Message Talisman

It was evening, though it was not yet time for dinner.

In Sheng Fuwu's courtyard, Tang Long and Fei Shan wore grave expressions.

Ten members of the Patrol Team had vanished in an instant last night, leaving the team desperately short-handed.

No matter what, Sheng Fuwu had to be informed of this matter, and the Patrol Mountain Hall had to be notified so that new recruits could be replenished in time.

But something unexpected happened.

The two men arrived at Sheng Fuwu's door and knocked.

When no one answered, they opened the door.

After waiting for quite a while, the two men pushed the door open and entered, only to find that there was no one inside at all.

The room was cool and shady. On the table sat untouched food that had already spoiled, filling the room with a sour stench.

This showed that Sheng Fuwu had never returned at all.

Then where was he?

Yesterday, Jiang Yan had returned, and the two of them had returned as well. Thus, aside from Jiang Yan, no one could have imagined that Sheng Fuwu, a Body Refining Realm martial artist, had died in the wilderness.

His entire body had become food for a monster.

"Do you think Big Boss Sheng might have..."

"Not come back?"

Tang Long boldly voiced the most likely guess.

The wilderness was vast, and encountering a monster was entirely possible.

"That is possible. We're only judging by our own standards. Since we could survive and return, Big Boss Sheng could have come back alive too."

Fei Shan analyzed the situation calmly. "But it seems we've overlooked one thing. Big Boss Sheng abandoned us and fled at the time, and even plotted to use us as cannon fodder."

"So just how serious were his injuries?"

Indeed, Sheng Fuwu had gone so far as to scheme against the other three and make them hold off the monster for him. That meant he had been unable even to kill the Shepherd Monster at the time.

It was entirely possible that all the Inner Qi from his great Body Refining cultivation had been exhausted, and that he had already been at the end of his strength.

Tang Long's expression was ugly. Ten members of the Patrol Team had just died, and now even the team's leader was of unknown life or death. It truly was...

The two of them discussed several other possibilities for a while. When evening drew near, they returned to the square to arrange the assignments.

"You're saying Big Boss Sheng might not have returned from yesterday until now?"

Jiang Yan listened calmly as Tang Long and Fei Shan told him about Sheng Fuwu's disappearance.

"That's right. Perhaps his injuries were too severe, or perhaps he encountered another monster. Anything could happen in the wilderness."

"That's right. Anything could happen."

Jiang Yan repeated the sentence. "Then the most likely possibility now is that Sheng Fuwu is already dead. Otherwise, with injuries that serious, given how he values his life..."

At this point, Jiang Yan let out a cold laugh. "Unless he died in the wilderness, how would Sheng Fuwu have the nerve to spend the night out there?"

In front of Tang Long and Fei Shan, Jiang Yan made no effort to conceal his attitude toward Sheng Fuwu.

That was also the greatest disguise.

If someone did not hate a person who had plotted against them enough to gnash their teeth, that would be strange.

As expected, neither Tang Long nor Fei Shan found anything the least bit odd about Jiang Yan's attitude.

"Ah, these are troubled times."

Fei Shan said, "Send a message to the hall. How can it be acceptable for the village to have no Body Refining martial artist belonging to our Dahe Gang?"

A Body Refining martial artist was the strongest combat power in the entire village, the stabilizing pillar that held the village steady.

Although Tang Long and Fei Shan usually handled everything, when a major incident truly occurred, only a Body Refining Realm martial artist could make the decision.

There was no other reason. In this world, where all great power belonged to the individual, strength was everything.

"All right."

Tang Long took a Yellow Talisman from the pouch at his waist. He slapped it with his palm, and the talisman emitted a clear radiance. Tang Long briefly explained Sheng Fuwu's disappearance.

Then he peeled the Yellow Talisman off his body.

"This is a message talisman, used to transmit messages. It can only be used three times."

Tang Long gave Jiang Yan a brief explanation.

"Sometimes, this kind of talisman is more important than the others."

At that moment, Jiang Yan saw Shan Renhu holding a large bowl and wolfing down his food.

He shook his head and walked over.

Tang Long could deal with this matter. In any case, Sheng Fuwu was already dead, without even a scrap of his remains left behind.

In the Dahe Gang mining district, inside the Patrol Mountain Hall.

A young man sat at the head seat, idly toying with a folding fan.

At that moment, a low-ranking gang member barged in, his voice grating. "Hall Master, I have something to report."

Smack!

The gang member's sudden entrance startled the young man. The folding fan in his hand fell straight to the floor.

A piece of green jade decorated the fan, and it shattered from the impact as well.

The low-ranking gang member was just about to speak when a white streak, like a giant python, viciously lashed across his body.

Crack, crack.

The low-ranking gang member was instantly sent flying. No one knew how many ribs throughout his body had broken.

Boom!

The doors to the main hall were smashed apart. The low-ranking gang member crashed to the floor, his fate unknown, while bright-red blood spread beneath him.

The young man slowly withdrew his left hand. Inner Qi coiled around it before gradually dissipating.

The several leaders of various ranks still in the hall sat with their eyes to their noses and their noses to their hearts, as though they had not seen a thing.

Before long, two low-ranking gang members dragged the man away, while someone else washed the floor with Qing Shui.

"Doesn't know the rules."

Feng Xinwu spoke faintly. "I'm a man who values rules above all else, and I hate people who break them even more."

"Ren Yuan."

"Here." A man stepped out from below and clasped his fists toward Feng Xinwu.

"Go and find out exactly what happened. If it's a minor matter, don't come bother me."

"Yes." The man left and returned after a while.

"My lord."

"Yuyang Village has sent word that Big Boss Sheng Fuwu is suspected to have gone missing..."

"Missing?" Feng Xinwu heard the word, and a playful look touched the corners of his mouth. "Did they say why Sheng Fuwu went missing?"

"Could he be dead?"

Ren Yuan shook his head. "The message talisman only said that Big Boss Sheng had gone missing. You know how brief the usage time of a message talisman is. The minor leaders treat them like treasures when they use them; they couldn't possibly waste words spelling everything out."

"However..." Ren Yuan chose his words carefully. "Since the village's minor leader dared to send a message, that means Big Boss Sheng is likely in grave danger."

"Hmm... Five villages bear the burden of supplying food to the mining district. Nothing major can happen."

Tap, tap, tap. Feng Xinwu lightly tapped the armrest of his chair. "How about this, Ren Yuan? You'll make the trip tomorrow and investigate what happened. Pay particular attention to Big Boss Sheng's safety. You must get to the bottom of it."

"Tsk, tsk. If Sheng Fuwu is dead, then the Sheng family's piece of meat..." At the thought, Feng Xinwu could not help laughing.

"This subordinate understands." Ren Yuan grasped Feng Xinwu's meaning and clasped his fists, preparing to leave.

He had always been responsible for transmitting messages between the five villages. He knew that Yuyang Village also had a little genius who had broken through to the Martial Apprentice realm, and that the token and rewards needed to be delivered and handled together.

"Wait." Feng Xinwu stopped him and asked one more question. "Ren Yuan, if Sheng Fuwu really is dead, who do you think would be better suited to go to Yuyang Village?"

Ren Yuan's expression remained calm. "For a major matter like this, of course Hall Master should decide."

Feng Xinwu laughed and waved his hand. "Go. Your answer was rather dull, but I do like people who understand the rules."

"If Sheng Fuwu truly cannot be found, stay in Yuyang Village for a while. I'll send someone to replace you later!"

P.S. Although I have a Ferrari and other things, I just don't have any recommendation tickets.

My esteemed readers, I'm begging you for votes once again. ^▽^ Thank you!