Chapter 643: Go All the Way or Not At All

In the evening, Whale-Riding Immortal finally arrived at Cliffhold Bastion.

"The last piece of the Divine Ruins' scroll has been confirmed to be in Lei Ren's hands," Chu Liang reported as he greeted the Whale-Riding Immortal and Jiang Yuebai outside the Lei Family Residence.

"Good," Whale-Riding Immortal said, giving him an approving glance.

Although tracking down the Lei Family was the result of years of investigation, things always seemed to go more smoothly when Chu Liang was involved.

It couldn't all be a coincidence.

"What should we do now?" Chu Liang asked.

With the Whale-Riding Immortal present, it wasn't his place to make the final call.

"We'll go directly, but let's keep it discreet," the Whale-Riding Immortal replied with a smile.

As long as the scroll's location was confirmed, with his cultivation and abilities, there were countless ways he could retrieve it.

"Then I'll go fetch my friend," Chu Liang said with a grin, parting ways with the father and daughter for the time being.

He had promised to take the Fierce Draconic Colt with him when he left, and now it was time to fulfill that promise.

Chu Liang made his way to the beast enclosure, expecting it to be a simple task to free the colt. However, as he approached, he noticed an unexpected visitor lingering nearby.

Chen Huang, an honored ally of the Lei Family, stood before the enclosure, his intentions uncertain. But the moment he noticed Chu Liang approaching, his eyes narrowed sharply, and he barked, "Get lost!"

To him, a lowly enclosure servant wasn't even worth the trouble.

As long as he released all the demonic beasts, he could leave.

Chu Liang hesitated. Chen Huang's cultivation level wasn't low. Even if Chu Liang could win in a fight, the inevitable noise would draw unwanted attention—directly contradicting the Whale-Riding Immortal's instructions to keep things quiet.

It might be best to wait and see what Chen Huang was up to.

Before Chu Liang could leave, he saw Chen Huang raise his hand and cast a flash of light, deactivating the restriction formation in front of Fierce Draconic Colt.

Huh?

Chu Liang was stunned.

Turns out he's on my side?

Chen Huang didn't stop there. As soon as the Fierce Draconic Colt was freed, he leaped forward, making his way toward the next beast enclosure, releasing them one by one.

"

Neeeigh~

"

The Fierce Draconic Colt trotted out of the enclosure, its body ablaze like a ball of fire. It galloped toward Chu Liang and nuzzled him affectionately.

Chu Liang chuckled, running his hand through its fiery mane. "I told you I'd come for you. Wait for me at the entrance to the mountain outside. I'll be there soon."

Chu Liang had only intended to free Fierce Draconic Colt, but Chen Huang ended up releasing all the beasts. He was even more ruthless than Chu Liang.

Roars echoed through the estate as the beasts scattered. The Fierce Draconic Colt, heeding Chu Liang's command, ignited in flames and galloped out of the Lei Family Residence.

Chu Liang made his way to the familiar study to check on Whale-Riding Immortal's progress.

A restriction had been placed outside the study, sealing off light and sound. Inside the study, the atmosphere felt oddly calm.

"Esteemed senior, then it's settled," Lei Ren said with a flattering smile.

"Good," Whale-Riding Immortal replied with a smile. "Hand over the Divine Ruins scroll, and I will protect your family three times. It's a bargain you won't regret."

Lei Ren nodded repeatedly. "Of course."

Moments earlier, the sudden arrival of this unfamiliar eighth-realm cultivator in his study had left Lei Ren paralyzed with fear.

The man had wasted no time, declaring his intent to claim the scroll. Lei Ren, of course, denied possessing it, but Whale-Riding Immortal had simply pointed out that the scroll was on Lei Ren's person.

When Lei Ren saw that the man had come prepared, he realized that any attempt to resist or fight back was pointless.

Fortunately, this eighth-realm expert was reasonable and willing to negotiate terms.

The agreement was simple—Whale-Riding Immortal would protect the Lei Family three times. As long as he lived, no harm would befall them.

Lei Ren didn't even stop to consider the possibility of deception.

If this man wanted to exterminate his family, it could happen in the blink of an eye. What did a little deceit matter in the grand scheme of things?

Lei Ren thought.

Whale-Riding Immortal took out three jade slips, holding them delicately between his fingers. "These are my tracking talismans. Should calamity befall your family, crush one, and I will come."

"Thank you, esteemed senior!" Lei Ren hurriedly expressed his gratitude and reached to take them.

Whale-Riding Immortal pulled the jade slips back. "The scroll?"

"Here, here."

Lei Ren fumbled inside his robes and retrieved an ornate box, carefully opening it.

Inside lay a fragment of the scroll, just as Whale-Riding Immortal had expected.

Whale-Riding Immortal's gaze darkened as he stared at Lei Ren. "Is this scroll real?"

"It's absolutely real!" Lei Ren insisted loudly.

"Then..." Whale-Riding Immortal's nose twitched. "Why does it smell... gamey?"

...

Du Wuhen stared at the two letters in his hand and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Last night, he had naively believed a trade would take place, only to return empty-handed. It was even worse today. He got two letters.

One letter scheduled for the second night watch period, while the other set it for the third. The times were deliberately staggered.

Despite being the eldest disciple of Thunderbolt Stronghold and holding a position in its upper ranks, Du Wuhen had never attracted this much attention as his plain appearance rarely turned heads.

Seeing that it was nearing the start of the second night watch period, he decided to check it out.

When Du Wuhen arrived once more at Three Pines Crossroad, he spotted someone waiting in the distance – a slender woman.

Du Wuhen quickened his pace slightly.

Under the tree stood a beautiful woman, and Du Wuhen's eyes narrowed in surprise. "You?"

He recognized her from the banquet—Lei Ren's second wife. So, the Lei Family was getting betrayed by one of their own.

"It is indeed me," Zhuo Yuxiang replied with a faint smile. "Young Hero Du, did you bring the agreed amount?"

"And where is what you promised?" Du Wuhen asked.

He glanced around, but there were no signs of any beasts or monsters. Then again, for a trade this secretive, it was unlikely she'd bring the demonic beast along.

"It's right here," Zhuo Yuxiang said, extending an ornate box toward him.

Du Wuhen stared at the box, momentarily stunned. "In here?"

This size... Forget holding a demonic beast—this box can't even fit its ashes.

Just then, the wind howled sharply, echoing around them.

"I never thought you'd walk into the trap yourself, haha!" Feng Chaoyang's voice rang out from above. "Prepare to die!"

The disciples of Celestial King Sect had been lying in ambush. Since Du Wuhen had been prepared last night, they didn't think he would fall for the trap again tonight. They were already considering a different approach.

Who would have thought Du Wuhen would return—totally unprepared at that?

After confirming that he had come alone and there were no ambushes nearby, the disciples of Celestial King Sect surged forward.

"A trap?" Du Wuhen muttered. His eyes narrowed, his gaze turning sharp as he shifted his attention to the woman before him.

His movements should have been secret. Yet, somehow, the members of the Celestial King Sect had found out, and the person who lured him out was the Lei Family's Second Madam.

In an instant, the truth clicked into place—the Lei Family had colluded with Celestial King Sect to bring about his downfall.

Without hesitation, his scythe flashed in the moonlight.

The one in front of him would be the first to fall.

Zhuo Yuxiang's eyes widened in shock. Though she had been a member of the Greater-Yin Cult, her cultivation had been stuck at the peak of the fifth realm for years, and she had not been able to achieve a breakthrough and step into the sixth realm.

How could she possibly withstand an attack from Du Wuhen, a cultivator at the peak of the sixth realm?

In her haste, Zhuo Yuxiang shaped her fingers into a halberd stance, conjuring several ice walls in front of her. However, Du Wuhen's scythe tore through them like paper, shattering the barriers and striking her down in a single blow.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!" Zhuo Yuxiang's scream pierced the night as blood soaked half her body.

She twisted away, stumbling as she fled.

Du Wuhen had no time to pursue her as Feng Chaoyang's divine light struck. The battle between the two prodigies raged on, leaving no one to care about Zhuo Yuxiang's escape.

Zhuo Yuxiang, gravely injured, fled along the mountain path, hoping to return to the Lei Family Residence for help. But she was halfway there when she had lost too much blood and collapsed to the ground.

"Hah..." She gasped, her breath ragged as blood pooled beneath her.

From behind, footsteps echoed along the path. A figure approached slowly, his voice breaking the silence.

"Second Madam!"

Through her fading vision, Zhuo Yuxiang glimpsed the face of the Lei Family's steward, Wang Fugui. He was the last person she saw before she lost consciousness.

It turned out that several beasts had escaped from the Lei Family's enclosures, wreaking havoc across the grounds. The ones in charge of the enclosures all scrambled to track them down.

Instead of locating the demonic beasts, Steward Wang stumbled upon their Second Madam, gravely injured and on the brink of death.

Zhuo Yuxiang clutched the ornate box to her chest, her voice faint and trembling. "Find... help... save me..."

Steward Wang stared at her. He was about to head back to the manor to find someone to save her, but as soon as he took a step forward, he froze.

The demonic beast enclosures had fallen into chaos for reasons unknown, and many beasts had escaped, resulting in immeasurable losses. As one of the stewards, Wang Fugui knew severe punishment awaited him.

A pay cut would be the least of his worries. He could very well be beaten within an inch of his life. The Lei Family was notoriously strict when it came to managing their demonic beasts. Just the other day, Ah Wei lost the Rampaging Devil Bull and nearly died before being thrown out of the estate.

Having suffered multiple injuries recently, Wang Fugui's patience had worn thin. The Lei Family had shown him little kindness, and resentment festered beneath his calm exterior.

His eyes lingered on the ornate box gripped tightly in Zhuo Yuxiang's bloodstained hand. The fact that she gripped it tightly even while she was on the brink of death showed that this was definitely some kind of valuable treasure.

I might as well... Go all the way or not at all!

he thought.

Without hesitation, Wang Fugui lunged forward, yanking at the box. But Zhuo Yuxiang's fingers refused to let go.

He stomped down hard on her wrist and with a final tug, the box was his!

There was no going back to the Lei Family now. If he sold this treasure, he could leave this miserable life behind. A wealthy landowner in the countryside—far better than suffering as a mere servant.

As these thoughts danced in his mind, Wang Fugui's steps grew lighter. By the time he reached the foot of the mountain, far from the Lei Family Residence, he finally stopped. He wanted to open the box and see what kind of treasure lies within.

Just as he was about to lift the lid, he froze.

A shadow loomed over him.

Hot, heavy breath blew onto his face.

Looking up, Wang Fugui found himself face-to-face with a rugged horse's snout. One golden eye, flickering with flames, stared at him—his reflection trembling within it.

Ah, this old horse.

"Heh... heh." Wang Fugui forced a shaky smile. "You're out too? I... I'm not the Lei Family's steward anymore, so... you don't need to—"

Boom!

A deafening explosion thundered behind the mountain wall, and Wang Fugui rocketed into the sky, flailing helplessly as he turned into a distant speck of light.

Only a single sound lingered in the night sky.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"