Chapter 28: The Patient Hunter (Please Bookmark)

Li Guanxuan only now realized that the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion was not just a chain of shops, but also an intelligence agency. No wonder Zheng Huangjin was always able to provide him with certain information in advance… For example, before the outbreak of war, Zheng had told him to stock up on food early, since the Pavilion would be closing for several months.

Now, hearing that Zheng Huangjin would be leaving Qing'an City in five years, Li Guanxuan felt somewhat reluctant to see him go. After all, Zheng had truly helped him greatly. Once he was replaced by that rigid moral paragon… Sigh! Li Guanxuan sighed deeply in his heart. With Li Kuangzheng taking over, he would lose a valuable source of information. After all, rigid men are not suited for intelligence work.

Moreover, Zheng Huangjin had just revealed another piece of news. Once Li Kuangzheng became the manager here, the owners might cut off intelligence operations in this region. Between the lines, the message was clear: Qing'an City might soon face a great crisis!

Li Guanxuan took a deep breath and buried this information in his heart. For now, he could not leave Qing'an City, since he still needed to take Wen Rongxin to Huanzhi Mountain. Of course, he couldn't go personally; he would have to wait a few years until Qin Jiyue had secured her position as an inner disciple at Luoyue Valley, and then have her accompany Wen Rongxin for a visit.

As long as Zheng Huangjin remained in Qing'an City, the crisis there would not erupt prematurely.

“So, Bi Zhou actually maintains contact with several outer disciples of Luoyue Valley? The three Chou brothers, those vengeful cultivators, and even the Black Bamboo Stronghold—these are all his friends… That scoundrel, he specializes in befriending those cultivators notorious for exterminating entire families.”

After reading through some of Bi Zhou’s dossiers, Li Guanxuan couldn’t help but sigh.

Zheng Huangjin chuckled. “He’s truly ruthless. But have you noticed something? Nowhere in these records is he ever listed as participating in an extermination.”

“He keeps his hands spotless, always appearing as an upright and harmless cultivator,” Li Guanxuan said expressionlessly. “But in truth, those are the most detestable sorts—winning others’ trust with feigned sincerity, then turning around and betraying them.”

“Want me to help take care of him?” Zheng Huangjin asked.

“No need. I have a plan already. Brother, just help plant some valuable items on him, like a piece of a Golden Light Talisman, and make sure some vengeful cultivators notice him,” Li Guanxuan replied.

Zheng Huangjin shook his head in disbelief. “You truly are black-hearted… One sentence and you’ve got me doing most of the dirty work for your whole scheme, haven’t you?”

“Nonsense, nonsense. I’m only at the fifth stage of Qi Refinement, weak as a chicken. I can only rely on the might of your Foundation Establishment cultivation, brother,” Li Guanxuan said with a respectful bow.

“Vengeful cultivators care nothing for others’ lives. If you want to play the role of the canny bystander, best be careful,” Zheng Huangjin warned.

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. If things look bad, I’ll slap on a few Swift Talismans and fly my sword right out of there,” Li Guanxuan replied.

“You’re forty-seven this year, aren’t you? Thirteen years left to establish your foundation. Spend more time cultivating; as long as you succeed before sixty, your spiritual roots can still improve,” Zheng Huangjin sighed.

“Thank you for your reminder, brother.”

Li Guanxuan was utterly unconcerned.

He had the Flossflower Spirit Tree. Even if he failed to reach Foundation Establishment before sixty, he could still improve his spiritual roots and achieve longevity.

…

Bi Zhou and Shu Yao left the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion with smiles on their faces, clearly delighted with their shopping. After wandering through the market and finding nothing else to buy, they left for the west outer city of Qing'an.

Li Guanxuan lived in the east outer city, which was closer to the spiritual veins and thus rich in spiritual energy. The west outer city, being farther from the veins, had rents only half as much as in the east, making it a popular settlement for many cultivators. Though the spiritual energy was weaker, patrols by city guards made it much safer than the slums.

Li Guanxuan did not follow too closely, for as soon as he left, he noticed no fewer than eight vengeful cultivators tailing Bi Zhou.

“These vengeful cultivators are all around the fourth stage of Qi Refinement, with only one at the fifth… What a pity. Bi Zhou has already noticed them and is pretending not to, probably intending to lure them in and kill them,” Li Guanxuan thought.

He didn’t feel too sorry about it, since both Bi Zhou and Shu Yao were marked with his talisman; wherever they went, he would know. And even if these vengeful cultivators failed to kill Bi Zhou, at least they would force out some of his hidden cards and lower his vigilance, making it easier for Li to strike in the future.

Soon, Bi Zhou left through the west gate and stopped only in the slums of the western outskirts.

Li Guanxuan was surprised—he had thought Bi Zhou and Shu Yao were staying in the west outer city, but apparently, Bi Zhou was still preying on the bottom-tier itinerant cultivators.

…

“Gentlemen, there’s no need to hide any longer. Come out,” Bi Zhou said with a bright smile, his gaze burning as he looked behind him. “You’ve followed me all the way from the market—aren’t you tired?”

In an instant, the eight vengeful cultivators attacked without a word, some drawing blades, others nocking arrows, others striking with their palms…

Yet, arrays of talisman formations suddenly rose, enveloping the entire slum and cutting it off from the outside world.

“What’s happening?”

“Damn it, it’s vengeful cultivators! Vengeful cultivators!”

“Run!”

“Damn, there’s no way out! There’s a barrier!”

“Who is it? Which heartless bastard even preys on paupers?!”

…

Panic erupted among the slum’s residents as they scattered in all directions. The strongest among them were only at the third stage of Qi Refinement, utterly incapable of breaking through the robust formations.

As the eight vengeful cultivators’ attacks fell, Bi Zhou made his move as well. At the same time, several other cultivators leapt out from behind him, brandishing magical tools and clashing with the vengeful ones.

“Hahaha, who would’ve thought there’d be such a windfall? Alchemist Bi, you’ve done quite a service!” one cultivator roared with laughter after instantly killing a fourth-stage vengeful cultivator.

“Enough nonsense! Finish off everyone and let’s get out of here!” barked an outer disciple of Luoyue Valley, clad in the sect’s robe.

“Heh, what’s with the act? Even sect disciples have fallen so low as to become vengeful cultivators now?” someone sneered.

“Chou the Second, are you looking for death?” another outer disciple shot back menacingly.

Sensing a fight brewing among them, Bi Zhou hurried to smooth things over. “Gentlemen, let’s not quarrel at a critical moment—let’s deal with the problem at hand first! We’re all just here for profit!”

“It’s Bi Zhou!”

“That scoundrel—I knew he was no good!”

“If we can’t escape, then we’ll fight him to the death!”

…

The slum dwellers roared in fury. Seeing that Bi Zhou’s side had several fifth-stage Qi Refiners and with the vengeful cultivators’ help, they rushed in to attack. For these destitute itinerants, survival meant nothing but desperate struggle.

Chaos reigned.

But on Bi Zhou’s side stood the three leaders of the Black Bamboo Stronghold, six outer disciples of Luoyue Valley, and all three Chou brothers. Besides two outer disciples and Chou the Eldest—who were at the fifth stage—the rest were fourth-stage cultivators. Wiping out the slum dwellers posed little challenge.

…

Outside the slum.

Roughly two miles away, Li Guanxuan watched the formations rise and understood what was happening.

Bi Zhou wasn’t just exterminating one household—he was killing every last resident of the slum!

A feast in a single sitting.

“Good thing I didn’t follow them in, or I’d be in real trouble…”

Li Guanxuan’s face grew grave. If not for his caution, he might have been trapped inside the array, perhaps even in mortal danger.

Night fell.

Even from two miles away, Li Guanxuan could smell the spreading stench of blood.

The slaughter was over.

After looting the corpses, Bi Zhou and his accomplices scattered like frightened birds, not lingering a moment longer in the slum. It would not be long before the city guards of Qing'an would arrive at the scene.

“Here’s my chance!”

Li Guanxuan narrowed his eyes, stuck another Concealment Talisman to himself, and fixed his gaze on the face of every person leaving the slum. Then, he quietly mounted his sword and slipped away without leaving a trace.

…

PS: Please vote for recommendations!!!