Chapter 88
Baishi City — Auction House
The monthly auction was being held today.
Before the towering gates, more than ten zhang high, armored guards stood on either side with spears in hand. Their sharp eyes swept over every passerby, as though searching for anyone harboring ill intentions.
A few guests frowned at the scrutiny, clearly displeased, but none dared voice their complaints. The power behind the auction house was far beyond what ordinary people could afford to offend.
Following the flow of the crowd, Lou Yuqing entered calmly.
The guards' gazes lingered on her for a moment before moving on.
A maid from the auction house stepped forward with a practiced smile.
"Please follow me, Young Master."
She led Lou Yuqing toward the auction hall.
The moment the maid wasn't looking, Lou Yuqing's expression turned gloomy.
She had originally planned to sneak in for free.
Unfortunately, the auction house's protective formation was on an entirely different level from the arena's. Even the Barrier-Breaking Bead had been useless.
In the end, she'd been forced to buy an entry spot from someone else at an outrageous price.
Hopefully the sect would reimburse her later.
After all, this was only an illusionary world. It would be downright shameless if the sect swallowed a disciple's spirit stones without compensation.
At least... she hoped so.
While she was silently calculating her losses, a commotion suddenly erupted near the entrance.
A guard's ingratiating voice rang out. "Senior Xie has arrived!"
If she remembered correctly, the Young Sect Master of the Baishi Sect was named Xie Wenheng.
"Take this young master to the reserved private room."
The arrogant male voice carried unmistakable superiority.
"Yes, yes, of course!"
The guard nearly bent himself in half with his bow before turning toward the nearby attendants.
"Are you deaf? Hurry up and attend to Senior Xie!"
Lou Yuqing was impressed.
The man's ability to change faces was truly extraordinary.
She had barely finished criticizing him internally when the maid beside her suddenly stopped and looked at her apologetically.
"Guest, the auction hall is just ahead. Turn right and continue straight. You can go by yourself."
"..."
Even her guide had been stolen away.
Watching every maid within sight swarm toward Senior Xie, Lou Yuqing let out a cold snort.
This guy's nose was practically pointing at the sky. He was even more insufferable than Luo Buqi.
"Achoo!"
At that exact moment, Luo Buqi sneezed.
Hidden near a slaughterhouse, he immediately became alert.
Had someone discovered him?
Without hesitation, he concealed his aura and slipped deeper into the shadows.
Tap.
Soft footsteps approached from nearby.
Luo Buqi's muscles tensed instantly. His narrowed eyes resembled those of a hunting cheetah poised to strike.
Then the footsteps stopped.
A mocking voice followed. "Luo Buqi, are you trying to ambush me? I'm not stupid."
It was Chu Qingyang.
Luo Buqi stepped out from hiding and glanced at him disdainfully.
"You think too highly of yourself. Dealing with you only requires a single move."
Chu Qingyang snorted.
He might not be able to defeat Luo Buqi, but Luo Buqi wouldn't have an easy time catching him either.
Inside caves, Wind Escape Techniques were restricted by terrain.
In open areas, however, speed was his domain.
The scent of blood drifted through the air.
Chu Qingyang spoke calmly. "When they come out, I'll investigate the middle-aged hunter. The others are yours."
Luo Buqi rejected the proposal immediately. "Why should I?"
He pointed toward the slaughterhouse. "He's my target."
Golden light flashed around him as he shot inside.
Chu Qingyang wasn't surprised.
Anyone could tell the middle-aged hunter knew the most.
Neither of them intended to give him up.
The slaughterhouse turned out to be connected to a pig farm.
Pig grunts echoed everywhere.
Some were eating.
Some were sleeping.
Some were fighting.
Passing through the filthy pig pens, Chu Qingyang arrived at a courtyard behind the main building.
The contrast was striking.
The courtyard was spotless. Flowers bloomed along the paths, filling the air with fragrance.
Standing beside Luo Buqi, he listened quietly.
Inside the room, a surprised voice exclaimed, "Old Xue? You're back already? I thought you wouldn't bring back much prey this time."
Old Xue replied, "We got lucky. Three immortal masters escorted us all the way to the outskirts of Baishi City."
The man sounded startled. "Immortal masters? Could they be disciples of the Baishi Sect?"
He immediately shook his head. "No, impossible. If we relied on them, we'd probably lose our skins before we got any help. Did the immortal masters say where they came from?"
"No." Old Xue paused. "They only said they were gathering herbs."
"Gathering herbs?" The man laughed. "The Baishi Sect squeezes every last resource dry. If spiritual herbs exist, they've already taken them all. Outsiders won't get a single stalk."
"They're probably just passing through," Old Xue replied. "No need to worry about them."
The man fell silent.
Then he sighed heavily.
"Go check on Old Ji."
His tone darkened. "His injuries are getting worse. I'm afraid he won't survive."
"What?!"
The door burst open.
Old Xue strode out, fury written across his face.
Naturally, he couldn't see Chu Qingyang and Luo Buqi, both concealed by invisibility techniques.
The other hunters gradually emerged from the house as well. Most weren't particularly close to Old Ji.
Yet hearing that someone might die because of a Baishi Sect disciple stirred the same anger in all of them.
Without hesitation, Luo Buqi followed Old Xue.
Chu Qingyang remained where he was. His gaze drifted back into the room.
Several bamboo baskets sat neatly arranged on the floor.
The slaughterhouse owner lifted a snow rabbit from one basket and weighed it thoughtfully.
Then he chuckled. "The rich and powerful can't cultivate immortality, so they settle for eating demon beast meat."
He looked pleased with himself. "Fortunately, Old Xue's ancestors left behind techniques for hunting demon beasts. Otherwise, this fortune would've never fallen into my lap."
Setting the rabbit down, he picked up a teacup and took a leisurely sip.
"Refreshing."
A smile spread across his face.
"This batch alone should earn me at least a hundred taels of gold."
Beside the teacup sat a gray-white snow rabbit statue. The carving was exquisitely detailed and almost lifelike.
Chu Qingyang glanced at it several times before silently leaving.
Several hours later, after everyone else had gone, the slaughterhouse owner entered his study.
After scribbling a brief note and tearing it apart, he let out a sharp whistle toward the window.
A carrier pigeon immediately flew in.
Stuffing the paper into a small tube attached to its leg, he said, "Deliver this to the Young Master."
The pigeon flapped its wings and disappeared into the sky.
Outside the small world—
A disciple suddenly frowned.
"That snow rabbit statue... it looks exactly like the one at the Hu residence."
Earlier, after Ling Yunxiao and the others entered the Hu residence, Family Head Hu personally entertained them in the reception hall.
He carefully recounted when the demon first appeared, where it had been seen, and the incidents attributed to it.
"I've been troubled by this demon for quite some time."
His expression was sincere.
"Many of my affairs have been neglected because of it. I hope the five of you will do your utmost. Once the demon is captured, I guarantee you will be rewarded generously."
Qi Qingxiong of the Cloud Soaring Sect nodded. "Don't worry, Family Head Hu. I have considerable experience hunting demons."
He rested a hand on his sword. "I'd like to inspect the locations where the demon appeared."
"Of course."
Family Head Hu immediately called for servants.
"Take the demon hunters there."
"Yes, Family Head!"
The servants hurried forward.
Qi Qingxiong departed first.
The disciples from the Bailing Sect, Medicine King Valley, and Haotian Palace followed.
Only Ling Yunxiao remained where he was.
Family Head Hu frowned. "What does Fellow Daoist mean by this?"
"I heard the demon once injured Miss Hu." Ling Yunxiao's tone remained calm. "May I speak with her?"
Without waiting for a response, he continued, "If we're going to capture this demon, we can't overlook any clues."
He paused deliberately.
"What if—"
The unfinished sentence finally convinced Family Head Hu.
After a brief hesitation, he nodded.
"Very well. Please wait a moment."
Ling Yunxiao soon discovered what he was waiting for.
Family Head Hu personally instructed servants to bring Hu Ruoyan out of the ancestral hall.
Ling Yunxiao was stunned.
At a time like this, she was still being punished in the ancestral hall?
Before entering the small world, Junior Sister Yuqing had mentioned that Family Head Hu had spent a great deal to heal his daughter's face.
Ling Yunxiao had assumed they shared a good relationship.
Apparently not.
"What would you like to ask?"
Hu Ruoyan's voice sounded somewhat weak.
Incense smoke drifted through the room. Her silhouette behind the screen appeared almost dreamlike.
Two maids stood guard on either side of the screen. Though they seemed to be staring straight ahead, they were clearly monitoring Ling Yunxiao's every movement.
Ling Yunxiao remained unbothered. "Has Miss Hu's face fully recovered?"
The question caught her off guard.
After a moment, she replied, "You're a demon hunter, yet instead of asking about the demon, you ask about my face."
A trace of mockery entered her voice.
"Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"
Ling Yunxiao answered evenly. "Demons leave traces. To be precise, I'm not asking about your appearance. I'm asking about the wounds."
Silence lingered briefly.
Then Hu Ruoyan lowered her gaze.
"I misunderstood you." Her tone softened. "Unfortunately, the wounds have already healed. Any clues they contained disappeared long ago."
"That's fine." Ling Yunxiao continued. "When you were attacked, did you see the demon?"
"No." Her answer came immediately.
"Do you suspect anyone?"
"No." She shook her head. "I've never made enemies."
"That's a bit absolute." Ling Yunxiao suddenly lowered his voice. "The Young Sect Master of the Baishi Sect wished to marry you—you refused. Perhaps he held a grudge and released a demon to retaliate—"
"Watch your words!" Hu Ruoyan shot to her feet. "What does the Baishi Sect have to do with you?"
Her voice turned icy. "Guards. Escort him out. I don't wish to see him again."
Thus, Ling Yunxiao was very politely thrown out.
Bang!
The courtyard gates slammed shut.
Ling Yunxiao turned back toward the courtyard.
Hu Ruoyan's reaction had exceeded his expectations. She almost seemed to be defending the Baishi Sect.
Then another possibility surfaced.
Perhaps she wasn't protecting the Baishi Sect.
Perhaps she had been protecting him.
Could the Baishi Sect have planted spies within the Hu family?
If so, why hadn't they exposed him?
Unless...
A realization struck him.
The spy's existence wasn't secret at all.
The Baishi Sect had openly inserted people into the Hu household, and the Hu family had allowed it.
That wasn't normal.
Family Head Hu was a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even if the Baishi Sect was powerful, why would he tolerate such blatant interference?
There had to be an agreement between them.
And what kind of agreement could produce this situation?
Ling Yunxiao quickly arrived at a likely answer.
Marriage.
Family Head Hu wanted the alliance.
Hu Ruoyan didn't.
As punishment, she had been forced to kneel in the ancestral hall.
It was only speculation for now. Whether it was true remained to be confirmed.
After completing the mission objective of joining the Hu family, Ling Yunxiao's second objective arrived.
Investigate the Hu Family.
Perfect.
Time for a walk.
A servant eventually led him to a lotus pond.
According to the Hu family, the demon had once hidden here, attacking a maid who passed by at night and destroying most of the lotus flowers.
Yet now, the lotus blossoms swayed elegantly atop the water. Not a single sign of damage remained.
Ling Yunxiao shook his head.
Any traces left behind by the demon had long since been erased.
Stepping into the pavilion at the center of the lake, his gaze suddenly paused.
A stone carving rested atop the table.
A snow rabbit.
Exactly the same snow rabbit Junior Sister Yuqing had mentioned.
Ling Yunxiao stared at it for a moment.
What a coincidence.