287: Chapter 287 The Wordless Heavenly Book

Lin Xiao froze for a moment. His prestige consumption had exceeded ten thousand again?

Then he must have bought several hundred Cephalosporin pills, right?

That stingy System—this time it didn't give an achievement, only a single reward?

It seems the consumption threshold for the next mall upgrade is quite high...

Looking at that roll of paper without any text, resembling a blank white scroll, Lin Xiao fell into thought...

[Wordless Heavenly Book: A mysterious scripture passed down from ancient times with peculiar effects. It can upgrade any cultivation technique to 'Heaven Grade'. (Special Item)]

Upgrading a technique to Heaven Grade, and any technique at that.

Isn't this just the kind of fortuitous item that allows a loser to stage a comeback?

Among the techniques he currently practiced, two were indeed worth upgrading: one was the 'Blood Shadow Divine Skill', and the other was 'Shape-shifting'.

Of these two, one provided the two essential passive skills, 'Bloodlust' and 'Blood Drink'.

The other was a key divine skill that allowed him to be elusive and seize the initiative.

Lin Xiao was somewhat conflicted. Should he further enhance his direct combat power?

Or should he take a gamble and see if the Disguise Technique would undergo a qualitative change once upgraded to Heaven Grade?

He certainly didn't lack combat power at the moment.

The Disguise Technique... was also sufficient for now.

Forget it, he'd keep it for now and see what future needs arose.

Leaving Hanyang, Lin Xiao and his group took a carriage straight toward Yu Prefecture.

Yu Prefecture bordered Yong Province and E Prefecture. Although some mountainous terrain blocked the spread of the plague, it still hadn't been spared.

“Wife, has our Zhenbei Army sent anyone to help with plague prevention and control here in Yu Prefecture?”

Although Yu Prefecture wasn't large, it was rich in mineral veins.

Lin Xiao hoped to resolve the plague as soon as possible so that the large units for road construction and mineral development could move in.

“Someone did come to help, but... they aren't exactly part of our Zhenbei Army.”

Xiao Qingxuan's expression was slightly teasing as she said, “It's your betrothed, Princess Ningxiang.”

“Xie Juner?”

Lin Xiao wondered, “Why her?”

“You may not know, husband, that although Yu Prefecture is small, because of its various gold, silver, copper, and iron mines, all the major local gentry have a stake here.”

“The Yu Prefecture inspector general, Fan Hai, actually has very little real power. His government orders can't even leave Yu Prefecture City; he's just a figurehead.”

Xiao Qingxuan reminded him, “Do you remember Yu Yingying, who came to Baishui City to discuss business with Su Wansha?”

“I remember her.”

“The Earl Yushan's Mansion, which she hails from, owns industries that account for nearly one-third of the tax revenue for the entire Yu Prefecture!”

Xiao Qingxuan sighed. “From this, one can see that without sufficient status and position, it's very difficult to manage the epidemic in Yu Prefecture.”

“So you had Xie Juner come over because only a Princess from the Linyuan Marquis Mansion could have a say here?”

Lin Xiao was somewhat displeased. A bunch of local wealthy squires were truly lawless. Not only did they exploit the commoners, but they also wanted to stand above him?

“You misunderstand, husband. We didn't suggest this; Xie Juner requested it herself.”

Xiao Qingxuan said, “Xie Juner has a very good relationship with Yu Yingying and has business dealings with all those big families in Yu Prefecture.”

“So, with her acting as an intermediary, there was much less resistance when our Zhenbei Army went to take over management.”

Lin Xiao frowned. “She certainly went all out.”

Even if Xie Juner had some ulterior motives, an epidemic was no joke.

Xie Juner's willingness to step forward actually made Lin Xiao see her in a new light.

When they arrived at Yu Prefecture City, they indeed saw that a makeshift hospital had been established outside the city, just like in E Prefecture.

However, the scale was significantly smaller. After all, the entire Yu Prefecture had a population of only about three hundred thousand, making it the smallest of the six provinces.

The Yu Prefecture inspector general, Fan Hai, led a group of officials to welcome them outside the city.

However, compared to the few noble lords in silk and brocade robes beside him, Fan Hai was very submissive.

After some pleasantries, Lin Xiao got straight to the point and asked about the epidemic prevention situation.

“Prefect Fan, have there been any new cases of the plague recently?”

Fan Hai hurriedly reported respectfully, “Rest assured, General Lin. There are fewer than a hundred infected people left in all of Yu Prefecture, and they are all already in the makeshift hospital.”

Lin Xiao nodded. “In that case, when our Zhenbei Army comes to Yu Prefecture to build roads in a few days, we shouldn't be troubled by the plague?”

“Uh...”

Fan Hai wiped the sweat from his forehead, not quite daring to make a definitive statement.

Instead, Earl Yushan, Yu Yingjian, who was standing to the side, smiled with full confidence:

“General Lin, feel free to order your men to build the cement roads. With our Earl Yushan's Mansion here, there won't be any problems.”

“Speaking of which, our Yu family is the agent for the Northern Trade Alliance in Yu Prefecture. Once the cement roads are open, our cooperation will be even more convenient.”

Lin Xiao looked at Yu Yingjian, who had taken the initiative to cozy up to him, and smiled without saying a word.

As Xiao Qingxuan had said, the true local tyrant of Yu Prefecture was this Earl Yushan.

“By the way, I heard Princess Ningxiang is here. Why don't I see her?”

Lin Xiao found it a bit strange. He had sensed the makeshift hospital just now and hadn't found any women.

Given Xie Juner's prideful personality, she would surely have run out to seek praise as soon as he arrived.

“You've come at an inconvenient time, General. To inspect the plague situation in Yushan County, the Princess won't be back for another two days.”

Yu Yingjian said with a face full of admiration, “This time, we owe it to Princess Ningxiang for coming here at her own risk to help us establish the makeshift hospital and teach us how to prevent and treat it. Of course, we must especially thank General Lin for the divine medicine you sent.”

A group of Yu Prefecture's large and small gentry nodded one after another, showing expressions of flattery.

But just then, a woman suddenly came charging toward the city gate on a horse!

“General Lin! General Lin!!”

Lin Xiao glanced over and realized this woman was Yu Yingying?

He saw Earl Yushan's face beside him suddenly darken!

“Unacceptable! Why has this crazy girl run out again? Take her back immediately!”

Several guards from the Yu residence hurriedly tried to go up and stop her.

Lin Xiao gave a look, and Mu Wanying, who was beside him, casually grabbed the Fish-Dragon Spear from the carriage and barred the way of those guards.

“None of you move!”

Mu Wanying released her killing intent, instantly intimidating everyone present.

Yu Yingying seized the opportunity, jumped off her horse, and half-ran, half-crawled to kneel before Lin Xiao.

Her eyes were red as she sobbed, “General Lin, please save the Princess! She... she's not going to make it...”

Lin Xiao had already sensed that these people in Yu Prefecture were hiding something from him, but he was still shocked!

“What did you say? What happened to Xie Juner?”

Yu Yingying looked at her father in fear, but she still plucked up her courage and choked out, “The Princess caught the plague. She's very ill and is already unconscious...”

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of Lin Xiao, Xiao Qingxuan, and the other women all changed drastically.

“You wretched girl! Are you mad...”

Yu Yingjian was about to scold her, but he was silenced by a cold glare from Lin Xiao.

“Earl Yushan, if you don't want to die, shut up.”

Lin Xiao looked at Yu Yingying again and said, “Take me to see her.”