Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 601 - 486: Liu Zongquan’s Hatred_1

Chapter 601: Chapter 486: Liu Zongquan’s Hatred_1

When Li Xuan entered Leng Yurou’s underground workshop, Leng Yurou was disassembling her ’Kongque Qianji’.

All this time, she had been trying to figure out how to make the Organ Puppet break through to the heavenly level. Li Xuan had also been following her progress, which seemed to be instagnant.

As soon as Li Xuan entered, his eyes fell on the several puppets laid out on a small table.

Their appearances were all rough drafts, with only the general outline of faces and clothing.

However, with just one look, Li Xuan could tell that all the various mechanisms within the puppets had been completed. They only waited to be sculpted and colored, marking the final step.

Overjoyed, Li Xuan strode over: "Yurou, you have already made them? That was quick."

Not long ago, in an attempt to please Yu Hongchang, he had combined a music box with an organ puppet to make a little puppet for her.

The puppet bore the image of Yu Hongchang herself. It not only could sing songs but also dance, which was charming.

The song it could sing was an ancient style song named "Shang Ye" that he had heard in the modern world. It narrated the story of an ancient general and a princess. The beautiful song had moved Yu Hongchang to tears.

But the happier he had made Yu Hongchang at that time, the more helpless he found himself now, thinking that he should not dig a hole for himself in the future.

Just as Li Xuan was about to pick up these puppets, Leng Yurou suddenly came over and smacked his hand away.

Then she reached out her hand: "Pay up! Cash first, delivery later. You promised, twelve thousand per puppet. Keep your word."

Li Xuan blinked, then earnestly said: "Let me owe you for now, Yurou, you know that the Court is investigating the salt merchants. There will be money soon. Every time you have an order, there will be money."

Leng Yurou replied coldly: "Then wait until the Court places an order, and I will give them to you."

Li Xuan reluctantly puffed up his cheeks and said: "Yurou, what’s between us? It’s just some money!"

But Leng Yurou had already put those puppets one by one into her Qiankun bag.

"Alright! Alright! I’ll give the money, will that work?"

With no alternative, Li Xuan took out a hundred and eight thousand from his pocket and handed it over to Leng Yurou.

He had ordered nine puppets, each with different dances and music.

They might not all be needed, but Li Xuan knew the value of preparedness from his military knowledge

Unfortunately, the money borrowed from Yue Qianqian had now been spent up. He had already spent several thousand at the Ministry of Rites just a while ago.

"Lend me a carving knife! You have phantom lacquer here, right? I want the best kind, the one that dries instantly. I’m pressed for time."

After getting the puppets, Li Xuan started making them on the spot.

He hadn’t studied carving back then, but a few months ago, under the suggestion of Lv Qiluo, Li Xuan began practicing carving.

She believed that it could not only enhance his body’s coordination and control, but also benefit his Wuyi practice.

Lv Qiluo believed that he had reached the peak of the current stage in terms of speed, ruthlessness, and accuracy. Now, he should focus on his skills.

Li Xuan followed her teachings, and found this method to be very effective. So, he started from carving knife, gradually increasing the size of tools. Whether it’s a dagger, kitchen knife, waist knife, or even a door-sized axe, he could carve an exquisite lifelike image.

The little person-like puppet given to Yu Hongchang was one of his practice works of carving.

However, as Li Xuan was short of time today, he chose to use the carving knife, which he had mastered the most.

Leng Yurou handed a carving knife and phantom lacquer to Li Xuan and then stopped bothering. She continued concentrating on her ’Kongque Qianji’.

However, Li Xuan started chattering with her from time to time.

"There’s no progress with your Kongque Qianji yet?"

"Hmm."

"Didn’t you remodel the energy furnace and the power drive system before? The boost is not significant, is it?"

"Hmm."

"I feel that the key is not the energy furnace. The power furnaces invented by the Mohist School surely cannot outperform yours in power output. The key to a heavenly level Organ Puppet, should be like that of a heavenly level Wu cultivator, it can borrow the great power between heaven and earth."

"Maybe."

"If it still doesn’t work, you can try the nuclear fission furnace I mentioned earlier. However, it is quite difficult and requires high-grade materials."

"I’ll consider it."

"By the way, aren’t you going to install two fourth-stage Great Five Elements Yin-Yang Miejue Needles on my Fumo Vajra? How long will it take?"

"Wait, it will take a few more days."

"In a couple of days, I’ll meet with the Mohist School’s Juzi and Lu Ban. I’ll take you with me then, so we can learn a thing or two."

Leng Yurou’s eyes shimmered slightly: "Can I? Do you know when?"

"I’m not sure now." Li Xuan laughed: "I will let you know when it’s arranged."

By now, he had finished sculpting Xue Yunrou’s puppet and coloring it. An imperial figure about one foot tall, wearing a long sword on her back, standing upright with a graceful stance, like a stunning beauty of Longhu Mountain, was now in front of him.

The puppet appeared lifelike, as if it was alive.

Li Xuan used mana to dry the phantom lacquer instantly, and then swiftly left the underground workshop.

"I’m leaving now, take your time and rest. Don’t neglect your cultivation because of this. Even if you pursue the path of mechanization, your body is your capital——"

Leng Yurou didn’t pay any attention to it, still focusing on the parts in her hands. Only after a long while, when her work was partially completed did she stretch lazily.

At this moment, Leng Yurou suddenly realized that there was another ’miniature Leng Yurou’, placed on the wooden platform next to her.

Li Xuan’s carving skills had grown excellent now, bringing to life Leng Yurou’s beautiful facial features, as well as her icy demeanor.

"Hah!"

Upon seeing this, Leng Yurou scoffed indifferently and casually threw the doll into a corner.

——This was the place where she disposed off her discarded parts and tools, essentially a trash heap.

But shortly afterwards, Leng Yurou still could not help but beckon, and bring the doll back to her.

As Leng Yurou activated the mechanism, the doll began dancing gracefully to the music.

This piece of music, Leng Yurou had already heard over forty times. It was one of the eight pieces Li Xuan had given to her, called "The Puppet Show".

Because it was related to mechanical puppets, Leng Yurou paid it extra attention.

The dance of the mechanical puppet was even designed by her.

But as the ’miniature Leng Yurou’ danced amidst the melancholic tune, Leng Yurou found herself engrossed, as she propped her chin and watched.

※※※※

What Li Xuan didn’t know was that he had been marked by someone as soon as he had left Leng Yurou’s workshop.

It was Liu Zongquan, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, who was cloaked and concealed in the clouds, his face severe.

Anyone who had been involved in a critical case would naturally be in a foul mood.

Liu Zongquan was now engulfed in anger, accompanied by anxiety and helplessness.

Just this morning, he was summoned by Shangshu Yu Shiyue of the Punishments Ministry to explain the details of Xia Guangwei’s case from years ago.

At that time, he was serving in the Tongzheng Division, serving as Deputy Envoy.

Xia Guangwei had submitted three memorials within a week, trying to present evidence of some salt traders’ crimes to the Emperor.

But these three memorials along with the evidence, despite having archival records, disappeared without a trace before and after the incident.

It was Liu Zongquan who was on duty in the Tongzheng Division at the time.

What vexed Liu Zongquan was that Shangshu Yu’s attitude towards him was very rude. Although he didn’t arrest him on the spot, his entire demeanor treated him like a criminal official.

What was even worse was that the Court had not waited for the case to be cleared up, and had already issued a decree to exonerate Xia Guangwei, the impeached salt official. The report is being prepared urgently at the Tongzheng Division, and will be issued to officials and schools all over the world.

Liu Zongquan understood the thoughts of the Emperor and the cabinet ministers. If there was no injustice in Xia Guangwei’s case, then what excuse would the court have to seize the property of the many salt merchants like Wei Zhen.

But this move also pushed Liu Zongquan into an extremely dangerous situation.

Since Xia Guangwei was innocent, then the Emperor and the cabinet ministers would need someone to take responsibility for this.

Apart from the officials who were in charge of Xia Guangwei’s case, there were also treacherous little people who blocked the ears of the Emperor and the virtuous officials from knowing about this matter.

It was unbelievable for Liu Zongquan how the situation had suddenly deteriorated to this extent.

His thirty years of endeavor in the court was on the verge of collapsing overnight, ready to be swept away.

In fact, Liu Zongquan was paying attention to the recent conflict between Wei Zhen and Li Xuan. Although he did not directly intervene, he was secretly supporting Wei Zhen.

For instance, in ’The Case of the Great Huguo Temple Encroaching on Farmland’, because of his overt and covert interference, it took more than forty days to settle the case in the Shuntian Government and the Punishments Ministry.

It was even during the elder council meeting of the Liudao Division yesterday, that he personally stepped in to help Wei Zhen persuade the elders from the two schools of Confucianism and Law.

According to Liu Zongquan’s estimate, even if they failed at the elder council meeting, this altercation would still continue for quite some time. It would probably be three to five years before a winner could be determined.

But the result was that Li Xuan not only directly took Wei Zhen’s life, but also swiftly overturned Xia Guangwei’s case and nailed it shut all within a day.

At this moment, the only thing that Liu Zongquan was relieved about was that he had held back and had a subordinate do this. He still had the option to abandon his pawn for his king, otherwise, he would have been arrested by the Ministry of Punishments.

Even so, he couldn’t escape the blame for negligence.

If things looked better now, he might be banished to an outpost. If things got worse, he might be forced to retire.

This made Liu Zongquan seethe with rage. It took him a great deal of effort to finally climb to the position of the Assistant Minister of the Personnel Department. He was only one step away from becoming the ’Celestial Official’ of the court or getting a position in the cabinet!

But now, everything has been ruined by this brat!

However, at this moment, Liu Zongquan was struggling to calm his emotions. He was worried that his killing intent might alert Li Xuan, who was within his sight.

Seeing Li Xuan walking on the street, Liu Zongquan quietly withdrew his long sword from his waist by a bit.

The Xia Guangwei case ruined his plans, and also made him lose a lot of his restraints.

He was prepared to strike at Li Xuan at an appropriate time, if he could capture him directly, it would be for the best. Otherwise, he would test this man’s abilities and teach him a lesson!

Liu Zongquan had a top-grade magical instrument that could temporarily pull people into a temporary void. Although it could only last for a moment, his cultivation at the heavenly level would be enough to solve the problem.

But next, Liu Zongquan frowned. He noticed a girl dressed in a Taoist robe approaching Li Xuan on the street.

He was very familiar with that girl, who was the Young Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain’s Tianshi Mansion.