Chapter 1641: No Suspicion
The wine and food served here were no ordinary fare. For cultivators, such delicacies satisfied the gluttonous desires of the palate and offered tangible benefits to one’s cultivation. Naturally, the price in Spirit Stones was equally substantial.
Given the current atmosphere within the first floor of the inn, things were exactly as Min Bufu had described; it was indeed wiser to wait for a time.
At that very moment, however, Min Bufu had already reached the city gates. Seeing the exit in sight, he could not help but quicken his pace.
A major event was about to unfold within the city. Once it began, the soldiers would never allow any cultivator to leave at will.
Entering the city had been an ordeal, but Min Bufu found the exit inspection relatively simple. After a brief check, he was permitted to proceed.
His expression remained calm and unhurried as he passed through the city arch and the gates, finally stepping out of Ghost Sound City.
A fair number of cultivators were leaving the city at dusk. Behind him, several others filed out in succession.
Before long, Min Bufu had vanished into the crowd.
Standing by the roadside, Kong Qianchi suddenly sensed a vibration from the Conch Sound-Transmission Jade hidden within his voluminous sleeve. He swept his Divine Sense over it surreptitiously before casting a quick glance toward the inn.
Seeing that the man was still seated there and currently oblivious to his presence, Kong Qianchi immediately looked toward both ends of the street.
The position he had chosen was a place where Mocha Palace patrol squads frequently passed. He had intentionally selected this spot so that Zhao Haiyang could see him. In truth, Zhao Haiyang had only instructed him to keep watch outside the inn without specifying a location.
However, to keep Zhao Haiyang at ease, he stayed within sight. This provided a psychological sense of security, making the commander feel more settled.
At that moment, a squad of Mocha Palace cultivators was marching toward him. Kong Qianchi took the initiative, walking toward them and moving out of Zhao Haiyang’s line of sight.
As he brushed past the patrol, the guards swept their gaze over him. Finding nothing amiss, they intended to move on.
But at the moment Kong Qianchi met the squad leader, he suddenly initiated a voice transmission.
“Within the main hall of the inn behind me, there is likely a cultivator from the Moji Dao Sect. That man is likely a Void Refining realm powerhouse!”
The sudden voice echoing in the squad leader’s mind sent a jolt of shock through him.
He looked up to see a Golden Core stage elder whose expression seemed filled with hesitation and anxiety, staring back at him.
Within a grand hall inside Ghost Sound City, a voice suddenly rang out.
“A patrol cultivator reports a suspected Void Refining expert from the Moji Dao Sect. It is said he might be alone, currently located at the Prosperity Inn. Fellow Daoist Niu, take some men and investigate!”
As the command fell, a figure manifested outside the hall. Without a word, the figure flickered and vanished from the spot.
Just as the figure departed, a low, raspy voice echoed within the hall.
“Truly a Void Refining cultivator? That person certainly has immense courage.”
“It is merely a report of a possibility, but we cannot afford to be careless. It is best to have Fellow Daoist Niu confirm it. The informant has already been taken into custody.”
“Infiltrations by both sides are impossible to eradicate entirely. If a Void Refining expert has indeed slipped in, we must focus our attention on the secret and vital areas. However, the informant is only a Golden Core cultivator. Reasonably, he shouldn’t dare to lie, but his judgment might be flawed. The patrol cultivators did not dare to alert the target due to their low cultivation. We will know the result soon enough!”
The first speaker spoke again.
Because the matter was of great importance, the deacons had immediately forwarded the message to them. To the several people in the hall, however, it seemed unlikely. For a Golden Core cultivator to claim he knew the background of such a powerhouse seemed somewhat far-fetched.
The Golden Core informant had already been detained. If this proved to be a false alarm, he would simply vanish from this world.
At the same time, Kong Qianchi was still standing by the street, but he had been surrounded by several Mocha Palace cultivators who had quietly fanned out.
To avoid drawing attention, the squad leader had commanded Kong Qianchi via voice transmission not to move an inch upon receiving the initial intel, threatening to kill him on the spot otherwise.
Kong Qianchi stood there obediently, frozen in place. After a careful observation, the squad leader began to believe that the man was not speaking at random.
Consequently, a warning signal was immediately dispatched, yet they did not arrest Kong Qianchi immediately, maintaining a facade of normalcy for the time being.
At the Prosperity Inn, several aromatic dishes made from demonic beasts were served to Zhao Haiyang’s table, alongside a pot of spirit wine.
Since he was here, he could not afford to look too suspicious. Sitting alone without eating or drinking would certainly make him stand out as an outlier. Even if he had no heart for a feast at this moment, he had to play the part of a patron enjoying himself.
He did not dare to sweep his Divine Sense about recklessly. Although he was confident that ninety-nine percent of the people in this inn would never detect his probe, as a scout, he would not take unnecessary risks without absolute certainty.
If a Void Refining cultivator from the city happened to be patrolling and caught his Divine Sense, he would be walking straight into a trap. That was a scenario Zhao Haiyang was determined to avoid.
When his gaze drifted back toward Kong Qianchi’s previous position, he found that the man had disappeared.
However, he retracted his gaze immediately. He had sent those two out himself, and they understood their duties; there was no need for him to worry about such trivialities.
Thus, Zhao Haiyang poured himself a cup of wine, took a sip, and picked up a piece of beast meat, chewing it slowly.
His mind was busy calculating his next moves. Since he was already here, perhaps he could seize the opportunity to gather some intelligence on Ghost Sound City before departing.
As for Mu Guyue, he had put her out of his mind for the moment. As long as she remained under his control, there would be no issues.
Suddenly, Zhao Haiyang’s heart skipped a beat. Though he hadn’t released his Divine Sense, his experience with countless life-and-death struggles gave him a sudden, inexplicable feeling of palpitations.
This sensation was all too familiar. Every time he encountered danger, it would arise naturally, and it was almost always accurate.
Maintaining a calm exterior, he glanced around as if casually observing his surroundings.
The first floor was bustling with people coming and going, filled with the sounds of boisterous laughter and hushed whispers. The scents of wine and food wafted through the air as servers weaved between tables. It was incredibly lively.
Zhao Haiyang scanned the room but found nothing unusual. No one seemed to be paying him any mind, yet this only heightened his unease.
The contrast between the peaceful environment and his ominous premonition grew stronger.
Just as he was searching for the source of his discomfort in the shadows, a loud shout rang out.
“Seal the front and back! Everyone stay where you are! Do not move!”
Following the shout, seven or eight figures burst into the inn and took up positions by the entrance.
Leading them was a stern, capable man with an indifferent expression, dressed in a long azure robe. Upon entering, he immediately began to scan the room.
The arrival of these men turned the previously noisy inn silent instantly. Every eye turned toward the door.
Zhao Haiyang was startled. Despite the sudden silence, his keen ears caught the sound of numerous whistles in the air outside, spreading out to surround the area.
Clearly, there were many more cultivators outside.
‘They’ve surrounded the place!’
Zhao Haiyang had infiltrated Ghost Sound City before, but aside from being questioned at the gates, this was the first time he had been pinned down like this.
Setting aside what had happened, this meant that the ghost cultivators had set their sights on this location.
Zhao Haiyang grew even more cautious about using his Divine Sense, fearing he would clash with the probes of the powerhouses already lurking in the shadows. That would be equivalent to inviting disaster.
As the squad of cultivators entered, a middle-aged man looking like the shopkeeper hurried forward. He began to converse with the leader in azure via voice transmission. Judging by their expressions, the leader’s attitude toward the shopkeeper was reasonably civil.
A business of this scale within Ghost Sound City certainly had a powerful background. They did not seek trouble, but they did not fear it either.
The shopkeeper listened for a few moments, his face twisting into an expression of shock. He then turned to address the crowd.
“Fellow Daoists, please remain calm. There are some unexpected circumstances that require verification. It will only take a moment and will not affect your enjoyment later.”
After speaking, he stepped aside. The azure-robed cultivator’s sharp eyes swept over the patrons.
“Prepare your identification tokens. We will conduct a quick inspection, and then all will be well!”
As he spoke, the azure-robed man waved his hand, instructing the men behind him.
“Check them individually. Be thorough and verify the origin of every person!”
In his corner, Zhao Haiyang’s heart thudded when he heard those words.
‘Why a sudden inspection? And they clearly came straight for this place. It’s too much of a coincidence. Did I leave some trace when I entered the city? No, if that were the case, they wouldn’t need to go through this trouble. They would have struck the moment we entered…’
Doubts swirled in Zhao Haiyang’s mind. He wasn’t certain if they were targeting him specifically.
Even now, he did not suspect Kong Qianchi or Min Bufu. They were loyal subordinates he had cultivated personally. If they wanted to betray him, he would have fallen into enemy hands countless times before. Why wait until now?
But in the next heartbeat, Zhao Haiyang’s heart leaped into his throat.
He saw that after the azure-robed cultivator finished delegating his men, his gaze swept across the hall and locked directly onto him.
While the others began the individual inspections, the man in azure fixed his gaze on Zhao Haiyang and began walking straight toward him!
Zhao Haiyang’s nerves were pulled taut like a bowstring. As an veteran scout, he knew he had likely been exposed.
He glanced toward the window but still saw no sign of Kong Qianchi, nor had he received any warning from his Sound-Transmission Jade.
‘Were they also targeted? Did those detection artifacts at the gate get refined and upgraded in power?’
Zhao Haiyang wondered if he had been detected upon entry. For a moment, he even worried for Kong Qianchi and Min Bufu. Men like him, having survived many storms, were often the most self-confident.
When doubts arose, he first suspected the enemy’s methods had improved. This was a judgment born of his absolute trust in his two subordinates.
Though Zhao Haiyang was shocked, his expression remained unchanged. He sat there, and as the man approached, he hurriedly put down his chopsticks. Until the very last moment, he would not show any sign of abnormality.
To conceal his aura, he did not dare to release his Divine Sense. Thus, he could not discern the true cultivation of the man in azure.
Soon, under the watchful eyes of many, the azure-robed cultivator reached Zhao Haiyang’s table.
“You. Present your token. Where do you reside in the city? Where are you from, and when did you enter?”
The man stood before the table, staring coldly at Zhao Haiyang.
“Lord, this humble one is from Night-Flow City. I only arrived here today!”
The elder Zhao Haiyang had disguised himself as immediately dropped his suspicious look, replacing it with an expression of terror. He stood up hurriedly, a token appearing in his hand, which he presented respectfully with both hands.
The Night-Flow City he mentioned was another subsidiary city of the Mocha Palace, and the token he produced was genuine. They had dealt with the Mocha Palace for so long that they possessed various flawless disguises.
The man in azure reached out and snatched the token, his Divine Sense sweeping over it immediately.
Nearby, many others were being checked as well. However, the majority of the patrons kept their eyes on Zhao Haiyang. Since the leader had bypassed those by the door to walk straight to someone in the back, it was enough to tell a tale.
To their disappointment, however, the azure-robed man quickly finished checking the token. His blade-like gaze scrutinized Zhao Haiyang’s face for a long moment, making the elder break out in a cold sweat. Amidst the eerie silence, the man simply waved his hand and tossed the token back.
“Very well. You are cleared!”
The elder’s face relaxed instantly. He bowed in gratitude and reached out to catch the token.
The crowd breathed a sigh of relief, realizing it was a false alarm. Some thrill-seekers even felt a bit let down.
But just as everyone thought they could return to the mundane process of inspection, a sudden and violent change occurred.
Almost simultaneously, the azure-robed man who had just turned to leave and the Golden Core elder who was reaching for his token both acted without any warning!