Chapter 604: Chapter 604: Trouble Over a Cup of Wine_1
The Shepherd’s expression flickered as he looked at Li Qing, "I want to know how you discovered me?"
"I asked you before, smoking fancy cigarettes and wearing a gold watch, how do you look anything like a Shepherd?" Li Qing said mockingly.
"What’s wrong with gifts from others?" the Shepherd retorted, not convinced.
"Fine, but your demeanor doesn’t look like that of a Shepherd at all," Li Qing said with a cold laugh.
He had always been puzzled why he found this guy suspicious until just now, when he finally realized.
It was the demeanor!
Li Qing was very familiar with Shepherds; as a child, he often roamed the hills and dales with them.
So, his first impression of this guy was that he wasn’t a Shepherd.
"I’ve killed before. If you can clear this up for me, I’ll say whatever you ask!" the Shepherd said.
Li Qing’s face instantly turned murderous, "You bastard, don’t push your luck!"
"If you can’t offer me any advantage, why should I choose to help you? Either kill me or let me go. I know you have authority, but perhaps not the authority to kill," the Shepherd mocked. "Looking at you, I doubt you’re the type who could be in charge of anything."
Li Qing snorted coldly and threw a punch directly at the Shepherd’s Dantian.
This guy’s strength seemed to be on par with his own, but Li Qing had taken some shortcuts, he had the legacy of Celestial Music, and had also snagged some spoils from Li Yuanxian. In a real fight, the Shepherd might not even be a match for a fraction of Li Qing’s power.
The only reason Li Qing didn’t use Black Arrow or Heavenly Thunder in front of Palace Brother was because it wouldn’t look good. Otherwise, this bastard would have been dead a long time ago.
"Ah..."
The Shepherd screamed miserably, his body contorting like a shrimp.
Li Qing may not know how painful a shattered Dantian really is, but judging by the guy’s reaction, it couldn’t be pleasant.
"You bastard, if you have the guts, kill me!" The Shepherd was in so much pain that his eyes were bloodshot, but his mouth was still as stubborn as a turtle’s shell.
Li Qing raised his hand and delivered another ruthless blow to the guy’s Dantian.
"Ah... Son of a bitch, just kill me!"
Bang!
Li Qing swung his fist expressionlessly.
"Ah..."
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"Stop, stop hitting, I’ll talk, I’ll talk..."
With his head covered in sweat and his face deathly pale from pain, the Shepherd finally caved in.
He weakly raised his hand, "I’ll talk, I’ll talk..."
Bang!
Li Qing swung another punch. "Then talk!"
"Ah ah..."
A stream of black blood spilled from the corner of the Shepherd’s mouth, "You could at least ask!"
Bang!
Li Qing swung his fist expressionlessly. "What I want to ask, you don’t know?"
The Shepherd’s eyes rolled back as he nearly fainted, but fortunately, Li Qing swung his fist in time, bringing him back with another punch.
Gong Ge watched the pitiful scene, feeling a tingling on his scalp.
Qingzi had truly changed.
That beating... it was really brutal!
"I... I’ll tell you, my master had me pretend to be a shepherd to keep watch on the mountain. There is a house under the mountain, bought by my master, I can’t give the exact location, but you can see it from here, that one with the blue tin roof," the Shepherd stammered with trembling lips, barely getting the words out.
"My four fellow disciples and my master, we used to operate in the west. Lately, we’ve been short on money, and that’s why we came here."
"A few days ago, my master went to check on a house for a wealthy person and accidentally saw Lü Changxi personally delivering wine. During the meal, my master also drank a cup and immediately realized it must be the legendary Solidifying Spirit Elixir, so... that’s why we made a move on Lü Changxi."
Li Qing’s guess wasn’t wrong; the trouble really did start with that wine.
It just wasn’t quite as he had imagined.
"What is the strength of you and your fellow disciples?" Li Qing asked solemnly.
"My master is at the Qi Cultivation Peak, but... probably. My master follows a deviant path, enhancing his strength by absorbing earthly malevolence and through elixir cultivation; I’m not sure if he should be counted at the Qi Cultivation Peak. The other senior brothers and sisters are all about the same as me, the highest among them at the Mid-stage of Qi Cultivation," the Shepherd now spoke frankly, not only willing to talk but also providing detailed information.
Li Qing asked with a stern face, "What were you planning to do with Lü Zong, and where is he being held?"
"Of course... it’s, it’s for the..." The Shepherd coughed up a mouthful of black blood from the corner of his mouth.
After coughing up the blood, as if terrified of another punch from Li Qing, he hurriedly continued: "Of course it’s for the Solidifying Spirit Elixir and its Elixir Recipe. My master captured Lü Changxi just for that; there were no other motives."
"When I went up the mountain, he was being held in the west wing on the left side of the courtyard, with my third senior sister standing guard. But today, many strangers appeared in the village, alerting my master. I don’t know if he has moved the prisoner to another place."
Li Qing knew that the strangers he referred to must be the police.
But those well-versed in disguises and investigation probably did not expect this gang of thieves to be so vigilant, having already arranged lookouts on the mountain.
And to disguise themselves as shepherds.
"If there’s a transfer, where would you move to?" Li Qing asked in a deep voice.
"I don’t know," the Shepherd replied difficultly, shaking his head.
Seeing Li Qing’s fist raised again, he hurried to explain: "I really don’t know; my master is very paranoid, many of his doings are kept secret from us disciples. If he moves, he might hide underground."
"Underground? What do you mean?" Li Qing asked gravely.
The Shepherd explained, "My master’s cultivation techniques were unearthed from a general’s tomb; he is good at this. This place has a large tomb underground too, but the exact location is only known by my master."
"You piece of trash, even this your master would conceal from you?" Li Qing scoffed as he lifted his fist.
"Don’t hit me again, I’ll really die if you do," the Shepherd quickly stated, "Usually when my master finds a big tomb, he goes down first to collect a round of truly worthwhile items, only then does he inform us disciples. He’s always done it this way."
Li Qing’s countenance turned somewhat ugly; this matter was more complicated.
With just himself using Black Arrow and in combination with Heavenly Thunder, he should be able to rescue Lü Zong, but there would be certain risks.
It seemed like he had no choice but to call for outside help.
"Is there anything else you need to confess?" Li Qing asked, looking down, "Think carefully, as your life now depends on your words."
"... There’s really nothing left," the Shepherd said in panic, "I can’t recall anything else."
"Gong Ge, tie him up!" Li Qing stood up and commanded,
The overwhelmed Gong Ge, stunned by the exchange between Li Qing and the Shepherd, hastily complied.
