The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 51 - 47 The Whole Family

Chapter 51: Chapter 47 The Whole Family

Xu Qing, in his previous life, had been a researcher of ancient literature and history, so naturally he had conducted studies on the layout of large household courtyards.

He quickly found the room where the master resided.

"Why is there no one?"

On the way here, Xu Qing had overheard a servant saying, "The old master is eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddha in the bedroom."

Yet, to his surprise, the room was empty.

"Something’s not right." Xu Qing scanned the room and eventually found something suspicious.

"There’s a secret chamber."

He didn’t look for a mechanism; instead, he walked straight through the wall and arrived at an underground passage, where he saw a figure in the secret chamber ahead.

A pine oil lamp was lit inside, with air holes above.

This old geezer, Zhao Xiong, was worshiping a kind-looking elderly female deity alongside a person dressed as a cultist,

"Unborn Mother, Home of the Void..."

Xu Qing heard these prayers, which came from the same source as the Lotus Sect’s, both venerating the Unborn Mother.

However, Zhao Xiong’s attire was significantly different from that of the Lotus Sect.

Because Xu Qing had heard about the attire of the Lotus Sect from Xu Fu.

Even if it wasn’t the Lotus Sect, it had to be a cult that was closely related to them.

Xu Qing looked at the deity statue; perhaps because Zhao Xiong had been worshiping it for a long time, it was faintly enveloped in a layer of incense aura, emitting a slight divine white light.

But that was all.

A mere statue privately worshiped by Zhao Xiong couldn’t compare with Xu Qing, even if it had some semblance of divine power.

What Zhao Xiong and the cultist discussed next took Xu Qing completely by surprise.

As it turned out, Zhao Xiong and the cultist planned to take advantage of the chaos in the County Government when the grey-robed man kidnapped Xu Gentry—this would be the signal for the cult followers to attack the County Government’s armory and start a rebellion.

Moreover, since there was no curfew on the Mid-Autumn Festival, and everyone was tired from staying up all night, it was the best time to make a move.

Hearing this, Xu Qing did not stay any longer.

His Divine Soul at present had little ability to interfere with reality, so naturally, he could not capture Zhao Xiong and the cultist by his side.

Xu Qing’s Divine Soul left the secret chamber and quickly returned to his physical body in the carriage.

He opened his eyes and said to the Archivist Li beside him, "Uncle, go to the County Government Office immediately and ask County Magistrate Wu to send men with crossbows to surround the Zhao residence. Tell them that the Zhao family is in contact with the rebels of the Lotus Sect and is about to stage a rebellion."

After speaking, he ordered Xu Fu to drive the carriage with Archivist Li to the County Government.

As for Xu Qing, he then summoned Guo Zhuang, "This is the news of Feng Xifeng’s success, and his name card is on it, with only one copy. Take it to the Lord of the Government and tell him that Zhao Xiong is colluding with the cultists of the Lotus Sect to plot a rebellion; if the Lord doesn’t want to be implicated, he needs to send troops over immediately."

Xu Qing had already planned to immediately seek out Magistrate He tonight after uncovering Zhao Xiong’s dark secrets, so he had deliberately brought Feng Xifeng and his daughter’s token of identification.

In fact, there was also a letter from Feng Wu in the name card, but that was something Xu Qing couldn’t reveal openly.

Guo Zhuang took the token and went straight to the Magistrate’s Office.

Xu Qing, in the meantime, planned to use the Eight Diagram Wandering Palm’s movement technique to sneak into the secret chamber and subdue Zhao Xiong first.

Catch the ringleader to capture all his followers.

As long as Zhao Xiong was subdued, everything else would be easier to handle.

Before entering, he also asked Guo Li to find Mi Qiang and spread rumors in the night market that the Zhao family was about to launch a rebellion.

Mi Qiang had a group of beggars under his command, and with the manpower from the fish market, they were enough to cause some influence in the street market.

Regardless of the end result, it was essential to do everything possible in preparation.

Moreover, Xu Qing knew that this was the best opportunity to take down Zhao Xiong.

Otherwise, if the city really became chaotic, with soldiers everywhere, even though he himself might be safe, Li Mansion could be attacked by the cultists, making it hard to predict what might occur.

...

...

"What, Zhao Xiong wants to revolt?" County Magistrate Wu, who had just finished drinking, broke into a cold sweat.

Though there was no concrete evidence, the fact that Archivist Li had come to him at this time meant he had no choice but to believe him.

If it was a mistake, at most it would be an embarrassment.

But if it were true, he would be at risk of losing his official hat.

In such matters, it is better to make a mistake and kill than to let one go.

Moreover, the dark path expert who wanted to save Xu Qing, is currently staying at the Zhao residence, he had no choice but to believe it.

"Officer, you must immediately gather all hands, assemble within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, and proceed to the Zhao residence. Bring as many as you can, there’s no time to wait." County Magistrate Wu knew that such matters could not be delayed; the longer they waited, the more variables there would be.

Historian Li, an experienced Government Official, naturally knew where all the capable hands of the Government Office were that night.

With the order from County Magistrate Wu, he immediately began to take action.

There was only the time it takes an incense stick to burn, no more than that.

County Magistrate Wu didn’t mention preparing for the armory to be attacked.

There were hardly any weapons inside anyway.

It would actually be good if the heretics of the cult were to strike.

As long as he could make it through the night, he could deflect the blame with a large iron pot, and he would not be implicated at all.

He was anxious but dared not go to the frontline himself. He called upon Steward Qian, summoned his personal guards, and stayed within the County Government.

At this time, everywhere was dangerous; the County Government was the safest.

As for fighting on the battlefield, he certainly wouldn’t add to the chaos.

After all, if there was a chance to claim merits later, in the memorial to the emperor, he would definitely be portrayed as someone who personally braved arrows and stones.

"What, Zhao Xiong is planning a rebellion?" Magistrate He did not recognize Guo Zhuang, but he recognized the token of Feng Xifeng, and also the writing of Feng Wu.

The visitor indeed was Xu Qing’s trusted aide; otherwise, he wouldn’t have access to these items.

He and Feng Xifeng were fellow Dao disciples and romantic rivals, yet they had political disagreements. But in such serious matters, his own fellow disciple was definitely trustworthy.

Xu Qing couldn’t possibly lie about this.

The lack of evidence further indicated the urgency of the situation.

And with Zhao Xiong involved in the rebellion, how could Magistrate He extricate himself from the matter?

In an instant, Magistrate He felt as if the sky was collapsing.

Fortunately, he was also a Second Rank Scholar and quickly steadied his spirit, calling his trusted steward, "Immediately send someone to take care of my concubine."

Because Zhao Xiong became an arrest officer due to the relationship with his concubine, Yin Sanniang.

Could Yin Sanniang also be a cult heretic?

It’s better to err on the side of caution.

Magistrate He must take control of Yin Sanniang first.

Subsequently, Magistrate He started issuing orders.

He was a capable and efficient government official with deep control over the Government. Therefore, in less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he gathered over a hundred people and armed them.

Magistrate He did not dare delay and directly led his men to the Zhao residence.

Since the journey was far, he hurried all the way, and even though over a dozen men fell behind, he had no time to care for them.

After all, the steward would lead more men over later.

The key was to surround the Zhao residence now.

Clearly, since Zhao Xiong was plotting a rebellion, the Zhao residence was a crucial point for the rebels’ communications. Securing the Zhao residence would make it very difficult for the rebels to gain any significant momentum.

Zhao Xiong was discussing important matters with the cult members, right at the critical moment, when suddenly, the door to the secret chamber opened.

He exclaimed in alarm, "Who is it?"

A gust of wind rushed in, alongside one cult member’s throat was heavily bleeding, having been stabbed by a dagger in the carotid artery, blood spurting wildly.

And the person holding the dagger, nonchalantly held it against Zhao Xiong’s throat.

Zhao Xiong was also someone who had practiced Kung Fu, but he had never seen anyone with movement technique so agile, and he recognized the assailant.

"It’s you?"

"Arrest Officer Zhao, your family doesn’t have much time left," the assailant said calmly and deliberately.