Food System in Cultivation World-Chapter 485 - 450: Where Is Chen Xu?

Yunjiang Prefecture, County Government.

Feng Yuanbai unfurled the letter in the glimmer of dawn.

The letter was pressed under a paperweight on the long table by the window. Feng Yuanbai rubbed the paper roll and sighed lightly.

Is there any trace of Chen Xu?

Indeed, since Wen Daoyuan vanished, Chen Xu also disappeared.

Or more accurately, Chen Xu’s disappearance seemingly happened even earlier than Wen Daoyuan’s.

How early, then?

As early as when the North-South Grand Canal was completed, at a time when no one was fully aware that Chen Xu had already disappeared.

It was just because at that time, with the opening of the canal, heaven and earth underwent a great change, and all living beings were busy, no one had the time to notice how exactly Chen Xu went missing.

After the event, those with intent slightly revisited the events, and Chen Xu’s disappearance became a mystery.

Now, with several mysteries combined, it especially startled those who heard of it.

At this moment, Feng Yuanbai couldn’t help but envision hundreds of conspiracies in his heart.

His hand gradually clenched, as he picked up the page of the letter, countless thoughts flashed like lightning in his mind.

Old friend Zhou Wang surprisingly asked him where Chen Xu was?

If he knew where Chen Xu was...

Just when countless thoughts were swirling in Feng Yuanbai’s mind, and he was almost driven to impulsiveness.

Knock, knock, knock—

The familiar rhythmic knocking sounded unexpectedly from outside the study door.

This was another confidant adviser of Feng Yuanbai, the one who originally incited him against Chen Xu had already been silently banished and suppressed by him.

Until completely silenced.

This wasn’t Feng Yuanbai being ruthless, but some who have served as confidants can never be set free.

Once hearts are alienated, there is only the road to ruin.

Feng Yuanbai rolled up the letter and stored it in his Storage Jade Seal.

He said one word: "Enter."

The visitor pushed the door open, with a face full of joy, bringing to Feng Yuanbai a piece of wonderful news he had never expected:

"Congratulations, County Magistrate, Jichuan County has sent word that Master Chen has returned home!"

At first, Feng Yuanbai even doubted his hearing, he asked back: "Master Chen, which Master Chen?"

The adviser replied without hesitation, his face beaming with happiness: "It’s Chen Xu, Master Chen! He has returned home, and is now in Xiaowan Village of Jichuan County!"

Whoosh!

It was as if a thunderbolt flashed through Feng Yuanbai’s mind.

He was both surprised and doubtful. For a moment, he even suspected if this "returned home" Chen Xu was some impostor with ulterior motives—

This wasn’t Feng Yuanbai’s paranoia.

It’s just that Wen Daoyuan’s disappearance had impacted Feng Yuanbai too much.

After a moment of daze, he immediately strode out: "Quick, prepare a horse, I need to go to Jichuan at once to meet my old friend!"

No matter if this returning Chen Xu is true or false, he must see it with his own eyes!

Feng Yuanbai walked with large strides, his steps swift as the wind.

How could the adviser possibly keep up with him?

"Oh, County Magistrate!" The adviser immediately panicked, hurriedly yelling in pursuit from behind.

"County Magistrate, you mustn’t leave! Yesterday, the Prefect was still inquiring about the water affairs. Though our Cloud Water River might not directly connect to the canal, it connects to the Broken Jade River and Yuan Cang River!"

The completion of the North-South Grand Canal marked a grand new division of powers.

As County Magistrate of Yunjiang County, Feng Yuanbai held humble and low office, but that was only relatively speaking.

He was an Advanced Scholar, an official of the Imperial Court, which already gave him a seat at the table.

Moreover, he was known to be on good terms with Chen Xu.

Invisibly, Feng Yuanbai, influenced by Chen Xu’s prominence, already had a different voice in Yunjiang Prefecture.

But that was not enough.

As a County Magistrate near the capital, Feng Yuanbai never actually had the freedom to travel in Yunjiang Prefecture.

At the very least, he couldn’t leave his post at will. He had to check in at the government office daily unless he was on leave.

Feng Yuanbai paused slightly, and responded to the adviser: "You go draft a report on my behalf.

I learned today that there’s an anomaly upstream on the Cloud Water River, so I’m going to personally inspect it.

I cannot predict the return date, it could be one or two days, or three to five days..."

Before the words fell, he was already striding away.

While moving, Feng Yuanbai tore off his official robe, revealing his casual attire.

He didn’t even head to the stables; instead, he released his small seal, murmuring: "The flying wind distances me, commanding the clouds and rain..."

The adviser chased all the way, yet couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Feng Yuanbai’s figure.

Only seeing a fleeting robe, with wind and clouds gathering, he seemed distant.

The adviser sighed "Oh dear," beating his chest in frustration.

Feng Yuanbai exhibited his life’s fastest speed.

Upon exiting the city gate, he almost turned into a shadow.

The guards at the gate couldn’t clearly see his presence, only feeling a strange gust of wind as he had already vanished a hundred yards away.

Meanwhile, in the back garden of the County Government, Feng Xi was holding a stack of freshly transcribed Four Books articles, coming to the study to find Feng Yuanbai.

The adviser quickly composed himself, putting on a smiling face as he spoke to Feng Xi:

"Just so you know, Master Feng, the County Magistrate is busy with affairs, and is currently out inspecting.

Your... studies, it’s not too late to hand them over to the County Magistrate another day."

Oh, such good luck? Feng Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of joy.

Sunlight poured over Yunjiang Prefecture.

The weather was clear and refreshing, the wind mild and pleasant.

At that time, whether it was Yunjiang Prefecture or other regions of the Great Li Kingdom, everything seemed to be as usual.

The mundane world was bustling with joys and sorrows.

No one knew that some people had made the most solemn decisions of their lives in their journey.

So, was the Chen Xu currently in Xiaowan Village of the Chen Family real or not?

Feng Yuanbai’s suspicion was mostly dispelled when he met Wu Zhengze at the entrance of Xiaowan Village.

And after half an hour, when he personally saw Chen Xu himself, his doubts completely vanished.