I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 338 - 289: Hermits of the Mountains and Wilds (Part 2)

Yu Lieting carefully surveyed the assorted individuals gathered on the vacant lot. After a thorough look, he discovered that apart from Dang Haihong, he didn’t recognize any of them.

Among these people, there was a fortune teller holding a silk banner, a monk with a burn scar on his head, a weathered old farmer, and a wealthy man dressed in fine clothes...

Yu Lieting, having been in the sect for years, was well aware of Filthy Blood Sect’s various rules. These individuals’ appearances were likely not deliberate disguises, but rather their true identities.

They were originally a fortune teller, a monk, an old farmer, and a wealthy man who, upon joining Filthy Blood Sect, would continue to act according to their original identities until gradually absorbed into a certain organization to carry out various tasks...

Yu Lieting sat there, suddenly his pupils narrowed, because he saw a familiar figure...

He never thought he would see this person here.

It was a beggar, lying on the edge of the vacant lot, against a tree stump, half-closed eyes, neither asleep nor awake, constantly rubbing the dirt on his body...

Yu Lieting instantly recognized this person because he was the beggar from Jiuchong County streets.

Yu Lieting had seen him often in many places in Jiuchong County: under the city wall where there was sunlight in winter, by the street at the temple entrance, at breakfast stands, and at the swill buckets by the taverns at night...

He was an ordinary beggar, indistinguishable among the beggar crowd.

Yet now, he was at the edge of the vacant lot, diagonally opposite Yu Lieting.

Given the confidentiality level of this mission and Ge Qingchuan personally leading the team, this mission was undoubtedly not simple, and anyone sitting here was certainly not weak.

This person was part of Filthy Blood Sect, and had been lying dormant in Jiuchong County for years, and yet was not part of Yu Lieting’s line.

This couldn’t help but make Yu Lieting’s mind churn.

"Squad Leader, that beggar..." Xiao Nan tentatively whispered.

"I know." Yu Lieting coldly responded, stopping Xiao Nan’s words. He didn’t want to discuss this here with Xiao Nan.

As Yu Lieting sat on the edge of the vacant lot, about half a stick of incense later, two figures emerged from the depths of the dense forest.

One of them had snow-like skin and exquisite features, yet dressed in fitted men’s attire. Regardless of whether people had seen her before or not, they knew that this person was definitely Ge Qingchuan.

Beside Ge Qingchuan was a short-statured person, initially thought by everyone to be a child. As he stepped out of the dense forest and sunlight illuminated his face, everyone realized he was actually a dwarf.

Though he was short in stature, his face was weathered, covered with stubble.

Ge Qingchuan stood at the edge of the vacant lot, her gaze sweeping across the people present, then turning to the dwarf beside her, she asked, "Has everyone arrived?"

The dwarf had already counted the arrivals and immediately answered, "Mr. Hanzhou, is not yet present!"

Upon hearing Mr. Hanzhou’s name, Yu Lieting’s brow twitched involuntarily, thinking: Even Fan Hanzhou has been invited! Xianggu County is really bustling this time!

Ge Qingchuan, upon hearing Fan Hanzhou hadn’t arrived yet, furrowed her brow.

The hall of Filthy Blood Sect in Yuanyang Prefecture, due to Hall Master Ge Qinglei’s close associate’s betrayal, had three sub-branches eliminated in a short time, resulting in significant losses.

Later, Ge Qinglei personally arranged the plan and finally eradicated the traitor, although he was heavily injured in the process.

But not long after, a major Filthy Blood case erupted in Xianggu County, Wei Yutian and Luan Jingfu died, Ruan Fengshan went into hiding, and Xianggu Sub-Branch nearly fell into paralysis.

One hall in one year lost nearly four sub-branches. With accountability coming, Ge Qinglei would be unable to evade blame.

To manage the accountability, Ge Qinglei desperately needed a major victory!

He chose Xianggu County, with the intention to ambush and eliminate this batch of new registered disciples and the sect envoys escorting them!

He chose Xianggu County firstly because the county is located in a remote area, with lofty mountains and dense forests, perfect for ambushing. Secondly, because the area has many mountains and blocked transportation, post-event information dissemination would be slow. This provides more time for their subsequent maneuvers.

If they succeed in this, although it won’t completely offset the faults, at least it provides a notable achievement, and accountability could possibly be managed.

Since every Talent Selection Conference is highly valued by Taiyi Sect. If this time they eliminate the batch of registered disciples and sect envoys, it would definitely be a slap to Taiyi Sect’s face! The sect leader would certainly be pleased, and if the sect leader is pleased, is accountability even an issue?

Because of the importance of this action, Ge Qinglei sent Ge Qingchuan to personally lead the team, aiming for complete elimination of the targets, leaving no one behind!

Ge Qingchuan paused slightly.

Fan Hanzhou is an indispensable figure in this mission, however, he tends to act arrogantly, so she had requested her father to personally write a secret letter to him days ago. Unexpectedly, despite father personally ordering, it was time but the person still hadn’t appeared!

Ge Qingchuan briefly considered, then told the dwarf beside her, "Mr. Hanzhou hasn’t arrived, let’s not wait any longer! Let’s begin first!"

Ge Qingchuan finished speaking, then stepped forward, her eyes full of smiles, loudly proclaiming, "Everyone..."

As soon as Ge Qingchuan spoke, a huge black shadow burst from underground in the center of the vacant lot, raising a cloud of dust, falling like sudden rain upon lotus leaves, scattering...

Two people in the center of the vacant lot were knocked to the ground by the giant black shadow, and everyone else jumped in fright, except for Ge Qingchuan whose smile widened upon seeing the black shadow rise.

They saw a giant nearly a zhang tall land heavily in the center of the vacant lot, his feet like plates, standing firmly!

This person had a square face, large eyes, and a wide nose, appearing like a mountain of flesh. His leap from underground raised soil particles like sudden rain hitting everyone’s faces. The people present glared at him in anger, but upon seeing his stature, they fell silent.

Ge Qingchuan laughed and praised, "Mr. Hanzhou’s Stinging Dragon Movement is indeed miraculous!"

Fan Hanzhou looked at Ge Qingchuan and spoke in a hoarse voice, "Miss Qingchuan, why start the event without waiting for me?"

Ge Qingchuan bowed her head and laughed, "Sir, the marvel of your Stinging Dragon Technique was beyond my expectation. I hope sir forgives me."

Fan Hanzhou noticed Ge Qingchuan standing there, her smile blooming, speaking softly. His heart moved, he then refrained from pressing the issue, and laughed, "I arrived a day earlier than you all, slept soundly underground here! I was resting well yet disturbed by some noisy matter involving women fighting over men..."

Fan Hanzhou said, casting a glance at two middle-aged women nearby.

These two women, looking at their features, appeared to be sisters, but both were over forty and quite corpulent.

They were just sitting where Fan Hanzhou emerged, softly discussing trivial matters.

When these two saw Fan Hanzhou looking at them, their expressions turned icy, one spoke, "You big fool, eavesdropping and being so rude!"

Earlier, their conversation was in whispers. If Fan Hanzhou hadn’t mentioned women fighting over men, they wouldn’t have believed he had overheard them.

But they didn’t know Fan Hanzhou’s Stinging Dragon Technique, once settled in the ground, could collect sounds from within a hundred meters.

Their conversation transmitted via air, was absorbed through sound waves.

But their seated position transmitted vibrations through their bodies directly into the ground.

Their conversation was whispered, but to Fan Hanzhou, it was loud and clear.

"Who are you calling a big fool?!" Fan Hanzhou, upon hearing this, suddenly burst into anger, clenching his fists, followed by a barrage of explosive sounds, resembling firecrackers.

The speaking middle-aged woman instantly paled!

"Everyone here is a guest! Would you please give me some face and get along!" Ge Qingchuan smiled warmly at Fan Hanzhou, saying.

"Mr. Hanzhou, I apologize on behalf of Sister Tang, I hope sir can calm down!"

Fan Hanzhou, looking at Ge Qingchuan’s gentle and kind demeanor, glared at the woman and lowered his fist.

Seeing everyone had arrived, Ge Qingchuan was delighted, and turned to the dwarf, "Little Tang, distribute the elimination targets to everyone!"

The dwarf removed the backpack, took out a locked wooden box from within. With Inner Breath flashing in his palm, he tore the copper lock apart, opened the box, taking out a stack of parchment paper.

The dwarf suddenly exhibited Lightweight Skill, his form flickering as he darted around, handing the parchment sheet by sheet to all present...