I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 373: Chapter 304: Cloud Feather Fierce Eagle (Part 2)

A mature Cloud Feather Fierce Eagle can carry dozens of experts at once, attacking over a thousand miles and enough to turn the tide of battle!

Zhu Qunxiang, both a member of a noble family and an Outer Disciple of the sect, was seeing the Cloud Feather Fierce Eagle for the first time.

Still in shock, Zhu Qunxiang watched as two figures leaped down from the massive shadow above.

The two figures shot forth, standing like specters not far from Zhu Qunxiang.

Zhu Qunxiang quickly jumped down from the ox cart and knelt, saying, "A humble student pays respects to the lord!"

Lyu Zhongtang glanced at Zhu Qunxiang but ignored him, looking towards Amok with restrained anger, "Qingzhu, are you not coming over?"

Lyu Qingzhu and Amok knew who had arrived upon hearing the eagle’s cry.

They walked forward.

Lyu Qingzhu bowed her head, her voice weak, calling, "Father."

Amok stood beside her, slightly bowed, respectfully saying, "Master."

Duan Rong sat in the last ox cart, and upon hearing Lyu Qingzhu call "Father," his heart skipped a beat, and he looked carefully at the man.

The two figures at the front were a slender middle-aged man in green Daoist robes and a refined young boy.

Lyu Qingzhu’s father was the middle-aged man. Duan Rong couldn’t help but stare a few more times.

Just then, Lyu Zhongtang’s gaze suddenly turned to the ox cart behind Zhu Qunxiang, and in the shifting moonlight, bodies piled on the ox cart, with dense blood threads writhing above...

Lyu Zhongtang’s expression changed, looking at Zhu Qunxiang, asking, "What’s with these Filthy Blood Sect corpses?"

Zhu Qunxiang, still kneeling and not daring to rise, replied, "Reporting to the lord, we were escorting these newly appointed Registered Disciples through the wilderness when we encountered an ambush by Filthy Blood Sect monsters..."

Hearing Zhu Qunxiang’s words, Lyu Zhongtang’s brow furrowed tightly. With the moonlight’s assistance, he noticed Amok was covered in bloodstains...

Instantly furious, Lyu Zhongtang glared at Lyu Qingzhu, cursing, "Lyu Qingzhu! You’re getting more and more daring! I arranged for you to inspect Divine Cloud Prefecture. Who gave you the nerve to make decisions, switching places, coming to this godforsaken land!"

In the past two days, Lyu Zhongtang received news that Lyu Qingzhu was not inspecting Divine Cloud Prefecture but had switched and traveled thousands of miles to Yuanyang Prefecture instead.

He only had this one daughter, deeply treasured like flesh on his heart. Despite Lyu Qingzhu achieving the True Qi Realm Second Level and having Amok for protection, the Jianghu was dangerously unpredictable, let alone her running thousands of miles away.

The most dangerous here was the Filthy Blood Sect, and she really encountered them.

Looking at Amok covered in bloodstains, Lyu Zhongtang felt a wave of dread. If anything happened to Qingzhu, how would he explain to the ancestors?

Lyu Qingzhu pursed her lips, her expression defiant, saying, "Father need not scold anymore; I will never venture out again!"

"You..." Seeing Lyu Qingzhu’s obstinate demeanor, Lyu Zhongtang grew more irritated.

At this moment, the young gentleman standing not far from Lyu Zhongtang spoke, "Master need not be overly upset. Younger sister is still young, naturally fond of playfulness. Moreover, nothing happened after all; encountering the Filthy Blood Sect’s ambush counts as training, which isn’t entirely a bad thing."

The speaking youth was Pei Du, a disciple of Lyu Zhongtang, possessing outstanding talent and highly valued by him.

Upon Pei Du speaking, Lyu Zhongtang’s expression softened a bit. He looked at Lyu Qingzhu, saying, "Let’s go, back to the mountain!"

Speaking, Lyu Zhongtang turned and approached the Cloud Feather Fierce Eagle, which stood there with folded wings.

Lyu Qingzhu followed silently.

Lyu Zhongtang, Lyu Qingzhu, and Amok walked to the Cloud Feather Fierce Eagle, and in a flash, they jumped onto the eagle’s back.

The eagle’s vast wings suddenly spread, slowly flapping...

When the eagle landed, it stirred a cloud of dust. Now taking off, its wings sent a fierce wind, slicing across everyone’s faces as sharply as a knife. Duan Rong’s face smarted yet he kept his eyes wide open, fixed on the departing Cloud Feather Fierce Eagle, knowing Lyu Qingzhu was on its back.

The eagle’s massive wings flapped, lifting dust into the air as it soared skyward, the dark form flashing and rapidly ascending.

Duan Rong watched as the enormous silhouette under the moonlight grew smaller, gradually vanishing into the boundless sea of clouds...

Duan Rong stared at the place where the black eagle disappeared, lost in thought for a long time.

Xiao Yu Chen remarked, "It’s long gone! Are you still watching?"

Duan Rong sighed heavily; when Lyu Qingzhu left, she hadn’t glanced his way, as if he didn’t exist.

Duan Rong slumped onto the cart, staring vacantly into the dark woods lining the road.

Lyu Zhongtang, Lyu Qingzhu, and Amok had already departed, but Pei Du, who had come with Lyu Zhongtang, remained standing before Zhu Qunxiang, smiling as he helped Zhu Qunxiang, who was kneeling, rise, saying, "Fellow disciple, how should I address you?"

Zhu Qunxiang replied, "A humble student, Zhu Qunxiang."

Pei Du smiled, "Brother Zhu, Sister Lyu can no longer fulfill the duties of the Sect Envoy. From now on, I’ll take over her responsibilities as Sect Envoy. Here’s my Sect Cloud Scroll for your perusal, Brother Zhu."

Saying this, Pei Du handed over his Sect Cloud Scroll.

In truth, arriving on the Cloud Feather Fierce Eagle already indicated his identity, requiring no need to check the Sect Cloud Scroll. Nonetheless, Zhu Qunxiang accepted it respectfully, opened it, and his expression changed immediately.

Pei Du was an Inner Sect Disciple!

An Inner Sect Disciple’s status was extraordinarily prestigious!

An Inner Sect Disciple is essentially part of the sect’s power center.

Even the highest rank in the Mortal World, the Mansion Master of Divine Cloud Prefecture, is only an Outer Disciple.

By protocol, even he must kneel before an Inner Sect Disciple!

The Inner Sect is a gulf between the sect and the Mortal World!

Because Inner Sect Disciples, unless commanded by the sect, generally do not meddle in worldly affairs.

Especially with tedious tasks like escorting Registered Disciples?

Zhu Qunxiang closed the scroll, respectfully handed it back to Pei Du with both hands, saying, "We shall follow our Senior Brother like steeds to reins!"

Pei Du accepted the scroll, saying, "No need, I’m just accompanying. Do what you have to do; I won’t interfere!"

Saying this, Pei Du sat on the ox cart’s front next to the driver, and patted the side, saying, "Brother Zhu, weren’t you driving? Continue..."

Seeing Pei Du’s amiable smile, Zhu Qunxiang sniffed and caught his intent. He truly wished not to bother, merely to nominally complete the task of escorting Registered Disciples for Lyu Qingzhu.

Seating himself beside Pei Du, Zhu Qunxiang lashed the old yellow ox with a whip. With a creak, the old cart trundled along the official road...

Sitting in the last ox cart, Duan Rong’s mind flashed repeatedly to the image of Lyu Qingzhu directing her sword at him in the dilapidated temple.

"After today, the next meeting will be the day I kill you!"

This voice echoed within his mind repeatedly.

Much later, staring at the imposing clouds and moonlight above, Duan Rong murmured, "Qingzhu, by fate and nature we shall meet again!"

"Then, if you still wish to kill me, why not let you do it?!"

Above the sea of clouds, fierce winds roared!

Lyu Qingzhu and Amok grasped the eagle’s feathers, seated on its back.

Lyu Qingzhu turned her head, gazing downward, only to see a blur of clouds whereby nothing but darkness could be seen below, unconsciously shedding a few clear tears.

"Duan Rong, may we never meet in this life!"

Unexpectedly, a wave of sadness filled Lyu Qingzhu’s heart.

She herself didn’t know where these emotions arose.

Outside the East City Gate of Xianggu County, it was bustling with drums and trumpets...

Last night, just as darkness fell, the County Office received paperwork stating the new County Magistrate would arrive in Xianggu County the next morning.

Qin Shuban promptly notified colleagues at the government office and the local gentry and wealthy households.

At dawn, everyone gathered outside the city gate to welcome the new County Magistrate’s arrival...