62: Chapter 61 Heading South 62: Chapter 61 Heading South Daoist Wang took his leave, leaving Hou Niao, the internal spy, feeling uneasy.

Why was it such a coincidence that he was to deliver something to Liuyang?

After much thought, he wondered if he was overthinking it.

The only connection he had with Liuyang was through Daoist Chong Ling, and the plan had been set in Anhe, Divine City.

Surely not even an immortal could uncover that, right?

He made up his mind.

This journey was solely to deliver a gift, and he must not seek out Daoist Chong Ling; moreover, even if they did meet, there would be nothing to say.

With his insignificant status as a spy, what important information could he possibly convey?

If he was to travel far, he still needed to make some preparations, putting some clean water, dried meat, and a change of clothes in his Treasure Gourd; with the gourd’s limited space, he also had to pack a spare longsword, leaving not much room for anything else.

Food was essential, although countless inns lined the main road, who knew what unexpected mishaps might happen?

At his current stage, his appetite was huge, and cultivators could only begin to reduce their need for food once they reached the Grain Avoidance Realm, gaining complete independence from food after Tongxuan.

It was a process, not simply a matter of being able to ingest Qi to dine on mist and dewdrops.

In the package Daoist Wang left him on horseback were twenty Spirit Stones, a solid currency neither too generous nor stingy, fitting for the practical nature of the Capital Commandant’s office.

Usually, one would bid farewell to friends before a long journey, but he realized he had no such acquaintances to say goodbye to in Jin City.

His social circle was embarrassingly narrow, a fault of his own making.

After morning practice the next day, he mounted his horse and set off, speeding away into the distance.

The weather had turned cold.

Along the way, houses became scarce while fields grew more abundant.

Children played in the fields, and farmers burned grass for fertilizer, presenting a peaceful scene around Jin City.

…Having witnessed the bamboo horse and black robes of your youth, why then hastily learn the ways of the immortal hermits in straw huts?

The fame and fortune of Jin City aren’t genuine pleasures; best to take advantage of autumn’s richness and burn jade in the fields.

As the road grew less populated, Hou Niao picked up pace, spurting his steed into gallops, faster and faster, the scenery on both sides blurring past, bringing him immense satisfaction.

Traveling on the main road was safe; though people were few, they never vanished entirely.

Always in sight were travelers and carriages.

Over the course of a day, he encountered several fellow disciples from the Quanzhen Sect, strangers he didn’t know, yet their presence was reassuring.

This journey, as Daoist Wang had said, was truly devoid of peril.

The only variable was the Poplar Forest at the border crossing.

He had considered whether to detour to Jiangyou Town to visit those four gentlemen on his way back to Liuyang, but ultimately, he decided to visit them on the return trip.

Accepting a task on behalf of another, fulfilling it with loyalty, is a basic quality of a cultivator.

While on the road, he couldn’t neglect his three daily practices of Energy Induction.

As the appointed times drew near, he would leave the main road to find a secluded spot to focus and draw in Qi.

He wasn’t too worried about being disturbed while inducing energy, for although he was in the Soul Realm, his body still retained its sensitivity to the outside world.

He never traveled at night.

One must stick to what they’re capable of, as nighttime brought frequent demon disturbances and bandits, both mortal and those fallen from the cultivation path.

Without sufficient skill, no one would choose such a lifestyle.

He had the ability to unleash a First Slash like lightning, but not the power to rout a thousand enemies.

It was best to stay prudent.

In fact, as long as you’re careful, you can certainly avoid most unnecessary trouble.

Five days later, the road ahead ceased to exist, leaving only a vast, desolate plain and the Poplar Forest at the edge of sight, a lengthy stretch of woodland that served as the most conspicuous natural boundary between Shan Country and Anhe.

On a mound of earth some distance from the forest, he encountered the first strangers who greeted him on this journey—well, a group of them.

About twenty or so mortals of various ages, men and women, young and old, some supporting the aged and carrying young, laden with burdens…

It was clear this wasn’t a merchant caravan.

In Shan Country, a true merchant group was virtually an army, the only configuration capable of minimizing potential losses they might face.

Such an odd ensemble appearing at the boundary of a country was irregular and highly unusual.

Approaching slowly on horseback, an old man looked at him full of hope, bowing deeply before finally prostrating his body on the ground,

“Upper Cultivator, we wish to cross the Poplar Forest and ask for your protection!

In return, all of our possessions are yours to take, and all…

all the women can be offered up…”

Hou Niao was somewhat confused by the situation, “Hold on, why must you cross the border?

With a group like yours, it’s hard to say how many will survive crossing the Poplar Forest.

Don’t you know that there are demons in those woods?”

The old man stammered, Hou Niao impatient, shouted, “Speak the truth, or who will help you?

Do you really think these mortal possessions can motivate a cultivator to risk his life for you?

As for women, if I desired any, I’d have taken them by force, no need for your offering!”

The old man cried with tears streaming, “Upper Cultivator, it is not our intention to deceive you, there is indeed a hidden truth that is difficult to mention…”

Hou Niao made a move as if to leave; it was a gesture.

In fact, upon seeing these people, he had already felt a surge of compassion, but pity as he might, his own life was also important.

He couldn’t just leap into a pit without knowing the facts, could he?

The old man, seeing him about to walk away, didn’t care to hide anymore and spoke urgently, “Upper Cultivator, we are all family members of corrupt officials from Jin City, whose master was found guilty of corruption, embezzlement, and withholding relief funds.

He was executed at the Wind and Wave Platform, and we, his family, have had our names struck from the Shan records, with a deadline given to leave the realm…

We have been fleeing all this way to get here, but we cannot cross the Poplar Forest and have failed to secure any guards…”

Hou Niao understood—these were the consequences of his own doing!

Shan Country’s Quanzhen Sect laws were harsh, especially regarding issues that could threaten the Sect’s foundation; they left no room for leniency.

Issues like these secret embezzlements of relief funds might seem minor and involve only modest sums, but they could undermine the entire foundation of the Quanzhen Sect.

If the lower-rank Quanzhen cultivators all knew that their families would face such treatment after their deaths in battle, who would serve the Sect wholeheartedly?

It was not such an issue until it came out into the open.

Once exposed, the Quanzhen Sect’s Jin City branch, stuck in a difficult position, had no choice but to enforce severe punishment.

In the city, he had heard that several old cultivators from the Mu Shuai mansion involved in distributing relief funds participated in the corruption.

When the investigation confirmed their guilt, they were hastily executed.

However, he had not realized that their families would also be implicated and expelled from the registry.

He also finally understood why Li Capital Commandant had sent him to deliver the birthday gift—it was no coincidence, but intentional!

It was to make him witness the consequences of his own actions!

Some matters can’t be resolved with a burst of anger.

If he could’ve advised in private, the Mu Shuai mansion could’ve dealt with the corrupt officials quietly and compensated the victims without the whole affair stirring up a storm in the city and harming the foundation of Jin City’s Quanzhen Sect.

But Hou Niao had blown the lid off the case in front of everyone at the Tianxiang Building, with foreign cultivators present no less.

Covering it up was impossible; only by taking strict action and publicizing the matter throughout the state could they hope to minimize the impact.

So not only were the corrupt officials executed, but their families also could not escape the calamity, a testament for all Quanzhen disciples to see how seriously the Sect took such matters—to vent the frustrations harbored in their hearts!

But as a result, the families became collateral damage.

Indeed,

On a lone horse, he proceeded no further, amid the vast plains that stretched to the endless horizon.

The mountain colors were lifeless in the deep autumn day, the sound of the coach horn muted beneath the heavy frosty heavens.

Wild bones occasionally gripped the remnants of morning dew, the chilling wind sweeping the evening sands in whirls.

The souls of the wronged at the border had no place to return, turning into dark clouds that flew off into oblivion.