Free Web NovelChapter 1343: Chapter 35: Who is the Heretical One
On the streets of Linzi, the elderly fortune-teller who had just read Jiang Wang’s fortune retreated into the crowd, disappearing from sight.
When he reappeared, it was within a mysterious space.
Above, the Star River stretched across the heavens; below, a complicated Star Map spread out.
The space was vast on all sides, with night’s shimmer flowing endlessly, boundless in its reach.
The Star Map, constructed of starlight lines, resembled a suspended spiderweb. Underneath the map, and even above the Star River, lay endless darkness.
The "ashen and thin" old man squinted his eyes, gazing at a youthful Daoist standing before him.
The young man’s face was tender, yet his eyes seemed to hold within them the flowing vastness of the Star River, limitless and profound.
Draped in a Daoist robe densely adorned with a Star Map, his Daoist hair bun was secured with an ink-black jade hairpin.
From appearance to aura, he was incomparable to the elderly man.
The old man curled his lips. "Ruan Qin! Why are you blocking my way?"
The master of Linzi’s tallest edifice, the Star Observation Tower.
The Supervisor of the Imperial Heavenly Observatory, known as Ruan Qin!
This youthful Daoist had such an extraordinary identity!
"It should be me asking you," Ruan Qin said in an indifferent tone. "What are you doing in Linzi?"
The elderly man, clad in coarse linen, looked particularly shabby and spiritless in contrast to Ruan Qin.
Nonetheless, his voice carried great confidence: "I have neither sinned against the heavens nor taken anyone’s life. Surely, I don’t have to report all my doings to you."
Ruan Qin merely cast him a light glance, his gaze devoid of joy or sorrow. The Star Map beneath their feet suddenly brightened.
"Fine, fine," the old man grumbled reluctantly. "If I’m unwelcome, I’ll leave."
Ruan Qin stated, "Since I personally came out, you’re still free to leave. If it were someone else, you might not find it so easy."
The old man suddenly chuckled, "You make Linzi sound like a den of tigers and wolves. Are the people here truly so vicious?"
Before Ruan Qin could respond, the old man craned his neck to peer behind him. "Is this your daughter?"
Beaming, he praised, "What a beauty she is!"
Behind Ruan Qin, starlight gathered, materializing into the form of a radiant young maiden. freewebnσvel.cѳm
She too wore a Daoist robe similar to Ruan Qin’s, her Daoist hair bun styled the same way.
Her features bore a faint resemblance to his, yet she exuded a natural grace, her nose as delicate as jade, her eyes reflecting the starlight.
She asked, "Father, who is this person?"
Ruan Qin replied, "An astray path of the left way—stay out of this!"
"Ruan Qin!" The smile on the old man’s face finally faded as he stared at him. "A million years ago, who was the astray path?"
Ruan Qin didn’t so much as lift an eyelid, only answering, "People must move forward, toward the future. Those who walk backward are the left way."
The old man flicked his sleeve. "Truly, you are like summer insects unknowing of ice!"
He strode away with haste.
Just before stepping out of the space, he suddenly turned back. "Do you think that brat Xie’s words about spouting nonsense were directed at me? Heh, heh. I don’t depend on Linzi for survival!"
After saying this, he took one last step and disappeared.
In the space that remained, now occupied by only father and daughter, Ruan Zhou wrinkled her delicate nose. "That was truly rude of him!"
Ruan Qin replied indifferently, "Resentment in the heart breeds resentful words."
His figure dissolved into starlight, merging back into the Star Map.
Ruan Zhou disappeared shortly after.
...
...
Yan Zhao possessed a bloodline of extraordinary beasts, evidenced by his incredible speed. As night fell, he stepped into the Yang Region with the evening haze trailing him.
This was a stretch of official road spanning over two thousand li!
His running speed surpassed even Lin Youxie’s flight velocity, not to mention his superior stamina.
In fact, after traveling a short distance, Jiang Wang dismounted the horse, opting to use the Flat Step Qingyun Immortal Technique for the journey. He had deliberately brought Yan Zhao along to accommodate Lin Youxie’s speed.
Earlier, he had stubbornly refused to allow the horse to be shared, only to see Lin Youxie’s sour demeanor—nose flared, eyes glaring—and thus decided to entertain himself by dragging it out.
The faster they reached Zhao Heng City, the closer they would be to uncovering real clues, a fact Jiang Wang understood well.
He also recognized that in this investigation, Lin Youxie was the real expert.
"Let’s make a stop at Qingyang Town to rest the horses," Jiang Wang called out mid-flight.
His green robe flapped wildly in the wind.
The immortal robe he had worn for so many days had long since absorbed enough power. Although it was carried by the wind, it maneuvered against it effortlessly, carrying an air of refined grace.
Jiang Wang had studied this Ruyi Immortal Clothes closely for quite some time without finding the slightest clue related to the Immortal Palace.
Which made sense—this immortal robe had been bestowed by the Son of Heaven, and who knows how long it had rested in the national treasury or how many others had scrutinized it. If there had been any Immortal Palace inheritance, it wouldn’t have remained until now.
The Son of Heaven’s grant of this robe was likely twofold: to reward Jiang Wang and also to hope that this immortal robe might resonate with the Immortal Palace inheritance he carried, yielding some fortuitous results.
Many would prefer treasures to gather dust in their possession rather than allow them to benefit others. Such petty thoughts were of no concern to the Son of Heaven’s grandeur.
Unfortunately, no such connection had manifested.
Which was only natural. The Nine Great Immortal Palaces were not a monolith; during their ascendant era, they may very well have been at odds with one another. The Cloud Top Fairy Palace inheritance Jiang Wang carried had no inherent entanglement with the Myriad Immortals Palace.
Still, even setting aside its origins, the Ruyi Immortal Clothes was itself an extremely precious treasure, a lavish reward indeed.
Disregarding Lin Youxie’s opinion, Yan Zhao galloped behind Jiang Wang without hesitation.
Before long, they reached the outskirts of Qingyang Town. Lin Youxie dismounted and remarked, "Lord Jiang, take your rest in the town; I’ll wait outside."
Jiang Wang, ever wary of her, kept a deliberate distance. Ever since the incident near the sea where she borrowed his boat and promised to overlook the suspicions around him, she had maintained a careful distance as well. Not once did she approach him again.
This time, though assisting in the investigation, her demeanor remained markedly reserved.
When Jiang Wang had refused to share the horse earlier, she had gritted her teeth and flown behind him for half a day, even to the point of exhausting her Dao Origin. Yet she never spoke a word of complaint. Only Jiang Wang had felt uncomfortable enough to relent and offer her the horse.
Now, she chose not to enter Qingyang Town.
Jiang Wang happily obliged, replying simply, "I’ll return shortly."
Not a single polite word exchanged, he led Yan Zhao into the town.
Though Qingyang Town held no untoward secrets, Lin Youxie’s piercing gaze was something Jiang Wang was keen to avoid. He did not wish for her to uncover too much about his affairs.
The two town constables guarding the gate stood with diligent resolve. Upon seeing Jiang Wang, their faces lit up with joy. Their lord—none other than the Leader of the Yellow River! As people of Qingyang Town, they now held their heads high wherever they went.
Jiang Wang greeted them with a smile and headed straight for the town hall.
Night had fallen, and unlike Linzi’s bustle, Qingyang Town’s streets were devoid of pedestrians in the evening.
Jiang Wang walked swiftly, skipping formal notifications as he reached the town hall, where Dugu Xiao was practicing Dao Techniques in the rear courtyard.
Upon noticing Jiang Wang, the flame flower she had formed dissipated.
"Young Master! Why have you returned at this hour?" she asked, her face brimming with surprise and delight.
When Jiang Wang had last returned from Guanhe Platform to Qi, they had briefly exchanged a few words on the roadside. At the time, Jiang Wang had mentioned he wouldn’t be back in Qingyang Town for a while. Though disappointed, Dugu Xiao understood that a place as bustling as Linzi was the stage her young master deserved to shine on.
Though she had already reached the Transcendent rank, Dugu Xiao considered her aptitude for cultivation to be mediocre. If she could efficiently manage affairs within the fief, she believed it would contribute value to Jiang Wang. At the very least, she hoped to make herself somewhat useful to him.
Of course, she wished she could be even more helpful and vital. Therefore, she was diligent not only in her duties within the town but also in her cultivation practice.
"When practicing Dao Techniques, you must maintain focus and reverence. Even if Mount Tai collapses before you, your technique should not waver."
Jiang Wang pointed out a minor issue he had observed during her practice just now.
The flame flower she practiced was something he had personally taught her.
In this world, few could claim an understanding of flame flowers that rivaled his.
Given his tight schedule, Jiang Wang offered a few brief pointers and left Dugu Xiao to comprehend them on her own.
He then asked, "Where is Fan Qingqing?"
"Sister Fan is cultivating in the Zheng Sheng Hall," Dugu Xiao replied. "Shall I call her back?"
Jiang Wang remembered his promise to Fan Qingqing to guide her on the Sound Transmission Immortal Canon as soon as he had grasped it himself. He had been preoccupied and unable to fulfill it so far, but he resolved to remember in the future.
"That won’t be necessary," Jiang Wang said. "I have come to Yang Region with the Son of Heaven’s decree. I’ll be leaving immediately."
He paused to think and asked, "Have you heard about the death of Huang Yixing, the Pacification Envoy of Hengyang Prefecture?"
"I haven’t heard yet," Dugu Xiao shook her head, unable to hide the shock in her eyes. "How did he die?"
After all, Huang Yixing held a status equivalent to Tian Antai. For someone of his standing to perish suddenly was staggering news.
It should be noted that above Qingyang Town was Jia City, and above that was the prefecture government. Huang Yixing’s rank was anything but low.
"That is precisely what I am here to investigate," Jiang Wang said.
It seemed the local authorities had sealed the information very tightly.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Dugu Xiao asked.
"Just make sure my horse is cared for outside," Jiang Wang instructed, glancing around. Everything seemed the same as before. freёwebnovel.com
He then added, "I’ll leave something in my room. Make sure no one enters during this period."
Dugu Xiao nodded. "Understood."
Jiang Wang left the town hall and headed straight to his residence in Qingyang Town. There, he placed the amulet given to him by the fortune-teller under his pillow.
Without hesitation, he turned and departed, disappearing into the night sky.
