Chapter 113: Old Acquaintance in Ganzhou (Seeking Bookmarks)

  The next evening, Xiao Ziyang disguised himself as a white fat merchant and returned to Jin'an City by horse-drawn carriage.

  This time, Xiao Ziyang came to find an old friend, Wu Tianyou.

  Five years ago when he was in his hometown of Ganzhou, he let Wu Tianyou go, intending to make use of him one day.

  Zhongshen Marquis, as a founding meritorious official of Xiliang, also had a mansion on Yuma Street. However, compared to the Fu Guogong and Wei Guogong who opened their mansions outside the main halls of the imperial palace, Zhongshen Marquis's status was undoubtedly much lower. The mansion of Zhongshen Marquis was located at Shenwu Gate, which is also known as the back gate of the imperial city.

  Xiao Ziyang stayed at a inn called Taifeng Building, which was not far from the Zhongxin Marquis's residence.

  Just past midnight, a black figure silently and swiftly flew up from the courtyard behind Taifeng Building, disappearing into the thick darkness of night in an instant.

  Xiao Ziyang crouched on the roof of a commercial building opposite the Zhongshen Marquis's mansion, having shed his disguise.

  He employed his "Wang Qi" technique to observe the Hou Mansion for a moment, and did not discover any trace of cultivators. He put his mind at ease. With his current martial arts skills, as long as there were no cultivators, he dared to rush into even the most perilous places.

  Xiao Ziyang lightly pressed the roof, transformed into a wisp of smoke, and in an instant slid across the wide street over ten zhang wide, falling into the backyard of the Zhongshen Marquis's manor.

  He first used the Soul-Controlling Technique to control the gatekeeper of the Hou Mansion's back door, and then inquired about the residence of the steward of the Zhongxin Hou Mansion. He also controlled the steward with the Soul-Controlling Technique and easily asked about the whereabouts of the Fourth Young Master Zhao Zhi Bai.

  Zhao Zhi Bai had been recalled to the capital two years ago and was now promoted to the position of Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. As a fourth-ranking official in the imperial court and the son-in-law of the Duke who Assists the Nation, he had his own mansion and did not live in the Hou Mansion.

  Xiao Ziyang asked about Zhao Zhibai's mansion and casually dispelled the housekeeper's bewildering soul technique, then turned around and left.

  Over the back wall of Zhongshenhou Mansion, Xiao Ziyang swiftly and rapidly swept down the mountain.

  In Jin'an City, the closer to the Imperial Palace on the mountain top, the more favored by the nobles and tycoons. Many of them take pride in owning a mansion on the streets closest to the Imperial Palace.

  Ordinary people think that this is because the officials and nobles want to get close to the emperor, but Xiao Ziyang discovered after observing the capital with his spiritual eyes that the golden energy of Anjing City is actually extremely dense, several times that of ordinary places!

  He also found that the closer to the top of the mountain in Jin'anshan City, the thicker the spiritual energy was. The concentration of spiritual energy in the imperial palace at the top of the mountain was nearly twenty times that of ordinary places! This has far exceeded the level of low-grade spiritual veins mentioned in "Wu Xing Dao Fa Chu Jie".

  The spiritual energy is not only extremely important for cultivators, but even ordinary people can benefit greatly from living in a place with abundant spiritual energy. It can prolong one's life and make the mind clear and sharp.

  For those who practice martial arts, especially for those who cultivate internal skills, abundant spiritual energy can make their training twice as effective.

  It is said that babies born in a place with abundant spiritual energy have a higher chance of possessing spiritual roots.

  To ordinary people, the world of immortals is mysterious and abnormal. To those officials and nobles, it's not a secret at all. No wonder they flock to places near the imperial palace like birds flying to roost.

  Zhao Zhi Bai held a fourth-rank position, which was not rare in the prosperous and aristocratic city of Jinan, but he was the son-in-law of the Duke of Auxiliary State, so he owned a fairly large mansion not far from the Imperial City.

  Sneaking into the Zhao residence, Xiao Ziyang used his old trick again and inquired about Wu Tianyou's whereabouts from the gatekeeper.

  Wu Tianyou held a relatively high position in the Zhao Manor, serving as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, and had a small courtyard on the side of the manor.

  He sneaked into Wu Tianyou's small building when Wu Tianyou was sitting in meditation in his practice room.

  Xiao Ziyang was like a fallen leaf, lightly floating in through the window and silently landing in front of Wu Tianyou, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor. He didn't notice anything at first, but after a moment, he realized something was off.

  Suddenly discovering an extra person in front of him, Wu Tianyou jumped up in fright and reached for his waist. But when he saw the newcomer's face clearly, he was stunned for a moment before slowly putting his hand down.

  Wu Tianyou let out a long sigh, and sat back down on the couch, saying in a low voice: "I knew you would come eventually, I've dreamed countless times of you appearing silently behind me... just like today."

  He let out a bitter laugh and muttered: "Five years ago, since I read that letter, I knew what would become of me..."

  Looking at Wu Tianyou's apocalyptic appearance, Xiao Ziyang couldn't help but laugh and said: "I came to find you not to deal with the Auxiliary King. I just want you to help me investigate someone."

  Wu Tianyou was taken aback for a moment, then slightly regained his composure and asked: "What kind of person is he?"

  Xiao Ziyang said: "A person named Xiao Zhengyu."

  "He used to be the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard in the Forbidden City, but more than 20 years ago, he was investigated and executed by the emperor for deserting the army and resisting arrest. Another person named Song Nan Cheng, who used to be under Xiao Zheng Yu's command, may still be serving in the Imperial Guard at this time... Also, it is possible that Song Nan Cheng is a pseudonym..."

  "As long as you help me find these two people, I will never come looking for you again."

  Wu Tianyou was overjoyed upon hearing this, his excited voice trembling with emotion, and he asked in a disjointed manner: "Really! You... you... don't deceive me, that... that... Fu Guo Gong... that letter..."

  Xiao Ziyang shook his head and said, "The Auxiliary King is not someone I can handle... even if I have now become..." As he spoke, he flipped his hand, and a small sword about two inches long, emitting a crimson glow, suddenly appeared in front of him, swimming back and forth like a fish. "Even if I've already become a cultivator, I'm still far from being a match for the Auxiliary King."

  Looking at the flying sword in front of Xiao Ziyang, Wu Tianyou's face changed color, his mouth opened and he was speechless for half a day, before finally managing to utter two words: "Immortal Master!" Some thoughts in his heart were instantly extinguished.

  Wu Tianyou nodded slightly and said, "I suppose as a celestial master, you wouldn't deceive a mortal like me. I'll help you investigate these two people thoroughly."

  "How long will it take?"

  "Three days."

  "No, three days is too long, I'll come find you again tomorrow night, and you can tell me as much as you've found out."

  Xiao Ziyang secretly left the Zhao residence and did not leave immediately. He hid in a nearby rooftop, observing the movements of the Zhao residence until dawn, when he took advantage of the darkness before daybreak to leave.

  Back at the inn, Xiao Ziyang changed into disguise, settled the bill, and sat down in a teahouse not far from the Zhao residence to continue observing the movements of the Zhao family.

  At midnight, Xiao Ziyang removed his disguise again and carefully observed the Zhao Mansion and its surroundings for a long time using his Wandering Air Technique. After confirming that there were no cultivators lurking around, he activated his Invisible Escape Technique and cautiously snuck into the Zhao Mansion.

  He went up to the rooftop of the small building where Wu Tianyou lived and after a long time of probing with his divine sense, he slipped into the building.

  Wu Tianyou was still sitting cross-legged in the practice room, but he didn't practice today. He looked anxious and frequently looked out of the window.