He and It Chapter 199: Inquire Here (27)

Chapter 199: Inquire Here (27)

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: GaeaTiamat

 

When he heard that, Liu Fuguang neither agreed nor disagreed, just nodded slightly.

“Whatever you have in mind is fine,” he said. 

Standing in place, he looked around the surroundings. Although the air in this small world was clean and clear, devoid of the murky aura of the demon race, the spiritual energy was still thin. Liu Fuguang scanned with his divine sense and knew that no matter how talented they were, the cultivators here were at most in the Nascent Soul stage.

Yan Huan stood behind him eagerly, and closely watched his every move. Perhaps due to a significant loss of divine power, the disguise Yan Huan used couldn’t completely cover his true form. His dragon horns and tail protruded out, his exposed hands were sharp, formidable, and a pitch-black color akin to asphalt.

Liu Fuguang touched a corner of the chessboard in his arms, silent for a moment before saying, “You brought me to this world. Surely it wasn’t just a whim?”

Despite their past entanglements and deep-seated grievances, Liu Fuguang was willing to bury them at this moment, treating the Dragon God with a cold calmness. In the face of a common enemy, extreme evil and extreme good could still become allies. However, few relationships as complex as theirs could.

He carefully stored his beloved country and relatives in the Purple Mansion. Undeniably, Yan Huan had done the right thing by not leaving the Eastern Swamp in the Tang Valley, leaving it to Internal Demon who had stolen the identity of the Dragon God.

“Yes, indeed,” Yan Huan paused for a moment, then laughed heartily. “You always make sense. This world is indeed one of the anchors, and it was one of my initial choices, but I haven’t looked into the specifics…”

“Let’s go,” Liu Fuguang interrupted. “Someone is coming. It’s better to leave and make plans elsewhere.”

Two figures, one black and one white, faintly emerged from the forest, like morning mist growing thicker and thinner. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared without a trace, leaving the hunters who came to investigate the mountain confused, wandering on the outskirts.

The summer cicadas chirped incessantly in the forest. The footwork of cultivators was indeed a hundred times faster than ordinary people. Liu Fuguang’s divine sense quickly found a small path leading down the mountain. They walked down the mountain on foot and stepped onto the well-connected official road, where sporadic taverns and vendors began to appear along the roadside.

“The public order is surprisingly good,” Liu Fuguang couldn’t help but be surprised. Under the Xuanri’s shining for six thousand years, all sentient beings had evil, and besides rampant demons and evil spirits, places where murderers and bandits prospered, like mosquitoes by the ditch, were common. Places where ordinary business could be conducted along the roadside either had great cultivators sitting in residence or were encompassed by immortal formations.

He pushed aside the fluttering wine flags and entered one of them. Inside, there were a few young men dressed as laborers, absentmindedly wiping the greasy wooden table. Behind the liquor cabinet leaned a woman in a coarse cloth skirt, her eyes half-closed, faintly made-up but unable to conceal the fatigue in her expression.

As soon as the two strangers walked in, they immediately attracted the attention of this small tavern. Liu Fuguang and Yan Huan both cast concealment spells on themselves. Although mortals couldn’t see the true forms of extreme evil and extreme good, their overall aura couldn’t be completely concealed. Liu Fuguang’s eyes were gentle and compassionate, while Yan Huan’s brows exuded a sinister and malicious aura. Black and white clashed like fire and water, inevitably drawing attention.

As the barmaid slowly opened her eyes wider, even before approaching, Liu Fuguang saw the dark circles under her eyes, and her dull eyes almost couldn’t see a single starlight. The exhaustion in her expression was like a spring tide in early spring, trapped behind a precarious dam, in danger of collapsing at any moment.

She wasn’t the only one; everyone in the tavern seemed to be in the same state.

Here’s the continuation of the translation:

“Spirits are full, vitality abundant,” Liu Fuguang murmured, “It doesn’t seem like they’ve been drained of soul essence, more like…”

Yan Huan, disinterested, focused all his attention on Liu Fuguang. If he could spare even a thousandth of his attention to others, it would be considered generous. Hearing Liu Fuguang speak, Yan Huan casually glanced around.

“There are no traces of demon race recklessness,” Yan Huan also lowered his voice, not out of concern for mortals overhearing, but because he enjoyed the feeling of “doing the same thing together”. Therefore, whatever Liu Fuguang did, he followed suit. “There’s also no evil qi or spiritual obstacles. They just seem like a bunch of tired humans.”

“Guests… what can I get for you?” The barmaid mumbled, her mouth hanging heavy, slowly revealing a weary smile.

Liu Fuguang smiled gently. “Madam, your tired appearance alone is evidence of the tavern’s thriving business.”

His demeanor was pleasant, and although his appearance was ordinary, his eyes radiated a radiant glow like the scorching sun, warming hearts and bodies as if thawing them suddenly from severe cold, causing a tingling sensation.

As if receiving a potent tonic, the barmaid’s spirits lifted instantly. She couldn’t help but smile genuinely and said, “How can this humble place live up to the flattery of guests? Erszi, quickly take the order for the guests!”

The named waiter sluggishly approached, bowed to the two, and leisurely recited the menu, “For the guests, we have lively soup cakes, steaming barley rice, tangy plum broth, sweet licorice soup, and a smooth yellow wine, whether turbid or clear, brewed in-house…”

Without catching his breath, the waiter rambled on. Liu Fuguang hastily raised his hand. “Two bowls of soup cakes, a pot of plum broth, no need for wine, thank you.”

The waiter, expressionless, didn’t utter a word, and silently retreated to the kitchen, resembling a puppet who heard and did whatever was said. The barmaid dared not look at Yan Huan, only smiling at Liu Fuguang. “Guests, please don’t mind. It’s hot these days, and we’re all tired. Even if we sleep seven or eight hours a day, we still feel lazy.”

“That’s understandable,” Liu Fuguang nodded, unsure of what had drained their vitality.

He chose a table and sat down, continuing to converse with the barmaid. “Madam, both of us are from out of town. May I ask how far it is to the city from here?”

Upon hearing his question, the barmaid was momentarily stunned, her expression somewhat absent.

“Out of town? I vaguely remember… I haven’t heard news from outside for a long time. As for entering the city, it seems like I haven’t been there in a long, long time…”

The waiter brought over a pot of plum broth, pouring it out as he spoke, his expression numb. “Madam, did you forget? Just last month, you went into the city to make purchases. Why are you saying this now?”

The barmaid pondered for a moment, suddenly realizing, murmuring to herself, “Ah, yes, yes, the summer heat is heavy, and my mind isn’t very clear. I… I did go to the city last month, yes, last month…”

Liu Fuguang observed her unusual demeanor, lightly tapping the greasy tabletop with his fingertips, but said nothing.

When the barmaid regained her composure, she shyly smiled at Liu Fuguang. “Guests, if you want to go to the city, just follow the official road straight ahead. It takes three days by mule cart, even faster on horseback.”

As she spoke, steaming soup cakes were brought over, served in rough porcelain bowls. The yellow soup was piled with noodles, topped with dried tofu, green peas, taro cubes, and other garnishes, drizzled with a bit of vinegar and spicy oil. Liu Fuguang took a gentle sniff, the savory aroma wafting, all the ingredients fresh and undamaged.

Here is the translation of the continuation:

“Two bowls of soup cakes, accompanied by a refreshing pot of sour plum broth. For most people, this meal would be quite satisfying. To find such food in a desolate countryside tavern is indeed rare.”

Liu Fuguang couldn’t eat anything. He picked up the cup, moistened his lips slightly to taste the tartness of the plum broth, which was enough for him. Before he could say anything, Yan Huan had already devoured one bowl of soup cakes without hesitation, then enthusiastically took Liu Fuguang’s portion and placed it in front of himself.

“Don’t waste it, I know,” Yan Huan smiled broadly, his eyes twinkling. Having eaten Liu Fuguang’s leftovers, he felt hundreds and thousands of bubbles of satisfaction bursting in his heart. “Consider it eaten for you.”

Liu Fuguang remained silent.

The barmaid saw this scene but dared not make idle chatter. In her eyes, the man in black clothes was indeed fierce and terrifying, making one’s legs tremble upon seeing him. However, facing the young man in white, her eyes were full of joy and sweetness, as if exchanging endless love words. Although the local customs here were not yet enlightened enough to accept same-sex relationships, she had run her business for many years and understood the principle of letting sleeping dogs lie, pretending not to notice.

“Madam, managing a business in such a remote area, is it usually peaceful?” Liu Fuguang held his tea cup, chatting casually with the barmaid. His tone was gentle and friendly. “On our way here, we often heard about bandits and robbers lurking in the mountains and wilderness. That’s why I ask, please don’t be offended.”

His voice was soft, his concern genuine and sincere, each word spoken slowly and clearly, like a clear stream flowing gently into the heart, making one feel extremely comfortable. The barmaid couldn’t help but smile. “Guest, what are you talking about? Our land is the most peaceful and blessed. For countless years, the four seas have been calm and peaceful, truly living up to the phrase ‘national peace and prosperity’. Where did you hear about bandits and robbers? You mustn’t spread rumors. If the officials find out, you might end up in jail!”

Yan Huan chewed Liu Fuguang’s bowl of soup cakes slowly, not lifting his head, just smiling sinisterly. Liu Fuguang reiterated, “National peace and prosperity…”

He asked a few more questions, but the barmaid pretended not to understand some words, seamlessly steering the conversation back to praising the emperor’s wisdom and the tranquility of the seas, spouting flattery like a well-oiled puppet.

Strange.

For six thousand years, even the true immortals who had achieved the Dao struggled for over three thousand years to shield the heavens from thick clouds, barely securing the future of sentient beings. In this small world where even decent cultivators couldn’t cultivate properly, how could they maintain a so-called prosperous age?

“Listening to these mundane babblings, do you think I’m so incompetent?” Yan Huan seemed to know what he was thinking, lifted his head, and complained softly, feeling wronged. “This area has long been infiltrated by evil deeds. Even she doesn’t listen to you. It’s clear that all these things are just superficial appearances.”

Liu Fuguang said, “Eat quickly.”

Seeing that he couldn’t ask anything else, they sat for a while. Liu Fuguang quietly cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks that Yan Huan had touched, leaving two silver coins on the table using magic, and quietly walked out to continue along the official road.

With one figure in black and one in white, the white figure led, and the black one followed closely. After a long time, Liu Fuguang suddenly spoke, “What do you think?”

Yan Huan’s shoulders shook, hurriedly approaching like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, pushing his answer out. “There’s a hidden technique in the law, and there are eyes in the formation. To remove this anchor point, we need to find its key. That mortal talked endlessly about sweet words, every sentence about the emperor of mortals. So let’s find the emperor here and see what’s going on.”

Liu Fuguang nodded slightly, saying nothing.

Nowadays, Yan Huan lacked the dragon heart and had abandoned the dragon god’s body in Tang Valley, trapped with internal demons. His cultivation base had long been invalidated, and the spiritual energy he had accumulated for many days evaporated on his internal demons. Only with the restoration of the mysterious daylight, he could have the opportunity to breathe in the era when evil prevailed.

Cautiousness is a good quality, and Liu Fuguang understands the power of prudence. He also knows how dangerous it can be for a person to underestimate their opponent without seeing the whole picture.

“Let’s go to the city first,” he said, “to find out what’s really going on here.”

His words were naturally responded to by Yan Huan. However, evil was not a harmless pet that could be raised. Before they arrived, Yan Huan pulled out golden energy from the veins and casually controlled five puppets as scouts to stir up trouble in the city.

“He knew Liu Fuguang would not allow him to kill anyone arbitrarily, even those ordinary people whose lives were as insignificant as ants. Therefore, using the golden man as eyes, he spent half a day gathering information. Then, he spent another half day disguising one of the golden men as a newly wealthy merchant from out of town. Fueled by reckless pride, this merchant got into a heated argument with the city lord’s youngest son on Flower Street, which escalated into a massive scandal that could only be salvaged with a lavish display of wealth.

The false merchant and the city lord’s son competed for the attention of a courtesan, leading to an unprecedented brawl, a spectacle rarely seen. With copious amounts of gold and silver thrown around, notable figures vied for the affections of the same woman amidst the scented allure of Qinlou Chu Pavilion… The most eye-catching spectacles in the world converged in one place, immediately stirring up a storm of gossip throughout the city.

In the silent depths of night, amidst the stillness of the mountains, with the lingering heat, Yan Huan conjured up luxurious tents and beds as soft as clouds, joyfully serving his lover for rest.

At the same time, the golden man was thrown out of the city’s largest brothel by the lord’s guards, bruised and battered, his once splendid attire now torn to shreds. Surrounding onlookers gasped and laughed, witnessing how martial arts prowess had beaten the golden man to such a state.

The dragon might be powerful, but the local snake was formidable. The foreign merchant was no dragon either, at best a gilded centipede.

“This matter cannot end like this!” The golden man expressed his rage and shame.

“Oh, buddy, let it go! He’s the city lord’s son after all. You came here to do business, relying on his protection,” others around advised. The golden man, still fuming with anger, pushed through the crowd with his equally bedraggled entourage and left.

The lively scene vanished as quickly as it had appeared, swallowed up by the streets filled with wine and romance. The disheveled figure of the merchant disappeared into the darkness, leaving no trace of where he went.

As dawn broke, the lively chatter of Flower Street finally subsided, replaced by the weary voices of night watchmen and the merchants preparing to open shop, resignedly welcoming a new day.

The watchman lazily beat his gong, his trembling voice dragging on. Passing by a dilapidated alley, the nightingale that had stayed up all night leaned against a half-open door, awaiting customers who didn’t mind their disheveled appearance, their makeup failing to hide the wrinkles. Someone pushed open the door, pouring out the chamber pot onto the street, dirty water flowing, splashing the watchman’s pants. He remained indifferent, just mechanically tapping the gong.

As the gong’s slow rhythm swayed past, nearing the Golden Immortal Pavilion, the watchman suddenly felt a coolness on his forehead, as if it were raining. He wiped his face again, only to smell an overwhelmingly strong stench.

His fingers were wet and red, redder than the rouge on the courtesan’s lips, even turning black, as if they were about to leap into someone’s eye.

The watchman absentmindedly glanced around the street. In the night’s lights and revelry, the bustling scene now quieted like an abandoned tomb as the faint light of day crept in.

No one around, he looked up slowly.

The lively merchant from the previous night lay dead on the magnificent signboard of the Golden Immortal Pavilion, his death gruesome and creatively brutal. His body lacked half a jaw, limbs missing, only the spine hanging white and limp, like a thick vine, but this vine didn’t bear leaves, only swaying intestines, lungs, and viscera.

The watchman’s lips moved twice. For the first time, he realized how long a person’s tongue could be, how much blood there could be, and how little difference there was in the shape and color of organs between humans and livestock.

He gasped feebly, muttering, “K-k-killed…”

Unable to catch his breath, the watchman’s eyes rolled back, instantly fainting.

“Oh,” walking down the road, Yan Huan suddenly said, “I’ve gathered some information.”

“Liu Fuguang turned to look at him. Despite being nourished by dragon blood for so long, his body still felt cold, and even in the hot summer, he had to wear thick robes.

Yan Huan chuckled, “Rest assured, I didn’t even touch a single hair on those mortals. This country, named Wuping, has had its emperor in power for eight years, reputedly implementing benevolent policies. The imperial court harbors a few mediocre cultivators, keeping the region relatively stable for several years without major disasters. They recently quelled a rebellion in the northern territories, endearing the emperor to the common folk as if he were a deity, with his temples seen everywhere. Within Wuping’s borders are seventeen cities, the closest to us being Wancheng, whose lord is related to the empress’s family. As for the imperial capital of Wuping, it lies thousands of miles away.”

“Seventeen cities,” Liu Fuguang remarked, “not small.”

Yan Huan shrugged, “Not big either. Emperor Wuping claims himself as a sage emperor, surrounded by flatterers everywhere I go, which gives me a headache.”

Liu Fuguang pondered, “Let’s enter the city first. Since the city lord has deep ties with the royal family, I want to hear his opinion.”

Yan Huan grinned smugly.

“That’s easy.”

Inside Wancheng, the lord related to the empress sat deeply troubled in his chair.

The death of an outsider should have been an inconsequential matter, but he happened to be a wealthy merchant from afar, and worse, he had four stubborn brothers insisting on making a scene. His death was mysterious and horrifying, especially after a heated argument with the lord’s youngest son the previous night, causing a city-wide uproar and widespread knowledge.

What rulers feared most wasn’t poverty or decline, but instability.

Stability symbolized peace of mind, ensuring their rule could continue for a long time. Instability, on the other hand, was the source of all problems, a scourge that every powerful figure had to eradicate first.

Under Emperor Wuping’s rule, Wancheng had enjoyed peace for hundreds, even thousands, two thousand… eight years! Yes, eight years of stability. Wancheng was like a stagnant pond, comfortable and calm, without any ripples. Now, a sudden stone had shattered the tranquility of its surface, leaving the city lord restless and feeling threatened.

Who could solve this problem for him? The city lord anxiously rubbed his temples. Rumors were spreading throughout the city, claiming a ferocious and unmatched ghost was roaming Wancheng. The merchant was just the unlucky scapegoat, with potentially more victims to follow. Some even dared to say his youngest son was the ghost. Dealing with a ghost? The best solution was to burn it with fire.

He was furious upon hearing such rumors, promptly dealing with a few troublemakers spreading gossip. But the rumors persisted, far from being quelled by disposing of a few people.

Was there anyone… anyone who could solve this problem for him?