“That's not necessarily true. Perhaps every family is hiding something up their sleeve. The authorities are willing to share the opportunity to explore the Western Xia Imperial Tombs this time, so there's probably some catch.”
The young girl shook her head, defusing a potential conflict with just a few words:
“I originally thought of borrowing a couple of capable fox immortals from my grandmother, which would basically secure this trial for me. Who would have thought...”
Lyu Dongfang nodded. The news of the Hu family's recent trouble couldn't be hidden from the other families, and even their Yellow River Lyu family had heard a bit about it.
He heard that Ma Lanhua had made a trip to the south, and the Hu family immortal accompanying her had sustained damage to its foundation and was carried back covered in blood. If the Bai family hadn't been willing to treat it, that old fox would probably have stopped breathing by now.
Back then, the Hu family ruled the demons in the east, keeping the east peaceful and relatively harmonious for many years.
Later, through the Ma family, the Hu family cooperated with the authorities and obtained a large piece of land at the foot of Changbai Mountain, even securing a recovering spiritual pulse. How could the other four families not be green with envy?
Now that Hu Ban'er had met with disaster, all the families seemed calm on the surface, but they were actually chomping at the bit. The moment the old fox drew his last breath, they would immediately rush forward to tear off a piece of flesh from the Hu and Ma families!
For this trial, the Ma family had sent Hu Manni, which also carried some underlying intentions.
Although Hu Manni's surname was Hu, she was a true, genuine member of the Ma family.
It was just that she was born weak. The Ma family had been at their wits' end, so her grandmother Ma Lanhua had made the decision to change the child's surname, hoping to use the Hu family's luck to help her survive.
Hu Manni did not disappoint. After turning five, she rarely fell ill, smoothly passing through minor mishaps and disasters. At a young age, she had already opened her Yin Yang eyes, occasionally communicating with the immortals and Qingfeng spirits in her grandmother's shrine.
The Ma family had only sent her this time, but given the Ma family's relationship with the authorities, the trial would likely just be a formality.
Lyu Dongfang's heart stirred, and he changed the subject:
“Don't worry, don't you still have me for this trial? Just follow me when the time comes.”
The Ma and Lyu families had always been related by marriage. Hu Manni's mother was Lyu Dongfang's maternal aunt, so among the younger generation, the two of them were relatively close.
Hu Manni glanced at Lyu Dongfang. She had her own little calculations, but since it concerned the Hu family's ancestor, it wasn't appropriate to discuss it in front of so many people, so she just nodded gently.
Seeing that the two of them had fallen silent, the others nearby found it boring and hurriedly called for their companions to get into the vehicles.
The trial was about to begin; they had to rush back before it started.
Whether they participated was one thing, but agreeing to participate and then standing the authorities up was another.
Though they were arrogant, they weren't stupid enough to test the authorities' patience.
The group departed in a hurry, leaving behind only the Jeep trapped in the sand.
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”
The wind in the desert never ceased. Layers of yellow sand were whipped up and settled down, quickly covering the tire tracks.
Aside from the still-upright desert poplars and the Jeep that was nearly buried by the yellow sand, only endless desolation remained.
...
...
Nan Zhi searched the Gobi Desert for another three days. Only after she had collected enough purple gold red iron ore did she feel satisfied and prepare to head to the nearest city in Xiaoning to take a good rest.
Although cultivators possessed light bodies that were unstained by dust, and she was wearing the Azure Sea Sky Garment—meaning even if she fell into a mud pit, she would come out perfectly clean—she still occasionally missed clean, tidy hotels, soft beds, and warm baths.
Physical needs could be met with material things, but mental needs could not be ignored either.
...
“I'm very sorry, ma'am. Checking into the hotel requires personal identification. Since you don't have an ID card, we can't enter your details into the system—”
The hotel receptionist spoke in a gentle tone, her eyes full of apology. Nan Zhi, however, had long expected this and said with a smile:
“Then may I wait for my friend in the lounge area for a bit?”
The receptionist was puzzled, but her face still wore a formulaic smile:
“Of course, no problem. Please have a seat. Our staff will bring you a hot drink shortly. Have a nice day.”
This star-rated chain hotel was renowned for its high-quality service, and the receptionists were used to seeing all kinds of guests.
But today's guest was truly too strange.
She wore a green, wide-sleeved hanfu that was rarely seen in reality. Its historical style was indistinguishable, but the material was top-grade.
With the young woman's movements, the layers of gauze-like skirt fell softly together without a single wrinkle, instead reflecting a nearly weightless, elegant green glow.
Her attire was quite simple. Only a jade-textured green silk sash hung loosely around her waist, draped behind her back. Her raven-black hair was pinned up, adorned with a matching jade hairpin, looking simple and natural.
Strangely, this dress did not seem to aim for slenderness or to accentuate her figure. Instead, it gave her an ethereal, immortal air, as if the young woman might take flight at any moment.
People bustled through the lobby. Men and women of all ages couldn't help but linger their gazes on her as they passed.
She looked exactly like an immortal stepping out of an ancient painting.
Some bold young girls couldn't help but approach to ask for a photo together, and Nan Zhi, being very good-tempered, smiled and agreed.
So when Qin Yue arrived with her team, what she saw was Ma Guniang making a finger heart at a selfie stick, surrounded by a large crowd of passersby who wanted to take photos with her.
Qin Yue: “...”
The members of the Special Investigation Section: “...”
To be disturbed like this and still not be angry showed that Ma Guniang really had a good temper.
If they hadn't known her identity, they really wouldn't have dared to recognize her.
“Ah, you've arrived?”
Nan Zhi spoke in a warm, relaxed tone, as if greeting her own juniors. She motioned for Qin Yue to sit beside her:
“This place's autumn drink is quite good. It has a bit of the flavor of the perilla drink from the He family's shop in Bianliang. Would you like to try some?”
The others didn't dare to move, only starting to discreetly disperse the passersby. Some people sensed something was off and instinctively raised their phones to film, but they were politely yet firmly stopped.
Who knew if she would suddenly turn hostile? It was better not to offend her.
In less than ten minutes, the hotel lobby was cleared, leaving only a few scattered people.
Nan Zhi sat in the lounge area, steady as a mountain, and even had the mood to admire the scenery through the glass.
A tall officer approached the lobby manager, showed his badge, and whispered a few questions, immediately getting a response.
“I didn't expect that it would be so troublesome for you humans to stay at an inn nowadays.”
Nan Zhi didn't ask Qin Yue why she was here, nor did she ask how the authorities had tracked her down. She simply stated her request:
“Get me a top-grade room. Send the food and supplies according to the best standards.”
“Senior Ma, we were inconsiderate.”
Qin Yue wasn't foolish enough to ask Ma Guniang why she had suddenly appeared in the great Northwest, and right on the day of the Yellow River Trial. She merely whispered a few instructions to her subordinates. Once she received their confirmation, she let out a quiet sigh of relief and immediately stood up to show her respect:
“It's already prepared. Senior Ma, please follow—”
Before she could finish her sentence, her vision blurred. In the next instant, that green figure was already right before her, and that beautiful face, exquisite as a doll's, leisurely leaned in close—
The distance was so close that she could even see Ma Guniang's cold, moist, and waxy-smooth skin.
“!”
“!”
“!!”
The companions in black uniforms behind her instinctively wanted to raise their guns, but they were forcefully suppressed by an invisible force—
“On you...”
Ma Guniang frowned, leaned in slightly, took a gentle sniff, and wore an expression of extreme disgust:
“How is it that you reek of the stench of the Underworld's hungry ghosts?”
Qin Yue's pupils suddenly dilated, contracting violently.
Rate on N.U.
