Wan Jinxian returned to the village, feeling his way with the Blind man’s cane, to deliver a message to He Jiaqing.
"The mission failed. Han Juncheng couldn’t subdue Zhao Xiaowan and was nailed to the door of the residence."
He Jiaqing was in an extremely foul mood.
He knew Han Juncheng was all ambition and no skill, and that he lacked experience.
But subduing a Sixth Layer Home Cultivator wasn’t easy, so He Jiaqing had always indulged him and had even planned to let Han Juncheng make his move when a better opportunity arose.
He never expected that the sleeper agent, carefully nurtured for many years near Iron Gate Fort, would be gone just like that.
This wasn’t Old Wan’s fault, and He Jiaqing had no reason to take his anger out on him.
Old Wan asked, "What’s our next move?"
He Jiaqing pondered for a long time before saying, "Wait for movement from the Jiang Xiang Gang. If Luo Zhengnan succeeds, we’ll intercept it from him."
Wan Jinxian agreed. "Intercepting it is the best strategy, but I’m worried Luo Zhengnan will have a hard time succeeding.
A Sixth Layer Home Cultivator is less than human before that House Spirit. In all my years in the Jianghu, I’ve never encountered such a situation."
"Flying General Zhao Xiaowan, a Traveling Cultivator Leader, is naturally no ordinary figure. Unfortunately, we have too few Home Cultivators. A slight oversight, and we missed our chance.
But if Iron Gate Fort intends to hand Zhao Xiaowan over to Luo Zhengnan, then it’s a different matter.
Iron Gate Fort has plenty of Home Cultivators. If one fails, they can try again. With three hundred Home Cultivators, one is bound to succeed."
In He Jiaqing’s eyes, these Home Cultivators were just numbers.
At this, He Jiaqing sighed. "Iron Gate Fort is a good place. Sooner or later, I must have it in my grasp. Old Wan, you’ve worked hard tonight. Don’t enter Iron Gate Fort for the next few days to avoid arousing suspicion."
...
Li Banfeng stood before the great mansion’s gate, looking at the still-wailing Han Juncheng.
He wanted to ask the man what exactly he had experienced in the annex, but looking at the intimidating Long Spear, Li Banfeng truly didn’t dare get close.
Li Banfeng couldn’t figure it out, but he knew something major was about to happen at Iron Gate Fort.
If this House Spirit wasn’t dealt with promptly, Iron Gate Fort would face annihilation.
"Dad! Save me! Help me!" Han Juncheng was still screaming.
His cries were bloodcurdling.
...
News of Han Juncheng’s fate spread throughout Iron Gate Fort.
An evil entity had appeared in the fort! Someone had been nailed to death at the east annex of the great mansion, right in Iron Gate Fort’s forbidden area!
What kind of omen was this?
It was an omen of impending disaster!
The usually superstitious Home Cultivators were terrified. Some bought Incense Candles, others talismans, and some even replaced their door gods with new ones!
Luo Zhengnan was selling vegetables at the market when Second Helmsman Sage Sun Xiao’an approached. He appeared to be selecting vegetables but was covertly speaking with Luo Zhengnan.
"There’s been some activity at Iron Gate Fort. Last night, someone broke into the forbidden area. It seems they were trying to steal something and got impaled there. They screamed for a whole day before finally dying."
"Who?" Luo Zhengnan’s brow furrowed instantly.
"His background hasn’t been traced yet."
Luo Zhengnan gritted his teeth slightly. "Damn it, who would make a move at a time like this? I’m afraid the Fortress Lord will suspect us."
"Why don’t we go to Iron Gate Fort again and explain things to the Fortress Lord?"
"Explain? If we go to Iron Gate Fort to discuss this now, the Fortress Lord will think we’re threatening him!"
Sun Xiao’an said, "Since we know that thing is in the forbidden area, why don’t you send someone to probe further?"
Luo Zhengnan looked at Sun Xiao’an, his eyes narrowing. "Old fox, you’ve seen off several Helm Masters. Are you trying to get rid of me, the Hall Master, now too?"
Sun Xiao’an fell silent; he couldn’t think of a good countermeasure either.
Luo Zhengnan dismissed two customers and said to Sun Xiao’an, "This matter can’t be rushed. We have two more days. Let’s wait for the Fortress Lord’s move.
If he’s willing to act, we’ll still offer to buy it. Adding more money is negotiable.
If he’s unwilling to act, we leave immediately—the sooner, the better.
Old Sun, remind the others to be extra careful. Watch out for Iron Gate Fort, and also be wary of unidentified individuals.
If the deal goes through, we must be even more vigilant. Guard against Iron Gate Fort playing tricks, and also guard against others intercepting it!"
...
Li Banfeng returned to his Portable Residence. Sitting before the phonograph, he asked, "My dear, what kind of person is Zhao Xiaowan, really?"
SCRITCH... SCRITCH...
"Husband, why do you ask about her again?"
Li Banfeng said, "I saw her kill someone today. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s truly ruthless."
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG! HAI!
His wife sang, accompanied by gongs and drums:
"Ruthless isn’t quite the word. She’s just spent so long on the battlefield that she doesn’t regard life too highly.
Zhao Xiaowan is a General, a rather famous one. She knows how to wage war and has won many victories.
She’s very strict with her army. Her subordinates fear her greatly, and none have escaped her punishments.
Beyond that, there’s nothing particularly special about her."
Li Banfeng recalled a description from a novel: "Some say the Emperor adopted her as his daughter, made her a Princess, and even found her a Prince Consort."
SCRITCH... SCRITCH...
The phonograph laughed. "Her? Such good fortune? The Emperor wouldn’t just casually adopt a daughter.
Zhao Xiaowan only knows how to fight; she’s clueless about anything else. The matter of a Prince Consort has never crossed her mind. In her eyes, men and women are no different."
Li Banfeng asked again, "Others say she was stationed at the border, fighting enemies her whole life. Is that true?"
His wife sighed. "She certainly wished for that. For someone like her, to die on the battlefield would have been a fitting end.
But she wasn’t so fortunate. Because she earned some merit, she was recalled to the Capital."