Mengqi had never seen Gu Xiaosang's handwriting, so it was impossible to determine her identity from her handwriting alone. However, she had just discovered Old Zhong's whereabouts yesterday, and today she had received a clear message. It was hard not to link the two together.
The simplest, clearest, and most consistent deduction was that after discovering Old Zhong, Gu Xiaosang had sent someone to follow him and determine his destination or hiding place. She was worried that there might be an ambush or trap, and the Luo Denomination was not strong enough here, so she informed him first so that the righteous could feel the danger.
Of course, the Myths might have deliberately sent this letter as revenge, but there were two conditions. First, they had discovered his connection with Gu Xiaosang, and second, they had believed that he had found Old Zhong. That was why they had written the letter in a female handwriting and used the Skyscraping Devil's whereabouts to lure him. All in all, the possibility was extremely low.
"Even if it's a trap of the Myths, if I'm strong enough, I can beat them at their own game …" Mengqi held the letter and made a decision. The Myths only had 40 to 50 official and probationary members. Excluding those who were inconvenient to go out and on missions, the number of members they could mobilize at one time was limited. Moreover, they were hated by everyone. Once their whereabouts were exposed, they would immediately be besieged. On the other hand, he was a righteous person who could act openly and ask for help. He could use this as a fulcrum to mobilize all the experts of the Exterior in Ying City.
If the Myths' 'trap' could resist so many experts of the Exterior, why would they go through so much trouble? They could just go to his door and kill him!
The pure white letter gave off a faint fragrance, which seemed to be Gu Xiaosang's scent. After careful consideration, Mengqi decided to find Jiang Zhiwei and secretly inform Qi Zhengyan and the Six Fan School. In this way, at least three experts of the Exterior would secretly follow them. If the Myths were stronger than them, they could resist while asking for help from the entire Ying City in the name of the Six Fan School.
…
The Dragon Mountain twisted and turned, rising and falling like a dragon. After crossing a mountain ridge, Mengqi and Jiang Zhiwei could see the entrance to the Valley of Unkempt Tombs. Inside, there was lush greenery that defied the season, and graves could be vaguely seen.
"It's said that this place was originally called Dragon Valley. It was the ancestral grave of the Han family of Ying City. Later, it was moved to the imperial mausoleum. But after Ying City was conquered, the Zhao family of Divine Capital still sent troops to destroy this place." Jiang Zhiwei crammed the old stories of Ying City. "Because many people believed in Fengshui, they felt that this valley was the place where the Han Family had made their fortune, and that it had inherited the dragon's rising fortune. But they didn't dare to do it openly, so they quietly buried their parents and brothers here, and it became the Valley of Unmarked Graves."
Mengqi bent down, and using the cover of the trees, he slowly approached the Valley of Unkempt Tombs. "You don't say. The winter is like spring, and the vegetation is flourishing. This valley is truly mystical."
"There are many similar places. Who knows if it's the Son of Heaven's Fortune? Besides, it's just a worldly possession. We can borrow it but not rely on it." Jiang Zhiwei followed Mengqi and sneaked to the entrance of the valley. They didn't want to alert the enemy and end up with nothing.
Mengqi looked back. 'Star-breaking Sword' Hong Qian, 'Silver-badge Arrester' Qian Kai, and the other two Exterior masters should be behind them. They were the two of them.
"Don't worry. Uncle Hong is experienced in Jianghu. If there's a formation in the Valley of Unmarked Tombs, he'll definitely be able to tell." Jiang Zhiwei stared at the valley vigilantly, but she wasn't nervous at all.
Mengqi nodded and said no more. He slowly followed the vegetation to the entrance of the valley.
It was strange. The valley seemed to be full of life, but it was completely silent. There was not the slightest movement, and it also gave off the feeling of death. The combination of the two gave off an eerie silence.
"There are traces." Jiang Zhiwei began to cultivate the Primal Aperture at Mid-brows. Her spiritual sense had become much stronger.
Mengqi focused his eyes and was surprised. "Why are there traces of multiple people passing by?"
And judging from the traces, they were not as strong as Old Zhong.
"Maybe they were people who secretly came here to be buried?" Jiang Zhiwei guessed.
"No matter what, let's follow the traces first." Mengqi turned into a phantom and quietly moved forward in the silent valley.
After walking for a while, he suddenly smelled a faint smell of blood. His heart skipped a beat. He didn't care about hiding his tracks and quickened his pace.
Jiang Zhiwei also sensed it and rushed forward like a flying rainbow with her sword.
After passing a grave, there was a larger mausoleum in front of them. It was mostly damaged and filled with robber's holes.
In front of the mausoleum were five corpses. They were all monks in yellow frocks. They were all skin and bones, without any flesh or blood.
"Dragon, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, and Peng?" Although only skin and bones were left, Mengqi's eyesight was sharp enough to recognize the five corpses. They were the 'Dragon, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, and Peng' monks that he had sparred with that day. They were the Crown Prince's helpers who had combined their secret skills!
"Why are they here?" Jiang Zhiwei also recognized them. Why did the monks who followed the Crown Prince appear in the Valley of Unkempt Tombs and die under the Power of Heaven and Demonic?
In less than three months, Old Zhong's strength had improved so much that he could easily kill the Dragon, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, and Peng … The Power of Heaven and Demonic was indeed a famous evil skill. As long as one could devour flesh, bones, genuine Qi, and Vital Spirit, one could improve … Mengqi examined the five monks and found no other clues. He continued forward by following the faint smell of blood.
After passing the mausoleum, there was another corpse on the path leading out of the valley. It was wearing a black robe and was facing the ground.
Mengqi flicked the tip of his sword and the black-robed man turned over, revealing his signature red nose.
"Him?" Mengqi was even more shocked. This man was the one who had secretly met with Mi Zijing last night. Why did he appear in the Valley of Unkempt Tombs with the Crown Prince's helpers nearby?
Not only was the black-robed man missing his flesh, but even his bones were mostly gone. If not for his sharp nose, Mengqi would not have recognized him so quickly.
Just then, a figure flew past and landed at the end of the path. He bent down and picked up a concealed weapon hidden in the grass.
The newcomer was wearing the standard dark red uniform of the Six Fan School with a silver official seal hanging from his waist. He had a long beard and eyes that seemed to always be narrowed into slits. It was Silver Badge Qian Kai of Ying City, a master of the Third Heaven of the Exterior.
The concealed weapon in his hand was in the shape of a plum blossom. It was intricate and had a unique charm. It was stained with fresh blood and the strong smell could be smelled from afar. It was the source of the bloody smell that Mengqi and Jiang Zhiwei had smelled earlier.
Looking at the strange blood, Mengqi felt that it was Old Zhong's blood. Who could have hurt him?
Gu Xiaosang? The Luo Denomination Cultivator?
"The plum blossom nail of 'Thief King' Sikong Tu …" Qian Kai muttered to himself.
'Star-breaking Sword' Hong Qian and the Exterior-level masters of the Huanhua Swords Sect had already followed the path and were trying to track them.
"King of Thieves" Sikong Tu … him? Hearing this name, Mengqi's mind buzzed. Many things from before suddenly connected.
Sikong Tu, who was good at grave robbing; the Crown Prince and Prince Jin, who came to Ying City for no apparent reason; Mi Zijing and the Five Pure Land Monks, who were related to Brandy Nose; the King of Thieves, who stood Master Lotus up last night; Wang Siyuan's hint … Mengqi had already formed a story in his mind.
When Sikong Tu was excavating an ancient tomb, he had accidentally stumbled upon a secret treasure of the previous dynasty. It was rumored to have been crafted by Emperor Ai and was capable of enhancing the fortune of the Emperor. As a thief, he had no use for it, so he spread the news to Luoyang, attracting the Crown Prince and Prince Jin to Ying City to compete for it.
Since he had been active in River East for a long time, this was his home ground. Coupled with the large number of Jianghu people brought by the Party of Happycloud, he was not afraid of being followed by Exterior experts. He dared to raise the price to see which of the Crown Prince or Prince Jin offered the most generous terms. The highest bidder would win. Thus, he had the informant, Brandy Nose, in contact with both sides.
However, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. He had been targeted by the Myths.
If it was not a secret treasure but a treasure of the previous dynasty, Sikong Tu could have used it directly on himself. There would have been no need to cause trouble and increase the danger for no reason.
The three Exterior experts split up to search. Mengqi and Jiang Zhiwei did not stay idle either. They examined the corpse and unearthed any traces left in the valley.
After a while, Qian Kai, Hong Qian, and the rest of the Exterior experts returned. They all shook their heads.
"Sikong Tu is good at concealing himself. He disappeared halfway, so he must have escaped. The evil spirits of the Myths chased after him all the way, but they also slowly disappeared without a trace," Qian Kai said to Mengqi and Jiang Zhiwei.
With the Exterior experts present, Mengqi did not tell Jiang Zhiwei about Young Master Lotus and the King of Thieves. When they returned to the city and went their separate ways, he first pretended to return to Happycloud Heights. Then, he changed directions halfway and went directly to Young Master Lotus's rented courtyard. He planned to ask him if he had any news of Sikong Tu.
When he found some clues, he would report the matter to the Six Fan School. There was no need to continue participating in the fight between the major forces. Whoever got the secret treasure had nothing to do with him. He had no use for it. He might as well take the opportunity to get the reward from the Six Fan School!
Because he loved drinking and enjoying his freedom, Young Master Lotus did not stay in the Treasure Pavilion owned by the Huanhua Swords Sect. Instead, he rented a courtyard in a nearby alley. The surroundings were quiet and secluded. Even at noon, there were not many people in the courtyard.
Stepping on the green stone slabs and counting the white walls on both sides, Mengqi walked toward the courtyard where Young Master Lotus lived. As he walked, he suddenly stopped.
That was because he heard a low moan!
If not for the quiet and secluded area, Mengqi's hearing would not have been able to detect it!
The moan was filled with pain, as if it was a struggle before death.
Mengqi frowned thoughtfully. After a moment of hesitation, he climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard to find the source of the moan.
This courtyard might have been purchased by a peddler. Since it was the New Year, there were only two old servants guarding it. Mengqi did not cause the slightest disturbance and stopped in front of a woodshed near the wall.
This was where the moan came from.
He stretched out his long saber and pushed the door open. He moved to the side to prevent a sneak attack.
The door of the woodshed was old and shabby. It creaked open, revealing the scene inside. A man in black leaned against a pile of firewood. Half of his body was skinny and the other half was rosy. It was a very strange sight.
Mengqi knew at a glance that most of his flesh and blood had been sucked out by the Heavenly Demonic Power. If it was the Ajati Finger, his face would not have changed.
With a wave of his hand, Mengqi closed the door of the woodshed. He lowered his voice and said, "Sikong Tu?"
The man in black moaned softly and smiled bitterly. "I was thinking of asking Liusu for help, but I was ambushed by the demoness. When I escaped here, my injuries have already acted up. I don't have long to live. Even the Recover Pill of Shaolin is ineffective."
"My friend, I have great riches for you, as long as you promise me one thing."
He was very tough. Half of his face was stuck to his bones. He did not stutter, but his voice was full of pain.
Mengqi looked at him with a deep gaze. Sunlight shone through the window, sprinkling some golden spots on the ground. It was like a dream.
The man who had stirred up a storm in Ying City was lying quietly in front of him.
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