Chapter 548: Chapter 548: Seeking Help
"Liu Qingmei greets Lord Zhang."
In the White Tiger Hall of the Dao Camp, Liu Qingmei respectfully bowed to Zhang Yuan: "I apologize for the sudden visit today, and I ask for your forgiveness, my lord!"
This disciple of the Seven Swords Sect wore a simple-colored dress today, making her aura even more ethereal.
"No need for formalities."
Zhang Yuan gestured with his hand: "Sit down."
Once Liu Qingmei was seated, he straightforwardly asked, "Junior Sister Liu, what brings you to me?"
Zhang Yuan’s address to her was not casual; he had done his homework, knowing that the Seven Swords Sect was a prestigious sect with deep ties to the Upper Scenic Celestial.
Liu Qingmei replied frankly, "Lord Zhang, I have a matter for which I would like to ask for your assistance."
It turned out that she and the Zhuo brothers, Zhuo Chengping and Zhuo Cheng’an, had come to West Plain City to complete a sect mission.
A month ago, a master named Ling Xiaohua infiltrated the mountain gate of the Seven Swords Sect, stole a Profound Weapon Longsword enshrined in the Ancestral Hall, and then injured several disciples before escaping.
The Seven Swords Sect was furious and issued a high bounty to capture this audacious thief.
Due to the matter involving the sect’s reputation, coupled with the rich rewards of the mission, a group of true disciples, including Liu Qingmei, set out to investigate Ling Xiaohua’s whereabouts.
Following the leads, Liu Qingmei and the Zhuo family brothers pursued him to West Plain City.
However, with the city’s large population, Ling Xiaohua could easily hide anywhere, making it like finding a needle in a haystack.
More importantly, West Plain was a Dao City, and Liu Qingmei didn’t dare to act recklessly.
Thus, she sought assistance from the Daoist Government Office.
Unfortunately, Fei Hongming was in seclusion, and his eldest son, Fei Yuming, received her.
Although Fei Yuming expressed willingness to help, the Daoist Government Office’s strength was limited and suggested she seek assistance from the Dao Camp.
However, at that time, the West Plain Dao Camp had suffered a major defeat, leaving it leaderless, and they wouldn’t pay any attention to Liu Qingmei!
Left with no choice, the Seven Swords Sect disciple temporarily settled in the city, looking for clues about Ling Xiaohua while continuing to engage with the Daoist Government Office and Dao Camp.
Her dealings with Fei Yuxuan previously were out of necessity.
After all, this mission was of utmost importance to Liu Qingmei.
Now that Zhang Yuan had assumed the position of Dao General, Liu Qingmei braced herself to seek his help.
This true disciple of the Seven Swords Sect was extremely beautiful, with an inner brilliance hidden beneath her gentle demeanor, showing no arrogance whatsoever as she presented herself humbly before Zhang Yuan.
Her words were earnest indeed!
To be honest, Zhang Yuan had a very positive impression of her.
This is the attitude one should have when asking for help!
After listening to her story, Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have detailed information on that Ling Xiaohua?"
"Yes."
Liu Qingmei immediately presented a roll of silk paper, which she had prepared in advance: "My lord, please have a look."
"You can just call me Senior Brother."
Zhang Yuan, without showing any emotion, took it and carefully read through it.
According to the internal information from the Seven Swords Sect, Ling Xiaohua was in his thirties, a wandering Jianghu Wanderer with a peak Tier Five cultivation, excelling in both swordsmanship and lightweight skills.
This person harbored deep hatred towards reputable sects, and the Seven Swords Sect was not his first victim.
After committing crimes, he would leave a unique mark to signify his identity.
Truly arrogant to the extreme!
Additionally, the silk paper included a drawing of Ling Xiaohua’s appearance.
Ordinary-looking, with no distinctive facial features.
Such a person could easily conceal their presence and blend in with the crowd with minor disguises.
No wonder Liu Qingmei was at a loss.
Considering the tens of thousands of people coming and going in and out of West Plain City, catching a high-skill yet cunning Jianghu hero was no simple task.
Liu Qingmei wasn’t even sure if Ling Xiaohua was still in West Plain City.
Zhang Yuan found it curious: "Is he really just a Tier Five cultivator?"
The Seven Swords Sect was a prestigious sect with Divine Entry masters and likely many Tier Five and Six experts, so how could a mere Tier Five infiltrate the Ancestral Hall and escape unscathed after stealing a sword and injuring people?
Liu Qingmei blushed: "Yes."
Though Zhang Yuan had not said it outright, his implication was clear.
As a true disciple of the Seven Swords Sect, she felt quite embarrassed.
But more than that, she felt helpless: "We suspect there may be an inside collaborator with Ling Xiaohua within the mountain gate, and the sect is investigating."
As the saying goes, "family disgrace should not be made public," and Liu Qingmei honestly did not want to mention this matter.
However, what face would she have to seek Zhang Yuan’s help if she concealed the truth from him?
Liu Qingmei could only speak vaguely.
Zhang Yuan suddenly understood.
His intuition told him that this matter was probably not simple.
But no matter how complex, it had little to do with Zhang Yuan. After pondering for a moment, he nodded and said, "Very well, I will order someone to assist in investigating the clues. As long as Ling Xiaohua is still in the city, he will eventually slip up."
Though Zhang Yuan was willing to help, he couldn’t waste his own time on the chase.
He planned to wait until reinforcements from the Mo family arrived to fill the vacancies in the Dao Camp, then have someone take on this task.
Whether or not they succeeded, that would be another matter.
Liu Qingmei, being sharp-minded, immediately sensed a bit of Zhang Yuan’s intention and hurriedly said, "Senior Brother Zhang, we also suspect that Ling Xiaohua is connected to the Desert Wind Army, and he might have come to West Plain City to contact this rebel force!"
Desert Wind Army?
Zhang Yuan was taken aback: "Rebel army?"
Such a label of "rebel army" couldn’t be used lightly—it was tantamount to a rebel force!
While the current Daqian dynasty hadn’t yet reached a state of imminent collapse, rebellions had arisen everywhere, with hundreds of rebel armies large and small, gradually becoming a severe threat to the dynasty.
"That’s right!"
Liu Qingmei hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, to my knowledge, the bandits that recently harassed the West Plain trade route are likely a faction of the Desert Wind Army!"
Immediately, Zhang Yuan’s face darkened: "Junior Sister Liu, such claims must not be made lightly!"
The heavy losses at the West Plain Dao Camp, including a Dao General and two Deputy Generals, came from attempting to eliminate these bandits.
And now, according to Liu Qingmei, the opponent was merely a branch of the Desert Wind Army.
This made the issue extremely serious!
"I wouldn’t dare!"
Liu Qingmei lowered her head and said softly, "This information was revealed by Fei Yuxuan from the Fei family."
Damn!
Zhang Yuan almost slammed the table in fury.
If what Liu Qingmei said was true, then there were substantial issues with the Fei family and Fei Hongming.
Because in such matters, Fei Hongming had full responsibility and obligation to report to the sect.
Yet, the Mo family’s provided information said nothing about it.
The Mo family would never deceive Zhang Yuan.
But Fei Hongming might!
This Daoist Official might be sitting in the Daoist Government Office right now, waiting to see him make a fool of himself.
