"It’s just a small matter." Hua Liao certainly wouldn’t tell Wan Shan, just like how a man won’t mention breaking up while in bed with a woman.
"If it were a small matter, you wouldn’t send out the Shadow Squad. Uncle Hua, if you hadn’t already agreed to help me, I would really think you were politely refusing." Wan Shan picked up a cup of tea from the round table.
After taking a sip and swallowing, it seemed to quench not his thirst but extinguish the anxieties within him.
Then he murmured to himself, a cold smile appearing on his face, "Daring to kill someone from Extreme Realm Mountain, Wen Ping is doomed."
Hua Liao was momentarily stunned, and the tea cup in his hand shattered on the spot. He then reached out a hand to grab Wan Shan’s shoulder.
"Uncle Hua, what’s wrong with you?"
"What did you just say?"
"Wen Ping is doomed."
"The part before that."
"Daring to kill someone from Extreme Realm Mountain."
"Wen Ping killed Extreme Realm Mountain’s Red-clothed Han Zhi?"
"There was someone particularly powerful by his side, who punched Senior Han to death. But it doesn’t matter, no matter how powerful he is, can he be stronger than Extreme Realm Mountain? If this news reaches Extreme Realm Mountain, even the Hundred Sects Alliance won’t be able to protect the Immortal Sect."
Wan Shan laughed triumphantly, but Hua Liao couldn’t bring himself to smile at this moment. His expression froze, and he slapped the table and stood up.
He had just ordered Mo Ying to take the entire Shadow Squad to kill Wen Ping, and it was a death order.
But with someone so strong by Wen Ping’s side, wouldn’t the Shadow Squad be in grave danger? The sharp sword of his Law Enforcement Hall...
A death order isn’t meant for one’s own men to truly die.
Hua Liao immediately stood up and walked out of the house without hesitation.
"Uncle Hua, where are you going?"
Wan Shan chased to the doorway, shouting, but Hua Liao didn’t respond to him. After muttering a curse for a madman, he left.
Hua Liao mounted a Feng Liu horse, took several attendants, and sped towards Cangwu City as if flying.
Wen Ping stood before the furnace, the flames dancing on his face, reflecting on his now expressionless face.
"Lu Yue, where did you get this thing?" Wen Ping never opened the cloth bag, and when he asked Lu Yue, he just patted his waistband. Although it was a bit odd, fortunately, Lu Yue knew what Wen Ping wanted to ask.
Lu Yue replied, "Found at the bottom of a cave. More than a hundred people died down there because of it."
"Were there demons in the cave?"
"No, they all killed each other. It was a private task issued by a branch of the Kao Shan Sect. As long as you obtained it and brought it to the issuer in Cangwu City, you could get 5000 gold coins. Everyone wanted those 5000 gold coins. Ah Ye and I were relatively lucky—not only did we come out alive, but we also got this Green Sand. We were planning to take the money and leave Cangwu City, but unexpectedly..."
Lu Yue stared into the flames of the furnace, lost in memory, silent for a long time. When there was movement again, it was when she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Have you decided where to go next?"
Lu Yue still stared intently at the furnace, but there was a hint of helplessness in her voice, "Cangwu City can no longer accommodate me. Once I take Ah Ye’s ashes, I’ll leave Cangwu City and find a place to start a new life."
"The Kao Shan Sect won’t let you leave Cangwu City." Wen Ping frowned, thinking about something, then spoke, "Come back to the Immortal Sect with me and hide for a while. Once this storm passes, I’ll send you away."
Lu Yue suddenly smiled, "Actually, if you were someone who easily softens, you shouldn’t say you don’t want to save me."
Wen Ping ignored her.
Indeed, he could be soft-hearted at times.
But a person is ultimately flesh and blood. A former friend, even if no longer considered a friend now.
He doesn’t want to see her die a violent death on the streets.
Lu Yue left her. With her cultivation at the Body Refining Sixth Layer, this was her inevitable fate.
After walking out of the house, Wen Ping glanced at Yu Mo, who had somehow followed him, and Yu Mo also looked at him.
The two, with great understanding, both picked up weapons. Wen Ping drew out a Night Demon Blade, while Yu Mo picked up a steel rod leaning against the door.
Then the two approached the seven workers laboring in the open space.
A quarter of an hour later.
The white protective shield of the Immortal Clear Wind Robe disappeared, and Wen Ping slowly withdrew the Night Demon Blade from Mo Ying’s chest.
Blood flowed out in a torrent down his chest, soaking the coarse cloth workers’ clothes he wore, and also dripped down the blade of the Night Demon, staining the ground below.
Mo Ying’s body jerked before collapsing to the ground, eyes wide open in death.
Even in death, he couldn’t understand what the sudden white light around Wen Ping was, nor could he understand why a Body Refining Thirteenth Layer Cultivator of the Invincible Level appeared next to Wen Ping.
"The remaining six are all dealt with, kid." Yu Mo’s voice came from behind.
Wen Ping nodded, wiped the blood off the blade of the Night Demon, then sheathed it.
However, when Wen Ping returned, Lu Yue was already gone, and the urn that was meant to hold Ah Ye’s ashes was gone, too.
The fire in the furnace was still burning vigorously, just as when Wen Ping had left.
The busy workers noticed Wen Ping coming in, scrutinized him, and quickly said, "Boss, the young lady left a moment ago. She asked me to tell you she’s sorry and that she owes you her life."
Wen Ping didn’t question, just nodded.
Because he knew it would be redundant to ask where Lu Yue had gone.
As he turned his head, he saw Yu Mo standing there. The excitement from killing moments ago was gone, and he approached, patting Wen Ping’s shoulder, and said in a slightly world-weary voice, "Life is just like that. You can wield power and control others’ lives, but there are many things you cannot control."
When he said this, Wen Ping smiled.
He chuckled to himself; was this a lone ranger’s seasoned insight after a life of experiences?
The place was surrounded by soldiers from the City Lord’s Mansion. Hua Liao was terrified when he arrived after hearing the news. Maybe he was praying in his heart, maybe pleading, but in any case, he wouldn’t accept what had already occurred.
When he pushed through the crowd and saw Mo Ying and the others lying on the ground, Hua Liao staggered and nearly fell over.
Those around began whispering among themselves when they saw this scene.
"What’s happened to the Kao Shan Sect people?"
"Look at Hua Liao’s heart-wrenching expression; who were those who died? Weren’t they all core disciples of the Kao Shan Sect?"
"Maybe so. Look, even the Deputy City Lord is here. Those who died here surely had notable status."
"Let go!" Hua Liao shouted angrily, then remained silent, staring ahead.
Hua Liao seemed a fool, constantly failing.
First was Elder Rong.
Then Mo Ying and the Shadow Squad.
Law Enforcement Hall, sword broken, its name was barely worth anything now!
"Wen Ping! Immortal Sect!"
Hua Liao shouted angrily, then spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground before him. Vision darkening, he swayed like a tumbler, and his attendants quickly supported him.
But the ones who supported him couldn’t lift his disoriented spirit or heal his shattered heart.