Reborn as a Hatrack in the Mystical Land

Under Lady Qingyan’s intense scrutiny, the tax officer Niu Er snorted coldly and said arrogantly, "What’s the matter, Lady Qingyan? Are you planning to defy the Imperial Tax Law and not afraid that the Imperial Cavalry will level Five Saints Town to the ground?"

Indeed, the women of the Qing Family are extremely cunning.

After General Mo Lin’s death, the Imperial Ministry of Revenue got wind that he had in his possession the key item to unlock the Ancient Hero Treasure and had wanted to force Lady Qingyan to hand it over.

However, Lady Qingyan insisted that she must see the body to confirm his death and refused to acknowledge General Mo Lin’s death, only that he was missing.

According to Imperial Law, the inheritance law can only be applied once the person’s death is confirmed.

Left with no choice, the Ministry of Revenue had to wait until the disappearance invalidated, which is after twenty years, to then forcefully implement the inheritance law. But just as the twenty-year period was about to expire, Lady Qingyan brought up General Mo Lin’s body.

But whether this old woman dredges up the body or not, it’s the same reasoning - the Ancient Hero Treasure, she must cough it up.

Having said that, Tax Officer Niu Er glanced behind him. Not too far behind him stood a Black-Armored Xuanist, draped in black armor from head to toe, even his face was completely obscured, yet on his chest plate was carved a black dragon-shaped totem.

Every year, countless people think about twisting off the neck of an Imperial Tax Officer, especially at the remote Xuan Beast Ridge, far from the Imperial City. If not fully prepared, how could he, Niu Er, come here easily?

Imperial Dragon Rider Camp!

Lady Qingyan’s expression changed once more, and the square ring under her black dress lit up only to quickly dim again.

"Hehe, Master Niu’er really loves to joke. Our Qing Family has served the Dragon Ascending Royal Family since a millennium ago; how could we possibly defy Imperial Law. However, Master Niu’er seems to have overlooked something," Lady Qingyan suddenly burst into a smile that seemed quite complacent, commanding the butler to fetch a reddish-brown Imperial Tax Law book, and read in front of Tax Officer Niu Er: "According to Imperial Laws, family members of Imperial Soldiers who died in the line of duty are exempt from personal estate taxes to console their widows. Although I am of an older age, my ears still serve me well, and if I didn’t mishear just now, Master Niu’er himself has said that Mo Lin died in the line of duty."

Upon hearing this, Tax Officer Niu Er’s face turned purple and red, and for a long time, he couldn’t utter a word.

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"My Lady," Just when Tax Officer Niu Er was at his wits’ end, the knight in black armor stepped forward. With wide and steady strides, the long sword at his waist remained motionless.

Upon stopping in front of Lady Qingyan, he removed his black helmet, revealing a young and resolute face.

After giving a standard military salute to Lady Qingyan, the Black-Armored Knight respectfully said, "Peng Bo. Jin Nuo, on behalf of the Military Department, would like to thank General Mo Lin for his outstanding contributions to the Empire. The exemption of estate tax mentioned by the Lady just now does indeed exist. However, according to the Imperial Constitution, should any personal estate be found to contain Holy-grade items or above, regardless of any other exemptions, it must be handed over to the Military Department after the direct heir to the estate dies. Lady Qingyan, if you can guarantee that the Ancient Hero Treasure to be declared in a few days contains no Holy-grade items or above, the Imperial Military Department will absolutely not interfere with your arrangements regarding General Mo Lin’s estate."

"So it’s Little Jinuo from the Pengbo Family. I didn’t expect you’ve grown up this much and have joined the Imperial Black Dragon Camp. Indeed, the younger generation is to be feared," Lady Qingyan heard respect in the other party’s tone and her face softened, "For years, what Mo Lin kept was only the Secret Key to unlock the Hero’s Treasure. As for what exactly the Ancient Hero Treasure conceals, even Mo Lin himself didn’t know. If the Empire is also interested in the Ancient Hero Treasure, then it must follow everyone to the Ancient Heroic Graveyard for the expedition."

The Dragon War Empire boasts several distinguished military families, and aside from the dominant Dragon Ao Family, the Pengbo Family is one of them.

Generation after generation within the Pengbo Family, there would always be a few who are chosen to join the Imperial Dragon Rider Camp.

As Lie Rou mentioned earlier, the Ancient Giant Dragon clan had already become extinct on the continent, and all dragon riders being bred within the Empire stem from a sub-dragon lineage, which are ranked differently based on the dragon rider’s bloodline.

Blue Earth-dwellers with four legs, Red Fire Dragons, Black Sky Winged Dragons—Jin Nuo’s entry into the Imperial Black Dragon Camp attests to his exceptional strength.

"Lady, may you disclose what exactly is the Secret Key that unlocks the Ancient Hero Treasure?" Ultimately a question from a youth, Jin Nuo couldn’t help but also be curious about what the Secret Key to the Ancient Hero Treasure truly was.

Lady Qingyan took a moment to ponder before pulling out a bead from her sleeve.

The bead was completely red, just like blood.

"This bead is named Mo Hongxue, forged from the Heart Blood spat out by Dragon Slayer Hero Mo Kang just before his death. Since the death of Mo Kang, each heir of the Mo Family would feed the Blood Pearl with their dying breath. After hundreds of years, the Blood Pearl has become spiritual, and it is this bead that serves as the Secret Key to unlock the Ancient Hero Treasure. Since you gentlemen have come specifically for the Ancient Hero Treasure, why not wait another three days? Three days from now, I shall fulfill my late husband’s last wish and reveal the treasure to the world. Should the Imperial Military Department have any dispute over the treasure, they are welcome to enter the grave together," said Lady Qingyan, as she put away the Treasure Bead.

Jin Nuo understood and bowed to Lady Qingyan, then inquired: "There’s another matter Jin Nuo wishes to consult with Lady Qingyan. Five Saints Town borders Fengdan County; do you happen to have heard anything regarding Fengdan County’s new Lord?"

The Pengbo Family has an inextricable relationship with Niu Er. This time, the Empire had dispatched the newly-appointed Tax Officer, Niu Er, to collect taxes in Fengdan County, the farthest flung territory of the Empire. Yet, upon their arrival, they found that Fengdan County had already changed hands and there was no information whatsoever about the new Lord.

Though the Imperial Ministry of Revenue had urgently reached out to the original Lord of Fengdan County, the young lord Yue Minzhi from Blood Cherry Duke Mansion, it is a pity that he is currently in the closed training prior to the Dragon-Pulling Ceremony at the Imperial Dragon Rider Camp’s Reserve Camp, and thus cannot be reached for the time being.

To make matters worse, several of the Empire’s secret scouts stationed in Fengdan County had mysteriously disappeared as well.

With no other option, Jin Nuo could only hope to glean some information from Lady Qingyan in Five Saints Town.

"Fengdan County, you say?" Lady Qingyan smiled enigmatically, "This place is not far from Fengdan County, Jin Nuo. If you are interested in it, you might as well go explore it yourself."

"Even the Lady doesn’t know the situation in Fengdan County; it seems we have no choice but to make the visit ourselves, Master Niu’er and I. This matter will have to wait until after the dust settles on the Ancient Hero Treasure," said Jin Nuo, seeing that he could not get any more information and preparing to take his leave from Lady Qingyan.

Out of the blue, Lady Qingyan suddenly spoke, "Jin Nuo, since it’s your first time in Five Saints Town, why not spend a few days at the renowned Helen Tavern in town for some drinks? You may encounter some very interesting people."

Outside the window, there was a clear fish pond where several red koi chased after one another. Beside the pond laid a Fushou Snail covered in beautiful patterns, resting peacefully.