Whose People?

Just as the tension around the medicinal fields reached the point where a single additional step might ignite everything, the sound of air being torn apart suddenly came from the distance.

Several powerful auras were approaching at great speed.

A moment later, a deep voice cut through the night.

“Stop.”

The voice was not loud, but it was enough to make everyone who had been preparing to draw their weapons pause at once.

Hao Nhien raised his head.

A figure was rushing toward them from afar without concealing his aura or slowing down in the slightest.

The pressure of a peak-Foundation cultivator spread along the path of his flying sword, while more than ten people followed close behind.

Within only a few breaths, the man in front had already descended into the open ground between the two sides.

Tall, broad-shouldered, with a familiar square face.

Hao Nhien recognized him immediately.

Huu Liet.

The man he had met at the Heavenly Eye Medicine Pavilion that very afternoon.

Hao Nhien knew that the Medicine Pavilion steward stationed in Lac Van had sent the highest-priority emergency report, and he had already expected the person coming would not be ordinary.

Even so, Huu Liet’s personal arrival was faster than he had anticipated.

The hand Hao Nhien had been resting on the hilt of the Fire Spirit Sword slowly relaxed.

Huu Liet did not ask Hao Nhien what had happened.

After landing, his gaze first swept across the people from Tien’s line surrounding the medicinal fields, then paused on the blood still staining Lanh Hoa’s shoulder before finally settling on Tien Phong.

“Tien Phong, this has gone a little too far.”

Tien Phong did not answer immediately.

The two stood less than ten zhang apart.

Their temperaments were completely different.

Huu Liet was tall and imposing, his words direct, his presence heavy and straightforward, as though he preferred putting every matter openly on the table.

Tien Phong was much quieter. His expression did not change, and he showed no hurry to argue.

Hao Nhien looked at the two of them and briefly remembered the auction.

These two Deputy City Lords really were nothing alike.

Huu Liet pointed toward the medicinal fields behind him.

“Lac Van has already been formally placed under my protection. Your people came here first and fought with the people of the settlement. Now you personally bring even more people to surround the place.”

“If this is official business, state the official business clearly. If you are using official business to settle private matters between our lines, then this is not a good way to do it.”

Only then did Tien Phong speak.

“Huu Liet, don’t rush to use your protection order to pressure me. I came here for a reason.”

“Then say it.”

Huu Liet answered immediately.

Tien Phong narrowed his eyes slightly before looking toward Hao Nhien.

“Duong Long lost contact on the road to Tien Thanh. The elite group traveling ahead with him also failed to return, while the army of more than a thousand men behind them still has not been able to enter the city.”

Huu Liet’s eyes changed slightly, but he did not interrupt.

Tien Phong continued,

“Before Duong Long disappeared, Hoa Ky people were seen operating near the region he passed through. That group later vanished as well.”

“And during that exact period, Alchemist Giai Nhien was absent from Lac Van for quite some time, only returning a few days ago.”

The atmosphere behind both sides shifted faintly.

Hao Nhien remained standing where he was.

Huu Liet looked at Tien Phong.

“You’re saying Giai Nhien is involved?”

“I haven’t said that.”

Tien Phong replied quickly.

“But when that many things happen within the same period, it is enough to justify asking questions. If there had only been one coincidence, I would not have come personally.”

He tilted his head slightly.

Someone behind him immediately brought forward a young man wearing Lac Van clothing.

The man’s hands were not bound, but his expression was visibly tense.

Hao Nhien studied him for a moment and recognized him as someone he had seen several times around the outer medicinal fields.

He was not part of the main group of cultivators, nor had he often appeared around Luu Ho.

Tien Phong said,

“This man previously worked at a transport station belonging to Tien’s line. He only returned to Lac Van a few days ago. My people questioned him before coming here.”

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Then he looked at the young man.

“Repeat what you said.”

The man swallowed.

The instant his gaze touched Hao Nhien, he immediately looked away.

“Alchemist Giai left Lac Van for quite a long time, together with Miss Tieu Nha. No one in the settlement knew where they went. They only returned a few days ago.”

Tien Phong waved a hand.

The young man immediately stepped back.

Huu Liet watched him leave before turning back.

“That is your evidence?”

“No.”

Tien Phong answered.

“Not enough to convict anyone. Enough to investigate.”

He looked at Huu Liet.

“If even that cannot be questioned, then is your protection order greater than the rules of Heavenly Eye City?”

For the first time since arriving, Huu Liet turned toward Hao Nhien with a different look from the one he had worn at the Medicine Pavilion.

Hao Nhien saw it clearly but did not avoid his gaze.

After a while, Huu Liet asked,

“You were away from Lac Van for quite some time?”

“Yes.”

“Where did you go?”

“To look for ingredients and deal with several matters related to pill refinement.”

“Anyone with you besides Tieu Nha?”

“No.”

Huu Liet frowned.

“Anything that can prove your route?”

Hao Nhien smiled faintly.

“I was searching for ingredients, not escorting cargo. I also don’t have the habit of taking witnesses with me every time I leave just in case someone questions me later.”

Huu Liet said nothing further.

Tien Phong gave a faint, cold laugh.

Hao Nhien looked at him.

“But there is something I don’t understand either. I’m an alchemist. Lac Van has medicinal herbs, but not every beast core, mineral, or pill-refining material can be found nearby.”

“I leave the settlement for a while, Duong Long happens to disappear at the same time, and based on that alone Deputy City Lord Tien already believes an alchemist like me could make a City Lord and several late-Foundation cultivators vanish?”

He gave a slight shrug.

“If that is really the case, then you think more highly of me than I do.”

Several people on Huu Liet’s side shifted their eyes slightly.

Tien Phong remained cold.

“Whether it was you or not, investigation will tell us.”

“Then investigate.”

Hao Nhien answered naturally.

Tien Phong paused slightly.

Hao Nhien continued,

“I never said you couldn’t investigate.”

“But Deputy City Lord Tien arrived with dozens of people, surrounded Lac Van, let one of my people get injured, and only then began talking about an investigation.”

“That order of events makes it difficult not to think the conclusion came first and the reason afterward.”

Someone behind Tien Phong immediately shouted,

“Impudent!”

Huu Liet turned his head, his voice turning cold.

“I’m speaking.”

The man stiffened and fell silent.

Tien Phong looked at Huu Liet.

“You truly intend to interfere?”

“I already said, one matter is one matter.”

Huu Liet pointed toward Hao Nhien.

“This man is supplying pills for military logistics.”

Then he pointed toward the medicinal fields.

“Lac Van is under protection I personally agreed to provide.”

“If you want to investigate, I won’t stop you.”

“But without evidence, you are not taking him away directly in front of me.”

Tien Phong’s voice turned cold.

“Just because he refines pills for you?”

Huu Liet was silent for a brief moment before shaking his head.

“If it were only because of a few pills, I would not need to stand here.”

Hao Nhien’s eyes shifted slightly.

Huu Liet looked directly at Tien Phong.

“I accepted responsibility for this protection. I gave my word. I issued the order.”

“If someone can come to a place under my name and take people away without evidence today, then tomorrow who will still take my word seriously?”

No one spoke.

That single sentence was enough to explain why Huu Liet had to stand here.

He turned toward Hao Nhien.

“But don’t misunderstand either. I do not know whether Duong Long’s disappearance has anything to do with you.”

“And I will have people investigate.”

“If it truly is connected to you, I will personally take you into the city.”

Hao Nhien cupped his hands.

“Of course.”

The answer came so quickly that Huu Liet looked at him for a little longer, but in the end said nothing.

Tien Phong gave a faint laugh.

“You’ll investigate it yourself?”

Huu Liet replied,

“Then what do you want?”

Tien Phong remained silent for several breaths before saying,

“Tomorrow, convene a council of all four Deputy City Lords. Ta Minh, you, me, and Trung Vu will all attend.”

“Duong Long was the City Lord appointed to take over Tien Thanh. His disappearance is no longer a private matter belonging to one line.”

Huu Liet remained silent for a moment before nodding.

“Fine.”

Tien Phong looked toward Hao Nhien.

“Alchemist Giai, you must attend tomorrow.”

Hao Nhien cupped his hands.

“Fine.”

Tien Phong raised an eyebrow slightly.

“You agreed that quickly?”

Hao Nhien smiled.

“Deputy City Lord Tien suspects me. Deputy City Lord Huu says he’ll investigate. Tomorrow all four of you will ask questions.”

“If I refuse to go, wouldn’t that make me look even more suspicious?”

Tien Phong studied him for a while before a thin smile gradually appeared.

“I hope you’re still this calm tomorrow morning.”

Hao Nhien did not answer.

The people behind Tien Phong were still holding formation around the medicinal fields, while those who had arrived with Huu Liet had also quietly spread out on both sides.

No one had drawn a sword.

But their positions alone were enough to show the boundary between the two lines.

Tien Phong looked at Huu Liet.

“You’ll take responsibility?”

“I’ll take responsibility for the words I gave.”

Huu Liet answered.

“I’m staying here tonight.”

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll enter the city together with Alchemist Giai.”

“If the investigation finds a problem, I’ll personally hand him over.”

“If not…”

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“Then we can discuss the matter of your people coming here and injuring someone.”

The expression of the black-robed man who had fought Lanh Hoa immediately darkened.

Tien Phong did not even look at him.

After a while, he nodded.

“Fine.”

The tension around the medicinal fields finally eased slightly.

Tien Phong turned away.

After taking several steps, he stopped.

“I’ll leave people outside.”

Huu Liet’s expression turned cold.

“If you enjoy standing in the desert, do as you please.”

Tien Phong laughed.

A flying sword appeared beneath his feet.

He did not argue further, nor did he try to use his presence to pressure Huu Liet again.

Before leaving, Tien Phong looked at Hao Nhien one more time.

Then his flying sword became a streak of light and shot toward Heavenly Eye City.

The people who had come with him gradually withdrew from the medicinal fields.

But just as he had said, two groups remained outside Lac Van’s territory, one to the north and one to the east.

They were positioned well enough to watch the routes in and out, but they did not enter the settlement.

Not long afterward, Tien Phong’s aura completely disappeared into the night.

Huu Liet turned toward the people who had arrived with him.

“You go outside as well. Hold the west and south.”

“Do not interfere with the people of Lac Van moving around. Just make sure no one leaves this area tonight without us knowing.”

One man immediately cupped his hands.

“Understood.”

The rest quickly dispersed.

Hao Nhien looked at the positions now established on all four sides and the corner of his mouth curved slightly.

Huu Liet caught the expression.

“You can still smile?”

“Why not?”

“Tomorrow all four Deputy City Lords will question you. Tonight, both Tien Phong’s people and mine are standing outside watching.”

“I know.”

Huu Liet looked at him.

“That doesn’t bother you?”

Hao Nhien looked toward the medicinal fields swaying under the moonlight.

“At least having you here is better than letting Tien Phong’s people walk in freely.”

Huu Liet paused for a beat, then laughed.

“Giai Nhien, you really refuse to take a loss.”

Hao Nhien cupped his hands.

“I’m only a merchant. Merchants have even more reason to calculate carefully.”

The smile on Huu Liet’s face had not fully faded before it gradually disappeared.

“Don’t misunderstand.”

“Stopping Tien Phong from taking you today does not mean I trust you.”

“I know.”

“If Duong Long’s disappearance truly has something to do with you, I will not overlook it because of one pill or a few shipments.”

Hao Nhien looked directly at him.

“Of course.”

The two looked at each other in silence for a moment.

Finally, Huu Liet turned toward several nearby houses.

“Do you have tea?”

Hao Nhien smiled slightly.

“We do.”

“Then let’s drink.”

“The night is still long.”

Huu Liet walked ahead.

Hao Nhien watched his broad back for a moment before lightly glancing toward a house deeper inside Lac Van.

Quan Nha, standing beside him, noticed but did not ask.

Hao Nhien said nothing either.

He simply withdrew his gaze and followed Huu Liet.

Tomorrow, the four Deputy City Lords would sit together and question him about the whereabouts of a man who, at this very moment, was still alive inside a house deep within Lac Van.

Less than a few hundred steps away from Huu Liet.