Did Zhao Pingyuan escape out of fear?
Su Mu was taken aback, assuming a posture of attentive listening.
"Mr. Li, are you aware of Taiping Dao?" Li Zhihe squinted his eyes, asking gravely.
"Taiping Dao? It’s the first ti I have heard of it," I replied.
Su Mu feigned ignorance, though he had so suspicions in his heart.
"Taiping Dao originated in the chaotic era of the Pre-Qin dynasty, notorious for gathering corrupted sorcerers who refined living people into pills, pretentiously nad ’Human Pill.’ They excel at enchanting skills, colluding with alien races, and misleading commoners to disrupt the world."
"In ancient tis, the First Emperor of the Pre-Qin dynasty was furious and dispatched a large army to annihilate them. Yet, their remnants, like centipedes, repeatedly revived after lying dormant for centuries to again plot the overthrow of the realm."
"Such demon Dao exists?"
Li Zhihe’s eyes showed disgust and hatred, continuing.
"In the past, Taiping Dao colluded with alien races, guiding northern barbarians to trample the Central Plains. They even ford alliances with the Northwest Golden Tent Royal Court and demon, monster, and evil cultivators, causing upheaval across the thirteen states. Corpses piled, and desolation marked the land, with the sounds of hunger and cold rising from the smoke-covered grasslands over a thousand miles."
"Fortunately, the heavens blessed the lands of Yan. Emperor Gaozu rose wielding a sword, slain the twin-headed demon flood dragon, led the Righteous Army to cleanse the universes, defeated barbarians, and punished demons and evil cultivators, restoring the people’s mountains and rivers. Upon founding the nation, he decreed: ’Anyone associated with Taiping Dao is a demon fiend, and all Great Yan citizens may execute them!’
"Three days ago, a person claiming to be a Taiping Dao envoy entered Black Forest Mountain at night. That Taiping Dao envoy, Sun Li, single-handedly killed the four chief protectors of the Black Mountain Rebel Army and several thousand-man commanders..."
Li Zhihe paused, "And this Taiping Dao Sun Li declared that he entered Black Forest Mountain to avenge Gongsun Xin."
"Gongsun Xin is not only the Incense Master laying dormant in Canghe County’s Taiping Dao foothold but also ranks thirty-fifth among the thirty-six marshals, one of Zhang Renfeng’s adopted sons."
"Gongsun Xin is also Zhao Pingyuan’s nephew. Regardless... Zhao Pingyuan cannot be absolved from this matter. Just yesterday, as the sche was exposed, Zhao Pingyuan hosted a banquet in Canghe City as a guise, intending to escape the city with his family."
"Lord Lin of Canghe County commanded the Canghe Army to pursue but only managed to retrieve so of Zhao Pingyuan’s family. Zhao Pingyuan himself and his youngest son remain missing."
Upon hearing this, Su Mu’s deep eyes showed fluctuations. He was surprised, revealing astonishnt at the right mont.
He realized he had far underestimated the influence of Taiping Dao and, more precisely, Gongsun Xin’s identity as an adopted son of Zhang Renshuai.
Furthermore, he underestimated the Great Yan Dynasty’s tolerance and fear regarding Taiping Dao.
On that night, Su Mu’s original plan was rely to infiltrate the camp secretly and find an opportunity to lead the three artisans down the mountain. However, plans changed when Uncle Wu appeared, and Su Mu had to take action.
Therefore, he set his sights on Taiping Dao, fabricating a story of a Taiping Dao envoy nad Sun Li and acting under the pretense of avenging Gongsun Xin.
As for Gongsun Xin’s real identity, it was only self-reported when he begged for rcy in his dying monts. Otherwise, Su Mu wouldn’t have known Gongsun Xin had such an identity as an adopted son to a marshal.
Now, listening to Li Zhihe’s words, his unintentional actions have directly toppled the Demon Slayer Director of Canghe County!
He toppled Zhao Pingyuan, a seventh-grade court official with oversight over local officials, forcing Zhao Pingyuan to abandon his wife and child in escape.
"Indeed, fate plays with people," Su Mu privately lanted. Previously, he handed the Guo family’s accounts to Li Zhihe, who was slow to act because he was collecting more evidence. But now, none of that is needed.
Zhao Pingyuan’s escape in guilt confird everything directly.
Li Zhihe observed the surprise on Su Mu’s face and continued, "That Taiping Dao envoy may have acted to assert power or for so purpose but ultimately only executed the Purple Shirt and nurous rebel thousand-man commanders without indiscriminate killing."
"The craftsn abducted to Black Mountain by the rebel army seized the chaos to escape the mountain. Among them were several blacksmiths from the Forging Workshop, and finally, Sun Li burned the Black Mountain Army’s camp to ashes."
Having heard Li Zhihe’s analysis of the ’Battle of Black Forest Mountain,’ a subtle nuance flashed in Su Mu’s eyes; today, he witnessed the butterfly effect trigger a chain reaction.
"Mr. Li, this matter concerning Taiping Dao is indeed a significant opportunity."
"Opportunity?"
"Indeed, I have already urgently reported the matter of Taiping Dao to the Qingzhou Demon Slayer Bureau. Lord Tao, along with officials from Changfeng and Canghe counties, will certainly petition Qingzhou; the Qingzhou Governnt Office will surely send people, as will the Demon Slayer Bureau."
"If you and I can contribute to the eradication of Taiping Dao, I believe you have no worries about the Golden Order."
Hearing this, Su Mu felt sowhat odd, as the Taiping Dao envoy was none other than himself pretending. Now, Li Zhihe wants Su Mu to eradicate himself?
"I will certainly do my utmost to achieve this," I replied.
"That is good; Li naturally trusts Mr. Li." Then, Li Zhihe changed the topic, "If Mr. Li obtained the Five Elents Pill, could you confidently break through to the Sixth Grade within a month?"
Su Mu’s eyes brightened upon hearing this; if he had enough Five Elents Pill, he was confident he could break through within a month or even in less ti.
With such thoughts, Su Mu said aloud.
"About thirty percent confidence."
"Thirty percent?"
Li Zhihe was not disappointed but rather surprised. To his knowledge, many need several months or even a year and a half to prepare adequately for a Sixth Grade breakthrough, as the Sixth Grade is not of the Lower Three Grades realm.
However, ti is of the essence, and they cannot afford to wait that long. He had reported to the Qingzhou Demon Slayer Bureau, fearing that in ti a judge may arrive to preside over Taiping Dao’s eradication.
Opportunities should not be missed; once gone, they’re gone!
Then, Li Zhihe relayed the conditions proposed by Tao Xingzheng, "Regarding the Five Elents Pill, County Magistrate Tao wishes to et Mr. Li."
"Alright, I trouble Director Li to introduce ."
Li Zhihe chuckled and shook his head.
"Mr. Li, you need not hide your identity anymore; you may go directly."
"Thank you, Director, for informing ."
...
After leaving the Demon Slayer Bureau, Su Mu headed straight for the Qingyun County Magistrate’s Office.
"Halt!"
The Cyan Cloud soldiers outside the Governnt Office saw a figure approaching and imdiately shouted, the visitor being a tall, stern-faced man of extraordinary deanor.
With Zhao Pingyuan’s escape, Li Feiyu’s crisis naturally resolved.
"Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau, Li Feiyu requests to see Lord County Magistrate."
"Is it Mr. Li?!"
Upon hearing Su Mu reveal Li Feiyu’s na, the Cyan Cloud soldiers imdiately showed respect, their faces reflecting awe.
Li Feiyu, even with the matters of Gongsun Xin remaining sealed, and the Black Mountain Forest Camp unknown to many, remains among the most renowned figures in Qingyun City.
Previously, Li Feiyu’s reverse slash of Yuan Wuming, one of the four chief protectors among the Black Mountain Rebel Army, during the Changfeng County execution ground gained wide repute.
"Mr. Li, please co in. Lord County Magistrate instructed us to lead you directly to him upon your arrival."
The Cyan Cloud soldiers did not dare neglect their task, guiding Su Mu through multiple corridors of the County Magistrate’s Office to a secluded courtyard sheltered beneath ancient cypress.
At the center of the bluestone-paved courtyard, the grand hall with flying eaves and raised corners had its doors wide open.
Inside, a man in his early thirties was swiftly brushing his pen over paper at his desk. He wore a scholar’s blue robe, his jade-like face complented by thin lips, an extraordinary aura evident from his brows. Next to his inkstone rested the official’s hat, gleaming slightly under the noon sunlight.
"Report to the lord county magistrate..."
The soldier began to speak, but a sharp reprimand cut him off, as a man and woman erged from the shadows in black and white.
"Presumptuous! Who dares disturb the lord county magistrate’s tranquility?!"
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