Chapter 75: I want to make the HongHua Sect have no way to go.
Qi Huang waited patiently for three days. During this time, she learned that the target’s name was Kong Wei. His apparent identity was a shop assistant at a pharmacy. He went out early and returned late, but in reality, he was a low-level member of the Juexian Cult.
On the evening of the fourth day, Kong Wei could no longer sit still. After closing the shop, he did not go home but turned left and right on the street, finally arriving at a restaurant, where he met a slightly older middle-aged man.
Qi Huang observed carefully, and found that this middle-aged man was quite strong, with dark and shiny skin, and walked as fast as the wind. He was clearly not an ordinary person.
The two of them asked for a private room and sat down, then began to talk in low voices.
“Are you being followed?”
The strong middle-aged man spoke first.
“Don’t worry! Brother Fu! I’ve observed carefully these past few days, there are definitely no tails.”
Kong Wei said with great certainty.
“So this person is Kong Wei’s superior, Brother Fu.”
Qi Huang nodded secretly.
“That’s good!”
Brother Fu breathed a sigh of relief and continued, “Who is the person impersonating our Juexian Cult members?”
“I don’t know either. He looks like a young man in his twenties, thin and tall, weak and gentle. I don’t recognize him. Perhaps you do?”
Kong Wei recalled and introduced.
“I recognize him? I’ve told you how many times! There are only two of us Juexian Cult members in Jinqiu Prefecture, don’t you believe me?”
Brother Fu glared with his tiger-like eyes.
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Kong Wei repeatedly nodded on the surface, but did not seem very sincere.
Qi Huang naturally did not believe it either. For an evil cult like the Juexian Cult, how could there only be two members in such a large prefecture? This was clearly a smokescreen by Brother Fu.
“Since the other party is impersonating us, it is very likely a trap set by the Yamen or an Immortal Sect. These bastards are becoming more and more cunning. Fortunately, we didn’t contact that imposter in advance.”
Brother Fu cursed in a low voice.
“What do we do now?”
Kong Wei asked for Brother Fu’s opinion.
“What to do? Nothing! The atmosphere outside is so tense now, let’s lie low for a while.”
Brother Fu gave instructions.
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Kong Wei repeatedly took orders.
“Do you still have Xieqisan with you?”
Brother Fu confirmed with concern.
“How could I? The cult rules strictly prohibit members from privately hoarding Xieqisan. Even if I had ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare to do such a thing!”
Kong Wei shook his head desperately.
“That’s good. I was afraid you would sell it privately again. Once exposed, you should understand the grave consequences, right?”
Brother Fu reminded him.
The two ended their conversation and soon parted ways.
Qi Huang naturally gave up on Kong Wei and turned to monitor the bigger fish, Brother Fu.
After Brother Fu left the restaurant, he returned to a courtyard house in the city. As expected of a superior, his residence looked more imposing than Kong Wei’s.
Qi Huang scanned with her spiritual sense and was surprised to find that Brother Fu actually had a family. From parents in their sixties and seventies to children in their early years, and a middle brother in his late twenties, he had them all.
“I didn’t expect that members of the Juexian Cult would have such happy families. I thought they were all desperate fugitives.”
Qi Huang was greatly surprised, but she soon discovered that this family was not as happy as she imagined.
“Yao’er, why haven’t I seen you take your brother out on blind dates these days?”
As soon as Brother Fu arrived home, his old father began to inquire.
“Alas! Father, I haven’t found a suitable girl recently.”
Fu Yao quickly explained.
“How can that be? There are so many girls in this city!”
The old father clearly didn’t believe it. After all, this Prefecture Capital was not like the countryside, and the ratio of men to women was relatively balanced.
“There are indeed many girls, but as you know, in this world, many girls would rather be concubines to rich men than wives to poor men.”
Fu Yao shook his head helplessly.
“This won’t do! It’s not that I’m forcing you, father, but this year the dynasty has advanced the conscription age to 28, and your younger brother is already 27. If he doesn’t find a wife this year, he’ll have to go to the battlefield.”
The old father sighed with emotion.
Fu Yao glanced at his useless younger brother beside him, and his face revealed a look of disappointment at his lack of ambition. “He’s almost thirty years old, and he’s been idle and fooling around outside for so long. Can’t he even meet a girl? Not all girls only care about money, they also care about feelings. People naturally talk about money, and only when there are feelings will they go all out with you.”
Fu Yao’s younger brother curled his lips disdainfully, clearly not listening.
Fu Yao became even more helpless. He was unwilling to play the lute to a cow, so he had to give up.
Qi Huang felt speechless watching this scene. She had originally thought that it was only men in the countryside who had difficulty getting married, but she did not expect that large towns also had the same problem.
Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Fu Yao went out, wearing the official uniform of a constable.
“So it’s you, the traitor.”
The heavy stone in Qi Huang’s heart was lifted, but she did not rush out to report him immediately. After all, she knew too little about the Juexian Cult in Jinqiu Prefecture. Who knew if there were other traitors in the Yamen? Moreover, her main purpose was to find her Master and investigate the truth. Appearing rashly would only alert the snake.
Qi Huang made up her mind and continued to observe from the shadows.
…
On the other side, after Qin Quan returned to the HongHua Sect, he received two pieces of bad news. First, the clone of his talented disciple had run away. Second, the people he sent to Panshan Village to investigate the Blue Scale Stone were obstructed by the HeYi Sect, and a conflict occurred, with half of them not returning.
“Heh, it’s really one misfortune after another.”
Qin Quan shook his head helplessly and began to question them one by one.
“My disciple’s clone has very strong spiritual sense, even stronger than her main body. She was able to resist the soul bond, so she escaped.”
Xu Mei explained carefully.
“Why would a clone’s spiritual sense be stronger than its main body? I remember that a clone’s strength can only reach up to 80% of the main body’s. This is common knowledge in the Cultivation World.”
Qin Quan clearly did not believe it.
“I don’t know what’s going on.”
Xu Mei replied awkwardly.
“Everyone knows the principles, but what I can’t understand is why her clone ran away? Clones and the main body are essentially the same person, so their thoughts should be the same. Don’t tell me you still don’t know.”
Elder Wu found fault from the side.
“Anyway, Hong Ling’s explanation is that this clone seems to be different from others and has developed its own personality.”
Xu Mei answered vaguely.
“What a joke! Is she really mentally ill? I’ve warned you many times to get medical treatment if you’re sick.”
Elder Wu immediately sneered.
“You should worry about yourself. Why did only half of the more than ten disciples you brought back return?”
Xu Mei retorted angrily.
“Yes, Elder Wu, what exactly is going on?”
Qin Quan turned his attention to Elder Wu.
“The reason is very simple. When we went there, Panshan Village was already controlled by hundreds of disciples from the HeYi Sect. When I went up to reason with them, they started fighting as soon as they disagreed. It’s already lucky that half of us managed to run back.”
Elder Wu showed a rare look of helplessness on his face.
“This is outrageous! It seems that the HeYi Sect is really determined to abandon all bottom lines and bully the weak.”
Qin Quan gritted his teeth.
“Sect Leader, don’t worry. If we can’t deal with them, the Immortal Alliance can! We have solid evidence, so are you afraid we can’t defeat them?”
Xu Mei reminded him.
“Now we can only hope that the Immortal Alliance will uphold justice.”
After much thought, Qin Quan had no other solution, so he said to Elder Ruan, “Elder Ruan, please go to the Immortal Alliance again and inform Steward Cai of this matter.”
Elder Ruan hesitated to speak, but in the end, he reluctantly accepted the task, with no confidence in its success, as he had just returned dejectedly from Steward Cai.
…
HeYi Sect.
“Sect Leader, we arrived at Bajiao Village and found that it was already deserted, not even a ghost in sight.”
Steward Cao, who had returned, was reporting the situation to Lin Feng.
“Heh, I underestimated this Qin Quan. He clearly anticipated my intentions and had already transferred those villagers in advance.”
Lin Feng smiled calmly.
“Then what do we do now? That Ma Wen is still in their hands, and we have all the evidence. If this matter goes to the Immortal Alliance, it will be difficult to resolve.”
Steward Cao asked with some concern.
“So what if it goes to the Immortal Alliance? What matters in the Cultivation World is strength, not reason! I asked you to kill those villagers only to save some trouble. If you fail, it will only be a waste of time.”
Lin Feng said dismissively, then ordered an old man beside him, “Elder Zhu, please go to the treasure pavilion and pick out a few good items to send to Steward Cai of the Immortal Alliance, so he can help take care of things.”
“Yes!”
Elder Zhu cupped his hands and accepted the order.
“Qin Quan! Qin Quan! This time, I will make you unable to call for help!”
A cold glint flashed in Lin Feng’s eyes.
…
Qi Huang secretly monitored the Prefecture Capital of Jinqiu Prefecture for a few days. Fu Yao had not contacted anyone from the Juexian Cult again. However, she had gained something during this time. At least she could now confirm that there was only one traitor in the Prefecture Office.
Just as Qi Huang was becoming impatient, Fu Yao finally made his move.
