Chapter 992: Chapter 238 Lv Zongxiao
The carriage stopped.
Based on the information provided by his voice, the visitor was estimated to be between twenty and twenty-five years old.
Jiang Wang lifted the carriage curtain and saw a young official wearing a brown cap, his cultivation only at the level of Zhou Tian Jing. However, his official uniform was sufficient to make the carriage driver halt the horses.
"How old are you?" Jiang Wang’s first question took him by surprise.
"I am twenty-two," the young official answered honestly.
An elder’s and a youth’s voices naturally differ, but to pinpoint an exact age was indeed thanks to the achievements of the "Dream Order" voice department.
Jiang Wang nodded in satisfaction, "Tell me, what do you want with me?"
"I am a subordinate in Heavenly Mansion City, with orders from above. Upon seeing you, I was to invite you to the City Lord’s residence. Our City Lord is waiting there. I rushed here as soon as I received news of your appearance at the docks."
The City Lord of Heavenly Mansion City is looking for me?
With a stirring in his heart, Jiang Wang immediately got out of the carriage, "I’ll come with you."
He turned to the carriage driver, "Please wait here for a while, I will continue the journey once I’ve finished my business."
Seeing that this guest even had connections with the City Lord of Tianfu, the carriage driver dared not object and respectfully bowed his head, "My lord, rest assured."
There were far too many ways for the City Lord of Heavenly Mansion City to seek out Jiang Wang. Not to mention intercepting boats near the sea. Given Heavenly Mansion City’s extraordinary status in Linhai County, they could have blocked him the moment he appeared at the docks.
The official claimed to have rushed over as soon as he received the message, as if he had only been slightly delayed in finding him. But what Jiang Wang sensed was that the City Lord of Tianfu did not wish to make a big spectacle of finding him.
There was some secrecy about this matter.
Could it be... related to Heavenly Abode Secret Land?
Jiang Wang’s heartbeat suddenly quickened,
The subordinate from Heavenly Mansion City did not chatter away, and Jiang Wang did not speak either. He even rummaged through his storage box and put on a cloak. In this silent way, they discreetly entered Heavenly Mansion City.
The architectural style of the City Lord’s residence leaned towards the solid and heavy, very solemn in appearance.
The last time they met, the City Lord of Heavenly Mansion City had not put on airs. As soon as Jiang Wang stepped through the study door and took off his cloak, the City Lord rose to greet him.
"The pride of our great Daqi has returned!" The words carried much joy.
Toward Jiang Wang’s cloak, he cast a casual glance, and though he did not comment further, his expression was clearly one of satisfaction.
The City Lord of Tianfu bore the surname Lv, named Lv Zongxiao.
To control a place like Heavenly Mansion City, his position wasn’t inferior to that of a Prefectural Governor. Moreover, being in his prime, he still had the potential to challenge the realm of God Arrives; his future was immeasurable. His several courteous treatments of Jiang Wang could be considered a respectful exchange.
Naturally, Jiang Wang would not act arrogantly and smiled, "Seeing the City Lord, I truly realize that I have left the turbulent journey at sea and really returned to my own people’s domain."
Lv Zongxiao laughed heartily, "Indeed, family does not speak of two households!"
The doors to the study had already been closed by the servants, with subordinates of the City Lord guarding outside, undoubtedly adding to the secrecy of this conversation.
Anxious at heart, Jiang Wang briefly exchanged pleasantries upon sitting down, then said, "Your subordinate mentioned that you had important matters to discuss with me, may I ask what the agenda is?"
Lv Zongxiao pondered, "Brother Jiang, I am but a few years your senior, so I take the liberty of calling you ’brother.’"
Although the City Lord had somewhat sized him up, his attitude had become even closer after Jiang Wang’s fame had spread across the islands.
But Jiang Wang had neither favors nor grudges with him, and there were no issues of position at hand. There was no need to push a friend away.
So he decisively replied, "Brother Lv, feel free to speak your mind."
Lv Zongxiao had a rugged face with a short, bristly beard, exuding an air of authority on ordinary days.
At this moment, as he stared intently at Jiang Wang, the atmosphere naturally grew solemn, "Younger brother Jiang, please tell me the truth, what’s the background of your friend?"
Which one?
Jiang Wang’s thoughts raced, with an uncertain and expectant unease he wasn’t aware of himself, he tentatively asked, "Zhu Bijing?"
"That’s her, the young girl you sent into the Heavenly Abode Secret Land."
Jiang Wang had nothing to hide and honestly said, "She’s my good friend, a direct disciple of Granny Bizhu, the elder in charge of practical affairs at Diao Hai Building. She’s innocent and carefree, without a scheming bone in her body. There’s nothing particularly unusual about her, and Brother Lv, you should know about her trial at the End of the World Platform."
The True Lord Of Sinking City, Wei Xun, was also present at the Sea Sacrifice Ceremony.
If there were anything special about Zhu Bijing, it would be impossible to hide it from Wei Xun’s eyes.
Jiang Wang explained everything clearly in just a few words, leaving no room for Lv Zongxiao to doubt.
But sitting there, he still seemed troubled.
"What’s wrong?" Jiang Wang asked urgently, "Has something happened?"
"I don’t know if it’s good or bad," Lv Zongxiao sighed and said, "The girl you sent into the Heavenly Abode Secret Land... she has come out."
Bang!
"What?"
Jiang Wang stood up abruptly in his eagerness, spreading the strength in his hands and breaking the armrests of the chair.
He didn’t care about the impropriety, "Are you telling the truth?"
"Could there be any falsehood?" Lv Zongxiao could understand his reaction and spoke more gently, "It’s just, there’s something abnormal about this. For one thing, you initially said that you were only sending her into the Heavenly Abode Secret Land for her burial with her family, not that she would come out again. Secondly, the rest period of the secret land is not yet over, so it’s impossible to have any natural rewards coming to fruition. And thirdly... both you and I know that with her condition at that time, she was as good as dead. No one knows exactly what happened."
Lv Zongxiao spoke vaguely, but his intended message was clear.
The first level of meaning was about accountability. Initially, it was agreed just to bury a person there, so why the situation had changed? How do you treat the promises made and how do you conduct your affairs? You were supposed to bury someone, but now, the person you sent in is exploring?
Just entering without leaving, and going in and coming back out, are entirely different matters. The former can be regarded as a slight exception, as sending a corpse in has no impact on the Heavenly Abode Secret Land. The latter, however, completely breaks the rule of exploring the secret land every twelve years.
The second meaning was informing Jiang Wang of the risks he bore for this matter. The Heavenly Abode Secret Land is the foundation upon which Heavenly Mansion City stands, and the basis for its preeminence. I’ve opened the secret land early during the rest period for you, and you pull this stunt; it’s not honorable.
The third was a warning. Reminding Jiang Wang that although Zhu Bijing had come out alive, there was something suspicious about it, and he should be extra cautious.
The conversation was a mix of a warning and an olive branch, showing the sophistication of this man. He drew a clear line, expressed discontent, but at the same time, also imparted closeness.
Even if one knew they were being reprimanded, it still felt amiable.
From his words, it was also clear why he wanted to meet Jiang Wang so discreetly this time. The Heavenly Abode Secret Land was simply too important, and this sudden change had Lv Zongxiao himself quite worried.
"Brother Lv, I assure you in the name of Jiang Wang that I had no prior knowledge of this matter, nor any premeditation. I sent Zhu Bijing into the secret land solely to fulfill her final wish, to be with her sister."
Regarding the responsibilities he ought to bear, Jiang Wang always maintained a proper attitude and immediately said, "You might as well let me go and see the situation first and find out what exactly happened. I will certainly give you an explanation for this matter!"
