Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 77

They currently had no money and no resources, but Zeng Fan was the parent-official of the entire county. So then…

Zhao Sheng then turned to Lu Xuan, clasped his hands in a salute, his earlier awkwardness completely gone. He spoke with full confidence.

“Senior, give me one day. Rest assured, by tomorrow I will be able to meet your requirements.”

This was the first time Zhao Sheng found Zeng Fan so agreeable. He and Qian Hao slowly walked over to Zeng Fan’s side.

As he spoke, Zhao Sheng even infused a tone of warmth and politeness into his voice, something never heard before.

“Prefect Zeng, the matter is settled. It seems crowded here, with too many eyes. Why don’t we return to the county office for a long, heartfelt talk?”

“You see, since the few of us arrived in Dengfeng County, we’ve been so preoccupied with official duties that we’ve neglected you, Prefect Zeng.”

“To apologize, tonight we drink until we drop!”

Zhao Sheng stretched out an arm and familiarly draped it over County Magistrate Zeng Fan’s shoulder, acting like they were sworn brothers.

“Lord Zhao, you… what’s wrong? Please don’t scare me.”

Faced with Zhao Sheng’s sudden familiarity, Zeng Fan got goosebumps all over. Growing nervous, he spoke with a tremble.

“Has this official done something wrong? Lord Zhao, you are magnanimous, please don’t make things difficult for me!”

“It’s nothing, nothing!”

“I was just suddenly struck by a feeling, that with Prefect Zeng, it feels like we’ve been friends for life! I regret we didn’t meet sooner.”

“Let’s go, Prefect Zeng. That matter… we’ve already taken care of it. You needn’t worry.”

Zhao Sheng and Qian Hao stood flanking him, sandwiching County Magistrate Zeng Fan between them, almost lifting him off his feet.

Then, under the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Zhao Sheng and his group left the courtyard just like that.

“Brother Xuan, who are those two?”

Shen Yuan looked at the scene in disbelief.

The county magistrate of Dengfeng, the parent-official of the entire county, was actually so subservient before these two strangers.

How could such important figures appear at his family’s residence?

“Two kind gentlemen who are very eager to help!”

At this moment, Lu Xuan was also in a very good mood.

Not only had he slain the Human-Face Apparition tonight, gaining a large amount of system points, but he was also about to receive those potent tonics gifted by the Xuaniao Guards.

So, in Lu Xuan’s eyes, weren’t Zhao Sheng and the other man just generous benefactors?

………..
Lingshi County!

In the dead of night, a tranquil village was ablaze with light.

What sent chills down one’s spine was that the color of these flames was a strange white, like clusters of ghost fires floating in the deep black night.

Within the white flames, over a hundred figures sat cross-legged on the ground.

Their eyes were closed tight. They wore long white robes and ceremonial caps. Embroidered on their white garments were blossoms of white lotuses.

Sitting in the very center, however, was an emaciated old man, about eighty years old, wearing voluminous robes of alternating black and white stripes.

“Are those blood sacrifices prepared yet?”

At this, the withered old man opened his eyes. The area around his pupils was white, with only a pinpoint black dot remaining in the very center.

As the old man spoke, two middle-aged men sitting before him immediately responded.

“Elder Jin, we have forcibly planted the White Lotus Blood-Devouring Seeds in everyone in this village.”

“By tomorrow, their flesh and blood will be fully absorbed, and the Sacred Lotus fruit will mature.”

“Mm, good. We must withdraw from here quickly. Those imperial lackeys, the Xuaniao Guards, have already appeared in Lingshi County.”

“Has anyone from the Lotus Birth Temple in Dengfeng County made contact with us?”

The old man’s words caused the expressions of the two middle-aged men to freeze.

They immediately became hesitant and stammered, not daring to speak.

“Useless!”

Their reaction made it perfectly clear to the old man what had happened.

“Those worthless fools.”

The old man’s wrinkled face twisted in anger. A terrifying, oppressive aura swept out, forcing the two middle-aged men to stumble back several steps.

The two men erupted with their own Qi and Blood power, struggling to hold on as if a giant mountain were pressing down on them.

Two Martial Artists at the Refining Blood realm seemed as weak as children before this withered old man.

“Elder Jin, please calm your anger.”

The two middle-aged men knelt on the ground, begging the old man before them.

“Hmph!”

With a cold snort, the old man finally withdrew his aura. The two middle-aged men slumped to the ground, relieved of a great burden.

“Damnable Xuaniao Guards!”

The old man spoke through gritted teeth, his voice like a saw cutting through wood, grating and unpleasant.

He had risked his life this time, deliberately revealing his whereabouts, all to draw the pursuit away from the people at the Lotus Birth Temple in Dengfeng County.

His appearance had caused the Xuaniao Guards from the prefectural city of Baidao to swarm out, chasing him relentlessly.

And yet, those useless fools at the Lotus Birth Temple still hadn’t made contact.

That could only mean something had gone wrong with the White Lotus Blood Infant at the temple.

That was a White Lotus Blood Infant he had personally nurtured! It was only one step away from breaking through to become a White Lotus Saint Emissary.

A White Lotus Saint Emissary possessed power equivalent to his own Internal Qi realm, with strength even a minor achievement Internal Qi martial artist couldn’t easily handle.

By then, relying on his own power and that of the White Lotus Saint Emissary, he wouldn’t just be limited to Baidao Prefecture—he could establish a foothold throughout the entire An Province, instead of skulking around like a rat.

“Damn it! Who dares oppose me?!”

“I will never let you get away with this!”

That old fool Li Chengfeng had already been drawn away by him.

How could there possibly exist anyone in that insignificant Dengfeng County stronger than his White Lotus Blood Infant?

“What news of Fang Sheng, the chief of Black Wind Stronghold?”

“Replying to the Elder,” one man answered, “that old dog Fang Sheng is dead. He was killed by Li Yannan of the Xuaniao Guards.”

“Li Yannan?”

“Who is she……….”

Before the old man could finish his question, a dozen or so sharp whistling sounds cut through the air from the sky beyond the village.

Then, a dozen figures landed on the ground, surrounding everyone there.

“Remnants of the World-Purifying White Lotus Cult!”

“You demons dare show your faces in this world again!”

A woman stepped forward, the one who had spoken. She wore a form-fitting brocade uniform of azure blue.

“You were looking for me, old man?”

And she was Li Yannan!

“Kekeke!”

“A mere Refining Blood realm martial artist dares flaunt her power before me?!”

“Our Sacred Church can reappear in this world, all thanks to your master!”

“Isn’t it clear what your master has done since ascending the throne?”

“Emperor Tianwu… Xia Mingyue!”

The old man’s words caused the faces of everyone else to instantly pale.

“How dare you!”

“Outrageous!”