Discovering that something is amiss, promptly notifying the Ancestral Hall is the right course of action. But since it's not an emergency and the situation hasn't exceeded his capability, dragging an elder out of bed in the middle of the night is somewhat indiscriminate.
It's just that a Tier Five Cultivator's whereabouts are suspicious, that's all. What's He Kao doing? Is he a useless person? If he can't handle even this, then he doesn't deserve to be a Hidden Moth.
He Kao wanted to explain that he isn't cowardly or shirking responsibility; it's just his habitual caution... Yet, in front of Li Xiuyuan, he ultimately said nothing and later went back to reflect thoughtfully.
Recalling Li Xiuyuan's words earlier, the elder reminded him of one thing: one must be mindful of restraint. While Hidden Moth excels in assassination, he must not develop a habit of excessive bloodlust or a reckless mindset.
Disciples of the Xiao Alliance also have personal freedom; coming to Qi Yuan is not illegal, nor is looking at him in public, right? Can He Kao, a living person, not be looked at?
As for Hilary's covert investigation and probing into individuals he secretly interacts with, that becomes somewhat taboo. Since He Kao has some secrets he doesn't want others to know, he should handle them himself.
In the territory of Qi Yuan, can't he deal with Hilary? It's not like the Supreme Council has come to kill him!
Within the next few days, it was the National Day Golden Week. The first phase of the Grotto Heaven construction was nearing its end, and in about ten days, it would conclude.
He Kao brought fishing gear into Floating Colors Grotto Heaven, spent Mid-Autumn Festival with the Hidden Moth Sect, and then quietly went to Gao Xue'e to admire the moon.
He Kao also reminded Gao Xue'e that in the past two days things were a bit off; there's a suspicious expert who's sneaked into Qi Yuan, and to be cautious these two days.
During this period, almost intermittently, He Kao would hold his breath, invoke Yin Spirit Tracking Skill, targeting Hilary, yet never succeeded. This indicates Hilary is not within the range of his Divine Sense.
It should be known that He Kao's Divine Sense can now extend nearly six kilometers, and yet, he still couldn't find Hilary. Has this person already left Qi Yuan, chasing Mr. Mi to Xijing?
Yin Spirit Tracking is a secret technique of the Hidden Moth Sect, not exclusive to Hidden Moth. For example, Monk Erji mastered the Yin Spirit Travel Divine Technique after breaking through Tier Four with Insect Concealment Skill. If he eventually breaks through to the Fifth Realm, he too could master the Yin Spirit Tracking Divine Technique.
This technique is used to find people, being both stealthy and rapid, no wonder the Hidden Moth Sect disciples have been proficient in tracking and assassination since ancient times.
On the last day of the holiday, Qi Yuan continued to rain, with the rain alternating in intensity but never ceasing. At the beginning of October, this was rather rare, indicating this year's rainfall is significantly higher than usual.
Yin Spirit Travel is also restricted by the environment, such as under the blazing sun, there is a piercing burning sensation; while not completely infeasible, it's damaging and difficult to sustain. The feeling in rainy weather is much better.
The greatest threat during rainy days is thunder and lightning. With bad luck, the Yin Spirit could be shattered by a lightning strike. Therefore, the ancestors of the Hidden Moth Sect have long warned against Yin Spirit Travel during thunderstorms.
The most suitable environment for Yin Spirit Travel, in fact, is a clear, windless moonlit night.
Today it was raining but without thunder, so He Kao decided to give it a try, not expecting success. In the next instant, he sent out his Yin Spirit and he had indeed found his target.
Hilary appeared within the range of He Kao's Divine Sense, and his aura was detected. What surprised He Kao more was that the place was very familiar, it was the Bishu Renjia District where Gao Xue'e resides!
Bishu Renjia is a district established ten years ago, advertised as a garden-like resident environment upon opening, which actually means the landscaping was done quite well, with flowers, plants, and trees in front and behind buildings, along with some small scenic areas.
Now many saplings have grown tall and lush, truly resembling the scene of Bishu Renjia.
Between two buildings in a greenbelt, a long corridor and a small pavilion were built, where He Kao found Hilary sitting in the pavilion, boredly swiping his phone, as if avoiding the rain. Judging by the cover of surrounding flora, he wasn't clearly visible.
Hilary has shaggy, light brown hair, appearing to be in his thirties, in good shape, and nearly 1.9 meters tall.
He Kao's Yin Spirit floated in the rain-soaked air, yet his attention was drawn not first to Hilary but Gao Xue'e. Because the location was right in front of the building where Gao Xue'e lives, He Kao often passed by.
The project team has been extremely busy recently, and many employees, including He Kao, stayed at the company for overtime work.
But President Gao hadn't gone to the company yet; leaders tend to have some privileges, and holidays don't adhere to regular clock-in routines... She would go to the office in the afternoon to handle work, as many business processes required her sign-off.
Why was Hilary here? More likely, he was targeting Gao Xue'e!
These villains have unique characteristics but are similarly vile in essence. Why are they stalking Gao Xue'e again? He Kao still remembers back when Zhao Hai Zhen's gang of Magic Sect scoundrels kidnapped Gao Xue'e, attempting to uncover Hidden Moth's identity clues.
Then He Kao considered the opposite perspective; how would he, being Hilary, seek to probe information?
With Mei Guyu overseeing in the company, Hilary wouldn't dare to directly probe, lest he endangers himself, especially with some people in the Qi Yuan Branch requiring attention.
The General Manager Qian Guran is a Tier Four Government Official of the Qi Observation Sect; he's not easy to deal with. In the Digital Life Project Group, Huang Si has a Magic Sect background, being a disciple of Lin Qingshuang.
Huang Si may not have high cultivation, but he isn't someone easily moved. Confronting him would provoke Lin Qingshuang, and likely, entail confronting Wild Phoenix.
So aligning the people in this business line, Gao Xue'e, the Vice President managing the Digital Life Project, becomes the ideal target, with Huang Si, He Kao, and even Mei Guyu as her subordinates.
If he could control Gao Xue'e, it would mean grasping the usual dynamics of these individuals, aiding in acquiring intelligence and planning targeted actions.
In Hilary's view, Gao Xue'e is just an ordinary person; as a Tier Five Heart Stealer, controlling her isn't difficult. Doing so poses some risk, but not substantial enough to deter trying. Even if exposed, escape is feasible...
This was He Kao's reasoning from Hilary's perspective, but he wasn't sure of Hilary's exact plans, so he briefly withdrew his Yin Spirit, got up from his seat, and headed to the parking garage, taking refuge in his car.
Then he performed Yin Spirit Travel again, arriving at Bishu Renjia District, silently observing from the air.
At around three in the afternoon, Gao Xue'e finally stepped outside. Bishu Renjia District has a flawed design; the parking garage isn't directly constructed under residential buildings, requiring a bit of a walk to reach.
The neighborhood walking path is paved with eco-friendly tiles, with some sections already showing water accumulations. Gao Xue'e slightly staggered while walking, but quickly steadied herself.
One stretch, whether due to pipeline repairs or other reasons, had tiles removed, exposing sand and soil, and one of her shoes suddenly sunk into it.
Luckily, she was a Tier Two Sorcerer and didn't sprain her ankle; she simply adjusted forward to regain balance.
Her foot continued, but her shoe stayed behind. She stood barefoot on the muddy ground. Originally wearing socks, the short ankle socks remained in the shoe when her foot pulled away.
Just a minor accident, with no injuries. Gao Xue'e pulled out the shoe, returned home briefly to change shoes and socks, and continued heading to work, without any other incidents.
He Kao pondered, his Yin Spirit floating within the raindrops, unsure if Hilary had a hand in the previous accident.
If so, what was Hilary's purpose?
Gao Xue'e passed the muddy area once more without incident, steadily bypassing it. Only after she left did Hilary stand up and step out of the greenbelt.
He walked the same path Gao Xue'e had taken, and at the same spot, his right foot encountered the same issue; the shoe sunk into the mud, and he stepped barefoot forward to regain stability.
Gao Xue'e had just made a footprint in the muddy earth, which now contained a puddle. Hilary's foot stepped into the same spot, overlaying the previous footprint.
He Kao, observing this from above, instantly became furious!
**
