Chapter 188: Chapter 132: Wondrous Artifact: Night Concealing Mask (Double-Length Special)
Ji Jie, this scoundrel, was not only wanted by the Five Extremes Mountain.
In Jiuli State, there were numerous sects eager to kill him, including those loose cultivators in Huifeng County.
After all, Ji Jie often targeted them, the loose cultivators without background or power.
Thus, the loose cultivators at Huifeng Marketplace were the most exuberant about Ji Jie being slain.
Liou Yuan cleared out one villain today, paving the way for his future safety.
"The merit of protecting the path by Five Extremes Mountain also stands as a testament to righteousness in the world!"
Watching the youth hoist Ji Jie’s head high amidst the ruins, some loose cultivators immediately cheered for him.
Some sang praises for Five Extremes Mountain, while others shouted Liou Yuan’s name.
During his duel with Ji Jie, they had exchanged names. Even if later loose cultivators hadn’t heard it, his Five Extremes Mountain badge at his waist bore the name ’Liou Yuan’.
Yet no one dared to approach Liou Yuan.
Liou Yuan now stood covered in blood, a fierce gleam still lingering in his eyes from slaying Ji Jie. Coupled with the unfamiliarity of his temperament, they feared he might be eccentric.
Should they upset him at this moment, they’d be courting trouble.
Thus, the loose cultivators only dared to gather outside the remnants of Huifeng Inn.
This scene did not escape Liou Yuan’s notice, and he nodded silently.
Just as he had previously mentioned, Ji Jie’s strength was quite notable even among Five Extremes Mountain’s Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer disciples.
Liou Yuan, using the Green Tide Pure Water Sword, found it difficult to overcome him. With much of his Spiritual Power depleted, he had to be cautious if these loose cultivators rashly approached him.
After all, Ji Jie had many treasures on him, and should someone covet them, maintaining a distance suited Liou Yuan just fine.
Thinking of this, Liou Yuan looked down at the ground amidst the ruins.
As Liou Yuan severed Ji Jie’s head, a mask as thin as a cicada’s wing fell off his face.
"Presumably, it’s the bounty intelligence mentioned disguise treasure of Ji Jie."
Liou Yuan thought to himself, then raised his hand to absorb the mask with Spiritual Power, grasping it swiftly.
The mask was pale, its color resembling dumpling skin, feeling like thin gauze, light as silk, as if it weren’t there.
"According to the Disciplinary Hall’s rules, whoever slays the villain, his possessions belong to him."
"I’ll gladly accept this."
Liou Yuan chuckled lightly.
Though unsure of the mask’s grade.
Given the many eyes around, Liou Yuan was inconvenienced to take out the Fixed Star Compass. Thus, the first thing he did was slip it into his Storage Bag.
Then, he turned to the headless corpse of Ji Jie lying in the ruins.
Ji Jie wasn’t poor, his waist adorned with a Storage Bag. Naturally, it belonged to Liou Yuan now, who took it and tied it around his waist.
After completing these tasks, Liou Yuan searched Ji Jie’s corpse once more, ensuring he hadn’t missed anything before slowly walking out of the Huifeng Inn ruins with Ji Jie’s head in hand.
The first to approach wasn’t Gong Linqing.
Rather, a middle-aged man of portly stature.
He wore a somewhat worn black melon cap, its red plush knot slightly faded, yet stubbornly standing firm.
A round face etched with deep and shallow wrinkles by time, smiling eyes revealing crow’s feet like blooming chrysanthemum petals, exuding amiability and warmth.
This was the typical attire of a Jiuli State restaurant shopkeeper.
"Mr. Liou, for removing a great menace from Huifeng County, your name shall spread across the nearby three counties by tomorrow. The reputation of Five Extremes Mountain will once again reverberate far and wide."
The man began with blatant flattery.
Clearly, he was quite intimidated by Liou Yuan, sweating from his forehead as Liou Yuan’s gaze landed upon him. Nonetheless, he braced himself to finish his words.
"Mr. Liou, your act was indeed noble, yet this Huifeng Inn was owned by Qingfeng Valley."
"You have destroyed it, the loss involved..."
Liou Yuan, taken aback by these words, turned to glance at the ruins behind.
Indeed, it was destroyed; this chaos demanded reconstruction from scratch.
"It cost greatly!" Liou Yuan rubbed his brow.
With Qingfeng Valley involved, though he had Five Extremes Mountain behind him and was unafraid, shirking responsibility would tarnish his reputation.
Additionally, the Disciplinary Hall might label him with a crime to punish him.
While Liou Yuan was fretting.
Gong Linqing approached, speaking pointedly to the pudgy shopkeeper: "If I’m not mistaken, Ji Jie killed two of Qingfeng Valley’s disciples last year, making him an official criminal of Qingfeng Valley."
"Our Five Extremes Mountain avenged Qingfeng Valley, we won’t demand your compensation."
"How can you turn around and charge us for damages?"
Gong Linqing, worldly and experienced for decades, though humble before Liou Yuan due to respect for his status.
Seeing his attire as an itinerant merchant, he must be accustomed to trade, his words instantly left the shopkeeper speechless.
Liou Yuan, secretly, gave Gong Linqing a thumbs-up.
Then Gong Linqing pulled the pudgy shopkeeper aside, babbling unknown matters.
The shopkeeper finally, with a wry smile, cupped his hands towards Liou Yuan, no longer pestering.
Brightening Liou Yuan’s mood, resolved to recruit Gong Linqing to his side.
"I’ve decided on Gong Linqing, upon returning I’ll strive to bring him to Five Extremes Mountain."
"Mr. Liou, the place is crowded; please follow me." Gong Linqing’s voice rang in Liou Yuan’s ear, gesturing politely for Liou Yuan to proceed.
