Chapter 1163: Chapter 640: Head (Triple Release Combined)
Chen Yi walked unsteadily out of the quiet room following the housekeeper, his face still shadowed with dejection.
The housekeeper led him to the town’s best inn, arranged his accommodation, and perfunctorily said "Good journey, sir" before turning to attend to other matters.
Chen Yi stepped into the room, and the earlier struggles instantly faded from his eyes as he weighed the Zige Bureau waist token he had regained possession of.
Previously passing through the underworld, Infinite King’s territory, where the mountains resembled a labyrinth and the forest seemed like a ghost domain — if those dissident remnants cleared out by Gongsun Guan had truly hidden here, their lair must be extremely secretive with layers of protection.
Ordinary spies would enter only to find not a soul, leaving not even a splinter of bone behind. Relying on himself to search inch by inch? Futile, akin to finding a needle in a vast ocean, a death-seeking path.
The only way was to integrate into their "network" and let them lead the way themselves.
These hidden heretics were also human, needing to eat, drink, and defecate, maintain operation, and more importantly, worship the Ming Venerable, necessitating a constant inflow of materials from the outside world.
Especially items like salt, iron, copper, fabric, which were difficult to self-produce in mountainous regions, would certainly have secretive channels, and Yan Kan, a local influential figure, was the most suitable ally.
"Chen Yi!" A voice filled with urgency and worry rang in his ears.
Her gaze was eerie, like a Fierce Ghost demanding a life.
Chen Yi slightly turned his head to see Donggong Ruoshu appear beside him without him realizing, looking as if pondering about redeeming him out.
"It’s over, over, over." Donggong Ruoshu circled around him, her voice rapid and anxious, "Twelve hundred silver taels, that black fatso clearly set a trap for you! How can you be such a gambler, oh dear, if Qin Yue finds out her father gambled himself into this..."
"Chen Yi, heed my advice!" She suddenly floated in front of Chen Yi, a look of earnest sincerity, "Turn back while there’s still time. You look at yourself, only a few days and you’ve gambled yourself away. Think of Qin Yue, she’s so young, she can’t go without a father! And also, Miss Yin! If she knew you gambled everything away here, how disappointed she would be, considering she’s recognized as your lawful wife, you..."
Chen Yi was given a headache by her noise, especially upon hearing Yin Weiyin’s name, his brows furrowed instinctively. He originally didn’t want to pay attention to this foolish ghost’s chatter, only wanting to quickly find a place to organize his thoughts.
However...
"Shush!" Chen Yi’s eyes suddenly narrowed, raising his hand sharply, signaling Donggong Ruoshu to stop talking.
Donggong Ruoshu was startled by his sudden seriousness, instinctively covering her mouth (though covering a ghost’s mouth was futile...), her eyes widened as she watched him.
Chen Yi held his breath, focusing with intent, listening intently.
A faint, deliberately suppressed conversation was emanating from above their heads.
The voice was not of local accent, like... Barbarian Language, most importantly, the words carried a peculiar rhythm, with a few recognizable phrases.
Ming’an Divine Sect?
Chen Yi’s eyes slightly squinted, discerning they were people from the Divine Sect, though unsure if they were dissidents.
Such coincidental arrangement to be in the same inn as him...
It seems what Yan Kan facilitated was not passage for ordinary goods, but for people.
Thinking about it, Yan Kan being a prominent local figure, no matter how small the face, the garrison soldiers wouldn’t be troubled over some local goods for no reason.
The conversation upstairs was extremely faint, and seemed that some sort of simple Array or barrier was set up to isolate sound, making it impossible for an ordinary person to hear.
Chen Yi’s gaze darkened slightly, thoughts racing, then slowly closed his eyes, concentrating his essence to the extreme, like a lifeless stone.
At the same time, a thread finer than a strand of hair, nearly invisible and intangible pure Sword Qi, quietly seeped from his fingertips, creeping along the gaps of the coarse wooden floor towards the source of the sound.
After his meridians ruptured, dropping rank back to Fourth Rank was dismal, but it also made his usage of Sword Intent World more detailed and meticulous.
Thus, Sword Qi became his extended ears.
Moreover, by applying a small technique on this basis, he could understand the Barbarian Language.
Through the senses of the Sword Qi, the sound became much clearer, it was the housekeeper’s voice with respect saying:
"... Rest assured, loyal envoys, the boss has everything arranged, that Zige Bureau government officer surnamed Chen is already hooked. He owes immense debt, with no way out, he’ll obediently comply, at that time he’ll ensure the checkpoints are opened smoothly for a safe passage for you all.
The boss instructed, this matter is absolutely confidential, especially to the one surnamed Chen, not a word is to be revealed! He only needs to know it’s passing goods, nothing else to ensure reliability."
The housekeeper’s voice faded, seemingly departing, followed by a brief silence upstairs, then a few unrestrained sneers sounded.
A gruff male voice scornfully said: "Humph, Zige Bureau? Sounds... majestic, yet he’s just a gambler squeezed in our hands! A fool!"
Another slightly sharp voice chimed in: "Exactly! This sort can clear the path for us? If not for the boss saying his Prince Mansion status is useful, I’d..."
"Silence!" A sudden female voice interrupted, not loud, yet indisputable, "Mind your tongues! A gambler may be a gambler, but don’t forget he belongs to the Prince Mansion, no room for errors in the plan! Especially..." the female voice paused, seemingly confirming safety around, then whispered, "...especially over at Yulong Snow Mountain, there can be no lapses! The arrangements there are..."
"Everyone knows, no need to discuss further."
A sudden elderly voice rose, evidently sensitive to the words "Yulong Snow Mountain."
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