Hyper-Dimensional Player

Chapter 697 - 35: The Great Art of Immortality? Evil Is Just the Dao!

HePu County.

This group of Miao experts arrived half a day later than the young man near Meichuan Capital. The coordinates correspond roughly to future Beihai City in Guangxi, where there are specialized management institutions "Pearl Camp Division" and the pearl collecting official office "Meichuan Pavilion."

The young girl leading the group glanced at the bulletin board outside the city, unable to help but sneer, "These Han people are truly willing to give up anything just to become officials!"

A notice from a year ago was posted, about the 'Self-Castration Decree' issued after Liu Chang ascended to the throne.

The entire Southern Han had a limited population, yet there were already over ten thousand eunuchs.

This 'Self-Castration Decree' required all new officials and current officials seeking promotions to castrate themselves. Those who didn't were termed "outsiders," unfit for important positions, whereas those castrated were called "insiders" and could be highly valued.

This even extended to some religious individuals; monks and Daoists wishing to become abbot or head of a temple or Daoist temple had to self-castrate beforehand.

If this took place in modern times, some monks might not have flocks of wives and concubines.

For greater efficiency in castrating all of Southern Han's officials, Liu Chang established a specialized department, the "Imperial Castration Room," staffed with over 500 professional emasculators responsible for the procedure, with workload so great during peak times that queues for castration were necessary.

Next to the girl, a middle-aged woman dressed like a governess scoffed, "Most heartless men are scholars."

"Saintess, since it's your first experience in Jianghu, make sure not to be deceived by anyone."

Back then, the Saintess' mentor wouldn't have changed so drastically had she not been deceived by a scoundrel, now she's harsh and stern with everyone.

The young girl giggled, "Don't worry, governess."

"I'm quite clever!"

While speaking, a group of Jianghu people hurriedly passed by, exchanging glances, each harboring their own thoughts, quickly going in different directions.

"That old man seems like a Black Magic practitioner from Wu Yue," a Miao village chieftain beside the girl whispered.

The Wu Yue he referred to was the Wu Dynasty in the Vietnam region, where General Ngo Quyen defeated the Southern Han army in the Battle of Bach Dang, marking Vietnam's gradual separation from direct Chinese rule.

Throughout Southeast Asia, Witchcraft had a strong presence, later overtaken by Buddhism.

Black Magic?

There were two theories about such secretive techniques; one suggested they spread to Southeast Asia during the Tang Dynasty, another claimed it was a branch of Yunnan Mao Mountain techniques, later integrating with local witchcraft to form its system.

The young Miao girl glanced over with a light laugh, "That person's head looks strange."

"Could it be they've practiced Flying Head Technique?"

Beside her, the governess whispered, "There are many Jianghu masters here, be cautious shortly."

"Don't make unnecessary trouble."

While they spoke, a troop of soldiers rushed in, appearing to be part of the Southern Han's Jingjiang army, with some drawn away to form an eight-thousand-strong troop stationed at Meichuan Capital.

"Clear the way!"

"Move aside!"

A man dressed as a commander rode swiftly by, his whip sweeping horizontally, causing the Jianghu people nearby to dodge, while ordinary civilians shrank back in fear.

Civilians do not fight officials.

Even Jianghu people wouldn't easily provoke the government without necessity.

However, the commander had keen eyes, immediately pulling back his whip upon seeing the Miao foreigners, as the Five Immortals Sect were easily recognized and bore deep grudges with particularly small minds. Offend them, and you might find yourself bitten by a poisonous insect someday.

The Saintess of the Five Immortals Sect was renowned in Jianghu for her beauty, small-mindedness, ruthless tactics, and protective nature.

Disturbing the Saintess meant no escape.

"Quick!"

"Quickly get a physician!"

A troop of soldiers hurriedly protected a carriage, unclear at the front, while the rear carriages carried about a dozen bodies; no, perhaps not bodies, but rather half-dead people, with barely any signs of life felt.

These people were covered in blood, and one of the carts at the front had straw spread inside with a pale, beardless man lying down, two bite marks on his neck.

A eunuch!

This must be the Supervisor of Meichuan Capital.

These eunuchs each had a carriage, while the soldiers behind were carelessly piled together, about a dozen in total, mostly mid to high-ranking military officers.

Meichuan Capital only had about eight thousand troops; such massive injuries were nearly a clean sweep.

Not until these people left did the young Miao girl tilt her head, puzzled, "Governess?"

"Could those wounds be from a zombie bite?"

The middle-aged woman beside her furrowed her brows deeply, deliberated for a moment, and said, "I fear it's no ordinary zombie, perhaps there is indeed a Drought Demon at work here."

These eunuchs were skilled in martial arts; an ordinary zombie couldn't take them down.

The old Miao village chieftain said, "At the very least, it's a flying corpse."

"These emasculated men's Qinggong is formidable."

He had once fought with Southern Han eunuchs and their bizarre footwork with rapid energy collection left the average Jianghu person helpless against them.

The young Miao girl nodded, her expression growing grave. Her gaze swept around before she suddenly brightened, full of joy, calling toward the inn's second floor across the street, "Little Brother."

"You're here too!"

As she spoke, she leaped up, lightly tapping on the eaves, landing opposite the handsome young man by the window.

"What a coincidence."

The young man nodded with a smile, glanced at the Miao governess below, whose color changed in anger, and addressed the smiling Five Immortals Sect Saintess before him, "Have you found that person yet?"

The Miao girl shook her head, intending to say something, when the village governess approached.

"I'll talk to you tonight."

The Five Immortals Saintess flashed a charming and adorable smile, and amid the strict gaze of the governess beside, she quickly left. Before descending the stairs, she glanced back, giving him a sweet smile and a wink with her pretty eyes.