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“No boats?”

Shen Yiyun frowned and looked at Shen Yuyan, who had come to report, “No merchant ships either?”

Considering the situation in Lyuzhou, it was indeed difficult for Shen Yuyan to find a luxurious private yacht, but with so many merchants recently returning, finding a merchant ship to give them a lift should not be a problem, right?

“It’s really a coincidence…” Shen Yuyan also wore a wry smile, “The trading terms these past few days have been too good, due to the tax exemption, many merchants just finished unloading their goods and then hurriedly picked up a batch of local goods to head north again, after all, no one knows when Lyuzhou’s tax exemption policy will end, everyone wants to make a second profit.”

Shen Yiyun instantly understood, that made sense, the commercial tax in Great Jin was extremely heavy, they used the progressive tax invented by the King of Qin, low tax for low-income transactions, high tax for high-profit transactions, especially the lucrative business of transporting goods from the north to the south, the taxes could take up to thirty percent of the profits!

That’s not a small amount, now that Lyuzhou offers a tax exemption and is the largest port, any businessman who tasted the sweetness would hurry back for a second trip unless they were a fool.

“Are there really no new merchants coming to the port?” Shen Yiyun asked in confusion.

The name of the Gate Deity of Lyuzhou had been spreading for over ten days now, and although the time was short and the spread limited, at least the nearby two ports should have heard something, right?

Furthermore, Nanming Prefecture publicly announced Lyuzhou’s tax exemption, there should be a continuous stream of new merchants coming in.

“That should have been the case…” Shen Yuyan was puzzled too, “A few days ago, the number of incoming ships was on the rise, but starting from yesterday, it seemed like no new ships had come into the port.

I specially went to check on our own ship today, and the amount of goods we’ve taken in the last two days has dropped a lot, especially today, there are virtually no goods to be purchased on the market.”

At Shen Yuyan’s words, Shen Yiyun’s pupils contracted, and a growing sense of unease filled his heart.

He asked in a low voice, “Not a single new ship?”

“No…” Shen Yuyan shook his head, “I asked around several times, from the afternoon onwards, at the port…

not a single new ship.”

“Let’s go, to the port!”

“Big bro, what exactly is happening?” Old Jiu, Shen Yizhuo, asked while rubbing his eyes.

He didn’t know if it was because he had eaten too much during the day, but he felt very tired and a bit sleepy.

To be honest, he didn’t want to travel overnight at all.

He really didn’t know what his big brother was in such a rush for?

Murong Yunji frowned and glanced at Shen Yiyun but said nothing, unusually silent.

And so, several of them followed Shen Yuyan to the port.

Upon arrival at the port, they encountered an unexpected person.

“Lord Chen is here too?”

The winds on the docks were still very cold in early April, and without new ships arriving, hardly anyone would want to stay here.

The vast dock was nearly deserted, making it quite odd for the solemn Magistrate to stand there in the cold.

Chen Qing did not turn around but stared dumbfounded into the distance.

Following Chen Qing’s gaze, Shen Yiyun saw a layer of fog spreading across the sea, starting from who knows when.

It was vast, covering nearly all of the sea surface within sight.

Sea fog was common and not too strange, but what was this fellow staring at so intently?

“Does Mister Shen intend to leave overnight?”

Just as Shen Yiyun was pondering, Chen Qing’s eerie voice came through, putting Shen Yiyun on high alert.

He frowned at Chen Qing, who was still staring blankly at the sea, and then smiled, “Why?

Does the lord not wish for us to leave?”

“Unwilling…” Chen Qing nodded quite candidly.

Hearing this, Shen Yiyun’s sense of caution surged.

He took a slight step back, and the law wheel in his eyes began to turn as he carefully observed his surroundings.

If that white-clad young warrior from the day was lurking around, he needed to be cautious.

A magician facing that kind of warrior at close range, without attention, one could be gone in an instant.

“What if we must leave?”

“I can’t stop you anyway…” Chen Qing sighed and shook his head.

Shen Yiyun: “….”

It felt like holding your breath only to be interrupted by a hiccup…

“But it doesn’t matter anymore.” Chen Qing let out a sigh, turned around, “After all, you won’t be able to leave anyway…”

“Why would you say that?” Shen Yiyun’s eyebrows tightened.

He felt that the person before him was not merely jesting, but it seemed that Chen Qing indeed had no intention of taking action.

“You will know soon enough.” Chen Qing did not elaborate further.

After witnessing the fog that had not dissipated, he knew there was no luck left….

That thing…

had really come!

Making a farewell gesture, Chen Qing walked directly toward the city, leaving the three from the Shen family somewhat stunned.

“Big bro, what’s that guy doing?

Playing mysterious tricks?”

“Let’s hope it’s just tricks,” Shen Yiyun said uneasily as he looked at the sea, then turned to Shen Yuyan, “Have you called the helmsman of the merchant ship?”

“He’s already on his way after receiving our message!” Shen Yuyan quickly replied.

Yet he was puzzled; with Lyuzhou exempt from taxes, it was a great opportunity for businesses to collect a vast amount of goods.

Other companies would hate not having a large ship come over, meanwhile, their lord intended to take a great merchant ship home for just the three of them, as if rushing back to offer incense.

Despite his internal complaints, he did not dare to delay and had already contacted the helmsman who had found accommodations in the city.

“Is this really necessary, big bro?” Ninth Elder Shen asked curiously.

Even though he did not understand business, he knew that such a large merchant ship was meant to be fully loaded with goods.

Using it just to transport the three of them indeed seemed extravagant.

Shen Yiyun gazed at the sea fog, suppressing the anxiety in his heart, “It would be good enough if we can leave…”

Murong Yunji too showed rare seriousness as she looked toward the sea with an indescribable feeling, as if there was something lurking, yet upon closer inspection, nothing was discernible…

———————————————–

“Wuwa…”

In the early morning hours, Zhou Haitao, who had enjoyed a rare good sleep, stretched contentedly as he walked out of the courtyard.

Since taking office, he had been worked like an ox or horse by someone with the surname Chen, with all the miscellaneous tasks piled on him; he couldn’t even get two hours of sleep a day, which was simply more exhausting than studying.

Especially lately, with the population returning, there had been more and more work to do.

But since yesterday afternoon, for some reason, no new ships had entered the port, reducing the workload for trade registration.

He was able to finish work before midnight.

If it hadn’t been for the horrifyingly bloody scene at the military camp making him queasy before bedtime, he might have slept even better.

Pleased with himself, he planned to swing by Ma Erniang’s place first, then grab some breakfast and head to North Street to see how many people had returned.

However, as he arrived in the courtyard, he spotted Chen Qing, who had two dark circles under his pale face.

“Lord Chen?”

This scene felt odd to the plump man, because usually it was he who would be busy all night and arrive home at dawn with dark circles under his eyes, only to see a certain idler looking refreshed and ready to leave the house.

What’s happening today?

“Hmm?” Chen Qing lifted his head, clearly disoriented.

“What’s wrong with you?

Just got back?” Zhou Haitao asked cautiously.

“Hmm…” Chen Qing nodded.

“Lord Chen…

where have you been?”

Could it be that he had visited the house of his beautiful concubine?

Had this damned fellow finally started to indulge in luxury and pleasure?

“At the city walls…”

“What was Lord Chen doing at the city walls?”

“To see if the fog would enter the city.”

“Ah?”

“It’s nothing…” Chen Qing shook his head a few times and then, as if suddenly remembering something, said hastily, “Have Gu Bei and the others returned?”

“Um, if we go by the agreed time, they should be back today.

What’s wrong, Lord Chen?”

“Good…” Chen Qing nodded.

“Once they return today, tell them not to go to the countryside.

Have them come to me; I have other orders for them.”

“Got it, boss…” Zhou Haitao quickly responded, then added, “Is there anything I need to do?”

At this, Chen Qing gave him a silent look and after a few seconds of hesitation asked, “Haitao, where does your father conduct his business again?”

“Baishui County…”

“Alright…” Chen Qing quickly said, “I’m giving you a day off today.

Go back to Baishui County and bring your father and your siblings here.

Remember, hurry back before dark!”

“Ah?” Zhou Haitao was startled.

“Boss, don’t scare me, has something happened?”

The plump man remembered the bloodshed at the military camp from the day before, and his heart skipped a beat.

“Just go if I tell you to go.

Why so many questions?

Do you still want this job or not?”

“Oh okay okay!” Without any further talk, the plump man scurried towards the door.

Chen Qing watched Zhou Haitao’s retreating figure, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

This concern wasn’t for Haitao; after all, Baishui County wasn’t far from here, and barring any accidents, the plump man should be able to return before nightfall.

He was more worried about his own mother.

Before, he wanted them to hurry back to Lyuzhou, but with the current situation, he preferred they stay as far away as possible, ideally outside of Jiangnan!

“Damn it…

what the hell!”

Chen Qing was so frustrated that he wanted to punch a wall.

He didn’t understand why there were always unexpected events.

It was one thing for the version with ghosts and immortals to be unlocked early, but why had that thing from the sea also been released?

Who was the one with nothing better to do after filling their belly?

“Young man…

it seems you know what this fog represents,” a deep voice rang out from Chen Qing’s chest, belonging to the Mirror Demon, who had been silent for a long time.

“You know what this is too, don’t you?” Chen Qing spoke sullenly.

“Nonsense, there’s nothing in this world that I am not aware of!”

“Is that so?”

“However, you are an exception…” the Mirror Demon said grudgingly.

“You and the King of Qin are like aberrations.”

“Let’s not talk about aberrations for now,” Chen Qing said sternly.

“That thing is locked up in the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley; why has it been released?

Do you know the reason?”

“You actually know about the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley?” the Mirror Demon said curiously.

“Tsk, tsk, with that knowledge, how can you not guess who released it?”

Chen Qing furrowed his brow.

According to his partner’s design, after the chaos caused by the Fox Demon in the previous dynasty and the return of the ancient beings, all sorts of formidable entities would gradually descend, but in an orderly sequence.

Since the monsters he had designed were too powerful, if they all came at once, no amount of spending on the game would save even the wealthiest players from complete annihilation!

According to the version sequence, after the Fox Demon would come the awakening of the Earth Spirit, followed by the illusions of Yin and Yang, the Dragon Maiden’s lamp lighting ceremony, and the descent of divine statues.

These three phenomena would represent three major ancient forces unfolding: Land of Reincarnation, Ancient Dragon Palace, and the extradimensional demonic realm.

Each force would guide players in different directions, leading them to unlock various terrifying ancients.

Of course, throughout the unlocking process, they would also gain different powers to fight against them.

The creature in the fog was the second boss on the Ancient Dragon Palace route.

Its appearance before the resurgence of Spiritual Energy, and the absence of the Dragon Maiden, did not fit his partner’s original design.

A misaligned setting…

that was Chen Qing’s greatest worry, because his major reliance was on his understanding of the setting, much like how a transmigrator to ancient times would rely on their knowledge of history.

If history became chaotic…

a transmigrator’s most dependable foresight would be lost…