Chapter 68: Chapter Sixty-Seven: Officer Hou

The Qingyu Sect, Zhanglong Sect, Dongyang Sect, and the Lu clan of Tianmu Mountain—four prominent clans of Jingxiang—dispersed the free cultivators, nearly returning in unison to their respective mountain bases, leaving all local free cultivators helpless and bewildered; no one knew what had been discussed or what had been decided, and no one dared to ask, as if overnight the world had become perfectly clear and just.

Liu Xiaolou and Tan Bazhang stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing at a row of more than ten wooden stakes, examining each one where the corpses of free cultivators hung like paper scraps swaying in the wind, deeply shaken. Fortunately, after a long look, they found not a single fellow from Wulong Mountain among them, which brought great relief, yet also stirred a sense of sorrow for the fallen.

Isn’t every free cultivator just a free cultivator? This is how little dignity free cultivators have!

Dai Shenggao had also returned, and he too sighed as he stared at the stakes, shaking his head at Liu Xiaolou and Tan Bazhang: “The Qingyu Sect acts this way... a prestigious major sect, hah...”

Liu Xiaolou felt pity: “Master Dai, shouldn’t we take them down? These people are deeply wronged.”

Dai Shenggao paused, then nodded: “Very well.”

It wasn’t just about injustice—key was that leaving them hanging would inflict severe psychological trauma on the Wulong Mountain cultivators; they couldn’t simply ignore it.

So the three of them worked together, digging graves on the spot beneath the stakes and burying the bodies there.

After burial, they sawed the stakes down to about human height, using them as makeshift tombstones. But these wrongfully dead had no identifying belongings, so no names could be carved upon the stones.

Tan Bazhang was furious: “Master Dai is right—how can the Qingyu Sect act like this? Where’s the dignity of a major sect? They stripped everything clean, not even a single silver coin left behind. All this work for nothing!”

Wulong Mountain cultivators gradually returned from their hiding places, carefully inspecting the Tiankeng Drum, yet found nothing—as if the demonic vines had appeared out of nowhere, vanished into the wind after burning, leaving not a single leaf or vine behind.

Liu Xiaolou returned to Gan Zhu Ridge and found his small thatched courtyard in ruins. He wasn’t angry; since climbing the mountain at age eight, he’d endured this once every year or two—he was used to it.

The only thing he worried about was his master Sanxuan Master’s grave. He checked there first—and thankfully, the Qingyu Sect hadn’t gone mad enough to desecrate tombs; everything remained intact.

As he prepared to repair the courtyard, he suddenly smacked his forehead: How could he have forgotten Da Bai? He hadn’t even brought back his belongings! He hurried down the mountain again, heading toward Wuchao Town to retrieve Da Bai the goose.

After the Zhanglong Sect’s blockade, Wuchao Town had grown noticeably desolate; it would take at least a month before things returned to normal. Passing through Tou Tiao Alley, he noticed Zhang Ma and Qing Jie were gone, leaving him deeply curious. He stepped into the alley, a place he’d only ever observed from afar.

On either side of the alley stood several courtyards, all now locked with iron chains; knocking on the door rings brought no response—no one knew where they had gone.

As he pondered, a man strolled lazily into the alley. Liu Xiaolou initially thought he was a patron seeking pleasure, but upon closer look, he recognized a familiar face—one he’d always avoided: Qingyu Sect’s Patrol Officer Hou Sheng.

Hou Sheng blocked the alley entrance, sizing up Liu Xiaolou with a half-smile on his face.

Liu Xiaolou’s spine tightened; he froze, then forced a smile: “Haha, long time no see—it’s Officer Hou! My apologies for the lapse. Are you here looking for Zhang Ma and the others? You’ve come at a bad time—I saw all the doors locked, and no one knows where they’ve gone...”

“They went to Dongting,” Hou Sheng answered promptly: “My Qingyu Sect is opening the Yueyang Market on Dongting Lake. To add some vitality, we relocated them all there.”

Liu Xiaolou’s heart sank—so Hou Sheng’s appearance here meant he was waiting for him?

“Ah... this...” He feigned regret: “I was hoping to find Qing Jie... oh dear, I’ll have to go to Dongting then... Officer Hou, I’ll head to Dongting, right? Yueyang? By Dongting Lake? Doesn’t matter—I’ll just ask around when I get there...”

He tried to walk out, but Hou Sheng stood firm, blocking the alley entrance.

“Officer Hou? You... have more to say?”

Hou Sheng’s gaze held amusement: “Liu Xiaolou, since arriving at Wulong Mountain, I’ve been searching for you. Tracking you down hasn’t been easy.”

Liu Xiaolou was stunned: “Officer Hou, what are you saying? I’m always ready to serve—any command, I’ll obey without hesitation!”

Hou Sheng said: “Then why weren’t you on Wulong Mountain?”

Liu Xiaolou sighed: “Officer Hou knows—your sect launched a full-scale takeover of Wulong Mountain, claiming to be eradicating bandits. Though I’ve always been law-abiding and never joined the attack on the Zhou estate, I still got dragged down by my fellow cultivators... I feared I’d be unable to defend myself, so I had no choice but to hide elsewhere. I hope Officer Hou understands.”

Hou Sheng said nothing, then asked: “When did you leave Xingde Mountain?”

Liu Xiaolou’s heart lurched: “What does that mean...”

Hou Sheng said coldly: “Think carefully. Don’t pretend ignorance. You know why I’m asking.”

Liu Xiaolou blinked, gazing upward in thought: “Officer Hou knows—I sought help from Lord Xingde to forge a formation disc. Forging such a disc requires the master’s constant presence, especially at completion. The entire process took three months—should’ve been... February... yes, February.”

Hou Sheng pressed: “February? Which day in February?”

Liu Xiaolou replied: “Late February, I can’t recall the exact date.”

“Then where did you go?”

“I went to Tianmen Market. In the southeast, there’s a place called Willow Bay—I secluded myself there because my time assisting in forging the disc on Xingde Mountain gave me deep insights. I couldn’t wait to return to the mountain... I broke through the Qimen acupoint then.”

“Hmm. Seclusion? A good excuse... continue. When did you end your seclusion?”

“Around early March. I can’t recall the exact day. Why? Officer Hou, what are you asking? Just ask plainly—I’ll answer honestly, no secrets.”

“Where did you go after emerging?”

“Officer Hou, if you interrogate me like this without saying what it’s about, how can I answer?”

“Answer what I ask!”

“Officer Hou, have I done something wrong? I’ve never offended you—why this aggressive questioning?” Liu Xiaolou’s expression darkened.

Hou Sheng sneered: “Offend me? You? If you’d truly offended me, do you think you’d still be alive today? I’m an inner sect officer of the Qingyu Sect—killing you is as easy as snapping a finger! Today I’m asking you to uncover the truth. Just answer honestly. Don’t entertain other thoughts, or you’ll regret it.”

Hou Sheng’s cultivation was Qi Refining Level Ten—far above Liu Xiaolou’s. As an inner sect officer of a major sect, he likely carried countless treasures. If they fought, Liu Xiaolou would be obliterated instantly. So despite the harsh words, Liu Xiaolou could only swallow his anger: “Officer Hou, you overstate things—I’d never dare think otherwise. Let me think... perhaps March 5th?”

“No. You went to Tianmen Market on March 2nd,” Hou Sheng said, staring at Liu Xiaolou, each word deliberate.