"Lu Lang, please go quickly and return quickly. Qingyan is waiting for you at home." Liu Qingyan’s eyes were full of anticipation.
In ancient times, Lu Zheng smiled knowingly, waved at Liu Qingyan at the doorway, sorted out the prepared items, mounted his horse, and rode out of the city.
On both sides of the horse, one side hung an iron cage draped with burlap, inside was curled the corpse of a wild dog with white frost on its body, the other side carried two bundles, one square and containing a wooden box, the other elongated, appearing rigid.
Because this time he was heading to the Yizhou Anomaly Suppression Bureau, and the journey was long with many items to carry, Lu Zheng rented a horse to bear the load for the journey.
He did not follow the usual practice of leaving the items at home and traveling alone, retrieving them upon arrival, because the Southern Border Wizard’s corpse needed to be handed over to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau. What if they became suspicious and noticed he arrived empty-handed?
Besides the Southern Border Wizard’s corpse, Lu Zheng also bought three ornaments online: one Welcoming Pine, one Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain, and one Fish Leaping the Dragon Gate, all made of colorful glass. This time he brought a Welcoming Pine, intending to exchange it for money at a pawn shop to buy the Sweet Shop, and subsequently start a Sugar Workshop, thereby covering the loophole of the sugar he brought from the modern era.
Traversing mountains, crossing waters, passing through forests and rivers, arriving at Yizhou City.
A wide official road ended at a five-zhang-high bluestone city wall, with an arched fortress entrance and arrow-tower eaves. Lu Zheng finally saw a city wall similar to those in film and television.
Last night, upon reaching the vicinity of Yizhou City at around 7 p.m., the city gates were already closed, so he found an inn outside the city to stay overnight, planning to enter the city early today.
Now, at the break of dawn, 5:15 AM, Lu Zheng led his horse, mingling among the farmers and vendors preparing to enter the city, queuing to go through the gate.
Many were entering the city, and many were leaving too. Lu Zheng looked up and saw a convoy of five carriages exiting the city slowly. Leading them was a strong man on a tall horse, expressionless, his hawk-like eyes darting around sharply, like lightning or electricity.
His vigorous Blood Qi was openly displayed, evidently a master having cultivated Martial Dao Blood Qi to a significant level.
A subordinate followed behind him, his Blood Qi not yet aroused but with stable bearing, moving rhythmically with the horse, exuding a harmonious elegance, clearly a Martial Artist too, presumably skilled.
Behind them, each carriage in the convoy carried a small flag reading "Xiong Feng," accompanied by a few men with keen eyes, carrying knives and swords, their frames nimble and steps sure.
Xiong Feng Escort Agency!
What a genuine feeling! This is the martial arts world!
Lu Zheng’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the group, unintentionally making eye contact with the leading strong man.
Lu Zheng nodded and smiled, the man instinctively nodded back in acknowledgment.
They passed by each other.
Lu Zheng continued observing the passing carriages and porters around him, eyes filled with curiosity.
The strong man also glanced back, catching sight of Lu Zheng’s behavior, shaking his head with a smile. The subordinate behind him chuckled softly, "Must be a scholar with a heart for martial arts."
The leading strong man nodded, glimpsing the folded fan at Lu Zheng’s waist, "Like our brothers listening to stories, imagining themselves as eloquent scholars."
The subordinate laughed too, glancing back at Lu Zheng, seeing him already following the crowd into the city.
Glancing at their own convoy, he shouted briskly, "Everyone, pep up your spirits this morning, pick up the pace, I represent Xiong Feng!"
"I represent Xiong Feng!"
"I represent Xiong Feng!"
"Hello, how do I get to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau?"
Lu Zheng led his horse into the city gate, stopping beside a soldier on the inner side of the gate.
Seeing Lu Zheng pause and inquire, the soldier’s eyes flicked, about to reprimand him, but upon hearing Lu Zheng’s question, he swallowed his retort.
Asking for the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, can they be ordinary people?
"Follow the main street south, you’ll see Xiuyun Building on the city’s main south street. Turn east next to it, and after a while, you’ll find the Anomaly Suppression Bureau."
"Great, thank you!" Lu Zheng clasped his hands in thanks.
"You’re welcome, please!" The soldier’s tone was neither arrogant nor servile, prompting Lu Zheng to regard him more highly.
Yizhou Prefecture City, a capital boasting eight counties, renowned as Lingbei Dao’s most prosperous metropolis, featuring wide streets, numerous stores, bustling traffic, and a vibrant atmosphere.
Lu Zheng strolled along the way, passing vendors selling pork, poultry, fish, grain, noodles, salt, wine; household goods from fabric stores, clothing shops, shoemakers, lamp and candle stores, umbrella shops, general stores; others offering books and paintings, cosmetics, jewelry, musical instruments, lacquer wares, copper and tin wares, coal yards, pawn shops, fan shops, flower shops, brokerage firms, banks; services like letter writing, fortune-telling, matchmaking, street performances...
And let’s not forget the restaurants, taverns, Qinlou Chuguan entertainment houses, study and chess rooms, gambling dens, racetracks...
Such flourishing grandeur! Indeed, it’s like a vivid Qingming River Painting!
Lu Zheng led his horse, strolling and perusing from the North Gate to the city’s southern edge, finally spotting the Xiuyun Building the soldier had mentioned.
No wonder it’s used as a landmark. This Xiuyun Building stands eight-zhang tall, seven stories high, with ornate beams and pillars, swooping eaves and corners, adorned with draped lights and curtains, luxuriously magnificent, outshining nearby structures, standing solitary and splendid.
Lu Zheng stood across the street, gazing upward, then turned into the adjacent street, continuing eastward.
This street, though not narrow, was lined with residences on both sides, and as he progressed, the crowd thinned, with passersby casting him strange and respectful glances.
Lu Zheng found it unsurprising; the Anomaly Suppression Bureau dealt with demons and devils, undoubtedly abnormal themselves. Though his encounters had been with Duan Changzai, it didn’t mean Anomaly Suppression Bureau had only Martial Artists.
If Lu Zheng’s Dao Practice wasn’t deep and he weren’t delivering a contribution this time, he might not dare approach.
What if his origins were discerned?
Passing three street intersections, an ordinary house came into Lu Zheng’s view. As for how he recognized it as the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, it was because of the plaque hanging on the main entrance, that he could read.
With the main door shut, it seemed not many visited proactively?
Lu Zheng thought just that when he heard hurried footsteps behind him, turning to see a constable running past him, reaching the Anomaly Suppression Bureau’s side door, pushing it open and entering, casually closing it behind.
He stepped to the gate, tied the reins to the nearby post, took the items from the horse’s back, and followed the example at the side door, pulling open the wooden door to enter.
Afterwards, several guards and pedestrians, totaling seven or eight sets of eyes, focused intently on Lu Zheng.