High Martial World: I Gain Passive Skills Daily-Chapter 87 - 86: A Ruthless Scheme—Who Are the Three Targets?

Chapter 87: Chapter 86: A Ruthless Scheme—Who Are the Three Targets?

Given Chen Kuang alone, it would certainly be impossible to enter the Earth Official’s stronghold without anyone knowing.

Even Qi Sibai would find it very difficult.

But with his keen vision, combined with Qi Sibai’s skills, it’s achievable.

He claims that the Observatory and other sects skilled in the Qiankun Art of Divination are different, yet in truth, this person is most skilled in the Qiankun Art of Divination.

The so-called Qiankun Art of Divination refers to various Mechanical Techniques, Arrays, Restrictions, and Divination Methods collectively.

According to him, these are some methods that became necessary after the Observatory declined, to capture the increasingly blurred mandate of heaven more accurately.

However, Qi Sibai’s ability to rank thirty-fourth in Canglang’s ranking is actually due to his skillful Qiankun Art of Divination...

It’s a bit like a side career that developed extraordinarily well while pursuing a dream, becoming more outstanding than the main career, creating a subtle feeling.

Although Pei Xiu had secretly investigated Chen Kuang’s appearance, due to the influence of Fog Flower Forging, his impression of Chen Kuang was now as blurred as ever in his mind.

Instinctively thinking the enemy of the Earth Official had come, he was startled and prepared to fend off an attack.

But then, he saw the blindfolded young person opposite raise his hand and take out a small wooden card.

On it, was inscribed the word "Zheng".

Pei Xiu’s pupils immediately contracted upon seeing the wooden card, realizing who exactly stood opposite him.

The person holding the card could only be one person—entrusted by General Huo, tasked with escorting Lady Liang and her daughter out of Liang Kingdom!

As the veil of obscuration was lifted, the sensation of seeing blurred flowers through the fog instantly vanished.

Chen Kuang’s face became clear.

Pei Xiu’s expression changed immediately, and he greeted Chen Kuang, "Member of level B, Pei Xiu, greets the Official Lord."

Indeed, this Earth Official is an institution established within the Imperial Palace.

This Pei Xiu, a Cultivator, nonetheless refers to himself as a subordinate, performing the etiquette of the Liang Court...

Chen Kuang suddenly felt a trace of anomaly in his heart.

Huo Hengxuan... That old fellow doesn’t seem like someone who values rules so much.

Currently Liang Kingdom is leaderless, yet this person’s first reaction upon seeing him was still to greet.

This indicates that within this organization, order and etiquette are extremely important, even deeply ingrained!

And, if one were to think who in the Imperial Palace values order and etiquette the most...

Only one person would come to Chen Kuang’s mind.

Someone who had been displayed in public long before everything began, once the most noble person in all of Liang Kingdom.

Could he be the founder of the Earth Official?

But if there’s still such a force developing in secret, then why sit idly by?

Chen Kuang carried another question in his heart, temporarily kept in the dark.

He asked Pei Xiu to stand and explained his purpose.

"The daughter of a fisherman at South Pier?"

Pei Xiu furrowed his brow, "This is indeed difficult to investigate."

"Most of these fishermen are under the jurisdiction of Cao Bang, many are unregistered citizens, colluded with the Governor and prevented from settling in Jishao County, forcing them to live their lives on fishing boats, relying on fishing for survival, effectively detaining them at the pier, working for Cao Bang for a lifetime."

"There are at least thousands of fishermen at South Pier, each with a different background, let alone the daughter..."

Chen Kuang said, "So I’ve tasked Chen An."

"He knows that girl, should easily become acquainted."

With Tie Baiyuan not showing face for years, plus his avoidance of reality, mentioning past events might drive him mad again.

Not knowing what consequences it will bring then...

It’s better to let Chen An handle it.

Pei Xiu nodded, then his expression looked peculiar, "Speaking of which, Official Lord, Chen An previously commissioned us to investigate your identity..."

"I dare not act arbitrarily, thus haven’t given him a response, what do you deem appropriate for a reply?"

Chen Kuang pondered, then said, "Tell him simply that you couldn’t find out either."

Pei Xiu respectfully replied, "Yes."

He silently lit a candle for Chen An.

This lad was eagerly worried last time, and if he knew that even the Earth Official is "powerless", he’d surely be even more anxious in heart.

Pei Xiu then added, "By the way, there’s another piece of intelligence. Official Lord, please take a look."

He flipped his hand and produced a scroll filled with scribbled words.

Chen Kuang took it to read as Pei Xiu explained beside him:

"Jishao’s Governor and Great Zhou’s Civilization Official plan to reopen the human sacrifice for the Lake Dragon King at Dongting Lake under the guise of welcoming the new and bidding farewell to the old!"

Chen Kuang was stunned.

Lake Dragon King... isn’t that Senior Brother Wensi?

Speaking of which, Senior Brother doesn’t know where he is these days, but if another human sacrifice appears, it’s a resurgence of the scene from long ago.

If Senior Brother recalls the unprovoked beating from Xi Mengquan that he had suffered back then, wouldn’t he die of rage again...

Chen Kuang unfolded the scroll in his hand, the words within made his expression increasingly solemn.

It turns out that the Governor and Civilization Official aren’t just conducting such ignorant human sacrifices; rather, they want to leverage this as a means to eliminate dissent!

Under the guise of sacrifice, they choose those who oppose them, especially those who had vigorously opposed Great Zhou’s rule and rejected civilization, as offerings!

This way, they can seamlessly get rid of these people, seizing all power!

The Civilization Official only arrived in Jishao County two days ago and spent just one night at the Governor’s Mansion, yet the two conspired to hatch such a plan!

It’s certainly a plan long in the making!

Yet Chen Kuang couldn’t differentiate whether it was masterminded by the Civilization Official or the Governor.

"No wonder... No wonder Fan Chuan acted so erratically today; Fan Hailong must have learned this plan, perhaps even intends to join this plan."

"Fan Hailong wants to use this opportunity to eliminate those who threaten his position—the Chen Family, which has been growing stronger these years, is one of them."

"Especially Chen Ning, this girl, whose reputation among scholars, is among some people that the Civilization Official is wary of."

"Quite the plan to kill three birds with one stone!"

Chen Kuang smirked coldly.

This is almost truly a plan of utter destruction!

"But since I’ve found out, don’t think your plan will succeed..."

Chen Kuang took a deep breath and slowly rolled up the scroll in his hand.

It’s fitting; he originally intended for the Chen Family to replace Cao Bang.

Then Pei Xiu added, "Besides, there’s one more matter."

"The Standing Bookshelf’s Lin Er You and his Scholar’s Attendant at Freedom Mountain are currently guests at the Governor’s Mansion..."

Both Chen Kuang and Qi Sibai were taken aback.

Chen Kuang asked, "What are they doing?"

Pei Xiu shook his head, "They just arrived today; for now, I’m not aware."

...

Lin Er You grinned as he saluted the Governor at the upper seat, who promptly said, "No need, no need, Immortal Master, such grand gestures, I’m unworthy..."

Lin Er You straightened up and the Governor inquired again, "I wonder what brings Immortal Master Lin to my mansion with instructions?"

"I wouldn’t dare to instruct."

Lin Er You shook his feathered fan, "I merely came to relay news the Governor must heed."

The Governor was momentarily stunned.

Lin Er You smiled, "I know the whereabouts of Lady Liang and her daughter."