Chapter 414: Smooth

Daoist Yunshan?

Xu Sanyan said he’d never even heard of him.

Li Wuxing hadn’t heard of Daoist Yunshan either, but he figured anyone who could train such a disciple must be a reclusive master of great renown.

Yu Huisheng, sensing the tension easing, breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, “Master, you’ve been traveling tirelessly these past few days. This humble official will arrange accommodations for you immediately.”

“There’s no need,” Li Wuxing interrupted. “We have no time for rest. The case is urgent—people are vanishing one after another, even the Associate Magistrate’s young master has disappeared. What kind of audacious bandits would dare such a thing?”

The Associate Magistrate of Qian Prefecture was Yu Huisheng’s father-in-law and his most powerful patron.

As a fifth-rank official, the Associate Magistrate ranked below Li Wuxing in the hierarchy, making it unlikely he could compel the high priest to intervene.

Yet Li Wuxing, deeply concerned for the people’s welfare and moved by the Associate Magistrate’s earnest pleas, had decided to personally investigate.

“Master’s unwavering dedication to the people, despite such hardship, truly sets an example for this humble official,” Yu Huisheng seized the opportunity to flatter him.

The two Golden Blade Envoys seethed with resentment, having their chance stolen by his sycophancy.

Li Wuxing, long accustomed to such flattery, simply ordered, “Take me along the route where the Associate Magistrate’s young master disappeared.”

“Yes,” Yu Huisheng replied, not daring to delay, and immediately stepped forward to lead the way.

At that moment, Xu Sanyan frowned and spoke, “Speaking of which…”

The four stopped in their tracks, and Li Wuxing turned his head, waiting for him to continue.

“On the way here, I think I saw a cave. There was a foul, bloody stench coming from inside, and I assumed it was some wild beast’s lair, so I didn’t investigate further. But now, considering this case, it might be hiding something important,” Xu Sanyan said hesitantly, his gaze lingering on Yu Huisheng.

Beneath his calm eyes, Li Wuxing’s pupils narrowed slightly. He asked slowly, “Why didn’t you mention this earlier?”

Though he was fairly certain Xu Sanyan wasn’t involved, Li Wuxing remained vigilant, still harboring a degree of suspicion.

Especially since he couldn’t discern Xu Sanyan’s cultivation level, which meant the man’s cultivation might be on par with or even surpass his own!

Xu Sanyan shrugged. “You didn’t ask! How was I supposed to know what you were up to?”

Li Wuxing turned to Yu Huisheng. “Didn’t you tell him?”

“Uh…”

Yu Huisheng’s mind raced. “This subordinate thought Junior Brother wasn’t part of the yamen and this matter didn’t concern him. Besides, he only arrived yesterday and has been outside the city all day setting up the formation…”

Li Wuxing nodded, understanding now. He cupped his hands in a respectful bow. “Please enlighten us.”

“Hmph, you doubt me?” Xu Sanyan scowled, his face darkening with displeasure. Yet inwardly, he nodded in approval. This young man has some sharp instincts. Your suspicions are correct.

Li Wuxing remained silent, never one for words. Yu Huisheng quickly smoothed things over. “Junior Brother, if you know something, please share it. That bandit has been terrorizing the people with his atrocities. Eliminating him swiftly would be a great service.”

“Hmph, I’ll take you there.” Xu Sanyan flicked his sleeve, not even glancing at Li Wuxing and the others as he strode out.

The two Golden Blade Envoys exchanged glances between Li Wuxing and Xu Sanyan. This time, they wisely kept their mouths shut. They could see Xu Sanyan’s straightforward, unceremonious nature, and the Junior High Priest clearly held him in high regard. They wouldn’t dare speak out of turn.

“Let’s go.”

The five of them raced through the night. Xu Sanyan soared ahead, pulling Yu Huisheng along by the arm—Yu Huisheng’s cultivation level was too low to keep up.

“Junior Brother, is that bandit hiding on Zhangzhi Mountain?” Yu Huisheng recognized the route.

“Mm-hmm, on one of the peaks over there.”

Xu Sanyan had long decided to betray Chang Yulian. He’d made this decision the moment he learned the prefecture was sending investigators. Even without his betrayal, Chang Yulian was doomed.

Zhangzhi Mountain wasn’t far from Zhangzhi City, so Yu Huisheng had only sent men for a cursory search, perhaps without even entering the mountain itself. But now that Li Wuxing had arrived, he would undoubtedly organize a thorough search.

Though the cave was well-hidden, it couldn’t possibly escape such scrutiny. Once discovered, Chang Yulian’s chances of survival would be nil.

Since death was inevitable, Xu Sanyan might as well make it count. He could use Chang Yulian’s head as Liang Yongzhuo’s proof of loyalty and a stepping stone to advancement.

At least she would die for a purpose.

As for the subsequent blood collection…

A sinister smile curled the corner of Xu Sanyan’s mouth as he glanced casually at Yu Huisheng from the shadows.

Isn’t he the perfect candidate?

Yu Huisheng would be far more convenient to manipulate than Chang Yulian.

Zhangzhi Mountain was a small mountain range composed of over a dozen peaks. Though not as vast as the Chaotic Cloud Mountain Range, it was still substantial, with treacherous terrain that made it difficult for ordinary people to traverse.

But this didn’t deter them. Xu Sanyan stood suspended in mid-air, frowning as he surveyed the dozen or so peaks below, as if trying to recall something.

Li Wuxing didn’t urge him, feeling instead a growing sense of reassurance.

This is only natural. The peaks all looked remarkably similar. If Xu Sanyan had identified the correct one at a glance after only seeing them once, that would have been truly suspicious.

“It should be over there,” Xu Sanyan said, pointing. “I remember those two mountains looking like a pair of breasts, and the cave is located slightly below the nipple of one of them.”

Li Wuxing was slightly uncomfortable. You look like a cultured man, yet you speak so crudely?

Moreover, given his status and position, everyone who spoke to him had to mind their words carefully. He hadn’t heard anyone use such vulgar language in years, though he often saw it written.

Li Wuxing followed Xu Sanyan’s gaze, his eyebrows lifting slightly.

Hey, you know what? You’re not wrong!

They are quite… rounded.

The two Golden Blade Envoys exchanged glances. Before Li Wuxing could issue an order, they each charged toward one of the mountain peaks to search. One of them waved from afar, and when the group rushed over, they indeed found a cave.

“I’ll go in first. You follow behind,” Li Wuxing commanded.

Xu Sanyan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He needed to enter as well. He had to silence Chang Yulian.

Although the Demonic Seed controlled her, making it unlikely she would betray him, he wanted to ensure absolute certainty. He would give her a final push.

The five figures entered in single file, Li Wuxing leading the way, followed by Xu Sanyan, Yu Huisheng, and two Golden Blade Envoys bringing up the rear.

Among the five, two were at the Soul Refining Realm. With deliberate concealment, Chang Yulian would have no chance of detecting them.

Reaching a fork in the path, Li Wuxing’s nostrils twitched as he stepped toward the right passage, where the stench of blood was strongest.

At that moment, Xu Sanyan gently tugged at his sleeve, signaling with a gesture that they should split up. He would take the two Golden Blade Envoys to the left.

Li Wuxing considered briefly before nodding in agreement. With the envoys at his side, he wasn’t worried about Xu Sanyan pulling any tricks.

Xu Sanyan relaxed slightly, confident that this arrangement left nothing to chance.

Everything was proceeding exactly as he had anticipated. He had predicted that Li Wuxing would naturally investigate the path with the stronger scent of blood first, while Chang Yulian was hiding in the opposite direction.

Li Wuxing would prioritize capture and interrogation, resorting to lethal force only as a last resort.

Xu Sanyan, on the other hand, intended to strike with fatal precision, ensuring she couldn’t utter a single word.

Heh heh…

Come and catch me, you deadbeat~

If you catch me, I’ll let you~

Heh heh heh~

A woman’s coquettish laughter echoed faintly from within the cave, her amusement clear.

(End of the Chapter)