In the inner hall of the county office.
Chen Tong sat at the table with a frown as he stared at the mound of information with a worried expression.
A young girl who looked to be 18 or 19 years old was sitting on a chair not far away, her two calves dangling in the air impatiently.
She was playing with a sheathed long sword.
The scabbard was made of purple wood. It was rather exquisite but not too eye-catching.
The hilt of this sword was carved with the shape of clouds. The material was neither gold nor jade, but it was suffused with a faint purple light, making it obvious that this sword was extraordinary.
“Brother, is the mission that the Governor gave you so important?”
Chen Ying placed her sword on the table beside her and cupped her face with her hands. She muttered softly, “You don’t even talk to me after coming back to the governor court. Also, why are there so few people in your governor court?”
At this moment, although Chen Tong was still an independent county captain, he no longer had any subordinates in the residence.
Only the ordinary servants and constables were left.
He was making his attitude clear, clearly acknowledging the county governor as his superior.
This behavior made Chen Ying very curious.
What was the Governor like?
He could actually make his brother so convinced.
Although the last time she came back was ten years ago when she was only in her teens, she still remembered Chen Tong’s high-spirited attitude back then. Her brother did not care much about the county governor at that time.
“Brother, tell me about it.” Chen Ying jumped down from her chair and walked around Chen Tong. She giggled and said, “What kind of person is that governor? Is he very powerful?”
“Lord Governor is a god-like figure,” Chen Tong explained simply, but his gaze was still focused on the table.
These were all kinds of information about Wang Jinsheng. They were very detailed, even about what he had done when he was young.
He had interrogated Wang Jinsheng himself.
The problem now was how to quickly spread the news that Wang Jinsheng was imprisoned in Lu County based on this information.
It would be best if everyone knew.
He had tried to tell this news to the foreign merchants who came and went, paying them to help spread the news, but he could clearly feel that the merchants were just patronizing him.
Although Cui Heng had killed a large number of local merchants in Lu County City, the foreign merchants did not care much about it. They were only borrowing the convenience of the Hong River’s water transportation passage to come here to buy and sell goods. They would not stay long, so they were not affected much.
“Huhu, perfunctory.” Chen Ying pouted. She was a little dissatisfied with Chen Tong’s attitude, but she was not someone who liked to throw a tantrum. She quietly came to the table and looked at the information on it. She said in surprise, “It’s someone from the Wang Clan of Langya.”
“You also know about the Wang Clan of Langya?” Chen Tong looked up at his sister and asked curiously, “Didn’t your Immortal Dawn Sect seal off the mountain a hundred years ago?”
“Brother, are you stupid? It’s not like the Wang Clan of Langya has only appeared in the past hundred years.” Chen Ying couldn’t help but roll her eyes and say, “Besides, although we’ve sealed the mountain, there are often disciples who come down to investigate the matters of the world.”
Before returning to the County City, the two of them had already spent seven days together. They were no longer as distant as when they first met, and they spoke very casually.
They were like siblings who had been together for many years.
“Aiya, I’ve been thinking about something else and got a little confused.” Chen Tong patted his head. He had embarrassed himself in front of his sister.
“Hmph, since you’re usually good at cooking, I’ll forgive you!” Chen Ying crossed her arms with a smile, as if she was very magnanimous. She asked again, “I heard you muttering to yourself these past two days. Do you want to spread the news that Wang Jinsheng is locked up here?”
“Yes, the governor has ordered me to find a way to spread the news that Wang Jinsheng is being held in Lu County.” Chen Tong nodded and said, “It’s best if everyone knows.”
“Ah?” Chen Ying was a little surprised when she heard that. She asked curiously, “You want everyone to know about it, not just the people from the Wang Clan of Langya?”
“That’s not compulsory.” Chen Tong shook his head.
“That’s too simple.” Chen Ying clapped her hands and smiled. “Brother, if I think of a way for you, tell me what kind of person the governor is, okay?”
“You really have a way?” Chen Tong looked at his sister suspiciously. In his impression, this girl only knew how to eat, drink, shop, and play. She looked strong and vigorous, but she didn’t look very smart.
It had to be said that in the eyes of an elder brother, no matter how beautiful his younger sister was, she was still at the level of a flower. In the eyes of others, Chen Ying’s appearance could already be considered a national beauty. However, in Chen Tong’s eyes, she was not as delicate and pretty as the girl next door.
“Promise me first.” Chen Ying looked smug and said with a smile.
“You go first.” Chen Tong did not fall for his sister’s tricks.
“Heh, you only know how to bully me. I only come back once in a while.” Chen Ying stomped her feet in dissatisfaction, but she still pretended to be helpless and said, “Sigh~ alright! Master said that one should do more good deeds and help others. I’ll do good things for once. Brother, let me ask you, since ancient times, what’s the easiest to spread and what’s the easiest to be known?”
“Government decrees?” Chen Tong pondered.
“Tsk, why would ordinary people care about these things? You definitely haven’t walked around the streets before.” Chen Ying said disdainfully, “It’s the legendary stories told by the storytellers.
I’ve already toured the entire Lu County in the past two days. There’s a teahouse in the south of the city. The storyteller inside is very popular among the people. There’s also one in the west of the city. As long as they start speaking, the teahouse will definitely be filled with people.
Also, the merchants who come from outside also like to buy some storybooks from the book club to take away to relieve their boredom on the way home.”
“You mean to make the news of Wang Jinsheng being locked up here into a legendary story and let the storytellers tell it, printing it into books and distributing it to passing merchants?” Chen Tong suddenly understood.
“Otherwise?” Chen Ying smiled and said, “Many people like to recommend things they like and stories they like to others. What other way can be faster than for the people to spread it spontaneously?”
“This really seems feasible!” Chen Tong couldn’t help but nod after thinking about it. He looked at Chen Ying in surprise. “How did you think of this? You were so stupid when you were young.”
“Pfft! Who are you calling stupid?!” Chen Ying was very dissatisfied.
She had grown up on the mountain since she was young and rarely interacted with people from the mortal world. The people in the mountain were all older than her, so she still had a childish temperament.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
At this moment, the sound of clapping could be heard from outside. It was Cui Heng walking over with Hui Shi.
“Greetings, my Lord!” Chen Tong hurriedly stood up and bowed.
“Lord?” Chen Ying was stunned for a moment before she bowed respectfully to Cui Heng. “Greetings, Lord.”
Although she did not know who Cui Heng was, the only person in Lu County who could make Chen Tong address him respectfully was the governor.
This governor was someone extremely important to Chen Tong, so as his sister, she had to perform well.
She could not leave a bad impression on her brother’s superior. Although the two of them often quarreled these days, they were still very good at taking care of each other in front of outsiders.
“There’s no need to be so polite.” Cui Heng waved his hand. His gaze landed on Chen Ying, but did not leave.
“My Lord…” Chen Tong panicked.
“Lord, you’ve been looking at me for a long time.” Chen Ying smiled and touched her cheek. “Are there rice beads on my face?”
She was trying to lighten the mood.
In reality, her cultivation realm was already equivalent to the peak of the Inner World realm. How could she not notice if there was rice on her face?
“You’re a disciple of the Immortal Dawn Sect?” Cui Heng suddenly asked.
“Ah?” Chen Ying was stunned when she heard that. She blinked her bright eyes and put on a blank expression. “Lord, what is the Immortal Dawn Sect?”
The disciples of the Immortal Dawn Sect had to hide their identities and keep a low profile when they left the mountain.
They could not act in the name of a disciple of the Immortal Dawn Sect.
Outside Cangcheng Mountain, only Chen Tong should know that she was a disciple of the Immortal Dawn Sect.
She did not think that her brother would reveal this information.
Chen Tong, who was standing at the side, could not help but look at Cui Heng in shock. He hurriedly lowered his head. He wanted to explain to Chen Ying, but at this moment, explaining was undoubtedly admitting it.
Clang!
At this moment, the sound of a sword suddenly sounded in the void. It was like a crane soaring into the sky, piercing through the minds of the three people present.
At the same time, green sword lights appeared out of thin air and danced around Cui Heng. Layers of colorful clouds spread out with the sword lights, quickly filling the entire inner hall with colorful lights.
“Immortal Dawn Sword Art?!” Chen Ying could not help but exclaim. She looked at Cui Heng in disbelief and was extremely shocked. “You, how do you know my sect’s secret technique, and…”
She wasn’t sure if she should say the rest.
Because she even suspected that she was hallucinating just now!
What Cui Heng had displayed just now was the highest achievement of the Immortal Dawn Sword Art, “Sword Light Flying Clouds”. To her, this was already a legendary realm.
Only the current Sect Master and a few elders could reach this level.
Why was it seen in the hands of an outsider?
It was even a man!
The Immortal Dawn Sect never accepted male disciples.
At most, someone had wandered down the mountain and coincidentally taught some men martial arts. However, those people could not even be considered as in-name disciples, let alone be capable of imparting the sect’s ultimate techniques.
“I have some connections with your Ancestral Master.” Cui Heng’s eyes were deep as he sighed softly.
Looking at Chen Ying in front of him, his gaze seemed to have crossed 200 years and he saw the little girl practicing her swordplay in front of him again.
“With my… Ancestral Master?!” Chen Ying was a little stunned and felt that her thoughts could not keep up.
Buzz! Buzz!
At this moment, the purple sword that Chen Ying had placed on the table suddenly trembled and even floated up on its own.
It seemed to be responding to some call.
Cui Heng turned his head and looked over. Then, he looked at Chen Ying. “Is this the sword your Ancestor forged?”
Chen Ying subconsciously nodded and said, “Yes, yes.”
A faint smile appeared on Cui Heng’s face when he heard this. He asked gently, “Can I take a look?”