Mountain Patrol Military Officer
Chapter 433 - 345: Undercurrents and Lurking Dangers (Request for Monthly Ticket) - 2

Chapter 433: Chapter 345: Undercurrents and Lurking Dangers (Request for Monthly Ticket) - 2

And she had seen that old man before, ordinary, with no Martial Arts Qi Mechanism, gave off the feeling of an old servant by Chen Yuan’s side.

But the courtyard left by Chen Yuan, Ni Chang could not enter.

Ni Chang seemed to see her confusion, "The old man has been attending my elder brother for a long time, and back in the days in Qingshan County, they supported each other. Their friendship is beyond what I can match. Before my elder brother left, he also told me to take good care of him."

"Now that the old man is missing, I can’t shirk my responsibility, I must find him safe and sound!"

"Even if it means digging three feet into the ground of Qingshan County!"

With a sharp look in her eyes, Ni Chang raised her head and looked towards Fang Qingzhu on the opposite side,

"As far as I know, Miss Fang is not from Shu, originally left Qingshan County with her brother to Tianxiong Pass, said she was going back."

"Why would she suddenly appear here?"

Hearing this, Fang Qingzhu was silent for a moment.

"It’s a long story."

"Miss Lian, do you remember that ship? I escaped from it and met Brother Chen and the others."

Ni Chang nodded, she was not present on the night of the Night Navigation Ship incident, but she witnessed the terrifying scene of the whole Qingshan County’s people sleeping afterward. With the Human Demon causing chaos at that time, she hurriedly gathered people from the neighboring county to resist the Human Demon in Qingshan County.

She remembered this very clearly.

At this moment, Fang Qingzhu also slowly explained, "The incident with that ship was known by my Fang Family’s Ancestor who seemed to have sensed the secrets of the ship. Coinciding with the revival of luck in Shu now and the changes in celestial phenomena, this ancestor has brought the Fang Family’s members to Qingshan County, planning to target this ship, hence my presence here."

Upon hearing this, Ni Chang’s eyebrows furrowed, "I came here in haste, and only heard from the Government Official at the County Government say that some important person came to the county early in the morning, startling the people, I see."

"Miss Fang, let’s conclude the reminiscence here for today, Ni Chang still has tasks to tend to, and also hopes Miss Fang can lend a hand to help find the old man, Ni Chang would be profoundly grateful." As always resolute and efficient in her actions, she stood up, clasping her hands.

Unexpectedly, a hand grabbed hers.

"Hold on!"

"I’m afraid there’s one more matter, waiting for Miss Lian to investigate, concerning the lives of the people of Qingshan County!"

Fang Qingzhu leaned forward, her almond eyes expressing a solemn look.

Ni Chang was startled!

Soon after, on the main street of Qingshan County,

"Clip-clop"

"Clip-clop"

"Clip-clop"

Rapid horse hooves galloped on the street, with thick snow piled on both sides, the hooves imprinting in the crunchy snowy road, splashing muddy water.

A bright red figure dashed through the streets and alleys, arriving in front of the Qingshan Inn, then stepped towards the tightly closed door with a sign hanging on it saying "closed for business."

With a push of her hands, the figure in the red dress stepped directly inside.

"Snap"

The door closed.

"Mountain Patrol Military Officer Ni Chang requests to see the Fang Family Ancestor!"

A chilling voice echoed upstairs along the staircase.

Following that, the sound of a room’s wooden door opening was heard, then whispers emerged.

"Humph, I thought it was who, a mere local Mountain Patrol Military Officer, worthy to see our Ancestor!"

"Hah, didn’t expect she’s quite good-looking."

"You all aren’t curious, how does this person know about our Fang Family, and even about the Ancestor?"

Amid these voices, there was mockery, frivolity, and some found it strange.

Unexpectedly,

Someone spoke from above,

"Mountain Patrol Military Officer, is it? Come up, my family’s ancestor wants to see you!"

This message immediately caused confusion and curiosity among the Fang Family members upstairs.

"With the status of our ancestor, why would he meet such an unknown soldier?"

Downstairs, while whispers reached Ni Chang’s ears, she seemed to ignore them, stepping up the staircase.

When she reached the second floor, she saw a thirty-year-old man in black tight clothing standing at the stairway portal, waiting there.

The person continued to step upstairs, and Ni Chang followed.

During the ascent, Ni Chang felt scrutinizing, speculative gazes.

Each one with powerful Qi, all carrying the pressure of Heavenly Pass, showcasing the extraordinary nature of the Fang Family.

Ni Chang’s expression remained unchanged as she followed the black-clad muscular man all the way to the top level, where she was then led in front of a room.

As the muscular man reached the door, he respectfully said, "Ancestor, I have brought the person!"

No sooner had he spoken than the door swung open without any wind.

The man stepped aside, revealing Ni Chang behind him.

At this moment, Ni Chang, facing the eerily empty room, felt an intimidating presence that made her heart race.

It was as if a terrifying entity resided within this room.

Suppressing the surging fear in her heart, she furrowed her brow, lifted her foot, and stepped inside.

"Bang"

The door closed, seemingly separating two worlds.

The inside was hollow and silent, creating the illusion of being in a vast abyss.

"Junior Ni Chang, Mountain Patrol Military Officer of Qingshan County, pays respects to the venerable elder!"

Ni Chang bowed with cupped hands, her sword’s sheath trembling slightly behind her.

In front of her, under the cold gleam of the floor, stood a landscape screen, behind which sat a thin, cross-legged figure.

A cough sounded.

"Mountain Patrol Military Officer, what brings you to this old man?"

A light and airy voice emerged from behind the screen, as though stepping on cotton, weak and feeble.

Ni Chang’s beautiful eyes flickered rapidly, her voice firm,

"I came to verify something stated by the elder—it’s said that the water source in Qingshan County has been poisoned with Demon Gu!"

Her voice resonated in the not-so-large room.

The Fang Family’s Ancestor behind the screen fell silent for a moment, his voice still light,

"Did Qingzhu tell you this?"

The Fang Family’s Ancestor seemed to know something.

"Correct!" Ni Chang boldly responded.

"Hehe," a mocking laugh from behind the screen, "Why should this old man provide proof to a junior like you? Don’t try to persuade me with the lives of the people from Qingshan County."

"As an officer in Qingshan County, I can help the elder trace the clues to that ship. Many people from Qingshan City had their Divine Souls sucked into that ship, and after escaping, it’s common to hear people dreaming about that ship; perhaps it can help us find it."

"Did Qingzhu teach you to say this too?" The laughter behind the screen gradually ceased, the voice seeming to become more serious.

"No, Miss Fang and I are old acquaintances; she only told me about the Demon Gu. As for the rest, it’s not fabricated by me. The elder can send people to inquire in Qingshan County."

"Though I am merely a lowly Mountain Patrol Military Officer, I have some influence here, and might be able to assist," Ni Chang lowered her head slightly, her tone steady.

In that instant, she felt an intense gaze upon her, as if trying to see right through her.

Yet her expression remained usual, as she knew her words were not fabricated.

Such rumors indeed existed.

However, these were merely catching at straws, and since the entire town’s people had been sucked into that ship to sleep like a terrible nightmare, dreams afterward were not unusual.

Therefore, although Ni Chang had heard of it, she had not paid attention initially.

Today, after hearing Qingzhu’s words, she used these rumors to test the waters—after all, the rumors did exist, she hadn’t lied, but whether they would work, she didn’t know.

She only wanted to use this opportunity to confirm the truth about the Demon Gu.

After a long pause, a sneering laugh came from behind the screen,

"If you want to know whether Qingshan County is under the influence of Gu, you can simply test any water source in the city and then return here. You’ll know then."

"I have brought some!"

Suddenly, Ni Chang flicked her sleeve, and a stream of water flew out, condensing into a basketball-sized orb in midair.

This was taken from a well in Jiazi Lane.

In that courtyard, after Qingzhu explained, she specifically collected it.

...

After one pot of tea,

The door of the Qingshan Inn opened.

Ni Chang quickly stepped out, her pretty face frosty yet with an undertone of urgency.

"Giddy up!"

She mounted her horse, turned its head around, and sped off like a shooting star from the Qingshan Inn.

Unbeknownst to her, at that moment, cold eyes from above watched everything unfold.