By the time Wen Li and her companions departed through the interprovincial teleportation array she had once used to bring Gu Linshu to the Eastern Province, Lou Yan had already led his men to Wanbeiwu, the city where they had previously stayed.
However, since Wen Li, Gu Linshu, and Zongzheng Huangyue had all used disguises and aliases at the time, the investigation was proving difficult and complex.
Yet, Lou Yan unexpectedly encountered people from the Moquan Sect.
Seeing the leader of a group hurrying out of the sect and passing him by, Lou Yan, who had come to the Moquan Sect seeking information on Wen Li, furrowed his brows. His expression beneath the mask was suspicious.
It was a Golden Core cultivator. For a Golden Core cultivator to leave their sect in such a frantic hurry, they were likely on an urgent mission.
Lou Yan met with the Sect Leader of the Moquan Sect and presented Wen Li’s portrait for him to examine. The man stated bluntly that he had never seen her. But when Lou Yan presented Gu Linshu’s portrait and explained their ages and master-disciple relationship, the Sect Leader finally reacted.
“If I’m not mistaken, the two people Your Highness is looking for should be the ones who appeared in my Moquan Sect half a month ago. Although they were disguised, their ages and relationship match. Especially the youth by her side; his aptitude is extraordinary, and there is rarely a second like him in Wanbeiwu.”
“Does the Sect Leader know their whereabouts? Can you elaborate on the matter?” Lou Yan pressed.
The Sect Leader of the Moquan Sect weighed his options before deciding to speak about the conflict between the Moquan Sect and Danfeng Valley over the rights to enter Wangquan Wuho’s tomb, which had ultimately drawn Wen Li into the fray.
Lou Yan was curious. “The Sect Leader should be a Nascent Soul cultivator. Why would you fear her, a mere Foundation Establishment Great Perfection?”
Since the female cultivator hadn't resorted to violence, she must have relied on other means to negotiate the release of her young disciple.
The Sect Leader of the Moquan Sect spoke calmly, “Because... she simply gave too much.”
“Huh?”
For a moment, Lou Yan didn’t quite process the response.
The Sect Leader reached up and stroked his black beard. “Your Highness doesn't know the massive daily expenses for the three thousand disciples of my Moquan Sect. She offered two hundred thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones right off the bat. He was just a disciple caught in the crossfire; letting him go was a small price to pay.”
Of course, it was also because the youth’s cultivation and talent were remarkable. Only the imperial family could cultivate such a prodigy, and the Sect Leader didn't want to provoke the powerhouse backing them.
“...”
Lou Yan was rendered speechless. He hadn't expected this Nascent Soul cultivator to be so down-to-earth.
“And what happened after she took her disciple away? Were there any other developments?”
“She had the disciple compete with my Left Protector’s disciple. As a result, the difference in talent at the same realm was so great that my disciple’s Dao Heart shattered. Then the two of them left.” Pausing, the Sect Leader’s tone suddenly rose. “Who knew that before those two hundred thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones even got warm in my pocket, they turned into a pile of ash when I took them out again! She swindled me!”
“Spirit stones can be faked?” Lou Yan frowned.
“Hmph, who knows what tricks she used. There was nothing wrong when I inspected them, but after they left, I discovered the spiritual energy was depleted, and they disintegrated into ash. I’m still looking for her even now.”
Lou Yan fell into thought upon hearing this.
Just as he was about to say something, a disciple ran in hurriedly and hesitated upon seeing him.
The Sect Leader waved his hand. “Speak.”
“Sect Leader! News just arrived that all Teleportation Pavilions within the Beiqiong Kingdom have ceased operation. Also... the imperial family has summoned you to the capital for questioning...”
“Fine. Send out orders: the Grand Elder will temporarily handle all my affairs. Have the Right Protector accompany me.”
The Sect Leader’s expression shifted slightly. It had been years—usually, messages were just delivered by couriers. It had been many years since he had been ordered to go to the capital for questioning in person. Could it be that something had happened not just to Helian Zhou inside the tomb, but to Wangquan Gusui as well?
Helian Zhou’s soul jade, enshrined within the sect, had shattered. He had only sent people to investigate last night, and now news had come from the imperial family. It was likely that something far more serious than just an incident involving Wangquan Gusui had occurred.
“Your Highness has seen it yourself; I have urgent matters to attend to. I won’t be able to keep you company.” The Sect Leader stood up.
“Don’t mention it, Sect Leader. Please, proceed.”
Watching the man’s retreating back, Lou Yan’s brow furrowed slightly. The complete shutdown of Teleportation Pavilions within the Beiqiong Kingdom was an extremely grave matter. Usually, this only happened when the imperial family was seriously affected. Even when the Shengyang Kingdom issued such an order last time, it was to capture the cultivator under the kill order.
What was happening in the Beiqiong Kingdom?
...
Inside the “Virus-Toppling Pharmacy.”
Wangquan Chumo, sensing the sudden arrival of several high-level cultivators’ presences in Wanbeiwu, paused his hand as it sifted through medicinal herbs. For it to be this lively all of a sudden, could it be that Senior had caused trouble again?
“S-S-Senior Brother, I-I-I, I’ve finished making the food.”
A scholar in white walked over, his face covered in soot. He held two bowls containing somewhat blackened dishes that could just barely be identified as fish and mushrooms.
“Say that again. What is this... food?” Rat poison would look better than this.
Wangquan Chumo, who was letting him cook for the first time, leaned back his neck and quickly held his breath. The lower half of his face, hidden by the silver mask, masked his look of disgust.
Gu Linshu nodded honestly. “Yes, t-t-this is the m-m-most... b-b-best, best two dishes I l-l-learned from Master.”
“...” Wangquan Chumo’s brow twitched, and a crack appeared in his icy demeanor. “Are you sure?”
He had tasted Senior’s cooking before. This kid was actually lying!
“What kind of grudge do you have against your Master that you’d smear her name like this outside?”
These words made Gu Linshu’s ears turn red, and he hurried to explain, “N-n-no, it’s not that. I-I-I’ve only ever waited to eat s-s-since I was little. I-I-I’ve never cooked before, and I-I still can’t do it well even after trying to learn.”
Wangquan Chumo recalled the pile of spirit cores Wen Li had tossed out earlier. It took him only three seconds to accept the boy’s cooking skills, which were a far cry from his talent in talismans.
“Fine, leave it at that.” Forget it; for the sake of the money, he wouldn't argue with him.
Gu Linshu’s eyes were full of anticipation. “Then, t-t-then Senior Brother, let’s e-eat.”
Wangquan Chumo maintained his composure. “No. I just remembered I have things to do. You eat.”
He immediately left without looking back.
Seeing this, the left-behind Gu Linshu’s expression drooped. He knew his Senior Brother was like his Master; to avoid hurting his self-esteem, he had quietly gone to a small eatery.
“I-I-Is it really that bad?”
Gu Linshu set the two bowls down. Refusing to believe it, he picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
“Gueh!”
In the end, he silently dumped the food. Fortunately, he’d had enough self-awareness when cooking that he didn't have the courage to taste-test it first, thinking he would wait for his Senior Brother to try it.
Luckily, he had discovered the truth after just one bite; it wasn't so much that he’d have diarrhea from eating too much.
Forget it; he should go find his Senior Brother and eat out with him.
He wondered where his Master had reached and if she was safe. The three-year promise...
His Master still had two years, ten months, twenty-nine days, and five shichen before she could come pick him up.
...
Southern Province.
Third-Grade Cultivation Kingdom, Bawei Kingdom.
Inside a desolate mountain cave, it was pitch-black and empty, with nothing visible inside.
Boom!
Suddenly, a powerful formation manifested on the ground, and a wave of ghostly blue spiritual energy instantly illuminated the entire cave.
“Cough, cough cough!”
A coughing sound echoed as three figures appeared in the cave, which had returned to darkness.
“Why is it so dark?”
Wen Li, choked by the dust flying around the cave, pulled out a luminous pearl to light the way. In the dim glow, she met a pair of large, round, pitch-black eyes that did not look human.
“...” What on earth is that?
Wen Li swept the light of the luminous pearl up and down this strange mass.
“Run!”
Rate on N.U.
