Chapter 301: A Matter of One Sentence

"Upholding Heaven's Way?"

Hu Rui gave Wang Ping'an a strange glance; if it weren't for the fact that before it stood only a Paper Person, it would have wanted to take a good look at the way Wang Ping'an said that, wondering whether his expression was awkward or embarrassed.

How could one have the nerve to say such a thing?

If it didn't know that Wang Ping'an has a sadistic quirk, it might have believed Wang Ping'an's nonsense.

Hu Rui was too lazy to care whether Wang Ping'an had a quirk or not, and what that had to do with it. As long as it didn't harm it, it changed tone and said, "Li Dao You, I wonder if there's any part of this matter that requires my assistance?"

"When the time comes, I'll be nearby, perhaps constructing a cave dwelling from a previous era on your Fox Clan's territory; I ask Third Miss to take extra care!"

Wang Ping'an said solemnly, "After this trap is finished, I'll still need Third Miss to arrange for people to promote it widely!"

Promotion?

He's not the type to do promotion, and promotion requires manpower and resources; being a lone wolf, it's hard for him to publicize his scheme.

The Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan Commerce Association, interacting with all sorts of people, not only easily spreads the news of his deeds, but can also deliberately attract the cultivators or monsters he desires.

He doesn't want treasure seekers who enter his cave dwelling to be upright cultivators who have never done anything wrong, because then whether he slays or performs Soul Salvation, it would be hard to earn Merit.

"The mountain peaks on our Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan territory are at any fellow cultivator's disposal; as for promotion, that's no problem—just a word from you, Dao You!"

Hu Rui didn't mind Wang Ping'an's request; as long as it could draw Wang Ping'an closer and hitch him onto their Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan war chariot, even at great cost, it considered it all worthwhile.

It places great importance on Wang Ping'an's future!

"Then I trouble you, Third Miss!"

Wang Ping'an thanked again.

"You're welcome; as I said earlier, helping you, Li Dao You, is my pleasure!"

Hu Rui smiled, about to rise and fetch two Tiger Demon Skins for Wang Ping'an, when after only a few steps a flash of insight flickered in its mind, it halted, turned toward Wang Ping'an, and said:

"Dao You, I recall an abandoned cave dwelling nearby; why not use that layout to lure villains in, making it easier for you to uphold Heaven's Way? Why waste time building one yourself?"

It knows this not only because it is the clan chief's daughter of the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan, having grown up in the Jiu tou shan ji shi, familiar with every blade of grass there.

Moreover, it wishes to probe information about Wang Ping'an; it learned that Wang Ping'an 'carelessly' displayed his wealth at the Jiu tou shan ji shi, attracting the attention of many malicious Evil Cultivators and monsters.

Many Evil Cultivators or monsters, when Wang Ping'an left the Jiu tou shan ji shi, would decisively tail him, intending to commit murder‑theft outside the market.

Some Evil Cultivators also set traps, using a treasure map as bait to lure Wang Ping'an into their snare, then carry out murder‑theft.

It could be called a flawless plan, fully preventing any chance of Wang Ping'an escaping.

Who could have known.

When Wang Ping'an returned to the Jiu tou shan ji shi, he found none of those villains; the cultivators there aren't fools—they couldn't possibly be unaware that those scoundrels had vanished all of a sudden.

It was clearly linked to Wang Ping'an, perhaps the same as the Evil Cultivators and monsters who had previously tailed him out of the market.

All met their end at Wang Ping'an's hands!

Hu Rui speculated that Wang Ping'an might have obtained that so‑called treasure map and prepared a countermeasure, making those scoundrels mistakenly think he fell into their trap.

When they entered the trap, that very snare not only failed to harm Wang Ping'an, but became the means by which Wang Ping'an trapped them.

He let them be brutally slain alive by Wang Ping'an inside the cave dwelling!

It satisfied Wang Ping'an's pleasure.

Wang Ping'an could not possibly be unaware of that cave dwelling!

"Third Miss, that cave dwelling, I think, is renowned; unless you fool the newbies, you can't fool the seasoned veterans!"

Wang Ping'an shook his head. At first.

He once considered using the method of luring others to lure the many wicked villains into his traps, slaying or performing Soul Salvation on them one by one to earn abundant Merit.

Using that cave dwelling!

Instead of painstakingly excavating his own, which is no easy task and might take three to five months or even longer to complete.

But.

In the end.

He still abandoned using that cave dwelling, deciding to build his own modeled after a previous, even more ancient era.

What made him realize that nowadays, those daring to do evil have yet to be dealt with by anyone upholding Heaven's Way, be they Evil Cultivators or monsters.

Besides being ruthless, most are shrewd; even without great wisdom they possess some cunning.

If they inexplicably obtain a treasure map, even if its source has no flaw, once they learn its exact location, those Evil Cultivators or monsters will scout ahead in advance.

They won't be like those newbie cultivators who, brainless, storm the cave dwelling outright.

This novel you…

That cave dwelling, likely not for that group of scoundrels committing murder‑theft for the first time; any cultivator who has spent time at the Jiu tou shan ji shi probably knows its purpose.

He hasn't forgotten that a monster once warned him about the treasure map.

Any Evil Cultivator or monster he lured to hunt for treasure, with just a little probing, can clearly discern the state of that cave dwelling.

Trying to lure those Evil Cultivators and monsters in again is utterly impossible.

"It was my mistake!"

Hu Rui also realized at once that the cave dwelling wasn't suitable for Wang Ping'an's deeds; after all, someone had already used it for similar purposes.

Although one involves murder‑theft and the other satisfies a personal peculiar taste.

But they're essentially the same!

Perhaps Wang Ping'an's current plan was derived from that group's methods.

"Li Dao You, wait here; I'll bring you what you need right away!"

After speaking, Hu Rui rose and left; shortly thereafter returned with two imposing Tiger Demon Skins.

Indeed, these are Tiger Demon Skins; the tiger's might remains unfallen, and their power surpasses that of the earlier Tiger Demon Skin.

Not even ordinary people—let alone cultivators in the early Qi Refinement stage or monsters—could help but have their courage shaken by this Tiger Demon Skin.

"Li Dao You, this is the Foundation Establishment‑stage Tiger Demon Skin you requested; please inspect it!"

Hu Rui came up to Wang Ping'an and casually handed over the two Tiger Demon skins she was holding.

"Third Miss, your things, do they still need to be checked?"

Wang Ping'an took the two Tiger Demon skins Hu Rui handed over, casually stashed them in his storage bag, and said, "Third Miss, don't worry—I'll finish drawing the intermediate talisman you gave me and bring it over right away to settle the debt!"

(End of chapter)