Chapter 114: An Yu County
Chapter 114: An Yu County
An Yu County.
County Governor's Office.
Compared to Yu City, the County Governor's Office in An Yu County was much smaller. The entire structure seemed to be even smaller than the Southern District, and the level of prosperity was noticeably less vibrant. Some parts of the city walls were visibly damaged and left unrepaired.
Chen Mu's gaze swept across the distant county walls, and he looked up at the sky. Seeing the darkening sky, he said, "We've been traveling for two days and a night. I think it's best to rest for the night."
"Hmm."
Xu Hongyu followed behind, lost in thought, and didn't quite catch what Chen Mu said, so she simply responded with a hmm.
Chen Mu didn't mind. Xu Hongyu had always been of a cool and distant temperament, and she occasionally spaced out. There hadn't been much change during their journey, except that she seemed to be spacing out more frequently after last night.
Xiao He, walking beside them, chimed in, "We can just enter the city directly. The County Magistrate of An Yu is Miss Xu's maternal uncle."
Among the seven counties under Yu City, almost all had people from various families stationed there. An Yu County happened to be the county where the Yu Clan had the most control. From the County Magistrate down to some of the officials in the county government, they were all from the Yu Clan.
The three of them entered the County Governor's Office.
Soon, they were personally greeted by Xu Hongyu's maternal uncle.
He wore the official robes of a County Magistrate, but his appearance was quite different from what Chen Mu had imagined. He was short and stout, with a round face, resembling a wealthy local scholar who didn't seem to have any martial arts training. However, his gait was steady and powerful, indicating that he indeed possessed some martial skills.
"Uncle."
Xu Hongyu called out to Yu Rong.
Yu Rong smiled warmly and said, "Hongyu, what brings you to An Yu County... Oh, I heard that you're now serving as a White Robe Guard in the Demon Slayer Bureau. So, you must be here for demon hunting. I've already arranged for a room. And who is this?"
As he spoke, he turned to Chen Mu with a questioning look.
Xiao He knew him, but Chen Mu had never met him before.
"This is Chen Mu, Chen Sir, a Green Robe Guard from the Demon Slayer Bureau. He's one of us."
Xiao He introduced him with a soft voice.
Since they were entering the city and not mobilizing any troops, everyone was dressed in casual attire.
Yu Rong glanced at Chen Mu with a hint of surprise, then smiled amiably and said, "I didn't recognize you at first, but for someone of your age to be a Green Robe Guard is truly remarkable. You're young and talented, much more capable than I was at your age."
Chen Mu nodded slightly at Yu Rong. As a Green Robe Guard of the Demon Slayer Bureau, he didn't need to be overly formal with the County Magistrate.
However, after a brief moment of consideration, Chen Mu remembered something and cupped his hands, saying, "By the way, there's something I may need to trouble you with, Uncle. My mother was originally from An Yu County. She ended up in Yu City many years ago, and I'm not sure if any of her blood relatives are still alive here."
As he spoke, he mentioned his mother's name, Liu Ping.
In truth, Chen Mu didn't have many memories of Liu Ping. She had passed away when Chen Yue was around eight years old, and due to the distance in time, his memories were somewhat hazy. It was only upon arriving in An Yu County that he recalled that Liu Ping had been from this county. Initially, due to some unfortunate circumstances, she had become a slave and was sent to Yu City by a gang that specialized in such matters. She ended up working for a local scholar's family.
According to Chen Mu's vague and distant memories, Liu Ping was eventually driven out of the scholar's home due to her advanced age. It was then that she met Chen Mu's father, married him, and gave birth to Chen Mu and Chen Yue.
Chen Yue had mentioned this matter to Chen Mu not long ago. She told him that in her final days, Liu Ping had always wanted to return home but was never able to do so. Chen Mu understood that Liu Ping's journey from An Yu County to Yu City was due to her enslavement and the actions of the gang that specialized in such matters. For an ordinary woman, returning to An Yu County from Yu City would have been an incredibly difficult task.
"Alright, I'll have someone look into it right away."
Yu Rong readily agreed.
Although the matter was from several decades ago and they only had a name to go by, he was, after all, the County Magistrate of An Yu County. If there was something to be found, it could be investigated, but it would require some effort.
However, judging by Xu Hongyu's attitude towards Chen Mu and Xiao He's reaction, Chen Mu was not an ordinary subordinate. As a Green Robe Guard of the Demon Slayer Bureau, he was certainly worth Yu Rong's effort.
"Then I'll trouble you, Uncle."
Chen Mu clasped his hands.
The matter was from several decades ago, and with the current chaotic state of the world, many local records, registries, and the like were in disarray. Even the Wutongli under his previous jurisdiction was in a similar state, let alone a local county. He didn't hold out much hope.
If they could find anything, he would see what the situation was and offer some assistance, thus settling a karmic debt and easing Chen Yue's mind. If they couldn't find anything, then it was simply fate.
...
Yu Clan.
"Remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect?"
Upon reading the intelligence report sent by Xu Hongyu, Yu Zuyi's expression turned pensive.
If this had happened many years ago, when the Great Xuan Dynasty was at its peak and ruled over the entire realm, the emergence of remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect would have been a significant matter. After reporting it up the chain of command, even state-level authorities might have dispatched troops to suppress them.
But now...
In the current state of the world, with various sects vying for control, the righteous path struggling to maintain order, and demonic sects rising in opposition, those who were once suppressed by the imperial court, like the Blood Concealment Pavilion and the Harmony Sect, were now openly operating in some prefectures and counties, establishing their sub-sects in the open.
Hundreds of years ago, the Heavenly Corpse Sect was just a member of the Demon Sect, and now only some remnants remain, which were coincidentally encountered and killed by Xu Hongyu, causing little impact. The imperial court is mostly powerless to govern, but the Seven Mysteries Sect, which has always ruled over Jade Province, might react to this matter.
The only consideration is whether to inform City Lord Shuai Huai Kong.
The Heavenly Corpse Sect has been able to hide in Yu Prefecture for so long, which means there must be other forces helping them conceal their tracks.
The Shuai Clan's influence far surpasses that of the Yu Clan. Even the Yu Clan was able to suspect something through the Corpse Poison Jade, so it's unlikely that the Shuai Clan is completely unaware, and they might even know more than the Yu Clan.
"Hmm, the Shuai Clan probably has no connection with the Heavenly Corpse Sect's remnants. With their power, they have no need to cooperate with the Heavenly Corpse Sect's remnants. Instead, the He and Xie Clans are more likely suspects."
After a moment of thought, Yu Zuyi made a decision.
He decided to inform City Lord Shuai Huai Kong personally, leaving the Yu Clan's residence and heading to the City Lord's Mansion in the inner city. After some time, a secret agent quietly departed from the inner city, heading towards the Seven Mysteries Sect.
...
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An Yu County Governor's Office.
As the county magistrate is from the Yu Clan, the courtyard prepared for Chen Mu and the others was naturally without any negligence. The courtyard was located behind the county office, and while it wasn't large, it was clean and elegant, with oil lamps lit in every room.
Chen Mu entered the eastern room to inspect it, while Xu Hongyu headed towards the western room. Xiao He sneaked a glance at Chen Mu and followed Xu Hongyu into the western room.
After a while, Chen Mu knocked on the western door.
"Chen Mu, you...you're here to..." Xiao He opened the door, sounding a bit flustered. If Chen Mu wanted to propose a marriage to the Yu Clan, like Xu Hongyu's father had done, there would certainly be no resistance from the Yu Clan. Moreover, Xiao He noticed that Xu Hongyu seemed a bit odd, but it was too early for that tonight.
"Why are you flustered?" Chen Mu gave Xiao He a strange look and then, slightly annoyed, tapped her forehead with his finger, saying, "I'm here to ask about the Seven Mysteries Sect. How much do you and Hongyu know about it?"
After the Heavenly Corpse Sect's matter was reported to Yu City, they would most likely report it to the higher authorities, which used to be the provincial government, or the Great Xuan court. Now, the report would only reach the Seven Mysteries Sect.
Chen Mu didn't know much about the Seven Mysteries Sect.
Xiao He had clearly started to overthink things. Even if he was curious about how Xu Hongyu, the cold beauty, would react to being disciplined, it wasn't the time for that. Xiao He had been running around during the day, eager to be a bridesmaid, but now she was flustered again, losing her usual wit, which amused Chen Mu.
Xu Hongyu sat by the soft couch in the inner room, her expression as calm as ever. "The Seven Mysteries Sect, or Seven Mystic Peaks, refers to the seven peaks under the sect: Supreme Profound Peak, Upper Profound Peak, Junior Profound Peak, Heavenly Profound Peak, Earthly Profound Peak, Spiritual Profound Peak, and Righteous Profound Peak. Each peak has a Peak Master, a Direct Disciple, dozens of Inner Sect disciples, and hundreds of Outer Sect disciples."
The total number of members isn't that large.
Chen Mu's expression became thoughtful.
However, compared to Yu City, any one of the Seven Peaks of the Seven Mysteries Sect is likely far beyond the power of the entire Yu Prefecture.
"The Seven Mysteries Sect has a Council Hall that manages various sect affairs, and every council member is at the Organ Proficiency Realm. The Shuai, He, and Xie Clans, as well as my great-granduncle, have all served as council members of the Seven Mysteries Sect."
"The status of Direct Disciples is slightly higher than that of sect council members, but they don't manage affairs. Usually, only those who have crossed the Five Organs Realm will represent the Seven Mysteries Sect externally. The seven Peak Masters are also the elders of the sect, all at the Inner Organ Realm or above."
Xu Hongyu continued, "The Marrow Wash Realm..."
Chen Mu pondered for a moment and then suddenly asked, "Does the Seven Mysteries Sect have anyone at the Blood Change Realm?"
This time, Xu Hongyu shook her head. "I'm not sure about that, but the Seven Mysteries Sect occupies an entire province, even sidelining the Great Xuan court. They must have such figures."
As she spoke, a hint of yearning appeared in her eyes.
The Five Organs, Six Bowels, Seven Marrows, and Eight Blood Vessels—at the pinnacle of the Martial Dao, one reaches the ultimate realm!
Every martial artist yearns for the peak of martial arts, but how many in the Great Xuan realm can truly reach such heights? The path is lined with fallen bones.
Hearing Xu Hongyu's words, Chen Mu couldn't help but sigh at the immense power of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
Indeed, a sect that controls an entire province, gathering almost all of Jade Province's top resources, only to support a mere seven Direct Disciples and a few thousand Inner and Outer Sect disciples, is undoubtedly far beyond any family in Yu Prefecture in every aspect.
A sect of such stature, if they wanted to deal with the remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect, it would likely be a matter of moments, unless the Heavenly Corpse Sect could regain its former glory from hundreds of years ago, which is highly unlikely.
(End of Chapter)
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