Chapter 23: The Sanshan Gathering

Meng Hao lay on the bed.

He heard Li Heng's arrival, but he was currently powerless throughout his entire body, and even the action of turning his head was extremely difficult.

Let alone opening his mouth to speak.

Therefore, he continued to lie quietly on the bed, possessing only the strength of anger in his heart, commonly known as impotent rage.

"Tsk, looks like you're completely drained."

Seeing Meng Hao in such a half-dead state, Li Heng couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

He had thought this future successor of the Bei'an Demon Suppression Division would be quite impressive. How did he end up like this after just a few days of not seeing him?

"Cough, cough, Li Heng, you've come at just the right time."

Meng Lingyun hurriedly spoke up, interrupting what was to follow; if Li Heng kept mocking him like this, Meng Hao might just explode from the frustration.

Although he also felt that Meng Hao was a bit embarrassing right now.

But he was his successor, after all.

"I have a matter I would like to entrust to you. Someone has gone missing at the Sanshan Gathering. I originally wanted to go investigate personally, but then this whole situation happened."

He gestured toward Meng Hao lying on the bed.

"So, please go and investigate. If you detect anything unusual, report to me immediately, and I will rush over at once."

As Meng Lingyun spoke, his expression turned serious.

"Old man, I recall I only just finished a mission not long ago; I should still be in my rest period, right?"

Li Heng said indifferently.

"Yes, logically speaking, I shouldn't be disturbing you during this phase, but I truly cannot get away right now."

"I don't feel at ease with anyone else, and observing your aura, you have already broken through, haven't you?"

Meng Lingyun looked at Li Heng and said with some admiration.

He finally confirmed that he must have been mistaken before. Li Heng was absolutely not of average talent, but a hidden genius!

His aptitude might even far exceed Meng Hao's.

He looked at the limp and powerless Meng Hao, feeling a sense of regret in his heart; truly, comparing people only leads to frustration. Now he had even been drained dry by a female Weird—if he had known, he shouldn't have chosen Meng Hao!

"Division Chief has eyes like torches," Li Heng said indifferently.

"Alright, you brat, don't give me that official talk here. What benefits do you want? Speak."

Meng Lingyun said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

This kid really never gets up early without a profit.

Hearing this, Li Heng's eyes lit up. If there were benefits, he wouldn't be sleepy anymore. He could just take this opportunity to get the One Mind Two Uses technique or a method for a Transformation Body from this old man.

"Then, do you have a technique for One Mind Two Uses here, or perhaps a means to create a clone, a Body Outside of Body?"

Meng Lingyun was stunned upon hearing this.

"Good brat, you really have a lion's appetite. One Mind Two Uses is one thing, but creating a clone, a Body Outside of Body? Do you know what level of technique that is?"

He was so angry his beard went crooked, and he was very agitated.

Li Heng didn't even blink. He naturally knew what level of technique that was, but wasn't he just trying his luck?

"So, old man, do you have it or not?"

Meng Lingyun calmed down and frowned.

Even if this kid had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, logically speaking, he shouldn't have any use for these techniques, right?

Or could it be related to the secrets he carried?

Li Heng could roughly guess what Meng Lingyun was thinking, but he didn't care about what he might expose.

After all, he didn't want these techniques for killing people; he only needed them to assist him in his Visualization.

"I don't have a clone technique here. But I do have a manual for One Mind Two Uses. However, that thing is of a rather high grade, so..."

"So, old man, what are your conditions?" Li Heng spoke directly, interrupting what Meng Lingyun was about to say.

"One of our Demon Exorcists from the Demon Suppression Division has also lost contact at the Sanshan Gathering. I hope you can find his whereabouts—see the person alive, or see the corpse if dead."

Meng Lingyun said solemnly.

This was exactly why he had wanted to go personally before; after all, they had a station for their Demon Suppression Division there.

The station had been attacked, and personnel had gone missing.

At this critical Node, it was a major event.

Logically, such a major event wouldn't trouble someone who had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm,

but Meng Lingyun knew Li Heng's combat power. He could deal with a Weird possessing a Ghost Domain while in the Nurturing Essence Realm, so it went without saying for the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"This condition is too difficult. Change it."

Li Heng shook his head; he hated finding people the most.

"I'll add three thousand Merit. How about that? If you can investigate the cause of this matter and hunt down the Weird hiding in the shadows, I will let you choose from my collection, including some cultivation arts..."

"Deal!" Li Heng slapped the table and agreed.

If he didn't agree to this, he would be a fool, especially since he had intended to hunt Weirds anyway.

After chatting for a while longer, Li Heng left.

Meng Lingyun watched Li Heng's departing back and couldn't help but sigh. If time could be turned back, he would choose...

He looked at Meng Hao lying on the bed and couldn't help but feel a headache.

His foundation was almost ruined; what was he to do?

Li Heng left the Demon Suppression Division and headed toward the Tongtian River wharf; by following the Tongtian River downstream, one could reach the Sanshan Gathering.

This so-called Sanshan Gathering was located between three large mountains, and because there were three villages within the three mountains, it was also known as the Three Villages Gathering.

Originally, this was a place for the three villages to trade and exchange goods, but later, because the taxes for entering Bei'an City were too high, villages further away from Bei'an City also chose to trade here.

Therefore, the Sanshan Gathering has remained prosperous to this day.

Although trading here is certainly not as safe as in Bei'an City, at least one does not have to pay the city entry tax.

Information regarding the Sanshan Gathering flashed through Li Heng's mind, and he felt that this so-called gathering was absolutely not just participated in by the surrounding villages.

There might even be some high-ranking officials and nobles from Bei'an City involved.

Because this place is an excellent tax haven.

Logically speaking, a place with such dense trade activity where no taxes are paid should have been banned by the Government, yet it has remained undisturbed until now.

One can imagine how deep the waters run behind the scenes.

Li Heng shook his head.

Regardless of how deep the waters run, he is going there to kill Weird, not to make money, so no matter how deep the water is, it will not affect him.

Unless someone dares to collude with the Weird.

Then he would have no choice but to raise his blade and strike them down one by one.

As for accusations of him treating human life like grass? When the Demon Suppression Division handles matters, if I say you are tainted by the Weird, then you are tainted!

It is just that overbearing.

Arriving at the Tongtian River pier, he found a boatman at random.

"Boatman, Sanshan Gathering."

This boatman was a middle-aged man who looked very sturdy; it seemed he certainly had not gone hungry in his daily life.

"Is this young master heading to the Sanshan Gathering?"

The man was startled.

"Why, is there anything strange about this?"

"This... recently, many people have gone missing near the Sanshan Gathering, and it has long since been placed under martial law by the Government. If the young master wants to go to buy things, he will likely return with nothing." The man answered honestly.

Li Heng raised an eyebrow; had the situation become so serious that even normal trade was affected to this extent?

"It is fine, just head there, you will be paid in full."

He said indifferently.

Although the boatman was very puzzled—if not to buy things, why go to the Sanshan Gathering? —since he was being paid, he would not ask further; he was only afraid of being stiffed.

Stepping onto the boat, they sailed downstream along the Tongtian River.

Until nearly noon.

Finally, the outline of the Sanshan Gathering came into view. Li Heng was somewhat surprised; the scale of this gathering had already reached the size of a Town.