Chapter 69: Those Who Smelled (4)

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The old man with white beard, Jeong Ilryong, closed the box and bit a faint smile.

"Quite impressive."

"Hehe, I'm glad you're satisfied."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"......?"

"I said it was impressive, but I never said I was satisfied."

The face of Hao Yang, the master of Qing Shui Sect, slightly stiffened.

But only for a moment, then he smiled broadly.

"Ah, please wait a moment. I forgot to mention that I have prepared the finest carpet from the Western Regions."

"Is that so?"

"I'll have my subordinates bring it over. Would you like another cup of tea?"

"Sure."

What a refreshingly straightforward old man.

Though he cursed inwardly, Hao Yang's smile grew brighter. To survive in the martial world, it was essential not to reveal one's true intentions.

A short while later, steam began to rise from their teacups once again.

"You must have had a long journey. I thank you again for your efforts."

"Hehe, it's not much of an effort. I just sat in a carriage pulled by my subordinates and enjoyed the scenery."

"How did the world look to you, Great Elder? Was it decent?"

"The world has always been murky. The weather was a bit cold, but it got warmer as I came south."

He must have been excited by the thought of receiving a bribe.

Hao Yang laughed heartily.

"Indeed, the north is cold. Although it's not for wrapping around the body, the carpet from the Western Regions will be quite helpful for your work."

"Hehe, how could I take your kindness lightly? This tea is no ordinary thing."

"Indeed, you have a discerning eye. This is Longjing tea specially procured for you."

"West Lake Longjing? It's said to be hard to come by even for a thousand gold pieces."

"For a noble guest, it's worth spending ten thousand gold pieces."

"Hehe."

"Haha!"

The two men laughed heartily.

One was there to receive a bribe, the other to bow and scrape for a good impression.

Though their intentions were clearly different, they appeared to be friendly acquaintances on the surface.

"By the way, how is Jiangxi? Is it livable?"

Hao Yang sighed immediately.

"Jiangxi is a good land, but just because the land is good, can one laugh and chat? The times are tough, and there are all sorts of troubles."

"What do you mean by 'times'?"

"Isn't the festival of the Devil Sect just around the corner? I don't know the name of this so-called festival."

"You must be referring to the Fashun Festival."

"Oh, yes."

"Hehe, the Fashun Festival is the grandest event for the Devil Sect. Rumor has it that they are causing chaos everywhere to gather all sorts of treasures."

"Indeed. The place is in a state of chaos due to those bandit-like fellows."

Jeong Ilryong smiled calmly. His appearance, dressed in pure white with a neatly groomed white beard, resembled a celestial being.

"Hao Sect Master, you must be having a hard time. Now that you've passed the age of knowing one's destiny, it's time to wrap up your affairs here and come up north."

At that moment, Hao Yang's eyes widened.

"Is it possible?"

"Even if the north is cold, it's not as isolated as a remote mountain village. If you live among various people, the north can be a decent place."

"Haha! Indeed, only you, Great Elder, understand my heart. Lately, my mind has been troubled and everything has been annoying. If I could go to a place that would give me new vitality, it would be a great thing."

Hao Yang's face brightened noticeably, a genuine smile of joy.

How much did he bribe to enter the headquarters of the Righteous Alliance? He must have uprooted a few pillars of the sect.

The moment his efforts bore fruit, he couldn't help but be pleased.

A short while later, a servant brought a red carpet wrapped in blue silk.

Jeong Ilryong nodded subtly as he glanced at the carpet, recognizing it as the finest available from the Western Regions.

"When I return to the headquarters, I'll put in a good word for you. Your experience in managing a sect is sufficient, but the alliance is a new environment. I'll look for a suitable position for you in the internal affairs."

"Thank you, thank you, Great Elder."

A warrior standing behind Jeong Ilryong collected the box and the carpet.

"Then I'll take my leave now."

"Are you returning to the headquarters immediately?"

"No. I came to visit my mother, whom I haven't seen for several years. It's just another two hundred miles south."

Worry crept onto Hao Yang's face.

"Who doesn't know that your martial arts have reached the pinnacle? But please be careful. I'm worried that the wicked Devil Sect members might defile your clothes."

"Hehe, I may be old, but I'm still active. If the Devil Sect leader comes, I'll roar and chase him away. Don't worry, Hao Sect Master."

Jeong Ilryong smiled deeply, glancing at the carpet held by the warrior.

"What could go wrong?"

* * *

The old man, Wu Jinghua, opened all the boxes, and his eyes sparkled.

"Hmm."

The items piled up in the boxes.

Wu Jinghua was puzzled.

"All rare medicinal herbs. They are hard to come by even for a thousand gold pieces. But... why would they try to procure them in such large quantities in these times?"

The Fashun Festival may be approaching, but do they need such items for the festival?

'They are rare, but not suitable for making elixirs. This is suspicious.'

Wu Jinghua shrugged.

"Well, I don't need to concern myself with such matters."

The order from the upper echelons was to raid this target and seize all the items intended for the Devil Sect.

It was a task he didn't particularly enjoy, but since he had already carried it out, he didn't want to dwell on unnecessary worries.

After closing all the boxes, he looked around.

"Let's clean up... tsk, those beasts again."

Chomp! Crunch! Crunch!

Dark shadows were tearing apart the bodies.

Blood splattered everywhere, and dismembered bodies, once human, were scattered. The sight was so gruesome that a weak-hearted person would faint immediately.

Disgust clouded Wu Jinghua's face.

"They know no bounds. That's why I dislike them. I can't understand why the city would train with such creatures."

At that moment, Guo Sha approached him.

"I report."

"......"

"All survivors are dead. We have recovered all the items. We just need to burn this place before leaving."

"I see. Stop your unnecessary talk and how are our people?"

"Three are lightly injured, but there are no serious injuries or deaths."

Wu Jinghua frowned.

"Three lightly injured? What kind of weaklings were they to get even that?"

He was displeased. He disliked this mission, the beasts he had to travel with, and the subordinates who were scratched by the Devil Sect members.

Most of all, he was disappointed that there was no one here worth a proper fight.

'They are just Devil Sect members. Even though they sent a transport team for such valuable items, what kind of strength is this?'

At least the five who joined later were somewhat competent, but that was all. They were skilled enough to be called first-rate, but could be dispatched to the netherworld with a few flicks of the fingers.

"How many of the deliberately sent fellows were there?"

"About four or five. They were too far to confirm exactly."

"Incompetent. Fine, gather the kids and clean this up. Get ready to leave."

"Yes."

"And you."

"Speak."

Smack!

Guo Sha fell on his buttocks. His face was hit so hard that his vision spun.

"You were talking to those beasts just now."

"Cough!"

"I don't want to know what you said. But do you know how much I despise them?"

"......"

"I hold your leash. Bow your head like a dog. Don't dare to contact those beasts or hate anyone without my permission. You are just my puppet. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Good, go."

He was already on the verge of losing his temper, but venting his anger on this ignorant subordinate helped him calm down.

"Move the items and check for any other valuables one last time."

"Yes, sir."

Guo Sha staggered, moving. It wasn't just a slap; it was a strike infused with inner energy, making it hard for him to stand.

Wu Jinghua sneered.

'I need to train him better.'

Though he had vented his frustration, he knew that if handled well, this subordinate could be a significant help. His intelligence was recognized even by military leaders.

At that moment, an unusual sound came from behind him.

"......Ugh."

Wu Jinghua turned his head. In a corner, a hand buried in a collapsed wall was trembling.

He kicked the rocks aside roughly.

Crash! Bang! Rumble!

Among the broken and scattered rocks, a Devil Sect member, covered in blood, looked up at Wu Jinghua with swollen eyes.

Wu Jinghua grinned.

"Ah, a tough one. Aren't you the one who was thrown away by my palm force earlier?"

"Y...ou..."

"Green uniform... not from the outer sect. An inner sect Devil Sect member?"

"Cough! Cough!"

Blood droplets spattered with each cough. He was not dead yet, but it was clear he would be soon.

Woo.

The Devil Sect member's eyes suddenly became clear. It was a sign of a last burst of energy before death.

"......The Demon God will not let you go unpunished."

Wu Jinghua chuckled.

"What a joke. How can you worship a Demon God when you have no god to serve? Anyway, Devil Sect members are all insane."

Grip.

His foot pressed down on the Devil Sect member's neck.

"If you love the Demon God so much, why don't you all die and go to his side?"

"Gurgle."

"Too scared to die? I'll help you."

Crunch!

The Devil Sect member's neck snapped. His eyes, wide open, turned gray, and his tongue hung down to his chin, dangling.

"If the Demon God you believe in exists, pray to him in the netherworld. Beg him to kill me out of resentment."

Wu Jinghua turned away, mocking the dead Devil Sect member.

A short while later, the dark shadows pounced on the dead Devil Sect member's body.

Crunch! Chomp!

* * *

Zhu Hua's eyes wavered.

"......It's terrifying."

Lian Yi's face turned pale, and Ma Dongbi's face hardened.

They were looking at a building charred black. Among the broken walls, arms and legs protruded, the bones exposed as if they had been torn apart by beasts.

"What should we do, Chief?"

"Tell the temporary leader to have the members clean up the remains here."

"Understood."

Lian Yi bowed and gave orders to the Devil Sect members.

Zhu Hua rolled up his sleeves.

"Chief, you should rest."

"No."

How could he rest after witnessing such a scene?

But Lian Yi was genuinely worried. As a confidant of Xiao Lianxin, he knew Zhu Hua well.

"Hasn't it been a short time since you freed yourself from the demonic influence? If you overexert yourself..."

Sizzle!

"......!"

Frost instantly formed on the stone Zhu Hua picked up, a result of the cold energy from the Moon Shadow Demon Art.

"I've already recovered a significant part of my martial arts. You don't need to treat me like a