Chapter 138: Secretly Crossing Chencang

Tao Fengming’s voice rang out nearby, startling everyone present, and all eyes instantly turned toward him.

Even Prefect Yu paused in his tracks, turning back around to look at Tao Fengming.

"May I ask what the Director of Studies means by this?"

Prefect Yu’s tone already carried a hint of displeasure.

Song Mu also looked at Tao Fengming in utter astonishment, completely taken aback by his remark.

Tao Fengming’s words could be described as stirring up a thousand ripples with a single stone. Prefect Yu had just told everyone not to worry about the matter any further and that the prefectural yamen would handle it entirely.

Song Mu could discern the intricacies and concerns behind this; perhaps Prefect Yu felt that the crisis at Great Hawk Mountain was mostly resolved and that a single demon general could no longer stir up any major trouble.

Prefect Yu probably intended to let the matter rest for the time being.

Yet Tao Fengming showed no appreciation for this gesture.

The officials of Shaozhou Prefecture might not have known, but Song Mu and the others were acutely aware that back at Great Hawk Mountain, the aura of a Scholarly Scholar had swept past them.

Moreover, that aura had been quite mysterious.

It was just that Song Mu and the others had brushed it off as a passing Scholar, and even though there were suspicious elements to it, they hadn't expected to bring it up right at this moment. To their surprise, Tao Fengming threw this very problem right into the laps of the Shaozhou Prefecture people.

Furthermore, between the lines, he practically insinuated that the Scholar was connected to the people here.

This was precisely why Song Mu and the others wore looks of shock.

"It is merely a simple inquiry. I wonder if Prefecture Lord can provide an answer?"

Facing Prefect Yu’s question, Tao Fengming still appeared completely unbothered as he simply posed his question.

A trace of displeasure was already visible on Prefect Yu’s face, but seemingly taking into consideration Tao Fengming’s cultivation level as a fellow Scholarly Scholar, he merely let out a heavy sigh and spoke.

"There are currently a total of three Scholarly Scholars and six probationary Scholars in our prefectural city."

Hearing this, Tao Fengming nodded, yet he followed up with another question.

"I wonder if all three Scholarly Scholars and six probationary Scholars are present today?"

"Audacious! Although you are a Scholarly Scholar, you are merely a lowly Director of Studies of the prefectural academy. How dare you act so wildly in front of our Prefecture Lord!"

At that moment, a stern shout rang out as another elderly scholar stepped forward to hurl abuses. Yet Prefect Yu showed no particular reaction; instead, he merely flicked his sleeve and pointed to the side.

"The three of us Scholarly Scholars are all here today. Director, do you have anything else to say?"

"Nothing more."

Tao Fengming glanced briefly along the direction of the man's finger, then uttered those two words lightly, his expression utterly serene.

This seemingly gentle remark instantly ignited a surge of anger in the hearts of those few men.

They had not expected Tao Fengming to back down so easily; the scathing scolding they had just delivered felt like punching a lump of cotton.

Prefect Yu’s complexion did not look good either. With a cold snort, he flicked his sleeve and walked away.

"Take these two demon corpses away to be sealed and have the yamen conduct a thorough inspection."

"And make arrangements for these academy disciples to rest."

Prefect Yu’s voice echoed once more. Several soldiers hurriedly stepped forward to remove the corpses, while a minor official came over to lead Song Mu and the others to their quarters.

Witnessing this turn of events, Song Mu’s expression faltered slightly, and he cast an incredulous look at Tao Fengming.

The confrontation moments ago had clearly reached the brink of a sword-drawn standoff. Although it had ended peacefully on the surface, Song Mu found it baffling as to why Tao Fengming had acted this way.

Could it be that he suspected the inexplicable Scholar from earlier to be an official within this very yamen?

Even if so, what did it matter?

Unable to make head or tail of it, Song Mu picked up his belongings and followed the group into the hostel beside the yamen. Dozens of people quickly filled the rooms to capacity. Song Mu entered Tao Fengming’s room to set down his things and arranged for a servant boy to fetch water.

Just then, Tao Fengming, who was seated at the table, spoke to Song Mu.

"Jingzhao, how is your mind's eye cultivation progressing these days?"

Startled, Song Mu straightened up and replied, "Master, I am already able to perceive everything within a radius of a hundred paces."

Tao Fengming nodded, but Song Mu sensed that his master had more to say. Changing his expression, Song Mu stepped forward and asked,

"Master, is there something unusual about this matter?"

Tao Fengming glanced sideways at Song Mu, lowered his head to take a small sip of tea, and then produced a piece of dried meat to chew on.

Watching his master's actions, Song Mu once again had no idea what he was driving at, and could only lower his head in silence.

A moment later, Tao Fengming spoke again.

"Later tonight, go to the western city gate and investigate the situation there."

Hearing this, Song Mu instantly perked up. Realizing that the previous events were far from simple, he looked at his master with a peculiar expression and asked,

"Master, do the officials in this city have a problem?"

Tao Fengming did not speak, but the eyes hidden beneath his unkempt hair cleared up momentarily, clearly indicating that he had detected something amiss.

"There are only eight Scholar auras in this city."

"Yet back near Great Hawk Mountain, that one Scholar aura remained concealed for an entire day before finally disappearing in the south."

Tao Fengming slowly uttered these words, causing a sudden jolt in Song Mu's heart.

This was more than enough to explain the issue. Song Mu knew how formidable Tao Fengming's mind's eye was; for him, as long as a place was not heavily warded with prohibitions, his spiritual perception could penetrate anywhere.

In just a short span of time, he had likely swept his mind's eye across the entire city.

Furthermore, back at Great Hawk Mountain, while everyone was resting at the mountain god temple, he must have already detected something.

That was why he had brought up such a question.

A sharp glint flashed through Song Mu’s eyes, now tinged with a hint of excitement.

"Every half an incense stick of time, use your mind's eye to scout the city wall. If anything unusual occurs, return and report to me immediately."

As Tao Fengming instructed thus, Song Mu nodded instantly.

Seeming to recall something else, Tao Fengming added,

"However, the people from the yamen will undoubtedly keep a close watch on me. Later tonight, come to my room; I will open a minor realm so you can slip away undetected."

"Also, when you are scouting with your mind's eye, the moment anything seems wrong, do not hesitate—cut off your spiritual connection immediately."

Hearing this, Song Mu nodded with a solemn expression, never expecting that such a complication would arise here.

With these thoughts, Song Mu’s gaze flickered a few times before resting a curious, eccentric look upon Tao Fengming.

"Master, you usually despise troubling yourself with matters. Why today...?"

Tao Fengming, who was drinking his tea, gave a soft hum, his expression remaining somewhat placid.

"Naturally, I have no desire to meddle."

"However, in this life, your master detests demons the most."

Saying this, Tao Fengming raised his head and locked eyes with Song Mu.

"And I detest those who collude with demons even more."

Song Mu felt a chill run through his heart.

When night fell and deep silence enveloped the surroundings, Song Mu quietly slipped into Tao Fengming’s room. Tao Fengming was sitting cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed in meditation. Hearing Song Mu arrive, he said nothing, merely raising a hand to point toward the window that had already been propped open.

The next moment, a gentle ripple of energy surged outward, and Song Mu felt as though everything around him had undergone a subtle transformation.

Once again, Tao Fengming demonstrated the terrifying power of a Scholarly Scholar's minor realm before Song Mu's eyes.

Gathering his utmost focus, Song Mu stepped lightly and leaped out of the window.

In the dead of night, Tao Fengming slowly opened his eyes, a deep frown furrowing his brow.

"I only hope my suspicions are wrong."