Chapter 475: Fatty Duan

In the pitch-black night, Zhu He transformed into a streak of black light in the high sky where the stars and moon hung low, vanishing toward Changliu Mountain amidst the dim, flowing light.

Although Zhu He had not stayed in the dense forest for long, Yang Sixuan had already taken Pei Du and Jiang Zhe away, leaving no trace, far beyond the range he could detect.

Yang Sixuan is only fifty-some years old this year, the youngest Dongming Realm powerhouse in the Elder Council; during the Yougu test back then, he, like Duan Rong, was just half a step away from stepping onto the Altar.

For these past few decades, he has clung to Chu Qiushan's coattails, and in terms of cultivation resources, one could say he has had everything he needed without lack, and he has also held the reins of the Ruling Sect Justice Division for many years.

In terms of seniority, he is naturally still shallow, but as for this person's future achievements, that is hard to say!

Zhu He felt that after he himself became Sect Master, the next Sect Master might very well be him.

Of course, there are other possibilities...

Zhu He thought to this point, his brows knitting slightly. Duan Rong's growth was clearly even more terrifying than Yang Sixuan's; at the very least, it was impossible for Yang Sixuan to have achieved the Origin Qi Realm Fourth Layer in just over half a year, and even more impossible to comprehend Artistic Conception while still in the Origin Qi Realm.

Thinking this way, Zhu He felt his thoughts had wandered too far, so he pulled them back; he saw the dark mountain range below with faint mist surging, and he still had important matters before him to handle.

Ge Rusong had exhausted layers of painstaking effort to establish Taihe Tower, hiding it in the secular world to monitor officials and hold the imperial court in check. But this time, Duan Rong had uprooted it entirely.

Moreover, that kid Duan Rong acted with such secrecy, speed, and ruthlessness that he had almost wiped out all the ambush points on the outskirts of Taihe Tower before they could even be withdrawn.

Not only did he dig up Ge Rusong's roots, but he also seized evidence of the intricate ties between the Office of Transmission and Taihe Tower. Duan Rong had completed this mission even better than he had initially anticipated.

This kid not only had talent in cultivation, but when doing things, he was also meticulous and quite methodical.

"This old man truly did not misjudge him," Zhu He could not help but sigh in his heart.

Zhu He had pondered and designed this chess game for a long time, exhausting his mental energy, and his various layouts and informants had been laid out over a thousand miles long ago. But in the end, he still chose Duan Rong as the core piece to move this entire game. This decision was one he had also reached after repeated consideration and examination.

Looking back at this journey, many of Duan Rong's actions had actually exceeded his expectations.

This kid is somewhat like my Disciple Gu Daoling in cultivation, but in terms of scheming and conduct, he is quite like this old man!

A kid with a future!

"Such a good disciple, yet he fell into my, Zhu He's, pocket; heaven truly has pity!" Zhu He could not hide the wild joy in his heart, but his speed did not diminish in the slightest as he whistled through the high sky...

Now, Ge Rusong has been confirmed of two major crimes!

The first: monitoring officials and holding the imperial court in check in the secular world. This carries the suspicion of usurpation and treason.

The second: he masterminded the ambush and killing of a Sect direct disciple by Pei Du and Jiang Zhe; this crime is far greater than the previous one.

Two major crimes together are enough to crush him.

However, Chu Qiushan and Ge Rusong still have some friendship. Even so, the lightest punishment for Ge Rusong will be expulsion from the Elder Council and stripping of all status. Although he has the cultivation of the Dongming Realm, he will only be able to become a marginalized person in the future, and he will be forever confined within Changliu Mountain, forbidden from leaving without authorization. A Seed Character will be planted in his body by the Sect Ancestor.

But Zhu He feels this is not enough; his consistent principle is to cut weeds and eliminate roots—if you don't beat a snake to death, there is no guarantee it won't bite you back when it spots an opportunity.

At the very least, he must cripple Ge Rusong's cultivation for him to feel at ease.

Ge Rusong must already know that Taihe Tower has been taken down.

But he probably does not yet know that Pei Du and Jiang Zhe have been brought back to the Ruling Sect Justice Division by Yang Sixuan; he must use people from the Ruling Sect Justice Division to ensure Ge Rusong's informants planted there find out about this as soon as possible, Zhu He thought, his eyes flickering.

In the dense forest, Duan Rong dug a large pit by the campfire and buried Ruyi; beside the grave mound, he inserted a tombstone. Under the reflection of the firelight, one could see it inscribed: Grave of Yan Yueru.

Duan Rong stood there for a while, then his figure leaped, drifting into the dense forest like a fallen leaf, and he vanished in an instant.

At this time, it was the darkest hour before dawn. Zhu Zhengfu was sleeping soundly in the room of a concubine, on the bed. He was snoring slightly, and a petite woman beside him was lying on his shoulder, exposing a small portion of her fair, tender shoulder, smooth as silk.

Not far from the bed with hanging gauze curtains, a black shadow suddenly stood there.

That black shadow appeared there abruptly and stood motionless, like a ghost in the dark night.

After about several breaths, the black shadow seemed to sigh lightly, deliberately.

In the quiet inner chamber, this sigh was somewhat jarring.

Although Zhu Zhengfu had grown accustomed to a life of luxury in recent years, he was, after all, a Martial Artist of the True Qi Realm Fourth Layer, and his six senses were far sharper than an ordinary person's.

In the quiet room, the moment that sigh sounded, he immediately jumped up, grabbed the saber at the head of the bed, and shouted, "Who is it?"

"It is I!"

Unexpectedly, a familiar voice came.

"My Lord?" Zhu Zhengfu's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

The voice in the darkness was clearly Duan Rong's.

In the pitch-black night, Duan Rong had infiltrated the Zhu residence, used his Divine Sense to probe, quickly locked onto Zhu Zhengfu's location, and slipped inside.

"Lord Zhu, I am waiting for you outside!"

After saying this, Duan Rong walked out of the inner chamber, bypassed the screen, walked into the darkness, and sat down on a grand armchair in the front hall.

Zhu Zhengfu put down the saber in his hand, a flash of suspicion rising in his heart: why did this Lord Duan come into someone's room for no reason? It's a good thing I wasn't in the middle of cloud and rain with my concubine, otherwise how awkward that would be!

Zhu Zhengfu actually quite enjoyed doing that deed before dawn, but he had been a bit tired these past few days and slept more heavily; otherwise, if it were any other day, perhaps at this moment, he would be on the bed, tossing and turning in passion...

With a series of movements, Zhu Zhengfu had already pushed aside the quilt, and the concubine sleeping on the side was woken up, shouting vaguely, "In the middle of the night, what are you doing, Master?"

He pulled the quilt and covered the beautiful concubine, soothing her, "It's nothing, go to sleep."

As Zhu Zhengfu spoke, he patted the shoulder she was lying on, and the concubine, already deep in sleep, drifted off again. Only then did he get off the bed, wearing only his nightclothes, put on his boots, walked in the dark to the cupboard, picked up the Fire Folder on top, lit a lantern, and carried it out.

Duan Rong sat in the darkness, and seeing Zhu Zhengfu walk out wearing nightclothes and carrying a lantern, he said, "Lord Zhu, I apologize for disturbing your rest in the dead of night."

Zhu Zhengfu stood holding the lantern and said respectfully, "Not at all. For you to come at this hour, there must be something the matter."

Duan Rong nodded and said, "There is indeed a matter that requires your trouble, Lord."

As Duan Rong spoke, he reached out and gestured toward an empty seat not far away, saying, "Lord Zhu, sit and let us talk."

"Thank you, My Lord." Zhu Zhengfu walked over, placed the lantern on the side table, and sat down.

Duan Rong said, "Lord Zhu, let me ask you. Was the Ruyi by my side the 'thin horse' you bought from the courtyard a few days ago?"

Zhu Zhengfu's expression was slightly awkward; such things are best understood in the heart, why point them out so clearly? But since Duan Rong had asked, he still replied, "Yes. This subordinate has already had someone verify it; the person is clean."

Duan Rong said, "This woman is an informant planted by Ge Rusong's side to be near me."

"What?!"

Zhu Zhengfu had barely sat down before he sprang up, his face filled with astonishment. Duan Rong's tone was calm, but to Zhu Zhengfu's ears, it was no less than a thunderclap.

He cupped his hands in panic and cried, "This subordinate truly did not know of this!"

Zhu Zhengfu did not doubt Duan Rong's judgment in the slightest; after all, even a hidden and treacherous stronghold like Taihe Tower had been completely wiped out by Duan Rong. How much more so for a mere spy by his side?

Duan Rong pressed his hand down, signaling him to sit, and soothed him in a slow voice: "Don't be so jumpy. I know this matter has nothing to do with you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhengfu felt slightly more at ease. He sat down again, his eyes darting, and said: "This subordinate was played by that Ya Gong. This subordinate will take men right now to raid his courtyard."

Duan Rong said: "He's long gone; you think he's still waiting for you?"

Hearing this, Zhu Zhengfu's expression froze, and a flash of annoyance crossed his eyes.

That Ya Gong was actually a distant relative of his own family. If not for this connection, he would never have obtained a 'slender horse' from that fellow to serve Duan Rong.

He hadn't expected that in trying to curry favor, he would end up kicking the horse's hoof. He had botched the whole affair.

Duan Rong paid no mind to Zhu Zhengfu's current thoughts and said: "Although Ruyi was sold to you by that Ya Gong, this woman passed messages outward through the cook in your manor."

"The cook?" Zhu Zhengfu's expression was one of shock. "It's Xu Pangzi!?"

Duan Rong said: "That cook has been in your manor for a few years now, hasn't he?"

A wave of lingering fear washed over Zhu Zhengfu's heart. "Xu Pangzi is someone this subordinate poached from a large restaurant. This fellow is actually a spy too?!"

Duan Rong said: "He might not have been originally. It's just that once he entered your manor, Ge Rusong's side would have tried every possible means to recruit him. If he had any weaknesses, it would be even easier to bring him under control."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhengfu nodded. He felt that Duan Rong's deduction was likely the truth of the matter. His status was indeed sensitive, and furthermore, this was a turbulent autumn nearing the transition of the next Sect Master.

The people around him were indeed prime targets for Ge Rusong to turn. It seemed that after this matter, he would have to thoroughly screen the people in his manor.

Thinking of the cook in his home being a spy made his scalp crawl. He was responsible for the three daily meals of his several concubines; if he just added a little poison, his entire family would be wiped out.

Duan Rong suddenly stood up, looked at Zhu Zhengfu, and said: "Where does that Xu Pangzi live? Take me there."

Zhu Zhengfu was just thinking of his lingering fears when he was interrupted by Duan Rong. He stood up in a panic, grabbed a lantern, and led Duan Rong toward the servants' quarters.

Xu Pangzi's treatment was quite good; he lived in a separate courtyard.

The two walked to the courtyard gate, and when the lantern light shone on it, they saw that the gate was actually locked. That Xu Pangzi was not in the courtyard.

Duan Rong's gaze tightened, and he suddenly released his Divine Sense, sweeping through the inside and outside of the courtyard.

After sweeping through it once, he felt slightly relieved; the inside of the room did not look like someone had fled in a panic.

Only then did Duan Rong ask in a deep voice: "That Xu Pangzi isn't here?"

Zhu Zhengfu said: "This old fellow is quite fond of whoring in Gou Lan Yuan. He goes twice every month; I'm afraid he snuck off to Gou Lan Yuan again last night."

Hearing this, Duan Rong's eyes flickered. As long as he hadn't escaped, it was fine. He looked at Zhu Zhengfu and said: "Official Zhu, you go back first. Not a single word of what I discussed with you can be leaked. If word gets out, don't blame Duan Rong for not considering our friendship."

Zhu Zhengfu's heart trembled, and he hurriedly said: "Rest assured, Official, this subordinate would not dare." After he finished speaking, he bowed to Duan Rong and retreated from the place.

Duan Rong waited until Zhu Zhengfu had walked a bit further away before suddenly leaping, drifting into the courtyard like a falling leaf and landing lightly.

He stood at the entrance of the main room. The door to the main room was also locked, but the door panels were already somewhat warped. Even though it was locked, the gap was quite large; a slightly smaller child could probably crawl through.

In the darkness, a series of crackling bone-popping sounds suddenly erupted from Duan Rong's entire body. Amidst these sounds, his figure shrank circle by circle.

A few breaths later, Duan Rong squeezed through the gap in the door.

When the sky was just beginning to brighten, Xu Pangzi walked out of the alley of Gou Lan Yuan. His gait was somewhat unsteady; after a whole night of activity, his legs had turned to jelly.

Xu Pangzi entered the Zhu manor and headed toward the kitchen first.

Over at the kitchen, steaming hot air was already rising, and the figure of Xiao Guo was busy amidst the firelight and white mist.

Breakfast was relatively simple. Xu Pangzi had prepared everything that needed to be prepared the night before, and left the rest for Xiao Guo to finish the next morning. This way, he could sleep in.

Xu Pangzi entered the kitchen, took a look at the various breakfast items, gave Xiao Guo a couple of instructions, then left the kitchen and headed toward the courtyard where he lived.

Once he went back, he could sleep until the lunch hour.

Xu Pangzi hummed a little tune as he arrived at the courtyard gate, fished out his key, opened the gate, stepped inside, turned around to close the gate, and slid the bolt. Then, while twirling the key in his hand, he walked across the courtyard.

He arrived at the door of the main room. In the darkness, his hand felt around and gripped the key to the main room. He opened the creaky, warped door, hummed his tune, and stepped inside. Just as he was about to turn and close the door, he heard a voice suddenly ring out from the darkness behind him like a ghost: "Back already?"

Xu Pangzi's heart trembled, and his scalp felt as if it had been electrocuted.

In that instant, he stumbled and almost wet himself in fear. He gripped the door, turned his head to look into the heavy darkness behind him, and asked timidly: "Who? Who's there?"

He suspected he had misheard just now; what he feared most right now was that something would actually answer him.

A few breaths later, there was complete silence in the darkness; there seemed to be no response.

Xu Pangzi let out a long sigh and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He confirmed that he must have misheard just now. He was just scaring himself.

Just then, a black shadow suddenly walked slowly out from the depths of the heavy darkness. The moonlight shining in through the door illuminated the shadow; it was clearly a person.

Xu Pangzi's breath hitched, and he froze there, his whole body turning cold and his scalp tingling. Just as he was about to scream, the figure flickered and arrived in an instant, fast as a ghost, and gripped his throat.

Xu Pangzi had never seen anyone so fast! He even doubted whether the thing that had walked out of the darkness was truly human.

Duan Rong arrived in a flash, gripped Xu Pangzi's neck with one hand, lifted him up, and asked with a fixed gaze: "Speak! How did you pass on the messages Ruyi gave you?"

Being gripped by Duan Rong, Xu Pangzi had difficulty breathing and couldn't speak at all.

Duan Rong held him up like that, and seeing his face turn purple, he suddenly dropped his hand, letting his feet touch the ground, and loosened his grip on his neck slightly.

Xu Pangzi gasped for air, his throat making a sound like wind tearing through it. He glanced at the person before him.

Under the faint moonlight, he saw a fellow with a cold, stern expression.

"If you don't want to die, answer my question."

(End of chapter)