How could it be this ragged?
He suppressed the doubt in his heart.
Following the address given by Aunt Lan, he weaved through several dark alleys, avoiding a few patrols of demon cultivators, and arrived at an unremarkable inn.
He pushed open the door, and the smell of cheap spiritual wine hit him in the face.
The inn had mediocre business, with only a few low-level loose cultivators drinking cloudy wine.
One of the loose cultivators with a hunched figure saw Chen Ye coming and gestured for him to follow upstairs.
Chen Ye followed without any change in expression.
In the private room on the second floor.
"Taoist Friend Chen, under the current circumstances, only by combining our efforts can we succeed."
Aunt Lan’s voice came from under the bamboo hat, slightly trembling,
"Fortunately, recently the Emotion Crossing Sect has transferred most Foundation Establishment cultivators from Black Cliff City to Moon Rhinoceros Lake. There aren’t many strong cultivators in the city now."
This was considered good news.
The sudden appearance of dozens of Foundation Establishment demon cultivators in the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District was, of course, not out of nowhere. Most were originally cultivators from Black Cliff City.
"Taoist Friend Lan, is it true that Qing Jun has also been captured?" Chen Ye did not mince words, getting straight to the point.
"..."
Aunt Lan hadn’t expected Chen Ye to be so direct, hesitated for a moment,
"Chen... Taoist Friend Chen, how could I deceive you?"
Chen Ye chuckled, "I see, you and Miss Zhang are alike, always deceiving others for your own benefit."
Aunt Lan’s expression turned unsightly.
She intended to chastise him but, considering the current need for Chen Ye, had to swallow her anger:
"Maybe... maybe that demon cultivator only targeted Chuxi, and Chuxi lured him away with herself to protect Qing Jun."
Chen Ye sighed deeply, "Taoist Friend Lan, you underestimate me, Chen. Back then, the Fourth Elder granted me a favor; I do not dare to forget it. Even if you did not say anything, I would still lend a hand to repay that favor."
His expression was frank, his tone tinged with melancholy.
Upon hearing the man’s righteous words.
Aunt Lan’s body trembled slightly under her bamboo hat.
He knew everything.
Yet, ironically... he maintained this attitude.
"Guardian Chen..." Aunt Lan’s voice was dry, "You... you don’t blame me?"
"Blame you for what?" Chen Ye’s expression was calm, "Blame you for, in a panic for your own Miss, using my disciple as a leverage to attempt to ensnare me?"
Aunt Lan’s face flushed crimson, ashamed and wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
She indeed had such thoughts.
She feared Chen Ye would prioritize his life above all, thus falsely claiming Qing Jun was also captured, attempting to use his disciple’s life to force him into action.
After all.
Someone who climbed from the lower levels did not know how much effort had been spent to achieve today’s status, always cherishing their life.
But she didn’t expect Chen Ye to be completely different from those people.
Thus now, she seemed like a villain.
"It’s good that Guardian Chen has such enlightenment."
Aunt Lan sat down again, her tone regaining some composure,
"The Fourth Elder’s favor isn’t easily repaid. If you can rescue Miss today, I will surely speak well of you in front of the Elder in the future. Who knows, the Elder might happily teach you a few more techniques."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ye frowned inwardly.
This woman really thinks he’s a gentleman, so she tries to take advantage?
Even after he expressed his stance, she still pushed her luck, faintly showing a superior attitude.
"No need. The technique granted by the Elder back then was an ancient one, if not for my luck in acquiring the five great spiritual objects, I would hardly reach Foundation Establishment my whole life."
Chen Ye picked up the cup of lousy cloudy wine on the table, chuckling lightly,
"Once I rescue Miss Zhang, the past favor will be clear and settled. I won’t crave more techniques from the Elder anymore."
"You..."
Aunt Lan was slightly angry.
This person truly doesn’t recognize what’s good for him!
Ordinary people wouldn’t even have the chance to win favor with the Fourth Elder, yet he insists on drawing a line!
Does he really think he’s someone noteworthy?
Truly short-sighted!
But towards such a foolish person, Aunt Lan couldn’t be bothered to persuade further, merely adopting a colder attitude:
"Since Taoist Friend Chen has made up your mind, I won’t say more. Regarding Chuxi, I’ve inquired a bit recently. The one chasing Chuxi is Yuan Ye, a member of the Yuan Family in Black Cliff City."
Yuan Family?
Chen Ye pondered in silence.
Back then, Yuan Haoxuan, who narrowly escaped death at the hands of Bai Susu, was precisely a member of the Yuan Family.
Aunt Lan continued, "Yuan Ye is a Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer cultivator, his strength not to be underestimated. Fortunately, the Fourth Elder left Chuxi with many life-saving measures. He should have lost Chuxi’s trail and is currently hunting for her in secret in Black Cliff City."
Hearing this, Chen Ye couldn’t help but sigh, "Why didn’t the Fourth Elder give Miss Zhang any offensive means back then?"
Aunt Lan looked slightly awkward, "You know Chuxi’s temperament... Besides, she’s always been within the sect, so the elder only left a technique within her Divine Soul, effective only in the face of mortal danger."
Indeed.
With Zhang Chuxi’s temperament, if Qing Jun had spanked her back then, she might have used her trump card and killed them both, master and disciple, in a fit of shame and anger...
Chen Ye thought of this and cold sweat ran down his back, "It’s a good thing the Fourth Elder didn’t give her..."
Aunt Lan felt somewhat relieved seeing him no longer pursue the matter, "Even though the Emotion Crossing Sect has many strong members, it’s currently a time when they are besieging our sect, so they can’t spare many people. With you and me working together, there’s a chance we might succeed."
Chen Ye nodded.
Now he only feared encountering a Venerable level cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Period; as for the Middle Period... If things really get dire, he could still use the Heart Slaughter Sword.
Just recently, Bai Susu’s feeding had allowed him to recover eight or nine-tenths of his strength, just enough to reluctantly activate the Heart Slaughter Sword.
"Can you possibly find Miss Zhang’s whereabouts? If we find her first, we can retreat," Chen Ye mused.
"Sigh! It’s easier said than done! Yuan Ye is prepared, and he has already cast a spell to cut off any tracking methods on Chuxi,"
Aunt Lan gritted her teeth, never imagining that someone would go to such lengths to deal with Chuxi, who had been in the sect for so long!
She was just a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator!
Was it necessary for someone of Yuan Ye’s stature in the Yuan Family to personally act?
"Is that so..."
It seemed indeed like an unsolvable situation.
But knowing that Qing Jun was not in Black Cliff City, Chen Ye felt an intangible reduction in pressure.
He thought to himself:
Do your best... Though Zhang Chuxi is pretty and talented, what does that have to do with me, Chen Ye?
It’s not like he has to risk everything because she’s a little darling.
"In that case," Chen Ye said solemnly, "we know nothing about Black Cliff City, while Yuan Ye is a local. The most urgent task is not to search aimlessly like headless flies, but to gather information first."
"Gather information?" Aunt Lan frowned, "This place is crawling with Demon Cultivators; if our identities are exposed..."
"That’s why we must disguise ourselves." Chen Ye pointed to the chaotic street outside the window, "The more chaotic a place, the faster the information spreads. Taoist Friend Lan, we should split up. You stay here and try to contact the Lingyin Sect to see if there’s a breakthrough. I will go out to scout the situation in the city, especially the movements of the Yuan Family and Yuan Ye."
Aunt Lan thought about it and realized it was the only viable plan.
She nodded, "Alright. Guardian Chen, be cautious in every respect; Black Cliff City is not like the Market, do not act recklessly."
"I understand."
Chen Ye lowered his hat and merged into the crowd outside the inn.
Recently, perhaps due to the Emotion Crossing Sect’s successful attack, they were intentionally spreading news to boost morale.
Chen Ye wandered through stalls selling Magical Artifacts and Pills, quietly extending his Divine Sense to catch the various pieces of information floating in the air.
The more he collected, the graver his expression became.
"Have you heard? The Lingyin Sect’s mountain gate is besieged by our Holy Sect!"
"Hahaha! Really? Aren’t they then trapped like fish in a barrel? Hiss... If I went to fight with the Holy Sect, maybe I could get a share of the spoils."
"Not only that! I just returned from the Yan Kingdom, and I heard... the Outer Sect of Lingyin has already been breached today!"
"What? The Outer Sect is breached?!"
This news struck Chen Ye’s heart like a giant stone plunging into water, making his heartbeat skip for a moment.
His Luoli Courtyard was in the Outer Sect!
There was still his little apprentice Lin Jin whom he had left behind.
"Hiss... This is enormous news!"
"Quick, quick, quick, I’m going to bet in the Bone Cave that the Lingyin Sect won’t last seven days!"
The surrounding cultivators instantly burst into a commotion, rushing towards various casinos and taverns in the city to spread the news wildly.
"Don’t be anxious... Maybe it’s just rumors spread by the Emotion Crossing Sect to mislead people."
Chen Ye massaged his temples.
But the Emotion Crossing Sect had been besieging the Lingyin Sect for a while, perhaps... there really was some progress.
He didn’t care about the safety of the Lingyin Sect, only about those within the sect whom he cared for.
Such as his little apprentice, such as Li Qiuyun...
He could only force himself to remain calm, assuming it was mere rumor.
Some cultivators, as Chen Ye thought, doubted, "The Lingyin has four Golden Core Elders; breaking the Outer Sect can’t be an easy matter, can it?"
"How would I know... Anyway, if the Outer Sect is breached, then it is. Lady Meichan was caught off guard in the Lingyin Outer Sect and was severely burned by Spiritual Fire from a common disciple. She’ll return to Black Cliff City to recuperate soon... By then, the truth will be clear!"