NO_NAME
patreon
Chapter 279: Investigation
🕑 Added 2024-10-02 08:08:56 +0000 UTCAfter some thought, Han Weishu decided it would be best to report the matter to the authorities. Her father was unreliable—who knew what kind of considerations and trade-offs he might make, turning a blind eye to the situation.
Watching the spirit ship disappear into the horizon, Han Weishu sent Qiuqiu after it, then began retracing her steps, planning to find the nearest government office to report the abduction. However, as she ran, she realized not all government officials were willing to take action. She sighed internally. Before reporting the incident, she would have to investigate the reputation of the local officials.
Meanwhile, back in Shuisui Village, Tong Shuzheng and Xue Chengfeng arrived once again to visit Lingxian Sect.
Lin Xiao and Liu Yunan received them as guests.
This time, the two had official business to discuss. After passing through the Heart Reflection Path, Lin Xiao led them to the sect's main hall. There, Tong Shuzheng produced an official document.
The document was a formal alliance agreement between the imperial court and the sect. Although it did not carry the binding power of a Heaven's Oath, it was a public declaration, formalizing the alliance between the Lingxian Sect and the imperial government and setting forth their joint stance toward external affairs.
Tong Shuzheng respectfully presented the document to Lin Xiao with both hands:
"Master Lin, if your esteemed sect is willing to ally with the court, we will need the sect master's official seal on this document."
Lin Xiao fell silent for a moment, while Liu Yunan discreetly glanced at him. The problem was—they didn’t have a sect master's seal!
Lin Xiao immediately called out to the system in his mind, "System, help! I need the sect master's seal!"
The system responded without enthusiasm:
【Ding—Host request detected. Since the host has not unlocked the sect master’s seal by completing the required task, you can spend 500 spirit stones to obtain a temporary one-minute usage of the seal. Would you like to proceed?】
“What?! 500 spirit stones?” Lin Xiao was pained by the cost and the time limit. He decided to review the document carefully first, scanning each word to ensure there were no hidden clauses or loopholes. After confirming it was safe, he reluctantly said to the system, “Fine, exchange it.”
As soon as he agreed, 500 spirit stones were deducted from his private vault.
【Exchange successful. One-minute countdown starts now. Please use the seal promptly.】
Immediately, a jade-like sect master’s seal appeared in his private vault. Without time to admire it, Lin Xiao quickly retrieved the seal. Just as he was about to press it onto the document, he realized he didn’t have any ink.
Fortunately, Xue Chengfeng, anticipating this, pulled out a box of ink and offered it to Lin Xiao, saving him from embarrassment.
Lin Xiao stamped the document, leaving a bright red impression of the characters "Lingxian Sect Master" in ancient script.
With the document signed, Tong Shuzheng and Xue Chengfeng stood to take their leave.
"Thank you, Master Lin, for your cooperation. Since the spring season has brought a flurry of duties at the provincial capital, we won’t impose further."
Lin Xiao, originally planning to invite them for a meal, understood their busy schedule and did not insist they stay longer.
Little did they know, upon returning to the provincial government, another urgent matter awaited them.
Since the mountain village where the incident occurred was on the border of Hufang Province, Han Weishu headed directly to the region. Wary of encountering corrupt or unhelpful officials, she spent two days gathering information on the local authorities' reputation.
During this time, Qiuqiu, through their bond, relayed that the spirit ship had reached its destination. Sharing the images from Qiuqiu’s perspective, Han Weishu saw that the captors had not taken the abducted villagers into a sect, but to a remote location in the neighboring country of Huanyou.
The villagers, including Tong Jialiang, were forced into a mine and had not been seen since. When Qiuqiu snuck inside, it found that the villagers were being made to mine something—not spirit stones, but a kind of beautiful, multicolored gemstone that Han Weishu didn’t recognize.
Seeing that the villagers didn’t appear to be in immediate danger, Han Weishu breathed a small sigh of relief, but she didn’t slow her pace. If she didn’t seek help, those people would likely never return home.
After gathering enough information about the reputable officials, Han Weishu made her way to Liaoju Prefecture, the capital of Hufang Province.
By the time Tong Shuzheng had just finished submitting the signed alliance document to the capital, Han Weishu arrived at the prefectural government, having traveled day and night.
In the guest hall of Liaoju Prefecture’s government office:
“Greetings, Master Tong,” Han Weishu said, bowing as Tong Shuzheng entered.
Tong Shuzheng quickly returned the gesture, raising his hand to acknowledge her, “No need for such formalities, Immortal. I hear you have urgent matters to report. What is the issue?”
Indeed, Han Weishu had not sought help from her unreliable father. Instead, she had come to the government office with her sect’s identification token and was wearing her sect robes to expedite the process.
Without wasting time, Han Weishu described what she had seen and learned about the abducted villagers, only omitting Qiuqiu’s involvement, claiming she had personally tracked the captors.
Tong Shuzheng, unaware of her exact cultivation level, saw no reason to doubt her. Upon hearing the details, his brow furrowed deeply.
“This matter is of grave importance and beyond my capacity to resolve alone. Please wait here, Immortal. I will immediately report this to the imperial court.”
However, Tong Shuzheng knew that even if he sent an urgent message, the fastest response from the court would take at least half a month. Adding the time for the court’s instructions to reach him, it could easily take a full month before any action could be taken.
Unfortunately, Han Weishu, who was only at the first level of Qi Refining, had no faster solution.
After thinking it over, Tong Shuzheng decided to send his adviser, Xue Chengfeng, along with a team of officers to investigate the mountain village and verify the facts.
Although Han Weishu had provided a detailed account, as the prefectural governor, Tong Shuzheng needed to ensure the truth before taking any further action.
Xue Chengfeng immediately gathered a group of officers and traveled to the county near the mountain village to begin their investigation.
Even though the mountain villagers didn’t have official residence permits, they regularly ventured out to nearby towns to trade goods, so many locals, including county officials, were aware of their village and its general location.
The county officials had turned a blind eye to the villagers’ lack of land and registration, knowing they had little farmland and relied on trade for survival. While technically neglecting their duties, this arrangement benefited both parties—the villagers didn’t have to pay taxes, and the county avoided the hassle of enforcing regulations.
When Xue Chengfeng arrived with his team of prefectural officers to question the villagers, the county officials were understandably anxious.
Previous Chapter | | Next Chapter
