Three days ago.
The Huangfu family was living peacefully as before, with the whole family eating lunch.
Just as the meal was halfway through, two demons suddenly descended from the sky. With a mere wave of their hands, they sealed the cultivation of everyone in the manor completely, then inquired about the matter of Wild Wolf Mountain north of the city.
Fortunately, Liu Qingyan had mentioned this possibility to them last year. The Huangfu family had rehearsed several scenarios and responses for such an event.
The current situation was entirely within their expectations, so they decisively put on the act.
Thus, a house full of foxes fooled a wolf and a bei, without letting them detect the slightest flaw.
“Because Leng Jian of Wild Wolf Mountain was a local tyrant in Wanfu County, our obedience was completely within their expectations. Moreover, because our strength is low, they did not imagine that we had the ability to slay Leng Jian.”
Huangfu Xu paused and said, “However, they insisted on probing the cause of Leng Jian’s death, making us disperse to investigate and see exactly which eminent person had passed by Wild Wolf Mountain three years ago.”
Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed. “Did they say why they were so insistent?”
“Yes!” Huangfu Xu nodded. “That Leng Jian was the son of Leng Li, the mountain lord of Du Yushan!”
Lu Zheng drew in a sharp breath of cold air.
Although he had long suspected this, now that it was confirmed, he was still somewhat shocked.
Shen Ying could not help but ask, “Why was his son in Da Jing Dynasty?”
Huangfu Xu replied, “Because Leng Jian was his youngest son and also a bastard, to prevent his eldest son from killing Leng Jian, he sent Leng Jian into Da Jing.”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow. “Is it some melodramatic court drama again?”
Huangfu Xu blinked, not understanding what Lu Zheng meant. Lu Zheng hurriedly waved his hand, signalling Huangfu Xu to continue.
“Leng Li sent Leng Jian into Da Jing, but every few years, he would send someone to sneak into Da Jing to deliver some pills to Leng Jian, both to urge him to cultivate and to leave behind bloodline.”
Huangfu Xu said, “However, last year, one of the four great vajras of Du Yushan, the tiger demon, went and did not return. Leng Li grew worried, so he sent a wolf clan expert and one of the four great vajras, the bei demon, to come. Unexpectedly, they discovered that Leng Jian had already vanished.
They dared not return only with news of Leng Jian’s death, so they must probe the identity of the killer of Leng Jian to divert Leng Li’s anger.
And as demons from the northern domain, it was inconvenient for them to act openly, so they wanted our Huangfu family to mobilise the demons of Wanfu County. That bei demon promised the old matriarch that if we could find out the cause of Leng Jian’s death, he would take us back to Montian and let us become military strategists for the demon clan of Du Yushan.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “No wonder they told you all these secrets; it was to gain your trust.”
Shen Ying also said, “It is also luck that they came to you first.”
Huangfu Xu shook his head. “Our Huangfu manor has considerable holdings in Wanfu County, making us one of the major households among the surrounding demons. It is normal for them to come to us.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “This works out perfectly; we can catch them all in one net. Where are they now? Still at the Huangfu family?”
Huangfu Xu shook his head. “Not in the manor. Now they are staying at Wild Wolf Mountain, in Leng Jian’s former cave abode. However…”
“However, what?”
“However, they took the old matriarch with them and made Eldest Aunt go along to serve.”
Liu Qingyan’s eyes narrowed. “Despicable!”
Shen Ying nodded. “This is to worry that the Huangfu family might not work diligently, or even report to the Zhenyi Division.”
Lu Zheng said, “Carrot and stick. If the Huangfu family cares about the old matriarch, plus the prospect of going to the northern domain to develop further, and all that is needed is to probe one piece of information, generally speaking, the Huangfu family would surely comply.”
“Brother-in-law, what do we do?” Huangfu Xu asked somewhat worriedly.
He was not worried that Lu Zheng could not handle those two demons; he was worried about the safety of the old matriarch and Eldest Aunt Huangfu Jing.
“Do not worry.” Lu Zheng patted Huangfu Xu’s shoulder. “The old matriarch and Eldest Aunt will be fine. I will go there right away.”
Huangfu Xu nodded hurriedly.
Liu Qingyan immediately said, “I will go too!”
Liu Qingyan’s cultivation was no longer weak now; she could also contribute.
Shen Ying shook her head silently. Yaozhou’s Wild Wolf Mountain was too far; she could not go yet. She frowned and said to Lu Zheng, “There are two of them. If you only take Qingyan, I am afraid it might not be proper.”
These two demons should be about the same as that tiger demon. Now, a year later, everyone’s cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan’s cultivations had gradually approached five hundred years, while Lu Zheng had long surpassed that. Even facing that tiger demon alone, he could steadily take it down.
However, the opponents were two after all, and the wolf demon was of the same clan as the mountain lord of Du Yushan, while the bei demon was renowned for its insidious and vicious nature.
Although Lu Zheng had many methods, Shen Ying could not help but worry.
Lu Zheng blinked. “When did I say I would only take Qingyan?”
“Eh?” Shen Ying also blinked.
“For something like this, of course we must notify Chu Zhenfu Shi of the Zhenyi Division. Last year he said the Zhenyi Division would keep an eye on Du Yushan, yet this year two formidable demons slipped in. Who else to find but him?”
Shen Ying nodded.
“Additionally, call Mr Fan too. He goes to the Liu family to freeload meals all day; it is about time he contributed something, and it can also ease the tensions between the Yuansheng Sect’s Merit Origin Orthodox lineage and the Da Jing Dynasty court.”
Liu Qingyan nodded.
“Then, of course, we must go to Shaotong Mountain to invite my master. If we encounter something like this and seek help from outsiders without asking him, would that not make him lose face?”
Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan were speechless.
“Finally, True Person Shouyi of the Qingwei Palace is currently at the temple teaching Wang Xiaowan. For something like this, I guess he is very likely to take Wang Xiaowan along to broaden her horizons.”
“So…”
Lu Zheng clenched his right fist and struck it against his left palm. “We have five experts on our side, five against two. The advantage is with us; we can definitely take them down.”
Everyone, “…”
At this point, Lu Zheng could not help but shake his head and sigh. “It is a pity that Senior Liu left a bit too early. If he were here, he alone would suffice.”
Shen Ying could not help but press her forehead. She had truly worried needlessly; with the enemy situation already clear, how could Lu Zheng possibly engage in fighting the weak with the strong?
“It is decided just like that, happily!”
“I will first go to the Yizhou Zhenyi Division to find Chu Jin Zhenfu Shi.” Lu Zheng said this, then looked at Liu Qingyan and said, “You first go back and explain the matter to Mr Fan. Oh, right, best to mention that I plan to invite Master and True Person Shouyi to join hands.”
Liu Qingyan nodded. “Alright!”
Shen Ying smiled. “I also have a nodding acquaintance with Daoist Mingzhang. I will first go to Shaotong Mountain.”
Lu Zheng nodded and smiled. “Very well. No time like the present; let us set off now!”
As the words fell, the three exchanged smiles. Lu Zheng soared into the air, heading straight for Yizhou.
Shen Ying first sent the Liu Qingyan sisters and Huangfu Xu out of Taohua Manor. Then her figure lightened, and she floated gracefully towards Shaotong Mountain.
Meanwhile, the Liu Qingyan sisters returned to Tonglin County, where Liu Qingyan called upon Du Yueyao and went to pay a visit to Fan Boyu.
All matters proceeded in parallel, advancing together!
With five against two, the advantage is with us!
