“That's not necessarily true. Perhaps each family is holding back a trick. The authorities are willing to share this opportunity to explore the Western Xia Imperial Tombs, which probably means there's something fishy going on.”
The young woman shook her head, dispelling a potential argument with a few words.
“I originally thought that if I borrowed two capable fox immortals from my Grandma, this trial would be mostly a done deal. Who knew...”
Lyu Dongfang nodded. News of the Hu family's incident a while ago couldn't be hidden from the other families; even their Yellow River Lyu family had heard whispers.
It was said that Ma Lanhua had gone south, and the Hu family immortal accompanying her was critically injured, brought back bleeding. If the Bai family hadn't been willing to treat him, that old fox would probably be dead by now.
Back then, the Hu family governed the eastern demons, and the east had been peaceful for many years, mostly harmonious.
Later, the Hu family, through the Ma family, collaborated with the authorities and acquired a large piece of land beneath Changbai Mountain, even getting a spiritual pulse that was recovering. How could the other four families not be envious?
Now that Hu Ban'er was in trouble, on the surface, all the families seemed calm, but in reality, they were all eager to act, just waiting for that old fox to breathe his last before rushing in to tear apart the Hu family and Ma family's flesh to feast on!
The Ma family sending Hu Manni to this trial also had other implications.
Although Hu Manni's surname was Hu, she was a genuine, bona fide member of the Ma family.
It was just that she was born weak, and the Ma family had no choice. Her Grandma Ma Lanhua decided to change the child's surname, hoping to borrow the Hu family's luck so the child could survive.
Hu Manni proved herself worthy, rarely falling ill after the age of five, and overcoming minor misfortunes smoothly. At a young age, she had already opened her Yin Yang eyes and could occasionally communicate with the immortals and Qingfeng spirits in her grandma's shrine.
The Ma family only sent her this time, but given the relationship between the Ma family and the authorities, the trial would probably just be a formality.
Lyu Dongfang's heart stirred, and he changed the subject:
“It's fine, isn't this trial also about me? Just stick with me then.”
The Ma family and the Lyu family had always been connected by marriage. Hu Manni's mother was Lyu Dongfang's maternal aunt, so among the younger generation, the two were quite close.
Hu Manni glanced at Lyu Dongfang, harboring her own thoughts, but since it concerned the Hu family's old ancestor, she couldn't speak openly in front of so many people, so she just nodded gently.
Seeing that the two of them had fallen silent, the others nearby lost interest and quickly urged their companions to get back into the cars.
—The trial was about to begin, and they had to return before it started.
Participating or not was one thing; agreeing to participate and then ditching the authorities was another.
Although they were arrogant, they weren't that foolish.
The group departed in a hurry, leaving only the Jeep stuck in the sand.
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”
The desert wind never ceased, sweeping layers of yellow sand that quickly covered the tire tracks.
Aside from the still-towering desert poplars and the Jeep almost swallowed by the yellow sand, only endless desolation remained.
...
...
Nan Zhi searched the Gobi for another three days. Only after collecting enough purple gold red iron ore was she satisfied and ready to head to the nearest Xiaoning for a good rest.
—Although cultivators have light bodies, untouched by dust, and with her Azure Sea Sky Garment, she would emerge clean even if she fell into a mud pit, she occasionally missed clean, tidy hotels, soft beds, and warm bathwater.
Physical needs could be met with material things, and spiritual needs shouldn't be ignored either.
...
“I'm sorry, madam, checking into the hotel requires personal citizen ID information. Since you don't have an ID card, we can't enter it into the system here—”
The hotel receptionist's tone was gentle, her eyes full of apology, but Nan Zhi had already expected this and said with a smile,
“Then may I wait for my friend in the lounge area first?”
The receptionist didn't understand why, but her face still held a professional smile:
“Of course, please have a seat. Our staff will bring you a hot drink shortly. We wish you a pleasant stay.”
This star-rated chain hotel was always known for its excellent service, and the receptionists were accustomed to all kinds of guests.
But today's guest was truly too strange.
She was wearing a wide-sleeved blue Hanfu rarely seen in reality. Its era and style were indiscernible, but the material was of superior quality.
As the young woman moved, the layers of gauze-like dress gently draped together without a single wrinkle, instead exuding an almost ethereal, elegant blue glow.
Her attire was quite simple, with only a jade-colored silk ribbon tied loosely at her waist. Her raven-black hair was styled up and adorned with a jade hairpin of the same color, looking clean and natural.
Strangely, this outfit didn't seem to aim for slenderness or to accentuate her figure. Instead, it was ethereal, as if the young woman would float away at any moment.
People came and went in the lobby, and passersby, men and women, young and old, couldn't help but linger their gaze on her.
She was like an immortal stepped out of an ancient painting.
Some bolder young girls couldn't resist approaching to ask for a photo, and Nan Zhi, being very good-natured, agreed with a smile.
—So when Qin Yue arrived with her team, what she saw was Ma Guniang making a heart shape with her fingers for a selfie stick, surrounded by a large crowd of passersby wanting to join the photo.
Qin Yue: “...”
The Special Incident Investigation Section members: “...”
To not get angry despite such interruptions showed that Ma Guniang truly had a good temper.
If they didn't know her true identity, they really wouldn't have recognized her.
“Oh, you're here?”
Nan Zhi's tone was gentle, as if greeting her own juniors, and she gestured for Qin Yue to sit beside her:
“This place's autumn drink is quite good; it has some resemblance to the perilla drink from the He family's shop in Bianjing. Would you like to try some?”
The others didn't dare to move, only subtly beginning to disperse the passersby. Some felt something was amiss and subconsciously raised their phones to record, but they were politely yet firmly dissuaded.
—Who knew if this person would suddenly turn hostile? It was better not to offend her.
In just ten minutes, the hotel lobby was cleared, leaving only a few scattered individuals.
Nan Zhi sat in the lounge area, calm as a mountain, even finding leisure to admire the scenery through the glass.
A tall police officer approached the lobby manager, showed his credentials, and quietly asked a few questions, immediately receiving feedback.
“I didn't expect that even you people would have such trouble checking into a hotel now.”
Nan Zhi didn't ask Qin Yue why she was here, nor how the authorities knew her whereabouts; she only stated her demands:
“Get me a superior room. Food and supplies should be the best available.”
“Senior Ma, it was our oversight.”
Qin Yue wasn't foolish enough to ask Ma Guniang why she suddenly appeared in the Great Northwest, and precisely on the day of the Yellow River Trial. She only whispered a few instructions to her subordinates, and after receiving confirmation, she breathed a slight sigh of relief and immediately stood up, showing respect:
“It's all ready, Senior Ma, please follow...”
Before she could finish, she felt a blur before her eyes. The next moment, the blue figure had already appeared before her, the exquisite, doll-like beautiful face slowly leaning closer—
The distance was so close that she could even see Ma Guniang's cold, moist, waxy-smooth skin.
“!”
“!”
“!!”
Her black-uniformed companions behind her instinctively reached for their guns but were forcefully suppressed by an invisible power—
“You have...”
Ma Guniang frowned, leaned in for a light sniff, and showed an expression of extreme disgust:
“Why do you reek of the Underworld's hungry ghosts?”
Qin Yue's pupils suddenly jumped and contracted violently.
Rate on N.U.
