Madam, please respect my profession.

Chapter 397: Ji Mengli vs. the Saint of the Hehuan Sect, an encounter at Wutong Academy

At noon, the bright sunshine disappeared, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, as if a storm was about to come. The wind on the street was chilly, and after Lu Zhan scolded the Thief Saint, he returned to the inn.

Ling Jiaoyue and Jiang Ningshuang were both waiting at the inn. When they saw Lu Zhan coming back, they stood up to greet him.

"Are there any signs of progress?" Jiang Ningshuang walked behind Lu Zhan, took off his outer robe and hung it on the hanger next to him.

The faint scent of perfume wafted from the robe, as rich as a hundred flowers blooming, and could not be covered up.

Jiang Ningshuang blinked, her nostrils flared slightly, and she sniffed Lu Zhan again.

The scent of perfumed powder on Lu Zhan's body was even stronger.

This means that he had been in the brothel for at least half an hour, otherwise he wouldn't smell so good.

Jiang Ningshuang turned around and looked at Lu Zhan, licked her bright red lips, and was about to ask a few questions when she was interrupted by Lu Zhan.

Lu Zhan noticed Jiang Jiang's mood change and took the initiative to say, "It's not easy to get information this time. There are all kinds of people in this brothel. I stayed in Mingyu Tower for more than half an hour before I got the information I wanted. The fragrance made my eyes hurt."

"..."

Ling Jiaoyue thought for a moment and said, "Wutong Academy is very famous and has a high status in Southern Xinjiang. It is highly valued by the royal family of Southern Xinjiang. I'm afraid this matter will be difficult to investigate."

There are too few clues. Even if the old Taoist is really the Master Zhao, and even if Wutong Academy is really planning some secret, it may not be related to the magic stone.

Lu Zhan thought for a moment and said:

"What I told the Grand Master was that we should prioritize investigating the more powerful secret realms. The reason why the imperial spies went to the Sleeping Valley must have been the same idea, but they were ruined by those two old Taoists..."

Before Xiaobai could finish his words, Jiang Ningshuang covered his mouth.

Xiao Bai stared with big eyes and said curiously: "Sister Ning Shuang said that you have a baby that can grow big or small, can eat, can... um——"

But this is the only way to investigate at the moment. Regardless of whether it is related to the magic stone or not, if Wutong Academy is really harming people, it must be eliminated.

Lu Zhan raised his hand and said, "If it is really Wutong Academy that is responsible, the defense inside must be very strict. Too many people may not be a good thing. I will go there by myself tonight. Tushan Shiyu's invisibility robe is still with me, so it should be fine. As for the two of you..."

"Such a spiritual stone is very likely to appear in a secret place or a place left over from ancient times. After all, it is a divine stone. No matter how ordinary it looks, the place where it is located will be somewhat special."

Jiang Ningshuang suddenly took Xiaobai away from Lu Zhan's arms, covered the fox's mouth, and said with a wry smile:

"I think those two old Taoists are related to Wutong Academy, but I'm not sure. After all, there is no solid evidence. We have to investigate this matter slowly."

They don't have many clues now, so instead of running around like headless flies, it would be better to follow this clue.

Moreover, finding the magic stone requires chance. It is certainly a good thing if you can find it. If you can't find it, solving the case of the cultivator being killed can be regarded as eliminating harm for the people, which is worth the trip all the way to southern Xinjiang.

"..."

“Well…be more careful when talking to Xiaobai next time.” Lu Zhan said seriously, “She is not smart, just like a sparrow.”

Lu Zhan reached out and pressed her down on the chair, whispering, "The courtesan I met today is a disciple of the Hehuan Sect. The Hehuan Sect is located in the Far North, south of Southern Xinjiang, and north of it. It doesn't make sense for them to develop their power here. I think something is wrong. Go check it out."

But since it involves the strength of other sects, we do need to be careful.

The discussion was over, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed. Xiaobai walked over with elegant steps, wagging his big furry tail happily, like a stupid silver fox dog, and enthusiastically jumped into Lu Zhan's arms and asked:

Jiang Ningshuang didn't have a good impression of brothels, so she said, "Is there something wrong with the brothel? I'll report it directly."

Jiang Ningshuang patted her chest, shaking her body, and assured with a stern face, "Don't worry, leave this matter to us, and we will definitely investigate it thoroughly."

If it was an ordinary courtesan, it would not be difficult to just take out some silver and throw it at her, and it would not be difficult to ask for some information.

"The old Taoist has gone to great lengths to hunt down so many cultivators. He must have a big plan. Let's follow this clue for now. Perhaps we can get some unexpected gains."

"..."

"Have you finished talking about business? Baibai has something that he wants the master to solve!"

"Guanqi, you still have to go to Wutong Academy tonight, so take a rest first. I'll take Xiaobai out to play and check out Mingyu Tower."

Ling Jiaoyue was also a little worried: "Do you think what those two old Taoists are planning is related to the divine stone?"

After saying that, without waiting for Lu Zhan to speak, Jiang Ningshuang ran out of the room carrying Xiaobai.

Lu Zhan blinked. Although Xiaobai didn't finish what he said, he guessed a little bit.

Lu Zhan paused for a moment, thinking about Mingyu Tower, and continued, "Go and help me check Mingyu Tower."

"I don't know about that either. The Grand Master said that the divine stone has spirituality. Its appearance is no different from ordinary stones, but if you touch a divine stone, you will know that it is a divine stone."

Ling Jiaoyue didn't make any promises, but her eyes showed obvious caution.

Even if the divine stone itself is "low-key", its characteristics do not allow it to be low-key. Wherever the divine stone is, the surroundings must be different.

Lu Zhan had ignored Bai Bai's existence recently. Now that he had some free time, he touched her head and asked patiently, "What's the matter?"

Ling Jiaoyue sat nearby, pondering over Lu Zhan's words.

"This matter cannot be done openly, we have to investigate it secretly. I will go to Wutong Academy tonight to confirm the identity of Master Zhao first. If Master Zhao is really the old Taoist, even if Wutong Academy is difficult to investigate, we have to investigate it."

Lu Zhan was originally the deputy commander of the Demon Suppression Division, so it was impossible for him to turn a blind eye to such a thing. Although things were prioritized, the things they were worried about right now were really vague.

Lu Zhan sat at the table, took the warm tea handed over by Fairy Ling, and said:

Lu Zhan played with the teacup and said thoughtfully:

Jiang Ningshuang was a little worried: "Let's go together."

Jiang Ningshuang blinked: "I see... Did you find out the news?"

Ling Jiaoyue suddenly realized: "No wonder you stayed in the brothel for so long."

Speaking of Queque, Ling Jiaoyue smiled faintly: "I don't know how Queque is doing."

Lu Zhan also missed the little guy a little. He and Ling Jiaoyue had such an opportunity, mostly because of Que Que.

"I believe it won't be long before we can see her." Lu Zhan said softly.

The speed at which the Phoenix Clan absorbs the essence is definitely much faster than that of the human race.

Once the little guy is completely integrated with the essence, he will come looking for him.

Ling Jiaoyue nodded and said nothing.

Lu Zhan stood up and walked towards the bed, asking, "Do you want to rest together?"

"..."

Ling Jiaoyue's hand holding the teacup paused slightly. She didn't believe in Lu Zhan's so-called "rest".

Every time I say take a break, the end result is harmony.

What's more, Lu Zhan had just come out of the brothel and might be a little greedy. Jiang Ningshuang was not here, and she couldn't handle the heat...

Thinking of this, Ling Jiaoyue stood up and said calmly: "Jiang Ningshuang is unreliable. I will keep an eye on her. You can take a rest."

"Okay." Lu Zhan didn't think much about it. Jiang Jiang had a lively personality and was not steady enough in doing things. It was indeed more reassuring to have Fairy Ling following her.

……

At night, a misty spring rain brought a bit of coolness to Chaofeng City. The night sky was as dark as ink, and the distant mountains were scattered around. The quiet Chaofeng City was like a painting in ink and color, leisurely and comfortable.

Outside the Guanshan Teahouse not far from the city wall, eight figures were hiding in the nearby woods, quietly keeping watch.

On the third floor of the teahouse, two figures were sitting by the windowsill.

The teahouse was built of logs, and the windows were not sealed, so one could clearly see the landscape outside. The trees outside the window were washed shiny by the rain, and a fresh air filled the air. The breeze blew in with the drizzle, wetting the white gauze that covered the table, but not staining the tea table at all.

The fair lady in a blue dress was pouring tea from a purple clay teapot. The clear jade-like tea was fragrant. She handed the teacup to the woman in black sitting opposite her:

"Drink tea."

The woman in black had a lazy look on her face, her plump figure rising and falling. She smiled slightly, a hint of mockery flashed through her eyes, and her voice was soft and charming:

"You are indeed the Saintess of the Hehuan Sect. It has only been a few days? You are already so calm in front of me."

Qing Ruo's expression changed slightly, and she placed the teacup on the table and asked, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

The woman in black twisted her body and smiled as charmingly as a flower:

"I can't look for you if there's nothing wrong? Don't forget that you were able to rise from a lowly person to the Holy Maiden of the Hehuan Sect, all thanks to my help. You haven't been delivering messages in a timely manner lately, so I came here to ask you, do you not know who you are?"

"..."

Qingruo let her hands hang at her sides and subconsciously grasped the hem of her skirt.

Although she is the descendant of the Holy Maiden of the Hehuan Sect, her fate is rough. If she had not met the woman in front of her, she would still be a lowly person.

Because of this, she was greatly constrained by this woman.

Qing Ruo raised her head, looked at the charming woman in front of her, gritted her teeth and said:

"Don't talk like that. At worst... I won't be the Saint! The Hehuan Sect's system is ridiculous. They clearly take Yang to replenish Yin, and everyone is evil, but they require the Saint to remain chaste. They call it respecting the rules and regulations of the ancestors, but in fact it's just a hypocritical show!"

"When the Moon Palace Fairy established the position of Saintess, she hoped that a pure and kind woman would lead the female cultivators of the Hehuan Sect forward, so that all the sisters would have a place to settle down in the world of immortal cultivation. But the current Hehuan Sect is neither fish nor fowl, and it is extremely ridiculous."

"Do you think I am willing to be this saint?"

Qingruo gritted her teeth and hated the Hehuan Sect's ethos.

If she wanted to be a seductress who could sleep with anyone, she could have done so openly. But she chose to set up a so-called saint under the guise of "respecting ancestors". It is really despicable.

Qingruo already hated this kind of life, and now she had to obey the orders of the woman in black, which made her feel particularly bad.

So after hearing the ridicule from the woman in black, Qing Ruo could no longer bear it and poured out her true feelings.

The woman in black was not angry. She gathered her sleeves calmly and said lightly:

"Oh? Then are you willing to give him up?"

"..."

Qingruo's body froze and she couldn't utter a word.

The black-clothed woman laughed as softly as a silver bell, saying:

"Even though the Hehuan Sect is notorious, it is still a sect of immortals. As the Saint of the Hehuan Sect, you also have some status in the martial arts world. If you give up your status as a Saint, think about it... what will you be?"

Qing Ruo clenched her fists and put them on the table, tears in her eyes: "I just want to stand by him upright, so I am willing to be used by you."

The black-clad woman's smile became more charming. She stood up, walked behind Qingruo, and leaned forward slightly.

As she moved, her black hair slid down her shoulders to the front of her body. The woman in black said softly:

"If that's the case, why do you have to act like this? Besides... you and I are working together, so how can we use each other?"

Qingruo's body was stiff. She closed her eyes slightly and said calmly:

"Let's talk business. I got news recently that Wutong Academy seems to be planning something big. They have killed many cultivators in the past hundred years and are trying to awaken the mirage demon."

The woman in black raised her eyebrows slightly: "It seems that your Hehuan Sect is not useless. You can even dig out this information. You don't need to follow up on this matter. I know it in my heart."