Chapter 1640: Tracing the Path

Zhao Haiyang had been waiting for Kong Qianchu and his companion here for some time.

Previously, he had sensed some slight spatial fluctuations. Upon careful observation, he saw a silhouette in the air quietly landing in the dense forest.

If he hadn’t been waiting here intentionally, it might have been overlooked. But Zhao Haiyang didn’t reveal himself, allowing the other party to find him according to the agreement.

However, after seeing that Kong Qianchu’s stealth method had improved somewhat compared to before, he couldn’t help but offer a word of praise upon meeting.

The deeper the cultivation of his subordinates, the better it was for him. The more brilliantly the tasks he assigned were completed, the more military merit he would naturally accumulate.

Moreover, for people like them who performed missions outside, they valued concealment and illusionary arts even more.

When Kong Qianchu arrived here and carefully observed the surroundings, Zhao Haiyang was watching him from the shadows. As scouts, caution and prudence had long been carved into their bones.

Specifically, why had only Kong Qianchu come alone? This was different from the previously agreed situation.

The contest between enemy and allied scouts was one of deception. One slip-up could lead to a situation beyond redemption.

After Zhao Haiyang carefully looked over with his Divine Sense in the shadows, he poured magical power into his eyes and used a secret insight art.

Kong Qianchu had not only hidden his cultivation, but due to the cold aura of the “Ghost-Transformation Pill” in his body, the aura under concealment was somewhat unstable. Aside from that, everything was fine.

Only after he had confirmed it repeatedly did he reveal himself from behind the large tree.

“Greetings, My Lord!”

The instant Kong Qianchu heard the voice, his entire body tensed for a split second.

After seeing the person clearly while on guard, his tensed expression finally eased, and he hurriedly gave Zhao Haiyang a deep salute.

“Why did you come alone? Where is Bufu? Did you not handle your matters well?”

Zhao Haiyang was not polite either. His sharp eyes stared at Kong Qianchu as he asked point-blank.

However, in the instant Kong Qianchu was on guard just now, he had also sensed a brief fluctuation of late-stage Spirit Transformation magical power on the other party. This allowed him to feel even more at ease.

“His concealment technique has actually improved again. I only saw that he has Spirit Transformation stage cultivation, with the specific realm fluctuating up and down…”

Regarding the inability to see through Kong Qianchu’s cultivation, Zhao Haiyang likewise attributed it to the cover of the ghost energy in the other party’s body. The other party’s appearance had no issues at all; it wasn’t an illusion.

His attention quickly shifted to other things. It had been agreed they would kill Li Yan and capture Mu Guyue before meeting here.

But the scene before him suggested these two hadn’t completed the task! Otherwise, why would only Kong Qianchu have come?

Zhao Haiyang asked several questions in quick succession, causing an embarrassed expression to immediately appear on Kong Qianchu’s face.

“My Lord, that Mu Guyue and Li Yan are too cunning. Although we found their trail.

But these two actually ignored the risk of exposure and specifically chose places with many people along the way. Until just before I came, we had no chance to act.

After the two continued forward, they entered Ghost Sound City. Originally, we thought they would come out quickly after gathering information.

Or that they would leave the city as quickly as possible when the ‘Ghost-Transformation Pill’ was about to lose its effect. But until the agreed-upon time with you was near, they still hadn’t left the city.

In this situation, Fellow Daoist Min and I could only divide the work. After discussion, only one person could come to meet with you first.

The other person is still there, continuing to keep an eye on the two to avoid losing the target’s trail.”

Kong Qianchu hurriedly explained.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Haiyang—who had originally expected to see the unconscious Mu Guyue before seeing Kong Qianchu—felt the flickering flame in his chest instantly extinguished.

The thing he had worried about had happened after all. As expected, they hadn’t captured Mu Guyue and brought her over. These two idiots!

Such a result truly required him to make a trip in person.

Kong Qianchu cautiously looked up and stole a glance at Zhao Haiyang. Seeing that his expression wasn’t good, he didn’t dare to speak anymore.

And Zhao Haiyang acted with lightning speed; he had already started walking forward. He didn’t want to keep wasting too much of his time on a small matter.

“Then let’s go over and see. This matter has already been delayed for a long time!”

Upon hearing this, Kong Qianchu’s face immediately showed a look of shame, yet he could only remain silent.

…

A thousand li outside Ghost Sound City, when Kong Qianchu returned once more, Zhao Haiyang, who was waiting here, immediately inquired.

“What’s the situation now?”

“My Lord, I’ve found Fellow Daoist Min. He has been tracking the targets, and everything is within control.

Now that Li Yan often appears in various places in the city, he should be looking for his own targets.

While Mu Guyue stays hidden in the Prosperity Inn most of the time. I don’t know why the two aren’t acting together.”

Kong Qianchu answered quickly. Upon hearing this, a sharp light flashed in Zhao Haiyang’s eyes.

Regarding Min Bufu’s tracking, he was also quite at ease. They had the Bronze Ring Pendant in their hands; as long as they were within range, they wouldn’t lose the targets.

Moreover, Kong Qianchu’s duo had been with him for a long time; they were very skilled in concealment and gathering information. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have survived until now.

Too many cultivators from the Wind-Message Camp had died in Ghost Sound City, but these two had entered more than once and ultimately survived safely.

And these words came from the mouth of the person before him; thus, he wouldn’t harbor any suspicion regarding the loyalty of Kong Qianchu’s duo.

“Prosperity Inn? It’s been several days already. They haven’t left the city?”

Zhao Haiyang frowned. Even with his cultivation, he was very wary of approaching or entering Ghost Sound City.

“They haven’t come out. Perhaps fearing the effect of the ‘Ghost-Transformation Pill’ would pass, they rented a room to swallow the pill inside, persisting in searching for their targets in the city!”

Kong Qianchu answered with certainty.

“Fine. You go find Bufu now and continue the tracking!”

After thinking for a bit, although Zhao Haiyang decided to act in person, he also needed to find an opportunity. He decided to wait and see a bit longer.

Weren’t Mu Guyue and Li Yan looking for Hong Luo Dao?

Before obtaining the target’s news, it was also very correct for Mu Guyue and the others not to frequently enter and leave the city.

Although staying in the city for one more moment was like wandering in a tiger’s mouth, the repeated gate checks when entering the city would make exposure even easier.

Similarly, regarding the news of Hong Luo Dao, Zhao Haiyang had also inquired carefully before coming and had his own judgment.

For people like them, all preparations for any outing would be very sufficient.

That Hong Luo Dao should just be passing through Ghost Sound City, not appearing to stay here for long.

If that were the case, it would actually cause that person to stay in the city longer before leaving this place. Once she left the city, it would be the time for her to truly depart.

Hearing Zhao Haiyang’s command, Kong Qianchu immediately bowed in agreement. However, in his lowered eyes, a coldness flashed and vanished…

Four days later, as the sun began to sink in the west, Kong Qianchu arrived hurriedly once more at another remote place outside Ghost Sound City after receiving a message from the sound-transmission jade.

“Still no movement?”

Zhao Haiyang’s expression was somewhat gloomy.

With his status, he couldn’t stay outside for too long either. Having no news for so long, he was also starting to lose his patience.

“There is… well, there is. In these four days, that Mu Guyue walked out of the inn three times. Every day, that Li Yan still wanders in the city for most of the daytime.

But once he returns at night, he never goes out again. I don’t know what the two are doing in the room, but looking at their behavior, they still show no sign of leaving!”

Kong Qianchu said with some hesitation after thinking for a moment.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Haiyang’s expression became even gloomier. It was one thing for the two to delay leaving the city, but then he heard that Li Yan would stay with Mu Guyue all night every night after returning.

He immediately thought that the woman he coveted might be getting “plowed” by a pig again. At this, his mood became even less pleasant.

“If they won’t come out… then let’s go in and see!”

Zhao Haiyang turned his head and cast his gaze toward Ghost Sound City, his voice low.

“My Lord, you want to enter Ghost Sound City? I don’t think it’s worth taking that risk. It’s most secure to wait and act outside the city!”

Upon hearing this, Kong Qianchu’s expression shifted, and he spoke hurriedly and urgently.

Every time they entered Ghost Sound City, they were acting with their heads on the line. Once discovered, the word “danger” would be an understatement.

In Ghost Sound City, aside from Void Refining stage cultivators, there might even be Body Integration stage Great Powers. Although there has been no news of Great Powers for a long time.

Of course, the “Kong Qianchu” and “Min Bufu” of these few days naturally didn’t enter the city casually. That kind of danger wasn’t to be taken lightly.

“It’s fine. It’s not like I haven’t sneaked into Ghost Sound City before. As long as there are no problems when entering the city and we don’t gather intelligence, it’s basically safe.

The Divine Sense of those cultivators above Void Refining won’t be scanning all the time; they focus more on guarding secret key areas. We just shouldn’t touch those suspicious places.”

Zhao Haiyang shook his head. He had transferred Mu Guyue into the Beacon Camp for so long, yet he had consistently gained nothing.

This time, he had specifically come out in person; could it be that he would return empty-handed?

Ghost Sound City was dangerous, but he felt he could still enter and leave unharmed. Moreover, that Mu Guyue and Li Yan even dared to go in as if they were suicidal; could it be that he didn’t dare?

“My Lord…”

“Enough, we’re going over now!”

Seeing that Kong Qianchu still wanted to dissuade him, Zhao Haiyang immediately cut him off, unwilling to continue waiting.

Simultaneously, with a blur of his body, he transformed into a sharp-looking old man, with ghost energy faintly surging on his person.

Seeing that Zhao Haiyang had given the order, Qiu Qianchu could only give up the persuasion and follow behind him with his head lowered.

And with the sound-transmission jade he had been holding to contact Zhao Haiyang, he quietly tapped out a short note…

More than half a hour later, in Ghost Sound City, when Zhao Haiyang and Kong Qianchu stepped inside, both let out a long sigh of relief.

At this time, their cultivation was only at the Core Formation stage, and the two had turned into two old men.

They had queued at the city gate for a long time. When they were repeatedly illuminated by a mirror, the two felt their insides and outsides were being stared at intently by a pair of eyes.

Even a powerhouse like Zhao Haiyang felt an extremely uncomfortable sensation rising from the depths of his soul.

But they were already very clear on the probing methods of ghost cultivators, and all aspects had long been fully prepared.

Finally, they entered the city without mishap. Although patrol cultivators from the Rakshasa Palace occasionally walked the streets.

But as long as they didn’t show any flaws, the other party wouldn’t just step forward to probe everyone. It was actually quite relaxed.

Entering the city, Zhao Haiyang’s group no longer spoke. Led by Kong Qianchu, they arrived at an inn in a seemingly leisurely manner.

The first-floor hall in the front of this inn was a restaurant. Throughout the day, spirit wine and delicious cooked demonic beasts were sold here.

It was just evening now, and many cultivators were already sitting inside, even including several mortals. These mortals were mostly servants in the city.

However, even as servants, they were divided into different ranks, which was no different from the mortal world. If mortals were willing to spend spirit stones, the merchants would naturally not refuse.

Here, Zhao Haiyang saw someone “suspected” to be Min Bufu, because it was a middle-aged man, yet the voice was Min Bufu’s.

However, in the city, Zhao Haiyang didn’t dare to release his Divine Sense to probe carefully.

But with Kong Qianchu’s confirmation, he wouldn’t doubt it. On the contrary, when seeing Min Bufu greet them over, he felt even more at ease.

The efficiency of these two subordinates of his was actually very good; they could alleviate his burden in many things.

After the three found a remote corner seat, as soon as Zhao Haiyang sat down, Min Bufu didn’t even wait for him to ask and immediately sent a voice transmission.

“Mu Guyue is still in the room. Li Yan has been out for two hours and is not here.

But right now is the time guests arrive at the inn, and people are constantly entering and leaving the rear guest room area. It’s not good to stay back there for long!”

“Do you estimate she will come out today?”

Zhao Haiyang also asked quickly. Having tracked for so long, Min Bufu must have already formed a reasonable judgment and analysis; otherwise, he couldn’t be called a scout.

“Seventy percent chance she won’t come out!”

“Is the place she lives remote?”

“These two have also been in the Beacon Camp; they didn’t choose those expensive individual courtyards.

Instead, there are many guest rooms on both sides and across from their room. One cannot be sure when people will appear there.”

“Fine, give me the room location. Then one of you go find that boy in the city, and the other stay nearby on guard.

If there’s an accident, use the Conch-Tone Jade Scepter to send one short note. If the boy returns, send two notes; I’ll sense it.”

Zhao Haiyang quickly sent voice transmissions to the two this time. Then, he looked at the waiter walking over.

Upon seeing this, Kong Qianchu and Min Bufu first exchanged a quick look. The reason they had fabricated actually made the other party let them leave.

But even if they weren’t allowed to leave, they would find a suitable reason to leave at an opportune moment. The two hurriedly stood up, appearing as though they suddenly had something to do, and walked out of the inn.

While Min Bufu brushed past Zhao Haiyang, he inconspicuously handed him a jade slip. It contained the rental location of Mu Guyue’s duo in the inn.

And Zhao Haiyang sat there, familiarly ordering several items to blend himself into the entire hall.

He didn’t immediately stand up to head to the back of the inn, but first observed the surrounding environment here.

After Kong Qianchu and his companion walked out, they turned a few corners at the street corner. In a place where no one was, the two whispered quickly…

Not long after, when Zhao Haiyang seemingly raised his head unintentionally, he found that not far from the inn, Kong Qianchu was standing there as if waiting for someone.

And Min Bufu had already vanished.

Then, Zhao Haiyang slightly looked around here once more. He narrowed his eyes slightly; the guest flow at this time was indeed quite large.

Moreover, many people were coming out from the back of the inn one after another. This inn’s business was truly booming.