Lu Jiwèi used his finger to trace on the map and said, “Whether we go around from the west side of the ancient wasteland or from the south side, it will be a big detour. The journey will likely take an extra half month. The problem is that Sinan Prefecture is involved in this escort. Given their usual strong attitude, they will not willingly show weakness and take a detour on their own territory in Jin State.”
Di and Yu looked at each other in silence. If Sinan Prefecture really insisted stubbornly, what more could be said?
The key point was that this was very likely to happen. With their great reputation, how could Sinan Prefecture easily let outsiders think they were afraid?
Di Zang pondered and asked, “Could we ask Sinan Prefecture to send more men?”
Lu Jiwèi replied, “The news has already spread quietly. The areas where demons are causing trouble now extend beyond the six southwestern provinces. Every region needs to escort the examination candidates. Sinan Prefecture has limited manpower. How can they spare extra people? To send extra men specially for Lie Prefecture? Does Mister Di think Lie Prefecture can make Sinan Prefecture regard it with special favour?”
Yu Qi frowned. “This is treating the lives of examination candidates from every region as a game.”
Since the matter was already openly discussed, Lu Jiwèi no longer held back. “What does Mister think? To some people, the death of a few candidates means nothing. It will not cause any real disturbance, and Sinan Prefecture can suppress it. The problem is that Sinan Prefecture is in the wrong, so they cannot act completely unreasonable towards Qixia. That is why the situation is stuck. What I worry about is that Sinan Prefecture is waiting for the old demon of Qixia to make the matter bigger.”
After hearing this, the two masters instantly understood and both fell into thoughtful silence.
“It seems both sides are using the candidates’ lives as bargaining chips.” Di Zang sighed and shook his head, then asked, “What will Your Excellency do? Just sit and watch?”
Lu Jiwèi said, “What else can I do? If the Lie Prefecture candidates really suffer heavy casualties, it will be hard for me to explain to my superiors, hard to face the people of Lie Prefecture, and hard to shift the blame onto Sinan Prefecture. I can only try to strengthen the escort force. I have already ordered the escort carriages to be reinforced, and I urgently transferred fifty ‘great archers’ from the army to accompany the group.”
Di Zang said, “Sinan Prefecture also sent one hundred men to join the escort. Logically, with such a guard force, there should not be much problem.”
Yu Qi said, “I am afraid there may be high-level demon cultivators involved.”
Di Zang replied, “Would a true expert offend Sinan Prefecture for such a small thing?”
Yu Qi answered, “That is the Evil Spirit Pearl. Which demon cultivator would ever think they have too many Evil Spirit Pearls?”
Indeed, unlike humans, some demon species only give birth to one litter in their entire life.
Di Zang fell silent. On this matter, as a demon resolver, Yu Qi surely understood demons better than he did.
Lu Jiwèi stood with his hands behind his back and sighed long. “I hope Sinan Prefecture can settle the matter before we set out.”
At that moment, a servant hurried into the pavilion to report, “Your Excellency, the carriage and horses to the academy are ready.”
Lu Jiwèi immediately invited the two honoured guests warmly to go together.
Outside the Prefect’s residence, people gathered in clusters. Armed guards, carriages, and the vanguard of the escort cleared the way.
The streets were emptied of traffic. All pedestrians were driven into the shops on both sides. Government men cleared the road. Clearly, an important official was passing through.
At Yuelai Inn, a middle-aged couple hurried upstairs, pushed open the door of a guest room, and quickly moved to the half-open window to look outside.
The man was tall and sturdy, with a big nose, a full beard, and bright, piercing eyes.
The woman dressed plainly, yet her graceful figure was still clear. She wore no makeup, but her brows were delicate and her eyes beautiful.
This plainly dressed couple was quite famous among demon cultivators in the southwest of Jin State. The man was called Hei Yunxiao, the woman was called Bai Lan, and people gave them the nickname “Black and White Double Fiends”.
The two stared at the procession coming from the Prefect’s residence. They watched it approach, pass by on the street in front of them, and then fade into the distance.
After the street became noisy and lively again, Bai Lan closed the window. “Where is Lu Jiwèi taking his men?”
“To the academy to visit the candidates,” Hei Yunxiao said as he sat down at the tea table in the room.
Bai Lan followed and sat on the other side of the table. “Has the departure route been confirmed?”
Hei Yunxiao shook his head. “The insider we bribed does not know either and cannot give an exact route. But he thinks they will still take the shortest path through the ancient tomb wasteland.”
Bai Lan’s pretty face showed a trace of anxiety. She lightly tapped the tea table. “Are you joking? How can such a thing be based on a guess? There will surely be a large escort force. We must prepare in advance to have any chance of success. If we do not even know which road they will take, how can we set an ambush ahead of time?”
Hei Yunxiao said, “Lu Jiwèi and the people from Sinan Prefecture deliberately kept it secret. In such a short time, the insider truly had no way to find out. But his analysis still makes some sense. Lu Jiwèi transferred fifty great archers from the military, including three mysterious-grade great archers.”
“Fifty great archers?” Bai Lan exclaimed in shock, interrupting him. Her reaction was strong, and she looked uncertain. “Fifty great archers together can block an army of thousands. Lu Jiwèi is actually making such a big move?”
The title of great archer was not something ordinary people could claim. The basic requirement was to have stepped into the true martial realm. Otherwise, they could not even draw the bow used by great archers, let alone aim and shoot accurately.
They could fire three arrows at once, hitting three different distant targets simultaneously. In one breath, they could release at least three volleys, with no misses within a hundred zhang. This was the most basic ability of a great archer.
In other words, one great archer could accurately strike at least nine targets in a single breath.
Fifty great archers could accurately strike around five hundred targets in one breath. When they worked together as a group, it was no exaggeration to say they could block thousands of troops.
Especially mysterious-grade great archers, who could only be described as terrifying. They were terrifying long-range killers. Taking a life within three hundred zhang was a simple matter for them.
Three hundred zhang was a distance where many people could not even see the target clearly, let alone kill with precision. Being targeted by a mysterious-grade great archer was a very frightening thing.
Fortunately, great archers were basically all controlled by the court and raised in the military with very good treatment.
Otherwise, such long-range sniper experts would make many people lose sleep.
Hei Yunxiao said, “That is why I said the insider’s judgement makes sense. With such strong defensive power, the chance of crossing the ancient tomb wasteland is very high.”
Bai Lan froze. She understood, and gradually looked exhausted. “With fifty great archers, we can hardly even get close. Are we really going to miss this chance for the children to awaken?”
Hei Yunxiao immediately comforted her. “Madam, do not worry. That kind of escort formation moves very slowly. The journey to the capital often takes several months. We have plenty of time. If it does not work in Lie Prefecture, we can find ways to intercept in other provinces.”
Bai Lan immediately glared with anger. “Do you think Sinan Prefecture is useless? Do you think Sinan Prefecture will let this drag on forever? Lady Qixia may end the matter at any time. Time is critical. To win this chance for the children, we must seize the moment. We have to act before Sinan Prefecture completely resolves this!”
Hearing her voice rise, Hei Yunxiao was startled. He quickly raised a finger to his lips, making repeated shushing sounds to tell her to keep her voice down in case someone was listening through the wall.
Bai Lan lowered her voice obediently, but tears shimmered in her eyes as she complained. “You said buying it costs too much and we do not have enough money. When we try to do it ourselves, you cannot manage it. How did I end up with such a useless man? You have nothing to offer. I could bear the hardship myself, but now even our children cannot rise. If I had known, I would never have borne children for you.”
Hei Yunxiao lowered his head in silence. His breathing became a little rapid. After listening to a long string of complaints, he suddenly clenched both fists, as if he had made up his mind. He stood up abruptly. “It should indeed be the ancient tomb wasteland. I also know some friends there. Come, Madam, follow me to take a look.”
At Wenhua Academy.
The arrival of Lie Prefecture’s top official did not cause any visible disturbance on the surface of the academy. There was not even anyone at the gate to welcome him. The place remained heavily guarded.
The academy’s original people had long been cleared out. The premises were now jointly controlled by Lie Prefecture officials and Sinan Prefecture personnel. Due to the special circumstances this year, academy staff and various unrelated people were not allowed to get involved.
When they learned the prefect was coming, the official temporarily in charge of the academy originally wanted to gather all the candidates to welcome him, but Lu Jiwèi refused.
In extraordinary times, superficial displays were unnecessary. There was no need to make the candidates come out to greet him. It would be too easy for those with ill intentions to take advantage.
After Lu, Di, and Yu got off the carriage, they also followed the rules set by Sinan Prefecture and the military guards. Apart from close attendants, they brought almost no one inside. There was no need for extra guards anyway. The place was already under heavy protection, and Sinan Prefecture people were also involved in safeguarding it.
There was still some movement inside the academy. All candidates had been notified and gathered at the entrance of Zhaoxi Garden to wait.
Standing at the very front together with the welcoming official were, without surprise, the six candidates with the best provincial examination results, led by the top scholar Zhan Muchun.
At this moment, the six best candidates looked both expectant and nervous.
Many candidates felt tense. They kept adjusting their clothes from time to time, thinking about how to leave a good impression in front of the prefect.
Everyone knew that among these more than three hundred candidates, it would already be good if ten managed to make it onto the golden list. Some things really depended on talent. It was not something you could achieve just by studying longer or taking the exam more times. Most people would still have to seek an official post in Lie Prefecture, and that future depended on a single word from the prefect.
Yu Qing was also in the crowd, standing at the back among the others, not wanting or daring to seek the prefect’s favour. He had not even thought about it. The ideas in his mind were completely different from those of the others.
He occasionally turned his head and noticed Xu Fei, who lived in the same building, looking at him and giving him a friendly smile and greeting.
In this setting, no personal attendants were allowed. The attendants had been ordered to stay in their rooms and not come out. Candidates were also forbidden to carry weapons.
Suddenly the crowd in front became restless. Heads bobbed and swayed. Yu Qing could not help but stand on tiptoe like everyone else to look forward. He saw Prefect Lu Jiwèi and his group approaching with dignified bearing.
He just looked. Once he saw what kind of person it was, he stood back quietly, keeping a low profile in the crowd and passing the time.