He Kao is not Mei Guyu, and at this moment, it's inconvenient to use this move.
The cultivators of the Xingshen Sect are said to be the hardest to track, not only because they excel at hiding, but also because they can sense the emotions of those around them while being pursued.
As long as they use their divine sense to secretly scan the people around, if someone is watching or tracking them, they can detect the feeling of being watched and thus uncover the tracker.
Therefore, today He Kao pretended to fish, using his Yin Spirit to fly into the sky to look for people. No matter how vigilant that person is, they probably won't constantly watch an empty night sky, right?
Having lost track of the other party, He Kao was in no hurry. After returning home, he went about his usual routine of washing up and resting... In truth, he was observing someone else, trying to verify some of his suspicions, particularly concerning Zhou Shanzhuang, whom he encountered by chance while fishing.
Today he had intentionally used mud as bait for fishing, obviously not to catch fish, and that suspicious behavior made him worth watching... Then Zhou Shanzhuang came, the two exchanged a few words, and He Kao left.
This scene, falling into the eyes of someone with intent, would logically lead to the conclusion that he was by the river to meet Zhou Shanzhuang.
Using this secretive method to rendezvous, the two might be exchanging some important items and information, so Zhou Shanzhuang's identity also becomes highly suspicious. If an observer watching covertly noticed, it's very likely they would investigate Zhou Shanzhuang further.
This was a setup arranged by He Kao, reminiscent of an old Jianghu tactic known as the "Stringing Beads on a Line" strategy.
The so-called "Stringing Beads on a Line" involves letting the opponent mistakenly believe they've discovered an important clue and then follow that clue, only to fall right into the trap of the one who set it; its essence lies in considering issues from the opponent's perspective.
Zhou Shanzhuang's appearance was not something He Kao arranged in advance; he merely took advantage of the opportunity.
Zhou Shanzhuang didn't return home until past two in the middle of the night. His wife had already locked the bedroom door, so he slept in another room. He had just fallen asleep when someone quietly appeared in the courtyard.
The security door lock couldn't stop this person; they opened it with just a touch, making no sound at all... Yet at that moment, a loud noise came from high above, waking many people from their sleep.
Something descended from the sky and exploded before it hit the ground; it was a Bamboo Thunder.
Yin Spirit detachment cannot carry anything, but He Kao himself can teleport into the sky, and as long as he teleports to another location before falling, he can achieve a peculiar kind of intermittent flight.
If observed and his teleporting state is interrupted, He Kao can also rely on his magical treasure, Moth Wings, to glide and land safely.
Earlier, He Kao teleported to the air above Zhou Shanzhuang's courtyard, then quickly teleported elsewhere, leaving behind a lit Bamboo Thunder to fall naturally.
Bamboo Thunder was something he specially made for self-defense before he even started his cultivation entry level; now, there are a few remaining, stored in a secret base deep within Gu Mountain, and he didn't expect to use one today.
The Bamboo Thunder exploded in mid-air; the flying debris couldn't harm a Tier Five cultivator, but the commotion made it impossible for that person intending to sneak in and investigate unseen to proceed.
With the loud explosion, almost every dog in town started barking, and many car alarms went off.
The intruder was startled, uncertain of what had happened, instinctively suspecting an ambush, but couldn't find the attacker's location. In an instant, they vanished, fleeing quickly.
They left at incredible speed, like a drifting black shadow, distorting others' perception of light; even if someone saw it, it would be just a blur to the eyes.
He Kao's Yin Spirit hovered on the parasol tree top, watching from afar until the person disappeared into the distance. He didn't rashly pursue; chasing could wait.
He had no intention of apprehending that person himself, as that might expose things better left hidden. His goal was merely to lure them out to confirm their identity, which he had now achieved.
Through the recent actions, he had sufficient opportunity to clearly see this person's appearance and also memorize their aura, which in the future, could be found within the range of his divine sense using unique divine techniques.
In the early morning, in a hotel in Xijing, Hu Weidong, lying next to Zhu Li, received a phone call and, with a slight frown, said, "Mr. Huo Qing, it's so late at night; what urgent matter do you have?"
After meeting twice yesterday, he had just arrived in Xijing and before dawn, another call came through!
He Kao: "It can now be confirmed that Hillary, a Tier Five cultivator from the Xiao Alliance, has also arrived in Qi Yuan."
Hu Weidong: "Are you certain?"
He Kao: "I just discovered his whereabouts."
Hu Weidong actually sighed in relief: "Thanks for letting me know! He's still in Qi Yuan, it seems he didn't follow me to Xijing after all."
He Kao: "You don't seem very worried?"
Hu Weidong replied with a question: "It's the unknown that's worrisome; now that the situation is clear, why should I fear such a character? Moreover, how should I worry? He's such a big person, with Tier Five cultivation, am I afraid he'll get lost?"
He Kao: "With a master like that following you to the Eastern Country, shouldn't it be investigated thoroughly to find out what's going on?"
Hu Weidong questioned again: "Tell me, does the Magic Sect restrict your personal freedom?"
He Kao didn't respond, so Hu Weidong continued, "The Xiao Alliance also doesn't restrict a disciple's personal freedom. He can go wherever he wants, and it doesn't violate any regulations by visiting the Eastern Country."
He Kao: "I was just giving you a heads up."
Hu Weidong: "Thank you for the warning! But if he isn't coming for me, I have no reason to deal with him, nor any reason to privately investigate him either.
Mr. Huo Qing, you should know that privacy is highly valued among cultivators."
After hanging up the call, He Kao realized he couldn't rely on Hu Weidong. At least Mr. Mi wouldn't openly make a move against Hillary, leaving him somewhat disappointed.
Neither the Magic Sect nor the Xiao Alliance can restrict a disciple's personal freedom, as they are merely organizations for passing down techniques.
Take He Kao himself, for example. He usually goes wherever he pleases unless there's a matter related to the Magic Sect, in which case he has no obligation to report⦠So Hillary is the same.
Hillary's arrival in Qi Yuan hasn't violated any regulations of the Magic Sect, and no matter who they are, they can't do anything to him unless he does something he shouldn't.
Objectively speaking, Hillary's secretive investigation of Luo Mingzhi, cautiously leaving no trace and harming no one, not even alerting Luo Mingzhi himself, doesn't count as a forbidden act.
But from He Kao's perspective, this person's other actions cross the line. Not only was Hillary secretly monitoring him, but after He Kao met Zhou Shanzhuang in the middle of the night, Hillary quickly went to investigate Zhou Shanzhuangβ¦
This conduct has already crossed certain boundaries, though it's just an affront to He Kao.
He Kao thought for a moment and then contacted Li Xiuyuan, hoping to meet with Elder Li at the location still being Dragon Scale Slope. He naturally arrived swiftly, and a while later, Li Xiuyuan emerged from the night.
**
