Chapter 66: Rainy Night

Human lives matter more than heaven itself—but it depends on who the person is.

The petty thief who stole weapons died without causing even a ripple.

Li Rui acted as if nothing had happened.

He still read his books daily, and at most instructed Mao Kai to increase patrols—nothing more.

Those in the black market who knew only assumed their Li Zhishi had accepted that his arm couldn’t match the thigh, and swallowed his anger.

In fact, Zhao Wei had already visited Li Rui, coming in person to apologize, claiming he had failed to discipline his men and that such incidents would never happen again.

Of course, Li Rui’s calmness stemmed from Zhao Wei’s promise to remove his spies from the black market.

The next day, three men in the black market were reassigned.

Most crucially, Li Rui didn’t believe he could topple Zhao Wei by sacrificing just one petty thief.

The Zhu family.

In the small courtyard assigned to the three Huaqing Sect disciples.

“Three Venerable Masters, the deputy commander has received intelligence that the Ghost Ming Sect has been spotted outside the city, at Paozi Ridge.”

A member of the Tian Di Alliance arrived at the Zhu family’s residence.

Han Qin, Jiang Yan, and Zhu Yue exchanged glances.

Each saw delight in the others’ eyes.

They had stayed in Qinghe for a full month, and finally, a lead had appeared.

“Go!”

Han Qin acted decisively and stepped out first.

Jiang Yan and Zhu Yue followed behind her.

Half an hour later.

The three followed the Tian Di Alliance disciple to the foot of a small hill outside the city—when they arrived, many others were already gathered there.

Zhao Wei saw the three Huaqing Sect disciples.

He smiled and hurried forward two steps: “You’ve finally arrived. Just now, we received word from nearby villagers that Ghost Ming Sect members were spotted here.”

Zhu Yue couldn’t wait: “Then let’s climb the mountain at once!”

But Zhao Wei shook his head: “The Ghost Ming Sect members are deeply hidden—we can’t pinpoint their exact location. We must search the mountain.”

Han Qin’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Search the mountain?”

“That many people may not be enough.”

Zhao Wei smiled faintly, as if anticipating the question: “I’ve already summoned three hundred men—they’re on their way.”

Han Qin and the other two showed expressions of surprise.

They hadn’t expected Zhao Wei to have such influence—to summon three hundred men at once.

“Enough, more than enough.”

Han Qin nodded in satisfaction.

Jiang Yan, standing nearby, looked at Zhao Wei and thought: “This man is efficient—but too old.”

She silently shook her head.

Of course, she would never tell Zhao Wei.

And Zhao Wei would never know.

Not long after.

A clatter of footsteps echoed as a large force arrived at the foot of Paozi Ridge.

“Ten men per team. Each team receives one signal arrow. If you spot Ghost Ming Sect demons, light the arrow immediately. Anyone who sees an arrow must rush to the assembly point—or face severe punishment!”

“Reward one hundred taels for a live capture, twenty taels even for a corpse!”

Zhao Wei clearly had command talent—he quickly divided the crowd into over thirty small teams.

He delivered a speech with clear rewards and punishments.

The men roared with excitement.

“Do the three of you have any further instructions?”

After finishing everything, he still asked for Han Qin’s opinion.

He did all this not merely to exterminate the Ghost Ming Sect, but to curry favor with the Huaqing Sect—specifically, with the elusive Jiang Elder.

Zhao Wei glanced at Jiang Yan without expression.

Han Qin shook her head: “We leave everything to Deputy Commander Zhao.”

He too secretly admired Zhao Wei’s competence.

To command three hundred men with such orderliness was itself a great skill.

“Good. Then let’s move out.”

Zhao Wei acted swiftly and immediately ordered the men up the mountain.

He himself followed Han Qin and the other two, bringing up the rear as they entered the forest.

Paozi Ridge was called a ridge precisely because it wasn’t a single mountain, but a chain of connected peaks—the place they’d stood was merely the entrance.

There were no paths in the mountains.

Only a few narrow trails worn by villagers gathering herbs or chopping firewood.

It was already evening.

The forest was dim and hazy, visibility limited; occasional strange bird cries echoed.

“The mountain paths are treacherous—be careful, the three of you.”

Zhao Wei walked through the forest as if on flat ground.

In his youth, he had roamed Hengmen, where the place had many names—bandits, mountain robbers—so he knew the woods well.

Han Qin and the other two walked carefully.

As Zhao Wei had expected, they were Huaqing Sect disciples—who had little chance to frequent forests.

Fortunately, all three had strong martial skills and didn’t tire easily.

Searching the mountain was an excruciatingly dull process.

Finding Ghost Ming Sect members in such a vast forest was no simple task.

Criminals who fled into this mountain range could always escape the authorities’ grasp.

The Ghost Ming Sect had endured so long

precisely because they vanished into the mountains at the slightest provocation—impossible to track.

“They’re hiding deep.”

Zhao Wei coldly scanned the surrounding forest.

Just then—

A white streak slashed across the distant sky, a piercing shriek echoing through the woods.

“Here it comes!”

Zhao Wei’s eyes lit up.

They’d finally found the Ghost Ming Sect members.

Han Qin was also pleased: “Hurry!”

The four darted into the forest; three flashes of cold light landed on tree branches.

Crack.

Purple-gold lightning split the heavens; thunder rumbled overhead; within moments, heavy rain poured down in torrents.

It pounded the ground, stinging the skin.

Soon, Zhao Wei spotted a corpse washed pale by the rain, its neck wound horrific.

Having seen countless corpses in his youth, he glanced once and knew the man had died no more than fifteen minutes ago.

Tap, tap.

Footsteps splashing through rain echoed in the night.

Zhu Yue looked at the several corpses on the ground, his gaze sharpening.

Since leaving the Zhu family, he had stayed within the Huaqing Sect—he had never seen so many corpses before.

At that moment!

A strange beast-like cry suddenly erupted from the woods—so unnatural, even the most seasoned hunter couldn’t identify its source.

All four faces darkened.

“Beast!”

They had long known the Ghost Ming Sect bred beasts—tonight, they finally encountered one.

The next instant—

Three monstrous creatures, bear-like but not bears, over ten feet tall, charged out.

“Three of them!”

Zhao Wei’s face darkened.

Beasts weren’t common—they required immense effort and resources from a beast-tamer to raise even one.

Yet now, three appeared at once.

The most terrified was Zhu Yue.

Among the four, he was the only one at the Ninth Rank; the others were all Eighth Rank.

The demonic beasts were too dangerous for him now.

“Attack.”

Han Qin gripped his sword, a flash of killing intent crossing his handsome face, even a hint of excitement.

Who could have guessed that the usually kind and gentle Han Qin was, at heart, a battle fanatic?

Jiang Yan and Zhao Wei also engaged the demonic beasts nearest to them.

Zhu Yue gritted his teeth and charged forward with his sword.

If he left now, he would have no chance whatsoever in Jiang Yan’s eyes.

If you want something beyond your capability, you must fight for it!

In the rainy night.

A figure moved through the mountain forest; the rain soaked his clothes, revealing a thin, slightly hunched frame.

But his speed was swift. He glanced at the corpse not far away.

“There really are Ghost Ming Sect members here.”

Li Rui’s blade was already in his hand.

“Zhao Wei!”

(End of Chapter)