Chapter 291: The Strange Person in the Wild Mountains

On the Official Road nearly eighty kilometers from the city of Xiangu County, following a burst of hoofbeats as urgent as rolling thunder, two black dots appeared on the undulating hills in the distance.

Yu Lieting and Xiao Nan, each riding a fast horse, had set out from Jiuzhong County before dawn. They galloped along small paths the entire way, finally arriving at the time and place agreed upon in the Hall's secret order.

After rushing down the hill and running for a stretch, Yu Lieting suddenly reined in his horse and stopped. He turned his head to look at Xiao Nan, who had halted beside him, and said, "Twelve li west of Funiu Mountain, inside the Wild Forest on the south side. Xiao Nan, is this the place?"

Xiao Nan reined in his horse; the horse's nose was panting heavily, and it kept shifting about. Xiao Nan scrutinized the dense, tall Wild Forest beside the Official Road and said, "Helmsman, that's right! It is here!"

"Let's go! Let's go in and take a look." Yu Lieting jumped off his horse, led it off the Official Road, and walked into the wild land on the south side.

Xiao Nan followed behind Yu Lieting. Both were experts of the True Qi Realm, their hearing and vision far sharper than ordinary people's, and they walked while paying attention to the movements around them.

They had only walked a short distance when a figure suddenly jumped down from a tall tree not far away, landing lightly and silently, clearly possessing excellent Lightness Skill.

Yu Lieting and Xiao Nan were both full of vigilance. The two of them were only a zhang or so away from that tree, yet neither had noticed the person hiding in the leaves.

The person was thin and long, wearing a straw hat woven from leaves on their head and a tight-fitting brown garment on their body. The garment was almost the same color as the tree trunk, and even their face was smeared with scorched-yellow paint.

As soon as that person saw Yu Lieting and Xiao Nan, they asked with an unfriendly tone, "The password?"

Yu Lieting's eyelids twitched. He looked at the person and replied, "Firefly, guinea pig."

Upon hearing Yu Lieting's words, the person's expression clearly relaxed. They gave an ugly smile and said, "So it is a fellow member from the Ninefold Branch."

Yu Lieting and Xiao Nan exchanged a glance. The fact that the other party knew who they were as soon as they reported the password showed that for this operation, everyone's password was different.

From this, it could be seen that the confidentiality level of this operation within the Tainted Blood Divine Sect had reached the highest, top-secret level.

The person said, "Have you two seen that broken, fallen withered pine tree? Not far past that withered pine into the dense forest is the meeting place. My Miss Qingchuan is waiting inside the dense forest to welcome you all."

Yu Lieting looked in the direction the person was pointing and indeed saw a thick, broken, withered pine tree.

Yu Lieting, leading his horse, was about to walk toward the withered pine.

The person, however, suddenly said, "I must ask you two to leave your horses behind!"

Yu Lieting turned his head upon hearing this. The person was already standing in front of Xiao Nan. Xiao Nan looked at Yu Lieting with an inquiring expression. Yu Lieting's gaze shifted slightly, and he nodded at Xiao Nan.

Xiao Nan handed the reins to the person. The person took the reins but suddenly struck a palm against the lower part of the horse's left elbow—the exact location of the horse's heart. True Qi penetrated into the horse's belly, and the horse's heart instantly turned into mush.

The black steed did not even let out a low whinny before its two front hooves splayed out, and it knelt to the ground, its breathing already stopped...

"You..."

Xiao Nan was instantly furious, and seeing this, he was about to strike.

"Xiao Nan!"

Yu Lieting called him to a halt, because from that palm the person struck the horse with, Yu Lieting had already seen that they were an expert of the True Qi Realm.

"Helmsman, this person is too rude! Black Mountain has been with me for over two years, and he just killed him like that!" Xiao Nan was clearly still angry.

The person, however, said expressionlessly, "This is the order of my Miss Qingchuan. All horses must be killed to avoid any carelessness where a horse might be startled and neigh, exposing our tracks!"

"What Miss Qingchuan?!"

"Xiao Nan, hold your tongue! Do not be rude!" As soon as Yu Lieting saw Xiao Nan speaking disrespectfully, he immediately reprimanded him.

Xiao Nan did not know who the Miss Qingchuan the person spoke of was, but Yu Lieting, as the Helmsman of the Ninefold Branch, knew very well.

The Miss Qingchuan the person spoke of was the daughter of Ge Leiqing, the Hall Master of the Yuanyang Hall of the Filthy Blood Sect—Ge Qingchuan.

Just now, when Yu Lieting heard the person mention Miss Qingchuan, his heart stirred. He had not expected that for this operation in Xiangu County, Ge Qingchuan would be leading the team in person.

The person snorted coldly, glared at Xiao Nan, and then walked to the front of Yu Lieting. Yu Lieting handed the reins into the person's hand. The person similarly struck a palm, killing Yu Lieting's horse, and then, circulating his True Qi, he dragged one horse carcass in each hand and walked slowly into the dense forest.

Yu Lieting glanced at the person's back before turning to look at Xiao Nan and saying, "Let's go. When we return to the Branch, I will pick another good horse for you."

Xiao Nan sighed and followed Yu Lieting toward the broken, fallen pine tree.

Yu Lieting and Xiao Nan walked past the broken pine tree and continued into the dense forest for a stretch when suddenly, the view opened up; a fairly large clearing had appeared before them.

Moreover, in the clearing, there were already more than ten figures, their appearances and postures varied. Some sat cross-legged in silence, while others gathered together, whispering about something...

As soon as Yu Lieting walked out, someone looked at him and smiled, "Helmsman Yu, your Jiuzhong County is so close to this place. How come you still arrived right on time?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Lieting immediately cupped his hands and said, "It is Helmsman Dang! I am indeed close, and I am familiar with the road to this Xiangu County, so I knew I wouldn't miss the hour, which is why I arrived just in time."

The person speaking with Yu Lieting was named Dang Haihong, the Helmsman of the Cangfang Branch. Cangfang County was certainly not just "a little" far from here.

After Yu Lieting greeted Dang Haihong, he and Xiao Nan found a corner and sat down cross-legged.

Only then did Yu Lieting carefully observe the various people in the clearing. After a round of observation, Yu Lieting realized that among this group, apart from Dang Haihong, he did not recognize a single one.

These people included a fortune teller holding a divination banner, a monk with moxibustion scars on his head, an old farmer with a face full of life's hardships, and a Master in brocade robes...

Yu Lieting had been in the sect for many years and knew the various rules of the Filthy Blood Sect well. The images of these people were likely not deliberate disguises, but their original identities.

They were originally fortune tellers, monks, old farmers, and Masters. After joining the Filthy Blood Sect, they would lie in wait according to their original identities, and only then would they be gradually incorporated into a certain organization to execute various missions...

As Yu Lieting sat there, his pupils suddenly constricted, for he had seen a familiar figure...

He would never have imagined that he would see this person here.

It was a beggar. He was on the edge of the clearing, leaning against a tree stump, lying on his side on the ground, his eyes half-closed as if asleep or awake, his hand constantly rubbing dirt off his body...

The reason Yu Lieting recognized this person at a glance was because this person was a beggar from the streets of his Jiuzhong County.

Yu Lieting had seen him year-round in many places in Jiuzhong County: at the foot of the city wall where there was sun in winter, by the roadside at the temple entrance, at the breakfast stall, and by the slop buckets of the restaurant at night...

He was just a mediocre beggar, and among a pile of beggars, one could not see anything special about him.

But at this moment, he was on the edge of the clearing diagonally opposite Yu Lieting.

Judging by the confidentiality level of this operation and the fact that Ge Qingchuan was leading the team in person, this operation was absolutely not simple. Those who could sit in this clearing would definitely not be weaklings.

This person was a member of the Filthy Blood Sect, and he had been lying in wait in Jiuzhong County for years, yet he was not on his own line of command.

This could not help but make Yu Lieting's mind churn.

"Helmsman, that beggar..." Xiao Nan said in a probing, whispered tone.

"I know." Yu Lieting said with a cold gaze, cutting off Xiao Nan's words. He did not want to discuss this matter with Xiao Nan here.

Just as Yu Lieting sat on the edge of the clearing, about half an incense stick later, two figures walked out from the depths of the dense forest.

One of them had skin like snow and delicate features, and though she wore tight-waisted men's clothing, everyone who had or had not seen her knew that the person walking out must be Ge Qingchuan.

Beside Ge Qingchuan followed a person of short stature. At first, everyone thought it was a young boy, but when he walked out of the dense forest and the sunlight shone on his face, everyone realized that it was actually a dwarf.

Although he was short in stature, his face was already full of the vicissitudes of life, covered in stubble.

Ge Qingchuan stood at the edge of the clearing, her gaze sweeping over the people in the field, then she looked at the dwarf beside her and asked, "Has everyone arrived?"

The dwarf had already counted the people who had come and immediately replied, "Mr. Fan Hanzhou has not yet arrived!"

Hearing the name of Mr. Fan Hanzhou, Yu Lieting's brow could not help but twitch, and he thought to himself: They even invited Fan Hanzhou! Xiangu County is truly lively this time!

Hearing that Fan Hanzhou had not yet arrived, Ge Qingchuan could not help but knit her brows.

Because the Hall Master of the Filthy Blood Sect's Yuanyang Prefecture Hall, Ge Qinglei, had his close confidants betray him, three Branches were wiped out in a short period of time, which could be called a heavy loss.

Later, Ge Qinglei personally laid out a plan and finally executed the traitors, but he himself was also severely injured during that operation.

But not long after, the Filthy Blood Case broke out in Xiangu County; Wei Yutian and Luan Jingfu died, Ruan Fengshan went into hiding, and the Xiangu Branch also almost fell into paralysis.

For one Hall to lose nearly four Branches within a year—when the accountability came down, Ge Qinglei would certainly be unable to shirk the blame.

In order to cope with the accountability, Ge Qinglei urgently needed a great victory!

He chose Xiangu County to ambush and annihilate this batch of newly promoted Registered Disciples and the Sect Emissary escorting them!

He chose Xiangu County, firstly because this county is located in a remote area with high mountains and dense forests, making it easy to take action. Secondly, because there are many mountains here and transportation is blocked, the subsequent transmission of news would be much slower. This gave them more time to maneuver for their follow-up actions.

If this matter were to be accomplished, even if it could not be said that the merits and demerits would cancel each other out, at least there would be a battle record to show, and the matter of accountability should be manageable.

Because the Taiyi Sect attaches great importance to every Selection of Heroes. If this batch of Registered Disciples and the guarding Sect Emissary were annihilated this time, it would be slapping the Taiyi Sect in the face! The Sect Leader would certainly be happy, and if the Sect Leader is happy, is accountability even an issue?

Precisely because this operation is so important, Ge Qinglei had Ge Qingchuan lead the team personally, striving to annihilate all targets without letting a single one escape!

Ge Qingchuan paused slightly.

Fan Hanzhou is a pivotal figure in this operation, but this person has always been arrogant, so she had begged her father to write a secret letter to him personally several days ago. She did not expect that even with her father's personal order, this person would still not show up when the time came!

Ge Qingchuan pondered for a moment and said to the dwarf beside her, "Since Mr. Fan Hanzhou has not arrived, we won't wait! Let's start first!"

After Ge Qingchuan finished speaking, she stepped forward, her eyes smiling, and said in a clear voice, "Everyone..."

Just as Ge Qingchuan opened her mouth, a huge black shadow suddenly rose from the ground in the center of the clearing, kicking up a large cloud of dust that fell from the sky like a sudden rain hitting lotus leaves...

Two people in the center of the clearing were knocked over by the huge black shadow, and the others were also startled, but only Ge Qingchuan smiled faintly the moment the shadow shot up.

A giant nearly a zhang tall was seen falling from high in the air, his large feet like platters, standing in the center of the clearing.

This person had a square face, a broad nose, and large eyes, looking just like a mountain of flesh. As he jumped up from the ground, the soil and dust he kicked up hit everyone's faces like a sudden rain. The people present all glared at him with annoyance, but upon seeing his figure, they all shut their mouths one after another.

Ge Qingchuan praised with a smile, "Mr. Fan Hanzhou's Zhelong Movement is truly miraculous!"

Fan Hanzhou looked at Ge Qingchuan and said in a hoarse voice, "Miss Qingchuan, why start without waiting for me?"

Ge Qingchuan lowered her head and smiled, "I did not anticipate the wonder of your Zhelong Art, sir; I hope you will forgive me."

Seeing Ge Qingchuan standing with her head bowed and a flower-like smile, speaking soft words, Fan Hanzhou's heart stirred, so he stopped making trouble and laughed, "I arrived a day earlier than you all and just took a big sleep underground here! I was sleeping perfectly well, but I was annoyed by some trivial matters of people fighting for favor and snatching men..."

As Fan Hanzhou spoke, he glared at two middle-aged women not far away.

Looking at the brows and eyes of those two women, they were actually a pair of sisters, but both were already over forty years old and both had bloated figures.

The two had just been sitting cross-legged where Fan Hanzhou jumped up, whispering about some trivial gossip.

Seeing Fan Hanzhou looking at them, their expressions turned cold. One of them said, "You silly giant, eavesdropping on others and being so rude!"

The two had been chatting in very low voices; if it weren't for Fan Hanzhou mentioning something about fighting for favor and snatching men, they really wouldn't have thought Fan Hanzhou could hear them.

But the two did not know that this Zhelong Art of Fan Hanzhou's allowed him to hear every sound within a hundred meters after entering meditation underground.

Their conversation was transmitted through air vibrations, receiving sound waves.

But because they were sitting cross-legged on the ground, the vibrations would pass directly into the ground through their bodies.

Their conversation was whispered, but it was very loud when it reached Fan Hanzhou's ears.

"Who are you calling a silly giant?!" Upon hearing this, Fan Hanzhou suddenly flew into a rage and clenched his fists, and a series of crackling explosions immediately followed, sounding like firecrackers going off.

The middle-aged woman who had spoken instantly turned pale with fright!

"Everyone is an honored guest! Could you please give me some face and get along!" Ge Qingchuan said, looking at Fan Hanzhou with smiling eyes.

"Mr. Fan Hanzhou, I apologize to you on behalf of Sister Tang. I hope you will calm your anger!"

Seeing Ge Qingchuan's gentle and amiable appearance, Fan Hanzhou glared at the woman and lowered his fists.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Ge Qingchuan was overjoyed. She turned her head to look at the dwarf and said, "Xiao Tang, distribute the targets for annihilation to everyone!"

The dwarf took off the backpack on his back and took out a locked wooden box from inside. His internal breath flickered in his palm, and he crushed the copper lock, opened the wooden box, and took out a stack of parchment.

The dwarf suddenly used his Lightness Skill, his figure flashing and darting as he stuffed the parchment into the hands of everyone present, one by one...

(End of this chapter)