Silent treatment

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Wen Yulong sat to the side, panting heavily as he worked to regulate his breathing.

Chu Liang brought him a cup of water and said, "Hard work, Junior Brother Wen. You must be exhausted."

"No... not at all," Wen Yulong waved a hand. "I haven't practiced this sword technique for very long, so I haven't mastered the most efficient way to use it yet. After I study it a bit more, I believe I can achieve... effortless grace."

"I think the very idea of using a Red Lotus Bead to condense a 'Divine Light Ghost-Slaying Sword' is already a stroke of genius. There is no need to make things so difficult for yourself," Chu Liang said in a persuasive tone.

He was genuinely worried that if he unleashed such a flashy, disco-ball-like sword technique in battle, he might end up laughing his enemies to death. What kind of ghost kings in the underworld would ever get to see such an exhilarating show?

"If you don't like it, you don't have to use this move for now. But my suggestion is: it's better to be prepared," Wen Yulong said, having finally calmed his breathing.

"Heh." Chu Liang’s smile was subtle.

Sensing Chu Liang’s lack of interest, Wen Yulong sighed, lamenting that a kindred spirit was hard to find. He stopped dwelling on it and picked up the Green Leaf Lamp. "As for the form of the divine fire, there is nothing particularly special about it. It’s quite unremarkable."

He channeled his internal energy, and a ball of divine fire leaped from the Red Lotus Bead, dancing upon the Green Leaf Lamp like a burning lantern.

"This Red Lotus Divine Fire is also highly effective against ghosts. Ordinary specters would be incinerated upon the slightest contact," Wen Yulong explained.

"Splendid," Chu Liang couldn't help but praise.

The fact that something coming from Wen Yulong's hands wasn't particularly strange was, in itself, quite special. It was almost moving. If he thought about it carefully, both the Divine Light Ghost-Slaying Sword and this fire lamp were actually quite excellent—provided one ignored the halftime show.

"Well, I’ve fulfilled my commission," Wen Yulong said with a smile, handing the finished Green Leaf artifact over to Chu Liang.

He then pulled out the robe made from the Breath-Concealing Silk. "Sewing the concealment robe wasn't difficult; it was quite simple. I took the liberty of adding a small array pattern that casts a shadow over your face and modulates your voice, so you won't have to use your own spells to mask them."

He handed the robe over, and Chu Liang tried it on immediately.

The fit was perfect; the tailoring, including the waist-cinching and silhouette, was even better than standard clothing. After pulling the hood over his face, a thick shadow obscured his features, yet it did not hinder his vision from within.

"Your craftsmanship is truly impressive, Junior Brother Wen. If you ever stop cultivating, you could be a tailor," Chu Liang laughed.

As the words left his lips, his voice had transformed into the raspy, deep tone of an old man. It was a very thoughtful design. With this robe to mask his aura, he would have an extra layer of concealment when participating in operations with members of the Demonic Sect.

It would be a great help. With this, his preparations for the trip to Mount Zhennanyuan were complete.

"Sigh," he said, taking off the robe to store it away. "You always put so much effort into crafting these artifacts for me. I truly don't know how to thank you."

Wen Yulong replied sincerely, "If you really don't know how to thank me, Senior Brother Chu, you could just pay me more."

"It's getting late," Chu Liang’s expression suddenly turned cold. "If there’s nothing else, you should head back. My master will be waking up soon."

"She bites."

...

Night fell.

The rain began to drizzle, pattering softly outside the curtains.

Chu Liang was in the middle of a dream when he felt his Soul-Binding Token vibrate suddenly. He opened his eyes instantly. Even while sleeping, a cultivator’s spiritual sense remained quite alert, especially since this matter had been weighing on his mind.

He sank his consciousness into the Soul-Binding Token and saw the golden characters floating within.

[Sixty]: "I have arrived at the outskirts of Mount Zhennanyuan."

[Fifty-Nine]: "So early? The recruiter gave us seven days, and it's only been three."

This idler—could he really reply in a second even in the middle of the night? Was there ever a time he wasn't online?

Chu Liang didn't have time to dwell on that; he began to calculate. Should he head out now? Each recruiter had three Earth-Killer agents under them, and each Earth-Killer agent had three Soul-Binding agents. Logically, each Earth-Killer agent would gather their own squad before meeting up with the main force. There was bound to be a sequence of arrival.

Chu Liang felt that arriving second was ideal. It would allow him to face only one member of the Demonic Sect upon arrival. If his disguise went well, he could try to pry into the relationship between Fifty-Eight and the other members of the Underworld Sect. If the disguise failed, he could simply have his master step in to capture the person and interrogate them. Since only one person would be there, their disappearance would be easier to explain, and it would be less likely to alert the others.

[Sixty]: "I’ve been active in the area anyway, and I had nothing else to do, so I came early."

[Earth-Killer]: "You certainly arrived early. I still need about a day to finish handling my affairs before I head to Mount Zhennanyuan. If you arrive first, you can gather at the outskirts."

As Chu Liang pondered, the Earth-Killer agent replied. Many of these Underworld Sect members were either wandering rogue cultivators or ordinary people with families and jobs who engaged in evil deeds on the side, so it was normal for them to have things to wrap up. The timing actually worked out perfectly to create a staggered arrival.

He typed his reply.

[Fifty-Eight]: "I will arrive tomorrow morning. Where should I look for you?"

[Sixty]: "The Wolf-Tail Forest at the left foothills of Mount Zhennanyuan. There is a pile of black stones at the entrance; follow the guidance of the stones, and you will find me."

[Fifty-Eight]: "Understood."

[Fifty-Nine]: "I’ll arrive tomorrow evening. I suspect it’ll be a while before the recruiter gathers everyone. Should we go out and meet up? We could grab a meal in the city at the foot of the mountain and have some fun."

[Fifty-Nine]: "My treat."

Chu Liang had just finished exchanging signals with Sixty when Fifty-Nine jumped in again. Did he want to have a party? It seemed like he did this last time, too. Chu Liang wasn't familiar with how members of the Demonic Sect interacted, but surely they weren't that close, right? Unsure how to reply, he chose to remain silent to see what others would say.

Then, no one spoke.

Cold, persistent silence.

A long while later, a new message flashed.

[Fifty-Nine]: "Haha, everyone is busy, I see..."

[Fifty-Nine]: "Being busy is good."

Watching the rows of messages from the lone individual, Chu Liang felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of sympathy. In a place where everyone was so cold, he was the only one trying to warm up the atmosphere with enthusiasm. Not only were his invitations ignored, but he even had to make self-deprecating jokes to ease the awkwardness.

Thinking about it, it was truly heart-wrenching.

Good morning.