Chapter 45: News from the Black Market! The Reflecting Moon Saber Technique!

"Damn that child, I told him not to go, but he insisted… cough cough…"

Madam Chen stared out the window, coughing intermittently, her voice filled with worry.

"Madam, it's out of filial piety."

"Young Master just wants you to recover quickly."

Chuncao stepped forward and tucked the blanket around the old lady.

"Xiao Yu… he's filial and capable, able to manage the family. Xiao Yi has a celestial fate… our Chen family is destined to prosper. Even if I die, I can rest in peace."

Madam Chen's eyes showed relief as she looked out the window. She then asked, "Chuncao, how many days since the letter to Yunzhou was sent?"

"Madam, it's been 16 days."

Chuncao replied respectfully.

Madam Chen, being elderly, had her grandson Chen Yi, who obtained a celestial fate—a great joy that brought honor to the family. She had sent a letter to Yunzhou to inform her brother, who served as the governor there.

"Oh, good…"

Madam Chen reminisced. Her family in Yunzhou was far from Youzhou. Her brother, busy with Yunzhou's affairs, couldn't visit. She herself was too old to endure the journey. It had been eight years since she last saw her brother.

This time, with her grandson's celestial fate, she hoped her brother, Zhuo Qiuhang, could visit Yanyun County.

Night fell.

7:30 PM.

"Under Qi Shun's leadership, the people rose up, burned the county office, and took control of Yanyun County!"

"Planning to pledge allegiance to Prince Jin?"

Back in town, Qin Wang sat on his bed in his tightly closed rented room, pondering the impact of Yanyun County falling under Prince Jin's control.

Returning from Qingfeng Forest, he found the city gates controlled by the rebel army, who, being commoners, did not give him a hard time and let him pass after some questioning.

Rumors outside said that Prince Jin, raising an army in Jinzhou under the pretext of purging corrupt officials, was conquering cities, loving the people, and had a good reputation. If Yanyun County came under Prince Jin's control, it should remain peaceful.

After all, for Qin Wang, who became emperor didn't matter. He only wanted stability.

"So this is the 300-year-old ginseng?"

"I wonder how much this can improve my cultivation progress?"

Qin Wang refocused, opened the package, and took out a ginseng, his eyes filled with amazement and anticipation.

This ginseng, obtained from Chen Tianyu, originally came in a sandalwood box with a yellow cloth lining. Qin Wang found the box too big and threw it into a ditch.

The ginseng's root was thicker than a child's arm, spindle-shaped, with full horizontal lines, forked at the bottom, resembling a person's head, hands, feet, and limbs, exuding a strong medicinal aroma.

"Ginseng works slowly; I should first practice Xiao Chi Yang Gong to adjust my breath!"

Qin Wang took a deep breath and began practicing Xiao Chi Yang Gong to adjust his breath.

Running all the way back from Qingfeng Forest had indeed tired him.

In the early hours.

Qin Wang heard a notification.

[Daily Intelligence Refresh!]

[Today's Intelligence]

[1: You killed Chen Family's eldest son, Chen Tianyu, yesterday. Intelligence shows that at 5 PM today, Chen Tianyu's body will be discovered. Madam Chen will faint upon hearing the news of her beloved grandson's death. Patriarch Chen Kun, in his fury, will vomit blood, investigate Qingfeng Forest, and vow to avenge his son, targeting the Zhang, Lin, and Su families as suspects.]

[2: Due to your exposure of Chen Hao and Li Hongfei's crimes, intelligence shows that angry citizens burned down the county office. County Magistrate Chen Hao and his advisor fled to Huxiao Town, planning to hide their identities and go to Qingyun County. Li Hongfei and his family escaped to Baiyang Town, intending to seek refuge with his nephew at Heifeng Fortress.]

[3: Your focus on the situation in Yanyun County has led to the following intelligence: Rebel leader Qi Shun is actually a deputy altar master of Tianyun Sect, leveraging the anger of the people to control Yanyun County and using this achievement to get promoted to altar master.]

[4: Your interest in rebel leader Qi Shun yielded this intelligence: Qi Shun recently purchased the Golden Snake Sword Technique from the black market near Yanyun County.]

[5: You exposed the identity of deceased Chief Constable Zheng Kecheng as a spy, leading to this intelligence: In 10 days, Zheng Kecheng's son, Zheng Lingyun, will learn of his father's death and lead troops to Yanyun County, vowing to find his father's killer.]

[7: Your killing of Chief Constable Zheng Kecheng yielded this intelligence: His possessions are located in his home three miles from the county office, including the Reflecting Moon Saber Technique manual obtained from Youzhou.]

[8: Your perusal of Alchemist Qingyao's 'Dan Medicine Primer' yielded this intelligence: Qingyao's beloved, Zhang Panpan, is currently cultivating at Lingyao Sect, one of the three major sects of the Dacang Kingdom.]

[9: Due to your multiple exposures under the names of Baixiao Shenjun and Tianji Pavilion, intelligence shows that Tianyun Sect, Bloodkill Hall, Snow Lotus Sect, and Zhaixing Tower are all investigating Tianji Pavilion's background.]

[10: Your focus on the Chen Family yielded this intelligence: Chen Kun possesses two Lingguang Barrier Talismans, given by a Taiyi Sword Sect elder when he took Chen Yi away.]

"Madam Chen fainting from grief? Good!"

"Chen Kun targeting the Zhang, Lin, and Su families? Even better! Let them fight! The more intense, the better!"

Qin Wang's eyes lit up at the first piece of intelligence.

As long as the Chen Family fought with the three other families, it would weaken their strength!

"Chen Hao fled to Huxiao Town?"

"Li Hongfei, that old bastard, fled to Baiyang Town?"

"Trying to escape? Damn it, expose them! They must be exposed!"

Qin Wang's eyes turned cold at the second piece of intelligence. Li Hongfei, who had intended to refine him into a boy's essence for Li Tianhe, deserved to be exposed. So did Chen Hao, who wrongfully pursued him.

"Rebel leader Qi Shun is actually a deputy altar master of Tianyun Sect?"

"He recently bought the Golden Snake Sword Technique from the black market? There's a black market near Yanyun County?!"

Qin Wang's mind raced at the third and fourth pieces of intelligence.

Though he hadn't visited the black market, he had heard of it.

It was said to sell many items not available elsewhere, such as martial arts manuals, spiritual medicines, and various treasures!

With his intelligence panel, he could find great fortune at the black market!

"Zheng Kecheng's home has the Reflecting Moon Saber Technique manual?"

Qin Wang's eyes brightened at the eighth piece of intelligence.

He had killed Zheng Kecheng, puzzled over the missing Reflecting Moon Saber Technique, only to find it was left at his home!

"Tianyun Sect, Bloodkill Hall, Snow Lotus Sect, and Zhaixing Tower are all investigating Tianji Pavilion?"

"Be cautious!"

Qin Wang thought.

Caution was essential.

"Chen Kun has such treasures! Given by a Taiyi Sword Sect elder?"

"I must get my hands on them!"

Qin Wang's eyes shone at the tenth piece of intelligence.

These were valuable items!

These two Lingguang Barrier Talismans were likely useless to a sect elder but were priceless protective treasures for him!

"Tonight, I'll first go to Zheng Kecheng's house for the Reflecting Moon Saber Technique, then expose Li Hongfei, Chen Hao, and the Chen Family again!"

Qin Wang decided, taking out pen and paper to write his reports.

Despite the recent exposure.

People were watching.

But with his second-rate status and nearly complete Flying Eagle Technique, he could climb walls, change his appearance, and post the reports in different places.

Careful action could still work.

Li Hongfei and Chen Hao were too vile; they must be exposed quickly for the rebels to hunt them down.

Early morning.

1:30 AM.

Qin Wang appeared three miles from the county office, near No. 9 Alley.

"This is Zheng Kecheng and Li Chunxia's home?"

Qin Wang shook his head at the small courtyard. Though decent, it paled compared to Zheng Kecheng's mistress Qu Wan's lavish residence.

As a spy.

Zheng Kecheng had a wife in Jinzhou, a wife Li Chunxia in Yanyun County, and a lavish residence for mistress Qu Wan. The scoundrel truly knew how to enjoy life!

Looking around and seeing no one, Qin Wang grasped his dagger, leaped onto the one-zhang-high wall, and landed lightly in the courtyard.

4o