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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 90 (345): [Two Letters Written in Blood]
(90th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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The letters primarily addressed two matters.
First, Deputy Commander Zhou Bida's family was being held captive by the Heretical Sect in Thunder Mausoleum (Leiling) City's Divine Martial Hall. If they weren't rescued today, their reputation would be ruined, and their lives would be in peril.
Second, Jiang Xin, the Elder overseeing all Heretical Sect activities in Fu Prefecture, was the Hall Master of the Attendant Hall's Main Bureau at South Yan Pass.
Each revelation was like a thunderclap, poised to unleash an unpredictable storm.
Tai Shi Bai had already heard about the morning's events at South Yan Pass on his way back to the city. He never imagined there were so many hidden layers to the story.
In the carriage, Madam Long asked, "What do you think?"
"It might be a trap, but lives are at stake. It's better to believe it than to dismiss it," Tai Shi Bai replied.
Madam Long pressed, "Which matter do you think is more important?"
"Both are! Rescuing the hostages is urgent, and Jiang Xin must be brought under control immediately. We can apologize to him later after we've clarified the situation. If something were to happen to him in his position, the consequences would be unimaginable," Tai Shi Bai said.
Silence hung in the carriage for a long moment.
Tai Shi Bai frowned, sensing his mother's dissatisfaction with his answer, "Does Mother see something wrong with my assessment?"
Madam Long said, "Jiang Xin is first and foremost a member of the Jiang Clan, and second, a member of the Attendant Hall. What right do you have to control him? You have no right to investigate him!"
Tai Shi Bai didn't immediately argue.
After a moment of thought, he understood and exclaimed, "Mother means saving people is more important."
Madam Long said, "Zhou Bida joined your father's personal guard at the age of twenty-five. He fought in hundreds of major and minor battles. Only after turning a hundred did he become a Deputy Commander, earning immense respect within the army."
Tai Shi Bai retorted coldly, "But Phoenix Terrace and the Attendant Hall bypassed us entirely. Without even a word, they barged into a Deputy Commander's residence in South Yan Pass - our territory - and killed him outright! Even if they had irrefutable evidence, such actions show utter disregard for the Tai Shi Clan, effectively slapping Father in the face."
"Now, someone has reported Jiang Xin as an Elder of a Heretical Sect. This is the perfect opportunity to restore our honor."
"I'll contact the Jiang Clan and Yao Shaoqing, who is still in South Yan Pass. The three of us will investigate together. If we uncover anything, we'll see how Phoenix Terrace explains themselves then."
Normally, they wouldn't launch a full-scale investigation into a Main Bureau based on a vague letter. But today was different - the Commander-in-Chief's Office had suffered a major loss.
Silence fell over the carriage again.
"Mother wants me to go to Thunder Mausoleum (Leiling) City to save people?"
Tai Shi Bai's mind raced: "That's right. Saving lives is the most urgent matter. We can easily spare a team from the Commander-in-Chief's Office to investigate the South Yan Pass incident."
Madam Long said, "With your cultivation and seniority, how could you possibly defeat Yao Qian? You probably wouldn't even stand a chance against that old fox Jiang Xin. Leave the investigation of Jiang Xin to Vice Commander Qiu and Tai Shi Zhang."
"Immediately - right now - gather a group of elite soldiers and rush to Thunder Mausoleum City to rescue the hostages. You must bring them back to South Yan Pass unharmed and ensure their safety."
"We need to make sure the veterans in the army see the Tai Shi Clan's stance on this matter."
"If you botch this and word gets out, you can forget about ever gaining a foothold in the military again. Who will truly serve the Taishi Clan wholeheartedly then?"
"Understood, Mother. Your foresight is truly remarkable. I'll leave immediately!"
Tai Shi Bai finally understood why his mother considered the rescue mission more urgent.
Rescuing the hostages was more crucial for him and the Tai Shi Clan.
First, the greatest concern for soldiers in the army was the safety of their families.
If even the family of a Deputy Commander couldn't be protected, how would the rank-and-file soldiers view the Tai Shi Clan?
Second, the Heretical Sect's extreme tactic of holding a Deputy Commander's family hostage suggested that Zhou Bida likely hadn't yet yielded.
As long as the Phoenix Terrace couldn't produce concrete evidence, the Commander-in-Chief's Office could take the case all the way to Lingxiao City.
"Clatter!"
Tai Shi Bai mounted his Exotic Beast and galloped toward the city gates like a whirlwind.
Inside the carriage, Madam Long's voice echoed, "They're using the Tai Shi Clan to further their own agenda. Investigate! Leave no stone unturned until you find the person who sent the letter."
....
The Hidden Person Registry not only recorded information about all the Hidden Ones of this sixty-year cycle but also listed some of their Hidden Sect strongholds and businesses.
Many of these businesses had been left behind by generations of Hidden Ones throughout the Lingxiao Realm.
South Yan Pass's third city layer alone had three such businesses.
Ever since the letter's contents had been leaked, the third city layer had been under strict scrutiny. Soldiers patrolled every street, and many Formations had been activated.
Even with Li Weiyi's mastery of the Disguise Technique, he dared not wander the streets openly, constantly dodging and evading detection.
After inspecting all three businesses, he finally chose Old Zhou's Coffin Shop, a relatively quiet establishment, as his temporary refuge.
As the sun set, the sky grew dim.
Scattered snowflakes began to fall.
Old Zhou, his leg crippled and leaning on a cane, his eyes red and swollen with grief and fury, returned to his coffin shop. He slowly removed the wooden door panels one by one, then slumped dejectedly at the entrance.
He remained motionless, his heart consumed by sorrow.
Only after night had fully fallen did he seem to regain some strength, lighting a Bone Lamp.
Suddenly, in the lamplight, Old Zhou saw a young man in green robes sitting inside the shop.
The young man was reading something, but strangely, he emitted no aura whatsoever.
Old Zhou, who had spent his life surrounded by the dead and claimed to fear nothing in the world, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
Old Zhou's demeanor suddenly shifted. His eyes sharpened like blades.
With a wave of his hand, he used Spiritual Qi to draw the hidden knife from behind the door into his grasp.
Pointing the blade at the young man seated inside, he demanded, "Speak. Which faction do you belong to?"
Li Weiyi was studying the ledger he'd found in Xu Xiangu's Boundary Pouch. He discovered that the Twin Rice Sect had three additional bases and over a dozen properties in South Yan Pass, with a wide range of business operations.
Furthermore, the ledger recorded two bases and numerous properties in Lingxiao City.
Any power with tens of millions of followers must have a global network, with deep roots reaching into every corner of the world.
Closing the ledger, Li Weiyi turned to Old Zhou.
Old Zhou's hair was white and disheveled, his clothes gray and worn. A long scar ran across his neck, and his left foot was crippled, giving him the air of a dying ember.
But as he raised the knife, an instant surge of martial killing intent filled the coffin shop.
Li Weiyi asked, "Senior, you're from a military background, aren't you?"
Old Zhou limped forward, his eyes blazing with hatred: "Attendant Hall? Hmph, not bad..."
"Swish!"
The war blade slashed down, its arc like a bright crescent moon.
He was at the Third Realm of the Five Seas Realm!
"Bang!"
Li Weiyi remained seated, using his protective Spiritual Qi to meet the blade head-on with his forehead. His body was as indestructible as diamond, impervious to the strike.
After sending Old Zhou reeling back, Li Weiyi produced the Divine Hidden One's token from the Jiu Li Hidden Sect.
Upon seeing the token's unique Hidden Sect markings, Old Zhou's knife clattered to the floor. He dropped to one knee, tears streaming down his face.
"Greetings, Divine Hidden One! The Jiu Li Hidden Sect... we must avenge Vice Commander Zhou! He died a terrible death. I wanted to retrieve his body, but I couldn't even get near the Deputy Commander's Office."
Li Weiyi helped him to his feet: "What was your relationship with the Vice Commander?"
Old Zhou replied, "I was raised by Vice Commander Zhou and followed him for decades. Nine years ago, I lost a leg on the battlefield and was assigned here to run a coffin shop and relay messages."
"You took a huge risk! Going to the Zhou Manor at this time would easily arouse suspicion and lead to surveillance."
Li Weiyi glanced outside.
In the lamplight, the night was deep and dark, and the snow fell heavier than before.
A biting wind continued to howl in.
Old Zhou shook his head: "Countless soldiers went to the Deputy Commander's Office today - active-duty troops, wounded veterans, and retirees. Vice Commander Zhou served in the military for eighty years. How many people followed him? How many lives did he save? He often helped us wounded and retired soldiers. If the Attendant Hall wants to investigate, half of South Yan Pass would likely grind to a halt."
Li Weiyi felt a slight sense of relief: "I am deeply saddened by Vice Commander Zhou's death and vow to avenge him. But right now, I have an urgent matter that requires me to send something out immediately. Do you have a way?"
Old Zhou carefully replaced the door planks one by one, whispering, "Divine Hidden One, you're the person Phoenix Terrace, the Attendant Hall, and the Commander-in-Chief's Office are searching for today, aren't you?"
Li Weiyi nodded.
Old Zhou continued, "The entire city is under lockdown. The city gates are closed, and any living creature attempting to leave will be detected, even if hidden in a Boundary Pouch. But if it's just an object, I can still find a way."
Li Weiyi asked, "Are you certain? This object is crucial to avenging Vice Commander Zhou. There can be no mistakes."
Old Zhou thumped his chest, guaranteeing, "I've spent my entire life at South Yan Pass. Everyone in the military is like family to me. The Vice Commander entrusted me with relaying messages, so I naturally have the ability to get them out, even in the most extraordinary circumstances."
Time was of the essence, leaving Li Weiyi no choice but to trust Zhou Bida's prearranged plans.
Using only Jiang Xin's blood oath wasn't enough; he had to write one himself.
"Slish!"
He tore a piece of cloth from his robe, slit his wrist, and began pouring blood onto it.
Then, biting his finger, he wrote:
Urgent: To Palace Master An personally.
Weiyi is trapped at South Yan Pass, hunted by the Phoenix Terrace, the Attendant Hall, and the Commander-in-Chief's Office. An internal traitor seeks to kill me, making my return impossible!
I was ordered by my Master to carry a precious treasure from Headquarters.
But all along the way, I've been pursued by members of the Divine Sect.
After enduring countless dangers and suffering severe injuries, I finally reached South Yan Pass.
To my surprise, the pass seems to have already learned of the Divine Sect's impending attack on Lingxiao City and has begun a massive recruitment drive.
I know entering the city is a death sentence, but I must complete my mission.
"I have no parents, no siblings, no ties, no regrets - except for those four little ones. I beg Hall Master to guide them well and keep them from straying onto the wrong path."
"In my heart, as long as Palace Master An remains, the Twin Rice Sect is not a Heretical Sect. I would gladly die for it, without regret. This is all I have to say. Tell Master that I am grateful for her protection this past year. I spent the most carefree year of my life at the Southern Purity (Nanqing) Palace. I will repay all her kindness in my next life!"
There was no need for exaggeration. He simply spoke from the depths of his heart.
After finishing, Li Weiyi carefully wrapped the two blood letters and sealed them with the Spirit Valley (Linggu) Hall's special talismanic runes.
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END OF CHAPTER
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