Chapter 42: Secrets Unveiled

Post-war Qingya County was gradually regaining its vitality. Although the population remained sparse, some people had started doing business on the streets again. The presence of the army brought stability, giving courage to many residents; those who had fled were returning steadily, as life outside the city proved even more challenging.

Mountain bandits and wild beasts posed deadly threats to ordinary folk, not to mention that their ancestral homes within the city still stood. Despite numerous houses being burned down, the deeds to the land remained intact.

Enduring hardships, they could rebuild over time, for resilience was what common people excelled at most.

Early one morning, after completing his breathing exercises, Chen Luo stepped out of his home.

Realizing there was no further progress he could make in the village, he decided against wasting any more time there. Instead, he planned to explore other avenues. One such option involved seeking help from Cripple Ma, his master, who might have connections leading to better martial manuals.

Cripple Ma was the only high-level cultivator with whom Chen Luo had a personal connection.

Although Cripple Ma himself was incapacitated, it was likely that acquaintances from his past were still alive. By reaching out to these individuals, a network of relationships could be established, much like how Third Uncle had initially introduced him to Master Ma for training.

Initially, Chen Luo planned to visit Yanhu County, but two days ago, he received news that Cripple Ma and his group had returned.

Life in Yanhu County was not easy either. Each city had its local power brokers, and as outsiders, the Sha Lake Gang faced resistance from established factions when trying to expand their influence. Although they managed to secure a foothold, sustaining such a large group remained challenging.

During this period, everyone had been struggling. Upon hearing about Qingya County’s new magistrate and his policies, the gang leader decided to send some members back to assess the situation. At the very least, they couldn’t let others encroach on what rightfully belonged to the Sha Lake Gang.

As for the assassination of Magistrate Lou, enough time had passed that most people had forgotten about it. If anyone asked, they would simply blame it on rebels; how could it involve law-abiding citizens like those from the Sha Lake Gang? Moreover, the authorities seemed uninterested in pursuing the matter further. The newly appointed Magistrate Zhou focused on building his own administration and enriching himself, never once inquiring about Magistrate Lou’s fate. It appeared he may have already forgotten the incident altogether.

The saying “once a person leaves, their warmth fades” holds especially true in the world of politics.

At the main entrance of the county road:

A dusty path wound through the forest and extended all the way to the foot of the city walls. After recent repairs, the war-torn fortifications no longer looked as devastated.

On the main road, emaciated villagers carrying bundles on their backs and leaning on walking sticks hurried towards the county town with their families in tow. These were residents of Qingya County who had fled to nearby rural areas to escape the conflict, now returning upon hearing the news of relative calm.

Some slightly wealthier households even rented donkey carts, loading their belongings and family members for a quicker journey.

From a distance, it resembled ants moving en masse, creating quite a bustling scene.

Among these people was Chen Luo, blending seamlessly within the crowd.

Third Uncle’s rented house was also located in one of the surrounding villages. Early that morning, he had joined this procession, leisurely traveling by donkey cart alongside other displaced villagers.

“Out of the way! Move aside!”

The scene was disrupted as a luxurious vermilion-colored carriage approached from behind, its driver loudly shouting and wildly cracking his whip. Several slow-moving civilians received lashes, but they were accustomed to such treatment. Even when struck, they hastily scrambled aside to avoid being hit by the speeding carriage, preventing further injury.

The donkey cart driver, well-versed in such situations, promptly guided his cart to the side upon hearing the commotion.

One must never provoke riders on horseback—a common understanding among the populace. No ordinary person would seek trouble over something as trivial as making way for others; their primary concern was always their own livelihood. Only those who had secured their basic needs and sought spiritual fulfillment might care about matters of ‘face’.

Inside the lavish carriage, a young nobleman dressed extravagantly sat facing an older scholar with black whiskers.

The middle-aged scholar sat cross-legged, eyes closed, maintaining a composed demeanor. In contrast, the young nobleman’s expression revealed his simmering anger. He pulled aside the curtain, gazing at the impoverished and backward scene outside, which only intensified his discontent.

“Stranding me in this godforsaken place, that old fool is getting increasingly biased,” the young nobleman finally voiced his frustration aloud.

This young nobleman was none other than Prince Ning’s nineteenth son, born from a concubine.

A prince, a noble scion.

The one who benefited most from the Qingya County incident was none other than Prince Ning. The deceased civilians of Qingya County were merely numbers on his record of achievements. Even the current county magistrate belonged to the same faction, complicit in exploiting their suffering. More absurdly, recently, the imperial court issued an official document, concluding the case of the Qingya County rebellion.

Prince Ning’s faction received commendations and numerous rewards for their supposed efforts.

Such ludicrous affairs unfolded openly within this nation.

Royal authority and local governance had become entirely disconnected, showing clear signs of an empire nearing its end.

“My lord, please choose your words carefully.”

The middle-aged scholar opened his eyes, gazing at the discontented young noble, with a hint of disappointment flashing across them.

This was the individual he had pledged to support.

In terms of temperament, he fell far short compared to the other princes; they were simply not even comparable. Most crucially, this prince lacked the backing of a powerful maternal clan. From the outset, the fate of the Nineteenth Prince seemed predetermined. Without ambition, he might still enjoy wealth and privilege, but if greed took hold, his ultimate outcome would undoubtedly be grim.

This was evident from his recent exile to Qingya County.

Days ago, Prince Ning had already dispatched people to excavate valuable resources from the mountain valley there. All that remained were insignificant remnants, now virtually worthless.

Despite this, Prince Ning wasn’t ready to give up entirely. Sending the Nineteenth Son here served two purposes: first, to extract any remaining value, and second, to conveniently sideline his less astute child, indirectly sparing his life. Unfortunately, the Nineteenth Prince failed to grasp these intentions; his thoughts were consumed only by complaints, revealing his lack of understanding.

“What’s there to be cautious about? That old man has openly distributed all significant resources to our eldest brother and others. As a neglected, lesser-born son, I’m left with no choice but to seek my fortune at these lowly C-grade resource sites.” The young prince’s face brimmed with discontent.

“If not for my insufficient bloodline concentration— Hmm? Stop the carriage!” The Nineteenth Prince’s expression suddenly shifted, and he swiftly shouted at the coachman amidst his grumbling.

Under the coachman’s control, the speeding horse-drawn carriage quickly halted.

“What is it?” The middle-aged scholar cast him a puzzled look.

Nineteenth Prince did not respond to him but swiftly jumped off the carriage, carefully examining their surroundings.

Just moments ago, the jade pendant around his neck had suddenly warmed up!

This jade pendant was a gift from his father, and every descendant possessed one. To outsiders, it might seem like a token of the prince’s affection, but Nineteenth Prince knew the hidden secret behind it.

Immortal Destiny!

Whenever there was nearby ‘power of immortal script’, the jade pendant would heat up. This involved arcane knowledge of immortal cultivation, which was also the ultimate secret of the Prince Ning lineage. Only those with direct bloodline aptitude were privy to this mystery.

His father dared to aspire for the highest position precisely because he had encountered ‘immortals’.

Power breeds ambition - an age-old truth unchanging through time.

Nineteenth Prince, eager to distinguish himself, harbored thoughts of leveraging his father’s connection to these ‘immortals.’

After all, who among the living doesn’t yearn for immortality!