Seek promotion and riches elsewhere; let none who cling to life and fear death enter here

Lianshan Xin found it a little hard to believe.

He doubted there were that many Demon Cult members. More likely, Qi Wenbin was falsifying intelligence to excuse his own failure.

After all, everything Qi Wenbin and Du Jiu had said amounted to speculation. They had no concrete evidence proving that the Dai family belonged to the Demon Cult.

Of course, the people of Nine Heavens were used to presuming guilt first. That was no problem.

This was Great Yu, after all, not his previous world. Lianshan Xin was perfectly capable of doing as the locals did.

So he kept his thoughts to himself and nodded instead. "In that case, Brother Qi, Brother Jiu, let's go take another look at the Dai residence together."

"All right, I'll lead the way."

Qi Wenbin took the lead, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Losing track of Dai Yueying earlier had already called his competence into question.

If he got things wrong again, Qi Wenbin felt his prospects would be bleak.

"Wait, we'd better notify the others first. If the Dai residence is another hidden Demon Cult den like the Qu Family's, I'm afraid the three of us will be lambs walking into a tiger's jaws," Du Jiu reminded them.

Lianshan Xin glanced at Du Jiu, once again marveling at how keen Qi Shiyun's judgment was.

Du Jiu really was more useful than Qi Wenbin.

Not only was his martial talent greater, but his mind was also more attentive and agile.

But Qi Wenbin had his uses too.

For now, Qi Wenbin seemed rather wooden-headed. But whatever his repertoire of talking, imitating, joking, and singing, as long as he could claim the word "loyal," he could secure a place at Lianshan Xin's side.

Only children believed ability alone could get them ahead.

Adults all understood just how important the word "loyalty" was.

Before Lianshan Xin could speak, Qi Wenbin said, "No need. I can confirm there's no ambush at the Dai residence."

What can you possibly confirm? Du Jiu thought. If someone stronger than you hides in the shadows, how would you spot them?

But Lianshan Xin supported Qi Wenbin's view. "Brother Qi is right. The Demon Cult fiends are still in hiding. They wouldn't dare clash head-on with our Nine Heavens. Even if they discover us, they'll only flee for their lives. More importantly, if we call too many people and end up finding nothing, you and Brother Qi will be in an awkward position, Brother Jiu. Even if we do find traces of the Demon Cult, if it's only a few small fry, there won't be enough credit to go around."

With Lianshan Xin putting it that way, Du Jiu naturally could not object. "Then we'll do as you say, sir."

Lianshan Xin nodded.

In truth, he did not particularly care whether Teacher Dai was a Demon Cult fiend.

Dai Yueying was what mattered.

As for an ambush...

To accomplish great things, one always had to take a few risks.

Whether he married a princess or slew one, neither was something he should let too many people know about beforehand.

Besides, he had studied under Teacher Dai for several years. He could not claim to know every inch of the Dai household like the back of his hand, but it was certainly familiar to him. It was hard to feel much sense of danger.

But Lianshan Xin soon realized he was still too young.

"Teacher Dai isn't home."

"Dai Yueying isn't home either."

"Perfect. Let's thoroughly search the rear courtyard. Focus on looking for hidden rooms, and check the cellar carefully too."

"And letters, especially blank paper."

"Blank paper?"

Lianshan Xin quickly felt the gap between an amateur enthusiast like himself and a professional.

Du Jiu promptly demonstrated his skills before him.

In Teacher Dai's bedroom, Du Jiu found an envelope.

He also spotted several sheets of blank paper on the table, without a single word on them.

Du Jiu held the blank paper in front of himself and twitched his nose. Catching a peculiar odor, he smiled with the confidence of a man holding all the answers.

"Sir, we can confirm it now. The Dai family really does have ties to the Demon Cult."

"How can you tell? Is there something on the blank paper?"

Lianshan Xin had picked up a few clues from Du Jiu's actions.

"Sir, smell this sheet of paper. Do you notice a peculiar odor?"

Lianshan Xin did indeed smell something unpleasant and pungent.

What was more, the smell was oddly familiar.

Once he placed that sense of familiarity, his expression turned strange.

"This seems to be..."

"Sir, your guess is correct. It's precisely the special essence we men produce. When this male essence is used to write secret letters, the writing automatically disappears from the paper. Only after heating and roasting it will the words gradually appear, and the revealed writing is brown."

Du Jiu lit a fire striker and held the blank paper above it to roast as he explained to Lianshan Xin.

"This method was invented by the Demon Cult fiends. When it first appeared, it caught us completely off guard. Fortunately, our Nine Heavens has experts too. By sheer accident, they also invented this way of corresponding, and through it, uncovered several hidden Demon Cult spies."

Lianshan Xin: "..."

He did not understand, but he was profoundly shaken.

He also recalled seeing something similar in his previous life. Hadn't Britain's MI6 invented it? A lot of MI6 personnel had ended up drained because of it...

Different worlds, the same perverts.

Both had their share of experts.

Teacher Dai was actually an "expert" too.

Looking back, it was no small feat that he had managed to keep bouncing around alive for the past eighteen years!

While Lianshan Xin shuddered at the thought, Du Jiu had already revealed the writing on the blank paper.

Then Du Jiu's expression turned strange as well.

"So that's how it is."

"What is it?"

Du Jiu offered the paper to Lianshan Xin.

But Lianshan Xin did not take it.

"Brother Jiu, just hold it. My eyesight is excellent."

He was afraid of dirtying his hands.

He might not mind his own descendants, but he very much minded someone else's.

Lianshan Xin focused his gaze on it, and his expression turned strange too.

The letter read as follows:

Your letter has been received and noted.

Dai Yongzhen, stop constantly asking what the Holy Cult has given you. Ask what you have done for the Holy Cult.

Seek promotion and riches elsewhere; let none who cling to life and fear death enter here. That was the lesson you heard on your very first day in the Holy Cult. How have you regressed as you've grown older?

Have you begun to entertain thoughts of betraying your master for glory?

If you truly have so many grievances against the Holy Cult, we will not stop you. The gates of the Jiangzhou Governor's residence are always open to you. Go ahead and report us to the authorities.

If you still hold any loyalty to the Holy Cult, do not bring up increasing your allowance again. In these difficult times for the Holy Cult, everyone in the cult must overcome hardship together. We have merely delayed your allowance by six months, yet you have so many complaints. Dai Yongzhen, you are a disgrace to our Holy Cult.

The Holy Cult has given you a place to stand and has not required you to offer tribute of your own accord. You should be grateful for that. As a disciple of the Holy Cult, are you incapable of even supporting yourself?

Wealth is merely an external possession. We disciples of the Holy Cult must put the cult's grand plans first. Conceal your brilliance and bide your time; act when the moment comes!

P.S. Take good care of Yueying. If anything happens to her, I will hold you accountable. Do not emphasize your difficulties. I only look at results.

Du Jiu sighed from the heart. "The Demon Cult really is the Demon Cult. Utterly inhuman. They simply don't treat disciples like Dai Yongzhen as people."

Lianshan Xin sighed just as sincerely. "Fortunately, I knew from the start that if I wanted promotion and riches, I had to join the Imperial Court."