Chapter 64: As You Sow, So Shall You Reap

White frost suddenly appeared on the ground, and footprints kept appearing.

Yuan Qu and the others felt a creeping chill rise in their hearts.

The surrounding light grew dimmer, as if even the moonlight had vanished; the temperature plummeted sharply, cold as an ice cellar, numbing their minds.

In a daze, they seemed to see something.

There were dense, dark shadows, with various banners above, as if an army from the netherworld had appeared, and they also seemed to hear chanting and prayers.

This eerie sight surpassed their understanding.

Fortunately, they remembered Chen Fakui’s instructions and dared not even breathe loudly.

The circle of white ash scattered around them had indeed worked—whether the frost or the footprints, all seemed to ignore this spot and passed by on the sides.

After an unknown length of time, everything returned to normal.

The frost, the footprints, the strange sounds—all vanished without a trace.

What had just happened seemed like nothing but a nightmare.

“That… what was that?”

Yuan Qu felt his throat go dry.

No sooner had he spoken than he felt icy cold all over; he turned his head and saw Chen Fakui staring at him coldly, eyes glinting with murderous intent.

Yuan Qu swallowed hard. “Master Chen, you…”

“Those are the City God Temple’s She Ling Yin Soldiers!”

Chen Fakui, as if recalling something, let the murderous intent fade from his eyes and said calmly: “That old man at the City God Temple specifically sought me out—he must have discovered something.”

“I’ve never performed any ritual in the city. It must be your people who exposed us.”

“Impossible!”

Yuan Qu quickly rebutted, then clenched his teeth and bowed. “Master Chen, rest assured—if anyone has betrayed us, we’ll eliminate every last person who knows!”

“Heh…”

Chen Fakui chuckled to himself, tidying his tools without looking up. “You think you’re the White Ape Boss now?”

“Someone in Xianyang City is probably already hunting us. Don’t think you’re safe—even your master is in deep trouble this time.”

“If you don’t believe me, go back and check for yourself. I’ll wait here for you one watch—when the time’s up, I leave.”

His tone was casual, as if he cared nothing for the danger approaching.

Yuan Qu clenched his teeth, his expression shifting between doubt and resolve; he bowed. “Master Chen, please wait a moment—I’ll be right back. Go!”

Saying this, he leapt onto his horse, flicked the reins, and dashed toward Xianyang City with several subordinates.

Chen Fakui, unhurried, gathered his ritual tools, then kicked the surrounding fires toward the center, setting the altar ablaze together.

After finishing, he sat cross-legged, gazing toward the southeast in the night.

Cough! Cough!

Suddenly, he covered his mouth and coughed several times; when he opened his palm, it was streaked with bright red blood.

In the darkness, a pained whisper echoed:

“Why has Heaven treated me so cruelly? I refuse to accept it—I refuse!”

…………

“This is the place—open it!”

Beside a hillock outside Xianyang’s city wall, Yuan Qu brushed away loose soil to reveal two iron rings chained together, gesturing to his men to open them.

Though confused, his men dared not ask questions.

Yuan Qu was generous to his subordinates, especially his trusted ones—they never lacked food or drink, their expenses were covered, and even their families were given work.

But the White Ape Gang’s rules were extremely strict: the key point was that no one could question Yuan Qu’s orders—many had died for it, so who dared speak up?

“Heh!”

Several men pulled on the iron rings with all their strength.

Beneath them lay a thick wooden door; as the chains snapped taut, surrounding earth and stones scattered, revealing a dark, gaping hole.

Seeing it, the men exchanged glances.

“This is a secret tunnel dug during the Maitreya Sect’s rebellion.”

Yuan Qu explained calmly: “I bought this house precisely because I found this tunnel—we can retreat through it. Even if something goes wrong, we can escape.”

“Boss, you’re brilliant!”

“Hmm, hurry up!”

The men nodded and entered the tunnel one by one.

The entrance resembled a vertical shaft, with wooden supports along the earthen walls.

After descending, they lit torches and realized the tunnel was surprisingly large—two meters wide, tall enough even for the tallest thug to stand upright.

At that moment, Yuan Qu’s eyes flashed with murderous intent from behind.

Two daggers suddenly appeared in his hands.

He crouched low, used his roaming step, and crossed his daggers.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Before his men could react, their throats were slit; they collapsed, clutching their gushing necks, legs kicking wildly, foam of blood bubbling from their mouths.

Yuan Qu glanced coldly at them, ignored their hateful stares, snatched up a torch, and sprinted deep into the tunnel.

This was his carefully planned escape route.

Whether or not anything happened, none of these men could live.

The tunnel was dim and foul with stifling air, but Yuan Qu paid no attention—he sped up further.

He understood Chen Fakui’s meaning.

Waiting for him on the hillside wasn’t about loyalty—it was because they’d need help later when retrieving the treasure from the graveyard.

If he returned too late, the man would vanish. His house was not far from the northern city wall; soon, Yuan Qu reached a hidden chamber and peered through a pre-made crack.

Outside was his main hall; the crack lay beneath the altar table.

This was Yuan Qu’s cleverness.

Most people hid secret tunnels in their side rooms or studies.

Who would think he’d hidden it in the main hall?

Peering through the crack, Yuan Qu’s heart turned cold.

The main hall was brightly lit with candles; all his maids and servants knelt on the ground, and the gang members left behind were bruised and bound.

On a nearby chair, he saw a pair of leather boots.

Footsteps shuffled around, and constables came and went frequently.

“Report, Captain—we found nothing in the side rooms!”

!.

“Report, Captain—we’ve set an ambush at the city gate; as soon as Yuan Qu returns, we’ll capture him!”

“What about the Zhou family?”

“Master Hu has already taken men there…”

It was Captain Guan Wanchè!

Without hesitation, Yuan Qu crept back into the tunnel and turned to flee, cursing himself for his carelessness.

He’d kidnapped so many children before without incident—after all, people vanished daily in Xianyang; blame it on traffickers. He never expected the last few would be exposed.

It must be that old fool Zhou Peide—his hired men messed up!

Damn idiot—I should’ve ignored him from the start.

Yuan Qu was filled with regret.

For years, with Zhou Pan’s backing, he’d sailed smoothly; surrounded by flattery from his gang members, he’d thought himself a genius—never realizing many things were only ignored because no one dared offend Zhou Pan.

Of course, Yuan Qu himself would never admit that.

He hurried out of the tunnel, leapt onto his horse.

He was about to ride off, but his eyes flickered with hesitation.

Following Chen Fakui meant constant hiding; all his accumulated wealth was left behind—he’d lost everything.

But fleeing alone carried equal risk.

Recalling all the martial artists he’d offended over the years, Yuan Qu felt sudden dread—he realized now that, beyond Xianyang, beyond Zhou Pan and the White Ape Gang, he was nothing.

With a sigh of despair, Yuan Qu spurred his horse into the night.

Soon, he reached the hillside and saw Chen Fakui sitting cross-legged atop it; Yuan Qu exhaled in relief, knelt before him, and said: “Master Chen, your foresight is uncanny—I’ll follow you from now on.”

Chen Fakui nodded calmly, his eyes showing no emotion.

He knew Yuan Qu would return.

Because men like him had no other path but to cling to others.

“Let’s go. I foresaw this day.”

“But to catch me? That old fool can’t do it…”

…………

“Third Master, why hasn’t Li Yan arrived yet?”

On the dark official road, a disciple couldn’t help asking.

They’d waited for hours without seeing even a trace of Li Yan; even Zhou Peide himself was puzzled.

Zhou Peide said grimly: “Go find out what’s happening!”

"Yes, Third Master!"

The disciple obeyed, immediately leaping onto his horse and galloping into the night, but returned within less than two incense sticks, puzzled: "Third Master, they’re all gone—no one knows where they went."

"Gone?"

Zhou Peide’s rage surged to his brain.

His heart was clouded by hatred; he had no time to think things through and immediately complained: "Yuan Qu, that bastard, never delivers."

"Let’s head back. Tomorrow, we’ll confront him and get answers!"

Saying this, he led the group back to Xianyang City.

Xianyang City closed its gates at night, but the Zhou family held great status within the city; as usual, a single call was enough for someone to lower a basket from the wall.

But as soon as he reached the wall, Zhou Peide sensed something was wrong.

A line of soldiers and yamen runners far off had drawn their bows and crossbows, their sharp arrows aimed at them, while torches flared up all around.

"Zhou Peide, you’re under arrest!"

…………

At Mao hour, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Outside the Mountain God Temple, the bonfire had long gone out.

Li Yan lay sleeping on a log, hugging a wine jar.

Beside him, Zhao Lüzi snored loudly.

The two had talked all night, downed several jars of wine, and even seasoned cultivators couldn’t withstand it—they collapsed straight into sleep.

Suddenly, Li Yan sniffed the air, and Zhao Lüzi’s ears twitched; both rose at once, gazing toward the mountain path.

There, Sha Li Fei, led by a villager, rushed up the path, face filled with panic; upon seeing Li Yan, he shouted:

"Young Master Li, hurry back—the Dao Master has been ambushed!"

(End of Chapter)