Celestial Demon Starting from Attribute Points-Chapter 39: Xuan Armor, Hundred Weapons, Feather Robe Vessel

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Xuan Armor, Hundred Weapons, Feather Robe Vessel

Twelve Linked Docks, Red Stone Dock.

Li Xuan ate this meal feeling "uneasy".

At least, that’s how others saw it.

Yet Li Xuan was silently controlling the time.

To be honest, General Yuan leading troops to kill Lin Jieniu was entirely within his expectations. When the confidant sent by General Yuan didn’t return, but Lin Jieniu did, it was natural for General Yuan to want to kill Lin Jieniu. Unfortunately, there was no excuse, so... he provided one.

Afterwards... General Yuan would also receive special attention from those "phantoms," which would allow him to gain more information about them without attracting trouble.

And after successfully killing Lin Jieniu, it was only logical to move on to Lin Jieniu’s mentor—Mr. Su.

Li Xuan had anticipated General Yuan taking action, but when he really galloped towards the Cao Mansion without delay, he was somewhat impressed.

A General, after all, has executed many people, naturally moves swiftly and decisively.

But now, for Li Xuan, he couldn’t go too early.

Arriving early might lead to a direct conflict with General Yuan, which would be purely ridiculous.

Yet he couldn’t arrive too late either.

Because, he wanted to see Mr. Su’s strength.

After learning that the person acquiring the demon leopard’s body was Mr. Su; after witnessing Mr. Su’s indulgent behavior towards Lin Jieniu; after knowing that the vacancies of Magistrate and County Captain might be recommended and appointed by the superior prefecture, Li Xuan felt that Mr. Su could potentially bring him great trouble.

He was not someone who liked trouble.

So, he wanted to nip the trouble in the bud.

Yes.

He wanted to kill Mr. Su.

He and Mr. Su had never met, but he had decided to kill.

His keen intuition told him that the two were more likely "enemies rather than friends." If he did nothing, he might face repression in the future, and even the entire Li family might be suppressed. Wouldn’t it be foolish to react only then?

Today, it would be best if Yuan Guan could kill him.

If not, he would also take a measure of Mr. Su’s strength.

So today, he couldn’t go too early, nor too late.

...

...

The evening was as bloody as dusk, the moon had risen in the east.

In the secret chamber, a corner was piled with many corroded and rusty iron artifacts.

The black-clad elder with graying hair and sharp eyes held yet another corroded, irregularly shaped iron tool in his hand.

The iron piece was about the size of an infant’s palm, generally round in shape, its purpose unknown.

Mr. Su gazed at it for a while, and with a sudden tremor of his palm, scorching white steam flowed from his hand, slicing through the surface rust like a swift blade, revealing what was beneath.

At the center of the iron piece, a "卍" character was etched.

But upon closer examination, it was clear that it wasn’t carved but naturally appeared at the center, looking like a somber, chilling pattern, much like the natural patterns in ornamental stones.

Yet this pattern was precisely a "卍".

If someone knowledgeable were here, they would understand that this was an identity token held only by those above the Elders of the Yu Sect.

The "Dark Armor Feather Robe Golden Lotus Flower," its "Dark Armor," was said to have suddenly shattered one day, forming irregular fragments. Some fragments were used to forge weapons, while parts naturally bearing the "卍" character became... this kind of identity credential.

At this moment, a touch of wild joy was reflected in Mr. Su’s eyes; he could hardly suppress his excitement, so he took several deep breaths and turned his head toward the opening connecting the secret chamber to the outside, asking calmly, "Which county was this collected from?"

Someone outside hurriedly answered, "Reporting, sir, it was collected from Xiongshan County.

A while back, there was a notorious rapist in Xiongshan County, causing many families to be devastated. The local ruffians and government officials took many items from those ruined households to sell.

Following your instructions, we purchased some small iron artifacts at a heavy price in the counties surrounding the Hundred Flowers Mansion and came across this one."

"Understood, you may leave now."

"Yes, sir."

The small window of the secret chamber closed naturally.

In the secret chamber...

Mr. Su tightly grasped the "卍 Iron Token," revealing a smile, murmuring in a hoarse voice, "Vice Sect Leader Zhangsun, you fled so far with the Feather Robe but did not rendezvous as agreed.

Are you tired? Exhausted?

Did you betray the Holy Sect!

I have searched so bitterly for you, truly bitterly, but... I finally found you, ha... ha... hahaha."

Mr. Su let out an uncontrollable laugh.

The laugh was filled with madness, obsession, and coldness.

His eyes were a deep, bloody red, staring intently at the "卍 Iron Token" in his palm, coldly snorting, "You fool, back when you joined the sect, I even admired you, held you in high regard.

But now the times have changed, changed!

You lack adaptability, betraying the Holy Sect, you deserve to die!

"Just don’t lose the Feather Robe container, or not even a thousand deaths can atone for it!"

After saying this, Mr. Su came to the small table inside the room, lifted a brush, and wrote the name "Su Cangyuan" on the blank document appointing the Magistrate of Xiongshan County. He was planning to visit Xiongshan County.

Then, he wrote "Tian Yun" on the document appointing the County Captain of Xiongshan County. Tian Yun was one of his disciples from the Tian family in Xiongshan County, the very disciple who arranged to have the carcass of the demonic leopard transported over.

For the Tian family, quietly aligning with a significant figure meant they should spare no effort.

After writing the names, Mr. Su, or rather Su Cangyuan, began to complete the document, as it required a simple description in addition to the name.

Of course, following the standard procedure, a portrait should have been sent to the local superior official in advance for identity confirmation, but here the superior official was Cao Dashu, the Prefect of Hundred Flowers Mansion, so this step could be skipped.

As Su Cangyuan was writing, his brows suddenly furrowed as he heard footsteps approaching from afar.

The small window of the secret chamber was opened again, and an urgent voice came through the dim sunset.

"Sir, sir, something... something bad has happened!"

Su Cangyuan said, "Don’t panic, what’s the matter?"

The person outside said, "Yuan... Yuan Guan has led troops to kill Lin Jieniu, and now he has surrounded the Cao Mansion, demanding the Prefect to hand you over."

Su Cangyuan was both angry and puzzled, exclaiming, "How dare Yuan Guan?!"

The person outside said, "Yuan Guan claims Lin Jieniu is a demon, so... so he says you, sir..."

No more words were needed, and Su Cangyuan coldly replied, "Understood, I will come at once."

...

...

"While my mentor suffers, I am here eating and drinking, oh... I’m truly unworthy as a son, unworthy as a son."

Li Xuan sighed as he ate the special ice-stick carp from Qing River.

To be honest, this ice-stick carp was really delicious, especially when braised.

Meanwhile, the aroma of fish head soup wafted from the pot.

Seeing his anxiety, Zuo Hong was anxious too, continually sending trusted aides to scout the situation outside. Once the timing was right, she intended to take Brother Xuan over.

She was a "non-combatant," highly valuing her life and naturally unwilling to be at the forefront in a situation that might lead to a large-scale conflict.

Just then, the joyous voice of a disciple from the cargo gang came from outside the door.

"Dock Master Zuo, we’ve caught a Scarlet Fish!"

Zuo Hong, who had been worried, suddenly lit up with a delighted expression upon hearing this news, exclaiming, "A Scarlet Fish?!"

"Yes, a Scarlet Fish, about three ounces."

"Three ounces!"

Zuo Hong was even more delighted and hurriedly said, "Bring it in quickly."

Li Xuan, seeing her excitement, curiously asked, "Sister Zuo, what is a Scarlet Fish?"

Zuo Hong replied, "Its color resembles cinnabar, and when it floats on the water’s surface, its red glow is as bright as fire. When cooked and eaten, its taste subtly resembles alchemical elixirs, hence it’s called a Scarlet Fish.

Such a fish, not to mention eating a mouthful, even drinking a mouthful of its soup, can equal a few days of cultivation.

However, Scarlet Fish are extremely rare, and have only appeared in the Qing River in recent years."

Li Xuan exclaimed, "So miraculous?"

Zuo Hong pursed her lips, a contemplative look crossing her lovely face, as if deliberating, but in just an instant she reached a decision.

She suddenly said, "Brother Xuan, as the Dock Master, I am entitled to take one Scarlet Fish a year, and this one I will gift to you. To fulfill our sibling bond."

She wished to continue investing.

"This..." Li Xuan said with a pained expression, "A gentleman does not take what others cherish."

A gentleman ought to politely decline first before accepting, right?

Zuo Hong moved closer to him, held his hand, and laughed, "But you are my brother, and I am your sister. When a senior gives, how can one refuse? Besides, such a Scarlet Fish would be wasted on your sister."

Li Xuan laughed as well.

By this point, he did not wish to refuse.

Moreover, he was quite curious about this "Scarlet Fish."

Based on Zuo Hong’s description, wasn’t this Scarlet Fish just like the miraculous elixirs in those martial arts novels he had read in his past life, where one falls into a valley, eats a fruit, and gains several years of martial ability?

Li Xuan thought for a moment, saying, "At my family’s fabric shop in Xiongshan County, there is an expert in embroidery. Next time I return to Hundred Flowers Mansion, I will pick the finest to send to Sister Zuo.

In terms of value, this embroidery is certainly not as precious as Sister Zuo’s Scarlet Fish.

But it is a local specialty from Xiongshan County and a token of my appreciation as a younger sibling."

Zuo Hong smiled and said, "We as siblings should naturally be closer."

Li Xuan suddenly put away his smile, earnestly saying, "Sister Zuo’s kindness, Brother Xuan... will remember it wholeheartedly."

Zuo Hong was even more delighted.

After a while, the Scarlet Fish had not yet arrived, but another of Zuo Hong’s confidants rushed into the water fortress hall, whispering something into Zuo Hong’s ear.

Zuo Hong’s eyes lit up, and she turned to Li Xuan, saying, "Brother Xuan, we should set out now.

As for the Scarlet Fish, your sister will have it sent to Yulan Hall. When you return a bit later, you can personally witness its wonder."