Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 656 - 539 Longmen Leader (Seeking Monthly Tickets)_1

Chapter 656: Chapter 539 Longmen Leader (Seeking Monthly Tickets)_1

When Li Xuan last saw Hua Shenxiao, it was at Duke of Zhengdong’s residence.

At the time, he attended a banquet at Luo Yan’s adoptive father’s home but got embroiled in machinations, found himself inside Hua Shenxiao’s dwelling, and provoked the latter’s fury.

The result was that one of the Seven Sages of Quanzhen was completely frozen into an ice sculpture and then was tricked by Xue Yunrou into going to Beijing.

However, after Li Xuan went to Beijing, he didn’t see Hua Shenxiao for more than half a year. He only occasionally heard that the man was searching everywhere for ’Princess Xixue’.

At this time, the Liudao Division had already given up. Even Zhao Xixue’s family had stopped their efforts. Only Hua Shenxiao and some of Zhao Xixue’s good friends were still tirelessly seeking her whereabouts.

After receiving the letter, Li Xuan hurried out of the palace city.

He was quite curious about this ’Princess Xixue’, who was on par with Yu Hongchang. Back in Nanjing, he had even suspected that Zhao Xixue was the real person behind the red-dressed female ghost.

But what mattered most to him was Hua Shenxiao’s mentioning of Beijing’s Underground and Zhonglie Duke Wen in his letter.

When Li Xuan hurried to the Liudao Division, he was surprised.

The Hua Shenxiao he saw at Duke of Zhengdong’s residence was fresh, graceful, with beautiful facial features, almost like a woman. But now, although Hua Shenxiao standing in front of him was still handsome, his face was haggard, pale, and his clothing was slightly unkempt.

Just like a flawless jade that was tarnished —

"Brother Hua." Li Xuan looked up and down at Hua Shenxiao with surprise, "Are you alright now? Do you want me to give you some elixir?"

By just one look at him, Li Xuan knew that his vitality had been damaged.

However, his cultivation hadn’t let up, he was already at the ninth house level. Although he had been overtaken by Xue Yunrou and her companions, he was still among the top-notch young talents of his time.

Hua Shenxiao, on the other hand, looked at him with mixed emotions. A year later, he stood before Li Xuan, who was now the Fumo Zhonglangjiang of the Liudao Division, the Marquis of Guanjun of the Court, the Hufa of Neo-Confucianism, and one of the renowned Yangtang Divine Sabers.

Hua Shenxiao glanced with complex emotions at Luo Yan, standing behind Li Xuan with features even more exquisite and beautiful than his, and instinctively shrank his body.

"I’m okay. Young Heavenly Master previously gave me a healing Spirit Pill."

Speaking to this point, Hua Shenxiao’s expression was solemn as he ceremoniously bowed to Li Xuan, "I come here today to beg for Marquis’ assistance. Young Heavenly Master Xue is not in the Capital City. She told me to find you first. Only Marquis can handle this situation. Nowadays in Beijing, asking anyone else aside from you is useless."

"You are too polite, Brother Hua." Li Xuan’s face became serious as he sat down in front of Hua Shenxiao, "Please explain the situation, where is Princess Xixue now? And how does this relate to Beijing’s Underground and Duchenghuang?"

Hua Shenxiao responded with a bitter smile, "Has Marquis ever heard of the White Lotus Sect in Shandong?"

Li Xuan’s eyes narrowed, then he nodded, "Well-known, they are widely spread in Shandong, causing quite a stir."

People in Shandong generally believe in the White Lotus Sect.

This dated back to over 300 years ago during the former Yuan era, when ’vidya-raja’ Han Shantong, Liu Futong, and other believers of the White Lotus Sect started preaching in Shandong on a large scale.

After the unification of the Jin Dynasty, the White Lotus, Maitreya, and Ming Sect were banned, and hardship ensued amongst the populace because the Great Ancestor dredged up the canal and continuously enlisted the people of Shandong to carry out the task.

Subsequently, during the several northern expeditions of Emperor Taizong on Meng Wu, each northern expedition saw the conscription of water transport workers from Shandong. Coupled with the consistent dredging over the years, the hardship of the people of Shandong was second to none. Therefore, the White Lotus and Maitreya sects not only did not disappear in Shandong but in fact, grew stronger.

Especially the ’Saintess White Lotus’, Tang Saier, who had caused several rebellions since the reign of Emperor Tai of the Jin Dynasty. The court captured her several times and subjected her to cruel punishments.

However, ’Saintess White Lotus’ would reincarnate every less than twenty years after each death.

Which made those believers have even greater unwavering faith in the ’Saintess White Lotus’.

Therefore, the Liudao Division was helpless in this regard, they didn’t even have the capability to establish a Zhenmo Division in Shandong.

Luckily, after the White Lotus Sect grew, they would spontaneously handle demons and spirits in order to win the hearts of their followers.

Hua Shenxiao’s face was gloomy, "Three months ago, I found Princess Xixue’s trace in Shandong. At that time, she was one of the Saintesses of the White Lotus Sect. However, after several tests I found out that she had lost her sanity, like a puppet being controlled by someone."

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan frowned slightly, "Since she was found three months ago, why didn’t you inform the Liudao Division—"

Then he realized that this question was somewhat stupid, "You were worried about the court blaming you?"

Hua Shenxiao nodded, "The identity of the ’Saintess White Lotus’ cannot be underestimated. Once the court finds out, not only would Xixue be unable to show her face in public, but it could also implicate her family. Therefore, our initial plan with a few older disciples was to keep it a secret, quietly rescuing her from the hands of the White Lotus Sect.

However, the plan failed just as it was about to succeed. Not only did we not rescue her successfully, we even alarmed them and made their guardianship over Xixue stricter. Then, five days ago, she was brought to Beijing. It is said that she is to be sent into Beijing’s Underground as a flag to obliterate Duchenghuang, Zhonglie Duke Wen."

Li Xuan was shocked, but he still asked doubtfully, "How did you find out?"

"One of my senior disciples is currently embedded within the White Lotus Sect, close to Saintess White Lotus." Hua Shenxiao looked pale, glancing at everyone in the room: "I’m sorry but I can’t reveal his identity at the moment."

He didn’t entirely trust Li Xuan and the others.

If he hadn’t been pushed to the edge, if Xue Yunrou hadn’t strongly recommended it, if Li Xuan had not recently achieved outstanding exploits, he never would have solicited their help.

"Approximately three thousand members of the White Lotus Sect are here this time. However, they dare not gather together. Once they entered Beijing, they dispersed. The largest group is hidden on the property of the Zhao family in Langfang, numbering around five to six hundred, personally supervised by the ’Saintess White Lotus’, Tang Saier."

"Apart from her, there are six to ten individuals from The Fourth Gate, and even possibly an unidentified heavenly level figure staying close by."

Upon hearing the words ’Zhao family Manor’, Li Xuan’s mind stirred, "From what you say, it seems you don’t wish to alert the Liudao Division and the government, correct?"

Just from the look on Hua Shenxiao’s face, he knew he guessed correctly.

Li Xuan frowned, thinking that this could be complicated.

The infamy of ’Saintess White Lotus’ Tang Saier was notorious, she was a massive monster who, in her prime, required The Court to mobilize three to five heavenly-level powers to suppress.

It was said that wasn’t even the real ’Saintess White Lotus’, just an avatar descended to the mortal realm, which explained her ability to repeatedly resurrect.

How powerful would her true form be if it were to appear?

"We could work with the Liudao Division, but we need to cover our tracks well, and we absolutely cannot involve the government. It’s a helpless situation; Princess Xixue’s family is also being persecuted. The Zhao family, being from the former royal family, are far more sensitive than ordinary people.

They also have a powerful enemy within the palace; eunuch Cao Jixiang, the commander of the Jingying. Once Cao Jixiang learns of this, with just little manipulations, he could label the entire Zhao family as traitors."

Hua Shenxiao, seeing Li Xuan deep in thought, figured he was hesitating, "Marquis, our Quanzhen Sect’s Longmen Department can deploy four hundred Taoist soldiers in north Zhili. There are also several high-level individuals from The Fourth Gate who can serve you."

Li Xuan couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking how useful could those four hundred Taoist soldiers be?

But after the fall of Yuan, the Quanzhen Sect had been in shambles, continuously plagued by internal strife. The fact that they could even deploy four hundred Taoist soldiers was quite an effort on their part.

He looked serious, "Brother Hua, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but since it involves the Saintess White Lotus, we cannot be careless. The challenge now is that you don’t want to alarm the government, which makes things very difficult.

I could use some private forces, but that would involve great risk. I could ask a few heavenly level figures to assist, but that comes with considerable obligations.

Also, if I recall correctly, Princess Changle is also your junior sister, right? If you could contact her, I don’t think the princess would just stand by."

Li Xuan was very concerned about the state of Zhonglie Duke Wen and the Beijing’s Underground, but there was absolutely no need for this much effort.

However, Hua Shenxiao appeared quite distressed, "Marquis, you may not be aware, but Princess Changle comes from Wudang and doesn’t share a lineage with our Longmen. We absolutely don’t dare to involve her in this."

At this point, he bowed deeply to Li Xuan, "I sincerely ask for the Marquis’s assistance. My mentor and I would be immensely grateful. In the future, should Marquis need anything, none in the Longmen Department would dare to refuse!"

He finished speaking and placed an envelope in front of Li Xuan, "Marquis, this is a letter from my mentor."

Li Xuan took the letter and glanced at it, realizing it was indeed handwritten by the head of the Longmen Department.

He was very surprised. Not only did the department head plea earnestly but also included a strong phrase of ’wish to offer wholehearted service to Marquis of Guanjun’ in the letter.

Li Xuan then looked at Hua Shenxiao with curiosity, "Brother Hua, could you answer another question for me? I would like to know what kind of connection does Commandery Princess Xixue have with your Longmen Department?"

Nowadays, the Longmen Department, though not as strong as Longhu Mountain or Wudang, was still considered one of the top three orthodox sects today.

He found it hard to believe that the head of the Longmen Department was so willing to pay such a heavy price for a female disciple.

Upon hearing this, Hua Shenxiao straightened his back, his face complicated, "Marquis may not know, but around the time of Yuan’s fall, our Longmen Department was nearly annihilated. It was all thanks to Commandery Princess Xixue’s ancestor, who donated seven million pieces of patterned silver from her family fortune and helped us gain favor in The Court, thereby preserving the lineage of the Longmen Department.

Now, this great benefactor’s fourth generation only has Commandery Princess Xixue as their descendant. My mentor treated her like his own daughter."

"So that’s how it was!" Li Xuan gave a nod of understanding.

He remembered the flood at the Yangtze River half a year ago when the head of the Longmen Department also provided cross support.

At that time, all the Taoist temples along the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, under the Longmen Department, provided equal support to him, almost the same as Zhengyi Sect.

After contemplating for a moment, he sighed, "Alright then, this time I’ll ask Immortal Master Shuide and Ice-Thunder Halberd for help. There’s no time to waste; let’s get going now."

He was worried that if they left too late, the situation might be irreversible.