Chapter 252: Heavenly Phenomena
Evil Seeds were a minor issue in Qingyun World. Two years ago, before the incident at Qi Ridge, there were instances of these Lasting Peace Race members dying but not decaying in various mountain forests.
Some mountain woodcutters and passing scholars, if they accidentally wandered into the mountain forests, often ended up with their bones completely gone because of them.
But for Cultivators, if there were only a few of these bloodthirsty bodies, they would not amount to anything and could be ignored.
However, the Suxianjian (Immortal Monitoring Department) worried about a mass emergence of Evil Seeds, similar to what happened before the incident at Qi Ridge, which could lead to widespread chaos.
When the Jianchachu (Surveillance Department) arrived at Sanli County, the county magistrate of Sanli County was already waiting with his constables.
“My Lord, Evil Seeds were indeed discovered in the county.”
“?”
According to the county magistrate, the livestock in Shitang Village had been restless for some time. The government initially thought it was wild beasts in the mountains and didn't pay much attention.
But upon hearing that Young Master Dou Shangshu from the capital had an accident there, they immediately ordered a search of the mountain forests.
As a result, a group of Evil Seeds was indeed found in the mountain gorge between Hengshan.
As Mortals, they naturally didn't know how to deal with them, so they could only send people to guard the area and wait for the Jianchachu (Surveillance Department) to send someone.
And as the people from the Jianchachu (Surveillance Department) followed the government constables to the place where the Evil Seeds were discovered, they saw the Evil Seeds wandering through the mountain forest, pacing back and forth amidst the dense jungle.
The Commissioner of the Jianchachu (Surveillance Department) was named Mu Qing, a newly promoted official in recent years. She had previously handled the refugee escape to Shengjing after the Qi Ridge incident with Kuang Cheng.
After discovering such a number of Evil Seeds, Mu Qing did not act rashly. Instead, she devised a plan to capture one and send it to Shengjing, then sent people to seal off the area.
“How many Evil Seeds are there in Sanli County?”
“Just by visual observation in the past few days, there are at least a hundred.”
Upon hearing this, Supervisor He Jingyuan frowned: “Are there any missing persons in Sanli County?”
Mu Qing shook her head: “No missing persons were found.”
“So, these Evil Seeds haven't harmed anyone? The only unlucky one is Dou Yuankong, the son of Dou Shangshu?”
“These ghostly things are basically in a disembodied state if they don't smell humans, and they won't show too much of their bloodthirsty nature. Sanli County is sparsely populated, with many mountain ranges, and the mountain forests where the Evil Seeds were found are basically uninhabited. Perhaps it is precisely because of this that they have been peaceful, it's just that Dou Yuankong's luck was really bad, which is why he ended up in this state.”
Deputy Supervisor Peng Dongyang raised his eyes: “Another Evil Seed rampage, could it be a batch that emerged from the ruins after the Qi Ridge incident but was overlooked?”
Mu Qing pondered for a moment, then shook her head: “Cannot be determined.”
“Then have you checked all the archived official documents of Sanli County after the Qi Ridge incident?”
“I have checked. At that time, when our Suxianjian (Immortal Monitoring Department) investigated the places where Evil Seeds appeared, Sanli County indeed did not report it.”
He Jingyuan placed his teacup on the table: “These officials usually collude with local Immortal Villas, doing things as simply as possible, and don't even report such disasters.”
Mu Qing pursed her lips: “But there's a problem.”
“What problem?”
“We haven't found any new ruins near Sanli County.”
He Jingyuan glanced at Peng Dongyang: “The top priority is to first notify the Zhenbei Army, send people to eradicate this batch of Evil Seeds to prevent them from harming the common people, and then slowly conduct a thorough investigation.”
Mu Qing nodded: “Yes!”
After the barbarians abandoned large-scale invasions, half of the Zhenbei Army was recalled to be stationed outside Shengjing, and the other half was in Feng Province.
Upon receiving the message from the Suxianjian (Immortal Monitoring Department), the nearest large camp dispatched hundreds of skilled individuals to penetrate Sanli County and begin the operation to exterminate the Evil Seeds, beheading all of them and discarding their bodies in the wilderness.
Kuang Cheng is the Commissioner of the Jieyinchu (Reception Department), which does not belong to the same System as the Jianchachu (Surveillance Department), but he paid special attention to this matter.
Because when Evil Seeds were rampant back then, too many common people were eaten alive, and he did not wish to see such a thing happen a second time.
Mu Qing and Kuang Cheng had a good relationship, and they discussed the source of this batch of Evil Seeds for a long time during this period.
Such a large number of Evil Seeds appearing is uncommon in Qingyun World, unless a large ruin somewhere was opened, but after the Qi Ridge incident, most large ruins capable of holding so many were being guarded.
After the Dou Yuankong incident, Kuang Cheng reviewed all case files related to Evil Seeds from the past year and found no unusual activity in any large ruins.
To confirm whether the information was true, Kuang Cheng also specifically sent letters to the guardians and government offices in various regions, and the answers he received were all that everything was safe and sound.
Of course, there was also a possibility that Evil Seeds from various small ruins had gathered here by coincidence.
But the problem was, if they came from all directions, it wouldn't be so silent.
However, Mu Qing quickly dispelled Kuang Cheng's speculation, because after the Evil Seeds were annihilated, the Jianchachu (Surveillance Department) went again and searched for dozens of miles around, but found no unrecorded ruins.
In Kuang Cheng's view, the only clue might lie in the unconscious Dou Yuankong's words.
It wasn't until early March that Dou Yuankong, who had been rescued, finally regained consciousness.
He was a Cultivator, and although his Realm was not high, having Spiritual Qi protecting his body still made him different from a Mortal; simple injuries or hunger were not fatal.
Dou Yuankong's efforts to befriend Cultivators over the years were not in vain. From time to time, people would come to the Dou Mansion to circulate Spiritual Qi to protect his life, which finally allowed him to open his eyes on an evening in March.
Kuang Cheng arrived by carriage upon hearing the news, accompanied by Wei Rui and Princess Changle.
Recently, there had been continuous rain in Jiuzhou, causing widespread puddles in the city, deep enough to cover one's ankles.
The three of them got out of the carriage holding oil-paper umbrellas. Wei Rui, not having much strength, immediately had her umbrella tilted by the large raindrops, and Kuang Cheng steadied her with a hand.
Princess Changle glanced at them, said nothing, and was the first to step into the Dou Mansion. The two followed her in. After passing through the covered walkway, they arrived at the east courtyard. Before their eyes could even enter the courtyard, a sudden scream echoed.
They walked into the wing room of the east courtyard with their umbrellas and saw Dou Yuankong curled up in a corner, trembling and screaming,
His left hand waving back and forth in front of him.
Dou Shangshu and his family were in front of him, but due to his violent resistance, no one dared to approach, only watching Dou Yuankong blankly.
Seeing this scene, Princess Changle remained silent for a long time, while Wei Rui's eyes instantly began to redden.
Although Wei Rui didn't like Dou Yuankong, they had grown up together after all, and she wasn't heartless. Seeing him in such a half-human, half-ghost state, with one sleeve dangling and flapping with his movements, sadness was inevitable.
Kuang Cheng saw this, took out a brocade handkerchief from his sleeve, hesitated for a moment, then rolled it into a corner and gently wiped away the tears from her eyes.
However, he felt no sadness in his heart.
Back then, Dou Yuankong had conspired to harm Brother Ji, intending to send him abroad to die. Although he did not get his wish in the end, Brother Ji's two arms were almost crippled, the danger of which could be imagined.
Kuang Cheng had always believed that good is rewarded with good and evil with evil; it's not that retribution doesn't come, but that the time hasn't arrived yet.
Now seeing Dou Yuankong in this state, he only felt that he got what he deserved.
However, just thinking of this, Kuang Cheng's brow couldn't help but furrow.
Dou Yuankong had gone mad, so some things couldn't be asked.
A mentally deranged person could not even speak normally, let alone provide many valuable clues even if they could speak.
However, seeing Dou Yuankong again reminded Kuang Cheng of something.
He had been fixated on where the Evil Seeds came from, but he had forgotten to consider why Dou Yuankong appeared in Sanli County.
Dou Yuankong was a noble Young Master, accustomed to a life of luxury. Even if he left the capital because he was frightened by Brother Ji, he should have gone to prosperous places to drink and make merry.
Sanli County was extremely poor, with no prosperous large cities nearby, and Dou Yuankong usually had no hunting habits. Why did he run into this dense mountain forest?
Unless he was taken there by someone, or kidnapped.
But what was the purpose? What was the point of throwing him in such a place?
If Dou Yuankong truly did not go there willingly, then could his and the Evil Seeds' appearance be related? Kuang Cheng pondered for a long time, still feeling that something was missing, making these events seem disconnected.
Kuang Cheng's only hope at the moment was that the Evil Seeds in the mountains were indeed just remnants from the initial cleanup, and not a new emergence.
Because if they were just remnants, and they were all annihilated by the Zhenbei Army, no major issues should arise afterward.
Kuang Cheng then left the Dou Mansion and returned along the road with Wei Rui.
Because he had something on his mind, Kuang Cheng wasn't in the mood to cook. Since Wei Rui was with him, the two entered a restaurant.
Due to the rainy weather, there were few customers in the restaurant. All the waiters in the hall were gathered at the kitchen entrance,
Waving their arms, looking incredibly busy.
“Where did so many come from?!”
“It must be Chef Zhang; every time he finishes cooking, he doesn’t put the oil ladle away properly. Luckily there are only a few, hurry and stomp them to death!”
“Shopkeeper, buy some insecticide powder. Just stomping won’t work.”
“Buying insecticide powder costs money!”
“Shopkeeper, don’t blame me for speaking frankly—”
“Then will you blame me for being heavy-handed?”
“We really can’t do without insecticide powder. There’s a saying in my hometown: when you see one, there’s actually already a nest of them at home.”
“?”
Wei Rui looked at Kuang Cheng at this moment and couldn’t help but softly say, “Why don’t we find another place?”
Kuang Cheng looked up at the sound and saw that Wei Rui’s gaze was fixed on one: “A restaurant actually got infested. This is a place Brother Ji really likes to eat at.”
“The kitchen is probably not clean.”
“Then we’ll find another place.”
The news of the Evil Seed being discovered in Sanli County quickly spread. Due to the incident at Qi Ridge, the major Immortal Sects and Worldly Sect were also paying attention.
However, as the Jianchachu (Surveillance Department) submitted the investigation report, and no further incidents of Evil Seeds occurred, it did not cause much of a stir.
Kuang Cheng also felt a little relieved, temporarily putting aside the doubts in his mind, and returned to Feng Province under the escort of Cao Jinsong. The spring plowing in Feng Province had already begun for a long time. Because a large number of laborers had been hired during the winter, the people of Feng Province still needed to reclaim a large amount of farmland to expand the planting scale.
In addition, when Ji You left, he had told Kuang Cheng that with the increase in grain production, he wanted to develop livestock farming.
Thus, work on the farm also needed to begin. In the midst of such busyness, Kuang Cheng was escorted back to Feng Province by Cao Jinsong and his group.
While overseeing the reclamation of farmland and inspecting the farm’s construction, Kuang Cheng and others also conveniently attended a wedding ceremony.
The groom was a Cultivator from Tianyuan Mountain Village named Zhang Pingyang, a Disciple of the Zhang Family from Yun Province, a Cultivator of the Condensation , and one of the earliest members to join the joint harvesting team.
But the woman he married was not from an immortal sect, but a farm girl named Lán Lán.
Zhang Pingyang is now the squad leader of the fifth brigade of the joint harvesting team, responsible for the agricultural affairs of Lán Lán’s village. Lán Lán often went to the fields to deliver tea, and the two had known each other for a long time.
It is rare for Worldly Family Disciples, even lesser-known collateral members, to marry Mortal women.
Many people wondered what he was thinking, but they saw that he was very happy on his wedding day.
Kuang Cheng felt that this might be what Brother Ji wanted to see.
Brother Ji had said back then that Cultivators and Mortals are all human, but he didn't know why Cultivators later stopped treating themselves as human.
With Feng Province in its current state, it will surely get better and better, just as Brother Ji envisioned.
What Kuang Cheng didn't expect, however, was that the subsequent Kyushu experienced torrential rain for several months.
This kind of weather rarely appeared in the history of Qingyun World. The dark, oppressive sky hung low as if it were about to collapse, making the people of Kyushu uneasy.
Subsequently, floods occurred frequently in many areas, and the official duties of the Jianchachu (Surveillance Department) began to become numerous.
Ling Province is the estuary where a hundred rivers flow into the sea, and breaches in the dikes frequently appeared, especially on the Nu River, where surging waves submerged the surrounding areas.
After spring plowing, large areas of farmland had not yet grown green shoots, and after a flood, it meant a whole year of no harvest.
But fortunately, Lingjian Mountain sent an Elder over.
They used Sword Qi to open mountains, move earth and stone to build dikes, confining the river water amidst the continuous heavy rain, and Upper Five Realms powerhouses used great Law to guide the water into the sea.
“This weather, I don't know why it suddenly became so unpredictable.”
“The wind and clouds are changing abnormally, I’m afraid the Heavenly Dao is unstable.”
“Where did that saying come from?”
“It’s widely circulated among the common folk, they say it’s because the heavens are angry.”
“What do Mortals know? I think it must be because a powerful being has achieved Major Achievement in cultivating the Law of the Four Phenomena.”
Ling Province is where Lingjian Mountain’s Dao field is located, and the flood naturally encroached upon Lingjian Mountain.
It was Yan Shuyi who ordered the Disciples from the mountain to go down and assist the Jianchachu (Surveillance Department) in flood control. While building dams and dikes, they also saved many people.
However, the duration of this heavy rain truly exceeded imagination, and no one could be sure when it would finally stop.
If it continues like this, Ling Province might be submerged by a third of its area.
Especially the areas near Xuán Hǎi, which are inherently low-lying.
However, the good thing was that the heavy rain did not continue, but gradually turned into a drizzle in the afternoon of mid-June, and then subsided in the evening.
On the clear morning after the rain, although the weather was still gloomy, it was at least much brighter than before.
However, there was still surging accumulated water both up and down the mountain, and even the mountain waterfalls became turbulent.
However, after a storm, many Cultivators who longed for clear skies couldn't help but step out of their rooms, intending to wait for the clouds to clear and the sun to shine. But as soon as they stepped out, they were drawn to the direction of the coastline, their eyes widening and unable to look away.
After Yan Shuyi learned that the heavy rain had stopped, her mood slightly relaxed, so she meditated and cultivated until noon. After opening her eyes, she remained silent for a long time, then began to read the secret technique book under her pillow.
As she was reading, she suddenly heard footsteps from outside the hall, so she hurriedly shoved the book under her pillow and put on a cold, aloof expression of a Master Jian.
“Master Jian, blood mist.”
“What blood mist?”
Ding Yao stood in the hall, panting slightly: “This morning, many fishermen saw a large red mist appear over Xuán Hǎi, so they reported it to the government, and the government then reported it to us. It is said that even Disciples on our mountain saw it, covering the sky and earth.”
Yan Shuyi frowned, then floated up from the hall.
The Wujiang Realm can ignore distance within a certain range. Ding Yao knew that Master Jian had gone to Xuán Hǎi, so she turned to follow.
However, in the next instant, with a ripple of Spiritual Qi in the air, Yan Shuyi returned to the hall.
Ding Yao: “?”
Yan Shuyi looked at her diligent maid, “Cui’er, don’t tidy my bed.”
Cui’er, who was about to fold the quilt, froze, a hint of confusion appearing in her eyes, but she obediently released her hands,
and softly affirmed.
Amidst the flickering Mystic Light, the Young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain appeared on the shore of Xuán Hǎi, her skirt fluttering as she landed, gazing at the sea.
Xuán Hǎi is vast, boundless. After the sudden cessation of wind and rain, the sea tide gradually subsided, but there were still collapsed civilian houses and fishing boats scattered along both shores, looking disheveled.
Countless fishermen gathered at the coast, gazing into the boundless distance.
Yan Shuyi also turned her head to look, with faint golden Immortal Light gathering in her eyes.
In her line of sight, the sky in the far south was crimson, which was the large mist the fishermen spoke of, though it had receded by now.
And according to the fishermen on the shore of Xuán Hǎi, this red mist had actually spread to the coastline in the morning.
Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu were also looking in the direction everyone was watching, then turned to Yan Shuyi: “Master Jian, what is going on?”
“First continuous torrential rain, then blood mist spreading. Such a natural anomaly, if not man-made, then it is an abnormality of the Heavenly Dao.
I imagine it won't be anything good.”
Yan Shuyi pondered for a moment before speaking: “Ding Yao, go and check the historical records of my Lingjian Mountain to see if there is any record of red mist at sea.”
Ding Yao nodded: “Yes, Master Jian.”
Yan Shuyi then turned to Zhuo Wanqiu: “Ask the traveling Disciples from various places if anything strange has happened recently.”
Zhuo Wanqiu immediately cupped her hands: “Yes, Master Jian.”
Yan Shuyi stood by the sea for a long time, then waved her sleeve and left, landing on Xuanjian Peak, gazing remotely at the land of Kyushu from south to north, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed.
Ding Yao returned in the evening, holding a scroll and coming before Yan Shuyi: “Master Jian, I found no records of red mist at sea. After searching through them, most of the records are about red tides.”
“So, this is the first time blood mist has appeared over Xuán Hǎi?”
“Reporting to Master Jian, according to the books I’ve reviewed, it seems to be so.”
Yan Shuyi’s brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes flickered with light and shadow.
Heavy rain, strong winds, sea tides, and dense fog all belong to the Law of the Four Phenomena, which are the most direct Laws within the Heavenly Dao.
The appearance of such an anomaly now signifies that the Four Phenomena are in chaos and the Heavenly Dao is unstable. In the customs of Qingyun World, this is considered a harbinger of disaster, not an auspicious sign.
The key is that this anomaly has not been recorded before, so not knowing what it represents makes it even more concerning.
While she was pondering, Zhuo Wanqiu hurried in: “Master Jian, the government officials from down the mountain reported that an Evil Seed has appeared in western Ling Province.”
“All the ruins are under surveillance, so why are there still Evil Seeds appearing?”