Chapter 366: Secret Passage

Ma Wentao, the gatekeeper of the Yuanshun Escort Agency, rushed to the back courtyard of the agency like a monkey the moment Duan Rong and Xiao Yu entered, to inform Ruan Fengshan of the matter.

Upon learning this, Ruan Fengshan immediately instructed the guards in the back courtyard to try their best to stop Duan Rong and Xiao Yu. But if they truly could not be stopped, they were not to fight them, just let them in.

Then he summoned four or five capable secret agents, ordering them to follow Duan Rong and Xiao Yu from a distance and to determine the general scope of their activities at all times.

After making these preparations, Ruan Fengshan immediately slipped into the Sealed Treasury in the back courtyard, and following the secret mechanism passage in the Sealed Treasury, walked into the Mandala Secret Chamber that had been expanded next to the treasury over the past three years.

Inside the Mandala Secret Chamber, there were statues of the Five-Passage Gods and an altar.

Ruan Fengshan hurried through the Mandala Secret Chamber and turned a hidden mechanism on the stone wall; the stone wall in front of him trembled slightly, and with a rumbling sound, a stone door opened before his eyes.

Ruan Fengshan stepped over the stone door and entered the secret passage; he reached out and twisted something inside the passage, and the stone door behind him rumbled shut once more.

In the secret passage illuminated by candlelight, Ruan Fengshan's face was livid as he walked forward. This secret passage led to the County Government Office and connected to another secret chamber beneath the back courtyard of the County Government Office.

Ruan Fengshan was the Helmsman of the Xiangu Branch of the Filthy Blood Sect.

Although Sun Qian was ostensibly the magistrate of Xiangu County, he was also a member of the Filthy Blood Sect, and the order given to him by the Yuanyang Hall of the Filthy Blood Sect was to turn Xiangu County into an impregnable stronghold.

At first, the two acted independently, but Sun Qian was an outsider after all and could not truly understand many of the deep-seated conditions in Xiangu County; in this regard, he was in great need of the help of Ruan Fengshan, a local snake.

Therefore, starting from the second year, the two began to cooperate.

Who knows how many of their plots were discussed throughout the night in that not-so-large secret chamber beneath the County Government Office and subsequently devised.

At this moment, it was the time between the hours of Shen and You in the afternoon, and Sun Qian was sitting there, reviewing official documents.

His eye sockets were deeply sunken, and the weariness on his face seemed to have seeped into his very bones.

Over these past three years, having to worry about the affairs of the Filthy Blood Sect while also worrying about the official business of the County Government Office, he had lost a whole circle of weight.

However, it was fortunate that he had a capable helper like Ruan Fengshan; he had managed to scrape through these three years, and basically, he had managed to pull together a team. Now, in this Xiangu County city, it could almost be said that the influence of the Filthy Blood Sect was present everywhere. His three years of hard work had finally not been in vain.

Sun Qian was reading an official document issued by the Administration Commissioner Office to all counties urging the collection of money, grain, and taxes; he rubbed his temples and sipped the ginseng tea at his side, when suddenly, a crisp tinkling of a bell sounded from a cabinet in the corner.

Sun Qian frowned; it was still daytime, why would Ruan Fengshan run to the secret chamber to find him? Could it be that something had happened again?

Sun Qian closed the document, struggled to get up, turned around the screen behind him, and came to the bed where he rested.

Sun Qian walked to a certain spot beneath the side of the bed and reached out to give it a light twist; hearing a "Crack!" sound, the middle of the bed actually rose up.

Sun Qian lifted the bedding and lowered himself through a hole in the center of the bed.

After Sun Qian's figure disappeared, the bed board returned to its original appearance.

Inside the secret chamber beneath the back courtyard of the Ya Men, Ruan Fengshan sat on a rather crude wooden chair, his expression uncertain.

Not long after he had rung the bell, footsteps sounded from the stairs on the other side of the secret chamber.

Before long, a figure walked out from the shadows of the stairs; it was none other than the weary-faced Sun Qian.

Sun Qian walked down the stairs, looked at Ruan Fengshan sitting there, and asked bluntly: "What happened? Coming to find me at this time?"

Both were capable men; usually, when discussing matters, they went straight to the point and rarely stood on ceremony.

"Big Brother!" As soon as Ruan Fengshan saw Sun Qian walk out, he immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and called out, then said: "Duan Rong and Xiao Yu have returned!"

"Duan Rong? Xiao Yu?" Sun Qian's brows twisted into a "chuan" shape.

Although the matter of Xiao Zongting had happened half a month ago, Ruan Fengshan had already told Sun Qian that he had a daughter named Xiao Yu and an apprentice named Duan Rong, who were Sect Registered Disciples.

Ruan Fengshan said: "Yes. They just entered Xiangu County city this afternoon."

"Can you confirm their identities? Are they Outer Sect Disciples, or dismissed Registered Disciples?" Sun Qian walked to a wooden chair with somewhat heavy steps and said as he sat down.

Ruan Fengshan said: "There is no definite news yet."

"Then, based on your understanding of the two of them, what do you think?" Sun Qian looked at Ruan Fengshan and asked.

Ruan Fengshan pondered for a moment and said: "Xiao Yu is not certain, but that one called Duan Rong should be capable of advancing to an Outer Sect Disciple."

What Ruan Fengshan based this on was naturally Duan Rong's cultivation talent; in only a year, he had gone from a Miscellaneous Disciple to the Great Success Realm of the Inner Breath Realm. At this moment, the stunning battle between Duan Rong and Tao Rong in front of the County Government Office during the Selection of Heroes three years ago still flashed through his mind!

Hearing this, the weariness between Sun Qian's brows seemed to grow even heavier. If they were dismissed Registered Disciples, it would be fine to just surround and kill them.

If they were Outer Sect Disciples, it would be somewhat troublesome.

If a newly advanced Outer Sect Disciple were killed upon returning home, it would very likely trigger a thorough investigation by the Sect.

The order given to him by Ge Qinglei, the Hall Master of the Yuanyang Hall, was to turn Xiangu County into an impregnable stronghold. Over the past three years, this place had only just begun to show results; many areas still needed to be strengthened and perfected, and it was far from the time to be exposed.

More than a month ago, he had written a detailed report to Ge Qinglei. In the report, he wrote about his management philosophy for the Xiangu County stronghold for the following years: build high walls, store grain widely, sharpen weapons and train soldiers, and wait for the opportune moment.

Ge Qinglei highly praised this report of his and said that he would apply to the Filthy Blood Sect's main altar to give him commendations and further resource support.

After Sun Qian received Ge Qinglei's reply, he was naturally overjoyed. A commendation that required an application to the main altar was not of an ordinary level.

Moreover, the further resource support that Ge Qinglei mentioned was likely support from the main altar side. If this Xiangu County stronghold were directly placed under the leadership of the main altar, then his rank within the Filthy Blood Sect could directly jump two levels, making him almost equal in rank to a Hall Master like Ge Qinglei!

After pondering, Sun Qian suddenly said: "First send a message to the Hall, let them confirm the identities of the two through the Ya Men side. If it is as you expect, that Xiao Yu can be killed. As for that Duan Rong, if he is truly an Outer Sect Disciple, think of a way to scare him so that he knows to retreat in the face of difficulties."

Ruan Fengshan's eyes flickered as he contemplated Sun Qian's strategy. He basically felt it was feasible; Xiao Zongting was already dead, and even if Duan Rong had some connection to the Xiaojia, if Xiao Yu also died, and they set up a trap to bluff him, he surely wouldn't risk his own life for the sake of the Xiaojia.

Just at this moment, a bell hanging in a corner of the secret chamber suddenly began to tinkle.

Ruan Fengshan glanced sideways and discovered it was the bell for the secret passage he had come through; he stood up abruptly, a bad premonition rising in his heart.

Ruan Fengshan walked quickly to a stone wall and pressed a hidden mechanism; following a sound, the stone door in front of him trembled and then opened of its own accord.

He saw a short youth standing behind the stone door.

This youth was the leader of the group of secret agents he had sent out.

As soon as Ruan Fengshan saw the youth, he frowned and said: "What happened?"

The youth's face was bashful as he said: "We lost them."

"What?! You lost them?" Ruan Fengshan was greatly shocked.

Ruan Fengshan had thought that Duan Rong and Xiao Yu had done something outrageous and this youth had come to report it. Honestly, even if Duan Rong and Xiao Yu had killed their way into the back courtyard of the Escort Agency, he wouldn't have felt strange at all. After all, the person who died was Xiao Yu's father!

The hatred of killing a father is irreconcilable!

But he really hadn't expected that this group of secret agents he had personally selected and trained would actually lose them. Even if it were himself, if he were bitten by these four or five people from a distance, it would be very difficult to shake them off.

"How did you lose them?" Ruan Fengshan asked with a livid face.

The youth said: "We were discovered, and we were all knocked unconscious."

Ruan Fengshan was silent, but the shock in his heart was even greater. They had all been discovered, and all of them had been knocked unconscious.

These secret agents were all equipped with specialized gear, and they were carefully cultivated by him, costing him much effort; not only was their Lightness Skill remarkable, but they were also extremely adept at concealment. Who exactly could have locked onto all of them? Could it be that there was someone behind Duan Rong and Xiao Yu?!

Ruan Fengshan did not believe that Duan Rong and Xiao Yu possessed such ability.

"You may go," Ruan Fengshan barked coldly at the youth.

The youth, as if relieved of a heavy burden, turned and left.

After the youth left, the stone door closed on its own with a boom.

Ruan Fengshan turned his head to look at Sun Qian and said, "The two of them are at most at the first or second level of the True Qi Realm. Those secret agents were following them from afar from different directions. I required those secret agents to only lock onto their general location. However, they were still all knocked unconscious by someone."

As Ruan Fengshan spoke, his expression became extremely ugly.

Sun Qian said, "You suspect there is someone behind them?"

"Perhaps." Ruan Fengshan's gaze shifted slightly.

Sun Qian said, "It could also be that they have some special means."

"Special means?"

Sun Qian said, "We should still proceed according to the strategy from just now. Even if there is someone behind them, we can force that person out. If that person is unwilling to show themselves, it means they do not wish to get involved. Then, both sides will be fine."

Ruan Fengshan nodded. After getting along for these three years, he found that Sun Qian's greatest strength was his decisiveness, which was perhaps why he was sent to Xiangu County.

"Oh, right," Sun Qian said, "Should tomorrow's banquet proceed as usual?"

A look of hesitation flashed across Ruan Fengshan's face. Right now, the Yuanshun Escort Agency was likely being watched closely by Duan Rong and Xiao Yu. However, how to deal with them would have to wait until their identities were confirmed from the Hall.

And for these two or three days, Ruan Fengshan could only lie low to avoid a direct confrontation with Xiao Yu and Duan Rong.

"Should we postpone it for a few days?" Ruan Fengshan said tentatively.

Sun Qian chuckled and said, "What? Two fledglings who just stepped into the pugilistic world have scared you like this. I think we should proceed as usual; let all the brothers come so we can discuss it. Besides, with thirteen of us experts in the True Qi Realm gathered together, are we still afraid of the two of them?"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Fengshan pondered for a moment. What Sun Qian said was not wrong; after confirming the identities of Duan Rong and Xiao Yu, the subsequent actions would require the cooperation of all the brothers, so discussing it first was indeed more appropriate.

Ruan Fengshan said, "Alright then. But let's change the location; instead of the Mandala next to the Sealed Treasury of my Yuanshun Escort Agency, let's go to the Secret Chamber Mandala in Wei Yutian's old courtyard."

Sun Qian's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "That works. You find someone to notify the brothers."

"Good!"

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and shadows were already moving at the street stalls, with steam rising up...

Duan Rong crouched cowering in a corner of a wall, curling his body into a ball like a quail.

In fact, he was not cold; with his cultivation at the True Qi Realm Great Perfection, he had long been unafraid of the bitter cold.

But in such weather, a ragged little beggar would certainly be very cold.

Duan Rong cowered, feigning sleep, but his Divine Sense had already been unleashed, completely enveloping the surrounding blocks.

Duan Rong lay in that spot until the Si hour of the morning, with the sun already high, before he slowly got up.

A little beggar like this appeared on the street, and no one cared; people walking past the spot where he lay all detoured far away.

Duan Rong stood up, yawning while walking alone along the alleyway. His head was full of grease and dirt, and his face was covered in sores; everyone he met along the way avoided him and walked along the other side of the alley.

Duan Rong followed the alleyway to the vicinity of the teahouse, and only then did he lie down in a spot in an alley not far from the teahouse where the sun could shine.

The sunlight shone on his body, warm and cozy, and Duan Rong almost fell asleep.

In his previous life, he had been a beast of burden for half his life, working himself to death every day, only to earn enough money to make ends meet.

In this life, seeing that he had obtained an opportunity, he could not waste it either; he spent every day in frantic, bitter cultivation. Thinking about it, it seemed no different from his previous life.

He suddenly felt that those so-called successful people were also just trapped in their own success. Just as he was trapped in the opportunity of this life.

If it weren't for the dream of longevity still dangling him along, he would really want to just lie flat and be done with it.

He had only been a beggar for half a day, and he already felt it was too great.

However, Duan Rong still pulled himself together.

By this Si hour, the guests in the teahouse would slowly increase. The teahouse was a sea of information, and this was the perfect time for him to gather intelligence.

Duan Rong instantly used his Divine Sense to completely envelop the entire teahouse.

As time passed, the guests in the teahouse became more and more numerous, with people of all kinds of identities.

In fact, this way of gathering information was still quite exhausting.

Because three years ago, whenever Duan Rong came to the teahouse to gather information, many details were just scanned over, because he lived in Xiangu County and already knew many things.

But now it was different; he had not returned for three years. Whatever those people were chatting about, no matter how trivial, he had to listen carefully.

This situation was like watching dozens or hundreds of movies at the same time, and you had to carefully watch and understand the plot information of every single one.

Therefore, after one hour, Duan Rong was already slightly exhausted.

However, in this one hour, his harvest was also enormous.

Duan Rong really did not expect that in three years, Xiangu County had undergone such a great change, and the major forces had actually all been looted.

This new magistrate really had a heaven-reaching hand!

(End of chapter)