342: Qingshan Suspicion (asking for monthly ticket)

Old Wu's wine shop was a low, two-story wooden building.

In front of the door, several stoves were built with blue bricks and yellow mud, covered by a shed to block wind and rain, and some unburnt firewood was piled beside the stoves.

Usually, early in the morning, the stoves here would be blazing, the aroma of wine would fill the air, and that familiar Old Wu would have already opened his door, his body hunched as he moved the tables, chairs, and benches out of the house; those who arrived early would already be seated.

Yesterday, Old Wu didn't set up his stall, and regular customers didn't think much of it; the snow had been falling heavily recently, and it was freezing cold, so in the early morning, most people couldn't really endure it—after all, he was old, so taking a day off was normal.

But by today, a Night Watchman, with his hands tucked into his thick cotton coat, noticed that the snow at the doorway had accumulated to half a foot thick and hadn't been cleared, making him feel uneasy.

"The snow at the door hasn't been touched. We need to find a way to get inside and check."

"He's old; could he be sick? And Old Wu has no children."

"Search!"

Everyone knew this Old Wu had no children, and they feared he might fall ill and die inside without anyone to look after him.

Several Night Watchman and laborers, all common folk, had long been accustomed to having an early drink at this small tavern to dispel the fatigue of a night's work or prepare for the day's life. They had grown fond of the place and immediately became agitated.

"Hurry!"

Some peered through the windows, shouting into the small building.

Others, agile, climbed to the second floor and entered through the skylight.

"Old Wu!"

"Old Wu!"

"..."

Not long after, everyone discovered:

No one was inside!

But in this icy, snowy weather, with the mountains sealed by heavy snow, where could an old man go?

"Why don't we report it to the authorities?" someone suggested, feeling uneasy.

"Alright!"

So, not long after, at the Qingshan County Yamen, several concerned tavern customers arrived to report the disappearance.

"Thump-thump-thump."

At the Qingshan County Yamen, in the back courtyard, urgent footsteps echoed down the corridor, heading directly to the county magistrate's residence.

Soon, a bailiff dressed in a dark blue uniform, walking quickly with one hand on his sword, met County Magistrate Zhang Cheng, who was in the process of dressing.

"My Lord, there's an urgent matter to report. Someone has reported that Old Wu, who sells wine at Shuangliu Corner in Jiazi Alley in the east of the city, has gone missing."

"Then quickly take men to investigate the case. There's no need to specifically inform me..." Zhang Cheng was adjusting the folds of his red official robe, flicking his sleeve, when he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, abruptly turned his head, his eyebrows twitching, and stared at the reporting bailiff.

"What did you say?"

"Who went missing?"

The bailiff knew where the magistrate's reaction came from. His expression was also very serious, and this time he rephrased it:

"It's the old man who guards the residence for Zhonglang Chen!"

County Magistrate Zhang Cheng of Qingshan County finally confirmed the matter, his face immediately turning red, and he couldn't help but scold, "Then what are you waiting for? Quickly send people to investigate!"

"Prepare the horses quickly; this official must go and see for himself."

Zhang Cheng wanted to see for himself. He had met Old Wu before; that old man had come to the county yamen with an order from Chen Yuan, who was then a Patrolling Mountain Commandant.

He remembered that time, he had taken the initiative to bring the yamen's men to support Chen Yuan.

Zhang Cheng knew that if this old man went missing, the consequences could be very serious.

In any case, he was going crazy now.

"My Lord, don't be anxious!"

"Your subordinate has already sent people."

The bailiff quickly stopped the agitated magistrate who was rushing outside, then stated his thoughts.

"My Lord, the ones who reported the case are several casual customers who often drink at this old man's stall. They said the old man hasn't set up his stall for two days, thinking he might be sick. They went into his house, found no one, and, feeling uneasy, came to report it. They don't know the old man's identity."

"Your subordinate is thinking, isn't the old man guarding the residence for Zhonglang Chen? Perhaps this is just a false alarm at the residence where Zhonglang Chen used to live in Jiazi Alley."

"So your subordinate thought it best to go to that residence first."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng found it quite reasonable, and his mind settled a bit, then he frowned.

"That residence has a Restriction placed on it; one cannot approach it."

"Go and inform Captain Lian; she should have a way."

The Captain Lian Zhang Cheng mentioned was Lian Nishang, who later succeeded Chen Yuan as the local Patrolling Mountain Commandant. It was rumored that their relationship was quite close.

But Captain Lian does not live in Qingshan County.

Instead, she lives deep within the eight hundred li Langdang Mountain.

Not long after, from the back gate of the county yamen, a reddish-brown horse galloped out.

"Gee-up!"

"Gee-up!"

"Gee-up!"

The bailiff who had just reported was on horseback, clip-clopping, heading out of the city.

However, shortly after leaving the city, he heard a commotion outside, a stir of human voices.

In the "outer city," many common people emerged, looking towards the northwest, exclaiming in surprise.

They saw that from the nearest snow-covered mountain in the northwest, snowflakes were cascading down like a landslide, and amidst the falling snow, ferocious strange beasts pulled ornate carriages, descending directly through the snow towards Qingshan County, their hooves thundering, shaking the heavens.

As they drew closer, the common people in the outer city saw them clearly, and a cacophony of frightened whispers and gasps of cold air rose simultaneously.

"What is that?"

"It looks like a demon!"

"Ah, how terrifying, demons pulling carriages."

"Who is sitting inside those carriages?"

"They've flown into the city..."

They saw in the sky, strange beasts resembling tigers and leopards, covered in scales, pulling eight carriages. They flew directly over the heads of the Qingshan County common people, with an astonishing Aura, and landed directly in Qingshan County.

Then they stopped directly in front of what appeared to be the most magnificent inn in Qingshan County.

In reality, it was just a six-story inn!

The Aura of those strange beasts was terrifying, scaring the nearby common people on the street into scattering in a panic.

"Ah, demons!"

"Oh dear!"

Some were so scared that they ran too fast, slipped, and fell to the ground.

Fortunately, it was early morning and still cold, so there weren't many people on the street.

One unlucky passerby, terrified, stood frozen, and a tiger-leopard strange beast happened to stop right in front of him. The ten-foot-tall tiger-leopard strange beast lowered its head, its pale yellow, chilling eyes fixed on the unlucky passerby, its ferocious mouth opening to reveal two fangs, over two feet long, like sharp blades.

"Roar!"

A roar, and the foul-smelling breath instantly made the passerby collapse to the ground, then scramble away in a panic.

And from inside the carriage pulled by the strange beast, a harsh sneer was heard.

At this moment, at the Qingshan Inn, a waiter with a white cloth draped over his shoulder, probably having heard the commotion outside, came out to look. As soon as he stepped out and saw the scene outside, he was startled and quickly stumbled back, slamming the door shut.

And in front of the door, someone stepped down from a Fang Family carriage.

Then, this person swayed, directly kicked open the door of the Qingshan Inn, and walked inside.

His gaze was arrogant and contemptuous as he looked at the manager and waiter cowering behind the counter, and he spoke coldly:

"We've rented this place out!"

"My Fang Family Old Ancestor likes peace and quiet, and doesn't allow anyone else. Understood?"

"Understood, understood." Although the manager was somewhat reputable in Qingshan County, he was merely a Peak martial artist of the Second Realm. At this moment, he felt a heart-pounding Aura from the newcomer and dared not utter a single word of refusal.

Not long after, the Qingshan Inn was cleared out. The guests, seeing the astonishing carriages outside, were very cooperative. Thus, the Fang Family settled into Qingshan County with such a high-profile presence.

This commotion brought a lively stir to the small, snow-bound county town, with everyone discussing where these people came from and what they were doing in their area.

In the limited world of the Qingshan County common people, they only knew these were unattainable important figures.

Qingshan Inn, third floor, a private room.

A woman in white opened the window, letting the cold wind blow in, then took a deep breath.

Returning to a familiar place, Fang Qingzhu's mood was somewhat complex.

The Fang Family entered Qingshan County without any reservations, acting domineeringly. She couldn't understand why the Fang Family Old Ancestor, since he came for that night ferry, would act so ostentatiously. Was it a habit of the Fang Family's style, or was he not afraid of others knowing?

At this moment, Fang Qingzhu's sleeve moved, and a fluffy fox head poked out from her wide sleeve.

Then, something else bulged from her bosom, emerging from her embrace—a Squirrel chirped, then leaped onto the windowsill, its obsidian eyes gleaming, chirping excitedly, seemingly because it had returned to a familiar place.

Then, the Little Squirrel's nose twitched, its belly visibly rounded at an incredible speed, and its entire body became light, as if it was about to fly out the window.

But the next second, a delicate hand grabbed it by the neck and pulled it back.

"No running around."

Fang Qingzhu flicked the Little Squirrel's forehead, then rubbed its belly with both hands as if it were a plush toy, squeezing the Qi out of its belly.

"Chirp chirp."

The little fox on the window let out a fox cry, leaning back, its two paws covering its belly, seemingly laughing at the Little Squirrel.

Just then, there was a knock on the door outside, followed by the cautious voice of the inn's young attendant from outside:

"Guest, it's freezing cold. The kitchen has just brewed some fresh tea and some pastries to warm up our esteemed guests!"

Fang Qingzhu did not turn around; she merely flicked her hand gently towards the door behind her.

The door opened by itself, without a breeze.

The inn's young attendant outside, carrying the tea, entered the room with his head bowed, placing the exquisite teacups and pastries on the table in the room.

"Please enjoy, esteemed guest!"

With that, he retreated, closing the door behind him, not daring to even glance back, fearing any misstep.

And as the door closed,

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

Two blurs of motion darted directly onto the table in the room. The two little demons, who had been frolicking by the window, were now on the table, their eyes looking at Fang Qingzhu, making sounds, seemingly asking for her permission.

"Eat, eat!"

Fang Qingzhu smiled at the sight of the two little fellows, then walked over and sat down.

The two little demons, having received permission, began to eat and take at the same time.

"What are you two doing?"

"Squeak squeak!"

"You said it's for your friends here?" Fang Qingzhu's beautiful eyes showed a hint of surprise.

"Chirp chirp!"

"Oh, it's that little fellow. I'll take you there later." Fang Qingzhu suddenly understood, then smiled somewhat helplessly.

Then, she poured a cup of the hot tea that had been brought up.

The tea was clear and steaming, and although it wasn't a rare delicacy, it offered a sense of warmth in the cold weather.

But just then, a crisp sound of a cup shattering echoed from upstairs.

Then, Fang Qingzhu heard the weary voice of the Fang Family Old Ancestor from upstairs.

"Don't drink this tea!"

Fang Qingzhu immediately frowned, looked at the tea still swirling in the cup, then raised a hand, forming a hand seal, and sent a silver light into the tea.

The silver light merged into the tea, and after several breaths, there was no change.

She was somewhat curious why the Fang Family Old Ancestor had suddenly said that.

But then, a scream came from upstairs.

Fang Qingzhu's gaze immediately changed.

A moment later, in a room on the fourth floor, the manager of Qingshan Inn knelt on the ground. Beside him, the young attendant who had just delivered the tea lay on the ground, bleeding from all seven orifices, having died of asphyxiation.

The manager at this moment seemed utterly terrified, begging for mercy repeatedly,

"My Lord, spare my life! This tea is all made from water drawn from our own well; we've always drunk it this way. How could there be a problem? And how dare I harbor ill intentions towards you esteemed guests?"

"If you don't believe me, My Lord, please see."

Saying that, the manager hugged the teapot on the table, put it to his mouth, and directly poured it down his throat. The scalding hot tea went straight down his throat, yet he forced himself to drink it.

At this moment, from behind a screen in the room, a cough sounded.

"Cough cough."

"Let him go; it has nothing to do with him!"

The middle-aged man sitting at the table, who was Fang Qingzhu's father, looked indifferently at the manager whose face was scalded red.

"Get out, and take the body with you."

"Do not speak of what happened here."

The manager felt dazed and terrified. He had no idea why these people would kill someone.

Just because he delivered a pot of tea!

His young attendant was killed on the spot.

He stumbled out, carrying the attendant's corpse, and was just seen by Fang Qingzhu, who had rushed to the door. Her delicate brows couldn't help but furrow.

At this time, others also heard the commotion and came from their rooms.

"Father, what happened?"

Fang Mingyue, Fang Qingzhu's elder sister, was the first to step in and ask.

"Everyone, come in."

At this moment, the voice of the Fang Family Old Ancestor sounded.

The Fang Family members were all curious for a moment, not knowing what had happened, and they all went in.

"Cough cough."

Soon, from behind the screen in the room, an emaciated old man emerged.

He leaned on a Dragon-headed walking stick, his figure gaunt, his eye sockets sunken, his skin wrinkled like old tree bark, his face covered in many age spots, and his eyelids drooped, giving him the appearance of someone in the twilight of his life, nearing his end.

But as soon as this old man appeared, all the Fang Family members obediently bowed.

"Old Ancestor!"

As the Fang Family Old Ancestor appeared, he reached out a hand towards the tea spilled on the room's floor.

A fist-sized ball of tea was condensed.

Then, the Old Ancestor flicked his five fingers repeatedly, actually pulling out a blood-red thread, thinner than a strand of hair, from the tea.

This blood thread was moving, as if it were alive.

Upon seeing this, the Fang Family members' expressions subtly changed. "This tea is poisoned."

But the Old Ancestor narrowed his eyes to a slit. "It's not poison."

"It's Devil Gu."

"And not just any Gu; you wouldn't even be able to detect it, let alone the common people here."

"I just investigated, and if I'm not mistaken, the water source of this county town has been contaminated."

"And as far as I know, this is a method used by Human Devils!" (End of Chapter)