Calamity Messenger-Chapter 40 - 31: Bounty

"The Divine Marquis Mansion must be the dwelling place of the Celestial God!"

"Indeed, as soon as An Guo Temple was burned, the Divine Marquis Mansion knew who the culprit was. It’s even more perceptive than the heavens, truly miraculous!"

"Shh, keep your voice down. If you speak so loudly, the Divine Marquis Mansion might hear you."

"Where can one worship the Divine Marquis Mansion? Temples have Bodhisattvas; perhaps it is at the Daoist temples?"

"I think it’s still better to go to the temple. Look, An Guo Temple was set ablaze, and immediately, the Divine Marquis Mansion issued a warrant, which shows that the Celestial God acknowledges the position of the Bodhisattva Buddha... Oh dear, Bodhisattva Buddha actually is the Celestial God! Bodhisattva Guanyin, please forgive my words."

"Perhaps it would be better to directly worship the Divine Master Tablet of the Divine Marquis Mansion; it might reveal its divine power..."

In the Duke’s Mansion, two maids were whispering as they walked through the corridor, not noticing that the young lady, Pharmacist’s Wish, was watching them with wide eyes, her delicate, proud face full of shock. She had already changed into a wide-sleeved dress, with a high bun and a robe draped over her shoulders, looking every bit the sheltered lady who never stepped out of her home. Even if a monk from An Guo Temple saw her, they wouldn’t recognize her.

Before Pharmacist’s Wish could inquire further, the steward came over to inform her she could enter the study of Changqiu Studio. She had no choice but to suppress her curiosity and report the situation to her father first.

Inside Changqiu Studio, Yao Shi Moke sat with a tired expression. He merely nodded when he saw his daughter enter, motioning silently towards a piece of paper on the desk.

Pharmacist’s Wish picked it up and found it was a warrant.

The warrant depicted a person wearing a Black Wolf Mask. Though only the hair and eyes were visible, anyone could sense the ferocious aura of the figure.

"Suspect Number Two"

"Characteristics: Wears a black wolf mask and wields a foldable Fine Steel Long Spear"

"Charges: Participation in the grand heist at An Guo Temple"

"Threat Level: Approaching Third-Turn Combat Power"

"Bounty Reward: 30,000 Spiritual Jade or mastery of Advanced Gun Skill Secret Manual"

"Deadline: Within thirty days after the issuance of the reward notice"

"Once the bounty is completed, a messenger will guide the righteous hero to the Divine Marquis Mansion to claim the reward."

"Are there four such warrants in total?" Pharmacist’s Wish asked, "Where are they posted?"

"Next to the gates of all entrances to Chang’an City, and they cannot be torn down. The ones in my hands are only painter’s replicas."

Yao Shi Moke raised a finger: "Tonight, you will leave Chang’an. Yanta, Weiyang, Lotus Lake, which one do you wish to go to?"

The three places Yao Shi Moke mentioned were secret realms under the control of the Great Zhou Royal Family, producing Second-Turn level resources, allowing Pharmacist’s Wish to not only lay low but also train in the secret realms.

However, Pharmacist’s Wish was puzzled, "Is it necessary? Could anyone possibly associate this warrant with me?"

Though Pharmacist’s Wish secretly supervised the Brocade Guard and wore the Bright King Armor at a young age as a Second-Turn Messenger, she was outwardly just a pampered daughter of the Duke’s Mansion, rarely stepping out. Few from outside, apart from Duke Jin’s confidants, knew of, or even had seen, Pharmacist’s Wish.

Mainly because Pharmacist’s Wish believed most noble offspring in Chang’an were mere gluttonous and lazy wastrels. Instead of networking with them, she preferred to recruit Death Warriors from good families. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Yes." Yao Shi Moke replied, "There are countless legendary tokens in the world, with many capable of tracing people. Just those I know of are numerous. With this warrant out, hidden clans, secret agents of noble families, and capable individuals within Chang’an City will all come out in full force to track your whereabouts. As it stands, only the secret realms guarded by heavy forces can ensure your safety."

"Is it really that serious?" Pharmacist’s Wish looked at the warrant, "But the bounty for killing me is only thirty thousand Spiritual Jade or an Advanced Secret Manual... Such a sum is trivial to noble families."

"The reward isn’t what’s important," Yao Shi Moke said, "What’s important is completing the bounty earns a chance to enter the Divine Marquis Mansion."

Pharmacist’s Wish was taken aback, "Is the Divine Marquis Mansion the name of a secret realm?"

"It is a very, very important secret realm." Yao Shi Moke paused, "If one could earn a chance to enter the Divine Marquis Mansion, most Third-Turn Messengers in the world would be willing to pay any price."

Finally, the complexion of Pharmacist’s Wish changed. Wherever it may be, Third-Turn Messengers were absolute figures of significance, the pinnacle reachable by mortals. Fame, women, status, family — they could easily obtain all. What could make them forgo everything to pursue... could only be one thing.

She refrained from further questioning, preparing to return and pack her belongings.

Before leaving, Pharmacist’s Wish remembered something and asked in a measured tone, "Did you happen to hear... the announcement from the Divine Marquis Mansion?"

"It rang three times."

Yao Shi Moke tapped on the table, "Initially, I thought it was audible only near Chang’an City, but you heard it even inside the Secret Realm of the Thief’s House, meaning..."

"The range of this announcement is across the entire world, even including within the secret realms," Pharmacist’s Wish muttered.

No wonder the maids were so excited, even regarding the Divine Marquis Mansion as gods. Although they are maids of the Duke’s Mansion and have broader perspectives than ordinary officials, they were still immediately captivated by the ’miracle’ of the Divine Marquis Mansion.

Yes, a miracle.

Though it was merely three announcements and a warrant, the power displayed by the Divine Marquis Mansion far exceeded any messenger they had ever seen. While a messenger’s power could affect only a small area, the Divine Marquis Mansion could speak directly to them.

It was as if the Divine Marquis Mansion was watching the entire world, watching each and every one of them.

Pharmacist’s Wish could imagine that at this moment, in Chang’an City... no, across the whole world, countless foolish men and women were praying to the Divine Marquis Mansion. The clay idols at home never spoke, the bronze statues in the temples showed no compassion; they kneeled and kowtowed day and night in worship, and now that true gods appeared, how could they not be fervent?

Observing his silent daughter, Yao Shi Moke suddenly thought this might be a good thing.

With such a commotion, his daughter, who was full of ideas and talents, should have realized the gravity of the situation and recognized when she needed her father’s help. Then, he could properly explain the difficulties and let her know how hard it was for him. This way, her ambitions might not be as wild, and it would make future marriage arrangements much smoother...

But what Yao Shi Moke saw was his daughter slowly clenching her fists, her lips curling slightly upward, excitement gleaming in her eyes.

"It could truly be so." Pharmacist’s Wish took a deep breath, unconsciously smiling, "It could truly be so!"

"Either as a laughingstock leaving an infamous legacy or as a legend known all around, it’s interesting." She turned to Yao Shi Moke, puzzled, "Since you heard the announcement, Father, why didn’t you ask me if I obtained the Legendary Token Bingzi Pepper Forest?"

Seeing his daughter react like this, Yao Shi Moke sighed inwardly and handed her another warrant.

"What?"

When Pharmacist’s Wish took the warrant, she immediately clenched it, her eyes almost spewing fire.

"How does he get a bounty so much higher than mine!"