Chapter 207

Go hide out?

Having left the Demon Suppression Office, he walked along the main street.

Qin Shuo felt an inexplicable sense of absurdity and ridicule.

If he had to go into hiding merely for having ransacked the home of a Profound Soldier Mountain disciple,

what's the point of his being a Captain of the Demon Suppression Office?

An inner disciple of Profound Soldier Mountain who has condensed the True Gang Furnace—this Inspector Wang is indeed a formidable foe!

On the road to Wind Thunder Valley, Qin Shuo repeatedly turned over the information about that Demon Suppression Office inspector in his mind.

Without surprise, the other party must be the reinforcements summoned by Xiao Yingqi.

However, the Xiao family's rearing of demons is proven beyond doubt.

Even if Inspector Wang tried to mediate, he likely lacks the capacity.

After all, many Demon Suppression Office Captains were on the scene, personally seeing the Wood Sprite's spirit flee from the Xiao family ancestral hall, as well as the mountain-like heap of bones piled beneath the old pear tree.

These incidents, one after another, cannot be quelled simply by an inspector's authority.

Moreover, there is also Fu Lingyan.

Even Chen Muyun, the governor of a province, would take advantage of Fu Lingyan's absence from the Demon Suppression Office to pay a visit.

One can imagine how terrifying the power of his direct superior must be.

An inspector of equal rank dares to come and overturn the cases she has investigated…

Unless that person has gone mad, it's impossible to be so foolish.

But if it isn't to save people, what could be their purpose in coming to Yunzhou? Surely they aren't here to supervise executions?

Never mind, we'll meet force with force and water with earth—even if they're coming for me, I have nothing to fear!

Unable to quickly discern the other's purpose, Qin Shuo turned his thoughts to another person.

Chen Muyun!

In Qin Shuo's view, compared to the overt threat posed by Wang Liehu, Chen Muyun's ties to the Xiao family merit deeper consideration.

Moreover, the timing of their visit was too coincidental: it was precisely the day after Fu Lingyan chased down and slew the Dark Moon Dharma King.

This makes it hard not to wonder whether this provincial lord also has ties to the Gui Mu Sect.

Perhaps we should find an opportunity to investigate the lord's manor.

Although Fu Lingyan had already led a team to search the lord's manor, given the attitude of the Three Great Demon Suppression Generals toward this provincial commander, those Demon Suppression Office Captains who conducted the search likely merely went through the motions, as Yang Si did when perfunctorily searching the Xiao family ancestral hall.

Moreover, for immaterial demons like the Wood Sprite's spirit, the Demon Suppression Office's investigative methods are utterly ineffective.

Perhaps this is the true reason the Demon Suppression Office has long failed to locate the innate Gui Mu.

With these thoughts in mind, his steps did not stop.

Unbeknownst to him, Qin Shuo had already arrived at the gate of Wind Thunder Valley.

Halt!

A disciple guarding the mountain gate placed his sword across the path, blocking Qin Shuo's way, and said coldly:

The mountain gate is a place of great importance; idlers are forbidden to approach!

I...

Qin Shuo had just begun to explain when another disciple rudely interrupted: "What "I"? Get lost at once, or watch your head!"

"Hah! Still as overbearing as ever!" Qin Shuo sneered coldly.

Since he had decided today to come to Wind Thunder Valley, he wore only a fitted ordinary outfit, not the uniform signifying his Demon Suppression Office status.

So it's no surprise that these few didn't recognize him.

It's just that their readiness to lop off heads at the drop of a hat really irritates people.

However, he didn't intend to flare up, after all, for now Nie Lao deng treats him fairly well, so he explained with a cold face:

I have business to see Valley Master Nie; please pass along the message!

Valley Master Nie?

The two were first stunned, then burst into laughter: "You think you're somebody? You still want to see our valley master?"

"Scram, scram, scram—if you don't get lost, don't blame us for being rude!"

Clang!

Before the words even finished, both had drawn their swords, eyes flashing with menace, and advanced.

Hey~

A hint of helplessness welled up in Qin Shuo's eyes, just as he thought he'd have to fight again,

A gray-clad, gray-haired old man appeared on the mountain path behind the gate; at a glance he saw the two disciples brandishing swords and advancing on Qin Shuo, and he shouted loudly to stop them:

Stop!

His voice rang like a great bell, his force like thunder.

The instant he saw Qin Shuo, Yuwen Tai's heart gave a jolt.

Immediately he performed a sparrow-hawk flip, soaring over the tall gate signboard and landing straight before the two gatekeepers.

"Captain Qin, what brings you here?"

Yuwen Tai's tone was cold and hard, his eyes full of apprehension and vigilance.

Last time it was this youth, single-handedly with one sword, splitting the three-hundred-strong mountain-guarding formation under his command, killing and wounding over a dozen.

Unexpectedly, not long after, this youth has come knocking again.

Captain Qin?

Upon hearing that name, the two ferocious mountain-guarding disciples shuddered, their long swords nearly slipping from their hands, their courage shattered, and they retreated repeatedly.

A man's name, a tree's shadow!

Qin Shuo split open a three hundred military formation with one sword strike, and drove back Elder Yuwen's battle achievements with one punch; these days, this has long been spread in the valley.

When many senior brothers and sisters in the sect mention this person, they all grit their teeth, wishing they could pull out his tendons, drink his blood, to vent the hatred in their hearts.

But as soon as anyone mentions taking revenge on him, not a single person dares to speak up.

You're joking!

A great master who can drive back Elder Yuwen with a single punch could easily dispose of these outer sect disciples whose internal energy isn't even fully cultivated—it's no different from beating a child.

Moreover, according to the description of the senior brothers who personally witnessed that battle.

That Colonel Qin of the Demon Suppression Office is a murderous fiend who doesn't even blink when killing.

With one swing of his sword, he split open the yellow earth plaza before the mountain gate, instantly shattering more than ten mountain-guarding disciples, several of whom were even at the Meridian Passing stage.

Such a vicious person! Such battle prowess!

They actually still wanted to attack him just now……

Thinking this, the two mountain-guarding disciples couldn't help but retreat a few more steps, all the way back inside the mountain gate, before they felt slightly better.

The two mountain-guarding disciples' movements were seen by Yuwen Tai, making his eyelids twitch with anger, but he ultimately held back.

After all, the person before them indeed has the capital to make these mountain-guarding disciples afraid.

"I've come to find Valley Master Nie!"

Qin Shuo's voice was cold.

He also didn't expect to actually encounter the Wind Thunder Valley Elder whom he had fought that day.

If I had known it would be this troublesome, I would have just waited in the city for Yan Jueming to come find me.

However, after raiding the Xiao family that day, in order to use himself as bait to lure out the three Xiao family remnants who had fled, he had Yan Jueming temporarily stop coming to find him.

Right now, he urgently wants Nie Jinfeng to stand guard for him so he can enter the Divine Armament Secret Realm to have a look, which is why he proactively came to the door.

Who would have thought, enemies meet on a narrow road!

"Looking for the valley master?"

Yuwen Tai's eyes flashed with a hint of hesitation,

"Hmm."

Qin Shuo nodded woodenly.

He had already prepared himself to return empty-handed.

At present, his relationship with Wind Thunder Valley is somewhat awkward; to those disciples and elders of the sect, he is an enemy, a sworn foe.

But his relationship with Nie Laodeng is one of mutual cooperation.

Therefore, unless necessary, he does not want to come into conflict with those Wind Thunder Valley disciples and elders.

After all, no matter what, he has received many favors from Nie Laodeng.

Of course, if it were someone from the Xue Wanlong lineage blocking the road, that would be another matter.

Yuwen Tai sized Qin Shuo up from head to toe, determined he didn't seem to be looking for trouble, and then said with a cold face:

"Wait here, I'll go report to the sect master!"

However, just as he turned around, he couldn't help but recall the rampant rumors of an 'illegitimate child' that had been spreading recently in the valley,

and the fact that Yan Jueming had frequently gone down the mountain to meet this cottage…

He then changed his mind again, "Forget it, come with me!"

Saying that, he didn't wait for Qin Shuo's reaction and walked straight into the mountain gate on his own.