Chapter 268 - 124: Surely No One Actually Thinks There’s Only One Divine Cocoon?

Chapter 268: Chapter 124: Surely No One Actually Thinks There’s Only One Divine Cocoon?

"You must understand!"

Shuimo cut him off coldly. "Lord Saint Monarch is not who he once was. He has been stripped of nearly all his memories. No matter how resolute his character, he is now just an ordinary person!"

Hearing the sharp edge in her voice, Huangfu Song knew she was truly angry. Although he still disagreed with her, all the power was in her hands now, so he couldn’t refute her.

Shuimo’s expression was troubled. She paced around the altar holding the Divine Pupa Fragment for a few laps before speaking in a low voice. "However, the situation is indeed urgent. Using the Paradise Gu without anyone noticing will not be easy.

How about this? Three months!

If we still can’t make a decision within three months, then we’ll use the Paradise Gu!"

A smile finally broke across Huangfu Song’s face. "Alright!"

Shuimo sighed softly and turned to look at the Divine Pupa Fragment, a trace of warmth in her gaze. "What’s the situation now?"

Although they were still far from confirming the Saint Monarch’s identity.

But she still wanted to know what that man was doing now.

Huangfu Song took a deep breath. "The hundred or so people who passed the Prefecture Examination but weren’t admitted into a mansion have all chosen to stay in Lingge as Junior Officials. A good number of them will probably remain in their posts for three years, waiting for vacancies to open up in the various mansions.

A few of the Civilian Mansion Officials who were admitted are also on the list. Our people are monitoring them closely.

After a few months, we should be able to rule some of them out.

The Tenth Prince’s Mansion has taken a mission on the Hanling Waterway. They need to rescue civilians and hunt a Water Demon. It shouldn’t be an easy one.

Do you need me to intervene?"

Shuimo shook her head. "It’s best to let things run their course. We can’t use the sect’s forces, or the Court might notice. As for your identity as Zhang Da Yong, you can act as you see fit."

"Understood!"

Huangfu Song nodded, then sat cross-legged on a cushion and began to meditate before the Divine Pupa Fragment.

Ever since taking over Zhang Da Yong’s body, his real body had remained here at the Main Altar.

He wanted Shuimo to see that he could serve the Saint Monarch with the devotion one would show their own father. This was crucial, both for obtaining firsthand information and for gaining the Saint Monarch’s trust after he was restored to his rightful place.

...

「Outside Lingge City.」

Five riders headed west.

The Hanling Waterway was the destination for the five members of the Tenth Prince’s Mansion.

This was a C-rank mission, and its completion would award a full fifteen merit points.

The reward was handsome, but the difficulty was just as high.

Zhao Ci had chosen it after considering everyone’s strengths, and no one had any objections.

The mission briefing stated that a few days ago, a boat carrying Child Scholars from a mountain town in Hanling County had gone missing on the Hanling Waterway. They were on their way to the county seat for the college entrance examination, and a Water Demon was the suspected cause. The mission required them to coordinate with the local Government Office to capture the Water Demon and to recover at least eighty percent of the Child Scholars or their bodies. Recovering the former would grant ten merit points, while recovering the latter would grant five.

It sounded simple enough on paper, but it was far from easy.

Although Hanling County was less than a hundred li west of Lingge, its terrain was completely different. The entire county was mountainous, making travel extremely inconvenient. Getting around on foot meant climbing mountains. Fortunately, a large river cut through the mountains, making travel by water much easier.

But because it was in the mountains, the Hanling Waterway was winding and convoluted. The river’s width varied, causing the current to become rapid in narrow sections. Combined with the rumored Water Demon causing trouble, accidents were common.

However, the local Government Office had already found the wreckage of the boat, but no bodies were discovered downstream. They speculated that some of the scholars might have escaped by trekking back through the mountains. The problem was that this area was true wilderness, with complex terrain, venomous insects, and poisonous miasma, making search and rescue operations incredibly difficult.

Now, the entire town was anxiously awaiting their return.

’This is a good opportunity to farm Insight points.’

"Once we get there, we’ll act according to the plan immediately."

"Waizi, your teacher was a Sentinel. You’re the best at reconnaissance and tracking among us, so the task of finding the survivors is yours."

"Lao Mo, you’re skilled at dispelling poisons. Go with him to find them. Make sure you don’t get separated."

"Da Yong, the woods are full of wild beasts. You protect those two."

The three of them responded in unison, "Yes."

The search party was set up very logically.

Xiao Shenke was agile and, in terms of one-on-one combat, was solidly ranked fourth among the ten members of the Tenth Prince’s Mansion. But when faced with ferocious beasts, he would have trouble protecting others.

Bringing Yang Mo along to deal with venomous insects and miasma, plus Zhang Da Yong, a spear wielder, made for a team well-equipped to handle the wild beasts in the forest.

Zhao Ci glanced at Zhang Da Yong, not particularly wary of him.

’This man’s body was taken over by Huangfu Song, making him a dangerous person. But now is far from the right time for him to make a move. Until then, he can only work diligently and keep a healthy distance from me. In that case... might as well use him. I’ll work him to the bone.’

The three of them had complementary skills. There was a good chance they could bring out the Child Scholars or their bodies.

As for himself and Feng Kucha, they would assist the local Government Office in capturing the Water Demon.

’I have plenty of Talisman Paper to use. And... there’s also Feng Kucha.’

Zhao Ci glanced over at Feng Kucha. He saw him riding with a petite girl in his arms, a lecherous grin on his face.

The girl was decent-looking. Except her forearms were covered in thick scales, and there were also a few greenish keratinous plates on her forehead.

Locks were fastened on several of her joints, connected by thin chains that converged into a single leash, the other end of which was clutched in Feng Kucha’s hand.

The Crocodile Lady!

The very one Feng Kucha had rented from the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

He had originally rented her just for some "pleasurable cultivation."

But he never expected to get this particular mission. The Crocodile Lady was a Water Demon, and she was eager to perform a meritorious deed to clear her name.

As it happened, Feng Kucha possessed a supreme-grade Demon-Taming Token from the Demon-Slaying Bureau.