Chapter 222: Wan Zhou's Abnormal Politics

Strictly speaking, the route taken by the traveling merchants differed significantly from where Yin Qing and his companions had originally planned to exit. They hadn't traversed the majority of Datong Mountain diagonally; instead, they had cleverly taken a shorter route to cross it.

Upon reaching this side of the mountain, things became much simpler, especially since carriages and horses were available for hire near the large post station.

Although Yin Qing and his companions had only known the traveling merchants for a few days, they had formed a very positive impression of each other. However, upon reaching this point, they inevitably had to part ways.

Despite finding new herbs to stabilize their injuries, the traveling merchants still needed to see a doctor. Yin Qing and his companions, on the other hand, needed to hire a carriage to travel to Lishun Prefecture city. After bidding farewell, they went their separate ways, but the events of the past few days would surely remain unforgettable.

As they sat in the carriage, proceeding along the relatively smooth official road, the four scholars finally felt a sense of calm.

"Whew… if we tell the master and our classmates at the academy about what happened these past few days, do you think they'll believe us?"

Lin Xinjie, who was the most talkative and prone to deliberation, expressed his feelings with emotion.

"Probably… they'll just take it as a story, at most?"

Lei Yusheng seemed unsure, while Mo Xiu looked from his companions to Yin Qing.

"There are fox spirits in Datong Mountain. What happens if other travelers encounter them? People at the post station mentioned hearing about this before, but it seems they don't intend to do anything about it…"

When they informed the post station staff about their experiences in the mountains, the staff didn't dismiss them. They explained that others had reported similar incidents of being lured by women in the mountains, resulting in listlessness upon returning, and sometimes even missing companions. The post station staff stated they had already reported these occurrences to the local authorities.

However, it seemed their reports had little effect.

Yin Qing looked at Mo Xiu.

"Ah, the local county officials would naturally investigate, but there's a significant difference between a monster and a human criminal, making it difficult to handle. Instead, perhaps an official decree should be sent to the villages along the mountain, instructing seasoned hunters with their mountain dogs to hunt the foxes in the mountains. That might prove surprisingly effective."

This was Yin Qing's own conclusion. After observing the fox spirits and considering Hu Yun's situation, he believed that, as the old turtle had once stated, Da Zhen was generally peaceful, and powerful spirits were rare. For creatures like these fox spirits, experienced hunters and mountain dogs should be capable of dealing with them.

At this point, Yin Qing also offered a comforting thought.

"Don't dwell on it too much. Those foxes might already be gone. Didn't you see the bloody fox leg and the signs of a struggle? There were quite a few wolves the night before…"

"Oh, right…" "Yes, Brother Yin is right. I also think Datong Mountain might actually have a mountain god."

"Yes, this time we truly… Oh, and Yin Qing's letter, it really did glow that night, didn't it? I wasn't seeing things, was I?"

"Yes! And the calligraphy was truly excellent!" "Indeed, it must have been the work of a master."

Seeing that the three had brought up the letter again, Yin Qing replied with a hint of exasperation.

"It is often said that scholars should cultivate noble righteousness. That letter is likely something of that nature. As long as we possess integrity in our hearts, it will eventually protect us."

Regardless of whether others believed him, Yin Qing, while aware that the letter's nature wasn't precisely as he described, genuinely believed in the concept of noble righteousness.

Ji Yuan did not go directly to Lishun Prefecture. He had previously traveled to Wanzhou and calculated Yin Qing's approximate location. When he arrived above Datong Mountain, he coincidentally sensed the spiritual energy of the letter from before, immediately realizing Yin Qing was in trouble.

However, upon his arrival, the three foxes were amusingly fleeing the desolate post station, being haphazardly chased and attacked by a group of traveling merchants.

To be honest, these three fox spirits were indeed not very powerful. Yet, they were still demons who had refined their transverse bones. To be driven out in such a manner, even Ji Yuan felt a sense of embarrassment for them.

As expected, the three fox demons were still watching from the hillside, filled with resentment, and even uttered threats of harm.

Ji Yuan immediately attempted his rudimentary thunder manipulation. While he couldn't generate thunder from gathered clouds, he successfully drew down a lightning bolt during the thunderstorm, though he had no control over its trajectory.

He had originally intended to simply subdue the three foxes. However, as he traveled, he noticed that the human aura in Wanzhou, a region that should have been prosperous, seemed somewhat unhealthy here. For Datong Mountain, which isn't particularly large, to directly give rise to three fox spirits with such malevolent intentions, it was clearly not a case of ordinary animals gaining enlightenment from benevolent earth spirits.

As a significant mountain formation, Datong Mountain, with its dense spiritual energy drawing from all directions, must also have accumulated malevolent energy from the vast surrounding areas. If the underlying issue wasn't resolved, Datong Mountain could continue to give rise to evil entities.

While each profession has its specialization, addressing the root causes ultimately falls to the government and societal well-being. However, Ji Yuan, as a cultivator, felt he could at least address the symptoms. By overseeing Datong Mountain, he could ensure that the surrounding populace faced fewer threats from malevolent entities.

While patrolling the mountain, Ji Yuan detected no divine aura. So, he landed and tentatively attempted to summon a spirit. Unexpectedly, there indeed was a nature spirit beginning to connect with the mountain's topography and earth veins.

Given this, after confirming with his spiritual eye that the entity was not malevolent, Ji Yuan explained the implications to it, clarifying that this also presented an opportunity for the mountain god itself to cultivate.

As a nature spirit aspiring to become a mountain god, it might not truly concern itself with major moral issues. However, the profound and unfathomable cultivation of the immortal before it was an undeniable fact. Naturally, it dared not disobey, leading to the subsequent events involving Yin Qing and his companions.

After giving his instructions, Ji Yuan didn't linger. Instead, he toured the surrounding areas. From the sky, apart from seeing numerous mulberry trees, he could discern no signs of widespread discontent or divine wrath.

Regarding divination, Ji Yuan could attempt to calculate an individual or a specific event given certain informational mediums. However, for broad humanistic spiritual currents, it was beyond his current capabilities; he didn't know if others could do it, but he certainly couldn't yet. To gain clarity, he would need to consult an insider, and his friend Yin Zhaoxian, who had served as an official in Wanzhou for several years, was certainly such a person.

Although Lishun Prefecture was not the provincial capital of Wanzhou, it was undoubtedly one of Wanzhou's top three prefectures in the silk weaving industry, and indeed, among the top three economically.

Arriving by air, he observed mulberry fields throughout the prefecture, adjacent to numerous silkworm farms, silk mills, and dye houses, presenting a rather prosperous sight.

Lishun Prefecture city was not small. After landing and entering, Ji Yuan did not wander; instead, he inquired about directions and proceeded directly to the prefectural yamen.

To meet an acquaintance, Ji Yuan naturally stopped using illusions to conceal his eyes.

Although, in reality, with his eyelids half-open, few could clearly discern the condition of his eyes without careful observation, when meeting the prefect, the yamen runners would still scrutinize carefully. Upon learning that the visitor had been invited from Jizhou to Lishun Prefecture, the runner dared not delay and immediately went to inform his superior.

"The visitor claims to be Ji Yuan?"

Yin Zhaoxian had spent the morning inspecting the implementation of the latest government policies in several nearby villages. He was currently in his bedroom with his wife and was pleasantly surprised by the yamen runner's announcement.

"Yes, sir, the visitor appears refined and scholarly, and his eyes are particularly unusual—grayish-white."

"Indeed, it is Mr. Ji! Did Mr. Ji come alone?"

Yin Zhaoxian and his wife naturally hoped that Yin Qing had accompanied him, but the runner shook his head.

"He is alone."

"Husband, please go see Mr. Ji. Don't keep him waiting!"

Yin Zhaoxian squeezed his wife's hand and nodded.

"Alright, wife, please rest well. I'm going to see Mr. Ji. Qing'er should be arriving soon; Mr. Ji wouldn't possibly come without him."

"Okay!"

Madam Yin, heavily pregnant, sat in bed covered by a quilt, nodding with a smile.

Having not seen Yin Qing for a long time, both parents missed him dearly.

In the reception hall of the back residence, Ji Yuan was already waiting with tea. Before he could finish his cup, he heard hurried footsteps from outside. Crucially, a surge of noble righteousness, impossible to ignore, was almost visibly emanating from the approaching figure, discernible even through walls and doors.

As soon as the person entered, he cupped his hands in a respectful greeting.

"Mr. Ji! You've finally arrived in Wanzhou; I've been waiting for you! Alright, you may all withdraw."

"Yes, sir."

The two servants nearby bowed and exited upon hearing this. Ji Yuan put down his teacup, stood with a smile, cupped his hands, and teased.

"Master Yin—oh, no, Prefect Yin, greetings!"

"Oh, Mr. Ji, please don't tease me. Being an official is truly not easy! By the way, where is Qing'er? Didn't he come with you?"

Ji Yuan gestured towards a seat by the table, then picked up the teapot himself and poured hot tea for Yin Zhaoxian, as if he were in his own home. The latter, naturally, made himself comfortable and sat down beside him.

"Yin Qing is on a study tour with three classmates. I estimate they will arrive in three to five days."

"Oh, that's good, that's good."

Yin Zhaoxian stroked his beard and nodded.

Ji Yuan observed his friend. In just a few years since they last met, a few white hairs had appeared, indicating the significant effort and worry he had endured.

"You, Prefect Yin, are the second great talent in Da Zhen to achieve 'triple first' honors, a favored figure in court, and in your hometown, you're even likened to the God of Literature incarnate. So, what could possibly be difficult for you?"

Yin Zhaoxian awkwardly waved his hand. Though long accustomed to his current official position, these titles felt peculiar when spoken by Ji Yuan.

"Mr. Ji, please don't tease me. I have a host of worries. Don't let Wanzhou's apparent prosperity deceive you; it's quite distorted… Alas, let me explain: before I took office, and especially over the past seven or eight years, over seventy percent of the farmland has been converted into mulberry fields. Of that, ninety percent of the profits are concentrated in the hands of noble families. How are the common people supposed to live on the little that remains? I am a parent-official… it infuriates me!"

*Slap*

As Yin Zhaoxian spoke, he slapped the tea table hard. In Ji Yuan's memory, this was the first time he had seen Master Yin so angry.