The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 371: Chapter 365: Lord Bai’s Righteousness

Bai Mansion.

The little lass, Fang E, was uncharacteristically melancholic.

"Master, when is Sister Fang coming?"

Bai Yuan said, "Call her Aunt Fang."

Ever since Fang Wan had left, Fang E had been asking every day when she would return.

After spending some time with Fang Wan, she had grown increasingly fond of this beautiful teacher.

Bai Yuan glanced at the little lass. Of course, he had also heard about the recent events at the Ministry of Rites.

A Great Demon stealing the Court’s fortune—that was practically snatching the pillow from under the Emperor’s head. How could that be tolerated?

However, the Ministry of Rites had been investigating for a long time with no progress. Clearly, the Great Demon’s power was extraordinary; otherwise, with the methods of the Ministry of Justice, very few demons in the world could escape their pursuit.

He’d heard that the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War were already assisting the Ministry of Rites in the investigation. The Imperial Inspection Office was relatively independent, so it didn’t have much to do with Bai Yuan. He had only heard about it through the grapevine.

Of course, at a time like this, he needed to appear reasonable and understanding.

If he caused trouble while the Emperor was frustrated, the consequences would likely be grim.

As a result, the Imperial Inspection Office enjoyed a rare period of peace.

Just as Bai Yuan was displaying the dignified air of a master to the little lass Fang E, the young maidservant, Lv Ping, came running over.

"Lord, that Immortal Sister from a few days ago is here again."

Bai Yuan froze.

’According to the intelligence I’ve received, the Ministry of Rites shouldn’t have resolved the Great Demon issue yet. Why would Fang Wan come looking for me at a time like this?’

BOOM! The main gate of the Bai Mansion was pushed open.

Bai Yuan saw Lu Yu and Fang Wan standing at the entrance. Besides the two of them, there was another person—Fanghua.

He was taken aback.

’Logically, Fanghua should be avoiding me like the plague. Why would he show up at my door now?’

Despite his confusion, he went forward to greet them.

"Xiaoyu, don’t tell me the matter is already settled?"

Lu Yu looked a little awkward. "Ah Yuan, we’ve come this time to ask for your help."

Bai Yuan replied, "Oh?"

At that moment, Fanghua stepped forward. "Lord Bai, I have heard that you possess the methods of a Demon Hunter. I hope you will be willing to act for the sake of the Xuan Yang Society."

Bai Yuan put on a troubled expression. "Lord Fang, I am an Imperial Censor of the Imperial Inspection Office. It would be improper for me to get involved in this matter. Otherwise..."

As an old fox who had navigated the political scene for many years, Fanghua naturally understood Bai Yuan’s meaning.

It wasn’t that it was ’improper’ for him to get involved; he clearly wanted the Ministry of Rites to bleed a little.

He gritted his teeth. "Rest assured, Lord Bai. Minister Zhou is willing to give his unused access to the Heavenly No. 1 Inner Treasury to you, as a personal favor."

Bai Yuan put on a righteous expression. "Lord Fang, you’ve misunderstood me."

Fanghua took a token from his robes. "Lord Bai, I’ll be counting on you."

Bai Yuan impassively tucked the token into his sleeve, as if nothing had happened.

He sighed deeply. "Since the fate of the nation is at stake, it is my sworn duty to help."

Lu Yu and Fang Wan observed the entire exchange.

They had no objection to it.

The reason Fanghua had sought out Bai Yuan was precisely because of their recommendation.

The high officials of the Xuan Yang Court naturally had ways to contact Demon Hunters, but the Southern Border was simply too far from the Capital City. A round trip would take at least half a month.

His Majesty the Emperor no longer had that much patience.

There were only three days left of the seven-day deadline. If they still couldn’t find any clues about the Great Demon, at least one Vice Minister would lose their position.

Bai Yuan looked at Fang Wan. "Sister Fang, could you tell me the details about this Great Demon?"

Fang Wan nodded.

The group walked into the Bai Mansion. Fanghua, no longer caring about avoiding suspicion, followed them in.

Fang Wan began, "Two days ago, I used the Dream-Entering Technique for divination and discovered that the one stealing the nation’s fortune is an Immortal Fox. But even after learning its identity, its concealment methods are too profound. We’ve searched for two days to no avail."

The corners of Bai Yuan’s eyes lifted.

’An Immortal Fox!’

Among all beasts, foxes were the most likely to achieve sentience, which was why tales of Fox Immortals were common among the people.

However, this Fox Immortal was not the same as an Immortal Fox.

After a fox gained sentience, its tails would increase in number as it cultivated over the years.

A one-tailed Cyan Fox... a three-tailed Spirit Fox... a Six-tailed Immortal Fox... As for nine tails, that was a legendary existence comparable to dragons and phoenixes, known as a Celestial Fox.

The Immortal Fox that Fang Wan spoke of was precisely a Six-tailed Fox.

Bai Yuan’s expression grew solemn.

A Six-tailed Fox was called an Immortal Fox, and while its power couldn’t possibly match a true Immortal, it was a genuine Tier Eight Great Demon, no weaker than the Li Li on Shenfu Mountain.

Although his current strength far surpassed what it once was, he could, at best, only guarantee his own survival against such a foe.

Fanghua spoke at the opportune moment, "Don’t worry, Lord Bai. As long as you find the Great Demon, Minister Zhou will personally take action."

Only then did Bai Yuan nod.

That Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Rites was extremely senior. It was said he hadn’t taken action in decades, but how could someone who became one of the Six Ministers be a mediocre person? His power was surely terrifying.

With Minister Zhou involved, there was nothing to fear.

Bai Yuan asked, "Sister Fang, is there any other information?"

Fang Wan pressed her lips together. "The Immortal Fox is very strong. Before I could get a clear look, it forcibly interrupted my Dream-Entering Technique. All I know is that it should be in a mountain somewhere outside the Capital City."

Bai Yuan came to a realization.

’No wonder she looked so haggard when I first saw her. It turns out she suffered a backlash.’

That Immortal Fox’s abilities were truly impressive.

The Fox Race was naturally gifted with high spiritual acuity. Other Tier Eight Great Demons wouldn’t have the ability to steal a nation’s fortune; only the Fox Race, with its innate sensitivity to fortune, could achieve it. And it was precisely this sensitivity that allowed it to detect Fang Wan’s scrying.

For Fang Wan to suffer a backlash and still act as if nothing was wrong was a testament to the strength of her divination techniques.

Bai Yuan’s estimation of Fang Wan rose another notch.

Since the Immortal Fox was in the mountains outside the Capital City, all they needed to do was search them.

Having accepted the benefits, Bai Yuan naturally had to put his heart into the task.

Besides, he was also very curious to witness the splendor of the Six-tailed Immortal Fox for himself.

Tier Eight Great Demons were rare in the world, yet he had already encountered two. Besides the Li Li, there was the giant serpent that Elder Pei and Yan Shao’an had joined forces to kill in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Perhaps he would soon see a third.

...

「Outside the Capital City, in the mountain forest.」

"Lord Bai, are you truly confident?"

Fanghua looked at Bai Yuan with suspicion.

He had already been wandering in the mountains with Bai Yuan for two full days, yet they still had nothing to show for it.

Only two days remained of Emperor Xuanyang’s seven-day deadline.

The Ministry of Rites certainly wouldn’t pin all its hopes on Bai Yuan, but the other parties had also made no progress.

How could he not be panicking?

Even with the Fang Family’s support, he had still paid a heavy price to reach the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. A single word from the Emperor could completely bury his official career.

Confucian Family Martial Artists were more dependent on fortune to begin with. If he were demoted, he would lose all hope of breaking through to the Bright Heart realm in this lifetime.

Bai Yuan, on the other hand, looked as calm and unconcerned as ever.

From the moment he had left the city, he knew he would definitely be able to find the Six-tailed Fox.

Because he had the Ten Thousand Demons Painting.

And the Ten Thousand Demons Painting happened to show the figure of a Six-tailed Immortal Fox.

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