Chapter 428 - 293: Recruiting Twenty Thousand Bandits! Chasing Down the Spirit Contract Race!

"Tang... Tang Man... what are you doing?" Tang Xuan was shocked.

"My name is Xuu Man!"

Squirt!

With those words, a cold gleam appeared, and fresh red splattered.

"You... " Tang Xuan clutched Tang Xuan’s clothes, terrified.

Blood flowed, life quickly faded away, and within a few breaths, Tang Xuan, the Third-rank River Transport Director, collapsed in a pool of blood.

And at this moment.

"Daring to break into prison! Charge!"

"..."

...

Regent’s Mansion, front hall.

"Something’s wrong, my lord, something’s wrong!"

Jee Qianhong, Zhong Yang, and Liu Bingmu were still discussing matters when someone rushed in to report in panic.

"What is causing such panic!" Jee Qianhong reprimanded sternly.

"My lord, the River Transport Director Tang Xuan was in prison... was... "

"Speak clearly!"

"Was killed!"

"What?!"

Jee Qianhong rose to his feet in fury.

"Was the murderer caught?"

"They... they were caught, but... but also died."

Bang!

Upon hearing this, Jee Qianhong smashed the chair beneath him in anger, unable to contain his rage.

The Tang Family had already severed ties with Tang Xuan, and Tang Xuan’s case was almost closed.

But almost closed does not mean already closed, and with a man dying in the Regent’s Mansion prison, the Regent’s Mansion can’t escape blame!

The most crucial point is that the assassin is also dead.

"Who killed the murderer? Arrest them!"

"My... lord, the murderer committed suicide after assassinating Tang Xuan..."

"..."

...

Qin Capital, Inner City, Chu Mansion.

Chu Ming sat inside the house, with several items placed in front of him.

There was the Purple Cloud Forbidden Ruler from the Purple Cloud Sect, the Storage Treasure Light Blue Jade Bracelet from the Shadow Tower, and several other miscellaneous treasures.

Inspecting them one by one, he categorized them neatly.

The harvest under last night’s wind and snow was not bad.

After storing the items, he spread his [Sword Gourd Spirit] to check the situation outside the mansion.

After last night’s disturbances, only one unidentified, highly disciplined group of three was squatting outside today.

Tang Xuan’s people, the Pei Family’s people, and the Shadow Tower’s people were all gone.

Regarding the three people arranged by Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat Luu Shizhong, it was unclear if they were recalled or because he sent Zhong Yang evidence of Luu Shizhong’s crimes last night; they were nowhere to be seen.

Stretching his muscles, he opened the door and walked outside.

In front of this house was a courtyard, covered in white after a night of heavy snow.

"White blankets the courtyard beneath the cold sky, tassels under the eaves lightly dance..."

Chu Ming turned back into the house, sat at the desk, dipped the pen in ink, and started painting on paper.

Today marked a rare half-day of leisure since he arrived in Qin Capital.

Soon, a simple courtyard emerged on the paper.

[Calligraphy and Painting: Natural Charm]

[Progress: 99/100]

"The progress hasn’t moved for a long time..."

The [Calligraphy and Painting] progress stuck at ’99,’ regardless of how he painted, showed no increase.

Shaking his head, he placed the snowy courtyard painting aside.

Soon, a young woman arrived.

"Lord Chu." The visitor was Su Xin, the palace maid who originally served the Seventh Prince.

Su Xin brought hot porridge and snacks, steaming vigorously.

"Lord Chu, this is meat porridge I prepared myself, and these snacks are according to the palace’s..."

"Put it down."

Before Su Xin could finish, Chu Ming interrupted her.

This woman, her mind is too complicated, and he didn’t like her; she was far from as well-behaved and sensible as Little Shan.

However, the waters of Qin Capital are too deep right now, and Little Shan cannot be brought to his side.

"..." Su Xin bit her lip lightly, put down the porridge and snacks.

"Leave." Chu Ming said.

Su Xin bowed reluctantly but exited the room.

She knew she couldn’t rush.

"By the way." Just as Su Xin left, Chu Ming called out.

Su Xin was delighted and quickly turned around.

However, Chu Ming only took out a letter, saying, "Deliver this to Your Seventh Highness."

The letter contained a progress report on the Sea Scripture’s interpretation.

Disappointment flashed in Su Xin’s eyes, but she maintained a charming smile: "Yes."

After sending Su Xin away, Chu Ming donned the Snow Qilin Cloak, held a book, and started walking leisurely around the mansion.

"My lord."

"My lord."

Servants, maids, and guards saw him, and bowed in greeting.

"Mm." Chu Ming nodded in response.

He wasn’t aimlessly wandering, but letting people see he was in the mansion.

Among these people in the mansion, some were planted spies.

Taking a stroll like this could prove his presence in the mansion.

Thus, he could go on to do something else.

Returning to the house, Chu Ming stirred his heart thought, a touch of green light flew from his body, it was the Wind Spirit Clan Tree Spirit.

At this moment, the Tree Spirit seemed a bit wilted, its luster dimmer than days ago.

Yesterday, he had discovered the anomaly in the Clan Tree Spirit, with heart spirit sensing realized this.

The Wind Spirit Clan Tree was in a recovery phase, and the Tree Spirit couldn’t stay away from the Clan Tree for too long, it needed to return to the Clan Tree for nurturing.

"I must visit the Wind Spirit Clan territory."

"Just to see how the Wind Spirit Clan’s bandit assimilation is going."

"..."

With the Elemental Shield Shuttle soaring through the air, traveling speed was much faster than before.

Estimating the journey from Qin Capital to the Wind Spirit Clan would take about half a day.

A round trip would be about a day.

Having already made an appearance today, Su Xin sent to the Seventh Prince’s place, a day’s disappearance shouldn’t draw too much attention.

Thinking this, he had already changed into a plain knight’s robe, hid his form, and stepped outside the mansion.

Heavy snow covered Qin Capital, the streets saw fewer people.

On the main road of the Inner City, there were people clearing the thick snow, while in the Outer City only the road to the city gate was cleared, other places were covered in snow.

Following the avenue, Chu Ming sought a deserted alley, then summoned the Shield Shuttle, attached it to his body.

Whoosh!

He soared up against the snow, flew through the air.

Piercing through the clouds, as if ascending to the Nine Heavens, a bright scene unfolded.

There was no cold frost, no ice and snow, red sun shone, gentle and warm.

Looking down at the earth, a boundless expanse of white was all he could see.