Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 714 Old Friends?

"The Imperial Observatory?"

This news surprised Shang Lu somewhat.

Before taking charge of the Guardian Witches, the Grand Master was responsible for matters such as astronomical observation, and his cultivation was also related to the stars. Therefore, the Imperial Observatory was, in a sense, one of the Grand Master's core strengths.

But then I thought about it again. Now that even the Weiwu Yamen (a government office for guarding the celestial sphere) has been occupied and turned into a trap, it's not surprising that the Qintianjian (Imperial Observatory) has been usurped.

But what secrets does the Imperial Observatory hold that would erase the memories of its officials?

Could ordinary clerks possibly come into contact with any secrets within the Imperial Observatory?
"That's not clear."

Bai Lingxu shook his head and transmitted his voice to Shang Lu: "At this time, those three are on duty at the Imperial Observatory. I did not see them, but I managed to get some information from their families and neighbors."

According to one of the family members, her husband used to complain a lot about his work when he came home from work, saying things like there was too much work and too little reward, and that he was just dumping all the tasks on them, the lowly clerks. But in the past month or so, he's rarely complained. At first, she would ask him about it, but every time she did, her husband would fly into a rage, even resorting to physical and verbal abuse. Having suffered this, she dared not ask anymore.

"In other words, the Imperial Observatory only started acting strangely in the last month."

Shang Lu nodded and quickly checked the time.

Judging from the timeline, the strange occurrence of the Imperial Observatory should have happened after the Grand Master returned to Wushan and his behavior changed drastically, and before he sent out a message to summon the guards and witches back to Wushan to "report on their duties".

Either the Imperial Observatory was prematurely converted into a prison for the sorcerers.

Or perhaps it has nothing to do with the imprisonment of the witch, but involves some other secrets.

During this time, Shang Lu had already memorized the layout of Wushan Mountain perfectly. Now, with a little recollection, he remembered the location of the Imperial Observatory and mentally compared it with the royal palace.

The Imperial Observatory was not far from the royal palace, so if the captured sorcerers were indeed imprisoned there, it would be convenient to send them to the palace.

After thinking quickly for a moment, Shang Lu made up his mind and said, "Let's go back to the inn first, and then go look for these three people after the official duties are over, and see if we can find out more clues."

Bai Lingxu nodded slightly to indicate that he understood, and said nothing more.

After delivering the medicine to the esteemed guest, the group returned to the inn to rest.

Although they came under the guise of "delivering medicine to the Jin family," they wouldn't arouse suspicion if they stayed after delivering the medicine.

The prominent families who came to Wushan from all over the country to deliver medicine would not leave in a hurry after delivering the medicine, but would stay in Wushan to continue to give gifts to other dignitaries and win their favor.

If they really left right after delivering the medicine, that would raise suspicion.

Shang Lu and his group had anticipated this, which is why they came under the guise of "the Jin family delivering medicine." As for whether they would encounter the real Jin family's medicine delivery team, resulting in a fake imposter bumping into the real deal, they weren't worried at all.

Senior Brother Bai had extensive connections and had already learned that the Jin family, having just entered the ranks of the top families in Baiyi County, was focused entirely on seizing territory and reaping benefits.

The news that the King of Ba and the three dukes and other nobles had fallen ill had reached Baiyi County long ago. They couldn't possibly be unaware of it, yet they had remained silent.

Because they were only second-rate families in Baiyi County before, they were not qualified to pay tribute to nobles such as the King of Ba and the Three Dukes. Now, although they have squeezed into the ranks of first-rate families, their mindset has not changed, and they still do not understand these intricacies.

The other first-class families all regarded them as nouveau riche and were eager to see them make a fool of themselves so that they could take their share after they suffered. Why would they remind them of these things?
Even if the Jin family does realize what's happening and sends someone to Wushan, it will take several days.

Moreover, with Senior Brother Bai's information network in Baiyi County, they will definitely receive the news immediately and have enough time to make adjustments.

After resting for a while at the inn, Shang Lu put on the face mask that Bai Lingxu had returned and went to intercept the three constables who were about to leave for home.

Bai Lingxu asked in a low voice, "Junior Brother Shang, are you sure you don't need me to go with you?"

Shang Lu shook his head and said, "The Zongheng family only has one face, so I can go alone. Senior Brother Bai can stay at the inn to deal with any other emergencies that may arise. Old Zhu, Du Feng, and the others haven't entered the Qi Refining Realm yet, and I'm worried about them without a wizard to look after them."

Bai Lingxu knew that Shang Lu's abilities were no longer what they used to be, so he didn't try to persuade him further. He simply told him to be careful. Then he opened the Witch Beast Catalogue, summoned two emerald-green birds, and gave one of them to Shang Lu.

"These are mimicking birds; they are good at imitating human speech, and when one imitates, the other will also speak."

Bai Lingxu explained the use of the Tongyin Sparrow and said seriously, "In Wushan City, there are all sorts of informants. Using Wuxin to send messages is easy to be monitored. If you bring this Tongyin Sparrow with you, you can tell it anything by making a hand seal, and I will know immediately. Similarly, if anything happens at the inn, I can inform you immediately."

"Okay," Shang Lu replied, patting the head of the Tongyin Sparrow. The little creature was quite intelligent and immediately burrowed into Shang Lu's arms to hide.

I must say, after this little thing hid itself, it even concealed its presence, making it really hard to detect.

After giving Bai Lingxu a few instructions, Shang Lu left the courtyard and headed out of the inn.

He first used the Hundred Faces Mask to change his appearance, and then used the face of the Hundred Family Members to conceal his aura. Even if he swaggered around, no one would notice him. Even the spies in the streets and alleys paid no attention to him.

Soon Shang Lu arrived at Qingji Lane, found a restaurant, and ordered some food to cover up his arrival.

Although the three people lived in different neighborhoods, they would all pass through this neighborhood after leaving the Imperial Observatory.

This is the perfect place to ambush people.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Shang Lu saw one of his targets walking over unsteadily.

Senior Brother Bai was very reliable at gathering information. He not only found out the identities of the three people, but also their names and physical characteristics, which is why Shang Lu was able to wait there. When the target appeared, he recognized him at a glance.

Shang Lu stood up and went to greet him, only speaking when they were almost past each other: "Brother Zhang, it's been a long time."

The constable surnamed Zhang hadn't noticed Shang Lu before, but when he looked up at the sound, he was stunned for a moment before realizing that there was someone standing next to him.

His eyes were filled with confusion and unfamiliarity, and he instinctively wanted to ask Shang Lu who he was and why he knew him.

It was at this moment that the constable surnamed Zhang saw Shang Lu's eyes.

Within those eyes, a bewitching blue lotus was slowly blooming.

The constable surnamed Zhang's eyes suddenly became confused. He then felt that the person in front of him was extremely familiar, and could be considered his half-brother, but he just couldn't remember his name.

But this didn't stop him from beaming with joy. He grabbed Shang Lu's hand and exclaimed, "What a brother! I never expected to meet you here!"

Time was of the essence, so Shang Lu didn't waste any words with the constable surnamed Zhang. After summoning him, he immediately used the "Malice Technique" he had learned from the Ice Crystal Blue Lotus to search his memories. San Niang and Shang Lu cooperated very well. While he was searching his memories, in addition to blowing out a cold wind to block out all the eyes and ears on the surrounding streets, she also reached into the constable surnamed Zhang's body and sealed the maggots that were clinging to his bones.

Soon, Shang Lu used the Mind Control Technique to see all of the Zhang family constable's recent memories.

The Zhang family constable's memory showed obvious gaps—he remembered the daily trivial matters at home very clearly, but he completely forgot his work at the Imperial Observatory.

The person who erased the memory was extremely thorough. Even though Shang Lu used the Ice Crystal Blue Lotus to try and find some clues, he failed.

All of this seemed complicated and lengthy, but in reality, it only took a few breaths.

To onlookers, it was just two acquaintances bumping into each other on the street and exchanging a few casual words; there was nothing strange about it.

After searching the memories of the constable surnamed Zhang, Shang Lu put away his wicked intentions and used his silver tongue to send him away.

When the constable surnamed Zhang left, he was very enthusiastic: "Brother, you must come to my house as a guest another day. I'll have your sister-in-law prepare some food and drinks, and we'll have a good drink until we're drunk!"

Shang Lu smiled and nodded in agreement: "Okay, let's drink until we drop."

Only then did the constable surnamed Zhang leave. After walking a distance, he suddenly shivered and completely forgot about what had just happened.

In his memory, he walked home after the court session today, without encountering any familiar strangers, let alone speaking with them.

Shang Lu knew very well that since those who worked in the Imperial Observatory had their memories related to the Imperial Observatory erased after their shift ended, their memories would likely be searched again the next day when they went on duty to see who they had contacted and communicated with after leaving the Imperial Observatory.

No matter how high the probability, he wanted to nip the problem in the bud.

After dismissing the constable surnamed Zhang, Shang Lu found two other constables there and used the same method to search their memories.

The three constables were all in the same situation; they had all their memories except for anything related to the Imperial Observatory.

Although they couldn't find out what was going on inside the Imperial Observatory or what had happened, Shang Lu was certain that there was something fishy about that place!
If it weren't for the fact that ordinary people's bodies couldn't withstand the divine power and the eerie blood mist, Shang Lu would have wanted to hide a wisp of power within these three people and have them take it into the Imperial Observatory to investigate further.

"I have to find a way to investigate the Imperial Observatory!" Shang Lu thought to himself.

Just then, he suddenly noticed a movement in his arms.

It is a homophone for "雀" (que).

"Senior Brother Bai sent me a message? Has something happened at the inn?" Shang Lu was startled.

Without his command, Third Sister exhaled a breath of cold wind that swirled around him to prevent the sound from leaking out.

Shang Lu immediately made a hand seal, and the celestial bird in his arms opened its beak and uttered a sound very similar to Bai Lingxu's:
"Someone sent me an invitation, saying they are an old friend of yours, and they want to meet..."

This news greatly surprised Shang Lu.

He was just here, playing the role of someone else's old friend, and now someone is using that same trick on him.

What is this? Karma? The wheel of fortune turns?

Shang Lu rushed back to the inn and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that everyone was unharmed.

He removed the Yin-Yang Family mask, activated the Hundred Transformations Mask, and transformed back into the Jin Family member he had been impersonating before, then asked, "Who delivered the invitation?"

Even Bai Lingxu was startled when Shang Lu removed the face of the Yin Yang family member.

Fortunately, Shang Lu quickly returned to his previous appearance, which put his mind at ease. He then took out the visiting card and handed it to Shang Lu, saying with a wry smile:
"The other party was very cautious. They had the inn's waiter deliver the invitation without showing his face. I asked the waiter what the person who delivered the invitation looked like, but he couldn't answer. After that, the waiter completely forgot about the whole thing."

"Oh?" Shang Lu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Judging from the cautious approach of the person who sent the invitation, whether friend or foe, it is unlikely that they are a lackey of Ba Wang.

He took the invitation, opened it, and glanced at it. The words written on it were similar to those that Bai Lingxu had sent to him through the Tongyin Sparrow.

They simply said they were old friends and agreed to meet at HSBC Building the next day.

Shang Lu knew that HSBC Restaurant was a well-known restaurant in Wushan City. But what was this "old friend" nonsense? They were using fake names and identities; there was no way they could have any old friends!
Who exactly is this person who invited him to meet, and what are their intentions?
Shang Lu frowned, pondering as he carefully examined the visiting card, turning it over and over in his mind.

In the end, he did discover something – there were a few drops of ink between the lines of the visiting card. At first glance, it seemed like there was nothing wrong with it, but upon closer inspection, who would leave such ink drops on a visiting card?
After considering for a moment, Shang Lu carefully released a wisp of his essence into the few drops of ink. They immediately emitted a burst of ink light and then transformed into a witch's rune.

Bai Lingxu didn't recognize the witch rune, but he noticed Shang Lu's sudden change in expression and hurriedly asked, "Junior Brother Shang, what is this?"

Shang Lu whispered, "It's a witch's mark used by the shamans to identify each other."

"The person who sent the visiting card, is it Wei Wu?" Bai Lingxu raised an eyebrow.

He then frowned: "Could this be a trap?"

Before Shang Lu could answer, he shook his head and muttered to himself, "If they really are the King's henchmen, they could just arrest them directly. Why bother with all these tricks? Could they really be Wei Wu who infiltrated the city and hasn't been captured yet? But how did they figure out your identity, Junior Brother Shang?"

Shanglu was also puzzled by this.

Not many Wei Wu knew him, let alone the fact that they had been disguised all the way to Wushan, so how could they be recognized?
If the other party can recognize his identity, do Ba Wang's henchmen also have such ability?
Seeing Shang Lu deep in thought, Bai Lingxu asked again, "Will you keep the appointment tomorrow?"

"I'll go." Shang Lu said without hesitation, "I want to see which old friend it is!"

We also need to find out how the other party discovered their identities!

As for the danger? Just like Senior Brother Bai said, if the other party really wanted to harm them, they could just be straightforward; there was no need for these tricks.

The person who sent the visiting card and arranged to meet is very likely to be Wei Wu.

Shang Lu even wondered if this person might be Zi Shu Xunshou, or perhaps Gongshu Ling or Lü Yang? After all, among the Wei Wu, only these few people were familiar with him.

(End of this chapter)