Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 273 - 240 Going Back to Huanhua, Green Lady in Trouble

Chapter 273: Chapter 240 Going Back to Huanhua, Green Lady in Trouble

Xiao Cui, with her eyes closed, still had a faint blush on her face that hadn’t completely faded as she opened her mouth and loudly demanded food.

Immediately after, her eyes sprang open.

Seeing the three people beside the bed.

She raised her hands, frozen on the spot.

"Miss..."

She glanced at Zhou Ping’an, then at Lin Huaiyu and Xiao Xue, her neck stiffened, and upon surveying the room, she quickly understood her situation and realized what she had just been shouting.

Unaware in dreams that I’m but a guest...

What on earth did I just shout out?

Xiao Cui let out a whimper, covered her face with her hands, threw her head back, and without a sound, she "fainted" away.

Lin Huaiyu gave Zhou Ping’an a reproachful glance, but she couldn’t help smiling at the corners of her mouth, gently touching Xiao Cui’s hair and said with a laugh, "Xiao Xue, go quickly and tell the kitchen to make more mutton, all is well now."

Turning around to face Zhou Ping’an, she resumed her cool and undisturbed demeanor, and asked softly, "Brother Zhou, is it all settled now?"

"That’s right, it was just a bit of an overcorrection just now, some lingering effects of an appetite, satisfying the cravings will lead to a full recovery. Luckily, there was no serious harm, quite fortunate indeed."

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Ping’an’s expression became solemn, "The pressing issue now is the Red Lotus Bandits stirring up trouble within the city, and this matter requires prompt action. Once those bandits establish a foothold in the city, it will be much more difficult to drive them out."

What he meant by "much more difficult."

Was not that they couldn’t defeat the enemy.

But that it would cause tremendous harm to the citizens inside the city.

The Red Lotus Bandits are mostly adopting a conciliatory stance at the moment.

When they complete their arrangements and have the capability to take Qingyang City outright, they will reveal their fierce and sharp fangs.

Throughout history, every rebellion has followed this pattern.

Zhou Ping’an had some understanding of this.

"Are you suggesting we go to the Washing Flowers Pavilion to demand an explanation from the Green Lady? I’ll go with you," Lin Huaiyu immediately understood the crux of the matter.

Previously, Zhou Ping’an and the Green Lady had discussed, in the name of the Red Lotus Sect, taking over the city completely.

It could prevent the Red Lotus Army from the Guangyun Subruder from attacking.

And thus, win a chance for development.

Of course, the true purpose was not to serve the Red Lotus Sect but to watch the tigers fight from the mountain’s safety, a temporary measure to protect the local population and land.

It was a plan that sounded very promising.

Yet the current situation didn’t quite match his expectations.

If it was to say the plan failed, it naturally meant a sudden attack by the Red Lotus Army at the city.

If it was to say the plan succeeded, it would mean the Red Lotus Bandits wouldn’t come to Qingyang at all.

The current situation seemed like a failure, but not a complete one.

Without questioning the Green Lady, it would be somewhat detrimental for the next actions.

"No need, Huaiyu, you first arrange the affairs in the residence, pack up the essentials, and move to the County Magistrate’s rear mansion.

That place has spacious courtyards and stringent defense, also, it will be good to centralize the military forces in one location without having to worry about both sides."

Upon hearing Zhou Ping’an say this, Lin Huaiyu trembled slightly.

She remembered that it seemed to be the first time Zhou Ping’an had directly called her by her intimate name.

He had always called her "Third Miss" before.

Moreover, the luxurious mansion occupied by the County Magistrate was taken over by the two of them with their own hands.

But everyone had already assumed that it was Zhou Ping’an’s Zhou Residence.

It just hadn’t been explicitly stated.

If she were to move the entire Qingyang Lin Family there, it would imply a shift of roles from "host" to "guest."

The profound implications of such a move were clear to Lin Huaiyu.

Not just to her.

The maid Xiao Cui, who was pretending to be dead on the bed, understood too.

Her heart pounding fiercely, she nearly forgot to "play dead," just staring wide-eyed at Zhou Ping’an in shock.

"Very well, we’ll do as Brother Zhou says," Lin Huaiyu bowed her head slightly, her voice soft as she acquiesced: "Tang Lin’er lacks the strength, so for the upcoming military operations, I shall lead as the vanguard."

"Of course, even if you didn’t mention it, I would have asked for your help. With our combined forces, we can traverse the world unopposed," Zhou Ping’an laughed heartily.

...

With no worries holding him back, Zhou Ping’an left the Lin Residence, not riding a horse but walking with ease, heading straight for the Washing Flowers Pavilion.

In life and in action, one should see things through from beginning to end.

The agreement with the Green Lady still echoed in his ears.

Now with the situation in such disarray, if it had nothing to do with her, he was not inclined to believe it.

It was just unclear where exactly the problem had arisen.

...

"Magistrate Zhou."

"General Zhou hasn’t been here in a long time, the ladies have been longing for you day and night..."

As soon as he stepped into the building.

The middle-aged woman with rouged cheeks and tight sash hastened to greet him, twisting her waist eagerly.

Her smile squeezed her eyes into slender lines.

Showing extreme enthusiasm.

"Hongxiu, Nian Nu, come and keep General Zhou company."

Ever since Zhou Ping’an, by some means, took over the City Defense Army of Qingyang City and even executed the county city’s Powerful Experts, subduing the County Guards.

These events, anyone with a semblance of information awareness knew.

It was clear that Qingyang City had changed hands.

Given that Zhou Ping’an was very mild with the common people and there had been no tales of oppression, the public wasn’t overly fearful.

Those who owned shops went about their business as usual, and those who farmed continued their work.

The affluent families initially worried that Zhou Ping’an would send men to levy taxes and grain, and they were ready for a "heavy bleeding."

Yet to their surprise, aside from the reorganization of troops, there had been no movements from the City Guards.

It seemed that this County Magistrate Zhou had no interest whatsoever in their vast wealth or abundant stores of grain.

Moreover, they were even distributing surplus grain, setting up porridge stalls at the four city gates every day.

Now and then, some soldiers would even help the city’s poor...

Anyone who was truly struggling could go out to the city to cultivate wasteland, build roads, and houses, all paid with money and food supplies.

So long as one was willing to work, one could survive.

It could be said that life for everyone under County Magistrate Zhou’s control hadn’t worsened, but rather, it had improved a bit.

So much so that since the County Magistrate had not appeared for a long time, only a small group of people privately discussed it, and no one boldly stepped forward to demand accountability.

For years, County Magistrate Li has been like a clay bodhisattva, hardly managing affairs.

He always takes the lion’s share of benefits.

As for actual governance, he doesn’t handle a single matter.

With or without him, there’s virtually no difference.

No, that’s not right, there is a difference.

Without County Magistrate Li,

the sky over Qingyang City seemed much clearer.

This was true for the wealthy families.

And even more so for the common people.

Even in secret, some folks had quietly begun to offer incense to a statue of Zhou Ping’an, hoping that these good days would last a bit longer.

They hoped to never again see a turn for the worse.

"No need, I’m here to see Miss Qing."

Zhou Ping’an had visited a few times before, always under the pretense of listening to music to discuss certain matters with Miss Qing.

Therefore, the girls in the building knew that he had an intimate friendship with Miss Qing and was suspected of being a guest of honor behind the scenes.

By all logic,

upon seeing Zhou Ping’an at the door,

if the old matron had any sense, she wouldn’t call for other girls to accompany him, but would direct someone to lead him straight to Miss Qing’s Embroidery Pavilion.

"This... Please let General Zhou know, Miss Qing is unwell and cannot meet visitors. Perhaps after she has recovered, she can entertain you then,"

the middle-aged woman said, her face hesitant and her eyes flickering.

Lies.

Zhou Ping’an saw right through her.

What in the world was this old matron thinking?

The emotions she conveyed couldn’t hide the pain, sadness, fear, and resolution.

Just an old matron, and you’re putting on quite a show, aren’t you?

Zhou Ping’an shook his head and stepped forward, no longer paying her any attention, "It happens that Zhou someone is skilled in medicine. How could you not call for me when Miss Qing is feeling unwell?"

While speaking, he started walking towards the rear garden.

"Ah, ah... General Zhou mustn’t go, you can’t, oh no."

The old matron stumbled after him.

As the curtain before him was lifted, several burly men with fierce faces looked up.

All embracing girls and laughing loudly, they blocked the way to the back yard.

Seeing that Zhou Ping’an was going to force his way through,

the leader’s face showed a vicious expression.

"Kill..."

At his command, several men rose to their feet, their weapons drawn from their scabbards.

With a ferocious shout, they prepared to launch an attack.

"Utter fools."

Zhou Ping’an’s eyes were cold.

Four powerful experts at the level of Refined Energy, their arms tied with Red Bandanas, reeked of blood - clearly they had killed countless people and destroyed many villages and towns.

They were obviously elite troops from the Red Lotus Army.

’Miss Qing is in trouble.’

The thought struck him.

Zhou Ping’an showed no mercy as he made his move.

He lightly flicked his sleeve...

Four dark streaks of light silently shot out.

[King Yan does not let those he calls for to live past the appointed time]

Void-piercing needles, to be struck is to die.

Zhou Ping’an, considering the possibility that the Lishan Sect’s experts might be hiding in the city and stealthily plotting against him,

did not mind occasionally throwing them under the bus.

Whether it was effective or not was beside the point.

It was an opportune action.

Shhh...

Four muted sounds followed one after another.

In the center of each man’s forehead was a jet-black glow, pinning them through.

Death energy penetrated their brains.

Just as they leapt into the air,

they fell heavily to the ground with a thud.

Several girls, scared as hens that had their coop disturbed, sprang up and screamed in shock.

Zhou Ping’an paid them no heed and dispatched his spiritual power to explore the Embroidery Pavilion where Miss Qing resided.

He struck too swiftly and too ruthlessly.

The old matron at the front, as well as the girls nearby, after a few moments of panic and screaming, immediately clammed up.

The thugs buried their heads into their chests and dare not even glance up.

Four elite troops from the Red Lotus Sect.

Any single one of them could have opened a martial arts hall in Qingyang City and made a name for themselves.

Especially the leader, the Vice Incense Master known as Green Steel Hand - his fingers were as hard as steel.

When he made his name through murder, this man smashed his opponents’ chests through and plucked out their hearts to devour.

He could also snap a steel sword inch by inch with his bare hands.

He was both fierce and cruel.

Yet these four formidable Red Lotus experts met King Yan without uttering a word in the hands of Zhou Ping’an.

It was as if these experts were no more than ants, effortlessly trampled upon without a second glance.

Seeing such might,

nobody in the Washing Flowers Pavilion dared to make a sound.

They could only watch with wide eyes as Zhou Ping’an entered the back garden.

Not daring to utter a single shout,

fearing that they might provoke him,

to unleash his killing intent...

...

Vote for Monthly Pass.