Chapter 105: Discussing the Demon Sect Again on the Painted Boat (10,000-word update, please subscribe)

The autumn wind swept through, bringing a flurry of fallen leaves.

As deep autumn approached, the weather gradually began to cool.

The bare tree trunks along the Yu State River added to the desolation and solitude.

But the days at Jishi Hall were like usual, ordinary, tranquil, and cozy.

“Doctor An?”

An Jing and Zhao Qingmei were grinding herbs when a voice suddenly came from outside the door.

A middle-aged man dressed in coarse cloth limped in.

“Old Li, how’s it going, is your leg better?”

The person standing at the door was Old Li, a boatman on the Yu State River. Recently, as the weather turned cold and the number of tourists visibly decreased, there was naturally less work for him.

He had heard that people could make some silver hauling coal, and despite being in his fifties or sixties, he went to do so. Due to a lack of experience and skill, and unwillingness to lose face, he insisted on carrying heavy loads of coal without any reduction, and twisted his ankle after just two days of work.

“After being treated by Doctor An, how could my leg injury not improve?”

Old Li grinned, pulling out some wax paper, “Here are a few persimmons, fully ripe and really sweet.”

Upon seeing this, An Jing quickly said, “You’re too kind, no one in our family eats persimmons. It’s better if you take them back.”

Boatman Old Li was a widower with no children or family, leading a frugal life on his own.

“Oh, come on, a few persimmons are worthless. Doctor An and Mrs. An should take them and enjoy, don’t tell me you look down on Old Li?”

Upon hearing this, Old Li immediately became anxious.

Zhao Qingmei chuckled lightly, picking up one of the bright red persimmons and playing with it, “Husband, since Old Li insists, let’s just accept them. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a persimmon.”

“That’s right, that’s right.” Old Li smiled broadly upon hearing this, “Mrs. An, if you want more, I still have plenty at home. A whole tree’s worth. My leg isn’t very nimble now, and I was actually planning to find a small stall to sell the persimmons.”

“I won’t disturb you two any longer then.”

With that, Old Li limped out of Jishi Hall.

An Jing watched Old Li’s retreating figure and sighed inwardly. These simple and unrefined common folk often brought him such acts of kindness, like the chicken someone had sent a few days ago.

Little Blackie’s cheeks were getting chubby from eating so many bones.

“Husband, you’ve been busy all morning, have a persimmon.”

Zhao Qingmei weighed the persimmon in her hand, then peeled it and offered it to An Jing.

An Jing chuckled, “Wife, I should feed you tonight; wouldn’t it be proper for you to feed me during the day?”

“You shameless man.”

Zhao Qingmei’s eyes shimmered, her voice a mix of charm and mock annoyance.

An Jing said that, but still obediently took the persimmon. Zhao Qingmei was still a touch more reserved than he was.

“My lord, I just heard there was food…..”

Just then, Tan Yun, rubbing her eyes and sleepy, walked out from the back hall.

“You lazy thing, all you know is to eat.”

An Jing spoke without much patience.

In the past few days, Tan Yun seemed to have grown even more listless, doing everything as if she had not quite woken up.

“Persimmons, were the ones that man brought just now persimmons?”

Tan Yun immediately saw the persimmons on the table, her tongue peeking out to lick her lips, “My lord…..”

“Just take them and eat, would I not let you?”

After An Jing spoke, he sat back down to continue grinding the herbs.

“You’re the best, my lord.”

Tan Yun, excited, clutched two persimmons and then sat down by the door.

Little Blackie wagged his tail happily, circling around Tan Yun’s feet, sitting on the ground with his round belly touching the floor, eyes curiously watching the persimmon in Tan Yun’s hand.

“Excuse us! Make way, quickly!”

Just then, a frantic cry came from outside the door.

An Jing and Zhao Qingmei instinctively looked over.

They saw two strong men hurrying in, carrying a stretcher with a man lying on it. The man’s complexion was darkened, his eyes closed tight, and his face devoid of any expression.

An Jing recognized the three as hunters from the mountains; Jishi Hall had acquired some of its medicinal herbs from these hunters. The hunter at the lead was Liu Mazha, who usually dealt with An Jing.

As soon as Liu Mazha entered, his eyes red with urgency, he said, “Doctor An, please take a look at Chen Xiao’er….”

“Don’t panic, let me take a look first.”

An Jing soothed Liuzi’s worries, then looked towards the hunter Chen Xia’er lying on the stretcher.

At this glance, his brows instantly furrowed.

Chen Xia’er showed no sign of breath or pulse.

An Jing then reached out and pressed his fingers on Chen Xia’er’s pulse to find it completely still, the heartbeat had ceased entirely.

What did this mean? It meant that Chen Xia’er lying before them was already dead.

However, Chen Xia’er’s body was covered with a layer of black qi mechanism, which did not resemble the fierce aura of evil spirits, nor the strange yin energy…

Moreover, this qi mechanism was writhing as if it were spreading to the surroundings.

Zhao Qingmei also noticed the qi mechanism, her brows knitting together.

“Madam, Tan Yun, you two should step back,”

An Jing said deeply after taking a breath.

Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun retreated backward upon hearing this.

“The two of you, carry him out first,” An Jing instructed after another deep breath.

The two hunters, though unsure why, followed An Jing’s directions and carried the stretcher out of the medical hall.

An Jing took some mugwort from the medicine counter, crushed it forcefully with his fingers, and then strode out, sprinkling the mugwort fragments over the corpse on the stretcher.

“Doctor An, how is the person? Can he be saved?”

Liuzi, puzzled by the sight, inquired.

An Jing shook his head, saying, “He’s dead. Only a Daluo Immortal could revive him—mere mortals are utterly powerless.”

“Dead!?”

Liuzi and the other hunter trembled with a jolt at the revelation.

“Where did Chen Xia’er go? What exactly happened?” An Jing couldn’t help but ask.

There was an issue with this black qi mechanism. Chen Xia’er must have come into contact with it, and that ultimately led to his demise. Moreover, it seemed that the black qi mechanism was concentrated and not dispersing, apparently possessing a strong contagiousness.

“Just yesterday, several of us went up the mountain, aiming for our last hunt of the year,”

Liuzi swallowed hard before continuing.

In the autumn, the game is generally the fattest and juiciest, making it the optimal time for hunting. Once autumn passes, a harsh winter sets in.

Normally, hunters do not go into the mountains at this time for two reasons: little game can be found, and to prevent overhunting, which would drastically reduce the game in the following year—a common rule among hunters.

Even some villages would declare a hunting ban to prevent hunters from entering the mountains illegally.

Liuzi went on, “When we hunt in the mountains, we usually split up, only grouping together if we encounter a tiger or a black bear. So by evening, when we were ready to descend, Chen Xia’er still hadn’t shown up. We initially thought he had returned to the village on his own. After descending, we found no sign of Chen Xia’er in the village. Only then did we realize the seriousness of the situation. The village hunters all went up the mountain to search for Chen Xia’er until this morning when we finally found him under a big tree, still barely breathing…”

An Jing’s eyebrows were tightly knotted as he glanced at Liuzi and the other hunter, saying, “This matter is not simple, it’s best that you report to the authorities immediately.”

As a doctor, his duty was to relieve the world’s suffering and treat the sick; other concerns were not for him to resolve.

“Okay…”

The faces of Liuzi and his companion turned exceedingly grave as they looked at each other.

“How about this, I will accompany you two to the government officials,”

An Jing offered after pondering for a moment.

Han Wenxin was nowhere to be found at this moment, likely off shirking his duties somewhere—if the two hunters went to the government office and couldn’t find anyone, it could delay matters further.

“That would be troubling Doctor An greatly,” Liuzi gratefully said when he heard this.

An Jing nodded, then entered Jishi Hall, “Madam, I’m off to the government office. Please take care of the medical hall.”

“I understand. Also, be careful,”

Zhao Qingmei said with concern.

“Alright.”

An Jing, shouldering a small medicine case, hastily left with the two hunters.

“Miss, this matter does not appear to be simple,”

Tan Yun’s delicate brows furrowed slightly before she hesitated.

She clearly recognized that the hunter’s body had residual qi mechanism on it, and she couldn’t help but worry about her son-in-law.

“I know. My husband’s medical skills are superb, and he shouldn’t encounter any trouble,” Zhao Qingmei said slowly.

She had seen An Jing’s medical abilities—unique and masterful, in her opinion not inferior to the famous doctors of Jianghu. Moreover, he was still very young. If he were to focus entirely on this field, becoming a legendary doctor wouldn’t be difficult.

About problems related to medicine, she wasn’t worried. Besides, with the hidden protection of a Demon Sect expert, it seemed unlikely that an ordinary doctor would provoke a formidable master.

“Sect Hierarch, I have returned,”

Just then, Li Fuzhou walked into the hall from outside, holding a few books in his hand, “Where is the son-in-law heading? I just saw him rushing off in a hurry.”

He had just brushed past An Jing and noticed An Jing’s furrowed brows and a heavy expression on his face.

One must know that this young doctor’s medical skills were quite remarkable; usual difficult and complicated diseases were mostly cured by his hand, and it was rare for him to show such an expression.

Tan Yun said from the side, “That hunter died on the mountain for some reason, hanging on to his last breath and wanting to seek medical consultation. He has been taken to the government officials now.”

“I see.”

Li Fuzhou nodded his head, then clasped his hands in salute towards Zhao Qingmei, “Sect Hierarch, He Yunkai has sent a message.”

“Speak.”

Zhao Qingmei sat down, her expression indifferent.

Li Fuzhou said gravely, “According to what he said, Liu Qingshan is already preparing to convene the Five Gangs Congress to discuss the matter of the Five Gangs Alliance and is secretly communicating with him. However, he has been rejected through words.”

He Yunkai, Gang Leader of one of the current Five Great Gangs, the Sanhu Gang, with a Second Grade peak cultivation and ranked second on the Great Yan Martial World’s Tiger List.

This man was known for his justice and courage, greatly revered among the people of Jianghu, with a vast reputation. Moreover, his strength was quite exceptional; though a Second Grade cultivator, he was adept in most forms of martial arts, such as hand-to-hand combat, and weapons like sabers, spears, swords, and staves. He had once killed a First Grade Expert, which greatly shook his fame and secured his second place on the Tiger List.

This man was pursued by many young novices fresh into the Jianghu and was even revered as a gentleman of the Jianghu.

However, the few people present were very clear that this He Yunkai was nothing but a pretender.

His true nature was sinister and cruel, treacherous, a man who would use any means necessary to achieve his goals, skilled in playing both sides, and adept at opportunism and speculation.

It was precisely because of such a character that he was able to stand out among the many powers of the Great Yan Martial World.

In the Jianghu filled with deceit and danger, a powerless gentleman is on a path to death.

Although the Sanhu Gang was the weakest and least renowned of the Five Great Gangs, it was still one of them and an undeniable force in its own right.

“He Yunkai verbally refused?”

Zhao Qingmei said indifferently, “In my opinion, he happily agreed, would he dare refuse Liu Qingshan?”

What was Liu Qingshan’s strength? He was at the Heavenly Flower Realm, and within the gang, there were First Grade Experts like Tian Liu and Guo Yuchun. Even if the Seven Vajras were mostly lost, there were still Second Grade Experts like the three oddities of Xishan and the Soaring Eagle of Cangshan. Overall, their strength was not something the Sanhu Gang could compare with.

If it weren’t for the Demon Sect’s covert support of the Sanhu Gang and He Yunkai’s ability to play the field, the Sanhu Gang would have long vanished.

What He Yunkai was best at was playing both sides; in addition to privately dealing with the Demon Sect, he also secretly sought the patronage of some other powerful figure. Engaging in such double-dealing allowed him to mix well within the Great Yan Martial World.

“The Five Gangs Alliance.” Zhao Qingmei chuckled softly, “What if the Five Gangs Congress indeed convenes, and the Alliance Hierarch isn’t Liu Qingshan? Wouldn’t that be interesting?”

Upon hearing Zhao Qingmei’s words, Li Fuzhou’s heart trembled, “Sect Hierarch, do you mean…?”

Could it be that the Sect Hierarch wants to support a puppet? If they could control an alliance with the strength of the Five Gangs, then the Demon Sect’s entry into Great Yan would indeed be much easier.

The Five Great Gangs, clearly weaker than the Seven Great Sects, still have a reputation in the Jianghu that is not inferior to them. A large reason for this is the vast number of people in the Five Great Gangs and their wide distribution, capable of rallying a call to arms among their members.

Zhao Qingmei continued, “The Five Gangs Alliance, Liu Qingshan won’t succeed so easily. He is just a chess piece; the real game is played by those behind him. If we can truly set the stage, why not play the game with them?”

Li Fuzhou did not speak; if Zhao Qingmei aimed to claim the victory of the Five Gangs Alliance, and if they failed to snatch it, it would no doubt add another major power to Great Yan, making it extremely difficult for the Demon Sect to enter Great Yan.

But if they indeed succeeded, it would undoubtedly add wings to the Demon Sect.

In his view, it was clearly a gamble.

“The Sect Hierarch’s plan is not unfeasible, but it is still uncertain whether the Five Gangs Congress will be convened as planned,” Li Fuzhou took a deep breath, “The Wind and Rain Tower, Wangjing Sea, and the Golden Corner Alliance may not necessarily be united with Liu Qingshan. Moreover, other interested parties may not wish to see this happen.”

“Let Liu Qingshan worry about that,” Zhao Qingmei said indifferently.

Li Fuzhou nodded, then, after a moment of thought, took a deep breath and said, “Sect Hierarch, there is another matter I must report. According to intelligence from the Ghost-faced Buddha, the Heavenly Demon Order has been found…”

“Is that true!?”

Zhao Qingmei raised her eyebrows.

Tan Yun also widened his eyes, shaken.

The Heavenly Demon Order was something no one in the Demon Sect was ignorant of; it was a personal item of the previous Sect Hierarch, Jiang Shang.

Jiang Shang never parted with it.

Does this mean there are clues to the Sect Hierarch who disappeared for years?

If the Heavenly Demon Order has reappeared, could it be that Jiang Shang is truly dead?

“It was said to be found in the residence of the son of Chu Nanying, Chu Huai, but I always feel something strange about it…” Li Fuzhou said with a grave tone.

Apart from the top experts of the Demon Sect, hardly anyone would recognize this Heavenly Demon Order. Could it be that Chu Huai stumbled upon the Heavenly Demon Order by chance?

Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath before saying, “We must investigate this thoroughly.”

“Yes!”

Li Fuzhou was also aware of the seriousness of the matter. If Jiang Shang were still alive, the Demon Sect could certainly sweep aside its decline and rebuild its former glory.

For Jiang Shang was a Grandmaster realm expert, with hardly any rivals in the world. Apart from Xiao Qianqiu of the Seven Great Sects, no sect leader could match him, a presence in the Great Yan Martial World that could shake the Jianghu.

His life and death affected the situation of the Demon Sect.

“Someone is coming.”

Zhao Qingmei looked towards the door.

“Doctor An, Doctor An.”

It wasn’t long before an elderly man arrived at the door carrying two plump and large rabbits, calling out loudly.

“The rabbits at home have gotten fat, ready to be slaughtered and eaten, so I brought you three.”

……

In Yu State City, at the government official’s entrance.

“Could it be Corpse Qi?!”

An Jing was still pondering the black qi mechanism in his mind when a thought struck him.

In the ancient texts, “Returning Burial”, he had come across a section about the qi mechanisms of the world, which not only detailed Yin Energy and evil spirits but also mentioned a rare type of Corpse Qi.

The so-called Corpse Qi was said to be formed after a large number of corpses gathered together; rumors had it that when the qi was too dense, it might even cause extremely terrible mutations.

As for what kind of terrible mutations specifically, “Returning Burial” did not elaborate.

“Brother An, still thinking about that incident just now?”

Han Wenxin, with a bruised nose and swollen face, walked over from the government offices at this moment.

“It’s a bit strange,” An Jing nodded and said.

Han Wenxin, in pain, touched his own eye and said, “It’s quite normal; every year a good number of hunters die on the mountain—either the tigers or the black bears, or else it’s due to feuds in Jianghu.

As an arrest officer, Han Wenxin saw dead bodies all the time and therefore didn’t think much of it.

An Jing said pensively, “The death of that Chen Er was peculiar, and the forensic doctor found nothing unusual. I feel this matter is not so simple.”

“That is indeed quite strange, but hasn’t Head Officer Qin gone to investigate? His abilities are above mine; if there’s an issue, he will surely find out.”

Han Wenxin patted An Jing’s shoulder and laughed, “Let’s not get tangled in these problems. Oh, I have some good news to tell you.”

“What good news?”

An Jing glanced at Han Wenxin, wondering if the man in black had beaten him last night and then declared their grudges settled. If that were true, it would indeed be good news.

“My father is matching me with a young lady tonight,” Han Wenxin chuckled.

An Jing: “…..”

“I haven’t told anyone else about this yet.”

With a glimmer of hope in his eyes, Han Wenxin said, “It’s said that the young lady is quite beautiful, with a gentle and kind personality, plus she comes from a wealthy family, owning shops in Lijiang City. If this goes through…..”

Listening, An Jing couldn’t help nodding, “That’s quite good indeed.”

“Brother An, come on, let’s talk while walking.”

Han Wenxin grabbed An Jing and started walking towards the distance, growing more excited as he talked, “You need to give me some advice.”

“Advice, what advice?” An Jing asked, puzzled.

“It’s the experience between you and your younger sister-in-law during matchmaking. What should I pay attention to?”

“Make sure not to reveal your true self.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Brother An, what do you mean by that?” Han Wenxin immediately showed displeasure.

“I’m merely stating the facts.”

An Jing said earnestly.

If Han Wenxin were to reveal his true self, given his conditions, it would be quite difficult to find a woman.

“What did sister-in-law see in you at first?” Han Wenxin mumbled to himself, “Could it be your looks?”

At that, he couldn’t help but look at An Jing to his side.

It must be said that An Jing was indeed quite handsome, especially his eyes. His eyes seemed to have no embellishment whatsoever. Yet upon closer inspection, they were as clear as lake water and as bright as the shining moon.

“Brother An, how do you think I look?”

Han Wenxin elbowed An Jing and asked.

“If you didn’t look ugly, you’d actually be quite good-looking,”

An Jing glanced at the bruised and swollen Han Wenxin and couldn’t help but laugh as he said.

“Damn it,”

Han Wenxin’s mood soured upon hearing that, snorting lightly, “I think we’re about the same, six of one, half a dozen of the other.”

“No, no, no!”

An Jing quickly shook his head, “Brother Han, you’ve got it wrong—looking scary and looking ‘scary’ are definitely not the same.”

Han Wenxin’s face immediately took on a scowling expression upon hearing this.

“Am I scary-looking? You’re the one who’s scary-looking!”

The two walked and chatted casually, and before long, they arrived at the ancient bridge over the Yu State River.

At this time, the riverbanks on both sides were lined with densely packed flat-bottomed boats, while a few boatmen lazily rowed their boats, waiting for passengers.

“Eh, isn’t that Old Zhou over there?”

Just as An Jing was about to take his leave and head home, Han Wenxin couldn’t help but exclaim when he saw the familiar figure up ahead.

An Jing heard this and also looked over.

At the bow of a small boat ahead, Zhou Xianming stood with his hands behind his back, his face suffused with bliss.

“Miss Li Yue, I, Zhou Xianming, have returned.”

Basking in the fresh air, Zhou Xianming felt an unexpected sense of relaxation when a shrill voice suddenly reached his ears.

“Hey, Old Zhou.”

Zhou Xianming immediately shuddered and instinctively looked towards the source of the voice, only to see An Jing and Han Wenxin standing on the lakeside, with the bruised and swollen Han Wenxin continuously waving at him.

“Doctor An, I’ve finally seen you.”

Zhou Xianming ignored Han Wenxin completely, his eyes lighting up as if he had seen a family member upon seeing An Jing.

“Old fool, I’m greeting you, you hear me?” Han Wenxin frowned upon seeing that Zhou Xianming was disregarding him.

This crude warrior!

Zhou Xianming cursed inwardly, yet he forced a smile and said, “Han… Arrest Officer Han, you’re here too?”

“You old codger, how did your examination go? You’ve come back so early?”

Upon hearing this, Han Wenxin nodded in satisfaction and said, “Did you flunk again? But it doesn’t matter, this was all within our expectations.”

Ignoring Han Wenxin, Zhou Xianming turned to An Jing as if he wanted to say something, “Doctor An…”

“Mr. Zhou, it doesn’t matter if you didn’t make the list, don’t get discouraged.”

An Jing consoled him, “You’ll get used to working like a horse and an ox.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianming’s face turned black.

Thinking of something, Han Wenxin suggested, “To celebrate Old Zhou’s return from the imperial examinations, I think we should listen to some music, how about that?”

“Sure.”

Zhou Xianming’s eyes lit up upon hearing Han Wenxin’s proposal, and for the first time, he found this crude warrior not so crude after all.

“Forget about it, I need to go back in time.”

An Jing shook his head.

“Don’t do this.”

Zhou Xianming, upon hearing An Jing’s refusal, hurriedly said, “Doctor An, if you’re not there, it’s like the Star River without the moon competing for brilliance, what’s the point then?”

Han Wenxin nodded repeatedly on the side, “That’s right, Brother An, this Old Zhou and I are a generation apart, we have nothing in common.”

Zhou Xianming glanced at Han Wenxin, took a deep breath, and muttered to himself, “Fine, for the sake of going to the music house, I’ll put up with it.”

“I really can’t go,” An Jing shook his head. He still remembered the consequences of being spotted the last time he went to listen to music with Zhou Xianming.

For all he knew, there could be a mole among them, especially Zhou Xianming, who might sell him out for some silver at any time.

It’s not a good habit to frequent the music house.

Zhou Xianming’s eyes rolled around as he said, “How about this, I’ll go and call Mr. Li as well, we can all go together, it’ll be livelier with more people.”

“Mr. Li?”

Upon hearing this, Han Wenxin’s brows furrowed slightly; after all, he and these scholar-types were incomparable, like urine and a pot—they just didn’t mix.

However, at the mention of Li Fuzhou, An Jing’s interest was piqued; last time he didn’t manage to probe Li Fuzhou’s intent, and now this could be a good opportunity to see what he was really after.

“That’s fine.”

An Jing thought for a moment and then said, “However, I’ll have to trouble Mr. Zhou with the errand, and also…”

“Leave it to me, I will take care of Doctor An,” Zhou Xianming said with a smile that hinted at deeper meanings.

Indeed, who could resist the invitation to listen to music at the music house?

……

Upon the Yu State River.

A painted pleasure boat floated on the rippling water, with crisp and pleasant music wafting from within.

In the painted boat, An Jing, Li Fuzhou, Han Wenxin, and Zhou Xianming were each seated at a table, with a young woman in front plucking the strings of a zither.

“Mr. Li, it has been quite some time since we last listened to music like this,”

Zhou Xianming turned his head toward Li Fuzhou and sighed.

“Twenty-three days in total.”

Li Fuzhou nodded, then picked up his cup and said, “Come, let’s drink.”

“Come, a drink.”

Zhou Xianming also raised his cup.

The two clinked glasses in fond appreciation, a deep bond of friendship evident between them.

Others might not be aware of his background, but Li Fuzhou was very clear about it.

Zhou Xianming, from Xiacheng in the land of Shu, his father originally the registrar of Xiacheng. He grew up learning literature and writing from his father, and by the age of seven, he was already as solemn as an adult. Upon hearing lectures on the “Annals of the Nine Kingdoms,” he quickly grasped their profound meanings. He proceeded to immerse himself in books, oblivious to hunger, heat, and cold, and became known as a prodigy in Xiacheng. At twelve, his family met with disaster as his father was exiled to the border for a corruption case, and his mother soon died of grief.

Zhou Xianming did not take the imperial examinations but instead sold all his family’s properties and traveled the lands for decades, eventually settling down in Yu State City.

Through Li Fuzhou’s observations, Zhou Xianming was a great talent, a hidden gem of the streets who had likely already cultivated a substantial aura of scholarly energy. If it were to manifest, his future would be very bright.

The Demon Sect was in need of such people, especially strategists like Zhou Xianming who could discern the situations at hand.

“Ah, these twenty-some days apart have felt so lengthy.”

Zhou Xianming put down his cup and wistfully said, “I wonder how you all have been doing these days?”

In Lijiang City, he had to “pinch and scrape,” living quite miserably. How could it compare to the joyous nights of singing and merriment in Yu State City?

“My routine is anything but routine,” Han Wenxin said as he picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth, shaking his head as he spoke.

“Crude!” An Jing couldn’t help but comment.

Li Fuzhou nodded, then spoke indifferently. “With nothing to do, I just dabble in flower arranging and jade carving.”

An Jing: “……”

“What about Dr. An?” Zhou Xianming, seeing that An Jing hadn’t said a word, couldn’t help but ask.

“Me?”

An Jing spoke calmly, “I just eat my three meals a day, unlike their carefree lives.”

“Knowing that you are all well brings me relief,” Zhou Xianming nodded.

Turns out, they all had it much better than me in Lijiang City, he realized regretfully, recalling the cold winds blowing across the lake from the brothels.

After some thought, An Jing said, “By the way, Mr. Zhou, since the autumnal exams are nearly over for you, might you consider returning to storytelling at the tea house?”

“Storytelling?”

Zhou Xianming shook his head, “No, after the autumnal exams, I must rush to Yujing City for the metropolitan and palace examinations.”

“The metropolitan and palace examinations?”

Han Wenxin paused what he was doing, “Didn’t you fail the exams?”

“When did I say I failed?”

Zhou Xianming replied irritably, “I passed, and not just passed—I placed first.”

Placed first!?

Hearing this, Han Wenxin’s eyes bulged, and he burst into laughter, “You old rascal, dreaming in broad daylight again? If you placed as the top scholar, I will drink the Yu State River dry.”

Zhou Xianming retorted indignantly, “You said it yourself.”

Han Wenxin scoffed, “When Han Wenxin speaks, it’s set in stone. If I say I’ll drink it dry, I will.”

“Then you wait and drink,” Zhou Xianming was not to be outdone.

“Enough, enough, no need to argue over such meaningless things,”

An Jing played peacemaker from the side and smiled, “Mr. Zhou, are you really going to Yujing City?”

“Of course, this autumnal examination is just a warm-up,”

Zhou Xianming nodded.

Since Zhou Xianming chose the path of civil service, he naturally aimed to excel in it; otherwise, he could continue storytelling in Yu State City.

An Jing spoke with genuine regret, “That’s really too bad, I always enjoyed listening to your storytelling.”

His words were sincere. If there was nothing important to do, his favorite pastime was to listen to Zhou Xianming recount stories at the nearby tea house.

Zhou Xianming waved his hand and smiled, “It’s all half true, half hearsay. If Dr. An really wants to listen, I can tell you some stories when I’m free.”

An Jing’s interest piqued, “Why not tell me some now? I’ve always been curious about the Demon Sect.”

“The Demon Sect!?”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianming paused.

Li Fuzhou also looked over, intrigued by Zhou Xianming’s views on the Demon Sect.

“What’s there to listen to about the Demon Sect? They’re nothing but a bunch of lost dogs,” Han Wenxin waved his hand dismissively, “An brother, if you want to hear stories, I can tell you about the Xuanyi Guard slaughtering various sects, which is far more interesting than anything the Demon Sect’s up to.”

An Jing glanced at Han Wenxin from the side and thought to himself: Han brother, do you know who’s sitting next to you? You’re flirting with death here.

As if he hadn’t heard anything, Li Fuzhou focused inwardly, letting not even the slightest ripple show in his eyes.

Seeing the unflappable Li Fuzhou, An Jing couldn’t help but admire him, thinking how incredibly inscrutable this old fox was.

Zhou Xianming hastened to add, “That’s where you’re wrong. The Demon Sect is not a band of lost dogs…”

“The Demon Sect? One day, I’ll personally slay a few of those Demon Sect fiends,” Han Wenxin downed a mouthful of drink and then slapped the long saber at his waist, looking very spirited.

But in An Jing’s view, it seemed as if Han Wenxin was saying to Li Fuzhou: come hit me, come hit me…

Seeing that Han Wenxin was about to continue his reckless talk, An Jing interjected, “Mr. Zhou, please speak, I’m listening.”

If Li Fuzhou were to feel dissatisfied, whether Han Wenxin would live through the night remained a serious question…

Han Wenxin, seeing An Jing interrupt him to let Zhou Xianming speak, pursed his lips but said nothing more.

“The Demon Sect is indeed a top force in the Jianghu world,” Zhou Xianming said with a slight nod before continuing, “Under its command are the Three Sects of Heaven, Earth, and Man, along with the four Guardians: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, all teeming with experts. Furthermore, they have deeply rooted themselves in Dongluo Pass. According to recent Jianghu rumors, the Demon Sect is restless and has intentions of sweeping through Great Yan once again.”

Han Wenxin, upon hearing this, scoffed, “Those are just Jianghu rumors. You believe them?”

As the arrest officer from Yu State City and someone who often worked for the Xuanyi Guard, Han Wenxin indeed knew some matters concerning the Demon Sect. However, he believed the rumors of the Demon Sect’s resurgence to be unfounded, not to be taken seriously.

After all, nowadays the Xuanyi Guard’s might holds sway over the Jianghu, even causing the Zhenyi Sect to temporarily avoid confrontation.

Course martial artist!

Zhou Xianming glanced at Han Wenxin with a certain idea in mind, saying, “Arrest Officer Han, the rumors in the Jianghu aren’t all without basis. There are always leads to follow, which is why they spread so vehemently. And considering the Demon Sect originated in Great Yan, and returning to Great Yan is one of their core doctrines, how could they possibly give up on that?”

“Is that true?” Han Wenxin’s brows furrowed upon hearing this.

“Absolutely true.”

Zhou Xianming nodded affirmatively, his face smiling, “The Demon Sect has Three Sects, Human Sect being the one in charge of monitoring and espionage, secretly woven into the fabric of the marketplace, imperial court, and Jianghu. For all you know, a spy could be right in front of you, maybe the lady playing the zither, maybe the small-time Doctor An, it could even be Mr. Li, or perhaps your own colleagues. You’ve been openly criticizing the Demon Sect, but if the Demon Sect really makes its move again…”

Zhou Xianming trailed off without finishing the thought.

Han Wenxin felt a chill run down his spine, he had always been fearless, but at that moment Zhou Xianming’s words left him feeling rather cold.

His eyes scanned the people around him.

“Ding!”

The zither-playing lady stopped momentarily when Han Wenxin looked her way, and then she quickly gestured, “I’m… I’m not… I don’t know anything about the Demon Sect…”

“No worries, no worries, continue playing, just keep playing,” Han Wenxin chuckled nervously.

An Jing thought to himself that old Zhou really hit the nail on the head, as indeed there was a spy from the Demon Sect aboard their flower boat, and not just a spy but a high-ranking one, presently seated right across from him.

Li Fuzhou watched the scene, a smile forming in his heart. He often heard of Han Wenxin’s tendency to boast, but he hadn’t expected the man to be so faint-hearted.

Zhou Xianming felt a rush of satisfaction, but his face expressed only gravity as he said, “Arrest Officer Han, let me also give you some good news.”

“Good news?” Han Wenxin appeared puzzled.

“Do you remember Wang Zhiping and his uncle Wang He?” asked Zhou Xianming.

“I remember, I remember it very clearly; I was the one who personally investigated that case,” Han Wenxin immediately recalled, saying, “That scene was horrifying, a massacre of the entire family…”

At this, Han Wenxin’s expression stiffened.

Zhou Xianming sneered, “In the past, people in Jianghu were wiped out by the Demon Sect for offending its members! Later, others with ulterior motives imitated the practice…”

Li Fuzhou sat by, calm as ever, with only a flicker of surprise when the topic of exterminating a family came up.

An Jing scoffed to himself, thinking the old man’s wrinkles were all part of his act.

“Clang!”

As Zhou Xianming spoke, Han Wenxin’s wine cup fell to the ground, leaving him stammering, “Zhou… Mr. Zhou, are you telling the truth or joking?”

At that moment, Han Wenxin felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, as if he had turned to ice.

“Why would I lie to you?”

Zhou Xianming jubilated internally but maintained a very serious appearance.

“Wang He, Wang Zhiping!”

Upon hearing this, An Jing instantly furrowed his brows.

He remembered the two very clearly; Wang Zhiping had come to cause trouble on the day he married Qingmei.

Later, a group of mysterious experts annihilated their entire family.

Could it be that they were killed by members of the Demon Sect?

“I…I…”

Han Wenxin couldn’t even get the words out, his eyes filled with terror.

Members of the Demon Sect right beside me!?

“Thump!”

Thinking of this, Han Wenxin involuntarily recalled the deaths of Wang He and Wang Zhiping’s family. His face turned pale, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

Zhou Xianming had not expected Han Wenxin to be so easily frightened and hurriedly said, “Arrest officer Han, there’s no need to panic. What I just said was pure conjecture. It’s unlikely that Wang He and Wang Zhiping were the work of the Demon Sect. After all, it’s not suitable for the Demon Sect to make such a show of force so soon after their resurgence, and there are quite a few people in Jianghu who imitate the Demon Sect’s methods of killing.”

An Jing also nodded in agreement, finding it improbable for members of the Demon Sect to be so brazen while trying to enter Great Yan.

Just like that old fellow Li Fuzhou, who’s still lurking in his own home.

Han Wenxin blinked his eyes, still unable to calm his shaken soul.

“Brother Han, everything Mr. Zhou said is just speculation, don’t panic,”

An Jing said from the side.

The leader of the Human Sect of the Demon Sect is right by your side, what are you afraid of? If he wanted to kill you, no one could stop him, and dying by his hand would be an honor for you, kid.

“I…I’m not panicking, just got a bit of a shaky leg,” Han Wenxin said with a tremble as he stood up.

“Third Master, look, I told you Han Wenxin likes to boast,”

An Jing said with a chuckle from the side, “The Demon Sect has such a large influence, who would dare to move against it?”

“The Demon Sect, huh?”

Li Fuzhou took a sip of his wine, finally breaking his silence, “Indeed, they are nothing but a pack of stray dogs. Arrest officer Han is not wrong.”

“Mr. Li, I didn’t say that; please don’t slander me,” Han Wenxin immediately became anxious.

An Jing: “???”

Zhou Xianming: “???”

When I, Han Wenxin, speak, each word I speak is as solid as spit-nailed… It seemed as though I had just heard this echo in my ear.

“Don’t be afraid, arrest officer Han.”

Li Fuzhou smiled and said, “We are all decent common folk, not monsters from the Demon Sect. Their appearance in Great Yan has nothing to do with us. Surely they wouldn’t turn their blades on us commoners, would they?”

Seeing Li Fuzhou speak like this, An Jing’s brows furrowed even deeper. What a cunning Li Fuzhou.

“Exactly, exactly,”

Han Wenxin nodded repeatedly, “Mr. Li is right, we’re all decent common folk, not members of the Demon Sect. How could we possibly come into contact with such a large force?”

“Let’s not talk about this anymore, let’s drink.”

With that, Han Wenxin filled his cup to the brim, his hand still trembling as he raised it.

“Come on, drink!”

Zhou Xianming also lifted his cup.

“Son-in-law, let’s drink together,” Li Fuzhou said, looking towards the motionless An Jing.

“Third Master, please!”

…..

After three rounds of drinks and a taste of five different dishes.

The four men were quite tipsy, and the woman playing the zither had left the scene.

Caught up in the drink, they all opened up, speaking more than before, especially Han Wenxin, who had always enjoyed speaking nonsense and boasting. Once drunk, he was even more prone to such ramblings.

Seemingly having completely forgotten his earlier fright, a radiant smile appeared on his lips.

“I’ve suddenly remembered something!”

At that moment, Han Wenxin slapped his own face with astonishment, “My father said that tonight he has arranged a match for me with a lady of stunning beauty and wealthy family.”

Perhaps feeling the effects of the alcohol, his slap landed solidly on his face, leaving five distinct bright red handprints.

An Jing, overhearing this from the side, was taken aback too. It seemed there was indeed such a matter.

Stunning beauty, wealthy family…

Zhou Xianming chuckled maliciously, “Isn’t that opportunity lost now?”

Such a fine woman, marrying Han Wenxin, would just be a waste of her.

“I am truly despicable,”

Han Wenxin berated himself, “Even while drinking, I’m still thinking of women.”