Chapter 1562: Chapter 795: Unraveling the Threads (Part 2)

Considering this, Qiu Mingyuan solemnly cupped his hands and said, "Hero Kuai is indeed extraordinary, but ’Deaf Lu Ban’ Chen Sanxiang hides deeply. Is there any clue about him?"

"Of course!"

Kuai Dayou sneered, "That old ghost practices the ’Seven Evils Suppression Skill’. Although side door spells are adept at harming others, their power is formidable, but the backlash is severe."

"The gathering of Sha Qi means he often takes Great Yang Strong Medicine, is extremely lustful, and has developed a bad habit of frequenting prostitutes. He placed a mechanism inside Zhou Dayong’s abdomen and therefore cannot be away for long, so he’s definitely still in Jinling City."

"To mask the stench of corpses on himself, he surely uses a large amount of fragrance to cover..."

"Understood!"

Qiu Mingyuan immediately comprehended, nodded, and left.

It’s unmistakably distinctive for rough old men to use incense bags. Just send people to inquire in the flower streets and willows lanes throughout Jinling, and clues will surely be found.

Moreover, he could see that Li Yan and others intentionally sent him away, so Kuai Dayou shared the clue without reservation; staying further would only cause annoyance.

Squeak~

After he left, Kuai Dayou immediately stepped forward to close the door. Sha Lifei, with a mutual understanding, took out the Ruyi Treasure Pearl from the bundle, hanging it up to isolate any Divine Skills probing.

"Any other clues?"

Sha Lifei was tense, staring at Kuai Dayou.

At this moment, he wished he could immediately go rescue Wang Daoxuan and the others.

"Not from me."

Kuai Dayou shook his head and looked at Kong Shangzhao, "The scholar has something to say."

Li Yan also looked at Kong Shangzhao.

Throughout the journey, Kong Shangzhao and the other two were quite honest, only assisting in gathering some clues while searching for Zhou Yinyao. However, Li Yan knew this scholar has a very keen mind.

"Just in case..."

Kong Shangzhao’s expression was grave as he looked at everyone, "The waters of Jinling City are deep. There are those colluding with the demons, some holding high positions. We cannot trust easily."

"Even that Qiu Mingyuan has some secrets!"

Sha Lifei was incensed upon hearing this, "I always felt this old official was suspicious. What’s up? Is he suspected of colluding with demons as well?"

"Not likely."

Kong Shangzhao shook his head, "Don’t you find the situation in Jinling City peculiar?"

"The Jianmu Organization is a big enemy of the court, involving events in Yangzhou Tripod, and the turmoil in Chengdu and Luoyang. The court killed many people."

"Yet despite the crisis in Jinling City, Yangzhou Tripod has been taken by demons, and a Thousand Households who came to investigate died mysteriously, yet the court sent so few people, not a single expert."

"In contrast, Jiangnan Mysterious Sect is so active..."

Li Yan pondered, "Indeed, something seems off."

Earth Immortals possess a special existence. Though bearing the word "immortal", their lives are far from carefree. With life enduring so long, times change, and coupled with avoiding the Heavenly Court and Underworld, their nature becomes eccentric.

To ask them to abide by human etiquette and order is impossible, so many have reached agreements with various mystical sects, accepting tribute and protection, becoming their enforcers.

But it’s not to say the court has no Earth Immortal experts.

Previously, the Prince De Mansion in the capital was involved in the "Flat Peach Chaos." With the current Emperor’s nature to control everything, he would definitely prepare.

But they are hidden deeply...

Thinking of this, Li Yan spoke solemnly, "Qiu Mingyuan is likely just the visible personnel, and there are those hidden in the shadows. Jiangnan is crucial for the court’s tax revenue, with many sea ports suffering pirate upheavals; local powers and Jiangnan Magic Veins are probably attempting to leverage the situation." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Cowardly."

Sha Lifei cursed fiercely, "At such a time, still so much scheming!"

Li Yan remained calm, shaking his head, "Different interests lead to different thoughts; just focus on our own affairs; we don’t have time to bother with them."

Then, he looked back at Kong Shangzhao, "That’s not what you wanted to say, is it?"

"Hmm."

Kong Shangzhao nodded and looked at everyone, "Qiu Mingyuan is right. Even if Brother Li hands over the Hook Paper, it won’t save Daoist Wang and the others, but would let the demons have no reservations."

"Yet they let slip one thing!"

"Living Yin Constables being hunted en masse, yet we saved one..."

Sha Lifei’s eyes lit up, "Old Man Wu!"

Previously, living Yin Constables from Jingjinji were hunted down, almost annihilated, but an old man escaped, hiding in the capital’s ghost market, saved by them and secretly relocated.

This old man’s Hook Paper was shattered, Jianmu’s people likely think there’s no more threat, but the living Yin Constable’s identity still exists. Once reacquiring a Hook Paper, he could again summon Yin Department Soldiers.

"How did I forget about that!"

Sha Lifei was excited, "Brother Yan, didn’t we previously kill a few living Yin Constables traitors and trade the located Hook Paper, setting an ambush?"

"Won’t work."

Li Yan shook his head, "The Hook Paper is merely a channel for spellcasting, the identity of living Yin Constable appears randomly in the Netherworld, even the Yin Bureau can’t control it; otherwise, Jianmu Organization would have amassed a large group of living Yin Constables."

"Besides, my Hook Paper is special, they will surely have precautions."

"Old Man Wu is indeed a strategic move, but he’s far away in Cangzhou, a round trip takes several days. The exchange tonight leaves no time."

Upon hearing this, Sha Lifei was immediately troubled, "Then what to do?"

"Don’t worry."

Li Yan spoke seriously, "Their miscalculations aren’t just a few!"

He then looked at everyone, "Earlier in the Taishan Secret Realm, my living Yin Constable privileges have enhanced, no need for a Hook Paper. As long as sensing a yin criminal, Yin Department Soldiers can be summoned."

"What!"

Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed.

Li Yan’s face remained solemn, "Those demons are very calculating, likely prepared, so tonight’s a battle imminent. The urgent matter is to find out where exactly the ’Red Silk House’ is!"

Then, he looked towards the door, ears twitching.

Everyone heard footsteps approaching from outside.

Sha Lifei immediately stepped forward, taking the Ruyi Treasure Pearl down.

Indeed, soon, the voice of a small officer from the Captain Bureau sounded outside, "Young Hero Li, Manager Murong from Qiyuan Building visits."

Li Yan stood up and opened the door, seeing a middle-aged beautiful woman led by the small officer into the courtyard, followed by a stern-looking woman, none other than Murong Yan, leader of Jinling’s Golden Swallow Sect, and Wang Lu, disciple of Earth Immortal Zhou Yinyao, Demon Hunter.

"Please."

He invited the two to the room and directly explained the reason.

"Red Silk House..."

Murong Yan’s face changed drastically upon hearing, "Impossible, this place disappeared long ago."

Li Yan squinted his eyes slightly, "Seems senior knows?"

Murong Yan shook her head, "With such a major event, given Golden Swallow Sect’s relationship with Young Hero Li, I naturally speak without reservation. The ’Red Silk House’ is a sinister secret realm..."

"It is said during the Southern Dynasty, Weaving Bureau rushed to create ’Vermilion Bird Silk Tent’, leading to the death of three hundred Embroidery Girls. Since then, Qinhuai River was haunted by stories of ’Gold for boat, blood tears for oar’."

"Rumor has it every full moon night, a mysterious painted boat appears on Qinhuai Outer River, luring passersby inside, never to return."

"But during the Great Song Period, Shenxiao Sect’s Grandmaster Lin Lingsu came to Jinling, leading many mystical sect experts to seal it using Jinling’s Earth Vein, never appearing again."

"Sealed since the Great Song Period?"

Li Yan frowned upon hearing this.

Murong Yan helplessly said, "The ’Red Silk House’ is peculiar; no one knows when it appears or its exact location, especially after so long."

"Those demons certainly chose this place to prevent you from preparing early, if my guess is right, tonight someone might lead you there alone."

"This situation is too passive; it requires thorough planning."

At that moment, Wang Lu also spoke seriously, "That’s my master’s judgment; he says this situation is perilous. He is setting up rituals, unable to intervene, urging you to consider..."

"Enough, no more!"

Li Yan’s eyes chilled, "Abandoning companions is not my way!"

Seeing this, the two women no longer advised him, evidently aware of Li Yan’s stance.

After they left, Kong Shangzhao’s eyes sparkled with a hint of excitement.

"Brother Yan, I might have a lead!"

He declared, glancing at everyone, "Earlier, while arranging Zhao Changsheng’s records at the Captain Bureau, coupled with Murong Yan’s information, it reminded me of something."

"That Zhao Changsheng, in a past life, was the Sect Leader Zhang Huaisu of Great Song Ghost Sect."

"He has deep connections with Jinling City..."