Fourteen days ago, Author: Pig Heart Shrimp
Chapter 36: Changes
Gu Wen disappeared into the rain curtain with nine top-grade Dragon Tiger Pills.
Instead of leaving, he turned a corner and entered the large courtyard where Hu Sanyuan's henchmen gathered.
The hall that should have been used to receive guests had been turned into a private gambling den.
The thugs gathered gold and silver on the gambling tables, shouting with flushed faces.
They treated the gambling chips as if they were the common people kneeling and begging for mercy after being lent money at high interest rates.
Roaring, greedy, vicious.
In the rain curtain, the entrance to the courtyard was closed.
A figure in black robes and a bamboo hat walked slowly, casually picking up a stick at the entrance.
Since they were going to kill anyway, they didn't mind killing a few more.
Following one's heart was all that mattered.
The thugs looked at him, puzzled by the appearance of a hooded figure, but it didn't stop them from showing their ferocity.
Boom!
A flash of lightning passed by, and in the courtyard, there were already corpses lying around Gu Wen.
Some had just died, some fell on the way to escape.
Dozens of people were no match for him alone.
Mortal bodies were fragile, and the ruffians lacked courage.
They started to fear after killing only seven or eight people.
Some managed to crawl out, but it didn't matter.
Gu Wen rolled up all the money with a piece of cloth, slung it over his back, and swaggered out of the mansion.
There were several bodies at the entrance, and He Huan and Hu Sanyuan's wife were riding a horse.
"Friend from the mortal world is in a good mood. Carrying so much, but it's only a few hundred taels. Is it worth it?"
A big bag barely worth a few hundred taels was not worth robbing.
"If you don't want it, someone else will."
Gu Wen stepped out of the gate.
The torrential rain had stopped, and the bright moon was just appearing.
He walked briskly into the alley, scattering a handful of coins on the ground.
The sound woke up the beggars hiding in the dark corners.
Countless people crawled out, picking up coins on the ground.
They were overjoyed, shedding tears of gratitude.
Then they bowed to Gu Wen's back, as if receiving a bit of silver could save them from suffering.
Gu Wen knew that most of them would eventually die in the chaotic world, but they would remember the silver he scattered, the fraction of a meal it provided.
What he scattered was a piece of moonlight, a ray of hope, a remedy for disaster.
Gu Wen threw away the last bit of silver, walked away confidently, leaving behind a hearty laugh echoing.
"Today, I have eliminated fifty evils and saved over a thousand lives. If there comes a day when I soar above the clouds, I will slaughter tens of thousands but also save the world."
With clear thoughts, his heart sword trembled, growing from the size of a finger to the size of two fingers.
The next day, at the Hu Residence.
Hundreds of yamen surrounded the mansion, while countless commoners outside pointed and whispered.
Several corpses were carried out, and cheers could be heard from the crowd.
The commoners were more excited than watching executions at the market, showing how despicable Hu Sanyuan and his loan sharks were.
That was why most noble families did not openly run moneylending businesses under their own names, fearing a potential uprising against them.
In the southern part of the city, the Xiang Office, similar to the capital's public security bureau, the Xiang official in charge felt his scalp go numb and quickly reported the situation.
Upon learning that this was related to the Ninth Prince, orders were given to inform Zhao Feng.
Early in the morning, Zhao Feng, who had just finished grooming, was furious.
He roared, "How dare these bandits be so bold in the Divine Capital of Bianjing! How dare they kill and destroy households! What are the Xiang Office (public security), military patrols, and night watchmen doing? Haven't they noticed anything?"
He couldn't imagine how over fifty young men had been killed without any response.
Feng Baoming, the young eunuch who replaced the old eunuch Feng Xiang, trembled as he answered with his head bowed, "Last night, a night watchman noticed something unusual and went to report to the nearby Xiang Office."
"And the yamen dispatched couldn't find the culprit?"
"The yamen felt it was dangerous and turned to the military patrols for assistance."
"The patrols, armed and armored, couldn't catch the culprit?"
"The patrols were drunk and couldn't even put on their armor properly, so they decided to wait until they sobered up."
"..."
Zhao Feng fell silent completely.
Then, his pale face gradually turned red with anger, and the entire Wang Mansion echoed with his furious roars, causing the servants and royal guards to lower their heads.
The sound reached the courtyard, where Yu Hua lowered her head, reading a book, pretending not to hear.
The old donkey heard the news and walked into the courtyard with a smile, saying, "Bianjing is getting lively. I wonder which family's descendant has such audacity to start killing people under the Divine Emperor's feet."
"Just an old man guarding the alchemy furnace," Yu Hua said without lifting her head. "This world is about to perish, and the sect's true immortals may be getting old and confused."
The old donkey smirked.
Since the last incident, the celestial maiden of the Sanqing Daoist Sect had truly become a celestial maiden.
They used to address her with great respect, but now they couldn't help but curse at the old Daoist.
"Perhaps the end is near, but not yet. At least not within ten years. And don't underestimate the Zhao family. There is another true immortal guarding the border, General Wen Ren of the Pillar of the Nation."
Yu Hua said calmly, "I can kill him just as easily."
The old donkey was speechless.
Although Yu Hua would deplete her essence using her celestial power, she could indeed kill anyone, and it wouldn't be a fair fight.
If Yu Hua could fully utilize the power of the Ancestor Qing Cang, she might be able to kill all seven or eight true immortals before exhausting her lifespan.
This was the conclusion drawn by the many true immortals of the Sanqing Daoist Sect after confirming Yu Hua's possession of the power of Qing Cang.
Of course, their conflicts would never escalate to that point.
On the contrary, the Sanqing Daoist Sect acknowledged Yu Hua's authority in Daqian, even second only to the Sect Leader, the Heavenly Venerable.
The little ancestor had truly become a grand ancestor.
The old donkey sighed.
He dared not accept any benefits from the Zhao family anymore because Yu Hua might beat him up.
Zhao Feng also dared not guard the gate anymore because Yu Hua might cripple him.
Even the Divine Emperor no longer subtly encouraged Zhao Feng, as Yu Hua could overturn his alchemy furnace.
All the true immortals could accept these changes, except for the young Zhao family member, who still looked confused.
Perhaps his level of understanding had not reached the point where he could comprehend the awe-inspiring Law Realm that had been revealed that day.
He couldn't see it.
He only placed his hopes in cultivation and the token.
"Zhao Feng is preparing for cultivation and refining the jade pendant, estimated to be completed within the year."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Well... Little Ancestor, he is your protector after all."
"He is not worthy."
Yu Hua's voice was indifferent, looking at the old donkey with a slight raise of her eyebrows, as if she were a heavenly voice.
"I am already the top of the Heavenly Rankings. My protector should be the best in the world. If there isn't one, then there's no need for it. Let him be proud of that jade pendant."
If Gu Wen didn't want it, then she didn't need to settle for it.
Gu Residence
Gu Wen woke up feeling refreshed.
It was the best sleep he had in five years, as if he had finally released the pressure that had been weighing on his chest for years.
And this was not just a one-time release; it would be continuous, irreversible momentum.
Counting the spoils of last night, nine top-grade Dragon Tiger Pills were of little use to him but could be traded for twenty-five times their value, equivalent to a spiritual treasure.
With a deposit of four thousand five hundred taels and nine top-grade Dragon Tiger Pills, he was quite wealthy.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Master Wen, wake up!"
The door suddenly knocked, and Gu Wen, with a good memory, recognized the urgent voice of the new young eunuch from the Wang Mansion, Feng Baoming.
It was said that the chief steward in the inner palace was surnamed Feng, so all the eunuchs in Daqian were surnamed Feng.
As expected, when he opened the door, the young eunuch anxiously said, "Master Wen, the Ninth Prince summons you. Please get ready and come with me to the Wang Mansion."
What could it be this time?
Gu Wen remained calm.
There were no surveillance cameras in ancient times, and he had always presented himself as a mere merchant.
About an hour later, the carriage stopped outside the Wang Mansion.
Along the way, Gu Wen saw a familiar face.
The dashing Bai Sheng He Huan was being pulled by the clothes by a young woman on Longqiao Street.
After a little inquiry, he learned that the woman was the daughter of the Minister of War, and they then boarded a carriage back to her residence.
Gu Wen could only sigh that having a good appearance was also an advantage.
Furthermore, Gu Wen saw a monk who drank and dined without paying, claiming not to give money to evildoers.
He then got into a fight with the inn's staff, holding his ground against a dozen opponents until the patrols arrived.
The patrols couldn't defeat the drunken monk.
Gu Wen judged that he was also a worldly person, but he paid no attention.
Gu Wen walked down and arrived at the study to see Zhao Feng, who still looked as sickly as before.
Upon seeing Gu Wen, Zhao Feng unexpectedly stood up and grabbed his hand, saying, "Gu Qing, I only have you left as a capable person by my side. There is something I need you to do."
"Please speak, Your Highness. I will not hesitate to go through fire and water for you."
Gu Wen responded with formal words without batting an eyelid.
"In recent days, I ordered some pills from the Qian Feng Tower in Longqiao. Originally, it was meant for Hu Sanyuan. Unexpectedly, that despicable servant failed to deliver and was killed last night, losing the pills as well."
Zhao Feng furrowed his brows, then changed his tone, saying, "Gu Qing, I need you to take over this matter, go to the Qian Feng Tower, and purchase the pills."
Gu Wen blinked.
Another favor delivered to his doorstep?
Many books are now hard to find, so cherish what you have.