The Heavens: A Qing, the Yue Girl at the beginning

Chapter 518 Two missions, a common plan (4K)

"Of course, Ye Sishou can propose your task, and I will propose mine." Zhao Qing responded with a smile: "Perhaps these two small tasks can be accepted by you and me?"

Ye Celeng groaned for a moment, her eyes wandering around the stone chamber, and finally fixed on Zhao Qing's confident eyes: "Okay, then I'll tell you one. Recently, I got news that there are signs that two disciples of Zhaodi Qingyang Sword Tower are suspected to be in the west of Changling City."

"As the remnants of the Zhao Dynasty's training ground, although we have not found them to have done anything wrong, they are still a potential threat. However, I do not intend to harm their lives, so I hope you can drive them away and persuade them to leave in advance, and not stay in Changling anymore, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble in the future."

Now, everyone in the world knows that the strongest place for training in the former Zhao Dynasty was the Sword Furnace. However, before the Sword Furnace suddenly appeared, all practitioners knew that the strongest place for training in the Zhao Dynasty was the Qingyang Sword Tower.

As the strongest sect in the country, Qingyang Sword Tower naturally has deep ties with the Zhao court. A large number of practitioners have joined the army and held high positions. In the Battle of Changping, it killed and wounded an astonishing number of Qin troops and practitioners, and has an irreconcilable hatred.

After the Qin Dynasty destroyed the Han, Zhao, and Wei dynasties, those practices that served the country and fought against the Qin army would naturally not be easily forgiven. The vast majority were wiped out, and the practitioners in the sects were either killed or taken as prisoners of war. Only a few are still wanted and on the run.

Among the prisoners who were convicted and imprisoned, except for a few extremely valuable ones who were imprisoned deep in the Dafu Water Prison, if their crimes were not punishable by death after trial, some would be used as hard labor slaves, doing heavy work in mines, workshops, sword workshops and the like. Some of them were pardoned and left when Emperor Yuanwu ascended the throne.

"Disciples of Qingyang Sword Tower? How are these two people's cultivation?"

Zhao Qing raised his eyebrows when he heard this, as if he was not surprised by this kind of task that the Heavenly Supervisory Department often involves: "It seems that in recent times, in order to track down Bai Shanshui and organize the Changling Sword Meeting, even the Heavenly Supervisory Department is almost too busy to handle it?"

"According to the information I have obtained, one of these two disciples is at the lower level of the fifth realm, and the other should have entered the sixth realm. Although their cultivation is not top-notch, they are not too weak either. They should be the younger disciples who escaped by chance when the Qingyang Sword Tower was destroyed. After hearing about Zhao Zhan's death, they risked their lives to come here to mourn."

Ye Celeng said this with a barely perceptible regret in her tone. Although her first battle after returning from overseas was to kill the seventh disciple of the Sword Furnace, there was no doubt that she also admired Zhao Zhan's strength, bearing and courage.

Originally, according to the plan of Shen Du Jian, after killing Zhao Zhan, they would expose his body in a busy street to lure out more remnants of the Zhao State. However, Ye Celeng successfully persuaded Emperor Yuanwu to bury Zhao Zhan with great honor outside Changling and erect a monument with an inscription to show respect for this former opponent.

Although this move caused considerable controversy among the government and the public, Ye Celeng knew very well that a true warrior deserves to be remembered by his opponents.

"I don't intend to hurt them. I just hope that they can leave here and return to Zhao, or live in seclusion somewhere else, and not be involved in the cruel disputes between dynasties and major forces." Ye Celeng explained further, with a rare gentleness in her tone.

"As for the possible hiding places of these two people, they are most likely located in this area..." Ye Celeng casually drew criss-crossing sword marks on the stone wall beside him, corresponding to the square layout of Changling, and drew a circle in one of the places:
"Their main skills should be 'Fiery Prison' and 'Sun Wheel Golden Sky Sword', and they may also know a few other sword techniques from Zhao. They make a lot of noise when they attack, so we have to be careful when dealing with them. You claimed to be from Zhao in your identity information, but I wonder if you are good at communicating with Zhao people?"

"Honoring our country's heroes? That's a very sentimental and righteous act."

Zhao Qing nodded: "Don't worry, I will handle this matter as soon as possible and ensure that the two Qingyang Sword Tower disciples leave Changling safely, so as not to disturb the people in the city, and will not cause any trouble to your Tianjian Division."

"Thank you very much." Ye Celeng bowed slightly to express his gratitude, and then changed the subject: "So, what is your mission? What do you want me to do for you?"

Zhao Qing sighed softly, his expression becoming serious: "The mission I am going to talk about next may be a little tricky. I plan to intercept an armored fleet belonging to Jiaodong County that is secretly transporting prisoners overseas."

"Ironclad fleet? Transporting prisoners overseas?" Ye Celeng frowned slightly when he heard this, as if he was surprised by this mission. He couldn't help but ask, "What on earth is going on?"

"This fleet should be escorted by several sixth-level or even seventh-level masters from the Zheng family, so the level of confidentiality and defense is extremely high. And their destination is likely to be some mysterious breeding farms located in overseas archipelagos."

Zhao Qing's eyes became deep, and his tone revealed a seriousness that could not be ignored: "These farms are not places to raise ordinary animals. They hide a heinous secret - they specialize in training medicine people to supply monsters such as the Night Demon Ape who like to eat people."

Ye Celeng's face froze when she heard this. Although she had been in the Heavenly Supervisory Office for a long time, she had never heard of such cruel things.

"Night Demon Ape? The kind of flying monster that can only survive on a unique island overseas, is extremely bloodthirsty, and is also called 'Yaksha'? Are you sure this news is true?"

"I'm sure I have enough reasons to believe this news." Zhao Qing did not answer directly, but continued in a firm tone:
"Also, I know that Jiaodong County keeps Night Devil Apes by making them addicted to drugs, but these Night Devil Apes still live naturally on those islands. They do not eat food from the sea, and since ancient times they have always liked the natives on the islands and the fishermen on the sea the most."

"However, after the Qin Dynasty, or Jiaodong County, had cleared out the overseas islands several times, the population was already small. Especially since most of the island countries had become vassals of Jiaodong County, it was even less likely that they would become feeding grounds for the Night Demon Ape."

"If we want to raise this kind of monster, we will have a huge demand for importing food from the outside world. The most convenient and covert way that will not cause social unrest is obviously to deal with those death row prisoners who are about to die, as well as those heavy criminals who have been serving hard labor for a long time and are allowed to suffer accidental casualties..."

"You and I both know that many death row inmates and serious criminals are actually those implicated in the collapse of the Three Dynasties and the major cases in the early years of Yuanwu... If the Zheng family continues like this, not only will more innocent people die, but once the number of Night Devil Apes gets out of control, the consequences will be disastrous."

"Using humans to raise monsters as experimental materials, this is indeed something that Zheng Xiu and the people of Jiaodong County would do."

Although she was deeply shocked and angry at the insanity of this incident, Ye Celeng took a deep breath and quickly regained her composure: "In the Qin Dynasty, Jiaodong County has always been equivalent to an independent vassal state and has the right to deal with local prisoners. This is something that I, the Tianjian Division, have no right to interfere in."

"But if it is true as you said, they are not only secretly training medicine men, but also wantonly carrying out illegal transactions related to monsters throughout the Qin Dynasty and interfering with the normal process of prisoners' execution and service, then this is not just an internal affair of Jiaodong County."

"If this matter is exposed, it will surely cause a stir in the court and the country, and severely hit the power and reputation of Queen Zheng Xiu and Jiaodong County. Even Yuan Wu will not be able to bear the pressure to quell the anger of the people, and may even follow the clues and expose more scandals of the Zheng family."

"Yes, this mission I proposed should be able to help Ye Sishou's revenge plan, right?"

Zhao Qing smiled calmly: "After all, exposing and stopping such evil deeds can not only weaken the power of the Zheng family, but also establish your image of justice among the court and the public, and win more secret support for your actions." "In addition, in order to quell the impact of this major case, Zheng Xiu will most likely frequently mobilize the masters she has recruited and reveal some unknown cards. This is also a good opportunity for us to spy on her true strength and find her weaknesses." Zhao Qing added finally.

“No matter how skilled or perfect a chess player is, once there are traces of his moves, there will be loopholes that can be exploited and we can cut in and try to win.” Hearing this, Ye Celeng immediately made up his mind: “Zhao Qing, I accept this mission! How do you want me to cooperate with you?”

"It's very simple. When this fleet passes near Changling, I will launch a sudden attack in some way to create unusual movements. And you must make sure you arrive in time. In the name of the Heavenly Monitoring Department, patrol and intercept the enemy, collect evidence, and expose their crimes!"

"It sounds like there isn't much I need to do. I just need to make sure my ship arrives on time."

Ye Ce sneered: "To outsiders, although this may seem a bit coincidental, it is not a big risk... Even if Zheng Xiu is suspicious, she will not retaliate so quickly after the incident is exposed."

The naval fleets of the Great Qin Dynasty were all led by Xu Si Shou, Yuan Wu's most trusted official in the Ministry of Rites. However, it was also known that Ye Celeng had practiced and slayed sea beasts overseas for many years, and had a UFO as his exclusive vehicle.

Zhao Qing nodded: "Not only will she not retaliate, but in order to cut off from the 'evil people' in Jiaodong County and show her 'selflessness and putting the country first', she has to suppress her anger, reward Ye Sishou, cancel many of the past targeted actions, and avoid attracting criticism..."

As soon as Zhao Qing finished speaking, a gleam of admiration flashed in Ye Celeng's eyes.

She had to admit that although this plan was bold, it cleverly took advantage of the delicate position of Zheng Xiu and Jiaodong County, as well as the pressure of public opinion, and could completely protect her own safety to a certain extent.

"Zhao Qing, your plan is indeed thorough, and there are almost no flaws to be found."

Ye Celeng said slowly: "However, there is one thing I must confirm. How can you ensure that I arrive at the right time after attacking the fleet? The means of contact and the planning process still need to be discussed in detail."

"It's natural."

Zhao Qing casually picked up a jade talisman from the many jade talismans that had just been refined nearby and handed it to the other party. He briefly introduced the effect and usage of the "Lingxi Jade Talisman" just as he had given it to Zhao Yi and Zhao Si in the morning: "With this communication talisman, we can keep in touch at all times."

"I will find out the route and specific time of the armored fleet in advance. Once confirmed, I will immediately inform you through the Lingxi Jade Talisman. In this way, you can adjust your patrol route according to the location of the fleet to ensure that you appear in time at the critical moment."

"Then I am relieved. Zhao Qing, you are indeed a trustworthy partner." Ye Celeng took the warm jade talisman, examined it carefully, felt the subtle fluctuations of spiritual power contained in it, nodded secretly in his heart, and added:

"I will provide you with drawings of the general layout and internal structure of this type of ironclad ship, as well as the characteristics of the magic array that may be arranged on it, and the specific intelligence revealed by Jiaodong County in the past, so that you can be more targeted when attacking and reduce unnecessary risks."

"Then, let's make it a deal." Zhao Qing stood up and stretched out his hand to shake Ye Celeng's. "Happy cooperation, Mr. Ye."

Ye Celeng also stood up and shook Zhao Qing's hand. Their eyes met at this moment, as if some invisible contract had been quietly established between them. "It's a pleasure to work with you, Zhao Qing. I hope we can both achieve our respective goals smoothly."

Then, she took out a document with a bright red seal from her sleeve: "This is a special pass issued by the Tianjiansi. Although it cannot completely avoid trouble, in most cases, it can allow you to move freely in Changling City and reduce unnecessary inspections."

Zhao Qing took a glance and saw that his name was clearly written on the document. It was obvious that Ye Celeng had made relevant preparations before arriving at Baiyang Cave and challenging the enemy as planned.

"Master Ye is really thoughtful." She smiled and put it in her arms: "With this document, my actions in Changling will be much more convenient."

"Since you and I have reached a cooperation, we should naturally support each other."

Ye Ce replied coldly, and took out a light blue bottle from his sleeve: "This also contains the healing pills I prepared a long time ago. I thought you might get hurt, but I didn't expect... I'll give it to you as well."

"Also, I heard that you recently went to the nearby Qingteng Sword Academy to ask for some cheap dragon flesh and blood. It seems that you have a need for it? How about this? I will issue a certificate to order dragon corpses from the Zhengwu Division, and you can buy a few black water dragons that I killed personally at a discounted price..."

Even if the dragons within the territory of the Qin Dynasty were killed by powerful practitioners, they were no longer personal property. Instead, they needed to be handed over to the imperial court and distributed or auctioned by specialized agencies.

However, as the head of the Heavenly Monitoring Division and a cultivator who has made special contributions to the dynasty, Ye Celeng naturally has the authority to make some special arrangements to meet the needs of specific people.

Zhao Qing took the light green bottle and unscrewed the cap gently. A refreshing medicinal fragrance filled her nose. She knew that this was Ye Celeng's good intention, so she smiled and said, "Sir Ye is really thoughtful. He even remembers such a small thing. Yes, I do need the dragon's flesh and blood. Thank you for your generosity."

"By the way, you have been practicing overseas for these years, constantly helping Yuanwu's fleet to find elixirs and kill sea beasts. You must have suffered serious hidden injuries... Tonight, I will explain some skills for healing old bruises in the relevant channel of 'Lingxi Jade Talisman'. You'd better come and listen."

"Okay, I will pay attention to the movements of the 'Lingxi Jade Talisman' and will not miss your explanation." Upon hearing this, Ye Celeng's eyes flashed with surprise, which then turned into a gentle smile: "It's almost time, I should go back, the Tianjian Division has other matters to deal with."

"Finally, I'd like to remind you that Yuan Wu and Zheng Xiu are both jealous of talent. The younger and stronger you appear, the more trouble you will face. Today's battle suppressed my 'Heavenly One Life Water', and only delayed those tentative actions, but it cannot completely eliminate their fear and vigilance against you."

"During your time in Changling, you need to be more careful and cautious. Try not to reveal your full strength easily and don't give them any chance to take advantage of you." After saying that, Ye Celeng waved his hand to remove the air curtain barrier at the door that prevented prying eyes, and left the stone chamber directly, leaving Zhao Qing alone, standing there quietly.

……