Chapter 44: Heavenly Secrets Must Not Be Leaked

Still beside the abandoned fields.

Still those two groups of people.

Only this time, the distance between the two sides had widened a little more.

The people over by the graveyard did not know what they were huddled together discussing; at times they were confused, at times sorrowful, at times angry, and after a while, they were invigorated.

Being too far away, it was impossible to hear what was being said over there; Xiao Liu, full of curiosity, stared in that direction for a good while, his face full of worry:

"What on earth are they talking about? They aren't planning to stir up trouble, are they?"

Wen Gu said: "They are likely planning to stir up trouble, but it should be taking place inside the city, not directed at us."

Xiao Liu still didn't understand: "This... how can you tell?"

Wen Gu did not answer directly, but instead asked him: "What do you think of these people's combat strength?"

Xiao Liu stared over there and replied earnestly: "They should be a bit formidable!"

He then looked uncertainly toward County Lieutenant Zhou.

As an official practitioner, his eye for detail was certainly stronger.

County Lieutenant Zhou nodded: "Although these people look like they are from the wild, river transport is frequent here, so there must be many disputes. They likely haven't participated in few fights in their daily lives. If there are local militia, they might have even fought water bandits; they are experienced."

Wen Gu agreed: "Indeed. Although they are a civilian armed force, compared to some local regular establishments, in terms of martial prowess, they might even be a cut above."

"These people gathered together are a force not to be underestimated; just look at the horses and carriages they have—without sufficient strength, one could not hold onto these things."

Xiao Liu looked at the horses over there with envy.

That was for sure!

Even in the past, horses were not something an ordinary person could afford to keep. Now they were even more precious!

For these people to ride so many horses and have carriages on an outing like this, they were truly wealthy!

Anyone would covet them; without sufficient strength, one truly could not hold onto these things.

Wen Gu asked again: "What did they come out for today?"

Xiao Liu said: "To pay respects to their boss."

Wen Gu reminded him: "The ones they are paying respects to are not just this one person."

Cheng Zhi, who had been standing to the side without a word, said at this moment: "Right, around that largest tombstone there are several others... um, seven, there are seven graves from around the same time."

Wen Gu said: "Although these seven tombstones are smaller, they were also paid for; they must also be the type of people who were quite important within this group."

County Lieutenant Zhou's gaze was dim: "Eight important figures, including the boss, all met with misfortune at the same time."

Nowadays, as long as a group has become a force, they cherish their own men and horses very much.

What kind of turn of events would cause this group, which had survived so long in troubled times, to lose so many people all at once? And to include the main force, including the leader?

Perhaps there was no inside story, but then again, perhaps there was?

From the perspective of Wen Gu and his group, if the other side was in a situation of dispute, they could find gaps and find more opportunities to achieve their goals.

Xiao Liu understood a little.

"The boss is gone, and those below don't know how much they are going to fight."

In the current world, whoever sits in the top position can control more resources and power.

Wen Gu said: "If there is someone with formidable means, they will soon be able to stabilize the internal strife."

This Lin Erdangjia did not seem to be a person with such means.

But if one added the widow of the Great Boss...

"Then have they stabilized the internal situation?" Xiao Liu asked.

"No," Wen Gu said, "If they had already resolved the internal problems, they wouldn't have brought so few people out to pay their respects."

Wen Gu called Cheng Zhi to the side and asked him to describe the changes in expression and behavior of everyone on the other side that he had just observed.

Time passed slowly, and the sky grew slightly dark.

Someone from over there came to invite the Daoist Priest to perform a Dharma Assembly.

Qingyi Daozhang brought his equipment and began to work.

It was the same burning of incense and paper, but when Qingyi Daozhang did it, it carried a greater amount of smoke; the smell was not choking, but instead had a kind of netherworld atmosphere.

The familiar Bugangbudou, the familiar burning of talismans from a distance; the difference was that a large amount of white mist surged up during the ritual, and the talismans burned with a ghostly green fire amidst the swirling white mist.

Smelling the smoky air that had a ghostly intent, accompanied by the chanting of scriptures and spells that others could not understand at all.

The expressions on the faces of Lin Erdangjia and the others, who had originally held a skeptical attitude, gradually turned into horror and awe; the timid ones had weak knees and wished they could kowtow a few times on the spot. Consequently, when they looked at Wen Gu, there was more wariness in their eyes.

Such a formidable Daoist!

Such a miraculous Immortal Master!

In the past, that would be someone only the most powerful masters in the city could afford to invite!

Yet now, this Immortal Master was actually following this scholar, willing to perform the ritual for a deposit.

Lin Erdangjia was in a difficult position.

This deposit was too high; if they couldn't complete the commission in the end...

Conditions were limited, the venue affected the performance, and the client was not rich enough; the Daoist Priest didn't spend long, finished showing off his skills, and then just had to finish the matter that Gou Shusheng had entrusted to him.

When the Daoist Priest finished his work... finished his cultivation, he used that profound, unfathomable tone to give the client a bit of vague rhetoric.

The general meaning was that the resentment of the people buried here had not yet dissipated.

As for more, more detailed explanations?

Sorry, the heavenly secrets must not be leaked.

The Daoist Priest didn't say too much, but Lin Erdangjia and those people seemed to have already thought of something.

The young woman holding a child to the side slightly reined in the horror on her face, finally calmed down, and nodded at Lin Erdangjia.

Lin Erdangjia looked at the sky and said in a much milder tone: "We accept this deposit, and we will try our best to help you get the matter done, but we still have some things to deal with. Please rest assured, whether we can finish dealing with it or not, we will send word out, in about... two days' time."

Wen Gu pondered for a moment, "Fine, then let's agree on a location and a secret signal."

He did not say where his own people were currently staying, and Lin Erdangjia was also very well-versed in the rules and did not ask.

After agreeing on the location and secret signal, Lin Erdangjia took his men back to the city. If it got any later, the drawbridge would be raised.

After the other party left, Wen Gu and his group also returned to the location of their own team.

He opened the Notebook to look at the records made today.

Before, he had only wanted to cross the river safely, and it was acceptable to consume some supplies.

After making contact with the other party, he actually had some new ideas.

The martial arts stories he told Lin Erdangjia and his men were not told in vain.

Able to gather into a force and having tasted the flavor of power, how could those people from the bottom of society not have ambition?

It was just that the times were difficult, and there were more misgivings.

And Wen Gu had provided them with another possibility for survival.

With a way out, with a choice...

Of course, it was time to settle grievances and exact revenge!

Otherwise, should he keep them for the New Year?

For the sake of this big fish, Wen Gu was willing to give more time.

Hmm, but he still had to consider things thoroughly.

He said to County Lieutenant and the others, "Observe for two days. If there is no movement, we will withdraw immediately!"

After thinking about it, Wen Gu said to Qingyi Daozhang again, "Daozhang, please prepare yourself; I estimate there will be other business in these two days."

(End of this chapter)