Night attire.
And the face properly concealed.
Tuck in the dagger, grip the Soul Banner tightly, and wait quietly for nightfall.
As spiritual power surged into the banner, the ferocious ghost face on the black background spewed out wisps of black mist.
Wrapped in the black mist, Li Qingfeng’s tense nerves cald sowhat.
He entered the dream once more to discuss with the malevolent main ghost.
Li Qingfeng understood that although the main ghost couldn’t speak, it was not a mindless spirit.
Before setting out, he couldn’t help but confide in it.
In the dream, Tu Shanjun provided Li Qingfeng with a detailed plan.
This plan would effectively conceal Li Qingfeng’s identity, preventing him from being exposed.
With the guidance of the main ghost, Li Qingfeng felt confident.
As the sun set behind the western mountains and darkness fell in an instant, Li Qingfeng, lying on his bed, opened his eyes.
In the blink of an eye, Li Qingfeng, clad in dark night attire, left the Li residence.
Though he couldn’t directly approach the governor and didn’t know where the governor lived, he could first seek out the middle-aged advisor who worked for him.
This also aligned with what Li Qingfeng had told Yang Lingu, that he would help inquire about ng Zhen’s whereabouts from that advisor.
As the young master of the Li family, he was quite familiar with the influential figures in Eight Directions City.
"I didn’t expect the governor’s residence to be so heavily guarded."
Li Qingfeng hid on a roof beam, then landed lightly, avoiding the patrolling guards.
The black-armored guards exuded a murderous aura and looked formidable.
These black-armored soldiers were elite fighters who could hold their own against ten ordinary n. Clad in sturdy armor and wielding sharp weapons, they could rival the top-tier martial experts of the jianghu.
The governor’s residence wasn’t excessively large, but it wasn’t small either. Li Qingfeng had only been there twice.
Once when he entered as a child scholar during the imperial examinations, and another ti after passing the xiucai¹ exam. That second visit left a particularly deep impression.
At least he could still find the advisor’s office.
The side hall of the main chamber.
The advisor ordered his subordinates to light the oil lamps.
Three long-burning lamps and two nearby lamps illuminated the dim side hall.
The governor governed an entire commandery, which included at least four counties.
Administrative duties were heavy, and docunts piled up.
Most matters passed through the advisor’s hands first, with only the important ones reported to Zhang Wanlong. The rest were handled by the advisor himself.
The clerk guarding the oil lamps yawned listlessly, eager to close up early.
Rumors said the eastern district’s Drunken Flower Lane had gained a few new courtesans, making his heart itch with desire. Recalling those plump, beautiful legs-ah, truly intoxicating!
But wishes were just wishes. Advisor Sun would likely work for another hour, and he’d have to stand guard for that long too.
At this thought, the clerk suddenly felt weak all over, his eyelids drooping uncontrollably.
He slumped onto the desk, unconscious.
Advisor Sun, who had been carefully reviewing official docunts, t the sa fate.
As spiritual power surged into the Soul Banner, empowered by the energy, Tu Shanjun directly pulled Advisor Sun into the dream.
Li Qingfeng, lying on the roof beam, naturally followed. As the banner’s master, he didn’t need Tu Shanjun’s intervention to enter the dream.
Advisor Sun stared in shock at his surroundings. It was as if he had rely blinked, yet the scene around him hadn’t changed much.
The side hall remained as it was.
Half-lit, half-dark and sowhat eerie.
"Advisor Sun, I’ve long heard of your reputation." Li Qingfeng, clad in night attire and masked, appeared in the hall.
"Who are you? How dare you trespass into the governor’s office?" Advisor Sun’s expression remained calm, showing no fear only slight irritation.
"Guards!"
"Guards!"
Two shouts in succession yielded no response.
The hall was dead silent, and the darkness outside the windows was terrifying.
"Advisor Sun, save your breath. I’ve already dealt with those guards." Li Qingfeng brandished his dagger.
Truthfully, he didn’t dare to act.
Despite having trained for over half a year, he was still a scholar at heart. Overthinking led to hesitation.
Still, he could at least scare soone with a blade.
By now, Advisor Sun was slightly panicked. Anyone capable of neutralizing the black-armored patrols was undoubtedly formidable: "What do you want?"
"I just want to know the whereabouts of those who failed the immortal fate selection four months ago."
The mont these words were spoken, Advisor Sun’s eyes widened briefly before returning to normal. Even his earlier panic vanished.
As Zhang Wanlong’s right-hand man, handling countless affairs big and small, his ntal fortitude was exceptional. A re dagger wouldn’t intimidate him.
Especially when the question touched on such a forbidden topic.
Li Qingfeng scrutinized Advisor Sun closely. Unfamiliar with interrogation techniques, he could only wave his dagger again.
To his surprise, Advisor Sun grew even calr.
"Young man, these waters run deep. You can’t handle it. From your accent, you’re a local. Were you acquainted with those four?"
"I advise you to leave now, before you bring disaster upon yourself." Advisor Sun seed utterly confident in his assessnt of Li Qingfeng.
Judging by his stature, voice, and deanor, this was just a young pup with strong martial arts but little experience in the world.
Such people didn’t dare to kill and feared bloodshed.
He had dealt with many like this and knew their nature well.
Li Qingfeng frowned. Though he had cultivated a fierce aura and this was just a dream, the realism of the scene made him hesitate.
Against ghosts and demons, he had no choice but to act, especially when fear overwheld reason and survival was the only thought.
But now, with a human life at his rcy like fish on a chopping block, he didn’t know what to do.
Tu Shanjun shook his head in disappointnt.
Those who had never shed blood instinctively feared killing their own kind.
Li Qingfeng couldn’t do it, but soone else could.
Footsteps echoed.
Advisor Sun looked over, initially hopeful that guards had arrived only for terror to replace that hope instantly.
A fierce ghost with a green face and fiery red hair, standing at a daunting height, stepped out from the shadows.
Its crimson ghostly eyes brought fear.
The ghost carried a serrated executioner’s blade and approached him.
Looming over him, its murderous aura completely overwheld Advisor Sun.
His legs gave out, leaving him unable to stand.
Trembling uncontrollably, his face pale, he seed utterly terrified.
Tu Shanjun showed no rcy. Grabbing Advisor Sun by the collar, he pinned him to the desk.
Then, he spread the man’s fingers one by one.
Tu Shanjun swung the blade without hesitation.
Thud.
A finger fell.
Excruciating pain made Advisor Sun scream in agony.
His wails pierced the night.
Li Qingfeng’s heart wavered with pity, but rembering this was a dream, his hesitation vanished.
"Where are those four?!" he roared.
The executioner’s blade pressed against Advisor Sun’s neck, its icy edge chilling him to the bone.
Even the pain from his severed finger dulled in comparison.
The young man might not dare to kill, but this person actually commanded a malevolent ghost to act.
Ghosts had no rcy or sympathy.
They brought only fear and horror, the purest evil in the world.
"I’ll give you three breaths."
"I just want to know where those four are. Will you talk or not?"
As Li Qingfeng spoke, the saw-toothed blade pressed harder. The tallic scent of blood filled Advisor Sun’s nose and mouth, nauseating him.
The ghost holding him down seed deaf to his pleas, raising the blade again and this ti not aiming for a finger.
But his neck.
"I… I’ll talk!"
"I’ll tell you everything!" Advisor Sun was now thoroughly broken, weeping and begging, a pitiful ss.
All his earlier composure and confidence were gone.
Snot and tears covered his face.
He had wet himself, the stench of urine filling the air.
He kowtowed desperately, begging Li Qingfeng to spare his life and call off the ghost.
"I didn’t realize I was facing an immortal master! Whatever you wish to know, I’ll tell you!"
Li Qingfeng hardened his heart, suppressing his discomfort: "I want to know the fate of those four whether they’re alive or dead."
"Three dead, one alive."
"Is ng Zhen dead or alive?"
Seeing the advisor hesitate, Li Qingfeng sensed sothing amiss and barked: "Speak!"
Advisor Sun shuddered, then collapsed to his knees.
"Immortal Master... Young Master ng passed away seven days ago."
Li Qingfeng’s amber pupils contracted violently. He staggered back two steps.
(Chapter End)
¹ Xiucai: The lowest official degree in the imperial Chinese civil examination system, awarded after passing the county-level exam. It grants social status and eligibility for higher exams.
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