“Did you find some kind of clue?” Gu Wangchen glanced at Wei Yang’s expression and asked Si Kongyue without saying more.
“Something like that. While I was chasing Captain Wei earlier, I felt his Qi signature. I kept feeling like…”
Si Kongyue paused. She stepped closer to Gu Wangchen and lowered her voice. “I feel like the Qi signature Captain Wei emits when running his cultivation technique is very similar to the attackers I saw at the porridge stall.”
“Oh? You mean they practice the same cultivation technique?” Gu Wangchen glanced at her and responded in a low voice.
“I can’t be sure yet. I need a second confirmation.”
“Fine.” Gu Wangchen turned to look at Wei Yang, whose expression was a bit unnatural. “Wei Yang, start by introducing the cultivation technique you practice.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Wei Yang took a moment to compose himself. “I am a soldier transferred from the Anxi Protectorate to Sheng’an. I once followed Governor Gao to suppress the rebellion in the Kingdom of Shi, and while fighting against — “
“Alright, alright. Skip the background. Tell me about your technique.”
“In the Western Regions, we practice the *Seven-Star Burning Glow Manual* improved by Governor Gao. This technique is mainly used in conjunction with heavy armor and military formations. It converts our Qi into blood-and-Qi energy while providing resonance and amplification. A military formation made of 100 soldiers of the 4th Realm can defeat a 7th Realm Saint.”
Hearing this, Gu Wangchen finally remembered a certain setting.
The reason the Great Qian could unify the world and make even the Saints submit to the imperial order was the army — or rather, the army in formation.
A formation of 100 soldiers of the 4th Realm could resist a 7th Realm Saint.
Naturally, a formation of hundreds or even 1,000 soldiers could resist an 8th Realm or even a 9th Realm expert.
Unless one broke through the 9th Realm, achieved Unity with the Dao, attained Nirvana, and ascended to immortality.
However, there were no living 10th Realm Celestials in this world. Even the late Emperor’s announced ascension back then was actually a failure to achieve Unity with the Dao, leading to his disappearance. Otherwise, the imperial court would never be in its current state.
Perhaps Li Zhaoning would have ascended the throne long ago, the Empress Dowager’s faction would be nonexistent, and Xiao Wan wouldn’t even need to be a Protector.
After all, a 10th Realm Celestial was an absolute suppression of a 9th Realm expert. If the late Emperor were still around, even Gu Wangchen’s father could only obediently act as a virtuous Prime Minister.
‘Sigh, cultivation really ruins lives!’ After pulling back his thoughts, Gu Wangchen shook his head gently.
Looking back at Si Kongyue, Gu Wangchen rubbed his chin and changed the subject. “I roughly understand the situation. There’s no need to judge Captain Wei’s Qi signature for now.”
“Eh? Why? I might find a clue!” Si Kongyue looked confused.
“No ‘whys’. This official has his own plans.”
“Fine. You’re the leader, you have the final say,” Si Kongyue said helplessly.
Gu Wangchen glanced at the two and instructed, “Wait for me here for a moment. I’m going to relieve myself.”
“Eh?! Y-You don’t need to tell me about that sort of thing!” Si Kongyue’s face flushed red, clearly startled by Gu Wangchen’s words.
“Why are you talking so much nonsense? Hurry up and wait for me at the entrance of that dark alley!”
After speaking, Gu Wangchen quickly rounded the corner of the street and arrived at a spot hidden from view.
A floating shadow emerged from the corner, gradually transforming into a slender figure dressed in a cinched, dark green outfit, wearing a bamboo hat and a veil.
“An Li, have you discovered anything about the people I had you track?”
An Li knelt on one knee and said respectfully, “Reporting to Master, I have sent people to follow those customers. Their locations have been confirmed. They entered an underground gambling den.”
“Any other information?”
“That gambling den is clearly abnormal.” After a moment of thought, An Li continued, “The foot traffic is too low, and the proportion of cultivators inside is too high. It seems as though the gambling den is just a front.”
Gu Wangchen squinted. “You mean… that’s their nest?”
“I cannot be certain yet, but it is highly likely one of their strongholds.”
“Good. Maintain surveillance. Do not alert them.”
An Li bowed her head and pressed her hand to her chest, responding respectfully, “Yes, Master.”
Walking back into the dark alley, Gu Wangchen looked refreshed. “Alright, alright. That’s much better. Let’s continue.”
“What do we do next?” Si Kongyue knit her brows in confusion.
“Hmm? What about your Qi sensing? Keep tracking them.”
“I can’t! Those people weren’t running their techniques at all when they left. I can’t sense them at this distance!”
“Tch, dropping the ball at the critical moment.” Gu Wangchen looked slightly disgusted as he peered into the dark alley.
“Hey, why are you being so difficult? I already told you to let Captain Wei run his technique…”
“Do you need to teach me how to do my job?” Gu Wangchen turned to look at the two of them. “Since the trail has gone cold, we can only switch to a full-scale sweep.”
“Those people ran into the dark alleys. It’s a chaotic place overrun by gangs. If I were an attacker, I would also choose to hide in here.”
“Lord, how do you plan to investigate?” Wei Yang asked quickly.
The three of them walked into the dark alley. The light vanished instantly. The earthen buildings on both sides were so crowded they seemed to press together, leaving only a thin sliver of sky.
The air was thick with the sour stench of cheap wine and the smell of waste, a world apart from the prosperity of the West Market.
A few vagrants with hostile gazes crouched in the corners, staring coldly at the three uninvited guests.
Gu Wangchen swept his gaze over the many branches of the dark alley that led to God-know-where. After a moment of thought, he said to the two behind him, “This place is too complicated, like a maze. If we check them one by one, I’m afraid we won’t have enough time.”
“Lord, do you mean… we should split up?” Wei Yang asked.
“Yes, split up.” Gu Wangchen patted his shoulder. “Captain Wei, how does your strength compare to Si Kongyue’s after you’re armored?”
“I am far inferior to Miss Si Kong.”
Gu Wangchen glanced at the smug Feng Aotian and said casually, “No matter. That girl is a freak. I still acknowledge your strength.”
“So… Si Kongyue and I will form one group and take the left branch. You will take the right branch alone. Is that alright?”
Wei Yang cupped his fists. “This subordinate will give his all.”
As Wei Yang disappeared into the first branch on the right side of the dark alley, Si Kongyue poked Gu Wangchen’s waist and asked, “Hey, why did you split the troops?”
“Take a guess.”
Si Kongyue’s eyes darted around. After confirming that she was the only one who could protect Gu Wangchen — a regular person — she said arrogantly:
“I’m not guessing. Tell me now, or my heart will itch, and it will affect my work efficiency!”
Gu Wangchen raised his hand and gave her forehead a flick. He snorted. “What? You think because it’s just you by my side and I’d be in danger without you, you can threaten me?”
“Ow!” The girl raised her hand to cover her bangs, biting her lip as she looked at him. “N-No… I wasn’t thinking that at all…”
‘That hurt!’
‘When did this guy’s reaction time get so fast?’
‘I didn’t even feel his attack!’
‘I must have been careless and didn’t dodge!’
‘Next time, I’ll definitely be on high alert and make him miss!’
After grumbling in her heart, Si Kongyue glanced at Gu Wangchen, who had already walked into the left branch alone. She hurried to catch up. “Wait for me!”
—
Wei Yang frowned, Si Kongyue’s words from earlier constantly swirling in his mind.
The Qi signature emitted when he ran his *Seven-Star Burning Glow Manual* was very similar to those attackers?
But he remembered that the *Seven-Star Burning Glow Manual* was specifically improved by Governor Gao according to the environment of the Western Regions. It was completely different from the military techniques practiced by soldiers in other regions.
Could it be…
An unpleasant thought instantly occupied his mind.
“No, it’s absolutely impossible,” Wei Yang instantly suppressed that suspicion and muttered, “The soldiers of Anxi would never do such a thing!”
He clenched his fists and walked toward the underground gambling den known as “Black Wolf.”