Chapter 473: Chapter 437: Nine Songs Conference
Sang Que ordered a plate of snacks and a pot of tea in the inn’s main hall, quietly sitting and listening to the surrounding conversations.
"...Are these bandits not afraid of death?"
"Look at what you’re saying, if they don’t oppose the court, can they still live? Look at the bandits on the West Yue Mountain, what happened to them after they were recruited? They promised them military positions and rations from the court, but in the end..."
"Exactly, the court’s strategy of using a borrowed knife to kill is extremely sinister, recruiting a batch of bandits only to send them to attack other bandits on the mountain, resulting in mutual destruction while the court reaps the benefits."
"How can you call it sinister? This is called a brilliant strategy! We are good people, how can we sympathize with those murderous bandits?"
"Alas! It’s just that feeling of shared fate. Those bandits used to be good citizens, driven by circumstances to become outlaws. Now, with no other options, they raise the flag against the court. I’ve heard they’ve united many people, resembling the previous momentum of the Qianshou Army."
"They will not amount to anything. Once the new year passes, there will definitely be a large army to suppress them. The Qianshou Army is a precedent. Instead of worrying about the bandits, you should worry about business next year. The construction of the city walls in the Qianyue Mountain Range won’t be finished in ten years. Craftsmen will be recruited, more laborers added, and business taxes will certainly increase."
"When will these days end? Let’s hope Jinzhou doesn’t end up like Qinzhou."
"Spit, spit, spit, don’t speak such words. Our Jinzhou is Da Xuan’s granary; it will not have any problems!"
Sang Que listened while sipping tea; most of their discussions were about the recent bandit suppression.
The Qianyue Mountain Range is divided into east and west, with Bright Moon Mountain to the east. The eastern side is more peaceful compared to the west, with fewer bandits. The court has succeeded in suppressing the bandits and has gradually set up quarries and lumber yards.
However, a quarry near Bright Moon Mountain was recently raided by bandits. Pu’an County repeatedly dispatched soldiers to besiege them, only for the bandits to retreat into the mountains each time.
When the soldiers of Pu’an County prepared to occupy the quarry, the bandits would reappear, constantly harassing, frustrating the soldiers, who had to withdraw temporarily.
This repetition happened many times without catching a single bandit. Some even said there were less than ten bandits, among whom was a powerful Yin Walker, capable of taking lives out of thin air, armed with formidable firearms and explosives, making them extraordinarily difficult to deal with.
Pu’an County has now reported the situation to the Evil Suppression Bureau, waiting for them to send someone to deal with the Yin Walker among the bandits.
Sang Que listened and sensed that this was Zhao Yunshu’s arrangement. After all, the quarry was only separated from Bright Moon Mountain by a stretch of forest and a mountain, too close.
Compared to the relatively flat and farmer-rich landscape of the East Yue Mountain Range, the West Yue Mountain Range is characterized by forests and lakes, providing cover for bandits with many large bandit nests.
In the early stage of bandit suppression, some bandits sought refuge with the court, only to be sent to attack other bandits, suffering heavy casualties.
This made the other bandits realize the court’s tactics, so they united, preparing to resist the court to the end.
In the past, these bandits could traverse mountains into the boundaries of Qinzhou, but now Qinzhou has become a Death Domain. Forced into a corner, the bandits can only fight desperately.
So the current focus of bandit suppression in Jinzhou is over in the West Yue Mountain area, and Bright Moon Mountain can still hold on for a while.
After finishing the pot of tea, Sang Que was about to refill when she suddenly saw a young monk, dusty and carrying a backpack, entering through the inn’s door with a middle-aged woman supporting an old man, his eyes covered with black cloth, stooped, following behind him. The three of them came in together.
Qiao Ling!
Sang Que’s eyes brightened. She didn’t expect Qiao Ling to arrive in Pu’an County, and that the old blind man was disguised as the Ghost Vendor. That young monk was then...
Previously it was said to be an old monk, but now Ghost Vendor brought back a young monk. It’s easy to guess that the old monk must have passed on his mantle.
Sang Que slid a piece of broken silver on the table, inconspicuously returned to her room, and used her Five Ghosts to notify Yao Zhen to return.
Ghost Vendor and the young monk rented a regular room in the back courtyard of the inn. After Yao Zhen arrived, Sang Que left Hua Qianmian in the room, taking Yao Zhen to sneakily meet Qiao Ling, Ghost Vendor, and the young monk in the back courtyard.
Previously, after providing Hua Qianmian with the Mountain Ghost Seal, the trigram energy was depleted and not yet replenished, so she couldn’t become invisible.
Ghost Vendor and the others were also waiting for Sang Que, hanging his Ghost Dolls at all doors and windows, letting his Five Ghosts guard the doors.
"Infinite Life Buddha, this humble monk is Bingchen. My master, being advanced in age, has limited time left, so only this humble monk can attend this meeting."
The young monk, with a proper appearance, looked like an ordinary monk, with nothing particular about him.
Qiao Ling was overjoyed, seeing Sang Que return safely from Shengjing.
"Little Chan thinks about you every day, almost missing you to death. I came to Pu’an County yesterday to buy herbs and was planning to leave this morning, but the heavy snow blocked the road, so I stayed, quite coincidentally."
Sang Que nodded, scanning the people seated at the table: monk, Bell Doctor, Ghost Vendor, and Daoist, mostly gathered.
She went straight to the point, without any detours, "Since we are all together today by fate, let’s take this opportunity to discuss the matter of Nine Songs."
With these words, everyone became more solemn, and the habitually hunched Ghost Vendor straightened his back.
Sang Que took out the Mountain Ghost Token representing the Witch and placed it on the table, "I am the Witch of this generation. In theory, I should lead you, inherit the duties of Nine Songs, and help the world. But the current situation is that the foundation of Nine Songs is lost, the power of the Witch Lady has dissipated almost completely, and she will no longer respond to us."
"You have inherited the identity of Nine Songs from your masters. I don’t know what you think, but if I had a choice, I wouldn’t want to be this Witch. But hear me out first."
Those who were about to speak closed their mouths again, listening to Sang Que continue.
"I originally just wanted to live my life well, but I’ve experienced and seen much here, and my thinking has changed. Although I don’t want to be this Witch, I will still strive to cleanse the world of ghosts and end the eerie era, not because I’m noble, but to protect my family."
"Perhaps because I’m young and a bit stubborn, for the same thing, I care whether it’s my choice or a forced one. I want to end everything from the past, wanting the Nine Songs organization to stop here and give you a chance to choose again. If you want to live for yourself this time, you can leave anytime."
"After this trip to Shengjing, I understood that there will definitely be a battle between me and Zuo Jin. I do need help. If you still wish to stay and assist me, I will be extremely grateful."
After Sang Que finished her words, those present looked at each other.
"You don’t have to give me an answer now; best to think it through carefully. The assassin and the shopkeeper seem to have joined Zuo Jin’s side. The storyteller is willing to pay any price to kill Zuo Jin. The Old Gu Master is imprisoned, and I will continue trying to rescue him in the future..."
Actually, Nine Songs already exists in name only, scattered apart, and everyone understands this.
"Infinite Life Buddha, I will inform my master about this matter before replying."
Monk Bingchen had never done anything under the Witch’s command and all his knowledge of Nine Songs came from his master; naturally, there’s no sense of belonging.
Yao Zhen is much the same; willing to go all out for her master, Master Jing Lan, but if it’s for Nine Songs, maybe not!
"Alright, on another note, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with, as a junior."
Everyone looked at Sang Que, who brought out the red cloth bundle she’d retrieved from Qiu Wanjun. Inside was the Yin Child’s heart, carefully kept unopened along the way.
Sang Que placed the red cloth bundle on the table, "I’d like you to help me see if there’s anything wrong with this item."
