Chapter 638: Eavesdropping in the Lei Family Estate

The Rampaging Devil Bull was, after all, a fourth-realm demonic monster. Now, they didn't know if it was dead or alive, as they hadn't seen it or its corpse. So, the servant responsible for tending it to it was taken away for intense questioning.

If the enclosure's formation had been damaged and the vicious beast escaped, there would undoubtedly be traces of that. Yet, it seemed to have disappeared into thin air, which made this situation very strange.

If they were to investigate thoroughly, they might eventually suspect Chu Liang had something to do with it. Nevertheless, Chu Liang never planned to stay there for long, so he wasn't concerned.

Before leaving, Steward Wang gave Chu Liang a wary glance, the apprehension in his eyes growing visibly. Chu Liang, however, harbored no hostility toward him.

After all, the bull hadn't harmed Chu Liang; it was more like a gift that had been delivered to his door. Still, Steward Wang likely wouldn't dare orchestrate such a thing again. If the fencing of another enclosure were to be found damaged, he would have to kiss his position as steward goodbye.

After the commotion subsided, Chu Liang resumed resting with his eyes closed and let his divine sense sink into the White Pagoda's space. He was taking advantage of the moment to reward himself.

The imprint of the Rampaging Devil Bull hovered inside a cell.

Chu Liang stepped forward and pressed "Refine." It was followed by a flash of crimson light.

Boom.

The reward floated out of the cell and into his hand. Once the light faded, the reward was revealed to be a pair of black horn-like items.

[Mother-Child Voice Transmission Horns: This item was crafted from the horns of a mother and child black rhinoceros. Place the child horn anywhere within a hundred-li radius of the mother horn, and the mother horn can receive the sounds around the child horn.

Note: These horns are for voice transmission only and cannot be used for other purposes.]

This item...

Chu Liang couldn't help but smile.

Isn't this a bug?

[1]

He had initially planned to leave a clone in the front courtyard after his shift while he went to the patriarch's study to eavesdrop. That plan did carry some risk though. It would be much simpler if he placed this covert listening tool in the study.

With just a thought, he used External Manifestation. He left his clone there to guard the Fierce Draconic Colt's enclosure and avoid suspicion. Meanwhile, he turned into a gust of wind and slipped into the patriarch's study.

Like before, there was no one in the study. Chu Liang glanced around before placing the child horn inside a porcelain vase on a shelf.

He had previously even considered using a Talisman of Life Restoration to give life to an ornament and have it serve as his eyes and ears. However, such creations lacked intelligence and emitted a faint aura of life that powerful cultivators could easily detect. Consequently, Chu Liang dismissed the idea.

He truly acquired the Mother

-

Child Voice Transmission Horns at the perfect time.

Thinking about it, Chu Liang had to thank Steward Wang for this gift. Otherwise, it would've been difficult for Chu Liang to break into the tightly secured enclosures and kill those well-behaved, darling little demonic beasts and monsters.

Just as he finished placing the child horn inside the vase, he heard footsteps approach. Chu Liang hurriedly transformed into wind and slipped out the window, returning to the Fierce Draconic Colt's enclosure.

He then sent his divine sense into the mother horn, ready to eavesdrop on the secrets that were about to be discussed in the patriarch's study.

Yet, what he heard was a moan.

"

Huh?

" Chu Liang uttered with a frown, realizing something unexpected was happening.

A delicate voice of a woman said, "Mr. Fang, you're so bold. This is Master's study."

"

Heheh,

" a male voice chuckled. "If we're seeking thrills, we might as well go all the way."

Chu Liang's expression darkened in shock as he put down the mother horn. He had not expected such a scandalous scene.

After a while, he picked up the horn again and found that it was silent on the other end. It seemed that those two thrill-seekers had chosen not to indulge for too long.

...

When dinner was served later that evening, Chu Liang joined the other servants in resting in the servants' courtyard. He didn't hear any more sounds come through the mother horn.

It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that the child horn transmitted sounds from the study again.

There were two sets of footsteps.

"Someone's been in my study!"

It was the deep voice of a middle-aged man this time.

A second person uttered, "

Ah?

"

It was the voice of Mr. Fang, now shaking noticeably. Although Chu Liang wasn't present, he could imagine Mr. Fang's face as he frantically tried to figure out where he had slipped up, fearful that the truth would be discovered.

"Otherwise, how did this letter end up here?" the middle-aged man asked.

"

Ah...

" Mr. Fang let out a long sigh of relief. "So, Master's referring to a letter."

"What else would I be talking about?"

The middle-aged man was none other than Lei Ren, the current head of the Lei Family.

"I thought Master had lost something important," Mr. Fang said smoothly with a laugh, making his change in mood seem very natural.

"You know me; would I ever leave anything important out in the open?" Lei Ren paused. There was the rustling of paper, which was likely the letter. Then he gasped. "It's about this!"

"Master, is it something important?" Mr. Fang asked.

"You've been working as an advisor for my family for over a decade, haven't you? But I'm sure you don't know why the Lei Family moved to the Cliffhold Bastion."

"Wasn't the move from Muzhi City to the Cliffhold Bastion to make it easier to capture demonic beasts?"

Lei Ren explained, "That was just the front we used. The truth lies in a confidential matter from back then..."

He lowered his voice and continued, "A rumor had spread in the martial world that four pieces of the map to the Immortals' Storehouse were scattered across the nine provinces. Whoever gathered them all could uncover the legendary Unending Immortals' Storehouse and attain eternal youth. For a time, every immortal sect and aristocratic family was searching for these map parts.

"Back then, one was discovered in Muzhi City. My family was one of the major aristocratic families in Muzhi City, so we became one of the contenders to acquire the map part. At the time, the head of the family was my father. For that map, he fought with his life on the line against other aristocratic families and factions multiple times, until he finally..."

Lei Ren paused there.

"Got it?" Mr. Fang asked.

"...Until he finally got so gravely injured that he was dying. I was then able to take over as the head of the family."

Both Mr. Fang and Chu Liang grumbled inwardly.

Well, that pause really wasn't necessary. And you sound rather pleased about your father dying and you taking over...

Lei Ren continued, "When my father died, the first thing I did as the new head was to move the entire family. At the time, everyone in Muzhi City thought we were fleeing trouble, trying to escape the chaos, but what they never could have guessed was that..."

"That the map part was already in our possession?"

"No, they could never have guessed that my wife was already pregnant at the time," Lei Ren said.

Mr. Fang and Chu Liang's thoughts were once again perfectly in sync.

What difference does that even make even if they guessed it?!

Nobody cares!

Lei Ren laughed, "Haha, my child was born on the day my father passed away. Before my father died, he imprinted the map part onto my child's back using a secret technique. That's why it hasn't been discovered all these years. The map part has always been in my family's possession!"

"

Haa.

"

Mr. Fang and Chu Liang sighed simultaneously.

You could have just said that earlier.

It turned out that the last part of the Divine Ruins' scroll was imprinted on the back of a child in the Lei Family. Chu Liang quietly memorized this crucial piece of information.

Then Mr. Fang asked, "Master, do you intend to do as the letter says and trade with that mysterious person?"

"Of course not," Lei Ren replied. "That's the map to the legendary Immortals' Storehouse. He called it an ominous object. Does he really think he can fool me? Why would he be racking his brains to obtain it if it were truly ominous?"

"Indeed. In that case, Master, your intention is...?"

"You must have guessed by now. Since this person wants the map part in my possession, it means he must already have a map part!"

...

Chu Liang had already obtained the important information, so after listening to Lei Ren's plan, he transformed into a gust of wind and left.

Jiang Yuebai had been outside the Lei Family's estate this whole time, waiting to provide support for Chu Liang. The two had stayed in contact throughout. Now that Chu Liang had vital information on where the map part was, it was better to discuss the next steps with her face-to-face.

However, while Chu Liang had been busy eavesdropping, Jiang Yuebai encountered a group of unexpected visitors.

She had been hiding on a secluded cliffside near the Lei Family's estate. It was an ideal place to conceal her presence. However, just moments ago, over ten beams of divine light descended rapidly, occupying the cliffside.

Like Jiang Yuebai, they were observing the Lei Family from a distance. They glared like a tiger watching its prey, clearly harbouring ill intentions.

Just as Jiang Yuebai was about to flee, she recognized a familiar figure among the group.

She called out, "Feng Chaoyang?"

"

Eh?

"

That person turned around, revealing a strikingly handsome face. It was none other than Feng Chaoyang, the Celestial King Sect's head disciple.

Six years had passed since they last met, and Feng Chaoyang had grown significantly taller. He had made considerable advances in his cultivation as well.

Seeing Jiang Yuebai again, Feng Chaoyang broke into a delighted smile. "Yuebai! You're here too? It's been so many years since I last saw you. How—"

"What are you planning to do with the Lei Family?" Jiang Yuebai asked bluntly, showing she didn't have even the slightest interest in catching up with him.

"

Ah...

" Feng Chaoyang uttered, hesitating to answer her question. Then he replied, "We heard that people from the Thunderbolt Stronghold are coming here to trade with the Lei Family..."

Jiang Yuebai nodded slightly. She had heard bits and pieces about the ongoing conflicts between the Thunderbolt Stronghold and the Celestial King Sect in recent years.

Before Jiang Yuebai could respond, Feng Chaoyang said, "We all heard about what happened to Chu Liang. I know you're probably really heartbroken, but Yuebai, you need to move on, look toward the future. Chu Liang hasn't appeared for years; he's likely dead. You need to find someone new and stop dwelling on the past—"

Wearing an unimpressed smile, Jiang Yuebai interrupted him. "I suggest you take a look behind you."

"

Hm?

" Feng Chaoyang blinked, then he smiled. "Don't joke around. I'm being serious here. Back then, I was still young, and probably still immature, but now I can tell you that my feelings for you are definitely real, Yuebai—"

"

Ahem.

" Someone suddenly coughed behind Feng Chaoyang, interrupting his heartfelt confession. "So you're the one spreading rumors about my death?"

1. As in a covert listening device. ☜