Chapter 480.1: Bloodbath (1)

On Sage's Peak, Song Deke was one of the Sage's more senior disciples. He managed to beat out the others and secure the chance to serve as their guide.

Now that they had someone to lead the way, the Greenwater Beggar no longer hesitated. He picked Song Deke up and prepared to head into the house.

Mu Yuejuan, the Painter of a Hundred Blossoms, called out to him. "Greenwater Beggar, where did that young man who came with you go?"

The Greenwater Beggar turned and looked at Cedric. "You mean him? He's my disciple. He came along to learn and see more of the world."

Cedric smiled modestly. "I came here to bear witness to what you all are about to accomplish. If there is anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Mu Yuejuan shook her head. "I am not talking about this foreigner. I mean that guy with the surname He who came with you!"

The Greenwater Beggar froze. If Mu Yuejuan had not brought it up, he would not have noticed at all. At some point, He Jiaqing had disappeared without a trace.

When Mu Yuejuan asked the question, everyone else was shocked. Qiao Wuzui, the Half-Sip Yellow Broth, was very surprised as he remarked, "Impressive. He was right there when we arrived, and now he's gone. To slip away without any of us noticing... just what level is this kid at?"

Ye Jianhuang, the Three-Pot Tobacco Pipe, spoke up. "Green Beggar, don't tell me that kid slipped off ahead of us to take everything for himself."

The Greenwater Beggar replied, "He Jiaqing and I only happened to be traveling the same way. I came here to take the old bastard's life. As for what He Jiaqing plans to do, I honestly have no idea."

Greenwater Beggar was telling the truth. He really had only run into He Jiaqing along the way.

However, Gui Jianchou, the Smiling Ghost King, was not convinced. "Little Bro Greenwater, that doesn't sound right. He Jiaqing's connection to you isn't so simple. If I remember correctly, he also goes by the nickname Benefactor, and he has an old grudge with the Sage."

The Greenwater Beggar nodded. "You are right. He Jiaqing came here to settle that old grudge, but that really has nothing to do with me."

Gui Jianchou shook his head. "You have got it backward. He Jiaqing joined forces with you against Sage's Peak because of that old grudge. The two of you did quite a few things together back in Greenwater City. I have heard about some of them."

The Greenwater Beggar smiled. "You really are well informed, Ghost King. He Jiaqing and I did work together on a few things, but what he's doing today has nothing to do with me. If none of you believe me, then I will make myself even clearer. I don't want a single thing from this residence. I only want to watch that old bastard die with my own eyes. If you still don't trust me, then go ahead and walk in front of me. Is that clear enough?"

The Greenwater Beggar stepped aside and made way for the others. The others looked at one another, but none of these powerful figures seemed eager to go first.

Cedric shook his head anxiously. He had been in Puluo Province for quite some time, but there were still some local ways he simply could not understand.

Every one of them wanted the Sage dead, yet none of them wanted to go in ahead of the others. They were even less willing to waste their own strength and let someone else reap the rewards.

Cedric was not the only one getting impatient. Qiao Wuzui spoke up. "If we keep wasting time like this, that old bastard is going to get away."

Gui Jianchou smiled. "No need to worry. He isn't getting away. My ghost servants have the whole place sealed off, even the underground passages. No matter how he tries to escape, the Sage isn't leaving this residence."

Qiao Wuzui said, "Don't forget, that old bastard still has the Imperial Seal."

Cedric did not quite understand. Wasn't the Imperial Seal just a seal? Could it actually be some kind of enchanted artifact that could help him escape?

Mu Yuejuan shook her head. "I don't think he would abandon the Imperial Seal just to stay alive. Think about it. Is there anyone left in this world who still recognizes him as emperor? If he loses the Imperial Seal too, what will he have left to prove who he once was?"

Ye Jianhuang said, "I think staying alive matters more than keeping his old status. That old bastard might really try to run."

Gui Jianchou replied, "If he does run, then the Imperial Seal will be left behind. As for who it should go to, we will have to discuss that carefully."

Qiao Wuzui sneered. "Little Bro Ghost, you want the Imperial Seal again? You want to be the emperor?"

Cedric let out one long sigh after another. He had a feeling that the Toilblade Ghosts would soon be making their way up the mountain. Until then, it seemed none of these bigwigs had any intention of making a move.

What exactly had they come here for?

They were still arguing when a man approached from the distance. He wore a plain stone-blue pongee robe, with a sword at his waist and a folding fan in one hand. A fragrant silk pouch embroidered with a hundred butterflies hung from the fan.

There was something distinctive about his outfit, though it was hard to say exactly what made it stand out.

As for his appearance, he had a broad forehead, a round face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. His features were square and well defined, with no beard on his chin and only a thin mustache above his upper lip. Judging by his appearance alone, he looked like a handsome scholar in his early forties.

However, everyone who knew him was aware that he was far older than forty.

Mu Yuejuan’s expression didn't look too good. “Ink Scholar of Eightfold Talent... What’s he doing here?”

Qiao Wuzui laughed. "Why can't he come? Does seeing him bother you that much? You only have yourself to blame for not being capable enough. You are the one who couldn't even get into his bed."

Mu Yuejuan gave him a cold glare but said nothing.

Ye Jianhuang chimed in from the side. "It's perfect timing for him to get here. At least he talks like a normal person and I would actually listen and do what he tells me to do."

Qiao Wuzui nodded and said, "I will listen to what Big Bro Zhou has to say too."

Gui Jianchou laughed. "Now that the Ink Scholar of Eightfold Talent is here, I suppose the rest of us really should keep our mouths shut and not say anything extra."

The handsome man was none other than Zhou Wencheng, the Ink Scholar of Eightfold Talent.

Zhou Wencheng looked over the group and sighed. "I knew it. Even with that old bastard leaving the front gate wide open, none of you would necessarily dare take another step inside."

Mu Yuejuan sneered. "Big Bro Zhou, you make yourself sound good, but you made it here later than us. Were you waiting for us to go in and fight that old bastard until both sides were worn down, so you could show up afterward and reap the rewards?"

Zhou Wencheng frowned. "Do you really think I am that kind of man?"

Mu Yuejuan smiled. "You can't judge what kind of person someone is from a few words. Big Bro Zhou, let's see how you handle what's before us first then!"

With that, Qiao Wuzui, Ye Jianhuang, and Gui Jianchou all turned and looked toward Zhou Wencheng.

Zhou Wencheng nodded. "Fine. I will go first, and I will trust you all to watch my back. Let's take that old bastard's head first. We can discuss how to divide everything afterward!"

Qiao Wuzui nodded. "Big Bro Zhou, because of what you said, I will let you have first pick when we gather all the good stuff!"

Zhou Wencheng asked, "Who's leading the way?"

Song Deke straightened his back and stepped up to the entrance. The moment he led the group through the gate, several disciples who had been lying in ambush rushed at Zhou Wencheng.

None of them had been disciples of the Sage for more than a year, but they were genuinely loyal to him.

One of the disciples lunged at Zhou Wencheng, driving his longsword straight toward his chest. Suddenly, the word "Shatter" appeared across the blade. No one knew whether Zhou Wencheng had written it, because no one had seen his hand move.

The longsword shattered instantly. A shower of broken steel tore through the disciples, punching so many holes in them that they looked like human sieves.

Several disciples died on the spot. Only one survived. He had a strong physique, and none of the wounds had struck a vital point. He pulled an awl from inside his robe and charged at Zhou Wencheng, determined to fight him one more time.

Just as the awl was about to pierce Zhou Wencheng's clothes, it suddenly fell to the ground.

The disciple looked down and saw smoke rising from his hand. There was no fire, only smoke. He touched his right hand, and the brittle skin split apart at once. His entire arm dissolved into smoke and vanished.

The disciple trembled from head to toe, completely at a loss for what to do.

Ye Jianhuang glanced at him without the slightest change in expression.

Smoke continued to rise from the disciple's wound. A gust of wind swept past, and his entire body crumbled into a thin wisp of smoke and dust.

The awl that had fallen to the ground was clearly a spirit-bound item, but no one else could be bothered to pick it up. Pan Dehai was the only one who did not mind. He bent down, picked up the awl, and tucked it into his robe.

After all, not letting good things go to waste was a virtue.

Song Deke, who was walking in front, was so frightened that he wet himself. He did not dare look back and spoke in a trembling voice. "Seniors, heroes, what they did has nothing to do with me. I really came here to lead the way for you."

Zhou Wencheng said nothing, which only made Song Deke more frightened with every step.

Qiao Wuzui laughed. "Are you scared out of your wits? Want a sip of good wine to steady your nerves?"

Mu Yuejuan sneered. "I don't think courage is his problem. Look how slowly he's walking. His legs clearly aren't much use. Ghost, why don't you cut them off and have one of your ghost servants carry him?"

Gui Jianchou actually went over to discuss it with Song Deke. "I think that's a pretty good idea. It will hurt a little when we cut your legs off, but after that, you will never have to walk again. Someone will carry you everywhere. If you consider everything, it's still a win for you."

Song Deke hurriedly picked up his pace and led everyone to the Sage's bedroom. They did not see the Sage anywhere along the way. Instead, one disciple after another surrendered. The moment these powerful figures entered the residence, whatever courage the disciples had left seemed to collapse.

At the bedroom door, Song Deke called out, "Teacher, they are here!"

There was no response from inside the bedroom. Song Deke then said to the others, "Please wait here for a moment. I will go in and announce your arrival."

Zhou Wencheng laughed. They had already come this far. What was there left to announce?

With ghost servants scouting ahead, Zhou Wencheng pushed open the door and led the group straight into the bedroom.

They called it a bedroom, but it was more like an imperial bedchamber, with several layers of rooms inside and out. The group searched the entire place, but found neither the Sage nor the Imperial Seal.

They had already guessed that the Sage had escaped, but where did the Imperial Seal go? If the Sage had used it to escape, the seal itself should have been left behind.

Mu Yuejuan lowered her voice. "Did someone beat us to it?"

Everyone turned to look at the Greenwater Beggar. He said nothing. At this point, the only person who could have gotten there first seemed to be He Jiaqing.

The Greenwater Beggar wanted to insist again that he had nothing to do with He Jiaqing, but there did not seem to be much point anymore for him to say anything.

Song Deke said, "My teacher might not be in the bedroom. We should search the rest of the residence."

The group searched the estate from top to bottom. They found more than a hundred enchanted artifacts and spirit-bound items, along with mountains of gold and silver, but there was still no sign of the Sage or the Imperial Seal.

The Greenwater Beggar said, "Since that old bastard has already escaped, I have wasted my trip here. You can divide these treasures among yourselves. I will be taking my leave."

A ball of smoke curled around the Greenwater Beggar. Ye Jianhuang smiled. "You want to leave? It's not that easy."

The Greenwater Beggar touched one of the sores on his face. "Why? Are you trying to make things difficult for me?"

Qiao Wuzui took a swig from his wine flask. "You brought He Jiaqing here. He took the Imperial Seal, so you owe us an explanation."

"I only happened to run into He Jiaqing on the way here. If you want the Imperial Seal, go ask him for it."

With that, the Greenwater Beggar strode away, but two ghost servants stepped forward and blocked his path.

Gui Jianchou said, "You can leave once we have cleared things up."

Cedric, who had been trailing at the back, was almost falling asleep. Now, all of a sudden, he perked up.

They might not have caught the Sage, but there was still another fish he could catch in this muddy waters!

If these powerful figures joined forces, the Greenwater Beggar would definitely die. Cedric wanted nothing else. He only hoped these powerful figures would leave his founding cultivator's body intact for him.

Mu Yuejuan did not give the Greenwater Beggar another chance to speak. An erotic painting suddenly appeared before him.

Erotic painting was nothing like the painting of spring. It was a precious work depicting an important part of human reproduction.

The painting showed one man with two women. The moment the Greenwater Beggar saw it, the sores covering his body began bursting open uncontrollably, spraying pus in every direction.

Ye Jianhuang packed his pipe and took a puff. Smoke curled around the Greenwater Beggar, and every drop of pus that touched it turned to dust and fell to the ground.

Qiao Wuzui let out a drunken burp. A strong wave of alcohol fumes washed over the Greenwater Beggar, making his head spin.

The ghost servants attacked from all sides, surrounding the Greenwater Beggar with their weapons. The Greenwater Beggar could barely keep up with the attacks, and within moments, wounds covered his entire body.

Cedric sighed inwardly. All four of them were stronger than the Greenwater Beggar, yet they were still ganging up on him without the slightest concern for their status.

What was Cedric supposed to do now? He was really worried for his founding cultivator! There was probably no chance of keeping the body intact now. If it came to that, he would just have to pick up whatever pieces he could afterward.

Just as the Greenwater Beggar was being forced into a desperate corner, a series of shrill cries rang out from outside the residence.

"SCREEE-AAAAAAHHHH!"

The Toilblade Ghosts had arrived.