Chapter 45: 45. Facing death, recruiting new members "Are you going on a journey?" "Yes." "Over the past five years, you have taught the Four Finches without reservation. Though named Four Finches, each of them now surpasses the Lion King in power." "Yes." "So..." Hua Linglong took a deep breath, her expression heavy, weary, and on the verge of discomfort as she looked at the man in front of her and asked, "When will you return?" Song Yan paused in silence. Yet Hua Linglong already showed a smile, a peaceful smile, an expression that quickly gathered all emotions, leaving no trace of heaviness, fatigue, or discomfort. One might even think the emotions seen in her eyes were an illusion. She was inherently someone skilled at acting, mixing truth with falsehood, making it difficult for others to discern. She asked lightly, "Will you come back?" This time, Song Yan nodded, saying, "It’s just that the time might be long, I’m not sure. Continue to maintain contact with the Snake Corpse Market, establish a long-term relationship by providing some necessary help. Although there are many ordinary people in the market, due to the need for secrecy, they won’t actively contact outsiders, making them extremely hard to find. But they do need a lot of supplies. The Snake Corpse Market opens the Demon Swamp Restriction every ten years, with the last opening being two years ago. Once you’re familiar with them, you can try sending some trusted people into their Demon Swamp Restriction; although dangerous, there is a chance they could become cultivators. In this way, the Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower may evolve from a mortal force to a cultivator force." Hua Linglong showed a thoughtful expression and no longer dwelled on the matter of ’parting,’ nor did she worry about ’how Song Yan knew this information.’ As the ’Crowned Queen’ around the three cities and twenty-six counties near Celestial Cloud City, even though she was mortal, she was not a small woman swayed by emotions. Even without Song Yan, she was a heartless, scheming, and good at acting ’female antagonist.’ She meticulously inquired about the situation of the Snake Corpse Market, having already formed some ideas in her mind. Song Yan left behind a porcelain bottle containing the "Refining Organ Pill" and a box holding the "Knife-beaked Finch Shadow Puppet." The former, once seen by the Danla family, would make them aware that "Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower" was backed by him. The latter already carried a wisp of his divine soul through the wondrous technique of "Hundred Forms Divine Control," making it hardly distinguishable from a real Knife-beaked Finch, corresponding to a demon beast of the Profound Second Layer cultivator. Having done these, Song Yan took a knife, a bamboo hat, a gourd, a pouch of gold beans, and also took ten thousand taels of Shu Country silver notes into his storage space before riding off. Though reaching the Puppet Sect didn’t really take three months, it was better to return a bit early, observe the surroundings, and understand the situation rather than rashly dive back in. The deep autumn leaves finally withered, falling from the branches, passing before the eyes of the one who saw him off. Bai Que stepped forward, draping a cloak over the delicate figure standing roadside, watching the swiftly disappearing horses. Hua Linglong said blandly, "Retire for now. I need some peace." Bai Que retreated. More than ten accompanying guards also retreated. Only the Crowned Queen of the Western Shu Border City remained standing alone, her hands behind her back, looking up into the distance, sighing softly, "Ah, you might as well have used Fanatic Fans on me all along..." ... ... Song Yan rode, leisurely crossing through Jianghu, indeed seeing many refugees along the way. With a little inquiry, they were all from the north, speaking of demon disasters there, making it impossible to survive. Song Yan was unsurprised. Presumably, the King of Wei summoned reinforcements but promised them that if the kingdom is restored, they could plunder the realm for several days." Without allowing plunder, who would help you fight? Of course, these matters... would be glossed over in history, vile deeds described as "plundering people’s clothes," and so on. Yet, what actually happened, he didn’t understand. But he knew... the Puppet Sect shouldn’t be weak, winning or losing wasn’t evident in this war. He urged his horse forward. He somewhat longed for the skin-making days at the Puppet Sect. That life of daily skin crafting, without caring about the origins of the skins, those were the good days. ... ... "Father!" "Father!!" The handsome Second Prince burst into the room, looking at the King of Wei who had collapsed onto the table. The King of Wei’s face was pale, no breath left from his nose, and there was an empty wine glass by his hand. The Second Prince quickly opened the cap of the nearby wine pot, sniffing it slightly. It was poison. The room wasn’t in disarray. The guards were tight last night. The King of Wei... committed suicide. The Second Prince sighed deeply but didn’t indulge in grief; instead, he sat beside the King of Wei’s body, staring blankly, muttering as if talking to a living person or to himself, "Not of our kind, their hearts must be eradicated... I never imagined it could be this cruel. Are they still human? Are they still human?!!" He became more agitated, even panting. But soon realized "that’s not human," that’s a demon. "It’s not your fault, no one expected it, it’s not your fault..." "Father!!" The Second Prince buried his face on the table and cried, his fists clenched tightly, while flames rose in his tearful eyes. ... ... Crackling... Crackling crackling... Grease dripped from the deer meat above, the flames crackling and popping. Song Yan grilled a freshly hunted deer, the gamey smell was strong, not fragrant at all. After roasting, Song Yan carelessly ate a few bites, no longer inclined to eat more. It tasted terrible... He truly couldn’t imagine why his cooking was so bad! Song Yan finished eating and lay down to sleep. This place was still within the Shu Realm, a place with weak Profound Qi where even a demon beast was absent. The empty forest was serene, though there were some bugs, but once he slightly released his Qi Blood pressure, they dared not come near. The next morning. Clear skies. Song Yan continued on his journey. ... ... "Second Prince, are you mad! You want to lead troops into the busy market... to kill a Fox Demon?! This... this is the Ancestor... this is the fundamental power on which our Great Wei can stand! In the future, we won’t be a mere Mortal Realm, but a realm with a great power presiding! How can you send the Ancestor to their death? What you should do now is report the situation to the Ancestor, then ascend to the throne!" "Grand General! Do you want me to help the Demon raise the people as its food supply?" "That’s not a Demon, that’s the Ancestor!" "Cao Zhengjing! Is this what the King of the South taught you?" "My father taught me that those who adapt to the times are wise! No matter what, one must understand the situation; when it’s time to bow, then bow! Moreover, what does the Second Prince have to fight against the Ancestor?" "Although the Northern Land is troubled by demon disasters, many of the people still have faith in our Royal family. Over the centuries, we, the Great Wei, have done much for the people. They believe in the legitimacy of the Great Wei Royal Family! Even if I die in the street fight, the people should understand... this is not the fault of the Great Wei Royal Family, but that the Demon has arrived! If they understand this point, those people will no longer be deceived. Nowadays, the Demon occasionally sends some small Demon Beasts for our Wei Kingdom’s army to slay and comfort the people, but the fact is... these are all tricks! Today, I, Cao Shiyin, will expose these." With that, Cao Zhengjing, the former Crown Prince of the South and now the Grand General, silently retreated. The "Second Prince" Cao Shiyin silently glanced at him, stretched out his arms, and while walking out, said: "Forbidden Army, bring the armor, follow me out of the Palace!!" ... ... More than an hour later... In the bustling market, a long spear pierced through Cao Shiyin’s heart. The Second Prince stared in a daze at the person holding the spear. He recognized this man, a fierce general under the Grand General’s command. He looked further into the crowd and saw the Grand General. The fierce general suddenly twisted the long spear, sending Cao Shiyin flying, preventing him from uttering another word, leaving his lifeless body on the ground, refusing to rest in peace. ... ... Days later, King Wei first passed, then the Prince collapsed, and "Grand General" Cao Zhengjing, after avenging the Prince, took command in a crisis, stepped onto the grand hall of the Imperial Palace, sat on the Dragon Throne, and looked down at the many officials below, raising both hands slightly, saying with authority: "Rise." At the same time, dozens of fast horses galloped out from the city. If one commits evil, their kin will inevitably betray them; these dozens were those disgusted by Cao Zhengjing’s actions. The Northern Land’s Imperial Capital of Great Wei was in the utmost chaos. ... ... Tat-tat-tat... Song Yan circled around the Puppet Sect several times, finally confirming that aside from numerous casualties, everything was normal and relatively safe. Seeing the five-year term had arrived, he entered South Bamboo Peak from the market entrance, presenting his Identity Token as he continued deeper. By coincidence, after a few steps, he saw from afar a graceful and voluptuous figure. That figure seemed to sense something, turned and looked, and called out, "Junior Brother!" "Senior Sister Wang?" "You’re still alive?" "Not easy at all..." Song Yan sighed and went up to meet her. Riding side by side, Wang Susu asked, "In these five years, has your cultivation fallen behind?" "What about Senior Sister?" "I have reached the first layer of Refining Profound." "Impressive!" Song Yan genuinely praised, considering how fiercely Nanwu Sword Sect had been searching for people before, Wang Susu breaking realm in these circumstances clearly showed her Furnace-based cultivation hadn’t stopped. "What about Junior Brother?" "I... I have also reached the first layer of Refining Profound." "Junior Brother is quite impressive too." Wang Susu couldn’t help but praise, then glanced left and right, saying, "I knew it, Junior Brother took those two Furnaces alive from South Bamboo Peak to squeeze them dry down the mountain, right?" The Demoness laughed, saying, "Indeed, Junior Brother knows how to cultivate, using that top-grade Furnace with Multi-tailed Fox Race Blood, feeding them medicine, taking it slowly down the mountain, unlike me, who only knows to gorge, hehe." Song Yan:... The two Senior and Junior walked as they talked, but before reaching the top of South Bamboo Peak, they saw a sparse group of people flying over, led by a white-robed Elder, followed by Profound Robe disciples. Before they were close, the white-robed Elder called from afar, "Are you disciples of our Puppet Sect?" Wang Susu laughed and raised her Identity Token, saying, "Yes, Elder. The five-year term has arrived, and we have just returned." The white-robed Elder asked, "Have you entered Refining Profound?" Wang Susu said, "Yes!" The white-robed Elder said, "That’s perfect, the recruitment still lacks personnel, follow me first!"