Chapter 46: The Cause

Though it felt slightly impolite, the first things that Wang Sheng noticed about the captain were her clothes that hung loosely on her frame and her subtle charm, which defied her exhausted, faintly melancholic expression.

She seemed to be at least in her forties and clearly wasn't a cultivator. However, she had taken excellent care of herself. She was fair-skinned, beautiful, and elegant.

Whenever women like her—strong, capable, and seemingly invincible—revealed their vulnerable side, they could easily stir the hearts of others.

—I don't wish to recall my relationship with your master. You can just call me... Auntie.

The captain sounded a bit melancholic.

—I'd like to ask you a favor. When you return to the mountain, can you deliver a message to your master for me? Tell him that if he still cares about his daughter, he should come see me as soon as possible.

Master's daughter?

Recalling the young girl in the other photograph, Wang Sheng's interest was instantly piqued. That would make her his own little...

Ahem.

That would make her his junior sister!

Judging from the mistress's tone, it seemed his junior sister was in some sort of trouble.

"Auntie—actually, it's easier for me to call you Mistress. Anyway, what happened to her? Is she being harassed by some cultivators? I'll call my master now. Please hold on."

Before the captain could respond, Wang Sheng had already pulled out his phone. He thoughtfully switched to speaker mode and turned the volume to max.

Wang Sheng imagined his master's tone trembling slightly with emotion and betraying a hint of uncertainty upon hearing that his wife had reached out to him. He couldn't help but fantasize about rekindling a love that had been dormant for twenty years.

However, to his surprise, a gentle, automated voice message greeted him instead.

—

Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later...

At that moment, Wang Sheng remembered what his senior sister had told him earlier. His master had gone into seclusion on Mount Zhongnan to break through to the Golden Core Realm!

Of all the times!

First, Wang Sheng missed out on a beautiful first love with a senior so he could cultivate. Now, his master had missed a chance to reconcile by going into seclusion on Mount Zhongnan.

Their entire sect seemed destined to be perpetually single...

Wang Sheng scratched his head nervously. "Mistress, it seems my master is currently in seclusion to break through to the next realm. He's probably deep in the mountains right now."

The mistress's face was naturally painted with deep disappointment. She leaned back into her chair, lost in thought. The accumulated pressure and fatigue from the past few days seemed to overwhelm her, breaking her composed facade.

"I don't know if I should say this, Mistress, but my master and his family have been nothing but kind to me. If you and my junior sister are facing any difficulties, please let me know. I may not be as capable, but I'll do everything I can to help."

The woman hesitated for a moment and then gently shook her head. "Is there no way to contact your master?"

Her tone implied that she doubted Wang Sheng's reliability.

Wang Sheng thought for a moment. "I'll try contacting my senior sister. Mistress, please don't worry."

"Alright. Thank you... Little Sheng."

"No worries, Mistress. I'll call you back once I've reached her."

***

Ten minutes later.

Creak.

The antique wooden door swung open. Dressed in a dark-blue robe, Wang Sheng stepped out with his treasured sword in hand.

The morning mist drifted gently, bringing the fresh scent of the countryside. Though the Li residence was in disarray, the bamboo groves standing tall nearby preserved a hint of its elegance.

A refreshing breeze swept through, making Wang Sheng feel relaxed. However, when he remembered the captain's request, his mood quickly sank.

Mou Yue and Bulldozer, who were sitting idly nearby, immediately stood up. Their eyes were filled with curiosity.

Had their captain successfully convinced the renowned swordmaster to join their organization?

"Here." Wang Sheng handed the phone back to Mou Yue. She hesitated briefly before taking it.

Noticing the faint seriousness in his expression, she grew even more curious about the conversation between Wang Sheng and their captain.

Before Mou Yue could say a word, the IDs she and Bulldozer carried vibrated lightly, notifying them of a new assignment.

Wang Sheng paid them no mind. Whatever orders their captain would give, he could guess them accurately enough—it would undoubtedly involve Mou Yue and Bulldozer assisting him in his mission.

His master's decision to enter seclusion at such a critical time, and the junior sister he had never met... Trouble seemed to be brewing on her end.

Spotting Zhou Yinglong and Li Shiwu waiting by the bamboo grove, Wang Sheng set aside his worries, smiled faintly, and lightly walked toward them.

Li Shiwu immediately grew excited upon seeing Wang Sheng. He tugged at the hem of his robe and jogged over. After a brief hesitation, he awkwardly patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder.

"Fei Yu, I don't even know how to thank you! My elder brother's entire family owes you their lives! If you have any requests, just let me know. I will surely repay you!"

"You're too kind, Martial Uncle. I only did what I should have, and Senior Brother Zhou contributed just as much," Wang Sheng replied humbly as he gently freed himself from Li Shiwu's grasp.

Behind them, Mou Yue and Bulldozer exchanged a few whispers. Bulldozer turned and ran toward the gate of the Li residence, while Mou Yue, who was in high heels, approached the three Wudang cultivators with small, deliberate steps.

Li Shiwu blinked in confusion. "Who are they?"

"They're members of the Special Investigation Unit, here to inquire about last night's fierce spirit," Wang Sheng explained briefly, avoiding any mention of the mistress.

Having worked all night, Zhou Yinglong was already familiar with Mou Yue's background. She and Bulldozer had even already questioned him earlier.

Zhou Yinglong whispered a few words into Li Shiwu's ear, quickly bringing him up to speed. His gaze at Mou Yue grew more wary.

Mou Yue smiled politely at Li Shiwu and Zhou Yinglong before turning to Wang Sheng.

"When shall we depart, Daoist Priest Wang?" she asked softly.

"Time is of the essence. Let's head to Mount Wudang now and meet my senior sister," Wang Sheng replied.

Li Shiwu frowned. "What's the rush? You can just return in the afternoon. My elder brother wants to properly thank you."

"I've got an urgent matter to attend to," Wang Sheng said. "Senior Brother Zhou, could I trouble you to bring my luggage from the resort back to the mountain? I'll collect it from you later."

"Sure," Zhou Yinglong said with a wave of his hand. "But what's so urgent that you have to rush off? If you're heading to fetch Junior Sister Bu Yu, let me accompany you!"

Wang Sheng blinked. Zhou Yinglong's face turned red as he recalled his performance the previous night.

Zhou Yinglong laughed awkwardly. "At the very least, I can help carry your things. And hey, it was my idea to use rooster blood..."

Meanwhile, from the end of the garden path, Li Shishan hurried toward them. The other Li family members followed closely behind.

Wang Sheng frowned slightly. "Martial Uncle, what exactly is the grudge between Jiang Zhongyi and the Li family?"

Li Shiwu froze, his expression turning somber and heavy. He let out a long sigh, seemingly at a loss about where to begin.

On the side, Mou Yue gently pushed aside her bangs. In a soft, slightly formal tone, she said, "Based on the information we've gathered, I can give you an answer to that question. Would you like me to explain?"

"Of course, if it's alright," Wang Sheng replied curiously.

"A major local accident happened about sixteen years ago—a mining disaster that resulted in twenty-four deaths and sixteen injuries. The disaster was due to the misconduct of workers underground. The mining company involved one of the Li family's businesses.

"Through fingerprinting, blood type, and genetic sequencing, we determined that the corrupt cultivator who goes by the alias Jiang Zhongyi is actually Lee Qiran. His father and older brother died in that mining disaster.

"At the time, he was only eight years old. His mother took the substantial compensation that the Li family had offered and left for distant places, abandoning him to his grandparents.

"A little over a month ago, he released several wandering spirits into the Li residence, throwing the household into chaos. He then infiltrated the residence by taking advantage of their security expansion. He hoped to annihilate the entire Li family to avenge his father and brother."

Mou Yue paused. The fierce spirit that she had seen in the law enforcement's body cam footage surfaced in her mind, making her turn slightly pale.

The Special Investigation Unit managed to piece everything together so quickly. Their efficiency, resources, and authority were genuinely impressive.

Wang Sheng turned to Li Shiwu, who had grown even paler.

Li Shiwu took half a step back. Looking as though he had suddenly aged several years, he tilted his head back and let out a long sigh filled with desolation.

"So that's how it is... He's the second son of the Lee family... How did I not recognize him?!"

Zhou Yinglong frowned. "Martial Uncle, was your family at fault for that mining disaster?"

Li Shiwu immediately shook his head. Still, pain filled his expression.

Mou Yue smirked faintly but remained silent.

Finally reaching the group, Li Shishan sighed from the side. "We're to blame for that accident. We should not shirk responsibility for it!"

His two sons, their wives, and his two grandchildren also reached them just in time to overhear Mou Yue's explanation. The young ones looked visibly stunned.

"The mine was under my management at the time; it had nothing to do with my elder brother," Li Shiwu revealed, his voice trembling slightly. "Though improper operations caused the disaster, I am to blame for failing to detect the risks in time.

"Although I wasn't held accountable afterward, my elder brother took the blame for me. I've felt guilty ever since, which is why I left for Wudang Mountains to become a monk."

Zhou Yinglong and Wang Sheng exchanged glances. Zhou Yinglong shook his head slightly, gesturing that these matters should not be spread around Wudang Mountains. Wang Sheng nodded silently in agreement.

Wang Sheng turned to Mou Yue. "Where is Jiang Zhongyi?"

"We've already transferred him," Mou Yue replied in a hushed tone. "Based on the approach we've used for similar incidents in the past two years, the public won't hear about him again. He has severely endangered civilians and committed premeditated murder. His crimes warrant the harshest punishment under the law.

"Moreover, he made a fierce spirit possess him last night, completely destroying his early-stage Spirit Convergence Realm cultivation. He'll likely suffer further torment before he dies. We need to ensure he isn't part of an organization for corrupt cultivators before that."

Torment? Before he dies?

The Li family fell silent, their faces filled with fear, and Zhou Yinglong and Li Shiwu frowned slightly.

Wang Sheng, however, didn't see anything wrong with the way that the Special Investigation Unit handled the matter. Their approach, after all, aligned with the state of the world.

"Daoist Priest Wang, the captain is pressing for us to move," Mou Yue urged. "When would you like to set off?"

"I was just about to bid farewell and leave," Wang Sheng replied.

Li Shishan grew anxious, his expression filling with worry. Out of habit, he forced a smile, though it was tinged with bitterness. "You're leaving already? It's still so early—at least stay for another day or two. We must find a way to repay your kindness for saving our family!"

"Unfortunately, I have urgent matters to attend to, Patron Li." Wang Sheng clasped his hands in farewell. "This concerns my master. As his disciple, I dare not delay even for a moment. I must take my leave."

"I see. Weiwen, bring over what we've prepared. Hurry!"

Li Shishan's eldest son—a middle-aged man dressed in a suit and tie—quickly turned and ran.

Paying little attention to them, Wang Sheng exchanged a few more pleasantries before heading toward the gate with Mou Yue. Li Shishan hurried after them, urging him to wait.

Soon, Li Weiwen came running back with a tray covered with a red cloth. He had run so fast that the cloth shifted, revealing stacks of brand-new banknotes beneath.

Li Shishan sighed. "Daoist Priest Wang, please accept this small token of gratitude. It's nothing compared to the life-saving grace you've shown our family. If you find this offensive, please forgive my ignorance and don't take it to heart. After all, I am a mere layman who lacks understanding. We also have a gift prepared for Daoist Priest Zhou back in the house. Anyway, please accept this."

When Wang Sheng frowned slightly, Li Shiwu added, "Fei Yu, just accept it. Consider it your exorcism fee."

Daoist teachings emphasized methods, wealth, companions, and location. However, at that moment, the security guard's bloodshot eyes flashed in Wang Sheng's mind.

"A mining disaster that resulted in twenty-four deaths and sixteen injuries."

"I must avenge them... I must avenge my father and brother..."

"I'm going to kill you! You will all be dead before the sun rises!"

"No, it's okay," Wang Sheng replied. "I've already taken what I deserve; I can't accept this. Farewell."

Wang Sheng clasped his hands again. Afterward, he strode toward the four-wheel-drive vehicle waiting for him, making his departure strikingly graceful.

Bulldozer was already seated in the driver's seat. Mou Yue extended her slender arms to block the Li family members from pursuing Wang Sheng any further.