Xu Qing's mind stirred.
In the past, when he returned from work, Area D10 would be very lively. The sounds of Shan He and Wang Chen bickering could be heard non-stop. However, today, Shan He was actually sitting cross-legged on the square.
He was actually cultivating.
His expression was solemn and carried obvious persistence. It was as though he was using his actions to tell everyone that he, Shan He, was a determined person. Even though he was in prison, he still didn't forget to cultivate.
Any place could be a place for him, Shan He, to temper himself.
As for Wang Chen, his main body had also come out of the coffin. At that moment, he was sitting in the cage with a serious expression. His hands were clenched tightly, as though he was regretting his mistake.
He even controlled his clone of the Smoke Race to write on the walls of the cage with a brush.
The article was voluminous. What it said was all about recognizing his mistake. Coupled with his expression, it gave people the feeling that he had written his thoughts and was assiduously reflecting on them.
Anyone who saw it would think that he was putting in a lot of effort.
There was also Kong Xianglong.
He was even more exaggerated. Although he was also sitting in his cage, he was facing the wall and reflecting. His back was facing the outside world as he loudly spoke words of regret.
"Night Spirit, I think I made a huge mistake this time. Although the Palace Master imprisoned me for a month, I don't think it's enough. I have to punish myself and not disappoint him."
"Come, Night Spirit, beat me on behalf of the Palace Master. Only by doing this every day will my heart feel better."
As he spoke, Kong Xianglong's expression also changed. Sometimes, he looked repentant, sometimes he was filled with grief and indignation, sometimes he sighed, and sometimes he was impassioned.
These emotions vividly expressed the heartache in his heart.
Night Spirit held a rod and stood behind Kong Xianglong, nodding solemnly.
"To be able to recognize your mistake means that you've grown up, Brother Kong. You were too impulsive in the past, and I have made mistakes as well. We should hold each other accountable and supervise each other."
As she spoke, she ruthlessly hit Kong Xianglong's back with the rod. Her voice was extremely loud and spread in all directions.
When Xu Qing saw this scene, he silently walked to his cage. He then took out a bamboo slip and the iron stick. After that, he took out his shackles and naturally put them on.
His movements were very skilled, as though he would do this every time he returned.
After putting on the shackles, Xu Qing revealed a serious expression. He took the iron stick and carved the commandments of the Sword Holder on the bamboo slip.
Over and over again, it was as though he was repeating this process every day to understand his mistake.
It gave off a feeling that he was not engraving them on the bamboo slip but in his mind.
Moreover, since he was the only one with shackles on him, it further emphasized his strictness toward himself.
Just like that, time slowly passed. Two hours later, a cold snort echoed in the cell.
"All of you are sharp like monkey cubs."
As the voice echoed, the Palace Master's figure appeared in the square. Shan He looked up blankly. After seeing the Palace Master clearly, he hurriedly greeted with a look of regret.
Wang Chen also hurriedly stood up and bowed to the Palace Master from his cage. He opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, it all turned into regret on his face.
Kong Xianglong and Night Spirit were the same. Xu Qing was the same.
As everyone greeted, the Palace Master placed his hands behind his back and swept his gaze across them one by one.
"You guys are quite capable."
"You completed the mission, and actually chased the black-clothed guards to the border!"
"Since you're so energetic, I'll give you something to do. Shan He, after you're released from prison, you'll work in the law enforcement office as well. Go and capture criminals."
"Wang Chen, don't you like to sleep in the coffin? After you're released from prison, you'll take night patrol."
"Night Spirit, you too. The Inspection Department asked for people some time ago. Go and take up the post."
"Kong Xianglong, aren't you unable to remember the rules of the Sword Holder? After you get out, you'll work in the Discipline Hall as well. You'll be in charge of admonishing those who don't follow the rules."
"Xu Qing, since you have so much energy, go and suppress D1 later and serve as a Area C Pawn."
The Palace Master calmly spoke, his voice echoing through the cell.
Everyone lowered their heads and pretended to realize their mistake.
"Also, I'll give you guys another secret mission. You can check it after you're released from prison."
"A spy sent a message. Recently, many immortal puppets of the Quasi-Immortal Race have appeared in the Holy Wave Race. They suspect that the Quasi-Immortal Race is secretly trading war items with the Holy Wave Race. This matter is rather sensitive. The few of you, use your own methods to secretly investigate it."
"If anyone can find any evidence, I'll give them a second-class battle merit and 500,000 military contributions."
Xu Qing's eyes instantly lit up. Kong Xianglong, Shan He, and the others were the same. All of their eyes gleamed.
500,000 military contributions was already a huge sum, let alone the fact that they were given battle merits as well!
It was extremely difficult to obtain battle merits, and almost impossible to obtain under normal circumstances unless it was an extremely dangerous mission.
Up until now, only Kong Xianglong had a third-class battle merit. That was something he had obtained after risking his life to infiltrate the Holy Wave Race.
However, now, as long as they found evidence of the transaction between the Quasi-Immortal Race and the Holy Wave Race, they would be able to obtain a second-class battle merit. Everyone was extremely tempted.
Seeing the glint in Xu Qing and the others' eyes, the Palace Master nodded slightly and didn't speak anymore. He then turned and left.
After he left, the cell fell silent.
Everyone looked at each other and could see each other's desire for battle merits. After that, all of them returned to their original positions. They continued to meditate, repent, and continue to carve.
Two hours later, Kong Xianglong coughed.
"He is gone."
Shan He let out a long sigh of relief and lay down.
Wang Chen's smoke clone dissipated and his main body let out a long sigh. After pretending for so long, he felt that his expression was about to freeze.
Night Spirit also put away the rod and went forward to apply medicine for Kong Xianglong. Kong Xianglong didn't mind this small injury and took out a jar of wine to take a big gulp with a smug expression.
"Fortunately, I reacted quickly. Otherwise, we would be in trouble this time. I guessed that the Palace Master would definitely come for a sudden inspection."
"Xu Qing's adaptability is also quite amazing. Although the Palace Master also knows what we're like, he's too inflexible. Hence, we still have to show some sincerity on the surface."
Kong Xianglong instinctively looked around. Every time he bad-mouthed the Palace Master, he would be a little wary.
Xu Qing removed the shackles on his body and walked out of the cage. He looked at everyone and pondered about the Quasi-Immortal Race.
Wang Chen also ran over and spoke in a low voice.
"Brother Kong, how did you know that the Palace Master was here?"
"I naturally have my own methods. It's a secret." Kong Xianglong laughed.
"Secret? Forget it then. Oh right, Brother Kong, are you familiar with the Quasi-Immortal Race?" Wang Chen didn't care much about the reason.
"I'm not very familiar with the Quasi-Immortal Race, but I think we can do this. However, the difficulty of this matter isn't small." Kong Xianglong shook his head.
"Could it be related to our previous mission? Could it be that the true information sent back from the rescue mission was about this?" Shan He crawled up and asked in surprise.
"It shouldn't be that simple," Xu Qing said softly.
"Regardless of whether it's information or not, the Quasi-Immortal Race has gone a little overboard. A war resource like the immortal puppet was actually secretly sold to the Holy Wave Race!" A cold glint appeared in Night Spirit's eyes.
"It's useless to think too much now. After we get out, we'll each use our own methods to investigate first." Kong Xianglong pondered. Everyone discussed for a while before they went to rest.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
This afternoon, the sky outside was dark and rain was pouring. It was time to be released from prison.
As the cell gate opened, Shan He was the first to rush out excitedly, followed by Wang Chen.
Kong Xianglong and Night Spirit weren't in a hurry, and Xu Qing didn't care either. In any case, his life in this month was basically no different from usual.
"I hope we can still be together the next time we enter." Outside the prison, Kong Xianglong looked at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing was about to speak when he suddenly looked into the distance.
There was a woman's figure standing in the rain, holding an oil-paper umbrella. Her long purple dress fluttered in the wind like a violet in the rain.
She waved gently at Xu Qing.
She was Fairy Zi Xuan.
Noticing that someone had come to pick Xu Qing up, Kong Xianglong left with Night Spirit. Before he left, he took a few more glances at Zi Xuan. After that, he looked at Xu Qing as though he realized something. He winked and wanted to say something but was pulled away by Night Spirit.
Xu Qing hesitated for a moment before walking toward Zi Xuan. As soon as he got close, a maid beside Zi Xuan came to him with an umbrella. She sent him to Zi Xuan and left with the umbrella.
"Fairy."
Xu Qing bowed. He knew that the other party wouldn't like it if he called her senior, but he felt strange calling her by her name. Hence, he decided to change the way he addressed her.
Under the oil-paper umbrella, Zi Xuan looked at Xu Qing and smiled gently, handing the umbrella in her hand to Xu Qing.
The instant Xu Qing took it, Zi Xuan naturally moved closer to him.
Today, she clearly had put on some makeup. Her hair was tied up and her exquisite little face was flawless. Her already beautiful face also had more color than usual. She looked natural and unrestrained, valiant and heroic.
"Let's go." Zi Xuan smiled.
Because Zi Xuan was too close, Xu Qing's body instinctively stiffened. He looked at the sky and didn't know where the other party wanted him to go.
"Accompany me to meet my two best friends. Didn't I tell you before? Have you forgotten?"
Seeing Xu Qing's puzzled look, Zi Xuan laughed softly. Her beautiful eyes revealed a strange glint.
When such a beautiful gaze landed on anyone, it would make their heartbeat involuntarily race.
Xu Qing hurriedly lowered his head and followed Zi Xuan.
Among the two people under the umbrella, one wore a purple dress and the other wore a white robe.
Although the colors were distinct, the sleeves of the clothes overlapped in the wind and rain, forming a beautiful scene.
They walked into the distance and soared into the air, heading to the county capital and the Apricot Flower Pavilion in the city.
The Apricot Flower Pavilion wasn't a restaurant but a unique private courtyard. There were pavilions, ponds, and water terraces nestled among the green pines and verdant cypresses. Looking at them in the rain, they exuded a unique charm.
There were also rockeries, flower beds, and green bamboo.
At that moment, outside the four-sided pavilion in the center of the courtyard, dozens of maidservants stood with umbrellas in their hands. Every one of them was beautiful and exuded a youthful aura. They also highlighted the three women sitting in the pavilion.
These three women were all peerless beauties.
The woman wearing a green Daoist robe, with bright eyes, was playing a flute. Waves of melodious music spread in the wind and rain. Her expression was beautiful and filled with freedom.
Another woman wore a long aqua blue dress. Her black hair was tied up with the same color silk, accentuating her jade-like skin. She was sitting carefully at the side.
From her demeanor, she seemed to be a junior.
Her jade-like fingers gently plucked the strings of the zither, complementing the sound of the flute.
The last woman was dressed in gorgeous palace clothes and exuded a graceful aura. However, her pretty face was as clean as a lotus and her expression was indifferent, as though she wasn't tainted by a single speck of dust of this mortal world.
She sat at the main seat and the corners of her mouth curled into a faint smile. At that moment, she lifted her head slightly and looked at the figures walking over from afar.
"Sister Zi Xuan, long time no see."
At the end of her vision, under the oil-paper umbrella, Zi Xuan and Xu Qing's figures were walking over.
As the woman in palace clothes spoke, the two women beside her also stopped playing. The flute-playing female cultivator smiled and looked at Zi Xuan with a friendly gaze.
However, when the woman in the aqua-blue dress who was plucking the strings of the zither saw the two people walking over, especially when her beautiful eyes landed on Xu Qing, a complicated expression involuntarily appeared on her face.
She was Yao Yunhui.
—-
