Chapter 127 - 126: Cloud Matter, a Nursery Rhyme, and a Great Demon’s Abduction
The words "Matters of the Martial World" immediately piqued Su Bai’s interest.
He opened the book to look at the contents.
He never would have expected the first story to be about himself...
[A mysterious Great Power appeared 100 kilometers from the Great Xia Imperial City, slaying a Soaring Demon, nourishing the land, and replenishing the water! The incident, revealed!]
"This is..."
Su Bai’s expression froze for a moment, then he continued reading.
[The old abbot of the Zhengyang Sect passed away not long ago. It is said the true reason involves a plot by the Soul-devouring Demon Sect. Is this the truth?]
[Major event! Xiao Wufan, the second-generation Saint Heir of Rashomon, may face the Soul-devouring Demon Sect’s strongest Saintess in a decisive battle at Heaven-Splitting Canyon!]
"..."
Su Bai finally understood.
Wasn’t this so-called *Matters of the Martial World* basically just a news bulletin?
No wonder it had such a name!
It truly did cover all the major happenings in the Martial Arts World today.
Su Bai flipped through the pages quickly and actually found quite a few incidents related to him!
[The Demon Sect’s Saint Child was slain by a mysterious Great Power in Paradise Hall! The upper echelons of the Soul-devouring Demon Sect have decided to enthrone a new Saint Heir!]
[The Young Tower Master of the Sun and Moon Pavilion unfortunately perished while fighting for the World-Suppressing Demon Soldier, the Vast Sea Halberd. Is the Sun and Moon Pavilion preparing to retaliate?]
[Purple Qi stretches for a thousand miles, a ten-thousand-zhang Golden Dragon soars! It is rumored that this is a manifestation of the Great Xia Dynasty’s fortune. Can this be true?]
...
This issue of *Matters of the Martial World* covered only a few dozen major events that had occurred recently!
Among them, seven or eight were directly or indirectly caused by him!
A complex ripple of emotion stirred in Su Bai’s heart.
’Well, I’ll be!’
’I had no idea until I started counting, and the sheer number is shocking!’
’To think, I’ve been cooped up in this prison the whole time, and without even noticing, I’ve set the entire Martial Arts World in motion.’
"This book is certainly interesting! It really broadens one’s horizons!"
Su Bai closed the book, then asked Chen Yulang, "However, this book looks like a Government Office product, and it seems to be published in issues?"
Chen Yulang nodded with a smile. "Little Brother Su, you are as clever as they say!"
"Correct! This *Matters of the Martial World* is an official report, published by the most mysterious Fate Peeping Pavilion in the Great Xia Dynasty!"
"They publish an issue every month or two. If a lot of major events happen in quick succession, they might print one every half-month!"
"The Fate Peeping Pavilion?"
A curious look appeared on Su Bai’s face. "The Fate Peeping Pavilion puts out this kind of stuff?"
But Chen Yulang said, "The Fate Peeping Pavilion monitors the world. It can spy on many secrets, and the classified information it holds is immeasurable!"
"By leaking just a few items, not only can they stir up storms, but they can also generate extra revenue for the Court. Why wouldn’t they?"
"That makes sense."
Su Bai nodded after a moment of thought.
Increasing the Court’s revenue was secondary; Chen Yulang had made another excellent point.
Stirring up storms!
The Great Xia Dynasty’s territory was vast. Although the Imperial Dynasty was powerful, its lands were riddled with evil factions of all sizes!
The expert Demon Fiends within its borders were all hidden time bombs!
Even with the Prison Suppression Bureau and the Demon-slaying Bureau working to maintain stability, their efforts had limited effect.
But if these factions could be made to oppose and check each other, to make trouble for one another, it would certainly save a lot of headaches!
And now, they had achieved this with just a single official report.
The person who came up with this idea was truly brilliant!
"Little Brother Su, you seem to be somewhat familiar with the Fate Peeping Pavilion?"
Chen Yulang had picked up a few hints from Su Bai’s response.
Su Bai didn’t bother to hide it and answered truthfully, "I work for the Prison Suppression Bureau!"
"I didn’t realize Little Brother Su was an official! My apologies! My sincerest apologies!"
Chen Yulang quickly adopted a respectful expression.
Su Bai couldn’t be bothered with him and asked, "This *Matters of the Martial World* is good. How much is one issue?"
Chen Yulang smiled slyly and said, "The price for each issue is different!"
"This one in your hands, Little Brother... I can bring myself to part with it. I’ll sell it to you cheap. Just thirty silver taels!"
"That expensive?"
Su Bai was slightly taken aback, but after thinking about the information it contained, he didn’t say anything more.
It was no wonder he’d never heard of *Matters of the Martial World* before.
At this price, it was clearly not intended for the general public.
Those who could afford it, or those who were very interested in it, generally had a high level of Martial Arts Cultivation!
After paying the silver taels, Su Bai had just asked Chen Yulang to save him a copy of the next issue of *Matters of the Martial World*.
But then he saw Chen Yulang stealthily take out another item.
It was another book, similar in style to the *Matters of the Martial World* from before!
But the two words written on the cover were...
*Cloud Matter*!
"Little Brother, how about a copy of this as well?"
Chen Yulang spoke in a mysterious, conspiratorial tone. "The *Matters of the Martial World* you just bought records the major events of the Jianghu!"
"This *Cloud Matter* records the private affairs of the talented scholars and beautiful ladies within our Great Xia Dynasty!"
"Every issue has a cover featuring a famous beauty!"
"Take a look at this issue. The person recorded here is the daughter of the current prime minister—Chen Qingqing!"
"It not only has detailed information on Miss Chen, her personality, her hobbies..."
"It even has various portraits of Miss Chen, personally painted by the top artists in the imperial court!"
"..."
In the end, Su Bai couldn’t resist the bookstore owner’s fervent recommendation. Before leaving, he took a copy of *Cloud Matter* with him.
He then discovered that this so-called *Cloud Matter* was twice as expensive as *Matters of the Martial World*!
A single copy cost a full sixty silver taels!
Chen Yulang drawled leisurely,
"*Matters of the Martial World*, in the end, is just rumors and speculation. Some of it is true, some false, and it’s hard to tell the difference!"
"But this *Cloud Matter*... every word recorded inside is true!"
"All the information on the beauties inside, wasn’t it painstakingly collected, piece by piece?"
"Its value is its authenticity!"
"Besides, *Cloud Matter*! It’s a much better seller than the so-called *Matters of the Martial World*!"
"This is the last copy in the shop, and I’m parting with it reluctantly!"
"If this were out in the open where those heirs of powerful families could see it, they’d be fighting over it, even if it cost over a hundred silver taels!"
"Alright, alright! You’re right!"
Seeing that he couldn’t win the argument, Su Bai paid the silver.
He also grabbed two ancient texts from the shelf before he was satisfied.
Fortunately, Su Bai had plenty of silver taels now, so he didn’t bother haggling with this big hustler.
"Interesting!"
Watching Su Bai’s departing figure, Chen Yulang raised his Jade Cup, took a sip of tea, and grinned.
After buying the books and leaving the bookshop, Su Bai returned to the prison.
...
「By a lakeside of cyan mountains and green waters, illuminated by the setting sun.」
It should have been a beautiful scene!
But all that could be seen were several children, tears and snot streaming down their faces, trembling and crying as they chanted a nursery rhyme in unison.
"From the East Sea, a Dragon Mansion appears,
From the Dragon Mansion, a Golden Flood Dragon is born!
The Golden Flood Dragon soars the wide sea,
The wide sea births a Divine Platform!
The Divine Platform reflects sun and moon,
Sun and moon bring down a demonic disaster!
The disaster spreads for ten thousand li,
Ten thousand li of crashing waves!
The waves roll up the common folk,
The common folk are made blood food...
One gulp of blood food makes a True Dragon... makes a True Dragon!"