lovenovelstory Chapter 34 [Earthly Fiend Tribulation] Entering the City, Hu 3, Behind the Scenes
Chapter 34 [Earthly Fiend Tribulation] Entering the City, Hu 3, Behind the Scenes
The continuous downpour finally stopped before dawn, leaving behind a clear sky.
At the city gate, city guards with long spears were lazily checking the sparse number of pedestrians entering the city.
Lu Qingfeng and Xuan Ji mingled in the crowd entering the city, both wearing clothes that had been taken from the three dead people and altered with their own original clothes.
After all, with his expertise in weapons, Master Lu could easily master the use of a needle.
After accidentally poking himself a few times, he naturally developed the skill to alter a piece of clothing to the point that even his own mother wouldn't recognize it.
Upon entering the city, the two brothers deliberately concealed their auras, appearing no different from country boys fleeing from war.
Xuan Ji clutched his bundle tightly, his face still somewhat pale, but his eyes were much more determined than before. The bloodshed in the cave last night and his senior brother's decisiveness had forced him to grow up.
Lu Qingfeng's gaze swept over the two mottled characters "Jiangzhou" above the city gate, and then quickly scanned the guards at the city gate and the wooden sign with notices posted next to them.
(It should be the characters Jiangzhou, after all, I don't know the writing system of this world very well, this is just my imagination)
He pushed his senses to the limit, trying his best to discern any unusual presence amidst the mixed atmosphere at the city gate.
"Halt! Where did you come from? What are you doing in town?"
A burly soldier with a fierce face blocked their way, pointing his spear diagonally and speaking in an unfriendly tone.
Lu Qingfeng lowered his head slightly and said in a hoarse voice, "Sir, we are from Lijia Village in the north. We were affected by the flood and came to the city to seek refuge with relatives and find a way to make a living."
He pointed to Xuan Ji, who still looked terrified, and said, "This is my younger brother. He's scared."
After saying that, Lu Qingfeng pretended to be reluctant and tried to stuff a few copper coins into the soldier's hand, saying, "Please have mercy, sir."
The soldier didn't take it, but frowned and looked them up and down, his gaze lingering especially on the long, narrow object wrapped in rags at Lu Qingfeng's waist.
However, Lu Qingfeng had already mastered the Concealing Breath Technique he had just acquired last night to a certain extent, so naturally no abnormalities were detected.
Another soldier leaned over and whispered to his companion, "Didn't Master Hu tell us to keep an eye out for Taoist-looking young men or injured lads? These two look..."
The burly soldier waved his hand impatiently: "Get out of here! Go inside and behave yourself! Don't cause trouble!"
"Who does Hu San think he is? He doesn't think he can boss me around! Remember this: who do you work for!"
"Hey! You two, get back inside! And don't bring out that lousy money of yours again, it's beneath me!"
The two quickly bowed their heads in thanks, then blended into the crowd and entered Jiangzhou City.
Upon entering the city, a cacophony and chaos immediately envelop you.
The streets were narrow and crowded, the cobblestone paths were potholed and waterlogged, and there were low shops and houses on both sides. The air was filled with a mixture of unpleasant smells: the stench of livestock, the faint smell of mildew and urine in the corners.
Most pedestrians walked in a hurry, their faces showing sorrow or numbness.
The chaotic world, so different from the secluded mountain retreat he remembered, left Xuan Ji feeling somewhat disoriented, and he instinctively followed closely behind Lu Qingfeng.
Lu Qingfeng had no time for sentimentality.
While quickly searching his memory for the location of the Evil Suppression Division mentioned by his master, he also vigilantly sensed his surroundings.
The level 2 Qi Master's Qi Sensing range expanded to more than ten feet. He could clearly perceive the chaotic energy field around him. The entire city was shrouded in a turbid aura, restless, filthy, and oppressive!
The loss of control over the Yin Fiend Veins of Yin Xuan Temple may only be the tip of the iceberg of a much bigger problem in Jiangzhou City.
Moreover, in some dark alleyway teahouses, there are always a few pairs of eyes that sweep across with greed and scrutiny, like hyenas hiding in the shadows.
Based on the conversation between the city gate soldiers, Lu Qingfeng was almost certain that the Black Fang Gang had spies all over the city, and their targets were clear.
However, in contrast to this turbid energy, he vaguely sensed several relatively clean energy nodes in several directions of the city, emanating pure spiritual power or righteous energy fluctuations.
One of these locations, in the direction of the prefectural government office, should be the location of the Evil Suppression Division.
There are also a few scattered locations, each with its own distinct atmosphere.
"Senior brother, where are we going now?"
Xuanji asked in a low voice, his voice tinged with nervousness.
"Go to the vicinity of the prefectural government office."
Lu Qingfeng said in a low voice, his gaze sharp as if it could emit a cold light, "Find the Evil Suppression Division."
The prefectural government office was located in the north of the city and was relatively orderly and solemn.
The entrance to the Zhenxie Division's yamen was located on the side street of the yamen, and was not particularly eye-catching.
There were no heavily armored guards at the entrance as expected, only two men dressed in dark blue uniforms with standard long swords at their waists.
They stood tall and straight, with sharp eyes and slightly bulging temples, clearly skilled in martial arts. They exuded a faint aura of menace and a weak fluctuation of spiritual energy.
Lu Qingfeng did not rush forward.
He led Xuanji to a wonton stall across the street, ordered two bowls of the cheapest vegetarian wontons, and ate them slowly while observing him discreetly.
He noticed that although the gate of the Zhenxie Division was deserted, the people coming and going were in a hurry and their expressions were mostly solemn.
Occasionally, people wearing higher-ranking uniforms would come and go, and their aura would be stronger.
He also noticed that in the corners of the streets and alleys, there were some figures who seemed to be strolling around, but whose eyes were never leaving the entrance of the Zhenxie Division. They had a sinister aura and were similar to the henchmen of the Black Fang Gang.
"As expected... this Evil Suppression Division is no good."
Lu Qingfeng sneered inwardly.
The master's warning was not unfounded.
The internal factions within the Zhenxie Division are still unclear, but external surveillance is already blatant.
Whether revealing this token will bring good fortune or misfortune is truly unpredictable.
Xuanji also sensed that something was wrong, so he ate his wontons in small bites and didn't dare to speak.
Lu Qingfeng quickly considered his strategy:
Revealing one's identity directly? That's the riskiest option. It could immediately be discovered by those behind the Black Tooth Gang, or it could drag you into the internal power struggles of the Evil Suppression Division, or even make you a scapegoat.
Moreover, it's not particularly safe to bring along a junior brother.
Secretly delivering information? How can we ensure that the information reaches the truly responsible and reliable person? The Zhenxie Division has likely been infiltrated.
Looking for my master and sect? My master only said to look in the Evil Suppression Division, but who knows what the sect is like?
Lu Qingfeng couldn't help but touch the cold black token in his pocket.
This is not only a token of appeal for help, but also a hot potato, the key to uncovering the conspiracy behind the chaos of the Earthly Fiends.
Just then, a middle-aged man with a thin face and a goatee walked out of the gate of the Zhenxie Division.
The man, who clearly had the identity of a strategist, stood at the door, casually scanning the street. When his gaze swept over the wonton stall, it lingered on Lu Qingfeng and Xuan Ji for an extremely brief moment.
Lu Qingfeng's senses caught the abnormality for that instant!
That person also possessed a faint spiritual energy, and... his gaze was not merely a simple scrutiny.
"Have you been noticed...?"
Lu Qingfeng felt a chill run down his spine.
"We've been exposed?!"
The other party clearly has a special method of identification, and... even if they try their best to conceal their characteristics, there are still flaws in the eyes of professionals.
He put down the bowl, slapped a few copper coins on the table, and pulled Xuanji up: "Let's go!"
"Huh? Senior brother, where are we going? No... not to the Evil Suppression Division?"
Xuanji was pulled so hard he stumbled.
"I'm not going for now."
Lu Qingfeng pulled Xuan Ji and quickly merged into the crowd. After making several turns and making sure there were no obvious traces of them, they slipped into a quiet dead-end alley.
"We're definitely being watched; they have people at the entrance of the Zhenxie Division."
Lu Qingfeng said in a deep voice, "Master is right. Going directly to the Suppression Bureau to report the news is too risky."
"Then... what should we do?"
Xuan Ji panicked, "Master, he..."
Lu Qingfeng's eyes were icy as he looked towards the south of the city, where the Happy Forest Gambling House was located, the lair of Master Hu of the Black Tooth Gang.
"Since someone is trying to stop us from delivering the message and steal the token, then let's go and meet this Master Hu."
Lu Qingfeng's voice was icy.
He needed intelligence, he needed to know who the important person was, and he needed to do everything he could to save his master, whose fate was uncertain.
And that Third Master Hu is the best breakthrough point.
Strength is what truly makes him dare to take such a gamble.
Furthermore, this Master Hu is definitely a part of the mission to find the truth.
Therefore, one can also obtain certain rewards from this.
Hopefully, the Evil Suppression Division will be sensible in time.
Lu Qingfeng was not someone who indiscriminately killed innocent people.
"Go...go to the Black Fang Gang?"
Xuan Ji gasped, his face turning even paler.
"right."
Lu Qingfeng nodded, his gaze resolute. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And while we're at it... let's collect some interest for Master."
He adjusted the tattered cloth covering the Qingfeng sword to ensure he could draw it instantly.
On the chessboard of Jiangzhou City, he decided to first eliminate a key piece—Master Hu.
What I hate most in this life is people who are deliberately mysterious!
……
As night fell, Jiangzhou City took on a new look.
The streetlights cast a dim, swaying glow on the narrow streets, illuminating the hurried pedestrians heading home.
The Happy Forest Casino in the south of the city is the most bustling place in this area.
Earlier in the day, Lu Qingfeng had completed his reconnaissance of the area and formulated an action plan.
A direct, head-on attack is possible, but not advisable. You might alert other snakes, which would be disastrous.
Surely no one really thinks our store manager, Mr. Lu, is some kind of clueless brute?
Lu Qingfeng settled Xuan Ji in a relatively secluded inn far from the south of the city and set up a simple concealment spell.
"Stay here and lock the door. Don't answer the door if anyone knocks."
He spoke calmly and earnestly to his junior brother.
"Senior brother, you...you must be careful!"
Lu Qingfeng remained silent, his figure disappearing quietly out the window like a ghost blending into the night.
He changed into the coarse cloth clothes he had bought during the day, and simply smeared some dust on his face to conceal his handsome features.
The Qingfeng sword was still wrapped in rags and slung across his back, but the hilt was within easy reach.
The Happy Forest Casino was brightly lit and bustling with noise.
The shouts of the gamblers, whether joyful or sorrowful, along with the clamor of the onlookers, created a lively atmosphere tonight.
Two burly men stood at the entrance, their fierce eyes scanning everyone who came in and out.
Lu Qingfeng did not use the main entrance.
He moved close to the shadows behind the gambling den and entered the back alley.
The back alley of the gambling den was narrow, dirty, and piled with clutter, filled with a strong stench of urine and rotting garbage.
A narrow side door was ajar, from which came the sounds of pots and pans clattering and the smell of food; this was the passageway to the gambling den's kitchen.
Taking advantage of the moment when a hunched-over servant turned around with a bucket of swill inside, Lu Qingfeng silently slipped inside.
The inside of the gambling den was even noisier and more chaotic than the outside.
The thugs were either openly or covertly distributed in various corners, their eyes wary.
Lu Qingfeng's target was clear: Master Hu, who had sent men to intercept and kill them.
According to the burly man's confession, Master Hu usually stayed in the private room on the second floor with the best view, which overlooked the entire casino and was also secluded enough.
He avoided the crowded gambling tables and moved upwards along the shadows of the stairs.
Two sharp-eyed thugs stood guard at the stairwell, looking even more formidable than those downstairs.
"Halt! This is the VIP area; unauthorized personnel are not permitted!"
One of them reached out and stopped Lu Qingfeng, speaking in a harsh tone.
Lu Qingfeng didn't stop walking, and didn't even look at them directly.
Just as the other person's hand was about to touch his shoulder!
"Pfft! Pfft!"
Two muffled thuds were heard.
Lu Qingfeng's hands landed precisely on the throats of the two thugs, instantly cutting off their ability to breathe and speak.
Their eyes bulged out, they clutched their necks, and with expressions of disbelief and terror, they collapsed to the ground and died.
Lu Qingfeng didn't even glance at the two people on the ground, and pushed open the door to the private room.
The private room was luxuriously decorated, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle outside.
The thick carpet absorbed the sound of footsteps, and several gaudy paintings and calligraphy hung on the wall.
A middle-aged man dressed in a fine silk robe and sporting a mustache was reclining on a soft couch, his shoulders being massaged by two fairly attractive maids.
He is Master Hu.
A man who looked like a manager was sitting opposite him, reporting something in a low voice.
The sound of the door being pushed open interrupted their conversation.
Old Master Hu frowned, about to shout, "Which blind fool..."
But his next words were abruptly stuck in his throat.
The person standing at the door was not the trusted confidant or gambling house manager he had expected, but a strange young man.
"Who are you?"
Hu Sanye shouted angrily, and at the same time, his fat body suddenly sat up straight, and his hand, hidden in his sleeve, quietly reached for a hard object at his waist.
His maidservant was terrified and cowered in a corner.
The steward abruptly stood up, his hand reaching for the short sword at his waist: "Guards..."
"puff!"
Before the steward could finish speaking, a flash of green light appeared.
He felt a chill on his wrist, followed by excruciating pain. His hand, which was holding the knife, was severed at the wrist!
Blood gushed out instantly!
The steward let out a heart-wrenching scream and collapsed to the ground, rolling around in agony.
Lu Qingfeng's figure appeared before Master Hu like a ghost at some unknown time.
Without asking any questions, he slashed him with his sword, and with the pre-activated corrosive power, he tore a red gash in Master Hu's body.
Strangely, no blood flowed out directly; instead, the wound writhed as if it were alive.
After restricting Hu Sanye's mobility, Lu Qingfeng began to interrogate him formally.
The cold tip of the Qingfeng sword rested firmly on Master Hu's thick throat, and a drop of blood slowly seeped out.
"Shout again, or move again, and you're dead."
Lu Qingfeng's voice pierced through Hu Sanye's eardrums, crushing his hopes.
The only sounds in the private room were the steward's suppressed groans of pain and Master Hu's heavy, bellows-like breathing.
"Good sir... have mercy! Have mercy! Let's talk this out!"
The fat on Hu Sanye's face trembled uncontrollably, and cold sweat instantly soaked his inner shirt. The strange wound on his body made him feel even colder.
He could feel the aura of death emanating from the tip of the sword; it was definitely not fake.
"Who ordered you to ambush and kill the people from Yinxuan Temple?"
Lu Qingfeng got straight to the point, without any unnecessary words.
"It's...it's a celestial being from the Yin Luo Dao! A supreme immortal! The meaning of a supreme immortal!"
Master Hu, his face contorted with grief, stammered as if afraid of being even a fraction too slow, "I...I was just following orders, Master!"
"The Yin Luo Path?"
Lu Qingfeng's eyes narrowed. The name carried a sinister air. "Where are their people? How do we contact them? How much do they know about the token?"
"The Immortal... the Immortal is elusive, always keeping secrets and communicating with us through single-line contact! He usually sends messengers at night. The token... the Immortal personally instructed us about the token, saying that it must be obtained and must not fall into the hands of the Evil Suppression Division! He also said... he also said that there will be a great reward after it's done!"
Uncle Hu spilled everything out like beans from a bamboo tube, not daring to hide anything in order to save his life.
"Are there people from their faction in the Suppression of Evil Division?"
Lu Qingfeng pressed for the key question.
"This...this humble servant truly doesn't know, Master Dao!"
With a sob in his voice, Third Master Hu said, "The immortal only gave me the mission, not anything about the Demon Suppression Division, but... but..."
"But what?"
"I once vaguely heard the immortal talking to someone dressed in the robes of the Exorcist's Office, but I couldn't see their face clearly, and I didn't dare to listen any longer! Really!"
Uncle Hu hurriedly added, afraid that the other party wouldn't believe him.
The information is limited, but the direction is clear.
It turned out that the Zhenxie Division had a traitor within it, and that he was colluding with this so-called Yinluo Dao.
"One last question,"
Lu Qingfeng moved the tip of his sword slightly away, pointing it at the waist that Master Hu had just tried to touch. "What's that?"
Hu Sanye's face turned pale. He hesitated for a moment, but seeing Lu Qingfeng's emotionless eyes, he ultimately dared not play any tricks.
He shakily pulled a palm-sized black token engraved with a hideous ghost face from his waist and carefully placed it on the low table next to him.
"This, this is a protective talisman bestowed by a celestial being, it's said...it can ward off one calamity..."
Hu Sanye's voice was filled with despair; this was clearly his last resort for survival, and now he was forced to hand it over.
Lu Qingfeng glanced at the ghost-faced token, which emitted faint, sinister energy, clearly indicating that it was an evil magical artifact.
"If that's all..."
"You're useless now."
The moment the words left his mouth, the Qingfeng sword flashed across the ground!
puff!
The sword pierced through Master Hu's heart with perfect precision, and the violent force instantly shattered his heart meridian!
The fear and pleading on Hu Sanye's face froze instantly. His obese body trembled violently, the light in his eyes dimmed quickly, and he collapsed onto the soft couch, lifeless.
The maid in the corner was so frightened that she fainted.
The steward, whose hand was severed, lay on the ground, lifeless from excessive blood loss.
Lu Qingfeng didn't even glance at the corpse on the ground. With a flick of his wrist, he shook off the blood droplets from the tip of his sword.
He walked to the window and pushed it open a crack.
The gambling den remained noisy and chaotic, and no one knew what had just happened in the private room on the second floor.
"Yinluo Path... Evil Suppression Division..."
Lu Qingfeng has obtained the intelligence he needed, and Hu Sanye, this thorn in his side, has also been removed.
Next, it's time to meet those snakes and rats that are hiding even deeper.
With a flash, Lu Qingfeng disappeared silently into the night outside the window, just as he had come.
The hustle and bustle of the Happy Forest Casino gradually faded away behind him.
But tonight, this is just the beginning...
[The first phase of the main storyline quest in the dungeon has been completed]
[Rewards have been issued]
You have successfully uncovered part of the truth behind the incident.
[Phase rewards have been distributed]