At that moment, the two had not yet departed from the circle of cultivators. The area was exceptionally tranquil, allowing them a clear view. Half a street away stood a three-story wooden building, resembling a tea house, with a middle-aged man by the window. Clad in a lake-green robe, he looked over coldly.
"There sure are a lot of 'masters' around here," Yu Ci remarked offhandedly before smiling inquisitively, "Who might that be?"
Wan Quan seemed somewhat distracted as he replied, "That's the Vice Hall Master of the Great Hammer Hall, Old Master Su Tong."
The distance between the two parties was a mere half a mile, perilously close for any Golden Elixir cultivator. Yu Ci narrowed his eyes and sized up the man. The man's features were decent enough, save for a pair of drooping brows that lent a sinister air to his visage. His aura, coiled around him like pearls, was subtle yet revealed his profound skill.
Su Tong's standing within the Great Hammer Hall was exceedingly high, ranking even above Lord Hong in terms of position. However, it was only because Lord Hong wielded significant authority over external affairs that they were considered nearly equal. What puzzled Wan Quan was that Lord Hong had clearly intended to lure someone into a trap, yet here was Su Tong, appearing ready to act. Could it be that he intended to strike earlier than planned?
Amidst his confusion, Wan Quan noticed someone hastily approaching on the upper floor, handing over a jade slip. Su Tong was taken aback, staring at the jade slip for a long time without looking up.
"It seems some urgent matter has come up, and the fight won't happen after all."
Yu Ci chuckled and proceeded forward, paying no further attention to the other side. Wan Quan, however, stood still for a moment, watching from afar as Su Tong indeed rose to his feet, tossed the jade slip aside, and walked away without giving Yu Ci another glance.
So that was it! Wan Quan finally grasped the situation. His thoughts had been in disarray, muddling cause and effect... He recalled that not long ago, Ghost Hand Zhou had a verbal spat with Su Tong that escalated into a brawl, stirring up a storm throughout the city. It was eventually settled by an elder mediator, resulting in no further consequences. But Su Tong was not one to let things slide easily, and he was indeed one of the most adept in Yin Cave City at the Art of Soul and Mind.
The unfortunate fate that befell Ghost Hand Zhou was very likely Su Tong's doing, which explained his dissatisfaction with Yu Ci's interference. However, upon receiving the message, Su Tong immediately withdrew, evidently prioritizing the matters at hand...
Wan Quan could only offer a wry smile, finding himself ten steps behind Yu Ci, who had already advanced ahead. To be honest, as he gazed at the figure before him, a sudden urge to turn tail and flee gripped him. But ultimately, he clenched his teeth and hurried to catch up.
"Senior, Senior!"
Wan Quan's nervousness was genuine, no need for pretense, as he caught up and said, "Old Master Su is a leading figure in the Great Hammer Hall. Here in Yin Cave City, the Great Hammer Hall is practically holding half the sky. This..."
He didn't finish his thought too explicitly, fearing it might backfire. Seizing the opportunity of Su Tong's appearance, he wanted to persuade Yu Ci to follow his plan. Given Yu Ci's trust in him thus far, he was confident. With just a bit of guidance, he could lead Yu Ci to leap into the trap set by the Great Hammer Hall.
"Mmm, quite troublesome," Yu Ci nodded, candidly acknowledging the situation.
"In that case, Senior should probably..."
He stopped mid-sentence, not because his conscience had suddenly awakened—Little Wan had been involved in such dealings more than once, and while he might still have a conscience, it tended to surface only after the fact. The reason he hesitated was fear.
This feeling seemed abrupt and irrational, yet Wan Quan dared not dismiss it lightly. In such matters, one had to rely on instinct, or perhaps what is called a sense of foreboding. To act without any restraint was to court death.
At that moment, Yu Ci took the initiative to ask, "Should probably what?"
A chill seeped through Wan Quan's back, soaking his clothes, but he could hesitate no longer. With gritted teeth, he said, "Senior must be a person of status. If you have any connections here, it might be best to seek mediation, to clarify things. That way, misunderstandings and trouble can be avoided."
As the words left him, he felt as if his strength was draining away.
As the words reached his lips, he ultimately changed what he was going to say. His words were not meant to lure Yu Ci into a trap, but were truly meant as a warning. He thought to himself that this "Soul Chaser" Senior didn't quite match the person described by Fifth Brother. If Yu Ci's identity could be clarified in time, perhaps a bloodbath could be avoided. And with that, he would be relieved of this burden.
Regrettably, Yu Ci responded with crisp decisiveness: "I'm new here, what connections could I possibly have?"
Following that, he inquired with evident interest: "You mentioned that the Great Hammer Hall is 'Half the Sky' in terms of power—does the city have any other factions that can stand toe-to-toe with them?"
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At this moment, Yu Ci certainly did not seem inclined to smooth things over. Wan Quan sighed internally, yet he could only provide an answer.
Speaking of Yin Cave City, this subterranean metropolis had stood in the North Wilderness for more than two cycles of calamity. However, in the grand scheme of the North Wilderness, it was still considered a newcomer to power. Compared to the major cities in the north and east, the local forces here had yet to stabilize, lacking a dominant power to suppress dissenters over the long term.
Over the past century, the Great Hammer Hall had indeed risen to prominence, attracting a multitude of solitary cultivators eager to join their ranks, which significantly bolstered their strength. Yet, their aggressive and domineering ways also earned them a fair share of adversaries. While Yin Cave City had no other faction that could match them in stature, the subtle alliance forming among the various powers was enough to make the Great Hammer Hall tread cautiously, preventing them from acting without any restraints.
"Take, for example, Mr. Fang, who is stationed year-round at the Hundred-Turn Wind Tunnel. He is the unanimously appointed overseer of this cultivation site by the city's factions, responsible for its allocation. His reputation is quite high. The dispute between Ghost Hand Zhou and Su Tong was mediated by him..."
It was at this point that he realized the death of Ghost Hand Zhou might have been a message from the Great Hammer Hall to Mr. Fang, only to be disrupted by 'Soul Chaser' Senior Yu Ci, which explained Su Tong's irritation.
Yu Ci also understood by then that the Hundred-Turn Wind Tunnel must be a spiritual vein or cultivation nexus of some sort. He then said, "Little Wan, could you secure a spot for me at the Hundred-Turn Wind Tunnel?"
"I'm afraid that won't be possible anytime soon," Wan Quan spoke the plain truth. "The Hundred-Turn Wind Tunnel is the heart of the circle of cultivators, greatly beneficial for cultivation. But space inside is limited, and with the permanent and temporary residents, it's already full. If you truly desire access, you'll have to wait for a vacancy and then compete for it..."
Yu Ci pondered briefly, not dwelling on the issue, and then inquired, "I've traveled a long way and am quite weary. I need a quiet place to rest. Little Wan, can you recommend somewhere suitable?"
Wan Quan was about to agree without hesitation when he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Senior, how long do you plan to stay?"
"Five days," Yu Ci replied offhandedly.
Wan Quan's face instantly turned pale.
"Uh, wait, three or four days might do as well..."
There was no improvement in Wan Quan's complexion; in fact, it even took on a shade of green. Before he could regain his composure, a voice called out from the street corner, "Little Wan?"
The voice was sweet and teasing, with a playful drawl that was unforgettable. Wan Quan jolted and turned to see a figure clad in fiery red, waving over here. The figure was dressed in a light spring shirt and gauzy trousers, with a short skirt tied around the waist, looking very dashing. As they waved, the narrow sleeves slid down to the crook of the arm, revealing a distractingly pale forearm.
Upon seeing this person, Wan Quan was startled and before he could respond, Yu Ci already smiled, "And who might this be?"
"She's a junior sister of mine from the Red Tooth Store," Wan Quan, with sweat on his brow, barely managed to maintain his composure, "She's used to jesting with me, Senior, please don't take offense."
"She seems quite genuine."
Amidst Yu Ci's words of praise, the woman, seeing no response from Wan Quan, sauntered over with a smile. She wasn't particularly tall, yet her figure was exquisite. With the slightest movement, the curves beneath her thin spring shirt were dramatically accentuated, truly breathtaking. But Wan Quan was in no mood to admire the view. As she drew closer, he was about to complain:
"I have a guest here..."
Her raven hair was styled in a coiled bun, with two strands playfully framing her face, adding to her charm. Her gaze was bold, quickly sizing up Yu Ci from head to toe, then she turned to Wan Quan, "There's an urgent matter in the shop, Sister Lu is calling for you. Perhaps I could entertain your guest for a while, what do you think?"
Though her words suggested a question, she didn't give Wan Quan any chance to refuse. She turned to Yu Ci, curtsied, and said with a smile, "This humble one, Bao Yun, has come uninvited. I hope the Senior will not take offense. There is indeed an urgent matter that requires Little Wan's attention at home. If the Senior doesn't mind, this humble one is willing to take his place for a few hours, and at all costs, ensure the Senior's satisfaction."
Yu Ci observed the alluring and bold woman before him with an impassive expression. Meanwhile, Wan Quan was frantic with urgency. On any other day, Wan Quan would not have contested, but the situation at hand was critical. He shook his head vehemently, about to speak, when a voice rang out:
"Very well."
Yu Ci, with a smile playing on his lips, spoke on behalf of Wan Quan, "Little Wan, since you have pressing matters that weigh on your mind, it would be best to attend to them first and return later. I believe with your senior sister here, her actions will be no less efficient than your own."
At Yu Ci's words, Wan Quan fell silent, wanting to give Bao Yun a covert signal, but for some inexplicable reason, his limbs trembled slightly, his strength seemed to drain away, and he found himself frozen in place, unable to move.
Bao Yun noticed his state, her delicate eyebrows knitting together almost imperceptibly before she smiled seductively again. Her petite and curvaceous figure leaned closer to Yu Ci, her warm and fragrant scent enveloping them, intoxicatingly sweet, "If the Senior does not mind, how could Bao Yun dare not to be diligent?"
※※※
As an underground city, Yin Cave City naturally lacked the alternation of day and night. However, in certain privileged areas, cultivators would simulate it in various ways to avoid the psychological harm caused by the monotony of unchanging light.
At this moment, the Red Tooth Store, located in the most bustling and prosperous area of Yin Cave City, had already transitioned into its "nighttime state."
Wan Quan stood in the dimly lit room, utilizing his exceptional memory to recount, detail by detail, the conversation he had with "Soul Chaser." In the room, there was also a woman dressed in coarse cloth, silently wiping down the furniture, resembling the most ordinary of maidservants.
Yet it was this maid-like woman who, as she cleaned, spoke in turn:
"You've come back with your life in hand.
"I don't know what his intentions are, but he clearly gave you an opportunity, and you were fortunate enough to grasp it.
"That man is certainly not the Ethereal Rhinoceros Hermit. The Great Hammer Hall will likely be celebrating in vain.
"As for his strength, let's see what Bao Yun has to say."
No sooner had she finished speaking than someone in the outer room exclaimed in exasperation:
"This is infuriating."
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I have also posted [10+ more following chapters] on https://www.readgates.com/article/6591c0699d1bb80f3474a39e