Mountain Patrol Military Officer-Chapter 427 - 342: The Vanishing Old Wu

"Qingshan County has arrived!"

As this announcement was made, the exotic beasts that resembled tigers and leopards let out strange chirping sounds, their white whiskers by their noses quivered, shaking the accumulated snow in the mountain woods to fall rustlingly, and they came to a halt.

Then, the entire convoy creaking and groaning in the snow also came to a slow stop, and afterwards, a figure leapt down from the front, the sound of stepping on the snow following.

Someone respectfully bowed towards the most opulent carriage in the middle and reported.

"Ancestor, we have arrived at Qingshan County."

After the words were spoken, an aged coughing sound emanated from inside the carriage.

"Cough, cough."

Following the cough, a sound as if phlegm was being cleared, akin to a broken bellows, was heard.

"Qingzhu."

This voice carried a dying breath of someone extremely aged, along with a piercing hoarseness.

"Present."

A faint voice responded.

Only to see, Fang Qingzhu, who was seated at the rear of the column, lifted the curtain of her carriage, and after her graceful figure flitted through, she appeared in the snowy field, giving a junior’s salute to the carriage but with a tone clear and indifferent, revealing a sense of detachment.

"Ancestor, were you looking for me?"

From inside the carriage, the cough previously heard lightened, tinged with an eerie forcefulness.

"Is the ship you spoke of here in this place?" Fang Qingzhu’s clear eyes flickered, her lips slightly pursed.

"Fang Qingzhu, the Ancestor is asking you a question. Hesitating like this is really disrespectful. Don’t put on a face as though everyone owes you something."

Just at that moment, a sharp scolding sounded.

Saw that behind the Ancestor’s carriage, a woman in luxurious attire pulled open the curtain to reveal herself.

The woman wore a cyan dress, with a pointed chin and narrow, long eyebrows, looking very assertive.

The man who appeared behind the opened curtain, a middle-aged man’s face, glanced at Fang Qingzhu expressionlessly, his brow furrowed but without a word.

At this time, behind the curtains of the other carriages, several faces appeared: men and women, old and young, all dressed in fine clothing, each bearing an extraordinary aura, around a dozen or so in number.

These people either had an indifferent look, or an expression as if watching a play.

Fang Qingzhu’s willow-leaf eyebrows twitched slightly, her face turned slightly, glancing at the woman who spoke sharply, then at the frowning middle-aged man behind the carriage, her expression unchanged.

The woman was her sister, named Fang Mingyue!

The middle-aged man was her father, named Fang Tangjing.

Fang Qingzhu had grown numb to the attitudes of these two.

The familial relations were like those of strangers, the story of her, a motherless legitimate daughter, constantly being ostracized by the family.

As the saying goes, in small temples the wind of demons blows strong, and where the water is shallow, there are many bullfrogs.

Fang Qingzhu had grown tired of the Fang Family. She had once been trapped in the Night Navigation Ship, and when the Little Squirrel went to seek help from her family, it was chased away, and no one cared about her life or death. Now, the Ancestor who upheld this family was on the brink of demise, and after coming through the death’s threshold, he suddenly took an interest in her, the long-neglected legitimate daughter, upon hearing of her return to the Fang Family.

Later, Fang Qingzhu realized that the Ancestor was actually interested in the Night Navigation Ship that had trapped her.

That ship seemed to have a great origin!

The dying Ancestor, upon hearing the news, seemed very concerned, as if there were secrets to extending life hidden aboard that ship.

Coinciding with the great changes in Shu, news spread to the heart of the Central Plains, causing a stir. Rumors of Shu’s Luck reviving and the appearance of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures began circulating widely in the worldly society, thus, the Fang Family’s Ancestor personally came here.

Her experience in Qingshan County, she did not tell anyone else.

But these people even exploited the little ones around her.

Faced with the Ancestor’s questioning, Fang Qingzhu knew that hiding the truth was futile.

"Replying to the Ancestor, yes!"

"Qingzhu was seriously trying to recall the last known location of that ship just now, but was interrupted by Sister Mingyue’s scolding. I’m somewhat confused at the moment. After all, this heavy snow has covered up many landmarks. I hope the ancestor won’t be angry."

Qingzhu shifted her gaze to the carriage of the Fang Family Ancestor and spoke thus.

When Fang Mingyue heard this, she opened her mouth out of habit to scold.

"Look at you, you’re clearly making excuses..."

She wanted to continue.

But from inside the carriage came the cough of the family’s ancestor.

At the same time, behind Fang Mingyue came the rebuke of her father, Fang Tangjing.

"Silence!"

At that command, even the usually domineering Fang Mingyue’s complexion changed, and she quickly left the carriage and switched to a more obedient demeanor.

"Ancestor, I was rude to impose blame; please punish me."

"Just family, speak kindly to each other," the Fang Family Ancestor said slowly.

Speaking of which, he addressed Qingzhu, who was standing outside the carriage, "Qingzhu, since you can’t remember clearly for now, don’t rush. Settle down in Qingshan County below first and take your time to look."

As this statement concluded, a meaningful phrase came from the carriage of the family’s ancestor,

"I heard that a remarkable person has emerged from Qingshan County. Do you remember when we entered Shu from Tianxiong Pass the day before yesterday? We heard of a Colonel who came from this small place, who has shone brightly on the frontlines against demons in Shu, becoming a Martial Vault powerhouse, and is likely to be the next Demon Suppression Envoy. However, it is unclear how the Court has dispatched a new one. There seems to be a dispute between the two parties; yet, this old man is not optimistic about this young man. Although he was only recently promoted to Martial Vault, the Demon Suppression Envoy dispatched by the Court, even if not at my level, must be not far behind me. Even if they are both from Martial Vault, the gap between them is unimaginable to ordinary people."

"However, it seems that Qingshan County is a land blessed by nature, haha, perhaps it will also be a blessed land for this old man!"

Inside the carriage, the Fang Family Ancestor spoke at such length, no longer coughing, and gave his assessment of the situation at Tianxiong Pass.

Fang Qingzhu felt a slight tightening in her heart upon hearing this.

She felt somewhat dazzled upon hearing the name of that person again.

She had first seen him on the Night Navigation Ship, a long spear descending from the sky, like a divine weapon, leading them to escape trouble.

Later, Chen Yuan broke through the Heavenly Pass, dueled with the Human Demon, and subsequently assumed the role of a Colonel in Shu... She had witnessed this person stepping out from Qingshan County and onto a much larger stage.

Months passed, and hearing the name Chen Yuan again, he had already made a name in Shu, gaining a formidable reputation, and advancing vigorously to become a Great Divine Ability User.

When Fang Qingzhu first heard this, she was shocked; during the time she had spent with Chen Yuan, she knew he was no ordinary person, but she had not anticipated how fast he would rise amidst the changing winds of Shu, which startled her.

However, hearing the old ancestor’s words, she couldn’t help but feel indignant and a bit worried about the circumstances of this old acquaintance.

She had heard the rumors, too!

But before her thoughts could drift further, a resounding call of an exotic beast pulled her back.

The caravan started moving again; wheels rolling smoothly, easily traversing the deep mountains, with the Fang family’s caravan preparing to enter Qingshan County.

"tengteng"

The dull rolling sound moved swiftly, passing through the forest, and soon revealed a county standing amidst the snow, appearing below the mountains.

Outside the county, a great river flowed eastward!

...

Meanwhile, inside Qingshan County, near Jiazi Lane by the corner of an alley.

A few watchmen who had finished their shifts and laborers rising early for work looked at the firmly shut door of a small stall. freewebnσvel.cøm

"What’s happened to Old Wu?"

"He didn’t open his stall again today!"

That old man, who, through the years, no matter spring, summer, autumn, or winter, whether in heat or cold, always lit his stove and warmed his wine in the morning mist, hadn’t opened his stall for two days.

"This isn’t good; could something have happened?"

"Quick, let’s look for him!"