Immortal Objects

Three days later.

Zhong Xuan and a group of young people from Xiaohe Village were waiting at the village entrance early in the morning.

He should have been among the first to go, but because of his relationship with the village chief Xu Mao, he casually found an excuse that he was too old and in poor health and needed to rest for a few days, so he decided to observe for two days first.

Only after others had gathered enough information did he go out.

As a village elder and an instructor at the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School, he was naturally the obvious choice to lead the Xiahe Village team this time.

Just as Zhong Xuan was pondering.

A young man from the Xu family behind him pointed ahead and shouted.

"Old Zhong, the people have arrived."

The sound of horses' hooves echoed along the path at the village entrance, growing louder as it approached, until finally a dozen or so figures appeared in the misty white fog.

Most of the group were dressed in black uniforms with breastplates hanging around their necks.

Such attire could only belong to a constable from the county government.

The middle-aged man leading the group nimbly dismounted and politely clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhong Xuan.

"Is this Master Zhong?"

"I dare not accept such praise, sir. I am but an old man from Xiahe Village. I never imagined that today it would be Constable Yan personally leading the team."

Zhong Xuan chuckled and went to greet him.

Upon hearing Zhong Xuan accurately state his identity, a look of surprise flashed in the eyes of Constable Yan Shuoting.

Is he really that famous?

It's astonishing that even this newly appointed senior student knows about it.

A sense of smugness rose in Yan Shuoting's heart.

Zhong Xuan had lived in Baisha County for almost several decades. Although it was impossible for every household to know him, he was very familiar with the important figures in the city, not to curry favor, but to survive.

This is a skill possessed only by those who have survived at the bottom of society.

Yan Shuoting looked Zhong Xuan up and down.

The news of the election of the village elder in Xiahe Village spread like wildfire.

He was one of the very few people who knew the inside story. The reason why Magistrate Zhou was so furious and scolded Registrar Feng for half an hour was because of the old man in front of him.

"Master Zhong, is there anything else that needs to be prepared?"

Yan Shuoting asked politely.

Upon hearing this, the young people from Xiahe Village standing behind Zhong Xuan all widened their eyes.

When have the officials in the yamen ever been so kind?

Let alone the head constable, any tax collector who comes to Xiahe Village is absolute and domineering; there's no room for negotiation.

Obviously.

The reason why Officer Yan acted this way was because of Elder Zhong Xuan.

The young people of these small river villages couldn't help but feel awe towards Zhong Xuan.

"Everything is ready. From now on, we'll follow Officer Yan's orders."

As the saying goes, people praise each other and elevate each other.

Since Yan Shuoting treated him with great courtesy, Zhong Xuan naturally had no reason to push his luck and delay the search of the mountain.

"In that case, let's set off."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shuoting no longer declined.

He immediately gave a wink to his men behind him.

......

......

on the official road.

Zhong Xuan rode his horse alongside Yan Shuoting.

The horse wasn't his; its owner was right behind it.

According to Yan Shuoting, that's it.

What kind of status does Master Zhong have? How can it be reasonable for someone to walk while someone else rides a horse?

Therefore, the constable's horse was given to Zhong Xuan.

Ordinary scholars wouldn't receive this treatment, but Zhong Xuan was a government-subsidized student, with a great chance of becoming a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. Moreover, the fact that Magistrate Zhou went to such lengths for him meant there must be a powerful figure behind him.

"The reason I'm able to get along so well in the yamen is because I'm observant, quick-witted, and clever."

Yan Shuoting was secretly pleased with himself.

Horses are precious.

Even the most ordinary brown-yellow horse costs a full twenty taels of silver.

In Baisha County, only government officials, wealthy merchants, and powerful figures could afford to buy them.

This was Zhong Xuan's first time riding a horse.

However, thanks to his solid martial arts skills, he walked steadily and did not make any fools of himself.

"Officer Yan, what exactly has the Black Witch Cult done to provoke Lord Sun into such a major conflict?"

When Yan Shuoting complained that he had been sleeping in the mountains for many days, Zhong Xuan asked a question at the opportune moment.

The Black Witch Cult is indeed a heretical cult.

He had been in Baisha County for decades, and Magistrate Zhou had always been a mere figurehead when it came to the Black Witch Cult. This was the first time he had ever seen such a large-scale operation.

Unless the rumor is true.

Yan Shuoting sighed:

"This matter is related to Marquis Rong'an of Yongning Prefecture. Back then, Marquis Rong'an led a large army to defeat the Black Witch Cult and even obtained a rare treasure from the Black Witch Cult's altar, which has been suppressed in Marquis Rong'an's mansion ever since."

"But a month ago, Marquis Rong'an fell seriously ill and was bedridden."

"That extraordinary treasure was actually stolen from the Rong'an Marquis's residence by a spy from the Black Witch Cult."

"It's not just Baisha County; other counties are also being searched."

Very few people outside knew about it, but it was no secret within the county government, so Yan Shuoting simply told Zhong Xuan.

"I see."

Zhong Xuan suddenly realized.

The nobility in the Qing Kingdom was divided into five ranks: Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.

The Marquis was already considered a regional lord, while the Marquis of Rong'an was a powerful lord with his own fiefdom. Even though he was seriously ill, many people still wanted to curry favor with him.

of course.

There must also be those who want to take advantage of the situation and monopolize the treasure.

Zhong Xuan couldn't help but be curious, since it was rumored that the things that Marquis Rong'an brought out from the Black Witch Cult were divine objects.

"Could it really be related to immortals...?"

His ambition is to cultivate immortality, and if he has the opportunity to obtain a rare treasure, he will certainly not let it go.

"Alright, let's go into the mountains."

As they spoke, the group arrived at the foot of a mountain.

Horses cannot run in the mountains.

Yan Shuoting left two people at the foot of the mountain to guard the horses, while the others followed him as he dismounted and entered the mountain.

Zhong Xuan had been hunting for two months, so he was very familiar with the mountains near Xiahe Village and easily followed behind Yan Shuoting.

But this caused hardship for the young people from Xiahe Village behind him, as well as the martial arts school disciples and constables from the city who had been brought by Yan Shuoting.

"As expected of a student receiving government stipends, he is indeed remarkable."

Yan Shuoting glanced at Zhong Xuan, who looked completely calm and collected, and secretly praised him in his heart.

Even he had to be careful when walking on mountain paths, and could never be as relaxed as Zhong Xuan.

The complete version of Flying Eagle Nine Strikes has the effect of enhancing movement skills, so Zhong Xuan did not focus most of his attention on traveling.

"At least three groups of people walked through the woods."

One of them, like the others, was sent by the government to search the mountains.

The other group was different. Judging from their attire, they were wandering knights from the martial arts world. Their purpose in coming here was self-evident: to obtain the Black Witch Cult's extraordinary treasure.

Zhong Xuan observed secretly.

There was even a bone-training martial artist among them.

"It's caused such a huge commotion."

......

A dark, gloomy cave.

Ma Lei did not carry a torch, but walked alone in the narrow passage that was only wide enough for one person to pass through.

After about ten breaths, everything became clear.

There was an oil lamp inside the cave, which was about three zhang square.

Beside the oil lamp.

A huge gray wolf, as tall as a person, was crawling on it, its eyes flashing a chilling crimson.

It was the demonic beast, the Red-tailed Wolf.

Beside the Red-tailed Wolf sat a handsome, otherworldly young man.

Ma Lei bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Your Excellency."