Chapter 47: White Dragon City

Chapter 47:

The lockdown persisted for three full days.

During this period, Qingya County remained under strict surveillance, with daily searches for bandits at every residence. It was only on the third day, as dusk approached, that a command arrived from the mountain valley, finally lifting the complete blockade of Qingya County.

At the same time, Chen Luo learned the identity of the prominent figure found within the mine - it was the third prince!

Previously, to suppress news about the incident, Prince Ning had secretly eliminated one of his fellow princes. However, secrets never remain hidden forever. After seizing the initial advantage by dispatching his men, Prince Ning sold the relevant information to the third prince, thereby gaining support at court. A rebellious noble collaborating with a prince hinted at another layer of intrigue and scheming. Nevertheless, these matters were beyond the reach of Chen Luo, a mere grave digger in a small county, nor could he fully comprehend the stakes involved in the power struggles above him.

The arrival of the third prince shifted the focus entirely onto him in Qingya County.

Magistrate Zhou, no longer concerned with pursuing the murderer, redirected all his efforts towards attending to the third prince.

A day later, orders from Prince Ning also reached the county.

Both parties casually glossed over the death of their son, though the exact reasons remained unknown. Sensibly, those below refrained from discussing the matter further.

Jiang Danian resumed his indulgence in wine and women.

The Nineteenth Prince became a distant memory, as if he had never existed in Qingya County’s recent past.

Another half-day passed.

The blockade around Qingya County was finally lifted entirely.

Chen Luo officially ended his seclusion.

“It’s time to leave.”

He stepped out of the courtyard, locking the door behind him.

After waiting several days within the city, Chen Luo felt relieved when Magistrate Zhou showed no signs of suspecting him. He didn’t want his actions to inadvertently harm his master Cripple Ma or Third Uncle.

In truth, if the newly appointed Magistrate Zhou had diligently investigated, it would have been easy to connect Chen Luo to the incident. After all, Chen Luo had attended the feast that night and even accepted ‘favors’ from the Nineteenth Prince. From a detective’s perspective, this provided him with a motive.

His modest attempts at concealing his identity might fool ordinary people, but a true investigative expert could likely spot the discrepancies.

Unfortunately, Magistrate Zhou’s focus was elsewhere. While his calls for capturing the murderer were loud, most actions taken were merely for show. Later, upon hearing Jiang Danian’s explanation, Chen Luo understood the underlying reason: Magistrate Zhou owed his position to the eldest son of Prince Ning, shedding light on the situation’s dynamics.

In the old streets of Qingya County.

Chen Luo arrived at Cripple Ma’s doorstep.

He had intended to bid farewell, only to find both his master’s and He Shimei’s homes tightly locked. Upon inquiring at the Sha Lake Gang headquarters, he learned that Cripple Ma had left two days ago. The ‘rebellion’ incident in Qingya County not only altered Chen Luo’s life but also changed some of his master’s perspectives.

Cripple Ma decided to make the most of his time before death, traveling extensively and accumulating influence along the way. This would ensure that if faced with similar circumstances again, he wouldn’t be killed by others claiming his accomplishments as their own.

Chen Luo could only express slight regret over this turn of events.

Afterward, he returned to the village to visit his parents, Third Uncle, and his little sister, who had just learned to call out “Mom” and “Dad.”

By the time all these personal matters were settled, nearly half a month had passed.

Shangshui City was the provincial capital governing Qingya County, which included both Qingya and Yanhu Counties under its jurisdiction. Ambitious young individuals from these small counties often moved to Shangshui City for better opportunities. Lao Liu and his wife, the noodle sellers from the alleyway, had similarly sought growth there.

However, Chen Luo’s destination was not Shangshui City but rather White Dragon City, the provincial capital adjacent to their state.

The White Immortal Cave mentioned by Nineteenth Prince before his death was located near White Dragon City.

This information cost Chen Luo a hefty sum, contrary to what Nineteenth Prince claimed about casually asking anyone for directions.

As the sun set towards the west,

dust swirled on the old, earthen road, and a dilapidated donkey cart trudged along, laden with straw.

Chen Luo lay hidden among the hay, resembling a beggar asleep amidst it all, while the farmer’s purchased donkey cart moved steadily forward.

Murder and arson lead to wealth; especially when the victim is a privileged noble like Nineteenth Prince. Consequently, Chen Luo found himself financially well-off. The donkey cart itself had been bought using Nineteenth Prince’s savings. He felt genuinely grateful to the Nineteenth Prince for unwittingly ‘sponsoring’ both his aptitude and finances. Once he achieved immortality, he vowed to burn a few extra sheets of paper at Nineteenth Prince’s grave, ensuring a prosperous afterlife for him.

The donkey cart continued its journey.

After crossing the provincial border, more people began appearing on the roads. Passing peddlers, upon spotting Chen Luo, would promptly steer clear from afar.

In these times, those daring enough to travel alone were not ordinary individuals. For merchants venturing out, keen observation skills were paramount. Those lacking such acumen often met their demise in remote corners of the mountains.

After four hours, as twilight approached, Chen Luo finally reached his destination.

White Dragon City.

Legend has it that the city received its name from a white dragon ascending to heaven. It was also where the founding emperor of the Yue Kingdom began his rise to power.

“The provincial capitals truly exude grandeur.”

Chen Luo sat up in his donkey cart, gazing at the imposing walls in the distance, and couldn’t help but express his admiration. Compared to these, Qingya County’s walls seemed like a child’s toy, easily surmountable by anyone with basic martial skills. However, White Dragon City was different; its walls soared thirty feet high, patrolled by numerous soldiers clad in fine armor.

This marked Chen Luo’s first encounter with a major city in this world. In his memory, even Jinling City from his previous life wasn’t half as tall as these fortifications.

If a provincial capital is this impressive, how magnificent must the imperial capital be?

Indeed, being a realm with extraordinary powers, one cannot measure it solely by standards of ancient societies.

A long line of people waiting to enter the city stretched for nearly a hundred feet. Chen Luo obediently guided his donkey cart, joining the queue behind them.

As nightfall descended, torches illuminated the area around the city gates.

The bright torchlight illuminated the area like daylight.

Cities like White Dragon City, being state capitals, did not enforce curfews. Only small, undefended towns such as Qingya County implemented nighttime restrictions. This distinction clearly highlighted the difference between state capitals and local settlements; they had greater confidence and stronger capabilities.

After about an hour, it was finally Chen Luo’s turn.

The guard soldiers inspected meticulously, even flipping through the straw on his donkey cart. One of them approached to search him personally. As a seasoned traveler, Chen Luo understood their intentions immediately. While others were distracted, he swiftly slipped out a money pouch from his sleeve.

He had prepared this pouch before leaving, filled with copper coins specifically for situations like these.

“Go ahead.”

The searching soldier discreetly accepted the money pouch, gave Chen Luo a brief pat-down, and waved him through without further delay.

“Now that’s more like it.”

The Yue Kingdom remained unchanged, even within its state capitals; people just put on a better act here.

Chen Luo grinned and urged his donkey cart forward, swaying as he entered through the city gate.

Upon entering the city, the scene before him transformed dramatically. A bustling marketplace filled with vibrant lights caught his eye. Even the streets were remarkably clean, tended by occasional servants in dark robes who swept and cleared debris. Along the way, he spotted fragrant plants emitting a soothing aroma that invigorated the senses.

Vendors on both sides of the street loudly hawked their wares, greeting everyone with equal enthusiasm, regardless of whether they arrived in a humble donkey cart like Chen Luo or not.

To these vendors, as long as there was money to be made, they would warmly welcome anyone, even if they appeared to be beggars.