Chapter 490: Divine Arrival, Artificial Intelligence?

Chapter 490: Divine Arrival, Artificial Intelligence?

"Five hundred taels?"

Li Xiaodan's eyes widened, her face a mix of disbelief, joy, and suspicion.

Zhou Hu, on the other hand, stared at the Daoist nun, his eyes filled with a deep sense of apprehension.

An Armament Commander!

This must be an Armament Commander!

And not just any Armament Commander, but one of considerable rank.

This Armament Commander has suddenly arrived at Hongyue Village... Could it be possible to invite her here...

"Do you think I'm deceiving you? Why would I purchase a statue of a god with such a high price, especially when the god is dead and the statue has lost its divinity?" The woman dressed as a Daoist nun spoke.

Li Xiaodan's expression turned puzzled.

Zhou Hu was also slightly confused.

A fleeting memory flashed through the eyes of the woman dressed as a Daoist nun: "In the past, when the Central Continent was unified and the world was at peace, the divine Artisan Song Nu traveled across the land, gathering divine materials, and even ventured beyond the realm to collect spiritual resources. Ultimately, she forged the divine artifact, Divine Presence."

Song Nu's heart was as compassionate as a Buddha, and Divine Presence became the guardian artifact of the Raksha Kingdom in the Central Continent.

The Raksha Kingdom welcomed unprecedented prosperity.

Externally, Divine Presence swept across the land with disdain, while internally, the Divine Presence Path's Echo resounded.

"Wait, is this Divine Presence the legendary Judge God?" Zhou Hu exclaimed, his eyes widening.

Initially, he hadn't made the connection, but upon hearing the woman's words, he instantly understood.

In the Raksha Kingdom of the Central Continent, there was more than one divine artifact, and the deities worshipped by the people were not limited to just one.

Among them, the most widely known was the Judge God.

Zhou Hu had heard storytellers in the inn's tavern speak of the Judge God.

The various classes of society in the tavern praised the Judge God.

These stories were also well-received by the common folk.

Tales like "The Oil Peddler Sues the County" and "The Courtesan's Sword Slays the Third Prince" were widely circulated.

It was rumored that hundreds of years ago, the people of the Raksha Kingdom lived in abundance, and even when facing officials, they could hold their heads high.

The Emperor made people bow, but the Judge God made them stand tall.

Therefore, the people of the Raksha Kingdom revered the Judge God.

For the Judge God represented absolute fairness and justice.

In Ninghe City, where Zhou Hu was, it was almost unimaginable for a commoner to file a complaint against an official.

Filing a complaint against an official was akin to a son killing his father. First, they would be subjected to the Nine Flames, then whipped twelve times, and finally, they would be seated and whipped twenty times.

Only after enduring these punishments could they file a complaint.

However, in the Raksha Kingdom of the Central Continent, not only were complaints against officials rare, but even a courtesan killing a prince was a sensational story.

The tale of "The Courtesan's Sword Slays the Third Prince" was widely spread and became a popular topic of discussion.

It was said that this courtesan was once a washerwoman, with exquisite beauty. When the Third Prince saw her, he was filled with lustful thoughts.

But the laws of the Raksha Kingdom were strict, and the Judge God hung high in the sky, so even the Third Prince couldn't forcefully take a commoner's wife.

So, he devised a plan to ruin the washerwoman's life. She became homeless and lost her family. Or, in other words, the Third Prince kept her in a different form of captivity.

One day, the Third Prince mumbled in his sleep, unknowingly revealing his past scheme to ruin the washerwoman's life.

The washerwoman overheard this and began an investigation, only to discover that it was indeed the Third Prince who had plotted against her.

In the dead of night, she drew her sword and slew the Third Prince!

This was a sky-shattering event in any kingdom!

A mere courtesan had drawn her sword against the royal bloodline; the heavens were about to collapse!

According to the storyteller, this courtesan was sent to her execution, facing the punishment of being cut into five pieces.

But unexpectedly, on the day of the execution, snow fell from the sky.

And at the execution ground, the courtesan's friend claimed that there was an injustice in the case and produced a statue of the Judge God.

The Judge God, who saw through all the affairs of the world, represented fairness and justice.

As the storyteller said, when the divine presence appeared, the officials were scared out of their wits.

In the end, the Judge God manifested.

The courtesan, in defense of her father, was declared innocent of killing the Third Prince.

The officials in charge were held accountable.

If Qi Yuan heard all this, he would think that the Judge God was nothing but an Artificial Intelligence.

In the Raksha Kingdom, the rule was AI-governed.

"Yes, it also has another name, the Judge God," the woman dressed as a Daoist nun said, her expression turning cold. "It is said that a hundred years ago, when the Raksha Kingdom faced an external threat, the Judge God fought against the invaders and perished."

Zhou Hu asked, his heart stirred upon hearing the Judge God's deeds.

Even the common folk, suffering in the lower strata of society, yearned for the protection of the Judge God from the Central Continent.

But all these events happened a hundred years ago.

"Yes," the woman's expression grew colder. "The divine artifact shattered, and the god... died. The statue of the Judge God also lost its divinity.

That year, the royal decree was issued, stating that all statues of the Judge God must be destroyed.

Those found in possession of the statue would face exile at best, and at worst... the death penalty."

The woman's eyes turned icy as she continued, "Without the Divine Presence, fifteen years ago, the once mighty Raksha Kingdom sought peace, offering land and annual tribute. It's truly laughable."

Hearing this, Zhou Hu's heart sank.

He thought that perhaps, not a single member of the Raksha Kingdom's royalty or officials favored the Judge God.

Only the commoners kneeling on the ground cherished the Judge God.

"This statue is truly remarkable!" Li Xiaodan, a young man with a unique perspective, exclaimed.

"There are few Divine Presence statues in Raksha Kingdom, and I have a younger sister who deeply reveres the Divine Presence," the Daoist nun-clad woman explained.

"Seeing this statue, I'm willing to offer 500 taels of silver for it," she added, her tone indifferent.

"I..." Li Xiaodan hesitated, feeling conflicted.

The main reason for his hesitation was the exorbitant price of 500 taels of silver, which was far too much for him.

Seeking advice, Li Xiaodan turned to Zhou Hu, hoping that Lord Zhou would offer some guidance.

The Daoist nun-clad woman sighed, "Never mind, since this statue has found its way into your hands, it must be fate. I won't purchase it."

Divine Presence, after all, was a thing of the past.

She also planned to advise her younger sister to distance herself from the group that worshipped the Divine Presence, lest she get burned.

Li Xiaodan's eyes widened, unable to hide his disappointment.

However, a thought occurred to the young man, and he found solace in it.

"The Divine Presence is so powerful, it will surely protect me!"

As for the possibility of the statue being ineffective, he paid it no mind.

Zhou Hu observed Li Xiaodan and smiled.

The Daoist nun-clad woman glanced at the statue, her expression complex, but ultimately, she chose to leave without further attachment.

At that moment, Zhou Hu hurriedly caught up with her, "Senior... are you an Armament Master?"

"Mhm." The woman nodded, her demeanor cold as ice.

"Why have you come to Hongyun Village?" Zhou Hu cautiously inquired.

"What's it to you?" The woman gave him a sidelong glance.

Zhou Hu immediately sensed the immense danger she posed.

It was evident that this Armament Master possessed extraordinary strength.

"I'm a constable from Ninghe County, and recently, there have been some murder cases in Hongyun Village, possibly related to a Demonic Spirit. Please be cautious, Senior..." Zhou Hu hesitated.

"Be cautious not to drink the water or eat the food from Hongyun Village?"

"Do you know something, Senior?" Zhou Hu asked, surprised, then elated.

"Don't pin too much hope on me. I wander the world, slaying Demonic Spirits as part of my cultivation. If a task is impossible, I won't throw my life away."

"The Demonic Spirit here... is unusual. My Soulbound Artifact may not be effective against it."

The Armament Masters possess two types of artifacts. One is the ordinary kind, which can be used by forming a simple seal after establishing a connection.

The other type is the Soulbound Artifact, which is closely tied to the Armament Master.

This kind of artifact grows alongside the Armament Master, almost like a part of them.

However, cultivating with a Soulbound Artifact is more challenging than with ordinary artifacts. It requires not only the Armament Master's growth but also the enhancement of the Soulbound Artifact itself.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Hu's eyes lit up with joy, "Senior, if there's anything you need, just ask Zhou Hu, and I'll do my utmost to assist you!"

...

The night sky was pitch-black.

Two figures, one old and one young, appeared.

Qi Yuan patted his hand, his expression calm, "Wang Kaixuan, who is this person?"

Chen Kangbao, hunched over, stood behind Qi Yuan, "I don't know, but according to Huang Yan Shou, he's... from the prefecture."

Recently, Qi Yuan's cultivation had improved.

He had a score to settle with that bastard.

So, he brought Chen Kangbao and, under the cover of night, broke into Huang Jia, arresting Huang Yan Shou.

From Huang Yan Shou's mouth, Qi Yuan learned that the one who framed him was Wang Kaixuan.

"This game is truly a Russian nesting doll," Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

His heart was filled with many speculations.

It was likely that his wife, the daughter of the Zhuge Chancellor, was too beautiful, inviting others' covetousness.

This Wang Kaixuan was jealous, so he sent people to harm Qi Yuan.

Of course, there were other reasons as well.

In a 619 book bar, there was a mistake-free version!

For example, Qi Yuan's parents were Artisans, and they possessed some rare and valuable items, which sparked Wang Kaixuan's greed.

With these two reasons combined, Wang Kaixuan decided to take action against Qi Yuan.

"Let's kill him and go to Anshan Inn," Qi Yuan suggested, recalling the place.

This time, Qi Yuan had come to Ninghe County, accompanied by a servant from Shen Jia.

He needed to meet this servant and have him deliver a letter back.

What if Qi Yuan's wife found out about this matter and, in a fit of anger, divorced him?

How would Qi Yuan continue to play the role of Shen Jia's son-in-law?

He wouldn't be able to complete the task.

Moreover, he couldn't openly fetch water for his mother-in-law to bathe.

Before being sent to the Insane Institute, Qi Yuan and the servant stayed at Anshan Inn.

In the night's darkness, not yet deep, Chen Kangbao suggested, "Young Master, should we set a fire?"

Qi Yuan shook his head, "Don't kill the innocent or destroy property, it's a grave sin."

Chen Kangbao nodded, considering his words.

"Don't let your thoughts run wild. You should focus on formulating a suitable plan to deal with the Demonic Spirit.

Every time you carry me to kill, it's not a long-term solution!"

Qi Yuan spoke the truth.

After all, if they encountered a powerful Demonic Spirit, what if Chen Kangbao couldn't hold him? Qi Yuan was still weak at the moment.

Chen Kangbao contemplated this.

(End)

"I'm not a professional exorcist, but in my opinion, when encountering a demonic spirit, we can greet them with a smile to show that we mean no harm. Then, we can gently pat their head. Usually, demonic spirits enjoy being patted, and it won't harm us. We can take the opportunity to... kill them!" Chen Kangbao explained earnestly.

"What if the spirit harms us?"

"Ahem, I'm not a professional, so it's normal for my understanding to have some flaws."

"You should just hold it." Qi Yuan was also deep in thought. "You're the chopping board, and I'm the kitchen knife. We just need a chef."

Qi Yuan always remembered his role.

After all, there was a reward for a successful performance, and Qi Yuan was looking forward to it.

"What chef? Are you cooking for me to eat?" Chen Kangbao never strayed far from the topic of food.

"Let's talk about it when we return to the city," Qi Yuan replied, already forming a plan in his mind.

The most urgent task at hand was to first improve their strength.

Once their strength was enhanced, they could then make a proper plan for their roles.

After all, even though he was currently playing the role of a kitchen knife, his physique didn't quite fit the part.

Continuing the role-play would be pointless.

Soon, the two arrived at the Anshan Inn.

The innkeeper, upon seeing Qi Yuan, showed a hint of surprise: "Qi... Young Master Qi?"

The Qi Yuan before him now seemed to have transformed from the person he met previously.

Not only had his physique and appearance changed, but more importantly, his temperament had also undergone a shift.

The innkeeper took a few more glances before confirming that this was indeed Qi Yuan.

The news of Qi Yuan, the surplus son-in-law, being sent to the Insane Institute had only spread within a small circle, and the innkeeper was unaware of it.

"Where's Lao Zhong? Why isn't he here?" Qi Yuan asked.

Lao Zhong was the servant sent by the Shen family to accompany Qi Yuan back to his hometown for the ancestral worship ceremony.

"Lord Zhong has left!" The innkeeper quickly replied.

"What?"

"When Lord Huang invited Young Master Qi to go on a trip, Lord Zhong checked out that very night and left."

Qi Yuan's expression remained calm. "Did he take my belongings?"

"Yes, Lord Zhong took all of Young Master's belongings!" The innkeeper hastily assured, fearing that Qi Yuan might suspect the inn of stealing his possessions.

"Is that so?" Qi Yuan replied indifferently.

"Young Master, that Lao Zhong is a traitor!" Chen Kangbao exclaimed. "You were sent to the Insane Institute, and he didn't even come to visit you or personally inquire if you were framed. He just ran away!"

"If I were in his position, I'd definitely break into the Insane Institute and rescue you!"

He whispered in Qi Yuan's ear, as if to emphasize his own loyalty.

Qi Yuan nodded and said to the innkeeper, "Give me two upper suites."

"Yes, sir!"

After a busy day that included killing someone, a good night's sleep was indeed necessary.

The Insane Institute had a terrible stench, and Qi Yuan hadn't had a proper bath there. How could it compare to the comfort of an inn?

...

"Huang Yanyou... is actually dead. Who could have done this?"

Zhou Hu frowned.

Lin Qinghe had been reassigned, and Zhou Hu was now the acting captain.

A murder had occurred in the Huang family, and Huang Yanyou was dead. This made Zhou Hu feel extremely anxious.

Recently in Ninghe County, one major incident followed another.

Not only was there the Hongyun Village incident, but there was also the director of the Insane Institute and the young master of the Huang family.

These events happening one after another were indeed surprising.

"Captain Zhou, who is the murderer...?" The Huang family's old patriarch, his face pale and his expression somber.

"It should be... an Armament Master," Zhou Hu stated his deduction. "Old Patriarch Huang, has Young Master Huang recently offended anyone?"

Upon hearing this, the old patriarch's expression changed slightly, and he quickly replied, "No, my son is a good person. How could he offend any evildoers?"

"Old Patriarch Huang, are you hiding something from me?" Zhou Hu's mind began to form some suspicions.

The director of the Insane Institute and Huang Yanyou's deaths were both related to the surplus son-in-law, Qi Yuan. Could it be...

"Captain Zhou, regarding this case... we, the Huang family, will not pursue it. My son was born with a rebellious nature, and I have already taken the punishment into my own hands." The old patriarch spoke calmly.

Zhou Hu listened to this and felt a sense of unease.

He thought of the Judge God from Zhongdi.

If the God were here, the outcome might have been different.

"In that case, I bid you farewell!" Zhou Hu said, bowing in farewell.

About half an hour later, an old woman entered, sobbing as she came.

"Huang Shifan, my son is dead, and you just let the murderer go?"

Huang Shifan looked at the woman and couldn't help but slap her across the face. "It's because of you that Yanyou is dead! I've told you countless times that Wang Kaixuan is not a good person. Yet you still let Yanyou get entangled with Wang Kaixuan and involve himself in the disputes of those aristocratic families. Do you really think our Huang family can compare to those Armament Master clans?"

Huang Shifan spoke with intense anger.

The old woman was stunned by the slap and sat on the ground, "My son..."

"Let's not speak of this matter again. The fault lies with you. I've decided to offer some compensation and send it to the Shen family's residence." Huang Shifan made his decision, preparing to offer some blood money.

As for Huang Yanyou's death, it was a case of a father's failure to educate his son, and he claimed to have personally beaten him to death.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end