Chapter 565 - 275: Flawless

Chapter 565: Chapter 275: Flawless

"Lord Chen, are you all right?"

Seeing Chen Cheng remain silent for a long time, Meng Qin asked cautiously.

"I’m fine," Chen Cheng said lightly.

In the Inspection Department, Xiao Nianci had always been secretive about news from Sanmen Prefecture, and at Chen Cheng’s rank, he couldn’t access it at all.

Previously, Chen Cheng could learn a bit through Xia Lingfeng.

Ever since Xia Lingfeng left to track down the precise location of the Black Lotus Sect Headquarters, his only sources of intelligence from the State City were his master, Mr. Zheng, and letters from Luo Mingyu and his family.

His master, Mr. Zheng, only ever reported good news, not bad, and Luo Mingyu didn’t seem to know much either.

From this secret letter, Chen Cheng could sense that the Major Sects had entered Su State and were unscrupulously seizing all sorts of resources. The Great Dao Sect, with its strength alone, was clearly struggling to contend with several Major Sects.

The situation in Sanmen Prefecture had likely reached a critical point.

The other Prefecture Cities within Su State would probably face the same problem.

Because of the Fog Concealment Cave Mansion, Linji Prefecture was also a focal point of contention for the Major Sects and would soon become a place where storms gathered.

Xiao Nianci was in such a hurry to purge the Black Lotus Sect, undoubtedly to eliminate this hidden threat and strengthen control over the Linji Prefecture territory before the Major Sects could infiltrate further.

’Time waits for no one. I have to increase my Martial Arts Power as quickly as possible to handle the chaotic situation ahead.’

After this silent thought, Chen Cheng put down the secret letter and turned to examine other intelligence reports.

The army sent to purge the Black Lotus Sect was making good progress. Xiao Nianci and Shen Zhaoyi were leading the main force on a shortcut from Qinghe County, deep into the heart of the Great Wilderness Mountain Range, heading straight for the Black Lotus Sect Headquarters.

Xia Lingfeng and Jiang Botao were each leading a contingent of men, entering the Great Wilderness Mountain Range from Moshan County and Xinyi County respectively, to prevent the Black Lotus Sect villains from fleeing toward Linji Prefecture.

With the three forces forming a pincer encirclement, annihilating the Black Lotus Sect was just a matter of time.

The movements of the Four Major Sects’ Inner Sect Disciples were also being monitored by the Brocade Guard.

After slaying some Demon Beasts and searching for some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures near the Fog Concealment Cave Mansion, they too headed for the Black Lotus Sect Headquarters under the banner of purging the Black Lotus Sect villains.

Given the usual conduct of the disciples from the Four Major Sects, purging the Black Lotus Sect villains was likely just a pretext. Their real objective was probably to fight for the various resources at the Black Lotus Sect Headquarters.

After all, the Black Lotus Sect had been lying dormant deep within the Great Wilderness Mountain Range for many years and had surely gathered a great deal of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

It was only natural that the Inner Sect Disciples of the Four Major Sects would want a piece of the pie.

And with their Martial Arts Power, Zhang Daozong and the others were indeed capable of competing for it.

"Compile this intelligence into a report and send it to the Sect," Chen Cheng ordered after he had finished reading through everything.

...

Leaving the Inspection Department, Chen Cheng headed for the Shen Family’s residence.

Just as he reached the outermost streets of the Shen Family’s district, he saw Shen Qingpeng and Shen Qingxuan emerging from an alley.

The two of them looked furtive, as if they were afraid of being seen.

They were startled when they suddenly ran into Chen Cheng.

Shen Qingxuan’s expression was complicated. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at Chen Cheng.

There was a time when, in Shen Qingxuan’s eyes, Chen Cheng was nothing more than a country bumpkin she looked down on. Now, he had leaped to become a great figure, high above and someone she had to look up to. Naturally, she felt a mix of complicated emotions.

That was why Chen Cheng was the last person Shen Qingxuan wanted to see!

Shen Qingpeng was more composed. He walked up, bowed to Chen Cheng, and called out with a grin, "Greetings, Lord Brother-in-law!"

"Just ’Brother-in-law’ is fine. What’s with the ’Lord’?" Chen Cheng shot him a look and said irritably.

Shen Qingpeng said with great earnestness, "Official rank outweighs family ties. In public, even Grandfather has to call you Lord Chen. It’s only natural that I should be formal too."

"Suit yourself!" Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered to argue with him about such trivial matters and asked, "Where are you two going?"

Shen Qingpeng smiled. "We’ve been Cultivating Martial Dao at home every day, and it’s gotten really boring. My cousin Qingxuan and I were planning to go to Jishui Lake to relax.

"Brother-in-law, want to come with us? I heard the Drunken Immortal Tower is selling Tier Five Demon Beast Meat recently. That’s a rare treat."

Chen Cheng’s expression darkened slightly. "Didn’t your Grandfather-in-law tell you that the Shen Family disciples are not to go to the Outer City alone recently?"

"Er..." Shen Qingpeng scratched his head and said with an awkward laugh, "Of course Grandfather told us, but we’re just going for a stroll during the day. We’ll be back before dark. Nothing will happen."

"You’re not going," Chen Cheng said lightly, and then started walking forward.

Shen Qingpeng and Shen Qingxuan exchanged a glance, both seeing the hesitation in the other’s eyes. Should they really listen to this brother-in-law who was even younger than they were?

"Aren’t you coming?" Chen Cheng asked without turning his head. His voice was level, but it left no room for argument.

"Sigh..." Shen Qingpeng let out a long sigh and scurried to catch up. "Brother-in-law, you’re being a bit too serious. We’re on the same side! Can’t you at least consider the feelings of your dear little brother-in-law?"

"Noisy," Chen Cheng said, sparing his words.

Seeing the two of them walk further away, Shen Qingxuan hesitated for a moment before turning to follow behind them.

The three of them hadn’t gone far when they saw the Sun-Shooting Divine Arrow, Liu Yongzhen, with a Longbow on his back, rushing toward them with Liu Ruofeng and a group of Hospital Martial Artists.

When Liu Yongzhen saw Shen Qingpeng and Shen Qingxuan returning with Chen Cheng, he let out a huge sigh of relief in his heart. He quickly led his men forward to bow respectfully.

"Greetings, Master Chen!"

"Elder Liu, there’s no need for such formalities," Chen Cheng said with a smile, waving his hand.

"Yes," Liu Yongzhen said respectfully. "The Patriarch is waiting in the main hall. This old servant must continue his patrol, so I won’t be able to escort Master Chen over."

"Mm, no matter." Chen Cheng nodded slightly, glanced at Shen Qingpeng and Shen Qingxuan, and strode toward the Shen Family’s main residence.