Bean Country.
The middle section of the Crocodile Dragon River.
Xuanlin City.
The streets were crowded with people.
The guards escorted a mechanical prisoner van slowly past.
In the prison car, there was a Jindan monk, who was heavily bound by iron chains, with disheveled hair and eyes closed.
When the citizens saw this man, they were outraged. They cursed him and threw countless rotten eggs, leftover vegetable leaves, stale rice and even stones at him.
"Smash! Smash this corrupt official to death!"
"If he hadn't embezzled the disaster relief funds, my grandfather wouldn't have starved to death."
"Your conscience has really been eaten by dogs. As a Jindan, it's fine for you to practice alone, but being an official and sucking the blood and sweat of the people is more despicable than a demon cultivator! This is what you deserve!!"
The Jindan prisoner kept his head down, his eyes closed, and looked as if he was dead.
Looking at the noisy scene on the street from afar, Zhu Xuanji sighed and said to the group of people around him: "It's about time for me to set off."
The current mayor of Xuanlin City clasped his fists and saluted: "This time, it is all thanks to you, Lord Zhu, for taking action and finding the bad apple. If not for this, I would still be kept in the dark."
Zhu Xuanji smiled softly and looked at the city lord deeply: "Lord Su, please take care of yourself."
After saying that, he jumped on his horse and rode away.
The city lord clasped his fists and watched Zhu Xuanji walk away, smiling all the while with a cold light flashing in his eyes.
"Ah, it's Master Zhu!"
"Master Zhu is here."
"Master Zhu, thank you so much, thank you for finding out the truth! If it weren't for you, wuwuwu..."
"Master Zhu, don't leave. Don't leave! Just stay and be our official!"
First one person took the lead and knelt beside the street, followed by the second and third.
The citizens knelt on the ground, weeping, thanking and begging.
Zhu Xuanji and the Jindan prisoner walked along the same road, but received completely different responses.
Zhu Xuanji was riding on a horse, smiling and waving his hands constantly.
With the farewell of the people, he walked to the city gate and looked back at the kneeling people and the city lord standing at the end of the street.
"The Su family..." Zhu Xuanji sighed, with a gloomy look in his eyes.
He knew that the real mastermind was the city lord surnamed Su, but the latter was ruthless and killed the person in time to silence him, so that no evidence fell into Zhu Xuanji's hands.
The only person Zhu Xuanji could capture was a Jindan cultivator under the command of the city lord.
Zhu Xuanji spurred his horse to faster speed and soon caught up with the prisoner escort team in front.
The team meandered along the way and came to a country road.
The monk in front suddenly yelled, "Who are you? How dare you intercept the imperial escort team? Are you trying to kill yourself?!"
The person who intercepted the prisoner's car quickly begged for mercy, saying in an old voice: "My Lords, I am not a criminal, but I came here to express my gratitude to Lord Zhu."
Zhu Xuanji swept his divine sense and immediately ordered: "Be patient, I know this old man, he is not an enemy."
He kicked the horse's belly lightly and rushed to the front of the team. Seeing the familiar face, he couldn't help but chuckled: "Father-in-law, we meet again."
The old man bowed deeply, and said with tears in his eyes: "I am ashamed that I am blind and don't recognize a true hero. Once you passed by the teahouse, I insulted you. If I don't come here to thank you and apologize, I will never be at peace for the rest of my life."
Zhu Xuanji got off his horse, came to the old man, and helped him up with his hand: "Old man, has your land been returned to you?"
The old man burst into tears again and choked up, "It has been returned. Not only my family, but all the good farmland in our village has been returned."
"That's good." Zhu Xuanji nodded.
The old man took out a bag of spirit stones and said, "Master Zhu, this is a thank-you gift prepared by our village collectively..."
Zhu Xuanji pushed his hands: "I will never accept it."
"This bag of spiritual rice also comes from our village..."
Zhu Xuanji laughed and said, "Father-in-law, I don't think much of these."
The old man was a little anxious: "This is just a small gift from our village. I just want to express my endless gratitude, Mr. Zhu..."
Zhu Xuanji extended his hand: "Father-in-law, do you remember the first time we met? I passed by the teahouse you opened at the entrance of the village."
"You saw that I was exhausted and took the initiative to invite me to sit down."
"I smiled and said that I had no money and couldn't afford tea. But you took the initiative to buy me a bowl of sugar water."
The old man nodded and wiped away his tears: "How could I not remember?"
"My lord, you drank the sugar water and asked about the people's livelihood. I told you that there are officials in Xuanlin City who are inactive and corrupt."
"You were asking for details, but I was old and confused. I thought you were defending corrupt officials, so I was so angry that I spilled your sweet soup."
“Hahaha.” Zhu Xuanji raised his head and laughed a few times, “Just remember it!”
He clasped his fists and said, "If I am lucky enough, could you please treat me to another bowl of sugar water, old man?"
The old man was stunned.
Seeing Zhu Xuanji's serious and sincere expression, his vision blurred again, tears streaming down his face, and he nodded hurriedly: "Please, please! I am honored to invite Master Zhu to have tea again."
Zhu Xuanji shook his head: "No tea, I just want a bowl of sugar water."
Zhu Xuanji took the earthenware bowl and took a big sip, looking very happy: "What sweet water!"
Seeing this, the guards remained silent.
After bidding farewell to the village elders, Zhu Xuanji continued on his journey.
No one was trying to kidnap the prisoners, and the journey was smooth.
After entering the capital, he was summoned by the king before he could even rest.
He met the king, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists and saluted, and said loudly: "I went to Xuanlin City this time to investigate the details of corruption. Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission..."
Pop.
The King of Nandou slammed the table and shouted, "Zhu Xuanji! You entered the capital and handed over the prisoners. Why don't you come to see me and report? Do I have to summon you?"
"I'm glad I did it? Haha."
Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.
"What did I tell you before you set out?"
"In the end, you went to Xuanlin City and continued to do as you pleased, forgetting my instructions. And you thought you had fulfilled my mission? Did you think I was going to call you to praise you?"
"I dare not." Zhu Xuanji smiled bitterly.
The King of Nandou sighed: "Zhu Xuanji, Zhu Xuanji... You are a member of the royal family, don't you know the importance of the Su family in our country?"
"You arrested the Jindan subordinate this time, which brought shame to the Su family. Several old officials of the Su family have already submitted their resignation letters, saying that the Su family's reputation cannot be damaged."
"I asked you to investigate the case, not to cause a stir in the court!"
Zhu Xuanji raised his head and said in a serious tone, "I don't agree with what the king said. I think that the big families in Nandou Kingdom have become intertwined and difficult to get rid of. The Su family and its ilk already control many immortal cities, and many people in the court hold important positions, exclude newcomers, and control government affairs."
"If this continues, they will become a major crisis for our Nandou Country."
"As the royal family, we should support new clans and new people, reshape the court, take care of the common people, recruit talents from the people, and check and balance the old big clans."
The King of Nandou snorted coldly, "Nonsense! In the past, the Emperor Taishang opened up the country, and the Su family sacrificed so much. How can such a founding hero be treated so harshly? If this gets out, how will the wise men in other lands view our country?"
"Others gave you a nickname, calling you 'Zhu Xuanji, the Observer of Hidden Truths and the Peace of the People'. Are you really proud of it?"
Zhu Xuanji bowed his head: "I dare not."
King Nandou sighed softly, "That's all."
"Perhaps I have always expected too much from you. The way you handled it this time was actually much better than before."
"I have already read your secret music."
"The Lord of the Su Family cannot escape responsibility, and everyone in the court knows it."
"But this matter will end here. The Jindan monk will be beheaded in front of the public at Caishikou to end it."
Zhu Xuanji volunteered: "I am willing to serve as the executioner!"
King Nandou shook his head: "The court is unstable. As a member of the royal family, you have to think about me."
"With your status, you are serving as the executioner. Is it the royal family's intention? Is it my intention? How can the court officials not have wild suspicions?"
"You don't need to stay in the capital anymore, get out."
“Just in time…”
King Nandou pulled out a memorial from a corner of the table, threw it on the ground, and tossed it to Zhu Xuanji: "Stand up and take a look."
Zhu Xuanji: “Yes.”
He slowly stood up and stretched out his hand to grab.
An invisible force picked up the memorial on the ground and dropped it into his hands.
Zhu Xuanji unfolded the memorial and quickly read it through, with a look of surprise on his face: "Lava Fairy Palace?"
Nandou Guojun: “Not bad.”
"This is the former palace of the Third Sect Master. It was built by him and the Emperor Retired when they were in love. It was originally buried in the Fire Persimmon Mountain to suppress the volcanic riot and turn the evil land into a blessed land."
"It was supposed to stay inside the mountain to suppress the underground fire for more than a hundred years, but now it has come out into the world."
"There must be something fishy going on here."
"During this trip, you must investigate the reason why the Lava Fairy Palace came into being."
"This palace contains the inheritance of the three sect masters' organs. You should meet this standard. As for whether you can obtain the inheritance, it depends on your personal fortune and ability."
"Although you have made contributions during your trip to Xuanlin City, you have also made mistakes. I have my own reasons, so I will neither reward you nor punish you. You can go to Lava Fairy Palace and see if you can obtain the inheritance."
"I accept the reward!" Zhu Xuanji thanked him. "I have acquired knowledge of mechanical engineering because of the royal family's cultivation. I will do my best to find out the truth during this trip."
King Nandou nodded and said, "I have three things to tell you."
"First, the Three Clan Master has a close relationship with the Emperor of our royal family. It can be said that our clan was able to establish a country largely due to the power of the Three Clan Master. His contributions and influence can almost be regarded as the national teacher of our country."
"In his later years, the Third Sect Master arranged the Lava Palace in the Fire Persimmon Mountain. His intentions are profound and cannot be guessed. You must not force yourself to do anything on this trip. Let nature take its course and do not disrupt the Third Sect Master's good intentions."
"Secondly, the Emperor did not have a royal decree at the time. It was only thanks to the three masters who used their magical powers to save his life that he was able to have the advantage of people's support."
"After the Emperor Emeritus, no one in my Zhu family inherited the throne, and the lives of the people hanging by a thread have been lost."
"One of the main points of your trip is this magical power. If possible, strive for it with all your strength!"
“On the other hand, if we discover that someone else has mastered this magical power, we must do our utmost to eradicate them and kill them before they are too late!”
(End of this chapter)