Heyuan County, Hekou.
The sunlight of the past few days had melted the accumulated snow and cleared the roads. On the official road leading to Hekou, five swift horses were galloping at full speed.
Shen Zhui, Yan You, Han Mao, and the other two had already traveled thirty li out of the city at a forced pace.
"Whoa~"
Han Mao, at the head of the group, tightened the reins and slowed down. Seeing this, Shen Zhui and the others stopped as well.
"Cousin, have we reached the place?" Yan You asked as he caught up.
Shen Zhui, Zhao Hu, and Rong Zimo also came over.
Han Mao carefully examined their surroundings, then nodded. "Another two or three li, and we'll enter Hekou Town. Be cautious. Don't let your guard down."
"Got it, Cousin." Yan You nodded.
Although Wang Long had arranged for Yan You, a Peak Houtian, to lead the group, Yan You was not good with words. When it came to the terrain of the towns outside the city, he was also less familiar with it than Han Mao. Thus, Yan You had suggested from the beginning that Han Mao command them along the way.
"Understood." Zhao Hu and Shen Zhui nodded as well.
They had traveled thirty li along the official road. After the concealment period ended, Han Mao led them onto a small path into Hekou Town. They had barely seen anyone along the way and entered smoothly.
If someone else had been directing them, they probably would have marched openly along the official road. Five Ninth Stage Houtian Martial Artists would likely have been discovered long ago. As things stood, they were still fairly safe.
Shen Zhui knew that Hekou Town was where the Li Family's Branch Shrine was located, and that a large number of experts were certainly stationed there. With someone like Han Mao, who was familiar with the area, they would naturally avoid a great deal of trouble.
"If anyone comes to question us, kill those who are guilty and knock out and bind those who aren't," Han Mao instructed. "Although the mission is set to last ten days, the later we expose ourselves, the better."
"Understood." Everyone nodded.
Although the mission lasted ten days, if they exposed themselves too early, the village head of Hekou was also a member of the Li Family. They would probably have no choice but to sleep rough and eat whatever they could find for the rest of the mission.
Led by Han Mao, the five carefully avoided one earth fortification after another that might have powerful experts stationed inside.
In Hekou Town, inside the hall of a magnificent estate enclosed by walls four or five meters high, three Xiantian Masters were reclining on lounge chairs. Two scantily dressed maidservants stood respectfully beside each of them, attending to their needs.
"Hahaha, it's rare for the three of us to gather together. Brother Xiangyang, Brother Mu, don't be shy—drink!" A bald, burly man raised his cup and laughed.
"Heifeng, you certainly have it comfortable." A young man in a green Daoist robe chimed in. "The Family Head bestowed three hundred Human Cauldrons upon you, all prime specimens under six years old. It seems that Brother Heifeng's breakthrough to the High-stage Xiantian is just around the corner!"
"Exactly. Brother Mu and I are both green with envy. Unfortunately, we haven't established any great merit, so we don't know how long it will be before we can break through." Another man in a black Daoist robe, his chest bared, spoke sourly.
They were all Guest Officials of the Li Family. The Li Family possessed a special cultivation method that could rapidly raise their realms, but this method required the blood essence of young children as an aid.
These child Human Cauldrons were extremely difficult to gather. Without great merit, it was hard to obtain them. How could they compare to Daoist Heifeng, who had been rewarded with three hundred boys and girls in one go?
"Hahaha." Daoist Heifeng could not suppress the smugness in his eyes, but he still deliberately feigned modesty. "You two shouldn't envy me. Killing that batch of Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm spies who were eyeing the Branch Shrine a few days ago nearly cost me my life."
"Two Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm Martial Artists borrowed divine power and damaged my vitality. The Family Head took pity on me and sent these things so I could replenish myself. They'll barely be enough for me to recover, let alone break through. I'd need another five hundred Human Cauldrons for that."
Daoist Xiangyang and Daoist Mu merely laughed without saying anything, secretly cursing Daoist Heifeng for gaining an advantage and still pretending to be aggrieved.
Another five hundred boys and girls? That was probably enough to equal their allotment for an entire year!
However, they were both weaker than Daoist Heifeng, and they were his guests. Naturally, they had to accompany him with smiles.
Though everyone appeared harmonious as they ate and drank together, if their interests clashed and they turned on one another, each would be more ruthless than the last.
"Come, drink! This Hundred Fruit Brew is a fine thing. If it weren't for you two, I wouldn't have brought it out to entertain guests." Daoist Heifeng raised his cup again.
"Hahaha, then thank you, Brother Heifeng." Daoist Xiangyang grinned.
"Heifeng, we've stayed here long enough. We should return to the Branch Shrine." Daoist Mu, the older of the three, set down his cup.
Daoist Heifeng said unhappily, "Brother Mu, you have ten Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm Martial Artists and two Peak Houtian stationed there. What are you afraid of? The county magistrate has been holed up in the city for more than half a month. What fool would dare come looking for trouble with us? You've only been out for half a day. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
As far as the three of them were concerned, he looked down somewhat on Daoist Mu.
A Qi Refining True Person in the Xiantian Realm actually needed an Elite Squad of Martial Artists to assist him. Did that not prove that the Family Head did not trust his strength?
It was only because Daoist Mu was cautious and thorough in his actions that he had earned the Family Head's regard.
But in Daoist Heifeng's eyes, that was simply cowardice and fear of trouble.
"Heifeng." Daoist Mu still wore a smile. "The Family Head entrusted this matter to me. I dare not be careless. This concerns the Branch Shrine, so it is better to be cautious."
Daoist Heifeng was about to persuade him further when Daoist Xiangyang, who had been drinking, suddenly looked puzzled. He took an ancient wooden token from his robes and examined it carefully.
Daoist Mu also noticed the abnormality in Daoist Xiangyang and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"
Daoist Xiangyang hesitated. "Just now, one of my Eighth Stage of Acquired Realm subordinates sent me a signal, but he didn't say anything."
Daoist Heifeng immediately laughed. "Hahaha, Brother Xiangyang, your subordinate must have had too much to drink and accidentally activated the token."
"Where is this person responsible?" Daoist Mu asked, urging caution. "Brother Xiangyang, we mustn't be careless. It would be best to ask first."
"Hmph. It's rare for us to gather together. Could it be that Brother Xiangyang plans to go back too?" Daoist Heifeng sounded displeased.
Daoist Xiangyang pondered for a moment, then set down his wine cup. "This person is merely the captain of the patrols around the Branch Shrine. To be safe, I'll ask him."
"Hm?" Daoist Xiangyang frowned. "He actually hasn't replied."
At Hekou, inside the walls of a compound, Shen Zhui and the others held their blades against the neck of a terrified Eighth Stage of Acquired Realm Martial Artist. Seven or eight corpses lay scattered around them.
"Who is this token notifying? Speak!" Zhao Hu glared fiercely at the Eighth Stage of Acquired Realm Martial Artist.
"It's, it's Elder Xiangyang, the Xiantian expert stationed here! Please, don't kill me! I didn't have time to say anything just now. You can knock me unconscious—I don't know anything!" the Martial Artist answered, trembling.
"You're quite sensible." Han Mao smiled. Just now, they had ambushed the outer perimeter of this estate, where the Branch Shrine was hidden. After a brief battle, they had managed not to alert anyone else, leaving only this spineless Eighth Stage of Acquired Realm Martial Artist.
"Why waste so much time talking to him? Just cut him down!" Zhao Hu raised his broadsword and was about to strike.
"Brother Hu, wait." Han Mao and Shen Zhui called out together to stop him.
Han Mao exchanged a glance with Shen Zhui, then indicated for Shen Zhui to speak first. Shen Zhui pondered for a moment before saying in a low voice, "Although we stopped this man from sending the report just now, we probably still alarmed that Xiantian expert."
"There are three Branch Shrines here. The only way we can fight a Xiantian Martial Artist is by Summoning Deity. The county magistrate's primary objective is to destroy the Branch Shrines. If the Xiantian expert here is no longer at the Branch Shrine, this is a heaven-sent opportunity!"
Although all five of them could borrow divine power, and Shen Zhui could even summon it twice, no one could guarantee that they would definitely be able to kill a Xiantian Martial Artist.
There were three mission locations. If they could destroy the Branch Shrine without fighting a Xiantian Martial Artist, that would be ideal.
"Besides, this estate is huge and complicated. We can have him take us inside."
"I can imitate his voice and contact that Xiantian Martial Artist." Rong Zimo suddenly spoke.
"I'm afraid that won't work." Han Mao shook his head. "It would be very easy for us to expose ourselves."
"Buzz~" At that moment, the wooden token on the Martial Artist's body began to tremble faintly.
"It's, it's the Elder." The Eighth Stage of Acquired Realm Martial Artist shuddered.
"If you don't cooperate, you'll die. Do you understand?!" Han Mao barked. "If you're willing to cooperate, we'll let you live."
"I, I understand."
"Brother Hu, let him go." Han Mao made his decision.
The Eighth Stage of Acquired Realm Martial Artist took a deep breath. A stream of essence energy flowed from within his body into one part of the token, activating the formation.
The wooden token immediately stopped trembling, but a cold voice rang out from within.
"How dare you trespass into a forbidden area! Whoever you are, none of you will escape!"
Rong Zimo and Zhao Hu were both startled, their eyes bulging with rage.
Han Mao and Shen Zhui, however, remained silent, quietly staring at Xu Lao Ba.
Xu Lao Ba took a deep breath. "Elder, Elder, it's your subordinate."
The voice was silent for a moment before suddenly shouting, "Xu Lao Ba, how dare you! You actually colluded with outsiders to deceive me!"
"Elder, hic~ Elder, this subordinate knows his crime. I shouldn't have drunk with my brothers while on patrol and accidentally activated the token. Please forgive me! It's just that the weather is cold, and the brothers couldn't take it."
"Then why didn't you reply immediately just now?"
"This subordinate drank too much and didn't hold on properly. The wooden token accidentally fell into the ditch."
So that was what happened. Daoist Xiangyang, who had been drinking, relaxed inwardly and was about to scold him a few times before cutting off the communication.
But at that moment, Daoist Mu suddenly spoke. "Have one of his subordinates say something."
"Hm?" Daoist Xiangyang froze, but then nodded. "Very well."
"Xu Lao Ba, have someone else come and speak with me."