After personally watching the bridal escort team leave the northern city gate, Lu Chen returned to the Changchun Temple. He lay on the bed and tossed and turned, replaying the scenes he had just seen in his mind.
"Sigh~"
Finally, he sighed and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day.
Before dawn, Lu Chen had already gone to the Red Chamber Garden. Jiang Hong'e was dressed in plain clothes and waiting for the morning sun to rise. When she saw Lu Chen climb up to the roof, she snorted softly.
Lu Chen pretended not to hear her. He sat down beside her and said, "Hong'e, something strange happened to me last night."
"Call me that again!" Jiang Hong'e glared at him.
"Hong'e!"
"…"
Seeing that the other party was about to explode, Lu Chen quickly changed the topic. "It's like this. Last night, I met a bridal escort team…" He quickly recounted what he had seen last night, only to see Jiang Hong'e looking impatient. "You don't believe me?"
"Only a fool would believe you. You're lying."
"…"
Seeing Lu Chen's helpless expression, Jiang Hong'e opened her red lips and said in surprise, "It's real?"
"Mm."
Lu Chen nodded solemnly and handed over the three nether talismans. Jiang Hong'e took them and examined them carefully a few times before muttering, "I didn't see anything unusual."
"I tried to refine it last night, but there was no reaction. Hong'e, try it too."
"Fine." Jiang Hong'e began to mobilize the spiritual qi in her body, then shook her head. "I can't refine it either."
Seeing that the sun was about to rise, she reminded him, "I'm afraid there's something strange about this nether talisman. It's better to destroy it."
"Don't!" Lu Chen reached out and grabbed it. He smiled and said, "I'll do some more research."
"Suit yourself."
Jiang Hong'e could no longer care about Lu Chen. She stared at the morning light and began to search for the spiritual light within. Lu Chen put away the nether talisman and put on an act. Not long after, Jiang Hong'e caught the spiritual light and began to cultivate the Circular Light. Lu Chen quietly went to the third floor.
"Young Master, why did you come down? Where's Madam?"
"She's still up there. Qing He, what delicious food did you make today?"
"Hehe~"
Lu Chen ate breakfast in the Red Chamber Garden and Qinghe helped him change his dressing. Only then was Lu Chen satisfied and left leisurely.
When he arrived at the Town Guards Mansion, Fang Yuqi, who had the talent [Sword Show], was practicing her swordsmanship on the drill ground.
The sword qi was dense.
The ink did not enter.
Lu Chen took a few glances and felt a chill run down his spine. She was definitely not someone he could match. She was probably even stronger than Jiang Hong'e, who was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement.
"I still have to work hard." Lu Chen muttered and waited silently at the side.
Not long after, Fang Yuqi sheathed her sword and put it back into the scabbard. With her hand on the hilt of her sword, she walked over. Today, Fang Yuqi was not wearing armor. She wore a jade crown on her head, and her black hair was tied up high. She was wearing a man's white shirt.
Elegant.
Her heroic spirit was overwhelming. It made people unable to have any evil thoughts.
Fang Yuqi looked Lu Chen up and down, nodded slightly, and asked, "You're cultivating?"
"I've just reached the first level of Qi Refinement."
"Not bad." Fang Yuqi nodded in satisfaction and asked, "What about the Circular Light?"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, General, but I haven't mastered it yet."
"There's no hurry." Perhaps it was because of Daoist Qingyun's death, Fang Yuqi treated Lu Chen quite well. She said slowly, "There's no need to be nervous. We're just looking at the scene today. It's fine if there are no clues."
"Okay."
"Alright, follow me."
Fang Yuqi waved her hand, and a soldier led two horses forward. He immediately mounted his horse and led Lu Chen out of the Town Guards Mansion.
Lu Chen had never ridden a horse before. At first, he was not used to it, but his physical fitness was too strong. Not far from the Town Guards Mansion, he could already control it freely.
People were coming and going on the streets. The two of them walked one after another and did not walk quickly. Lu Chen squeezed the horse's stomach and took the opportunity to ask, "General, are you cultivating General's Bane?"
"No." Fang Yuqi shook her head and explained. "I'm actually a disciple of the White Cloud Monastery in Fengpo City. I cultivate the White Tiger Body Refining Technique and dual cultivate in body techniques."
Fengpo City.
White Cloud Monastery.
White Tiger Body Refining Technique.
Lu Chun silently noted it down. Seeing that the other party was not unhappy, he asked, "General, do you know about Changchun Valley?"
"Changchun Valley?" Fang Yuqi glanced at Lu Chen and asked in surprise, "Your master is from Changchun Valley?"
Seeing that the other party's reaction was so sharp, Lu Chen did not hide it anymore. "Yes, it is."
"You want to join Changchun Valley?"
"I do." Lu Chen nodded. Actually, he did not want to join the Changchun Valley. Instead, he wanted to go there. His master, Daoist Qingyun, had a last wish. He wanted to bury his ashes under the Guixin Tree in the Changchun Valley.
The most important thing for daoist cultivation was to have a clear mind.
Lu Chen had transmigrated here and owed no one anything. He only owed Daoist Qingyun, whom he had never met before, too much kindness. If he could not fulfill Daoist Qingyun's last wish, he would probably have a knot in his heart.
Now, he was just asking casually and was not in a hurry to go.
Seeing that Fang Yuqi was silent, Lu Chen was a little puzzled and asked, "Is there anything wrong?"
Fang Yuqi's pair of heroic eyes stared at Lu Chen, making Lu Chen's hair stand on end. Only then did she say, "Do you know what kind of place Changchun Valley is?"
"I don't know."
"The Changchun Valley is a sect famous for their dual cultivation techniques."
"Dual… cultivation…" Lu Chen was shocked and hurriedly explained, "General, don't blame me. I… I didn't mean to offend you."
"Don't worry about it." Fang Yuqi looked Lu Chen up and down, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "If you have dual cultivation techniques, I don't mind dual cultivating with you."
"I—"
Lu Chen was flabbergasted. He did not expect that General Fang, who usually did not dare to let others look directly at her, was actually… actually so rough. He gritted his teeth and said, "I do!"
Fang Yuqi suddenly turned around and burst out laughing. "I'm kidding."
"…"
Lu Chen felt aggrieved. He had actually been teased by a woman. He smiled awkwardly. "I was just kidding."
"Hahaha!" Fang Yuqi laughed and ignored the gazes of the people on the street. She laughed heartily. "Interesting, interesting!"
Lu Chen looked at Fang Yuqi, who had completely disregarded her image, and was speechless. Suddenly, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. When the other party restrained himself a little, he quietly asked,
"Does General Fang know Jiang Hong'e?"
Fang Yuqi stared straight at Lu Chen and said with a faint smile, "We… are close friends!"
"…"
…
"Fengxian Town is too small, and the Red Chamber Garden is so close to the Town Guards Mansion. I should have known. Jiang Hong'e probably sold me out long ago. Sigh, these two women are truly… truly not to be trifled with." Lu Chen sighed in his heart, but he was no longer as restrained as before. Seeing Fang Yuqi get off the horse, Lu Chen glanced around and his heart skipped a beat. "Yuqi, I've been here before."
Fang Yuqi was much more generous than Jiang Hong'e. She didn't get angry and only asked, "When were you here?"
"Last night."
"Let's talk on the way."
Fang Yuqi waved her hand and led Lu Chen to the house in front of her. This house was the place where the bridal escort team had picked up the bride last night.
"Greetings, General Fang!" The guard at the door bowed to Fang Yuqi.
Fang Yuqi nodded lightly and walked into the courtyard. Lu Chen told her what he had seen last night. Fang Yuqi frowned and asked, "Are you sure it's here?"
"It can't be wrong."
"Mm."
Fang Yuqi first brought Lu Chen to meet the deceased's parents and ask them about it. Then, they entered the second inner residence and walked all the way into the victim's bedroom.
"Greetings, General Fang." The guard at the door bowed. Lu Chen followed Fang Yuqi into the room. With just one look, his scalp went numb. He saw a woman lying on the exquisite bed.
The expression of pain had already frozen.
Her eyes had been gouged out, and two streams of blood tears had turned dark brown. Her mouth was open, and her tongue had been torn out. A part of her tongue had been cut off by a sharp weapon. She was wearing a paper wedding dress, and there was a bloody hole in her abdomen. Her internal organs had long disappeared, and there were faint traces of being licked by wild beasts.
Not only that, but her hands and feet were also twisted into fried dough twists.
It was too tragic!