Chapter 36 - 30: Shangguan Luoxue
"Catch a ghost?"
Jiang Mu’s eyes lit up. "Ghosts are a type of Demon Fiend, right? Don’t worry, Sir. I’ll slay any and all spirits and specters that come my way!"
Ran Qingshan was rather speechless.
’This kid... all he thinks about is slaying demons and fiends.’
He shook his head and said flatly, "Not that kind of ghost. I want you to catch a mole."
"A mole?"
"Yes. Last time the Fog Demon invaded Hu State, the timing was far too precise. It was perfectly timed for when General Shangguan was in seclusion attempting a breakthrough, and right when the City Defense Array happened to fail.
Ran Qingshan said, his expression grave,
"The General Office—myself included—suspects that someone was pulling the strings.
What’s more, the Demons hidden throughout the city all emerged to wreak havoc at nearly the same instant. It’s obvious someone was secretly masking their auras and feeding them intelligence."
Jiang Mu grew thoughtful.
"Lord Chief, are you suggesting there’s a spy in the Demon-slaying Bureau?"
"Maybe in the Bureau, maybe elsewhere." Ran Qingshan sighed. "Even I can’t make sense of this situation anymore."
"Then why give this mission to me?"
Jiang Mu was confused.
He was just a rookie.
Ran Qingshan’s tone was candid.
"You just joined the Bureau, so your ties to the various factions aren’t deep. Plus... with the recent tragedy in your family, you have even fewer connections to the outside world. All things considered, I trust you more."
Jiang Mu understood.
’The implication is that Ran Qingshan has grown suspicious of the other veterans in the Bureau, and perhaps the entire bureaucracy of Hu State.’
’As a rookie who’s also a victim, I’ve become a relatively ’clean’ option.’
’After all, my entire family was killed.’
’With this much hatred, it’s impossible for me to collude with Demons.’
Of course, he also knew he probably wasn’t the only one assigned to track down the mole.
’I’m probably just a disposable pawn.’
’Ran Qingshan must have other, more covert plans in motion.’
’The only reason he gave this to me is because he thinks I’m ’trustworthy.’ He’s just taking a chance on me.’
"You don’t need to go out of your way to investigate. That would just tip them off."
Ran Qingshan instructed,
"On a normal day, just go about your patrols and cases as usual. Simply keep an extra eye out and observe your colleagues for any abnormal words or actions.
When you’re on a case, look for any illogical oversights or coincidences... things of that nature. Remember, keep your observations discreet. Don’t make a scene."
"I understand, Sir. I won’t let you down."
Jiang Mu cupped his fist and accepted the order.
...
After Jiang Mu left, the room fell silent once more.
Ran Qingshan rubbed the bridge of his nose and leaned back wearily in his chair.
’This mole... who could it be?’
’General Shangguan failed her breakthrough, and her Dao Foundation is damaged. The Fog Demon was only repelled... If it returns, who will be left to defend Hu State?’
WHOOSH—
Just then, a gust of frigid wind blew the closed wooden window open.
A flurry of snow swirled into the room on the breeze.
The snowflakes weren’t an ordinary white, but a bewitching, regal purple.
The purple snow swirled and danced within the room.
In the interplay of light and shadow,
a slender, graceful figure materialized from the blizzard.
It was a woman.
She wore a long, flowing purple gown reminiscent of clouds. Her shoulders were sharp and straight, her waist full but firm. The impressive curve of her chest, like a rising full moon, was completely offset by an icy aura that forbade any stray thoughts.
Without moving a single step, her very presence was overwhelming.
Ran Qingshan’s expression changed. He scrambled to his feet and bowed respectfully, his hands clasped.
"This subordinate greets General Shangguan."
The newcomer was none other than the Garrison Envoy of Hu State, one of the most renowned and powerful experts in the Great Qing Empire—Shangguan Luoxue.
"Well?"
Shangguan Luoxue’s voice was as clear and cold as the light tap of a jade chime.
Flakes of purple snow drifted around her, exuding a natural air of detachment and oppression.
Cold sweat beaded on Ran Qingshan’s forehead. He lowered his head and said,
"To answer, General, we are still investigating covertly. The matter appears to be unrelated to Yunzhou City."
"Appears to be?"
The woman’s gaze flickered.
Her pupils were a rare, pale violet.
"It is definitely unrelated!"
Ran Qingshan said through gritted teeth,
"General, this subordinate is not concealing anything out of personal attachment. It is true that I was the one who offered to loan the Array materials when Yunzhou City was short, not Director Xia who requested them.
I just never expected the Fog Demon to invade at that precise moment... It was my mistake and my mistake alone, a complete dereliction of duty!"
At this, waves of regret washed over Ran Qingshan.
’If I hadn’t been so impulsive and transferred those key materials, the City Defense Array wouldn’t have failed.’
’The Fog Demon would have had no opening, and General Shangguan could have completed her breakthrough in peace.’
At Shangguan Luoxue’s level of cultivation, every attempt to reach a higher realm required lengthy preparation, and such opportunities were fleeting.
Had she succeeded, she would have ascended to the legendary Thirteenth Realm, joining the absolute pinnacle of power in the world, perhaps even challenging for the title of "Number One Under Heaven."
But now, it had all been for nothing.
’If not for my connections, and the fact that they’re short-handed, ten of my heads wouldn’t have been enough to pay for this mistake.’
’That Patrol Envoy, Ling Ye, suddenly showed up. Ostensibly, it was to hunt Demons, but I bet the real reason was to check on her former disciple, wasn’t it?’
’I wonder if that master and disciple, with their complicated relationship, have met in private.’
"Who, in your opinion, did not want me to achieve my breakthrough?"
Shangguan Luoxue asked coolly.
Cold sweat soaked Ran Qingshan’s back.
’There’s a whole list of people who don’t want you to have a breakthrough.’
’The Thirteenth Realm is no small feat. Anyone who achieves it would shake the world and upend the existing balance of power.’
’There’s no telling how many factions’ nerves that would rattle.’
’Especially the other top-tier entities who covet higher Star Positions and control vast resources...’
’But how could he possibly say that out loud?’
Shangguan Luoxue didn’t seem to actually expect an answer and didn’t press the matter.
She raised a pale hand, and a streak of light landed on the desk, materializing into a smooth, translucent jade slip.
"This contains a Cultivation Technique. Take it to the Service Hall to be analyzed and transcribed. Remember to change its name."
Shangguan Luoxue’s voice was detached.
"Once it’s transcribed, distribute it to all male Cultivators of the Third Realm within the Bureau and have them attempt to practice it."
"This is..."
Ran Qingshan looked up in confusion.
Shangguan Luoxue didn’t explain, merely stating coolly,
"Whoever succeeds in learning it first, I will naturally sense it. When that happens, he can be granted the position of an orthodox Earth Evil Star Official."
As her voice faded, so did her form.
She dissolved back into a cloud of magnificent purple motes of light, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
The room fell silent once again, leaving only a faint chill in the air.
Wiping away his cold sweat, Ran Qingshan picked up the jade slip.
He sent his spiritual sense into it.
Just a moment later, his eyes widened, and he gasped.
"The Purple Mansion Agreement?!"
Ran Qingshan was so shocked he nearly dropped the jade slip.
He knew, of course, what this was.
It was the supreme, secret scripture of the ancient Jade Pool Holy Sect, an incredibly profound Cultivation Technique for male and female Cultivation Companions!
Once mastered, this technique allowed one to repair a damaged Star Pill and Divine Soul in an extremely short period through yin-yang union.
"How could this be..."
Ran Qingshan murmured, his expression turning grim.
Given Shangguan Luoxue’s proud and aloof nature, she had always despised such unorthodox shortcuts.
For her to resort to this method now...
It could only mean her injuries were far more severe than anyone suspected!
It was even possible that her Star Position itself was at risk.
After all, to lose one’s Star Position was to fall from the heavens into the mire.
Just like her master, Ling Ye, had.
At this thought, Ran Qingshan felt a crushing weight settle upon his heart.
’This Cultivation Technique is incredibly difficult to even begin. It places extreme demands on a Cultivator’s comprehension, disposition, and even their Innate talent. Throughout history, very few have ever managed it.’
’And the male Cultivator must be of the Third Realm.’
’Once they successfully cultivate together, the man will never be able to break through again for the rest of his life. He’ll be stuck at the Third Realm forever.’
’A single mistake could even cost him his life.’
’No wonder the General is willing to promise the position of an orthodox Earth Evil Star Official. It’s not just a reward, it’s compensation. The price... for buying out his entire future.’
The problem was, anyone capable of mastering this technique would have to be a genius of supreme talent.
Someone destined to go much further on their path of cultivation.
Who would be willing to sacrifice their entire future to become General Shangguan’s Cultivation Companion?
Ran Qingshan let out a long sigh.
"What a predicament."