Chapter 468: Chapter 432: Rebellion
The day after Sang Que and the others left, He Buning went to the Evil Ghost Bureau. Together with the others, he helped chisel open the giant stone sealing the Evil Ghost Bureau from the outside and released Qiu Wanjun and the assassin.
Initially, Qiu Wanjun thought the assassin had betrayed the Prime Minister, but within the Evil Ghost Bureau, no matter how Qiu Wanjun attacked the assassin, he only dodged.
Yet, no matter what questions Qiu Wanjun asked the assassin, he just kept a blank face and didn’t speak.
Eventually, the two stopped fighting and just waited in the Evil Ghost Bureau.
When He Buning released them, he told Qiu Wanjun that the Prime Minister was a fake and had already left Shengjing City.
Qiu Wanjun said nothing. Having been detained in the Evil Ghost Bureau overnight, he already understood the events that had transpired.
Qiu Wanjun was grateful for the Prime Minister’s wise foresight in transferring the prisoners from the Evil Ghost Bureau ahead of time, preventing the Nine Songs Remnants from rescuing them.
The only regret was losing the heart that could restrain the Yin Child.
But for the Witch of Nine Songs to ascend to the Ghost God Realm wasn’t so simple. After all, the Prime Minister had risked everything to achieve what he did today.
Afterward, Qiu Wanjun continued to oversee the situation, notifying various branches of the Evil Suppression Bureau in Jingzhou to dispatch people to pursue Sang Que and his party.
Initially thinking the Prime Minister would return within a few days, both Qiu Wanjun and He Buning were unprepared for a wait that stretched over a month.
Near the Small Year.
On the day the heavy snow first stopped, He Buning was honing his knife skills in the training grounds of the Prime Minister’s Mansion when Xiao Liu suddenly called out fearfully, "Prime Minister!" He Buning sheathed his knife and looked up to see his father, wearing a black fur coat, standing beneath a winter plum tree, its branches heavy with white snow crystals.
After nearly two months without seeing each other, his father’s face remained pale, but the blood aura had faded significantly, and the sense of a lingering death was gone.
He Buning knew that the blood curse on his father was perhaps nearing resolution.
"Father!"
He Buning walked over and bowed respectfully.
Zuo Jin took off his thick, warm cloak and handed it to He Buning, who was only wearing a thin garment, indicating they should walk together casually.
"During my absence, General Qiu told me about the events that have occurred. You must understand; I did indeed use you."
Zuo Jin was unreserved about this. Previously, He Buning had gone to the Evil Ghost Bureau to talk to Mo Yan Shu, hoping he could help resolve the blood curse in Yunzhou.
Mo Yan Shu did not agree, and thereafter He Buning believed that the Old Gu Master and Mo Yan Shu were both imprisoned in the Evil Ghost Bureau.
Later, when Sang Que approached, He Buning was determined to help Sang Que rescue them and informed Sang Que of the matter.
Unbeknownst to him, Zuo Jin had already transferred them from the Evil Ghost Bureau when leaving Shengjing City, effectively using He Buning to lure Sang Que into a trap.
He Buning said nothing, and Zuo Jin said, "I know you hold resentment towards me. From the upheaval in Qinzhou to today, I have never explained anything to you."
With a blank expression, He Buning replied, "You have always been disdainful of explaining anything. I just never imagined that you would even use me to deal with a daughter to whom you have never fulfilled a day of parental duty."
He Buning never expected his father to explain, as it seemed the longer his father held the Prime Minister’s position, the deeper he delved into the Netherworld. He felt the parental love and humanity from his father diminishing.
The father he knew now only had the big picture in his eyes.
"The path to the Immortal Country is actually in Qinzhou. I sensed that place when I first entered the Ghost God Realm. To reach the Immortal Country, there are only two ways: achieving the Ninth Layer of the Netherworld or unlocking the gate with the key held by the Witch. You should understand why I must find the Immortal Country."
He Buning nodded slightly, for who would want to remain in a world plagued by ghosts?
"But the problem now is that here, I have no prospect of reaching the Ninth Floor of Nine Netherworld. Your sister’s key becomes the sole means to save the people from peril. Despite the witches throughout generations possessing this key, none have opened the gate to save innocent citizens, leading to countless deaths, including your mother."
"Maybe it’s not unwillingness, but inability," He Buning replied softly.
"Yes, everyone has their challenges and difficulties. To accomplish the goal, someone must play the role of the villain!"
Zuo Jin patted He Buning’s shoulder.
"Some things are futile to argue about; dwelling on past mistakes only stagnates us. Now, we should focus on solving the problem. Keeping you in Shengjing City during this period is in the hope you can calmly think about the path forward."
"You previously requested to go to Jinzhou to quell bandits, which is also fine. I’ll discuss this with the Empress Dowager and issue a decree after the New Year for you to go to Jinzhou to oversee the army. You should also advance to the Ninth Netherworld Fifth Layer, instead of stagnating. Once my situation stabilizes, I’ll start preliminary attempts to deal with the ghosts within Jingzhou."
"Those that can be eradicated through devouring will be dealt with that way. Those that can’t will be driven to Qinzhou, at least establishing a ghost-free haven for the people. Therefore, the checkpoint between Jinzhou and Qinzhou is crucial, and this responsibility will rest on your shoulders."
He Buning nodded in agreement; going to Jinzhou to oversee the army was preferable to being confined in Shengjing City.
...
At that time, in Bright Moon Mountain.
Zhao Yunshu had just returned from the construction site at the foot of the mountain, ready to take a nap before writing a work log when Luo Dayong forcefully knocked on her courtyard gate.
"Miss Zhao, it’s bad! The stone miners at the newly opened quarry in the northwest have rebelled!"
Zhao Yunshu immediately stood up, her drowsiness completely gone.
Due to Da Xuan’s intention to build a city wall along the Qianyue Mountain Range, various sites, apart from bandit suppression, opened quarries and logging sites to prepare advance construction materials.
The area around Bright Moon Mountain was originally intended for a quarry since the surrounding stone forest was a promising location.
However, due to the presence of the Qingfeng Temple, Master Jing Lan, a disciple of the Taoist Sect, refused permission, and the county government overseeing this region dared not insist, forced to report layer by layer, waiting for the Jinzhou State Governor’s decision.
Currently, along the Qianyue Mountain Range, aside from Qingfeng Temple, several other mountain Taoist Temples were similarly resistant to relocation.
Fearing delays affecting the schedule, the local government selected another location to build a quarry, not very far from Bright Moon Mountain.
Liu Tianyou worried about exposing Bright Moon Mountain, thus tasked Luo Danian and Luo Dayong brothers with monitoring the quarry.
Today, the quarry workers suddenly united to resist the soldiers. To preserve labor, the soldiers didn’t annihilate them completely but killed a small portion for intimidation.
The remaining quarry workers refused to surrender, instead fleeing into deep mountains, heading towards Bright Moon Mountain, with soldiers chasing after them.
Luo Dayong, on duty today, promptly informed Liu Tianyou upon discovering the situation, who then sent Luo Dayong to alert Zhao Yunshu.
Currently, the construction site at the cliff’s edge in Bright Moon Mountain’s back is bustling with activity. Most people from modern times live on site, protected by security team leader Zheng Xuan and deputy leader Xia Chan.
Zhao Yunshu oversees the entire project, coordinating with Liu Tianyou.
The base belongs to everyone; given the situation, Liu Tianyou naturally called Zhao Yunshu to discuss together what to do.
