The second generation of the Nine Gates

"Where are you three friends from?" Seeing that their clothes were clean, Wu Sansheng put aside his contempt. Three of their people had died on the way here, yet these three had clean clothes that could even be called spotless. They were definitely not to be trifled with.

Yu Zhi glanced at Wu Sansheng and raised a hand in a gesture for silence, paying no attention to the group's reaction.

Wu Sansheng was probably in his early twenties now. With his neat, short hair, he was handsome and capable. It was already clear that he was intelligent, though he probably hadn't yet become as shrewd, cunning, and ruthless as he would be more than twenty years later.

Zhang Qiling stood firmly at the bow, staring coldly at the group to prevent them from making any underhanded moves. Both in his memories and in that book, he had felt contempt for what these Nine Gates people had done.

Yu Zhi raised a hand, and spiritual power instantly swept the Corpse Charm onto their boat. Then he struck it with the Soul-Locking Curse, drawing a piercing scream from its mouth. He had done it on purpose, giving the group a show of force to make them wary. The Soul-Locking Curse had also been provided courtesy of the old ghost, who had countless sinister spells and arts.

"Brother Qi, get ready." Yu Zhi controlled the nearly dead Corpse Charm and sent it slamming into Hei Xiazi's body.

Keeping up his persona, Hei Xiazi sat cross-legged in the boat with a cold expression and began circulating the Soul-Devouring Primal Spirit Art to devour the Corpse Charm.

The group opposite watched in a daze, unable to contain their composure and lingering fear. If they had attacked just now, wouldn't they have suffered heavy casualties? And what kind of method was this? They couldn't make sense of it at all. Who were these three? If they were so formidable, why hadn't anyone heard the slightest whisper about them before?

Yu Zhi paid no attention to their petty thoughts. He guarded the boat while he waited for Hei Xiazi to refine the corpse fiend, without so much as sparing them a glance. Here, the one with the hardest fists was the boss. If he weren't afraid that killing these people would derail the plot and put him at a disadvantage, he would have killed them in minutes.

For some unknown reason, Wu Sansheng's group didn't leave after the Corpse Charm was dealt with, instead waiting quietly for them. These people had their own calculations: anyone taking this route was almost certainly headed for the Tomb of the King of Lu. The young-looking one was very powerful, so they might as well establish goodwill. With Wu Sansheng's eye for people, he could tell that the three weren't the bloodthirsty sort; otherwise, they could have waited until the Corpse Charm had killed someone before dealing with it.

Unfortunately, Wu Sansheng was still too green, lacking the seasoned cunning he would have twenty years later. More importantly, he didn't know what kind of power Yu Zhi had displayed.

"Xiao Yu, it's done." It had to be said, Hei Xiazi looked rather cool and aloof with his serious, slightly cold demeanor, drawing frequent glances from Huo Ling and Chen Wenjin opposite.

"Hahaha, Mr. Yu, thank you for stepping in to save us." Xie Lianhuan stood and cupped his fists toward Yu Zhi.

Yu Zhi looked at him. His features did indeed bear a strong resemblance to Wu Sansheng's; anyone could tell at a glance that they were brothers.

"Let's get out first. It stinks." Yu Zhi made no attempt to hide his disgust at the smell, presenting himself as a member of a reclusive family who was thoroughly doted on at home.

"Quite right, this is no place to talk." Wu Sansheng's group hurriedly rowed their four boats out first.

There was no helping it. The channel was only so wide, and two boats couldn't pass each other. If the ones in front didn't move, the ones behind couldn't either.

Not wanting the group to notice anything, they had Hei Xiazi row them out this time. Once outside, they saw twelve people standing on the bank. All of them turned to watch as soon as they emerged, then noticed that only the young man in white was carrying a large pack, while the other two were empty-handed.

"Hahaha, Mr. Yu, thank you, thank you. Every meeting is fate, and it's getting late. Why don't we talk as we walk?"

Xie Lianhuan began his performance. It was clear that he was the one in the group responsible for making friendly conversation. As expected, a mouse's son knew how to dig holes. Even Yu Zhi had to admit that he had a true merchant's nature: talking to him was like basking in a spring breeze, and his probing left no trace.

"Mm, lead the way." Yu Zhi lifted his chin, looking proud and aloof. He hadn't intended to fall out with the group in the first place, so he might as well go with them.

"My name is Xie Lianhuan. This is Wu Sansheng, Qi Yu, Huo Ling, and Chen Wenjin. The ones behind us are a few of our men, so I won't introduce them one by one." Xie Lianhuan pointed them out to Yu Zhi one at a time. "What should I call the three of you?"

"My surname is Yu. He's my cousin, and that's Brother Qi," Yu Zhi said casually, looking as though he didn't take the other two seriously at all.

Clever as he was, Xie Lianhuan could tell at a glance that the young-looking one was in charge of the three. The cousin looked nothing like him, while the one called Brother Qi, who carried the pack, was probably an attendant or something of the sort.

Thoughts turning, Xie Lianhuan naturally offered an opening at just the right moment. "Qi? What a coincidence, we have someone named Qi here too. Perhaps you were one family five hundred years ago. If I may ask, Mr. Yu, what brings you here...?"

"Oh, that? I heard there was a Tomb of the King of Lu here, with a blood corpse inside. My family sent me out to temper myself," Yu Zhi said with carefree candor.

Zhang Qiling and Hei Xiazi had been prepared for this and knew he intended to trick the group. They showed no reaction to his words, simply following quietly behind him, one on either side.

Wu Sansheng's group, on the other hand, were startled. The few people in charge exchanged meaningful looks behind the others' backs, relying on them not being able to see.

Xie Lianhuan fought to control his expression and glanced back at Wu Sansheng and Qi Yu. Seeing them nod, he said, "What a coincidence. We're going to that tomb too. We heard there were valuables inside, so we're going to take a look."

Xie Lianhuan promptly changed tactics. He could tell that the young-looking one disliked being fobbed off, so he decided to lay his cards on the table and see how the other party reacted. That way, he could find out in advance whether they were friends or foes. If trouble broke out once they were inside the tomb, it could be fatal. The tomb was dangerous, but they had a reason they had to come.

"I figured as much. I've seen plenty of people like you, but I don't care. Just don't get in the way of me dealing with the blood corpse."

"Hahaha, Mr. Yu, you really are knowledgeable, and your skill gives you courage. Have you always been active around here, Mr. Yu?"

"We're from Penglai. I can't say any more, so there's no need to keep asking." Yu Zhi bluntly exposed Xie Lianhuan's little scheme.

"Hehehe, that was my mistake. My apologies, it's a habit of mine. Since we're headed to the same place, how about we go together?" Xie Lianhuan extended the invitation at just the right time.

"No need. We'll go our separate ways." Yu Zhi refused outright.

As they spoke, they reached a small two-story building. Xie Lianhuan said, "All right, all right. Then we'll see you in the tomb."

He walked into the inn and pointed to the rooms upstairs. "This is the only inn in the village. There aren't many rooms, and we booked them all in advance. How about we spare one for the three of you? There are so many of us that if we gave you two, we really wouldn't have enough room."

"Fine, that makes us even." Yu Zhi's meaning was clear: he had saved one of their people, so a room would settle the debt.

Then he took the key and led the other two upstairs and into the room without looking back.

"Third Brother, what do you think?" Xie Lianhuan watched the three enter their room and close the door, then consulted the others in a low voice.

"I can't tell, but that Yu definitely has some real skills. The one in white isn't simple either, if he can swallow a Corpse Charm, but he should be an attendant. I can't make out the cousin. His aura is calm, and I can't tell what his methods are. He's more like a puppet; he didn't react at all the whole way here. There's something abnormal about all three of them." Wu Sansheng analyzed the three.

"No kidding. Would anyone normal come here?" Huo Ling rolled her eyes. He had always disliked the profound act Wu Sansheng put on.

"Qi Yu, can you tell anything?" Chen Wenjin asked.

"No. I can't tell anything about any of the three." Qi Yu was baffled too, constantly counting on his fingers. This was the first time in his life he had encountered someone he couldn't divine a single thing about, and he had met three at once. All three were even together, rousing his competitive spirit.

"Meet soldiers with generals and water with an earthen dam. Whatever happens, we have to go. Fo Ye doesn't have much time left," Wu Sansheng said.

"Hurry up and rest. Get a good night's sleep tonight. We won't have conditions this good from here on, so stop letting your thoughts run wild." With that, Huo Ling pulled Chen Wenjin toward their room.

"Third Brother, Xiao Ling's right. Let's hurry and rest too," Xie Lianhuan said.

"All right." Though Wu Sansheng agreed, his mind was racing. He had a feeling that the three might bring him trouble, and none of them would be easy to deal with. He glanced again at Qi Yu, who was counting so frantically he looked ready to pinch his fingers off, then hauled him into the room.