Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1457 - 788: Reincarnation?

Zhao Sheng's thoughts swirled rapidly, linking together additional scenarios in an instant. A deeper mystery, he suspected, lurked within the modest town, surpassing the mere allure of the treasure.

He glanced upward to gauge the reactions of those around him, and indeed, several faces displayed unusual looks, suggesting that others had pondered the same idea.

Silence abruptly enveloped the chamber, only to be shattered moments later by the voice of a middle-aged woodcutter.

"Remaining here serves no purpose. I'll depart first. Should fresh insights arise later, I'll inform all fellow Taoists. Goodbye!" The middle-aged woodcutter clasped his hands in salute to the assembly and exited the room without a backward glance.

With one person leading the way, others harboring varied intentions quickly devised reasons to slip away as well.

In short order, just Zhao Sheng and the middle-aged scholar lingered inside.

Zhao Sheng approached the window, parting it slightly, and peered out.

After a brief surveillance, he pivoted steadily and returned to his seat by the table.

The middle-aged scholar served him a cup of tea and inquired softly, "What do you see?"

"Just as anticipated, watchers lurk outside in the shadows. Yet they're not key figures—merely some low-level thugs." Zhao Sheng sipped the tea and responded evenly.

The middle-aged scholar declared gravely, "This implies the individual wields significant influence, likely tied to the guild."

"Could equally be an official from the authorities, or perhaps a dockside operator."

Though their exchange danced around direct words, the intent shone through clearly.

That "individual" was yet another Fellow Daoist who opted for covert observation rather than open appearance.

Even prior to igniting the bonfire, Zhao Sheng and the middle-aged scholar had foreseen such a twist, leaving them unfazed.

Shortly thereafter, the middle-aged scholar posed abruptly, "Which do you reckon he'll select?"

Zhao Sheng replied promptly, "The little beggar!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the middle-aged scholar smacked the table with a chuckle, "We think alike!"

Out of the seven, the little beggar stood as the frailest and most vulnerable; targeting him promised the simplest victory with minimal risk.

Naturally, despite any loss of cultivation, one could never fully dismiss an "Immortal Ruins Guest."

No one could predict the true identity concealed by the little beggar, risking an unforeseen setback.

At that juncture, the middle-aged scholar's curiosity burned bright, and he proposed suddenly, "With things as they are, why not you and I partake in the excitement?"

"If Nangong Dao You desires to proceed, feel free. I'd rather explore the town further and skip the spectacle."

"Oh, without you, I'd lack strength solo—you'd be leaving me at a disadvantage."

The middle-aged scholar let out a sigh of disappointment, "Fine, we'll simply observe from afar. We can't discount other Fellow Daoists harboring hidden agendas. As the proverb warns, 'the mantis hunts the cicada, oblivious to the oriole lurking behind!' Right up to the finish, it's anyone's guess who plays the cicada and who the oriole."

Zhao Sheng drained his tea cup fully, rose to his feet, saluted with cupped hands, and stated, "I need to confirm certain suspicions, so we'll separate here."

The middle-aged scholar also rose, returning the gesture with a grin, "Fortuitously, I too must pursue some leads. Before we each venture off, how about settling on a spot for our upcoming rendezvous?"

"Agreed." Zhao Sheng consented without delay, proposing a handful of venues and establishing discreet signals.

The middle-aged scholar offered several sites in turn and confirmed a timeframe. Once details were sealed, the pair departed the teahouse sequentially and parted paths.

Hardly had they vanished when two figures materialized from a nearby alley opposite the teahouse.

They tracked Zhao Sheng and the middle-aged scholar's departure, then swiftly veered into a narrow lane, weaving through twists until they halted before a hall's doorway blocks distant and hurried within.

Soon enough, the pair entered the rear chamber and encountered their Hall Master.

The Hall Master cut an imposing figure as a robust Great Han, his thick arms and broad, shadowed palms displaying bulging knuckles and veins, betraying his prowess in close-quarters fighting.

Among the trailing duo, the middle-aged hooligan announced deferentially, "Hall Master, the final pair has departed."

While reporting, the middle-aged hooligan detailed the looks of Zhao Sheng and the scholar, concluding with, "By chance, I recognize one of their identities."

Oh?

This revelation sparked the Hall Master's keen attention, prompting him to demand, "Speak up."

The middle-aged hooligan wet his lips and uttered with a hint of jealousy, "That youth is Landlord Zhao's offspring, Zhao Gongzhuo. He's notorious as a playboy, lost in drink and dalliances at such a tender age."

The Hall Master straightened in his seat and lapsed into contemplation.

The hooligans held their tongues, anxious not to interrupt, standing rigidly in place.

After roughly a dozen breaths, the Hall Master flung a fragment of silver toward the middle-aged hooligan and commended, "Excellent work from you both—now go."

Delight and astonishment mingled on the hooligans' faces as they bobbed their heads and bowed repeatedly while retreating from the chamber.

With their exit, the Hall Master leaped to his feet and marched swiftly from the room.

Instants later, seven or eight sturdy men filed out the rear exit. Under the Hall Master's command, they clambered onto two swift vessels and vanished rapidly into the river's embrace.

...

One hour passed.

Beyond the town's edge, within an abandoned Earth God’s temple, a brutal encirclement raged on.

Seven or eight brawny men wielding lengthy blades converged to assault a little beggar, yet they incurred severe casualties, three Great Han clutching shattered manhoods as they writhed on the ground in agony.

The little beggar, slippery as an eel, slipped through the onslaughts with nimble dodges, bearing just a handful of shallow cuts and light wounds.

Nevertheless, the little beggar refrained from escaping the site, for a hulking Great Han blocked the temple doorway, glaring at him with fierce intent.

The hulking Great Han's presence weighed heavily on the little beggar. Simply by looming there, he projected an overwhelming force, relentlessly challenging the little beggar's resolve.