The Lu Yang continent was also considered a large sect in itself. There were several Gold Core elders there.
There were stories that the guardian elder in this batch of immortal cultivators came from the Spirit-controlling Sect.
The spirit-controlling path actually attracted all kinds of living beings with unified conquest and cultivation.
Most of the Spirit-controlling Sect disciples had a long banner or a small bell in their hands.
These were all spirit-controlling magic tools, and they were used to collect objects with spirit energy.
Their combat and cultivation were all based on spirit energy, hence the name spirit-controlling path.
The long banner in Hu Shanhai's hand was the Spirit-controlling Sect's signature magic tool, the Spirit-controlling Banner.
"This is normal." Zhang Li's expression did not change as he said, "The reward for the Demon Extermination Order is not small."
His words made Zhu Yunshan grin.
He could get the reward for killing the demon and also seal the demon into the Spirit-controlling Banner to obtain spirit energy. It was killing two birds with one stone.
However, Zhu Yunshan was also curious about who Hu Shanhai was.
Was he this year's guardian elder?
He turned his head around and saw the Martial King, Su Ming, and the others sitting peacefully before him. He chuckled and picked up the flagon of wine again.
The cabins below were already in chaos.
Some took off their official robes and changed into the handymen's clothes.
Others jumped around and slapped themselves a few times to make their faces swell up. That way, their appearance would change a little, and they would not be recognized.
Qu Shan led Zhao Yuyan and Yu Mengmeng through the corridors, and they arrived before a room in the deepest part of the cabin.
"Qing Yue is Sister Qing Ling?" Zhao Yuyan asked in surprise.
Qing Ling of the Cloud Boat sang and danced.
Zhao Yuyan often saw her dancing, and she was amazed by her.
Yu Mengmeng pushed the door open and rushed in. "Qing Yue—"
Clang!
A long blade was pointed at Yu Mengmeng in the room. She turned around and dodged the blade before she held the short sword in her hand upside down.
"Sister Liu Yue?" Zhao Yuyan was stunned when she followed her into the room.
The person holding the long saber was Liu Yue, one of the 12 generals of the Mystic Moon Guards. She was wearing light red martial arts robes, and her long hair was tied up.
"You're a demon too?" Liu Yue's gaze fell on Yu Mengmeng.
Yu Mengmeng moved away and tried to stab Liu Yue with her short sword. "What did you do to Qing Yue?!" she shouted.
Her sword was very short. It was less than a foot long, but the edge shone with a cold light.
Liu Yue did not answer. She slashed her long saber at Yu Mengmeng, as though they were in a sparring match.
The short sword and saber collided, but there was no sound of collision. It was as if cloth was being torn apart. With a soft thud, Yu Mengmeng's figure vanished and reappeared behind Liu Yue.
She aimed her short sword at Liu Yue's neck, but the general's expression remained unchanged. She turned around and slashed horizontally.
Yu Mengmeng vanished again and landed back at the cabin door.
The two of them exchanged blows in a flash, but there was no winner.
"Gentleman's Hidden Blade?" Liu Yue looked at the short sword in Yu Mengmeng's hand with a calm expression. "There are demons under Minister Dongfang?"
"That's none of your business. Return Sister Qing Yue to me!" Yu Mengmeng lowered her body and pointed her short sword forward.
"Mengmeng, wait!" Qu Shan and Zhao Yuyan stepped forward and stood in the middle.
"Sister Liu Yue, Sister Qing Ling is Qing Yue. We agreed to let her go." Zhao Yuyan looked at Liu Yue and said in a low voice.
"Liu Yue, you know that Qing Yue is a good demon." Qu Shan also whispered, "Mengmeng too."
Liu Yue looked at the three people before her and slowly sheathed her saber.
"This morning, Qing Ling sent someone to Zhaoyang Prefecture to report the disappearance of two guards on the boat. It seems to be related to demons.
"She's the one who lured Hu Shanhai here.
"I don't know where she is now. Maybe she's already on the boat."
Hu Shanhai was lured here by Qing Yue?
Had she left the boat already?
Yu Mengmeng appeared confused.
Qu Shan breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest. "It's good that she's gone, it's good that she's gone…"
Yu Mengmeng opened her left hand; the Demon Mirror was still glowing red.
"Qing Yue is not gone."
...
The guests and women in the cabin below walked out one after another.
Some were dressed neatly, while others were trying to hide.
"Hey, Second Young Master Qi, did you stay on the Cloud Boat last night?" A young man, who had rosy cheeks and a moon-white brocade robe on, shouted and cupped his hands at another young man in the corridor ahead.
"Qi Minglang, son of the Board of Rites' Vice Minister, Qi Chang. You all know that tutor…" Someone on the second floor laughed.
Second Young Master Qi's expression was incredibly unpleasant.
"Ahem, ahem, Young Master Zhu, isn't your Bright Moon Boat in a rivalry with Cloud Boat? Aren't you afraid that your father will break your legs?" Someone coughed lightly behind the person who spoke on the second floor.
The young man suddenly stopped laughing.
"Hu Shanhai, I still have some matters to attend to. Can I leave first?" An old man in a light purple brocade robe cupped his hands at Hu Shanhai in the corridor.
"It's Yu Quan, an official of the Ministry of Personnel!"
"The Ministry of Personnel manages the promotion of officials."
The crowd muttered away, and many people's eyes lit up.
As long as Hu Shanhai let one of them go, many people who clung to the high officials and great clans would make the same request.
"So it's you, Lord Yu." Hu Shanhai raised his head, and his voice was calm.
"Sir, you can write a note asking for leave. I'll get someone to send it to the Ministry of Personnel."
A leave of absence slip?
The surrounding people almost laughed out loud.
Would Yu Quan actually write it?
Yu Quan snorted coldly. He straightened his clothes and did not say anything else.
"It's been an hour," Hu Shanhai turned around and said in a deep voice.
With a wave of his hand, he ordered his constables to lead the people in the cabins below to the long banner in front of him. They then stood below the stage in the hall.
There were about 40 guests, women, and some handymen and guards on the first floor of the cabin. They lowered their heads carefully and walked around before standing in the hall.
"Sir, the first floor is empty." A constable stepped forward and spoke in a low voice.
Hu Shanhai raised his head and looked at the cabins on the second floor. "Everyone, do you want me to personally invite you down here?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a voice outside the cabin. "Constable Hu, it's better for us to settle matters concerning the Cloud Boat ourselves."
A group of warriors in black robes rushed into the cabin as they escorted a green-robed man in his 40s.
"This is a closing order for Zhaoyang Prefecture. The death of the two guards on Cloud Boat was a vendetta carried out by a martial artist. The murderer has already surrendered to the prefecture.
"This case is closed."
The middle-aged man rolled out a scroll in his hand, and Zhaoyang Prefecture's seal was on it.
"It's Young Master Chen!"
"Haha, I knew that the Chen family would find a way out of this."
"Hmph, after today, Hu Shanhai won't be able to survive in Luojing. Bah!"
The low voices of discussion on the boat rose again.
Many people on the second and third floors sighed in relief.
They had been so worried that they could not play around today.
It was thanks to the Chen family's skills that the case was closed so quickly.
It did not matter who died or who killed.
The important thing was that they did not have to go down to the main hall today.
Those already in the hall were gloomy as they gritted their teeth.
Staying in a brothel was something that everyone could enjoy. Now that Hu Shanhai had dragged them out and paraded them through the "streets," they had lost their dignity.
"Everyone, I, Chen Que, would like to offer my apologies. The boat promises that for the next half a month, all your expenses here will be waived." The middle-aged man looked around and bowed.
As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Shanhai took a step forward and pressed his hand on the hilt of his saber. "Young Master Chen, the case is not yet closed!" he shouted.