Chapter 489: Crisis of Hongyun Village, Soundless Sound?

Chapter 489: The Crisis of Red Cloud Stockade, A Soundless Sound?

A widow had died, and one from the madhouse at that.

If no one reported the case, the yamen would not bother with it.

Otherwise, they would have to cover the costs themselves.

Working as a yamen runner was merely a job.

Naturally, none of them were willing to get involved.

In this chaotic world, countless lives, like weeds, withered away each day.

How could the yamen possibly manage them all?

Unless the deceased was of noble birth, or unless too many "weeds" died at once.

Lin Qinghe's gaze fell upon the servant, and a trace of the Imperial Soldier Commander's aura flickered past.

The servant, already stooped, was now so terrified he knelt on the ground: "These past few days... days, yesterday, Qi Yuan of the Qi family was sent into the madhouse..."

"Qi Yuan?" Lin Qinghe frowned. "The son-in-law who married into the Shen family?"

Half a month ago, the news that Qi Yuan of Ninghe County had married into the Shen family had caused a stir in the county.

Lin Qinghe had met Qi Yuan a few times.

His father had been a weapon master, but had ultimately fallen.

Still, the shadow of his ancestors' legacy remained, and Qi Yuan had managed to find a post in the yamen.

But the fellow was lazy and gluttonous, unable to endure hardship, and had quit after only half a month.

Over the years, he had squandered his family's fortune, and it was fortunate he married into the Shen household; otherwise, Lin Qinghe thought he might one day find Qi Yuan's corpse in a street corner.

"Him?" Lin Qinghe's eyes showed contempt.

He would never suspect Qi Yuan of being involved in this matter.

Let alone the strange black-and-white dog, even the director Zhou Xiao, Qi Yuan could not defeat.

"I've seen that kid Qi Yuan. He's no good, unless... someone from the Shen family intervened.

If the Shen family had acted, he would likely be long gone by now.

Unless the Shen family paid a great price to personally invite an alchemist to refine a great pill for him, enhancing his foundation." The yamen runner Zhou Hu said from the side.

Lin Qinghe nodded. He had always found Zhou Hu a handy subordinate.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he said softly, "Zhou Hu, in a few days, I will be transferred to the prefectural city. Do you want to come with me?"

The surrounding runners, hearing this, looked at Zhou Hu with envy.

Their head, Lin Qinghe, was not like them, born into hardship; he came from a powerful clan.

His time in Ninghe County was merely for gilding his resume.

Zhou Hu was taken aback, and for some reason, a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

"Head, let's talk about this later."

About half an hour later, the yamen personnel withdrew from the madhouse.

Zhou Hu followed Lin Qinghe, his face etched with worry: "Head, if you take me to the prefectural city, Zhou Hu will never forget your kindness.

But generally, a constable's term is at least three years. Why are you leaving so suddenly? Could it be... something has gone wrong at Red Cloud Stockade?"

Lin Qinghe had been in Ninghe County for two and a half years. Normally, he would have to wait another half year before being promoted to the prefectural city.

Yet now, with half a year remaining, he was leaving directly.

This was suspicious.

And recently, villagers had been disappearing from Red Cloud Stockade, a matter Lin Qinghe had been handling.

Zhou Hu thus suspected it might be related.

"You're right. It has to do with Red Cloud Stockade." Lin Qinghe did not hide the truth.

For a powerful clan, even if they spoke carelessly and the common folk overheard, what of it?

In this world, the powerful clans had little need for excessive concealment.

"The missing people from Red Cloud Stockade these days, after investigation, are the work of a single malevolent spirit.

This malevolent spirit is... at the Yellow rank, and not an ordinary Yellow rank at that!"

Mentioning this, Lin Qinghe's face was full of worry.

The malevolent spirits of this world, classified by strength and danger, could be summarized into ranks: Mortal, Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, Divine... and so on.

The Mortal rank was the weakest; some merely drained men's yang energy, perhaps only injuring a dozen or so beings.

The Yellow rank was different. A Yellow-rank malevolent spirit could wreak havoc on a region, causing the deaths of hundreds of villagers in a single village.

An ordinary county yamen would find it very difficult to deal with a Yellow-rank malevolent spirit.

"Yellow rank, actually Yellow rank!" Zhou Hu's face tightened. "Quickly notify the people of Red Cloud Stockade to evacuate entirely!"

"They cannot evacuate." Lin Qinghe shook his head, his expression helpless. "That malevolent spirit in Red Cloud Stockade is very peculiar. It comes from an ancient well, which is connected to the underground river of Red Cloud Stockade. Almost all the villagers have drunk water from that well. They... are all doomed!"

"Moreover, the people of Red Cloud Stockade work day and night on Red Cloud porcelain. The final batch to be offered to the Moshan Kingdom is about to be finished. They cannot leave now!"

Red Cloud Stockade was most famous for its Red Cloud porcelain.

This porcelain was exquisite, crystal clear, and most beloved by nobles and officials.

Ten years ago, the Moshan Kingdom went to war with the Ning Kingdom. The Ning Kingdom was defeated, ceding several prefectures and also having to offer tribute.

Red Cloud porcelain was among the tribute items.

The final batch of tribute would be fully fired in half a month, then transported to the prefectural city.

Thus, no matter what, the people of Red Cloud Stockade could only die.

Zhou Hu frowned deeply, his face full of anguish.

He understood. His head's family had learned of this news and thus transferred him away.

Otherwise, if Red Cloud Stockade was destroyed during his tenure, his evaluation would not be excellent, affecting his future career.

"Is there no way to summon a Yellow-rank Imperial Soldier Commander?" Zhou Hu knew all this, but he was still furious.

Red Cloud Stockade had seven hundred households, a population of over a thousand!

"That malevolent spirit in Red Cloud Stockade is very special. A Yellow-rank Imperial Soldier Commander won't do; it requires a Profound-rank one! The Profound-rank Imperial Soldier Commanders are all tied up with the Ye Mountain Lake right now. When would they have time to care about these kiln workers?" Lin Qinghe said helplessly.

Though he too felt pity for these kiln workers, he was powerless.

Profound-rank Imperial Soldier Commanders were rare even in the Ning Kingdom.

As for Earth-rank and Heaven-rank, they were even rarer.

Indeed, the Ning Kingdom had no Heaven-rank Imperial Soldier Commanders.

Earth-rank Imperial Soldier Commanders were already the peak combat power of the Ning Kingdom!

"Head, I, Zhou Hu, cannot go with you to the prefectural city!" Zhou Hu gritted his teeth and said.

Lin Qinghe heard this and sighed softly, "If you had abandoned Red Cloud Fort and followed me to the prefecture, perhaps I wouldn't hold you in such high regard."

……

"Is this a spectral?"

"It doesn't look strong!"

"Indeed, how could a minor boss spawned by a game compare to my own honed, robust physique?"

In the pitch-black night, Qi Yuan gazed at the octopus-like spectral before him and let out a soft sigh.

"Young master, hurry... hurry... this old servant can't hold on!"

"Grant me a little more blessing!"

"Ah, it's kissing my mouth, stuffing tentacles in—woohoo..."

Chen Kangbao clenched his teeth, his flour-white face flushed red. His frail body, like an iron clamp, fiercely locked the spectral in place.

"I've blessed you, don't rush. I'll kill it soon."

Though in recent days, Qi Yuan had worked hard to kill mosquitoes, even pretending to be a cat catching mice,

his experience points had increased only weakly.

His combat power was quite ordinary.

While killing mosquitoes at night, he spotted this spectral and, following the previous method, blessed Chen Kangbao to have him hold it tight.

"Hold on a little longer."

Qi Yuan glanced at the spectral, curiosity in his eyes.

[Seven-Tentacle Ink Specter, mortal-grade spectral; in the celestial realm, it would rival a high-level Qi Refining cultivator.]

Qi Yuan was intrigued.

The Seven-Tentacle Ink Specter looked fierce, but its combat power seemed mediocre.

If measured by city-destroying or planet-shattering feats, it might not even match a low-level Qi Refining cultivator.

"Could it be... because the world is different, the rules are different?"

Qi Yuan grew puzzled.

For instance, one person lives in a world made of cotton, another in a world of steel—naturally, the one in the cotton world appears more destructive.

Of course, there were more doubts here, which Qi Yuan couldn't yet grasp.

The information he had was too scarce, too isolated.

Right now, he was trapped in the information cocoon of the game.

"I am the kitchen knife!"

Qi Yuan struck, slashing at the Seven-Tentacle Ink Specter's tentacle.

Instantly, the tentacle snapped, black fluid gushing out.

"Wow, this fluid is sweet and tasty!" Chen Kangbao's face lit up with joy. "Mortal-grade spectral, sweet and tasty!"

"Hug it tighter—it's still struggling. Don't let it hurt me."

Qi Yuan said, striking repeatedly, like chopping vegetables.

With his strength, facing this Seven-Tentacle Ink Specter alone would be tough, but with Chen Kangbao holding it, it was like fish on a chopping board.

At that moment, Qi Yuan fell into thought.

"I see now. How to play the role of a kitchen knife? Chen Kangbao, you are my chopping board!"

Chen Kangbao held the spectral tight while Qi Yuan kept slashing—wasn't that playing the kitchen knife?

Realizing this, Qi Yuan suddenly noticed the progress bar for playing the kitchen knife had reached 30%.

A prompt sounded.

[Progress in playing the kitchen knife has reached 30%. Your body gains the kitchen knife attribute, unlocking the sharpness attribute.

Your body becomes sharper.]

"Ah? I've unlocked the kitchen knife attribute and become a kitchen knife?"

Qi Yuan clearly felt his body grow sharper.

But he was worried.

This was ancient times.

A kitchen knife was clearly... not made of stainless steel.

Should he add some carbon tomorrow, first turn into steel, then into stainless steel? Otherwise, with all the bathing, wouldn't he rust?

"Young master, is it done?" Chen Kangbao urged. "I'm about to burst from eating!"

He had drunk much of the Seven-Tentacle Ink Specter's blood.

"Wait until you hear the cold, emotionless mechanical system voice, then you can let go."

Qi Yuan said, and with his now-sharp palm, he slashed hard at the spectral's body.

Instantly, the Seven-Tentacle Ink Specter shattered into pieces.

"You have slain the Seven-Tentacle Ink Specter. Experience points greatly increased."

The cold, emotionless mechanical voice rang out.

Qi Yuan's eyes lit up.

His character level had jumped to level 15.

In one go, he had risen six levels—far faster than killing the black-and-white beast dogs!

After all, since level 9, he had killed many mosquitoes but couldn't level up, as if hitting a bottleneck.

Now, finally, level 15.

After level 15, he clearly felt something different about himself.

If before level 9 he was still mortal, now he could barely be considered supernatural.

As the Seven-Tentacle Ink Specter fell still, Qi Yuan noticed its corpse turned into black smoke and vanished.

This surprised him.

Beside him, Chen Kangbao looked a bit disappointed—his stomach was still hungry, and he hadn't eaten the spectral.

Though specters weren't edible, as a servant of the heavenly god, eating a little spectral shouldn't be too much, right?

"I think we need to kill some specters. Killing specters boosts strength faster!" Qi Yuan said seriously.

Killing mosquitoes was too slow.

And those brothers and sisters in the madhouse—they spoke pleasantly, were amusing, and hadn't offended Qi Yuan, so he wouldn't kill them recklessly.

Killing specters was the best choice.

"Specters?" Chen Kangbao frowned, as if pondering something.

At that moment, Qi Yuan also frowned. "Hush."

Chen Kangbao hurriedly fell silent.

Qi Yuan showed a thoughtful expression.

“I think I heard someone calling me?”

Just now, in the depths of his mind, he seemed to hear someone summoning him.

But the world’s soundproofing was too good; he couldn’t make it out.

“Could it be the soundless sound?”

“No, that’s not it!” Qi Yuan shook his head violently.

The soundless sound is without noise.

What he had heard just now still had sound, only it seemed distant, and he couldn’t hear clearly.

…

In Red Cloud Stockade.

Zhou Hu, dressed as a constable, had a large saber hanging at his waist.

Perhaps because of last night’s rain, the red earth on the ground was muddy, staining the soles of his feet.

He stepped on the bluestone slabs, a hint of worry in his eyes.

Before the official kiln was fired, the news of a Yellow-grade eerie spirit emerging in Red Cloud Stockade must not leak out.

Otherwise, he could not bear the responsibility, and it would also implicate Lin Qinghe.

Now he was both self-reproachful and conflicted.

“Master Zhou, it’s right here. Old Man Li last night… suddenly spat water from his mouth, and then… died.” The young boy Li Xiaodan, his clothes patched all over, his small face dark, though young, often went down into the kiln.

Yesterday, the person who died strangely in Red Cloud Stockade was Li Xiaodan’s neighbor.

“Mm.”

Zhou Hu entered Old Man Li’s crude house built of red mud and adobe, and came out about a quarter of an hour later.

His expression was grim.

Because in the past few days, more and more people had been dying in Red Cloud Stockade.

“Sir, come in and have a drink of water,” Li Xiaodan called from outside.

Zhou Hu looked at Li Xiaodan’s thin frame, thought for a moment, and entered Li Xiaodan’s house.

He himself had a son of about the same age.

Entering Li Xiaodan’s house, the humble dwelling was laid bare at a glance.

There wasn’t even a bedroom—only half a wall served as a partition, and that wall was pressed against a bed.

Li Xiaodan brought water: “Sir, drink!”

“Drawn from the old well?”

“Yes.”

“Drink less of this water; it feels unclean.” Zhou Hu did not drink.

He felt helpless inside.

Who in Red Cloud Stockade hadn’t drunk that water?

“Master Zhou, these days people keep dying in the stockade. What’s going on?” Li Xiaodan asked nervously.

“Don’t worry, I’m here,” Zhou Hu said after a pause.

“With you here, sir, nothing will go wrong!” Li Xiaodan’s face broke into an innocent smile.

Just then, Zhou Hu’s gaze was drawn to a peculiar “idol” on a shrine in the house.

“What’s this? You believe in gods?” Zhou Hu asked curiously.

“A traveling merchant came by a while ago. He said that in the Central Lands, many people believe in this god. Lately, the stockade hasn’t been peaceful, and I was afraid I couldn’t protect my little sister, so I gritted my teeth and bought this idol. I pray day and night, hoping it can shield my sister and me.

This god is called Divine Descent!

That merchant said it is the most powerful… divine artifact in the Central Lands!”

Eerie spirits are ranked as Mortal, Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, and Divine.

The artifacts controlled by the Imperial Weapon Envoys follow the same classification.

Powerful artifacts, though mindless, possess unfathomable might.

Many people choose to worship divine artifacts to seek protection.

“Never heard of it,” Zhou Hu shook his head.

At the same time, he had words left unsaid.

If this idol were one with actual power, Li Xiaodan couldn’t afford it.

So… Li Xiaodan had probably been cheated by that traveling merchant.

After all, even he himself couldn’t afford such an idol, let alone Li Xiaodan.

Just then, a cold voice came from outside the house.

“Divine Descent is the guardian divine artifact of the White Cang Kingdom. But alas… a great upheaval a hundred years ago shattered this artifact, reducing it to ashes.

Your idol is genuine… but the god is dead. What use is an idol?”

A tall, jade-faced Daoist nun walked in. As she mentioned Divine Descent, her eyes held boundless melancholy.

“Child, will you sell this idol to me for five hundred taels of silver? Yes or no?”

(End of this chapter)