Chapter 622 - 102: An Unexpected Matter

Shunyang Prefecture, Ningzhou Road.

In recent years, Ningzhou Road had fallen into obscurity. The upside was that it had been spared from major disasters, but the downside was that it had been largely ignored. However, as an important hub on the inland shipping route north of Jinhuai City, Shunyang Prefecture was still quite prosperous compared to the rest of Ningzhou Road.

Early mornings were the busiest time at the wharf outside the city, with merchant ships constantly arriving, departing, and docking. Although the waterway had been widened several times over the past few centuries, it still felt congested.

In a bustling mutton restaurant just outside the wharf, merchants would quickly down a bowl of mutton soup in the morning before hurrying away. But the restaurant grew even busier after the morning rush, as dockworkers would stop in to fill their bellies with mutton offal, usually paired with some cheap liquor.

There were few places in the entire Southern Territory that served alcohol in the morning, but this was one of them. The dockworkers drank to help them sleep, waking at Midnight to begin another shift of loading and unloading cargo.

Besides the dockworkers, a few travelers occupied the inner rooms and the second floor of the mutton restaurant. They leisurely enjoyed the delicious mutton soup and morning wine, watching the bustling dockworkers come and go in a steady stream.

In a private room on the second floor, overlooking the main road to the wharf, Liu Huai’en and Lu Shan were seated with two others around an Eight Immortals Table. A bowl of wine sat before each man, and a platter of freshly stewed mutton rested in the center of the table.

"This stuff really is delicious. No wonder people rave about it!" Liu Huai’en said, holding a mutton rib with a complete lack of decorum. His face was slick with grease as he periodically raised his large bowl to take a drink of wine.

"These sheep are raised by the Demon Race. Each of their tribes raises this kind of livestock, nourishing them daily with demonic qi. If one manages to achieve a humanoid form within five years, it’s accepted as a member of the tribe. If it fails to transform, it’s sold off across the continent, or the different tribes trade them among themselves for food."

Lu Shan also grabbed a rib, crunching it down, bone and all, before swallowing.

Upon hearing this, Liu Huai’en tore the remaining meat off the rib in his hand and swallowed it. "I’d heard about it before, but never had the chance to try it. A real pity. Once this job is done, I’ll have to go north and buy a bunch to take back with me."

He licked the grease from his fingers, then stood and leaned out the window, gazing at the distant city walls. "Daoist Li Miaolin is an expert with puppets. He has at least two incredibly powerful ones with him. Your first priority is to neutralize those puppets. Leave the rest to me!"

"Act as you see fit, Fellow Daoist. As long as his master doesn’t interfere, there’s no way he can escape!" Lu Shan’s tone was filled with confidence.

"Heh. As long as his master isn’t an idiot, he won’t get entangled in the affairs of the Southern Cultivation Realm right now. As for what happens later... that’s not our concern. Changqing Zhenren will take responsibility for it."

As he spoke, Liu Huai’en returned to his seat and began eating more mutton from the platter in the center.

Before long, the mutton and wine were gone. Liu Huai’en, in a very worldly manner, called the server over to settle the bill. Afterward, he led Lu Shan and the others toward the city gate.

Surprisingly, the city proper was quieter than the wharf. There were few pedestrians on the streets. Aside from inns, the shops along the road were mostly grain and cloth merchants. As they neared the city center, they spotted a house of pleasure, the air around it thick with the scent of rouge.

Across from this house of pleasure was the local branch of the Ningzhou Road Daoist Palace.

"Are we just going to walk right in and find him?" Lu Shan finally couldn’t resist asking as they approached the Daoist Palace.

"Of course. We have the investigation file. The moment Daoist Li Miaolin refuses to cooperate and decides to fight back, that’s when we make our move!"

"You’ve really thought of everything!"

"Haha!"

Liu Huai’en’s loud laugh attracted the attention of the Qi Cultivator guarding the Daoist Palace. Meeting the guard’s scrutinizing gaze, Liu Huai’en produced an identity token and a document from within his robes. He presented them and said, "By official order, I am here to question Daoist Li Miaolin."

The expression of the Qi Cultivator on guard duty shifted slightly at Liu Huai’en’s words, but he didn’t seem overly nervous, perhaps because Li Miaolin was an outsider. Even if there was a real problem, it would have little to do with him.

After confirming the identity token and document, the Qi Cultivator beckoned to two young attendants nearby. He then cupped his fist toward Liu Huai’en and said, "My apologies, Senior. Please wait in the reception hall for a moment while I announce your arrival."

"Enough with the formalities! Just take us to the rear courtyard!" Lu Shan interjected, playing the part of the bad cop.

The Qi Cultivator ultimately dared not disobey—though perhaps part of him just wanted to see the show. After a brief hesitation, he led Liu Huai’en and his men toward the rear courtyard.

The building still retained the layout of a Daoist Scripture Hall. Before long, the group passed through the front hall and crossed a central courtyard. In the distance, Liu Huai’en saw a middle-aged man in a slate-blue, narrow-sleeved Daoist robe waiting for them with a smile on his face.

The middle-aged man made a good first impression, as he perfectly matched the classic image of a great Taoist master. He had a high, full forehead, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. He sported a foot-long beard and wore a white jade crown, a style popular in the south.

This was Li Miaolin, looking exactly like the portrait in his file.

After the two parties exchanged pleasantries in accordance with Taoist etiquette, Liu Huai’en produced his documents and the case file, getting straight to the point. "I’ve been ordered to take you to Jinhuai City for questioning, Fellow Daoist."

He changed his approach on the fly. ’My original plan was to ask him a few questions here to provoke him,’ Liu Huai’en thought, ’but from the looks of it, this man won’t be angered so easily.’

"Oh? And what might this be about, Fellow Daoist?" Li Miaolin asked politely.

"Someone has accused you of manipulating the northern campaign in Ningzhou Road from behind the scenes in an attempt to interfere with the Chu Country’s contention for the Divine Artifact." Liu Huai’en first stated the charge grimly, then added with a smile, "We’re just here for some routine questions. No need to be alarmed, Fellow Daoist."

Li Miaolin remained perfectly calm. His gaze swept over the faint demonic qi that had begun to surface on the hands of the three men behind Liu Huai’en. He cupped his fist and said, "Very well. I will go with you."

"..."

The smile on Liu Huai’en’s face froze. He was left stunned, unsure of what to say next.

Lu Shan and the two Artifact Cultivators beside him also faltered. The demonic qi circulating around their hands began to form red blotches, within which intricate array runes flickered.

Li Miaolin, still smiling, cupped his fist toward Liu Huai’en. "However, it would be best if the fifty-thousand-strong Demon Race army assembled by Hu Yin headed south with me. We could catch those in Lishui Prefecture completely by surprise or reinforce the eastern front against the Liangjiang Region. We might even be able to launch a counteroffensive."

Liu Huai’en finally snapped out of his stupor. He studied Li Miaolin intently for a moment before cupping his fist and saying, "A masterful scheme indeed, Fellow Daoist!"

"Haha!"

Li Miaolin burst into laughter, a hint of smugness in his voice. "When those fools from Lishui Prefecture came to me with all their promises, did they really think I’d fall for their trick? I was merely beating them at their own game..."

As he spoke, he cupped his hands toward Liu Huai’en. "I trust my actions won’t be stealing your credit, will they, Fellow Daoist?"