Three days ago.
The Huangfu family was living peacefully as usual, having lunch together.
They had just eaten half of their meal when two demons suddenly descended from the sky. With a wave of their hands, they sealed everyoneâs cultivation in the manor and started inquiring about the matters of Wild Wolf Mountain in the north of the town.
Luckily, Liu Qingyan had already warned them of this possibility last year, and the Huangfu family had rehearsed several situations and countermeasures for such an event.
This situation was entirely within their expectations, so they immediately began their act.
As a result, a room full of foxes managed to deceive a wolf and a beidao, not letting them discover any flaws.
"Because Leng Jian of Wild Wolf Mountain is a tyrant in Wanfu County, our submission was completely within their expectations. Furthermore, due to our low strength, they didnât expect us to have the ability to kill Leng Jian."
Huangfu Xu paused and said, "However, they are determined to uncover the cause of Leng Jianâs death, instructing us to disperse and investigate to find out which powerful figure passed by Wild Wolf Mountain three years ago."
Lu Zhengâs eyes flashed, "Did they mention why they are doing so?"
"Yes!" Huangfu Xu nodded, "That Leng Jian is the son of Leng Li, the Mountain Master of Du Yu Mountain!"
Lu Zheng took a sharp breath.
Although he had already suspected it, confirming it now still gave him a bit of a shock.
Shen Ying couldnât help but ask, "Why is his son in the Great Jing Dynasty?"
Huangfu Xu replied, "Because Leng Jian is his youngest son, an illegitimate child, and to prevent his eldest son from killing Leng Jian, Leng Li sent him to the Great Jing."
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, "Is this some kind of ridiculous palace drama?"
Huangfu Xu blinked, not understanding Lu Zhengâs meaning. Lu Zheng quickly waved his hand, signaling for Huangfu Xu to continue.
"Leng Li sent Leng Jian to the Great Jing, only sending someone to sneak into the Great Jing every few years to deliver some elixirs to Leng Jian, both to encourage his cultivation and to continue his bloodline."
Huangfu Xu said, "It was just last year the Tiger Demon, one of the four Vajras of Du Yu Mountain, never returned, and Leng Li became concerned, so he sent a Wolf Race expert and a Beidao, one of the four Vajras, here. Unexpectedly, they found out that Leng Jian had disappeared.
They didnât dare return with just the news of Leng Jianâs death, so they needed to uncover the culprit to divert Leng Liâs wrath.
Being demons from the Northern Domain, they couldnât appear themselves, so they wanted our Huangfu family to rally the demons in Wanfu County. The Beidao promised the old matriarch that as long as we could uncover the cause of Leng Jianâs death, he would take us back to Mengtian, making us the demon tribe strategist of Du Yu Mountain."
Lu Zheng nodded, "No wonder they told you all these secret matters, turns out they wanted to gain your trust."
Shen Ying added, "Itâs also luck that they first approached you."
Huangfu Xu shook his head, "Our Huangfu Manor has considerable influence in Wanfu County and is considered a prominent family among the surrounding demon tribes, so it was normal for them to approach us."
Lu Zheng nodded, "In that case, we can catch them all in one net. Where are they now, still at the Huangfu family?"
Huangfu Xu shook his head, "Not at the manor, they are currently residing at Wild Wolf Mountain, in Leng Jianâs former cave, but..."
"But what?"
"But they took the old matriarch and also made my aunt accompany them to serve."
Liu Qingyanâs eyes narrowed, "Despicable!"
Shen Ying nodded, "This is to ensure the Huangfu family handles the matter sincerely, without informing the Anomaly Suppression Bureau."
Lu Zheng said, "The carrot and stick approach. If the Huangfu family cares about the old matriarch, plus they have the chance to continue developing in the Northern Domain in the future, and all that is required is to investigate a piece of information, the Huangfu family will most likely comply."
"Brother-in-law, what should we do?" Huangfu Xu asked a bit worriedly.
He wasnât concerned that Lu Zheng couldnât handle the two demons; he was worried about the safety of the old matriarch and his aunt Huangfu Jing.
"Donât worry." Lu Zheng patted Huangfu Xuâs shoulder, "The old matriarch and aunt will be fine, Iâll head over there immediately."
Huangfu Xu nodded quickly.
Liu Qingyan immediately said, "Iâll go too!"
Liu Qingyan, whose cultivation is not weak now, can also contribute.
Shen Ying shook her head without speaking. Wild Wolf Mountain in Yaozhou was too far, and she couldnât go there for now. She frowned and said to Lu Zheng, "There are two people on the other side, it might not be appropriate for you to take just Qingyan, Lu Lang."
These two demons should be similar to that Tiger Demon, and now a year had passed, and everyoneâs cultivation had advanced rapidly.
Shen Ying and Liu Qingyanâs cultivation had gradually approached five hundred years, and Lu Zheng had long surpassed that. Even if he faced the Tiger Demon alone, he could easily handle it.
But after all, the other side had two people, and the Wolf Demon was of the same clan as the Mountain Master of Du Yu Mountain, and the Beidao was notorious for being insidious and vicious.
Although Lu Zheng had many methods, Shen Ying couldnât help but worry.
Lu Zheng blinked, "When did I say I was taking only Qingyan?"
"Eh?" Shen Ying also blinked.
"In this situation, of course, we have to inform Chu Governor of the Anomaly Suppression Bureau. He said last year that the Anomaly Suppression Bureau would be monitoring Du Yu Mountain, yet this year, two formidable demons slipped in. Who else should we look for but him?"
Shen Ying nodded.
"Also, call Mr. Fan along, heâs been freeloading at the Liu familyâs meals all the time, he ought to contribute something, plus it could ease the tension between the Merit Origin Lineage of the Primordial Saint Sect and the Da Jing Dynasty Court."
Liu Qingyan nodded.
"Then, of course, we need to go to Shaotong Mountain to ask my master for help. If we encounter something like this and ask outsiders for help instead of him, wouldnât that make him lose face?"
Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan nodded together.
"Lastly, since Master Shouyi of Qingwei Palace is currently at the temple guiding Wang Xiaowan, if something like this occurs, I guess heâll probably take Wang Xiaowan with him to broaden her horizon."
"So..."
Lu Zheng clenched his right hand into a fist and struck his left palm, "We have five experts on our side, five against two. We have the advantage; we will surely take them down."
Everyone, "..."
Upon saying this, Lu Zheng couldnât help but shake his head and sigh, "Itâs a pity Elder Liu left a bit early; if he were here, he alone would be enough."
Shen Ying couldnât help but facepalm. Why did she fret? With the enemyâs situation already determined, how could Lu Zheng possibly do something reckless?
"Letâs happily settle it this way!"
"Iâll first go to Yizhou Townâs Anomaly Suppression Bureau to find Chu Jin, the Governor," Lu Zheng said, and then looked at Liu Qingyan, "You go home first and explain this to Mr. Fan. Oh, and be sure to mention that I plan to ask my master and Master Shouyi to act together."
Liu Qingyan nodded, "Okay!"
Shen Ying smiled, "I also have a bit of acquaintance with Daoist Mingzhang; Iâll first head to Shaotong Mountain."
Lu Zheng nodded with a smile, "Alright, no time to lose, letâs set off now!"
With these words, the three of them exchanged smiles, and Lu Zheng rose into the sky, heading straight for Yizhou.
Shen Ying saw Liu Qingyan and the sisters, along with Huangfu Xu, off from Taohua Village, then her figure lightened as she floated towards Shaotong Mountain.
The Liu sisters returned to Tonglin County, and Liu Qingyan called on Du Yueyao to visit Fan Boyu.
Everything progressed in parallel, moving forward together!
With five against two, the advantage is ours!