Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

Chapter 92: Chapter 85: Asking for a Raise and Sharpening Swords before Battle (Second update of 9K, requesting first subscription)

”On that account,” he concluded, ”even if the over one thousand female weavers including Jiang’er are still alive, they might be silenced in the future.”

”We must act quickly if we’re to save them!”

After retrieving the ’Spirit Sniffing Star Pattern,’ Xu Jin smelled the scents of three different people on the letter. Zhao Weiqing’s scent was the faintest, indicating he probably touched it for only a short time.

Before leaving, Xu Jin rummaged through the room and found a silver note worth one thousand taels and more than two thousand taels in silver notes.

However, Xu Jin’s motive wasn’t to loot wealth but to create misdirection.

The murder within Zhao Mansion couldn’t be concealed for long.

He estimated that in half an hour, the crime would be discovered.

Xu Jin intended to mislead the direction of the Star Patrol Guard and the county guard’s investigation—a murder for wealth case!

Afterward, Xu Jin left Zhao Mansion soundlessly, without an umbrella, drenched in the drizzle.

A rainy night, the perfect setting for murder.

The rain would wash away all the scents on Xu Jin, erasing his trail.

Having left Zhao Mansion and after making a round, he arrived at Niu Gui’s home.

Niu Gui, a former comrade, had left the Star Patrol Guard after losing an arm and was now a chief catcher at the Government Office.

”Brother Niu, I need your help with something.”

”Tell me, what’s up?”

”Brother Niu, who is the best person to ask for information in the county city?”

”Asking for information? Who are you trying to find out about? I know some stuff, too.”

”I don’t think you know about it. Just recommend someone trustworthy who is knowledgeable about various kinds of information.” Xu Jin realized that this matter might not be easy to deal with. His former comrade Niu Gui had lost an arm, and Xu Jin didn’t want to get him involved, also guessing that Niu Gui likely didn’t know the relevant information.

Niu Gui’s expression turned grave, and he continued, ”Ordinary information or something concerning Loose Cultivators? Or is it about the movements of various factions or even... Taoist Institutes?” Niu Gui was guessing.

”It probably has to do with the movements of various factions, somewhat obscure,” Xu Jin said.

”If that’s the kind of information you’re after, then there’s only one person you can go to.”

”Who?”

”I’ll write down an address for you. Go find her, and bring a good amount of silver with you.”

”Alright, thank you, Brother Niu.”

”Brother, just holler if you need anything. Old Niu here won’t frown upon it!” Before Xu Jin left, Niu Gui gripped his shoulder and said.

”Don’t worry, Brother Niu, it’ll be alright.”

Fifteen minutes later, Xu Jin arrived at the address given by Niu Gui.

At a tavern called Qingqing Tavern in Green Water Alley to the north of the city, he was to find a female manager named Guan Yiqing.

Xu Jin had his doubts about the reliability of this, but with just three words from Niu Gui—”Spring Rain Department”—he was convinced.

”Looking for the manager? She’s not in; our manager is very busy,” spoke a handsome but somewhat simple-looking waiter.

”Brother Niu sent me, I have a big business proposition!”

”Oh, big business, huh? Well, it depends on how big that business is!” A woman in a long dress, perfectly curvy and with her hair covered in a blue scarf, emerged from behind the curtains.

Her face, a melon seed shape, bore a smile that made one feel an involuntary urge to respond in kind.

”That depends on how extensive Manager Guan’s business can be.” This was the secret phrase given by Niu Gui.

”Distinguished guest, please come upstairs!”

A fragrant breeze wafted toward him, and just as Guan Yiqing drew near to Xu Jin, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed; she smelled a faint trace of blood, washed away by the rain but still detectable because of her special cultivation.

”One month ago, two large ships left consecutively, carrying over fifteen hundred people. Ten days ago, both ships left again, loaded with a large supply. I want to know their exact destination,” Xu Jin said.

”One thousand taels!” Without hesitation, Guan Yiqing extended one finger toward Xu Jin.

”Agreed!”

”But that’s two questions.”

Xu Jin was taken aback but immediately slapped down a silver note worth two thousand taels.

Counting the silver notes one by one, Guan Yiqing chuckled, ”This young man is quite generous. Wait for a moment, please.”

Guan Yiqing left, and time seemed to slow to a crawl.

Just as Xu Jin wondered whether Guan Yiqing might deceive him, the fragrant breeze came again, and she returned.

Dipping her lush index finger in tea water, Guan Yiqing drew a map for Xu Jin right then and there.

”Head two hundred miles downstream along the Golden Sand River to the west of the city, and turn into Autumn Leaf Lake. The destination is Thousand Leaf Island, the largest in the lake.”

”Sister Guan is impressive!” Xu Jin gave a thumbs up.

”Sweet-talker, you. But remember, if you have more questions, it’ll still cost you!” Guan Yiqing laughed.

”Sister Guan, do you know who’s behind this? The background of Zhao Mansion? And what about the defensive forces on Thousand Leaf Island?” Xu Jin rattled off three questions in one breath.

”As usual for the rest, but the last question will cost extra!” Guan Yiqing said with a grin.

”How much more?”

”Add another one thousand taels!”

Xu Jin then bid with a four-thousand-tael silver note.

”Little brother, you’ve got a sweet tongue and act decisively, very nice!”

Guan Yiqing giggled and said in a soft voice, ”It’s said to be related to the Baidou Divine Sect.”

”I don’t know who backs the Zhao Mansion in the county city, but they’re extremely close to the Yangdu Marquis from Dachen. Right, Thousand Leaf Island including Autumn Leaf Lake, they’re all under the fief of the Yangdu Marquis from Dachen. The Yangdu Marquis, oh, think it through carefully. He is one of the Three Kings and Seven Marquis of Dachen,” Guan Yiqing said with a smile.

Xu Jin’s heart, however, had already started sinking nonstop.

Yangdu Marquis.

Dachen has always granted marquis titles based on war merit. Among the Three Kings and Seven Marquis, each one has illustrious military achievements and even more extraordinary cultivation levels.

”Scared?”

Looking at Xu Jin’s complexion, Guan Yiqing began to smile.

Xu Jin didn’t reply but instead asked, ”Sister Guan, what about the answer to the third question?”

”Not clear.”

Xu Jin raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when Guan Yiqing spoke again, ”A month ago, news came that there was a Nine-Star strange phenomenon rushing into the sky over Autumn Leaf Lake, indicating that an expert with Fourth Tier Star Condensation of nine seats appeared nearby.

Such a phenomenon indicates a battle, and it could also mean a breakthrough.

It’s not impossible that there’s an expert of the Fifth Tier Gathering Battle Realm.”

Xu Jin fell silent.

An expert of the Fourth or even Fifth Tier, this intelligence gave Xu Jin an inexplicable feeling of suffocation.

If it were only a Third Tier expert, Xu Jin would not hesitate to swiftly take his boat down the river, with the four emblems in his hand certainly able to be effective.

But facing the Fourth or even Fifth Tier, Xu Jin did not know if he would have the chance to make a move?

”Scared?” Guan Yiqing smiled again.

”Sister Guan, will the Star Patrol Guard take care of the Baidou Divine Sect’s affairs?” Xu Jin asked.

Seeing that Guan Yiqing didn’t respond, Xu Jin was about to take back the silver note when Guan Yiqing said, ”This counts as casual chat, not intelligence.”

”Autumn Leaf Lake is under the jurisdiction of Yangdu County, and the Yangdu Taoist Institute of Dachen probably doesn’t dare to intervene. The Taoist Institute of Yan State, well, it’s hard to say,” said Guan Yiqing.

”Thank you!

I’ll take my leave!”

Having said that, Xu Jin left Qingqing Tavern without looking back. Watching Xu Jin’s departing figure, Guan Yiqing shook her head, ”He’s a shrewd lad. Surely, he won’t do anything foolish, right?”

Walking slowly in the autumn rain, Xu Jin felt as if there was a massive rock pressing against his chest.

For a moment, Xu Jin hesitated.

Was risking his life for a rescue worth it?

But in just an instant, all hesitation was washed away by memories of his many sisters hugging his head and combing his hair.

If he didn’t rescue her, he would never forgive himself for the rest of his life.

Sigh!

Xu Jin let out a long sigh in the autumn rain, making a decision in an instant.

The person needed to be rescued!

Regardless of whether the rescue was possible, he had to make the trip to Autumn Water Lake.

To save the person, Xu Jin clearly needed more strength than he currently had.

If Xu Jin wanted to rescue someone, he either had to seek help or enhance his own strength rapidly.

There were only these two options.

For seeking help, after thinking for a while, Xu Jin could only think of two people, Ning Yuchan and the green-clothed man Qi Shanye.

Others, Xu Jin could not reach out to, and even if he could, it would be of no help.

As for whether he could reach out to these two, Xu Jin currently did not have full confidence.

But before seeking help, Xu Jin wanted to quickly enhance his own combat power.

There was no quick way to advance cultivation, but Xu Jin had a little shortcut to quickly enhance his combat power.

Having made a decision, Xu Jin quickly returned to the Taoist Institute and headed straight for where his second senior brother, Zhang Han, was recovering.

Just as Xu Jin arrived outside the courtyard of Zhang Han, a red emergency signal shot up into the sky in the southern part of the county city.

An incident had occurred.

An incident had occurred at the Zhao Mansion.

It must be that the county guards had arrived, found the situation critical, and were calling for reinforcements from the Star Patrol Guard!