When Daoist Qingxu heard this, his expression instantly relaxed a lot. He once again bowed to Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua.
The hostility of the refugees at the side lessened a lot. Although they knew that Baili Junyi and their benefactor Zhou Family were not on good terms, it was too difficult to find medicinal herbs that they had never heard of with their strength. After all, many of them were illiterate.
What happened here quickly spread to Zhou Ziqing’s ears. His face immediately turned gloomy. Did they intend to refine pills at the foot of the mountains in the northwest? They must be out of their mind!
There was a shocking secret hidden in that mountain range. If it was exposed, the Zhou Family would be dead.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that something was wrong. He changed into a set of inconspicuous clothes, twisted the mechanism at the side, and walked into the secret room behind the bookshelf.
This secret room looked ordinary, but in fact, the innermost part of the secret room was connected to a secret passage. This was something that even Baili Junyi did not find out when he sent people to raid his home last time.
After walking for about a quarter of an hour, he reached the end of the secret passage, which was a secret room that was similar to the Zhou Family’s secret room. There was a table, paper, and a writing brush in the corner. He made some ink and carefully wrote down his doubts on the paper. After confirming that there was no mistake, he gently retreated.
After arranging for his men to look for medicinal herbs, Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua returned to the posthouse.
Thinking of Daoist Qingxu’s appearance, Shen Ninghua asked curiously, “Where did you find that Daoist Qingxu? His behavior is so graceful, and he really has the aura of an otherworldly master.”
Baili Junyi laughed, “This is what he usually looks like. It took him a long time to imitate that otherworldly posture.”
“There is such a person working for you?”
Baili Junyi rolled his eyes. “Do you think I want that seat for nothing? If I don’t prepare well, I’ll lead both of us to death.”
Ever since he found out his identity, he was extremely dismayed. He began to prepare bit by bit, avoiding the Xiao Family’s eyes and ears and the search of others. This path could be said to be extremely difficult.
Shen Ninghua smiled. “I haven’t seen it before, so I asked out of curiosity. Now, the Zhou Family should know the news and should be suspicious. What are you going to do next?”
Baili Junyi’s eyes darkened slightly. “My first move is to use Daoist Qingxu to disperse the refugees’ gratitude toward the Zhou Family. Next, it’s time to meet Second Royal Brother.”
The smile on Shen Ninghua’s face gradually faded away. “Be careful.” Baili Jinchuan became calmer and calmer now. The domineering and unique aura that exuded from his bones feared her.
“I will.”
They had felt that the Zhou Family should be related to Baili Jinchuan, but after several rounds of investigation, they could not find any clues. This time, they used Daoist Qingxu to test whether they could find some clues.
Zhou Ziqing suspected that they knew the secret of the northwest mountain range. He would definitely find a way to report such a big thing to his master. Therefore, as long as he kept track of Baili Jinchuan now, he should be able to find out some truth.
Baili Jinchuan was in the study. Hearing the report from the servant, he frowned in annoyance. “Who did you say?”
“Your Highness, Prefectural Prince Yi came.”
“Baili Junyi? He still has the leisure to come to my place. Heh, let him in.”
Baili Junyi directly blocked the servant and walked straight into the study, looking around. “This study is many times more exquisite than the room I live in. Not bad.”
Baili Jinchuan’s face sank. “Did you come to visit my study?”
Baili Junyi had a smile on his face, but his eyes were completely cold. “I’m mainly here to visit you, and I take the chance to admire your room. I guess you won’t mind, right?”
“There are so many refugees waiting for rescue outside, and you still have the mood to come to see me. I will definitely report this matter to Father Emperor and let him know about your idleness.”
Baili Junyi chuckled. His eyes swept over the bookshelf at the side, and the light in his eyes slightly paused. “Father Emperor has ordered you to preside over the disaster relief. At most, I am just your assistant. I have watched you busy for so long, but I have not received any errands, so I am naturally idle.”
“So, it’s my fault that I didn’t arrange any specific works for you?”
“I didn’t say that.” Baili Junyi looked at Baili Jinchuan’s face and carefully observed every expression on his face. “Recently, there was a Daoist Qingxu who sent out many elixirs and saved many people. His prestige is quite high in the hearts of the people. You should have heard about him, right?”
Baili Jinchuan looked up, his eyes full of repulsion. “So what if I heard about him?”
“It’s good that you heard about him. I heard that the medicinal pills that Daoist Qingxu brought over were all given away, and right now, he is starting to refine the pills at the mountain range in the northwest of Zhou City.” As Baili Junyi spoke of the northwest mountain range, he deliberately emphasized his tone.
Baili Jinchuan frowned. “What do you want to say?”
Seeing that there was no abnormality in Baili Jinchuan’s expression, Baili Junyi was puzzled. Could he have guessed wrong? Did Baili Jinchuan really have nothing to do with the Zhou Family?
“Nothing, I just came to inform you about it. I have already asked Huajun Pharmacy to send the medicinal herbs over. Tomorrow, we can set up the furnace to refine medicine, so I came to invite you to watch it together.”
“I have a lot of things to do, so I don’t have much free time like you do. If you want to watch it, just go. I can’t go with you.”
Baili Junyi curled his lips expressionlessly. “Alright. I hope that you still have things to do tomorrow.”
If Daoist Qingxu wanted to refine medicine to save the people, he would probably attract most of the people to watch. Busy? If all the people were gone, what would he be busy with?
He and Baili Jinchuan were completely tired of looking at each other. They both wished that the other would immediately disappear before their eyes. However, due to their status as brothers, they had no choice but to interact. This process was not very pleasant.
After Baili Junyi finished speaking, he strode out.
Shen Ninghua put the two children to sleep just in time to see Baili Junyi walk in and quietly walk to the outer room. “How is it? Did you find anything?”
Baili Junyi’s expression was slightly grave. “No, Baili Jinchuan doesn’t seem to know the secret of the mountain range at all.”
Shen Ninghua pondered for a moment. “It seems that this matter still needs to be investigated properly. We need to gather manpower and prepare for it. With so much gold and silver appearing, if we don’t handle the situation well, I’m afraid it will cause a commotion. With so many people crowded together, when the time comes…”
“Don’t worry, I have already made the necessary arrangements, and I’ve written the report I want to give to Father Emperor. Tomorrow, once the matter is exposed, we will immediately deliver the news to the capital!” Baili Junyi’s eyes flashed, and his sharp gaze softened when he looked at Shen Ninghua. Just as he was about to say something, he heard Bai Ruo’s voice from outside.
“Your Highness, Miss, Miss Zhou Jingshu are here.”
Shen Ninghua’s eyes flashed, and she said without hesitation, “Chase her away. I don’t want to see her.” She did not have a good impression of Zhou Jingshu at all after she shamelessly stated her intention to marry her husband and become the stepmother of her children.
“Yes, Miss.”
The news that Zhou Jingshu went to the posthouse to meet Prefectural Princess with a gift but was directly driven out spread across Zhou City like fire.
The refugees and people who had changed their views on Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi because of the medicinal materials suddenly felt indignant. If they had not thought that they still needed Huajun Pharmacy to provide the medicinal materials, they would probably have surrounded the posthouse again.
The next day, the refugees and citizens all headed towards the northwest mountain range. Apart from some old, weak, young, and seriously ill refugees, almost everyone else went.
After all, this opportunity to see the production of an immortal pill was extremely rare. If they missed this opportunity, they didn’t know if there would be another chance in the future.
Zhou Da also followed behind. Looking at Zhou Ziqing, who had an extremely ugly expression on his face, he frowned in confusion. What exactly was going on with Patriarch Zhou? Why did he seem to be preoccupied with troubles?
At this time, Zhou Ziqing was full of anxiety. Every step he took felt like stepping on the tip of a blade. He felt that the mountain range seemed to be pressing on his chest, suffocating him.
He had hidden the gold and silver so well that no one should know about it, but the uneasiness in his heart grew stronger and stronger.
Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua rode side by side on their horses. Along the way, they followed the people and refugees to the foot of the mountain. At this time, halfway up the mountain, the tall pill furnace was already placed on the built stage. The pill furnace was as tall as a person, and it was as thick as three or four people’s arms. The outer surface was carved with exquisite patterns. The four cauldrons were surrounded by auspicious clouds, making people gasp in amazement.
Daoist Qingxu stood beside the pill furnace, holding a snow-white horsetail whisk in his hand. Behind him stood eight children. On the ground near each child, there were several neatly arranged medicinal herbs.
Everyone raised their heads to look at Daoist Qingxu’s wide-sleeved robe fluttering in the wind. They felt reverence and yearning in their hearts. Using such a high pill furnace to refine medicine could almost be called a divine method.
Daoist Qingxu waved his horsetail whisk, took the incense from the boy, and began the ritual before the furnace was put into use.
Seeing his pious face, the people below took in a deep breath. They quickly knelt down and prayed for the mercy of the heavens to allow the pill to be refined smoothly.
Zhou Ziqing looked up at the medicine furnace. His pupils kept contracting. He had written everything down in the secret room, but he had not received any instructions from Master. Could it be that Master had been delayed and did not see it?
Baili Jinchuan had originally wanted to count the number of disaster victims, but today, he saw that Zhou City was completely empty. After asking, he found out that everyone had gone to see Daoist Qingxu refine medicine.
Thinking about how Baili Junyi looked yesterday, he felt even more upset. He urged his horse towards the northwest mountain range.
Daoist Qingxu had already begun to put medicinal ingredients into the pill furnace. The flames under the pill furnace burned particularly vigorously, and the furnace wall was a little red.
Zhou Jingshu looked at Shen Ninghua at the side with contempt and disdain in her eyes. This Daoist Qingxu was probably created by Shen Ninghua in order to lower the Zhou Family’s prestige. Refining pill? She didn’t believe that casually placing medicinal herbs in the furnace could produce any divine medicine.
Back then, Shen Ninghua had said that those who lived in her small circle didn’t have the qualifications to judge whether she was the one with virtue. She was just waiting to see how Shen Ninghua wanted to turn things around! When she was slapped in the face by reality, she would confront her immediately and insult her!
Just as everyone was filled with different thoughts and expectations, a flame suddenly soared into the sky, and then a deafening boom suddenly exploded, shaking the earth and mountains!
“Rumble!”