parentshiftbook Chapter 97: Secret Meeting in Qingzhou
Chapter 97: Secret Meeting in Qingzhou
"puff--!"
Zhou Yan suddenly clutched his chest, and a mouthful of blood spurted out without warning, splashing onto the carpet in front of him and spreading into a glaring dark red stain.
"My lord!" Sun Wenyuan and Su Qingyao exclaimed at the same time, rushing forward.
Zhou Yan abruptly waved his hand, brushing aside Sun Wenyuan's helping hand. He fiercely wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and, leaning against the bookshelf, struggled to straighten up again. His usually deep and peaceful eyes were now filled with alarming bloodshot veins, staring intently at Lin Yan, his voice hoarse and broken, yet carrying an almost obsessive urge to confirm:
"What you...say...is it true?! Do you have...proof?! This matter...this matter concerns the foundation of the nation, the beliefs of hundreds of millions of people! Without concrete evidence...how...how can you speak so recklessly?!"
Lin Yan silently held up the jade disc of inheritance with both hands and handed it to Zhou Yan. "Within the jade disc, besides the inheritances of the twelve patriarchs, insights into formations, and a record of the spirit-locking diagrams of the world's spiritual veins, there is also Senior Qingyangzi's final memory imprint and deductions regarding this matter. If you do not believe me, you may examine it yourself with your spiritual power. However... the information contained within is vast and overwhelming, so please be sure to keep your mind calm."
Zhou Yan reached out with trembling hands and took the warm, smooth jade disc. The moment his fingertips touched it, he shuddered, closed his eyes, and carefully probed a wisp of pure spiritual energy into it.
A deathly silence fell over the study. Only the occasional crackling of the lamp wick and Zhou Yan's increasingly heavy and rapid breathing could be heard. His expression shifted between shock, grief, anger, and confusion, finally settling into a deathly ashes of despair and icy coldness.
A full incense stick's time passed before Zhou Yan suddenly opened his eyes, which were now bloodshot. He staggered backward, and the jade disc slipped from his hand, only to be caught by the quick-thinking Sun Wenyuan.
"Demon...monster..." Zhou Yan spat out the two words through gritted teeth, his voice like sandpaper scraping, filled with deep-seated hatred and boundless rage. "Holding the position of Imperial Preceptor for two hundred years...deceiving the world...manipulating the backbone of humanity...we...we are all blind! Deaf! We have failed our ancestors! We have failed all living beings!"
He slammed his fist on the hard desk, denting the rosewood surface and sending wood chips flying. "Pfft!" He spat out another mouthful of blood, but this time he ignored it, letting out a low, mournful cry like a wounded beast.
Sun Wenyuan hurriedly placed the jade disc carefully on the table, and together with Su Qingyao, they supported Zhou Yan on either side, pressing him back into his chair. They then quickly poured out ginseng tea pills and fed them to him. After taking the pills, Zhou Yan closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for a long time before the violent heaving in his chest gradually subsided. However, his face remained as pale as paper, and the burning anger and sorrow in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
Su Qingyao had already been listening with tears in her eyes, and seeing Zhou Yan like this now, she felt an indescribable sorrow in her heart. Although she had heard Lin Yan briefly mention it on the way back, seeing Zhou Yan, an elder who was usually as calm as a mountain, lose his composure in person made her realize even more deeply the enormous blow this matter had dealt to the human race's high-ranking officials and these loyal old ministers.
Lin Yan waited until Zhou Yan's breathing had calmed down before continuing, "My lord, whether this matter is true or not still needs further investigation. However, we should err on the side of caution left by Senior Qingyangzi at the cost of his life. In addition, Liu Xiong also provided a clue in his desperation."
Zhou Yan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze shooting towards Lin Yan like lightning.
"Liu Xiong said that his elder brother, Liu Ba, the deputy commander of the Demon Suppression Division, secretly joined an organization called the 'Longevity Cult' last year. This cult has extremely high entry requirements, recruiting mostly high-ranking officials, nobles, and powerful cultivators. Those who join the cult are said to have the opportunity to be 'enlightened' by the cult leader and glimpse the secret of longevity." Lin Yan spoke steadily, yet every word was etched into the listener's heart. "And the key item for the 'enlightenment' ceremony is... the 'Blood Crystal Stone'."
"The Cult of Immortality... Enlightenment... Blood Crystal Stone..." Zhou Yan murmured repeatedly, his eyes flashing with cold light. "What a 'Cult of Immortality'! What a 'Enlightenment'! Evil objects crafted from the blood, flesh, and souls of my human people have become their ladder to 'immortality'?! That cult leader... could he be..."
He didn't finish speaking, but the four people in the study understood each other without saying a word. If the Daoist You Ran was of the same lineage as You Ming and possessed the ability to "enlighten" the demon race, then the identity of the leader of the "Longevity Sect" who used "enlightening" humans as bait was almost obvious.
"Monster! Traitor!" Zhou Yan roared again, veins bulging on his forehead. "Not only have you usurped a high position, but you've also used evil arts to bewitch people and corrupt the pillars of our human race! If this continues, there's no need for the demon army to invade; our human race will rot from the inside out!"
After the initial anger came an overwhelming chill and immense pressure. The air in the study seemed to solidify, suffocating everyone. The Imperial Advisor might be a demon in disguise, having infiltrated for centuries, secretly building his power and even establishing a cult to corrupt high-ranking officials… This enemy's strength, secrecy, and terror far exceeded their imagination. These few individuals, in this corner of Qingzhou Prefecture, facing such a behemoth, were like ants gazing up at a mountain.
A long silence followed. Only the flickering lamplight cast distorted shadows on the wall, reflecting the four people's somber and despairing faces.
Finally, Lin Yan broke the silence. His voice remained steady, even calmer than before, carrying a clear power that pierced through the fog:
"My lord, Mr. Sun, Qingyao. The enemy is strong, but not invincible. Senior Qingyangzi risked his life to leave behind his legacy and warnings, hoping that future generations could set things right. Now that we know this, we cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom."
Zhou Yan raised his head, a glimmer of light rekindling in his bloodshot eyes—a struggle born of desperation: "What are your thoughts?"
Lin Yan walked to the desk, his finger gesturing in the air as if sketching a grand picture: "In the current situation, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light, the enemy is strong while we are weak. To make a rash fuss would be like throwing an egg against a rock. Not only would it fail to eliminate the demon, it would also alert the enemy, causing them to act rashly and launch an attack prematurely. At that time, countless loyal and righteous people would be sacrificed innocently."
He looked at Zhou Yan with a firm gaze: "In my opinion, the most urgent task is not to go to the capital to expose them immediately—that requires irrefutable evidence and a swift and decisive action. Right now, our priority is to 'lay a solid foundation, accumulate strength, unite with like-minded individuals, and plan for the future.'"
"Strengthen the foundation?" Zhou Yan pondered these four words.
"Do you have any plans?" Zhou Yan stared intently at Lin Yan. After the incident at Qixing'ao and the return with such a shocking secret, he regarded Lin Yan as an absolute confidant with whom he could entrust important matters and discuss important plans.
After a moment's thought, Lin Yan stated his points clearly and logically:
"First, we must solidify our foundation and develop our strength. The false national advisor and his cronies have been entrenched in power for over a century, their influence deep-rooted. If we act rashly, it will be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock. Our priority now is to secretly build our own foundation and strength in places where they may not be fully focused on. Only by possessing sufficient strength can we have the resources to protect ourselves and even fight back in the storms that may come in the future, and prevent more loyal and righteous people from being sacrificed needlessly."
Zhou Yan nodded slowly: "These words resonate deeply with me. But where should this foundation be built? And how should this power be forged?"
Lin Yan walked to the desk, dipped his finger in the remaining tea in his cup, and gently traced lines on the smooth surface:
"Senior Qingyangzi once said that in order to slow down the excessive extraction of earth veins by the roots of the divine tree, he set up the 'Seven Stars Locking Spirit' array in the world, which has seven nodes. Apart from the 'Spirit Milk Cave' in Seven Star Valley, which we have already mastered, there are six more: the Spirit Spring of Canglang Mountain, the 'Water Moon Mirror Sky' in Yunmeng Marsh, the 'Mysterious Ice Soul' in the Eye of the Northern Sea, the 'Melting Heart Jade Marrow' in the Southern Wilderness Volcano, the 'Geng Metal Spirit Cave' in the Western Regions Flowing Sands, and the 'Azure Wood Dragon Vein' on the coast of the East Sea."
His fingertip tapped heavily on the "Spiritual Spring of Canglang Mountain": "This is the foundation upon which we can currently plot!"
"Canglang Mountain?" Zhou Yan frowned slightly. "Although you, Lin Yan, have initially eliminated the demonic threat there, it is located in a remote area and is deeply connected to the Blood Crystal Stone case..."
"Precisely because the connection is so deep, and the demonic threat has been eliminated, this is the perfect opportunity!" A sharp glint flashed in Lin Yan's eyes. "The blood crystal stones were taught to the demonic wolves by someone, and I suspect it was the work of the 'Longevity Cult.' Now that Liu Xiong has been executed, his followers in Qingzhou Prefecture are leaderless. This is the perfect time for us to secretly take over and sever this connection!"
He moved his finger and pointed to two more places near Canglang Mountain: "I suggest that, under the pretext of the Demon Suppression Division eliminating the remaining demons and stabilizing the local area, we secretly dispatch absolutely reliable people to take full control of Eagle Beak Gorge, Black Stone Town, and the area where the Canglang Mountain Spirit Spring is located."
"Eagle Beak Gorge is a strategically important and impregnable pass. We can secretly build a fortress here, station elite troops to guard it, and completely isolate Black Stone Town and the Spirit Spring area from the outside world, forming a top-secret 'enclave'."
"Blackstone Town is near the Azure Wolf Mountain, which is rich in mineral resources. In the past, these resources were difficult to mine due to the rampant presence of demonic beasts. Now that the obstacles have been removed, Blackstone Town can be greatly expanded and established as 'Blackstone City,' specializing in the exploration, mining, and refining of various ores and materials needed for talismanic treasures."
"And the spiritual spring of Canglang Mountain..." Lin Yan's voice was low, carrying the certainty of a strategist, "is rich in spiritual energy and has a secluded environment, making it the perfect place to establish a top-secret workshop to fully research and produce 'talisman treasures'! Qingyao can oversee the research and development of talisman treasures and the drawing of core runes here, gathering reliable craftsmen to elevate the quantity and quality of talisman treasures to new heights!"
He raised his head, his gaze fixed intently on Zhou Yan: "In this way, Blackrock City will provide us with a continuous supply of materials, the Spirit Spring Workshop will produce powerful talismans, and Eagle Beak Pass will provide security. The three will complement each other, forming a unified whole. In the future, it can serve as the foundation of our military industry and a cradle of talent to cope with changing circumstances; in the future, it can also serve as a secret refuge and a base for counterattacks. Given time, this place will surely become the foundation for us to resist the demons and uphold humanity!"
His words were well-organized and insightful, demonstrating a grand vision while remaining grounded in practical application. Not only did Zhou Yan's eyes light up with admiration, but Sun Wenyuan, standing beside him, was also deeply moved, his gaze towards Lin Yan filled with indescribable amazement and admiration.
Su Qingyao's beautiful eyes also flickered as she looked at Lin Yan's profile. She knew that this plan was not only about revenge, but also about the future of humanity. The fact that Lin Yan could so closely combine personal grievances with the fate of his people and devise such a practical and feasible long-term strategy filled her with admiration once again.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Zhou Yan clapped his hands in admiration. The gloom of the past few days seemed to have been dispelled by this clear blueprint. "Lin Yan, you are not only exceptionally brave and resolute, but your strategic planning is also incredibly mature and shrewd! If this plan succeeds, Qingzhou Prefecture will no longer be just an ordinary branch on the frontier, but a crucial thorn planted within the human race's territory, and a key fulcrum for breaking the deadlock in the future!"
He stood up, paced around the study a few times, and pondered, "However, such a large-scale operation, involving the mobilization of personnel, the transfer of supplies, and the construction of passes... it is by no means easy to completely conceal it from the outside world, especially from the possible spies of the fake Grand Preceptor's faction."
"Therefore, we need to coordinate internal and external efforts, using a feint to covertly advance our own territory while secretly making our own," Lin Yan interjected, his tone calm. "Externally, we need a reasonable pretext that won't arouse too much suspicion. Liu Xiong's 'disappearance' at Qixing'ao and Zhao Kun's disappearance after investigating the case are perfect for this purpose."
He turned his gaze to Zhou Yan, his voice clear: "Sir, you may hold a meeting tomorrow to announce that Liu Xiong and his men encountered misfortune and went missing while carrying out a clearing mission in Mangcang Mountain. As for Zhao Kun, he disappeared for many days while investigating clues in an old case and there has been no news of him since. The branch has suffered consecutive losses of key personnel, and in order to maintain operations, it is necessary to immediately promote an officer to temporarily take over his duties."
Zhou Yan's eyes flashed: "You mean...?"
Lin Yan nodded slightly: "Liu Xiong's position as captain and Zhao Kun's position as deputy captain are currently vacant. This is a good opportunity to place our people in and seize real power in the branch."
He paused, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Sun Wenyuan, who stood to the side, breathing slightly rapidly, before continuing, "In my opinion, Deputy Commander Zheng Tong is an upright and experienced man with considerable prestige within the branch, and he has always held you in high regard. He should be promoted to acting commander. This would not only provide you with a capable assistant and completely win over Zheng Tong, but also allow you to win over a group of veterans within the branch, thus consolidating your power."
Zhou Yan nodded slowly: "Zheng Tong is indeed the best candidate. He has been in charge of criminal matters for many years, and he is incorruptible. Even when Liu Xiong was in power, he was quite wary of him. Everyone will be convinced by his promotion."
Lin Yan continued, "As for the vacancy of Deputy Commander..." This time he looked directly at Sun Wenyuan, his gaze calm and sincere, "Mr. Sun is meticulous and thorough in his work, and more importantly, his loyalty is unquestionable, and he knows the inside story. It would be most suitable for Mr. Sun to temporarily assume this position, assisting you in handling daily affairs and coordinating matters. Moreover, Mr. Sun is familiar with documents, archives, and resource allocation, which is crucial for the subsequent covert support of Blackrock City and Spirit Spring Workshop."
Sun Wenyuan was shocked! He never expected that Lin Yan would recommend him so directly and clearly at this moment! Although the position of deputy commander was said to be "temporary," everyone knew that being promoted at this critical juncture was almost equivalent to securing it! This was not just a promotion in official rank, but also Zhou Yan and Lin Yan's complete trust and entrustment to him!
A surge of emotion, a mixture of excitement, gratitude, and a touch of trepidation, rushed to Sun Wenyuan's head. He might have previously harbored some subtle, competitive feelings towards Lin Yan, but after the incident at Qixing'ao, those feelings had been shattered by Lin Yan's demonstrated ability, courage, and sense of responsibility. Now, faced with this sudden and unexpected trust and responsibility, any remaining reserve or consideration in his heart vanished, leaving only a profound sense of gratitude for Lin Yan's recognition and a resolute determination to repay him with his life.
He took a sudden step forward and bowed deeply to Zhou Yan and Lin Yan, his voice trembling slightly with emotion: "Wen Yuan... Wen Yuan is unworthy of such trust from you, sir and brother Lin! This position carries great responsibility, and I, Wen Yuan, will do my utmost, even unto death, to repay your kindness and assist brother Lin in achieving great things! I will never fail in your trust!"
Seeing Sun Wenyuan's excited expression, Zhou Yan felt gratified. Sun Wenyuan had followed him for many years, possessing excellent abilities and character, but lacking the opportunity to take charge independently. Now, Lin Yan's initiative to recommend him not only solved the candidate problem but also further strengthened the cohesion of this small group, achieving two goals at once.
"Wen Yuan, please rise," Zhou Yan said gently. "I have always known of your abilities. This matter is of great importance, and I can only feel at ease with your assistance. In the future, I will have to trouble you with all the coordination within the branch, the covert communication with Blackrock City, and the supply of materials."
"Wen Yuan will certainly do his utmost!" Sun Wen Yuan solemnly replied. After standing up, he turned to Lin Yan and respectfully cupped his hands in thanks. "Brother Lin, I am deeply grateful. In the future, whatever you command, Wen Yuan will obey without question!"
Lin Yanyi returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Mr. Sun, you flatter me. In the future, we will be in the same boat and will need your great help."
Zhou Yan stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then said, "Zheng Tong has been promoted to head constable, and Wen Yuan will temporarily serve as deputy head constable. What about you, Lin Yan? You have made great contributions this time, so according to the rules, it is only natural for you to take over the position of head constable."
Lin Yan shook his head, his expression earnest: "My lord, I am young and inexperienced. If I were to suddenly assume such a high position, I fear I would find it difficult to gain the respect of the people and would only attract attention. Moreover, the construction of Black Stone City and the Spirit Spring Base involves countless tasks and requires a great deal of energy to manage on-site. The position of Inspector allows for relatively free movement, and inspecting local areas is part of my duties. This position is convenient for me to travel back and forth and coordinate the construction of Black Stone City and the matters of the Talisman Treasure Workshop. If I were to hold the empty title of Captain, I would be bogged down in the affairs of the government office, which would be of no benefit to the greater cause. I beg you, my lord, to grant my request."
Looking into Lin Yan's clear and resolute gaze, Zhou Yan was filled with emotion. Not seeking credit, not vying for power, but solely focused on the greater good—such magnanimity was far beyond the reach of ordinary people. He nodded and sighed, "Since that's the case, then so be it. The position of Inspector carries considerable authority, more than enough for you to handle. However, this might be too much of a burden on you."
"To do my part for the future of humanity, how can I feel aggrieved?" Lin Yan said calmly.
With the plan finalized, the four of them went over many details repeatedly until the eastern sky began to lighten. They added more and more silver charcoal to the charcoal brazier, replacing it as soon as it burned out.