I Can Devour Spirits

Just over a month ago, he wrote a detailed memo to Ge Qinglei, outlining his strategy for managing the Xianggu County base in the coming years: Build high walls, store ample grain, and prepare soldiers and horses, awaiting the opportune moment.

Ge Qinglei greatly appreciated his memo and said he would apply to the Main Altar of the Filthy Blood Sect for an award and further resource support for him.

Upon receiving Ge Qinglei's reply, Sun Qian was naturally overjoyed. An award that requires application to the Main Altar is not ordinary.

Furthermore, the resource support mentioned by Ge Qinglei likely refers to support from the Main Altar. If the Xianggu County base is directly under the leadership of the Main Altar, his rank within the Filthy Blood Sect could immediately rise by two levels, almost equal with Ge Qinglei, the Hall Master!

Sun Qian pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "First send a message to the local hall, have them confirm the identities of the two through the government office. If it is as you suspect, Xiao Yu can be killed. As for Duan Rong, if he is indeed an Outer Disciple, find a way to scare him, make him retreat."

Ruan Fengshan's eyes flickered as he considered Sun Qian's strategy. He mostly agreed; with Xiao Zongting already dead, even if Duan Rong had ties with the Xiao Family, if Xiao Yu were also dead and a trap were laid to shock him, he likely wouldn't risk his life for the Xiao Family.

Just then, a bell hanging in the corner of the Secret Chamber abruptly rang with a tinkling sound.

Ruan Fengshan glanced sideways and saw it was the bell from the secret passage he came through. He suddenly stood up, a sense of foreboding rising within.

Ruan Fengshan quickly walked to a stone wall, pressed a hidden mechanism, and with a sound, the stone gate trembled and then opened by itself.

A short-statured boy stood behind the stone gate.

This boy was the leader of the group of Secret Agents he had sent out.

Seeing the boy, Ruan Fengshan's brow furrowed, and he asked, "What happened?"

The boy looked ashamed and said, "We lost them."

"What?! Lost them?" Ruan Fengshan was shocked.

Ruan Fengshan thought maybe Duan Rong and Xiao Yu had done something outlandish, and this boy had come to report it. Honestly, even if Duan Rong and Xiao Yu had killed their way into the Escort Agency's backyard, he wouldn't be surprised. After all, the deceased is Xiao Yu's father!

The enmity of a father's murder is irreconcilable!

But he never expected this group of Secret Agents, personally chosen and trained by him, would lose them. Even for him, if tracked from afar by four or five people, it would be tough to shake them off.

"How did you lose them?" Ruan Fengshan asked with a grim face.

The boy said, "We were discovered and all knocked out."

Ruan Fengshan remained silent, but the alarm in his heart was even greater. All were discovered and knocked out.

These Secret Agents were equipped with special gear, and he had painstakingly trained them, investing considerable effort. They excelled in Lightweight Skill and were extremely adept at concealment. Who exactly could pinpoint them all? Could there be someone behind Duan Rong and Xiao Yu?!

Ruan Fengshan did not believe Duan Rong and Xiao Yu possessed such abilities.

"You may leave." Ruan Fengshan coldly dismissed the boy.

The boy left hurriedly, relieved.

Once the boy had gone, the stone gate closed by itself with a rumbling sound.

Ruan Fengshan turned to Sun Qian and said, "Both of them are at most at the First and Second Levels of the True Qi Realm. These Secret Agents followed them from different positions at a distance, only required to pinpoint their general location. Yet, they were all knocked out."

Ruan Fengshan's expression became extremely grim as he said this.

Sun Qian said, "You suspect someone else is behind them?"

"Perhaps." Ruan Fengshan's gaze wavered slightly.

Sun Qian said, "It could also be that they have some special skills."

"Special skills?"

Sun Qian said, "Let's adhere to the plan we just discussed. Even if someone is secretly backing them, we can force them out. If that person is unwilling to show up, it means they do not want to get involved, which is no harm to us."

Ruan Fengshan nodded. Over three years of working with Sun Qian, he found Sun Qian highly decisive, and perhaps that was why he was assigned to Xianggu County.

"Oh, by the way," Sun Qian said, "Should tomorrow's banquet proceed as planned?"

Ruan Fengshan's face showed a hint of difficulty. Now, Yuan Shun Escort Agency was likely under the tight surveillance of Duan Rong and Xiao Yu. But how to deal with them would have to wait until their identities were confirmed by the local hall.

Over the next couple of days, Ruan Fengshan could only lay low, avoiding direct confrontations with Xiao Yu and Duan Rong.

"Should we postpone it for a few days?" Ruan Fengshan suggested tentatively.

Sun Qian chuckled, "Why? Are two fledgling youngsters just entering Jianghu scaring you this much? I think it should go on as planned. Let the brothers come; we can discuss matters. Moreover, we have thirteen experts in the True Qi Realm gathered; why fear those two?"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Fengshan pondered briefly. Sun Qian had a point. After confirming Duan Rong and Xiao Yu's identities, coordinating subsequent actions with the brothers was more prudent.

Ruan Fengshan said, "Alright then. But let's change the venue; not by the Mandala next to Yuan Shun Escort Agency's Sealed Warehouse. Let's go to the Secret Chamber Mandala in Wei Yutian's old courtyard."

Sun Qian's eyes flickered slightly and said, "Okay. Inform the brothers."

"Alright!"

As dawn broke, shadows moved around the street stalls, steam rising...

Duan Rong crouched in a corner, curling himself into a ball like a quail.

Actually, he wasn't cold; his True Qi Realm Great Perfection was long unafraid of the cold.

But in such weather, a ragged little beggar must be cold.

Duan Rong curled up and pretended to nap, but his Divine Sense was already active, covering the surrounding street completely.

Duan Rong lay in that spot until late in the forenoon when the sun was high, before he slowly got up.

The appearance of such a small beggar on the street was unnoticed; people walked past him, avoiding the spot he lay.

Getting up, Duan Rong yawned, walking hesitantly alone along the alley. His head greasy, face spotted with scabs, the passersby avoided him, walking on the opposite side of the alley.

Duan Rong walked along the alley, reaching near the teahouse, before lying down where the sun could reach him in a nearby alley.

The sunlight warmed his body, and Duan Rong almost dozed off.

In his previous life, working tirelessly like a beast, just earning enough to eat.

In this life, having obtained chance, he couldn't waste it, crazily cultivating. It seemed there was no difference from his past life.

He suddenly felt those so-called successful people were merely trapped in their success, just as he was trapped in this life's chance.

If not for the dream of eternal life beckoning him, he'd consider lying flat.

Having been a beggar for only half a day, he found it so relaxed.

Yet, Duan Rong remained vigilant.

By mid-morning, the teahouse would gradually fill with patrons. The teahouse was a sea of information; now was the perfect time to gather intel.

Duan Rong instantly extended his Divine Sense, enveloping the entire teahouse.

As time passed, more patrons arrived, diverse in identity.

Actually, this method of gathering information was somewhat tiring.

Three years ago, each time Duan Rong came to the teahouse, much of the information swept past because he lived in Xianggu County and knew a lot of it.

But now was different; he hadn't been back for three years. Whatever people discussed, regardless of subject or detail, he had to listen carefully.

This scenario was like watching dozens or hundreds of movies simultaneously, needing to understand each plot accurately.

Thus, after an hour, Duan Rong felt slightly fatigued.

But in exchange, the hour yielded great results.

Duan Rong never expected Xianggu County had changed so drastically in three years, with all major forces thoroughly looted.

The newly appointed County Magistrate truly had expansive measures!

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