Chapter 568: Strange Tales of Peach Blossom Dock

"Oh, please don’t misunderstand, Immortal. Lord Bai disdains fame and fortune."

The Head Constable Bai quickly explained.

"When my lord descended the mountain years ago, a close friend of his had just passed the imperial examinations and became the county magistrate of Linxi County. Hearing that Lord Bai had returned from seeking immortality, he invited him to be an offering, to ensure peace in the region."

"Occasionally, when the common people faced urgent difficulties and the county magistrate was overwhelmed, Lord Bai would also lend a hand."

Speaking of Lord Bai, the young constable’s face was full of pride.

"Your lord?"

"Precisely. To be frank with you two Immortals, Lord Bai and I are from the same branch, but I am of a concubine’s birth."

"When Lord Bai was seeking immortality in the mountains, I was a servant boy sent by the Bai family of Qing Valley to attend to him. Later, I descended the mountain with him, and I can say I’ve witnessed the grandeur of a Sect."

"So that’s how it is."

As they spoke, Head Constable Bai led him to a modest residence. A plaque hung above the main gate, bearing the characters ’Bai Manor’ written in a gentle, slender hand.

The house was very ordinary, even smaller than the homes of typical gentry and wealthy landowners. Some of the wall bases and roof tiles were mottled, and it looked as if it hadn’t been repaired in some years.

"This is Lord Bai’s residence. He dislikes grand mansions and luxurious carriages, so his dwelling is not spacious. Please do not take offense, two Immortals."

Song Yan now had a very good impression of this Lord Bai, whom he had not yet met.

He didn’t covet wealth or power, and he spent his days busy with affairs, truly a kind-hearted offering dedicated solely to ensuring peace in the region.

"You two Immortals, please wait here for a moment. When I came earlier, I already dispatched my subordinates to the government office to inform Lord Bai."

Along the way, there were also very few servants in the house.

Head Constable Bai led them into the guest hall and ordered a servant to brew a pot of tea for them.

He wasn’t skilled in the Dao of tea, nor did he understand how to appreciate it; he simply gulped down two mouthfuls.

Qin Ying did not drink the tea and remained silent, merely holding a Talisman in her hand and examining it repeatedly.

Song Yan saw that it seemed to be a Life Talisman.

"Regarding the matters of Peach Blossom Dock, does Head Constable Bai know anything?"

After a moment of contemplation, he decided to ask the constable first.

"This... my lord mentioned it to me. Peach Blossom Dock, I don’t know since when, became a dead village. Only people went in, but no one was seen coming out."

Bai Lei recounted everything he knew about Peach Blossom Dock.

However, he didn’t know much; it was all information Song Yan already possessed. His gaze began to wander around the guest room.

To the left upon entering the room, there was a simple-looking wooden cabinet, but its decorations and arrangement were meticulously crafted, displaying several collectibles.

Song Yan thought to himself, this Senior Brother Bai Zimo, whom he had not yet met, had a refined taste.

Visiting guests sat here, perfectly positioned to view Bai Zimo and the entire row of collectibles behind him.

Celadon, clay figurines, wood carvings, paper figures... "?"

Paper figures?

Song Yan’s gaze fixed on the paper figures neatly arranged on top of the cabinet, a sense of familiarity stirring within him.

These little paper figures... how similar they were to the paper figures that appeared after he killed the three demonic Cultivators outside Shiliang Town... He dispelled the doubt in his mind.

Such paper figures were actually not uncommon; they seemed to have originated as a cultural feature from Changping Prefecture in Chen Prefecture.

Placed so openly here, it couldn’t possibly be an item of demonic Cultivators.

And... what a joke?

The one sitting beside him now was a great Cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Even if the so-called Hermit Xin Shan himself came, what then?

Song Yan was very clear that for a mission like this, if not for the burden of himself and Junior Brother Li Qingfeng, Qin Ying, who was in the Foundation Establishment Realm, might have already completed the mission and been on her way back to the Sect by now.

Inner Sect Disciples of the Foundation Establishment Realm from the Six Major Sects, as long as they didn’t encounter a prodigy of the same level, could easily win against other Cultivators of the same Realm.

Senior Sister Qin hadn’t said anything, so there must be no problem.

"..."

Song Yan remained silent. Head Constable Bai thought he wanted to hear more, so he continued.

"Oh, actually, it’s not that no one came out alive; there really was one, but he..."

"Oh? Where is that person now?"

"This... I do not know, Your Honor. Perhaps when my lord returns to the manor, you can ask him for the details."

"Very well."

"No need."

Qin Ying suddenly spoke, "Junior Brother Li has arrived. Without further delay, let’s depart immediately."

"Uh... alright."

Bai Lei was startled but said nothing. These were all Immortals; he had no place to speak. When Lord Bai arrived, he could explain everything then.

The two walked out of the Bai Manor and saw the constables leading the plump Junior Brother Li Qingfeng over.

"Let’s go."

"Hehe." Li Qingfeng wiped a bead of sweat and grinned at Song Yan, "I’m exhausted."

It was quite rare for a Cultivator to sweat so easily.

Qin Ying said to herself, "A month ago, when the strange phenomenon in Peach Blossom Dock was first reported, the Sect judged it to be a minor matter, so I sent Junior Sister Gu Qingqing from the peak to come here alone."

"She hasn’t returned for half a month, but her Life Talisman is intact. I just thought Junior Sister was still playful, or perhaps took this opportunity to visit her hometown."

"But now, more than a month has passed, and she still hasn’t returned."

"?"

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng exchanged glances.

That was not a small matter.

With the Life Talisman intact and the soul lamp unextinguished, yet an unwarranted failure to return to the Sect, it meant either being trapped somewhere or defecting from the Sect.

Even Disciples who had no hope for the Grand Dao and gave up Cultivation needed to complete many tasks within the Sect before descending the mountain.

"No wonder..."

No wonder Qin Ying had been somewhat hasty in her actions before. Song Yan had thought it was because the Sect had sent her to lead two Outer Sect Disciples and she lacked patience. It turned out she was worried about her fellow Junior Sister.

Li Qingfeng asked, "But Senior Sister, isn’t the Life Talisman used for tracking?"

Qin Ying shook her head, "Junior Sister Qingqing carries a Spirit Sealing Secret Treasure. If her life is in danger, activating the treasure can completely Seal her spiritual energy, aura, and even her vital life force."

"Although this Life Talisman is not broken, it can no longer track Junior Sister Qingqing’s whereabouts."

"It seems she has already encountered a life-threatening danger, and the Spirit Sealing Secret Treasure has been activated."

As they spoke, the three had already left Linxi County.

Qin Ying conjured her Flying Sword and flew onto it alone.

"You two go to Peach Blossom Dock first. I will investigate the nearby areas for any traces of Junior Sister. We’ll rendezvous outside Peach Blossom Dock shortly."

"Yes, Senior Sister."

In truth, not just Song Yan and Li Qingfeng, but Qin Ying also had many unanswered questions regarding this mission.

However, she thought that the root of everything lay in this dead village, Peach Blossom Dock. To avoid any oversight, she decided to investigate the vicinity alone.

Peach Blossom Dock was a village under the jurisdiction of Linxi County, named for the peach trees planted along its riverside.

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng stood at the entrance of the official road. On a stone tablet nearby, the three characters "Peach Blossom Dock" were carved in crimson.

"Hey? Senior Brother Song, look over there..."

"..."

Behind that stone tablet, there seemed to be a figure lying there.

The two exchanged glances and walked over together.

As they got closer, they saw that the person was in rags, disheveled, and covered in dried, cracked mud.

It was a beggar.