Chapter 75 - 74: Courting Death
Huo Tianying’s body lay in an open space, surrounded by horrified White Tiger Guards.
The commotion from Chen Yuan and Huo Tianying’s earlier clash had been considerable; they had thought some brazen criminal had broken into the Garrison Mansion.
They never expected to arrive and see Chen Yuan kill Huo Tianying—the man with the highest status and most power in the Garrison Mansion—with a single punch.
Huo Tianying’s former cronies looked at one another, completely at a loss.
If Huo Tianying were still alive, they might have actually followed him, relying on his prestige to defy the new Guardian Envoy and ignore Chen Yuan’s orders.
But now that Huo Tianying was dead, should they continue to resist?
Inside the Council Hall, Lu Wenxing and the other three men were completely stunned.
They were all veterans of Zhenwu Hall and had experienced their fair share of power plays and internal strife.
But nothing had ever been this outrageous—killing someone the moment he took office.
Chen Yuan’s methods couldn’t even be described as crude and brutal. He was a madman! An absolute madman!
It was impossible to guess what he was thinking.
Chen Yuan looked back at Lu Wenxing and the other three men. "Huo Tianying committed insubordination and has been executed by my hand," he said coolly. "As for the four of you, are you willing to obey my orders now?"
Lu Wenxing and the other three nodded repeatedly, afraid that if they were half a beat too slow, they would end up like Huo Tianying.
Having knocked about in Zhenwu Hall for so many years, they had seen just about every type of superior imaginable.
There were the upright and honorable, the petty and small-minded, and those full of cunning schemes.
They could at least make sense of those kinds of superiors. But the man before them now was simply insane!
"Order all White Tiger Guards in the Garrison Mansion to assemble! We will immediately surround and eliminate Qingyang Palace!"
Lu Wenxing and the other three didn’t dare to delay and immediately began to gather their men.
Huo Tianying’s former cronies dared not say another word, obediently falling in line under the command of Lu Wenxing and the other three.
Of the five major powers in Linyuan City—three families, one gang, and one palace—only Qingyang Palace was located outside the city. It enjoyed a great deal of patronage.
Chen Yuan didn’t know the way, so he had Lu Wenxing, the veteran Captain, lead them.
"What is Qingyang Palace’s strength like? Do you know?"
Chen Yuan, mounted on his horse, asked Lu Wenxing, who rode beside him.
Lu Wenxing was speechless for a moment.
’You’re about to wipe them out, and you don’t even know their underlying strength?’
But Lu Wenxing didn’t dare to speak his mind and quickly replied, "Qingyang Palace’s strength is respectable. Its Observatory Master, Cyan Yang Master, has a cultivation at the Sea Realm Early Stage. He also has three disciples in the Qi Casting Realm. The remaining hundred or so Daoists are mostly in the Body Tempering and Meridian Passage Realms."
Chen Yuan nodded, understanding.
Lu Wenxing hesitated, then asked, "Sir, forgive my impertinence, but why are you so insistent on eliminating Qingyang Palace? Surely you don’t actually believe they were involved in the last Guardian Envoy’s death?"
Initially, when Chen Yuan said he would eliminate Qingyang Palace, Lu Wenxing assumed he was just saying it to provoke Huo Tianying into confronting him, giving him a pretext to kill the man.
But Huo Tianying was dead now, and this man was still making a big show of destroying Qingyang Palace. Just how on earth had those Daoists offended him?
Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes and snorted. "Those Daoists have been courting death for a long time. You’ll see soon enough."
Lu Wenxing gave Chen Yuan a strange look.
’Why do I sense not just disgust in his tone, but also a hint of indignation?’
...
Qingyang Palace was situated on a small mountain about five li outside Linyuan City.
The Daoist Temple itself wasn’t large, but it was extremely popular. Many dignitaries and wealthy patrons would come to offer incense during holidays and festivals.
It was especially popular with young women who, after failing to conceive for a long time, would come to Qingyang Palace to offer incense. Almost all of them would become pregnant soon after returning home.
Inside Qingyang Palace, the Cyan Yang Master stepped into a room in the rear hall. He wore a blue-gold Tai Chi Daoist Robe, had a face that belied his white hair, and sported three long wisps of a beard.
A Taoist temple was supposed to be a place of tranquility, but from the rooms in the rear hall came the sounds of lustful panting, enough to make anyone blush.
The Cyan Yang Master suddenly frowned. He walked up to one of the rooms and knocked.
A moment later, a Little Daoist with a bare torso, red lips, and white teeth opened the door.
Behind him, a young woman with disheveled clothes and a flushed face walked out. Blushing, she gave the Cyan Yang Master a small, embarrassed bow.
The Cyan Yang Master gave a gentle nod, his expression serene. "Madam Zhang, rest assured. With the blessing of our Qingyang Palace’s Primordial Yang, I guarantee you will conceive and bear an heir."
After the woman left, the Cyan Yang Master’s face fell. He berated the Little Daoist, "Did you just release your Primordial Yang twice?"
The Little Daoist grinned cheekily. "That Lady Zhang was just too seductive. I couldn’t help myself."
"Shut up! Indulging in momentary pleasure like this... no wonder that among all your martial brothers, despite having the best innate talent, your cultivation progress is the worst!"
The Cyan Yang Master reprimanded him with a cold face, "The scriptures say: One movement without release, and one’s strength will be mighty. Two movements without release, one’s senses will be sharp. Three movements without release, all sickness will vanish. Four movements without release, the five spirits will be at peace. Five movements without release, the blood vessels will flourish. Six movements without release, the back will be strong. Seven movements without release, the hips and legs will gain power. Eight movements without release, the body will glow. Nine movements without release, one’s lifespan will not be lost. Ten movements without release, one will connect with the divine.
Giving the woman a single portion of Primordial Yang is payment enough for her offerings. A second release, however, is a release of your very life force!"
Seeing his master was angry, the Little Daoist quickly lowered his head and apologized.
Just then, a Daoist burst in, shouting, "Master, it’s terrible! The new Guardian Envoy of Linyuan City has surrounded Qingyang Palace with a troop of White Tiger Guards! They’ve driven all the patrons off the mountain!"
"The new Guardian Envoy is Huo Tianying?"
"No, it’s a young man. I didn’t see Huo Tianying."
Upon hearing this, the Cyan Yang Master frowned and snorted. "It seems Huo Tianying’s plot to become Guardian Envoy failed. So, another one has come to shake us down."
The Cyan Yang Master had been certain that Huo Tianying would become the new Guardian Envoy, and had already sent him a considerable number of gifts.
He did so in the hope that once Huo Tianying became Guardian Envoy, he would make things convenient for them.
He couldn’t believe that Huo Tianying was so useless. Even with a brother-in-law for an Inspector, he still failed to secure the Guardian Envoy position.
"Since it has come to this, let’s go and meet this new Guardian Envoy!"
The Cyan Yang Master snorted, flicked the Duster in his hand, and strode out of the rear hall.
In the main hall of Qingyang Palace, Chen Yuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back. A long saber hung at his waist as he looked up at the statue of the Daoist Ancestor.
As the most popular Daoist Temple in the Linyuan City area, Qingyang Palace was clearly very wealthy—even the statue of the Daoist Ancestor was gilded.
However, the fragrance wafting through the Daoist Temple lacked any sense of Taoist tranquility. Instead, it was cloyingly sweet.
"Lord Guardian, please forgive us for not giving you a more fitting welcome upon your arrival."
The Cyan Yang Master led his disciples out in a procession. He bowed to Chen Yuan and said with a smile, "I am the Observatory Master of Qingyang Palace, and my Daoist name is Qingyang. May I ask for the Lord Guardian’s name?"
"Certainly. I am Chen Tian, and I took control of Linyuan City today."
The Cyan Yang Master’s expression was unchanged, but his mind raced. There was no one by that name in the Linyuan Town Garrison Mansion, nor, it seemed, in the entire Kaiping Prefecture Zhenwu Hall. Moreover, he could sense that the man before him was only in the Qi Casting Realm. To become a Guardian Envoy with such a low cultivation meant he must have powerful backing, just like Huo Tianying. He was likely the relative of some Inspector—that was the only way he could have pushed Huo Tianying aside.
"So, I wonder what business brings Chen Zhenshou to my Qingyang Palace?"
Chen Yuan said languidly, "The previous Guardian Envoy died under mysterious circumstances. Someone has come forward claiming your Qingyang Palace was responsible, so I’ve come to investigate."
"Utter nonsense!"
The Cyan Yang Master retorted angrily, "When Peng Guardian Envoy died, I and all the disciples of Qingyang Palace were right here in the palace! Countless patrons from Linyuan City can attest to that.
Who exactly is this informant? Chen Zhenshou, bring him forward! I wish to confront him face-to-face!"
"That won’t be necessary. All you have to do, Master Daoist, is open up Qingyang Palace and allow us to conduct a search. If we find no evidence, your innocence will naturally be proven."
The Cyan Yang Master took a deep breath.
He finally understood. The man was just here to make trouble!
How could he possibly let the men from Zhenwu Hall see what was inside Qingyang Palace?
Even if Qingyang Palace were completely innocent with nothing to hide, he couldn’t just let them search as they pleased. What would become of Qingyang Palace’s reputation?
The Cyan Yang Master walked up to Chen Yuan and lowered his voice. "Chen Zhenshou, I understand now why you’ve come.
Please, return to Linyuan City and wait. Tomorrow, I will personally visit the Garrison Mansion with a gift to congratulate you on taking charge of Linyuan City."
After speaking, a trace of disdain flashed in the Cyan Yang Master’s eyes.
After all that talk, he was just here to extort them. But his methods were so crude.
Normally, whenever a new Guardian Envoy took office, Qingyang Palace sent a gift.
He had just assumed Huo Tianying was a shoo-in for the position, so he sent the gift early, never expecting some replacement to be dropped in at the last minute.
Giving an extra gift was no big deal. Qingyang Palace was a major operation; they weren’t short on cash.
But for this man to come knocking on his very first day in office, so impatiently... this new Guardian Envoy’s vision was far too narrow.
"No, Master Daoist, you still don’t know why I have come."
Chen Yuan said with a half-smile, "There’s no need for gifts. If you can hand over the Spiritual Jade left by the successor of the Profound Celestial Temple, I can refrain from searching Qingyang Palace."
The Cyan Yang Master’s expression changed drastically. He glared at Chen Yuan and said coldly, "What Profound Celestial Temple? I’ve never heard of it!
Lord Chen, it’s clear to me now that you’re just here to make trouble! Even if your Zhenwu Hall holds sway over all of Ning Province, you can’t just punish without cause!
My Qingyang Palace may be just a small Daoist Temple, lacking great strength or deep reserves, but we are not a group to be trifled with!
Inspector Qi Yuanming of Kaiping Prefecture himself is a frequent visitor to my Qingyang Palace! If you dare to act recklessly, I will go to Kaiping Prefecture and report you!"
Behind Chen Yuan, Lu Wenxing and the others looked at the Cyan Yang Master with strange expressions.
’This guy just killed Qi Yuanming’s own brother-in-law in broad daylight. You think he’s going to be scared of Qingyang Palace?’