Chapter 737: Chapter 474: Zhao Douan Steps into the Worldly Realm
Under the lamplight, her skin was like peach blossoms.
"It’s late, let’s sleep."
"Oh."
Putting away the spoils on the table, Xu Zhenguan got into bed, Zhao Douan made a makeshift bed on the floor. The latter extinguished the candle in the room with a wave of his hand, plunging it into darkness.
Moonlight streamed in through the paper-covered window.
Xu Zhenguan said softly: "The Yin Yang Tree is extraordinary, but it can’t help you breakthrough in just one or two tries. We’ll need to stay here for some more days."
"This will delay Her Majesty’s journey back to the capital." Zhao Douan hesitated to speak.
Xu Zhenguan was silent for a moment and said, "It doesn’t matter. Breaking through is more important."
Compared to traveling a few more days, whether Zhao Douan can advance is related to the dynasty’s future direction. She thought it through clearly.
"Okay."
"Sleep."
"Alright."
The sound of insects and dogs barking, an uneventful night passed.
...
The next day, after the ruler and minister got up, they used the pretext of avoiding military disasters to give the Liu Family some silver taels, expressing their wish to stay a few more days.
The Liu Family readily agreed, and was also willing to let the phony girl spend more time with the two "young masters and ladies from wealthy families" to learn.
Thus, the ruler and minister temporarily settled down. Zhao Douan, under the guise of "going out to inquire about the outside situation," went out during the day, but actually went up the mountain to the spring in the temple, using the Yin Yang Tree to aid his breakthrough.
He returned at dusk, and when the night was silent, he quietly went up the mountain again, working tirelessly day and night.
This Yin Yang Tree was indeed magical, as long as he soaked in the spring water, when he practiced breathing, his whole body felt like it was burning.
The red flames flickering among the black and white small tree leaves repeatedly scorched Zhao Douan’s Qi mechanism and divine soul, tempering them to become ever purer.
He could clearly perceive that his stagnant cultivation was beginning to improve at a visibly fast pace, and he believed that in a few days, he could "overflow when water is full," breaking through the barrier.
After discussing this with the Empress, it further strengthened the ruler and minister’s resolve to stay, breakthrough first, then escape.
Xu Zhenguan stayed in the village, besides taking the pills left by Master Gu Huo to heal his injuries, simply put on a straw hat, picked up a hoe, and went to weed and catch bugs in the flower fields with the Liu Family.
The dignified ruler didn’t avoid it at all.
It only took one day for all the villagers in Baihua Village to like this noble, gentle and polite "young lady from a wealthy family" who didn’t look down on them at all despite being at the bottom.
The lively and mischievous blonde girl "phony girl" also stuck to the Empress all day, getting even closer to her.
On the first day, the Empress learned the basic skills of planting and cultivating flowers from the Liu Family.
On the second day, in the fields, the Empress was already able to keep up with the villagers’ work without falling behind.
On the third day, these farming tasks had become second nature, and she did them better than the best flower farmers in the village.
On the fourth day, the whole village was astonished to find that the flowers tended by "Miss Xu" grew particularly lush and beautiful, which was unbelievable.
...
...
Just when the ruler and minister seemed to have integrated into Baihua Village, this paradise away from the world.
A group of unexpected guests arrived in the county town where Baihua Village was located.
Inside the county government.
Ouyang Ye, wearing a hood to hide the tattoo on his face, sat brazenly in the chair of the county government’s main hall. Above his head was a plaque inscribed with the words "Justice and Honesty."
And on both sides of the hall sat Yao Shiniang, with an alluring figure, heavy makeup, and a few wrinkles on her face.
And the sorcerer "White-headed Eagle" with disheveled white hair and a red bone flute hanging from his waist.
Three days ago, they escaped Eunuch Hai’s grasp using "transmission," saving their lives, then regrouping. With reinforcements sent by the Prince, they set off on the pursuit again.
Eunuch Hai, although skilled in martial arts, had limited manpower, and even the strongest cultivators could not withstand continuous onslaught.
Despite his best efforts to block them, he allowed this rebel army to enter the Huai River and followed the "scent" to track them down again.
"Lord Ouyang, I truly do not know the whereabouts of Zhao Douan," the local County Magistrate bowed and scraped, feigning a smile while sweat covered his forehead.
He was not under the command of Prince Jing, just a newly appointed County Magistrate in Huai River’s jurisdiction.
Before he could even warm his seat, he learned that the Empress had been assassinated during a sealing, her whereabouts unknown, and various Vassal Kings had raised troops to "rescue the king."
This period was indeed excruciating, and he was ready to pledge loyalty to whichever side arrived first.
At this moment, he hurriedly said, "I have long looked forward to Prince Jing, now that the forces of the Royal Mansion have arrived, our county will certainly do its utmost to serve the Prince..."
Ouyang Ye rested his legs on the trial table in the main hall, glanced at him, and said:
"I received a secret intelligence report that traces of the thief were found in your jurisdiction, and you, as the County Magistrate, know nothing?"
"I truly don’t know..." the County Magistrate explained with a pained expression.
Ouyang Ye looked at him with a sardonic smile, when suddenly, a sharp flash of a blade swept through the courtroom!
"Pfft!"
The blade cut through flesh, and everyone in the hall was shocked to see Ouyang Ye decapitate the County Magistrate with a single stroke!
A head rolled down, eyes wide with astonishment, then the headless body dressed in official robes spewed fresh blood and fell backward!
"Ah——"
The archivists, constables, and other officials in the hall were terrified, their faces ashen, with fright!
They wanted to flee but were watched by a whole squad of rebel cavalry in the courtyard, with no way to escape.
Ouyang Ye turned his wrist, shaking the blood off the Miao Blade, creating a red line on the gray ground, he sneered and said:
"The Prince doesn’t accept just anyone. Those who defect in the face of danger, if the Prince accepts them, still have to worry about betrayal and desertion."
At this time, two secret agents walked in from outside the hall, one of them said:
"Lord, the interrogation is complete. It’s suspected that the Zhao thief entered the local Baihua Village a few days ago, hiding there."