The ground suddenly glimmered with white frost, footprints ceaselessly appearing.
Yuan Qu and his companions felt waves of cold dread rising in their hearts.
The surrounding light grew ever dimmer, as if even the moonlight above had vanished. The temperature plummeted sharply, the chill akin to an ice cellar, numbing their minds.
In a daze, they seemed to perceive something.
Countless shadowy figures, dense and unyielding, loomed before them, with various banners fluttering above, resembling an army from the netherworld. Faintly, their ears caught the sound of chanting scriptures and prayers.
This eerie spectacle surpassed their comprehension.
Fortunately, they clung to Chen Fakui's instructions, scarcely daring to breathe.
The circle of white ash scattered around them proved effective. Neither the frost nor the footprints encroached upon it, passing by as if it were invisible.
After an indeterminate time, normalcy returned.
The frost, the footprints, the strange sounds—all vanished without a trace.
What had just transpired seemed but a nightmare.
"What… what was that?" Yuan Qu's throat felt parched.
No sooner had he spoken than a chill gripped him. Turning, he saw Chen Fakui staring at him coldly, his eyes glinting with murderous intent.
Yuan Qu swallowed hard. "Master Chen, you…"
"Those were the ghostly soldiers of the City God Temple's decree!"
Chen Fakui, perhaps recalling something, let the killing intent fade from his eyes and said flatly, "That old thing from the City God Temple came for me. It seems he's noticed something."
"I've never practiced my arts in the city. It must be one of your people who gave us away."
"Impossible!"
Yuan Qu hastily retorted, then gritted his teeth and clasped his hands. "Rest assured, Master Chen. If someone has betrayed us, I'll eliminate everyone who knows!"
"Heh…"
Chen Fakui chuckled, busying himself with packing his belongings without lifting his head. "Still think you're the leader of the White Ape Gang?"
"In Xianyang City, someone's likely already hunting us. Forget you—even your master will be in deep trouble this time."
"Don't believe me? Go back and see for yourself. I'll wait here for one hour. When the time's up, I'm leaving."
His tone was calm and detached, as if the impending danger meant nothing to him.
Yuan Qu clenched his teeth, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. Clasping his fists, he said, "Please wait a moment, Master Chen. I'll be back shortly. Let's go!"
With that, he mounted his horse, flicked the reins, and led a few subordinates straight toward Xianyang City.
Chen Fakui, unhurried, packed his ritual tools and kicked the surrounding fire toward the center, where it consumed the altar in a blazing inferno.
Only then did he sit cross-legged, gazing toward the southeast in the darkness.
Cough, cough!
Suddenly, he covered his mouth, coughing violently. When he opened his hand, it was stained with vivid scarlet blood.
In the darkness, a pained murmur arose:
"Why does heaven forsake me? I refuse to accept this… I refuse…"
"Here! Open it!"
Outside Xianyang's city walls, beside a mound, Yuan Qu brushed away loose soil, revealing two iron rings bound with chains. He gestured to his men to pull them.
Though his subordinates were puzzled, they dared not question him.
Yuan Qu was generous with his men, especially his trusted ones. Not only were their food and drink provided, but their expenses were covered, and even their families were given work.
Yet the White Ape Gang's rules were ruthlessly strict. Above all, Yuan Qu's orders were unquestionable. More than one had perished for disobedience, so who would dare speak out of turn?
"Hyah!"
Several men gripped the iron rings and heaved together.
Beneath lay a thick wooden trapdoor. As the chains tautened, surrounding dirt and gravel scattered, revealing a dark, gaping hole.
The men exchanged glances, startled.
"This is a secret tunnel dug during the Maitreya Cult's rebellion," Yuan Qu explained calmly. "I discovered this passage and bought that house because of it. We'll return through the tunnel. Even if something goes wrong, we can escape."
"Brilliant, Boss!"
"Hurry, let's move!"
The men nodded and descended into the tunnel one by one.
The entrance resembled a vertical shaft, with wooden scaffolding along the earthen walls.
Once inside, they lit torches, revealing a surprisingly spacious passage—two meters wide, enough for even the tallest thug to stand upright.
At that moment, a ferocious glint flashed in Yuan Qu's eyes as he trailed behind.
Two daggers appeared in his hands.
Crouching low, he employed his elusive footwork, his daggers crisscrossing.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Before his men could react, their throats were slit. Clutching their gushing necks, they collapsed, legs thrashing, blood foaming from their mouths.
Yuan Qu cast a cold glance, heedless of their resentful stares. He grabbed a torch and sprinted deeper into the tunnel.
This was his carefully planned escape route.
Whether trouble arose or not, these men could not live.
The tunnel was dimly lit, the air foul and stifling, but Yuan Qu paid it no mind, his steps quickening.
He understood Chen Fakui's intent.
Waiting at the hillside wasn't out of loyalty but because retrieving treasure from the mass grave required assistance.
If he returned late, Chen Fakui would surely vanish.
His house wasn't far from the northern city wall. Soon, Yuan Qu reached a hidden chamber and peered through a prearranged crack.
Outside was his main hall, the crack concealed beneath the altar table.
This was Yuan Qu's cunning.
Most would hide a secret passage in their bedroom or study.
Who would suspect the main hall?
Peering through the crack, Yuan Qu's heart sank.
The hall was brightly lit with candles. His maids and servants knelt on the floor, while his remaining gang members, bruised and battered, were tightly bound.
A pair of leather boots was visible beside a chair.
Footsteps shuffled about, with constables coming and going.
"Captain, nothing found in the side rooms!"
"Captain, we've set an ambush at the city gate. If Yuan Qu returns, we'll seize him immediately!"
"And the Zhou family?"
"Lord Hu has already led men there…"
It was Captain Guan Wanche!
Without a word, Yuan Qu crept back into the tunnel and fled, cursing his carelessness.
He'd abducted countless children before without issue. Xianyang City saw people vanish daily, easily blamed on traffickers. Yet the last few had slipped through his grasp.
It must be that old fool Zhou Peide—his hired men had botched it!
That damned idiot. He should never have worked with him.
Yuan Qu seethed with regret.
Backed by Zhou Pan, he'd sailed smoothly for years. Flattered by his gang, he fancied himself a mastermind, never considering that many overlooked his deeds only to avoid offending Zhou Pan, swallowing their losses in silence.
Of course, Yuan Qu would never admit this.
He hurried out of the tunnel, emerging from the exit, and leapt onto his horse.
As he prepared to flee, hesitation flickered in his eyes.
Following Chen Fakui meant a life of hiding, and he'd left behind a lifetime's wealth—essentially nothing.
But fleeing alone was equally perilous.
Recalling the enemies he'd made in the martial world, fear gripped Yuan Qu. He realized that, outside Xianyang City, without Zhou Pan and the White Ape Gang, he was nothing.
With a mournful sigh, Yuan Qu spurred his horse into the night.
Soon, he reached the hillside and saw Chen Fakui sitting cross-legged. Relieved, Yuan Qu dismounted, knelt, and said, "Master Chen, your foresight is divine. From now on, I follow you."
Chen Fakui nodded calmly, his eyes devoid of emotion.
He knew Yuan Qu would return.
Men like him had no path but to cling to others.
"Let's go. I foresaw this day."
"But catching me? That old thing isn't capable…"
"Third Master, why haven't they shown?"
On a darkened road, a disciple couldn't help but ask.
They'd waited ages without a trace of Li Yan. Even Zhou Peide began to doubt.
Zhou Peide said gravely, "Go find out what's happened!"
"Yes, Third Master!"
The disciple mounted his horse and galloped into the night, returning in less than half an hour, puzzled. "Third Master, they're gone. No idea where."
"Gone?"
Zhou Peide's anger flared.
Blinded by vengeance, he hadn't thought things through. He grumbled, "That bastard Yuan Qu, always unreliable."
"Let's head back. Tomorrow, we'll get answers!"
With that, he led his men back to Xianyang City.
The city gates were closed at night, but the Zhou family's status in Xianyang was unmatched. As usual, a signal was enough for a basket to be lowered from the walls.
But as Zhou Peide ascended, something felt wrong.
In the distance, a line of guards and constables stood, bows and crossbows drawn, their sharp arrows trained on them. Torches flared around them.
"Zhou Peide, your crimes are exposed!"
At dawn, the sky faintly brightened.
Outside the Mountain God Temple, the campfire had long died out.
Li Yan, clutching a wine jug, slept against a log.
Nearby, Zhao Lüzi snored loudly.
The two had talked through the night, downing several jugs of wine. Even seasoned fighters couldn't withstand it and had collapsed.
Suddenly, Li Yan's nose twitched. Zhao Lüzi's ears perked up. Both rose simultaneously, gazing toward the mountain path.
Sha Lifei, led by a villager, hurried up the path, his face fraught with urgency. Seeing Li Yan, he shouted, "Brother Yan, hurry back! The Taoist has been ambushed!"
*(End of Chapter)*