Chapter 64 – The Missing Cultivator

No, she still couldn’t be certain of the Bureau of Patrol’s stance toward the imperial court.

Zhan Changfeng rejected the idea of building a capital herself, but had no intention of giving up. “First, have Zero-Two’s forces move to Huangzhou and establish a sect there — no, establish a military martial arts institution.”

If she wanted to control the martial arts of Shenzhou, she might as well do it thoroughly — directly using martial arts to sustain an army.

Zhan Changfeng sorted out her thoughts, then wrote a letter to Yi Shang to communicate the matter, exchange information, and adjust their plans.

After working at it all day, evening came and Sun Xingyi arrived.

Sun Xingyi came forward and said, “Young friend, my hesitation during the day was not unwillingness — I went to investigate something.”

“Did something happen?”

“Among the outside martial cultivators in the Prenatal realm, I know of forty-seven who came here, but right now I can only contact seven. The rest all died in Ghost City.” Sun Xingyi sighed with regret.

“How could so few remain? Back at the Lotus Platform, it seemed like roughly half of the martial cultivators were still alive.”

“That is exactly why I went to investigate.” Sun Xingyi said gravely. “Inside, not long after the scramble for the Transformative Netherwater, the human cultivators were subjected to frenzied hunting by some powerful ghost. The casualties were devastating. Mundane martial cultivators had none of the various external aids that the cultivators from Cangyun Ravine possessed, so they died in the greatest numbers.”

Sun Xingyi gave a self-deprecating smile. “I value my life above all else. I needed to exchange for an Arrow Token, so all along the way I was careful to stay hidden, and only learned of what happened when I encountered a cultivator drenched in blood.”

“But this is also a good thing, in a way. The people inside were too busy trying to survive — who could possibly run while hauling such an enormous lotus flower? So those who managed to survive and exchange for an Arrow Token are very few. With the Arrow Token as your reward, there will be plenty of people coming to claim the bounty.”

Zhan Changfeng shook her head. “I don’t want martial cultivators who know of Xiaohan Town’s existence. I want to seek out some high-level Prenatal realm experts from the mundane world, and I would ask you to serve as a witness that the Heavenward Path truly exists.”

“Why is that?” Sun Xingyi was puzzled.

Zhan Changfeng said, “My enemies are somewhat unusual. It would be better if you, Senior, didn’t know about them.”

Sun Xingyi didn’t press further. “I wish to accompany my granddaughter into Cangyun Ravine, and I am still short one Arrow Token. Young friend, would you give me the chance to claim this task?”

Zhan Changfeng shook her head again. “I don’t want cultivators who know of Xiaohan Town’s existence. If Senior Sun truly needs an Arrow Token, why not help me with another matter instead?”

She had emphasized the requirement twice in a row, and Sun Xingyi truly understood now that it was not merely an excuse. He let the matter go. “What kind of help?”

“Does Senior Sun know of the Bureau of Patrol?”

“Of course.”

“Do you know specifically what matters the Bureau of Patrol oversees?”

Sun Xingyi didn’t know why she was asking this, but could only reply, “Historically, the Bureau of Patrol has three matters it governs, and three it does not.”

“Anything related to evil cultivators — they govern.”

“Anything that causes chaos in the mundane world — they govern.”

“Anything that disrupts the laws and order of the mortal realm — they govern.”

“And then, they do not govern private disputes between cultivators outside of Xiaohan Town.”

“They do not govern mundane affairs.”

“They do not govern wars.”

Zhan Changfeng listened, then raised her eyes slightly. “These three governed and three ungoverned matters are all framed from the perspective of the Bureau of Patrol or cultivators. But what if — mundane people and cultivators were to have a great conflict? Would they intervene or not?”

“This…” Sun Xingyi hesitated. “This old one is ill-informed and has never heard of such a thing.”

Could mundane people compare to cultivators? Absolutely not — so no one had ever thought to consider such a hypothetical.

Zhan Changfeng gave a soft laugh. “So that means it cannot be determined.”

She said, “Many thanks for Senior’s answer. This Arrow Token is yours.”

Sun Xingyi was not comfortable accepting it. “What you asked me is something anyone would know. I would be ashamed to receive this.”

“But I didn’t know it,” said Zhan Changfeng, rising to her feet in a manner that suggested she was seeing him out. “Arrow Tokens are not rare to me. Senior, please don’t decline. Once my plans for recruiting from the mundane world are finalized, I ask that you not hesitate to lend your support.”

Sun Xingyi couldn’t argue further, and privately resolved to put in extra effort when the time came. “Very well, this old one has been presumptuous.”

Zhan Changfeng saw Sun Xingyi to the door. As the two exchanged casual words, they heard a commotion outside. Looking over, they saw a group of people searching through the tents one by one.

Sun Xingyi let out a sound of surprise. “What are the Bureau of Patrol’s people doing?”

Zhan Changfeng spotted Zhang Hu among them — the same Zhang Hu she had met at the inn. Zhang Hu also noticed her, said a few words to the person beside him, and walked over.

“The Bureau of Patrol is handling a case. Please cooperate.” Zhang Hu held a crystal ball roughly the size of a fist and swept it over the three of them. “Pardon the intrusion. Xiaohan Town is to be strictly investigated recently. You must go to the Bureau of Patrol within three days to obtain entry and exit identification. After three days, those without identification will be expelled.”

Zhan Changfeng considered for half a breath. “So the cultivator escaped?”

She was referring to the inn attendant who had been captured.

Zhang Hu’s expression darkened. He forced out a sound of acknowledgment, stood still for a few moments, then cupped his hands and said, “That day, it was my mistake. If I had listened to you and been more careful, they would not have failed to return.”

“I am very sorry to hear it.”

Zhang Hu saw that the child’s expression was solemn, which actually made him feel somewhat comforted. “The Bureau of Patrol will not let that evil cultivator go free. If you can stay in Xiaohan Town, then stay. Be careful in your conduct.”

With that, he was about to bid farewell and turn away, but Zhan Changfeng called out to him. “I have something to say — I’m not sure whether I should.”

Zhang Hu couldn’t refuse to listen. Last time he hadn’t listened and had made a grave error. Though he didn’t expect her to say anything of particular note, he said politely, “Fellow Daoist, please speak freely.”

“Did you only find the evil cultivator?”

“What do you mean?” Zhang Hu’s face grew stern.

Zhan Changfeng turned the Ink-Jade Archer’s Ring on her thumb and said, “Due to the nature of my cultivation method, I am somewhat sensitive to matters of the ghost path. That day at the inn, I caught a faint trace of a ghost’s presence — fleeting, and then gone before I could locate it again. Thinking back on it now, it may be of use to your investigation.”

Zhang Hu’s brow furrowed deeply. “I’ll keep it in mind. Thank you.”

Watching Zhang Hu depart, Sun Xingyi said, “Then I shall take my leave as well. Things are unsettled lately — young friend, do take care.”

Zhan Changfeng nodded. “Take care on your way.”

The next day, Zhan Changfeng and the Coachman went to the Bureau of Patrol to collect their entry and exit identification. The identification turned out to be a jade tablet with a strand of the user’s vital energy stored within it.

Afterward, she and the Coachman parted ways. She sent the Coachman to the black market to post a bounty for bounty cultivators, with three thousand low-grade spirit stones as the hiring fee.

She herself went to browse the apothecary.

“Fellow Daoist is back again. What medicinal herbs do you need this time?” the old physician greeted her familiarly.

“Three liang each of Moonview Grass, Purple-Leaf Lamp Velvet Core, Five-Claw White Bark, Dragon Qiong Decision Seed, and Hubo Root Bark.”

“Right away.”

After Zhan Changfeng took her things and left, the old physician fell into contemplative thought. These ingredients, with the addition of Washstone Green Sprout and Wang Buliuxing, would form a prescription for treating dizziness and fainting.

And she had purchased the Washstone Green Sprout and Wang Buliuxing before.

The old physician found it baffling. When this child had first come in, she had said in a single breath, “Weigh out five liang of every single medicinal herb you have here.”

It had seemed like a joke.

But gradually she had begun focusing on buying just a few specific items.

It didn’t seem like she was buying them for someone else — it was more like she was compounding medicine herself.

The old physician shook his head. How could that be? A child that small surely couldn’t even memorize all the herbs and their properties, let alone have a prescription. She must be running errands for an elder at home.

Note: Don’t mind the herb names — they’re all made up by me, except for the interloping Wang Buliuxing.

Also, our darling’s side profession is about to appear. Our motto is: stir up trouble, and stir up big trouble.

(End of Chapter)