Defying Fate

The massive search of the mountains lasted for half a month.

Magistrate Zhou finally couldn't hold out any longer.

Although he was the county magistrate, he couldn't really do whatever he wanted. After all, if he went too far, those people in the city who were secretly watching him would definitely not let the opportunity pass.

Not to mention the thousands of taels of silver burning every day, so Magistrate Zhou never mentioned the matter again.

Without Magistrate Zhou's pressure, the seasoned veterans in the county government naturally understood the situation.

Apart from a few lucky wanderers, the frequency of patrols by government officials gradually changed from daily to once every seven or eight days, and the teams also changed from dozens of people to seven or eight people.

After one round like this...

It will take at least one or two months to get Zhong Xuan.

Perhaps we won't even live to see that day, and the matter of searching the mountain will be completely forgotten.

"Brother Zhong, do you think the Black Witch Cult really has the ability to control birds and beasts for their own use?"

"Otherwise, with so many people going up the mountain, there should be some discoveries."

The head constable, Yan Shuoting, sipped his wine and chatted with Zhong Xuan.

The two were quite destined to be together.

They searched the mountains together several times, and over time, they became quite familiar with each other.

Because Magistrate Zhou's attitude showed a willingness to befriend Zhong Xuan, Yan Shuoting made a special trip to Xiahe Village right after completing the search of the mountains.

For no other reason than to get to know Zhong Xuan better.

Zhong Xuan was also happy to have more friends in the police station.

Although the head constables in the police station have no official rank or grade, they wield considerable power.

The people of Xiahe Village might not feel anything when they hear the name of the registrar, but they'll all perk up when the name of the constable is mentioned.

The local official is more powerful than the distant one; this has always been true, both in ancient and modern times.

"The Black Witch Cult worships beast spirits. In the early years, there were many believers in our Baisha County. If the imperial court hadn't designated it as a heretical cult, I'm afraid believers would have spread all over the southern part of the Qing Kingdom long ago."

Zhong Xuan had experienced the heyday of the Black Witch Cult's missionary work in his early years.

Hearing Zhong Xuan mention the Black Witch Cult.

Yan Shuoting was also aroused to talk about sex: "This Black Witch Cult is truly evil. They don't worship immortals or Buddhas, but only great demons."

"I have a nephew who often travels around the south as a merchant. He said that the Black Witch Cult has powerful members who can even directly transform themselves into great demons."

"It's truly unbelievable."

"No wonder it was labeled a heretical sect by the Holy Emperor."

Zhong Xuan listened silently to Yan Shuoting's words. Although the Black Witch Cult was weak in the Qing Kingdom, it was still at its peak in the south.

He guessed that a behemoth like the Black Witch Cult must possess some kind of powerful force that ordinary people could not imagine.

Sometimes, if you live long enough, you can witness the process of a major religion turning from righteous to evil.

When he was twenty, the Black Witch Cult was still called the Heavenly Saint Cult.

The leader of the Heavenly Saint Sect was even the national advisor of the previous Holy Emperor.

As for why it became a cult...

It is said that the Holy Emperor asked the Imperial Preceptor to pray for rain, which angered the Dragon King, who then caused ten days of continuous heavy rain, resulting in the Qinghe River bursting its banks and causing widespread flooding.

The fate of the Qing Kingdom was even cut short as a result.

The old emperor died because of this.

That's why the imperial court considered it an omen of bad luck and labeled it a heretical sect.

of course.

These are all rumors circulating among the people. Zhong Xuan is more inclined to believe that it is because the current National Preceptor is the leader of the Taoist sect, and religious disputes can sometimes be more brutal than factional disputes.

It's the national religion.

It's always a case of one person finishing their act and another taking the stage.

It's possible that once Buddhism flourishes in temples, Taoism will also turn into a cult.

Zhong Xuan was already used to this.

Yan Shuoting chatted with Zhong Xuan for a while longer, then hung up his sword again: "I still envy you, brother. We're destined to toil our whole lives. Today we have to rush back to the city. In a few days, Grand Scholar Cui from Yongning Prefecture will be coming to our Baisha County. Magistrate Zhou is taking this very seriously and has ordered us brothers to drive away the merchant ships on the Baisha River in advance, so as not to displease him."

Although that Grand Secretary Cui had already retired.

However, having served as an official in Beijing, his influence remains considerable.

For a seventh-rank official like Magistrate Zhou, this was nothing short of a chance to defy fate, so he naturally attached great importance to it.

"Brother, please wait. I can walk back myself."

"With this suit of fur, who would dare lay a hand on me?"

When Yan Shuoting saw that Zhong Xuan was about to see him off, he smiled and waved his hand.

"Then deliver it to the village entrance."

As Zhong Xuan spoke, he personally pushed the door open.

Upon seeing this.

Yan Shuoting was pleased with himself, so he went along with Zhong Xuan and came to the village entrance together.

Watching Yan Shuoting disappear into the forest path.

The smile on Zhong Xuan's lips slowly faded.

He was preparing to return to the Zhong family's old house.

Suddenly I felt a pang of heart palpitation.

Zhong Xuan frowned slightly.

Since practicing the breathing technique and breaking through to the mid-stage of the Skin Refinement Realm, my senses have become extremely sharp.

soon.

He then found the source of his heart palpitations.

At the village entrance, several boys were playing when a jet-black, crystalline stone was tossed into the air.

"There's something wrong with this stone..."

Zhong Xuan stared intently for a long time.

Then a flash of light appeared.

"A demonic aura?"

The Nine Strikes of the Flying Eagle was comprehended by the founder of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School through contemplation of a great demon. Therefore, those who cultivate the Nine Strikes of the Flying Eagle have a far greater perception of demonic energy than other martial artists.

Zhong Xuan's heart skipped a beat.

"Could it be the remains of some monstrous beast after its death?"

Well known.

Monsters are treasures from head to toe; even their bones after death are excellent materials for refining weapons.

Twenty years ago, Zhong Xuan witnessed a hunter become rich overnight after finding a monster's skull.

There was nothing unusual about it.

Just as the boys were having a great time, Zhong Xuan grabbed the black stone in his hand.

"Whose kids are these who neglect their studies because they're so playful?"

The boys were initially angry when they saw their toys being taken away.

But as soon as they saw it was Zhong Xuan, they scattered like birds and beasts.

Zhong Xuan pretended to scold him, and quietly put the black stone into his pocket.

Step up.

Ten breaths later.

He then returned to the Zhong family's old house.

Close the door.

Zhong Xuan then began to ponder the origin of the black stone.

"What kind of monster's bones are these?"

Zhong Xuan could not possibly do something like rashly going to the city's merchants to sell the Black Stone without even knowing its situation.

Possessing a treasure is a crime.

If the value of this black stone far exceeds his expectations, then what he holds in his hands is not gold and silver, but calamity.

He didn't want to lose his life because of this.

After observing for a long time, I still have no clue.

After all, he had only been practicing the Nine Strikes of the Flying Eagle for a short time. Although he could sense the faint demonic energy contained in the black stone, he could not distinguish the type of demonic beast.

"It seems I'll have to wait until tomorrow to ask Brother Zheng."

Zheng Yue's martial arts skills and knowledge far surpassed his.

Perhaps then we can recognize the origin of the black stone.

Having made up his mind, Zhong Xuan put the black stone aside and stopped looking at it.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed.

Zhong Xuan then began practicing the Eagle Seven Breathing Technique.

With the complete version of the Nine Strike of the Flying Eagle, the breathing technique was also more compatible, and before long, he entered a state of transcendence and self-forgetfulness.

Just as Zhong Xuan was practicing his breathing exercises—

Lines of small print suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[Bone structure: Crane-shaped, Dragon-shaped]

[Grade: Human Rank (5.2 taels)]