Wen Leyang had no intention of ignoring the news about the nine-headed beast, Xiang Liu. If what Fei Fei had said was true, that all the cults who worshipped the nine-headed snake as god had received a summon, could it be that the beast had escaped from Black and White Island? Wen Leyang would not be satisfied until he got to the bottom of things.
“Although we weren’t close, I have met Kunlun Sect’s supreme leader at Tangtang’s place one. That’s why when these evil foreign bastards entered the country, I sent some men to Mount Kunlun. I wanted to know more of Black and White Island’s current situation, but my men could not find him. Even the person who was stationed there did not know where Liu Zheng had went.”
Wen Leyang grunted and recalled something. “The foreigners have all come here. Do we have any sect worshipping Xiang Liu here? Have they made any moves?”
Gu Xiaojun laughed, “That question is right on point!”
Fei Fei chimed in, “The worshippers in China, no matter good or evil, Mountain Sect or World Sect, all worshipped the three pura Buddhas or nature. Almost none of them worshipped such an evil thing.”
Wen Leyang nodded with a smile. It looked like the beliefs of the Eastern world were still quite healthy.
Fei Fei knew Wen Leyang’s thoughts with just one look and smiled as well. “However, there is one minor rogue sect that secretly worshipped Xiang Liu. Like the foreigners, they have suddenly stirred. They have already been arrested by the chief. Although we couldn’t get anything out of them through questioning, we…” Fei Fei suddenly shut her mouth and looked at Wen Leyang with a half a smile.
Wen Leyang’s face immediately stiffened. This woman’s gaze was too unnerving. It can even be regarded as mind reading. Under her gaze, Wen Leyang had no sense of security, his thoughts froze. He only managed to regain his composure after some time. He asked in continuation of Fei Fei’s statement, “What?”
Gu Xiaojun coughed. “But we now have an extra opportunity to infiltrate them. You can follow the foreign evil bastards and see what they’re up to.”
“You want me to pose as a Xiang Liu worshipping, rogue believer?” Wen Leyang was not stupid. He quickly understood why Gu Xiaojun had sought him out. Or else, he would not have bothered with telling him all this. He did not wait for Gu Xiaojun’s reply as he continued to ask, “Why me? What about your men?”
Gu Xiaojun shook his head. “We’re the department of security, not a team of mad scientists. My soldiers consists of ordinary citizens…” Wen Leyang glanced at Fei Fei. He said to himself in his heart. “Does she count as ordinary?” Fei Fei seemed to answer him with a sweet smile.
Gu Xiaojun knew what was on Wen Leyang’s mind and also smiled. “My men have their own specialties in their respective fields, they are true field soldiers. However, their specialties are not as effective in individual face-offs. Usually, while facing magic users, we relied on thorough preparation and the might of the army, employing technology against magic, using schemes and plans against them. That’s why we have been successful thus far.”
Fei Fei has been working with Gu Xiaojun for a long time, the two of them had long formed an agreement. She immediately continued, “And, the magic users and sects in our country mostly kept to themselves and did not want to have anything to do with the outside world. Hence, the only people that we have taken down before this were individuals without any support. This time, it’s different. A few dozen forces have added up to a few hundred men. The higher-ups have only allowed us to monitor but not capture, we can only discern so much from the outside. If things get serious, I’m afraid we would not even have the time to react. That’s why we must infiltrate them and keep an eye on them. If an emergency were to happen, we can act immediately and put a stop to them.”
Gu Xiaoju said, “That is why, we need someone who can fight against them, and that person must hold the same ideals as us! If Tangtang was still alive, there would be not need for me to find you.”
Wen Leyang tossed the final chunk of carrot into his mouth. “You don’t have to use Leyang Tian’s name to persuade me. I have promised him that I would help you, and this matter concerns us as well.” He paused. “Just me?”
Fei Fei smiled. “Of course not. Even if you manage to blend in with them, can you understand their language? I don’t think that they all learned Mandarin before coming here.”
Gu Xiaojun smiled as well. He pointed towards small-eyed Xiao Sha who had been standing silently behind Fei Fei all this while. “Both of them will go with you. Fei Fei knows some foreign language, can detect lies, and discern the inner thoughts of others. As for Xiao Sha…”
He had not finished when Wen Leyang interrupted with a frown on his face. “These people have nothing to do with the magical realm right?” Ever since the Five Blessings have gathered on Nine Peaks Mountain, Wen Leyang had become quite well known in the magical world. If he wanted to pose as a rogue cultivator, it would have to be on the premise that nobody would recognise him.
The venomous look that Gu Xiaojun gave was not inferior to that of Fei Fei’s. He had understood Wen Leyang. “Relax, leave this to Xiao Sha. His abilities, hehe, are quite interesting!”
Wen Leyang looked at Xiao Sha in puzzlement, then looked to Gu Xiaojun. “Interesting?”
Xiao Sha nodded and smiled. His already small eyes almost disappeared. “It is quite interesting!” As he said this, he reached out with his hands and started to rub his face. When he removed his hands, Xiao Sha had turned into another person. The young, obstinate youth had turned into a distressed, middle-age man, as if he had been taking laxatives for a month.
Wen Leyang was amused. “Art of Disguise?” Upon closer inspection, Xiao Sha’s facial features have not changed, but his movements, actions, and expressions after his modifications, those were what had transformed him into another person. One would not relate this person to the original Xiao Sha.
Xiao Sha shook his head. He jumped out of the house and shouted to Wen Leyang, “Look closely!” As he said this, he folded his hands behind his back and started to jog.
Wen Leyang’s eyes almost fell out of his head in disbelief. Xiao Sha had left a trail of huge footprints behind him. Every footprint was more than a meter long, the five toes clearly visible. Only a ten-meter tall wild man could have left such footprints. When Xiao Sha came back, the footprints that trailed behind him were like chicken feet marks.
Even First Uncle Wen Tunhai who had seen it all clicked his tongue in awe.
Xiao Sha was not finished yet. After making two rounds, he ran to a nearby well and fetched a bucket of water. He started gulping down the water. Although the bucket wasn’t big, almost the size of the normal red plastic pail which the people in town use. Xiao Sha drained the bucket, spilling not a single drop. Xiao Sha was not done yet, he went to fetch another bucket of water. Wen Leyang hurried to the side of the well. With the bucket freshly filled, Xiao Sha once again proceeded to down it.
After four consecutive buckets, Xiao Sha wiped his mouth in relish and laughed joyfully, ‘I’m full!” But his stomach did not bulge.
Wen Leyang was dumbstruck. He asked in shock. “What happened to the water? Where did it go?” These four buckets of water would have added up to more than a hundred kilograms. He could not even start to believe that Xiao Sha could have drunk it all, even if he were to be beaten to death. However, right before his eyes, the bucket stood empty, the water all gone.
Xiao Sha stood by looking stoic and stern, but spoke in an easy going tone when he spoke as he shook his head, “The skills that I rely on for a living, there is no easy way to explain them.”
Fei Fei chuckled as she came closer to Wen Leyang and said, “Xiao Sha’s abilities are numerous and messy, but you can sum them all up in five words, strange arts among the people.”
Xiao Sha nodded in agreement. “I know various odd formulas among the people, and little tricks of the world. Most of them are used to trick others, but there are some that are quite useful. Even I can’t understand the theory behind it. For examples, fighting long benches.”
Wen Leyang asked with a note of interest, “Fighting long benches?”
Xiao Sha nodded seriously. “In the mountains of Huaiyang, there was a formula that was passed down. The medicine that was concocted following that formula, if wiped onto long benches, would cause these two benches to start fighting one another until one of them would be completely broken up, only then will they stop. I have tried this formula and it really works. It wasn’t some trick of the eye either.”
Wen Leyang was overjoyed. The Wen family were no strangers to ‘formulas’. He wanted Xiao Sha to produce the formula right there and then for him to research. Gu Xiaojun quickly put a stop to this. “Other than all this, they have also undergone strict training and tests. Although their martial art skills cannot be compared to yours, but the average person would not be able to touch them. They are also intelligent and their minds sharp. If they go with you, they should be of great help and will not burden you.”
Wen Leyang nodded and looked at Gu Xiaojun expectantly. “Then what are you good at?”
Gu Xiaojun laughed unexpectedly. “Does ping pong count?”
Fei Fei added with a smile, “The chief’s duty is to assume command, he will not be traveling with us.”
Wen Leyang seemed slightly disappointed. He preferred to have a leader. This way, he would not have to think so much. “Just the three of us then?”
His voice barely faded when a familiar sonorous voice sounded, “The four of us!” Then, ugly man Qin Zhui strode out of another house, carrying his Tang knife.
Gu Xiaojun and First Uncle Wen Tunhai shook their heads in unison, a bitter smile on their face. They threw a look of helplessness towards Wen Leyang.
Qin Zhui could not take it anymore, could not stay on Nine Peaks Mountain any longer. He had stayed back at the Wen family village to look after Nineteen and to guard Wen Leyang, so that he could challenge him anytime. He had wanted to achieve the skill, ‘Break the Force’, as soon as possible, defeat Wen Leyang, and take wed Nineteen. However, Wen Leyang had left in less in two days after his arrival. He had no one to test his skills against, and Nineteen had barely paid any attention to him. What aggravated him the most was whenever he practiced his knife skills, seven fat man would immediately start hounding him and gesticulate at him, talking nonsense and criticizing his mistakes and commenting on where he seemed to have done well, but none of them would fight him no matter what. Not only did Qin Zhui not manage to learn ‘Break the Force’, he was starting to forget how to ‘Hide the Force’.
The Gold-Consuming Lair was destroyed. If he wanted a breakthrough in his practice, he had to look for another worthy opponent. He kept thinking about how Wen Leyang would appear in front of him and how he would miraculously defeat him…
Due to the matter of the nine-headed snake believers coming to China from all over the world, Gu Xiaojun had personally gone up to Nine Peaks Mountain to ask Wen Leyang for help. The Wen elders naturally wanted to know the whole story. Qin Zhui was a sorcerer. Although he had not been in the room, he had heard the whole conversation. Whether he was playing the role of the martial arts freak or the loyal man, the love of excitement ran deep in his bones. He was also bored and had nothing to do. It would have been fine if he had not learned about this, but since he had, it would be impossible to stop him from going. Old demon rabbit was in the Forest of Red Leaves. If Qin Zhui wanted to follow Gu Xiaojun, who in the Wen family could stop him?
On the contrary, Gu Xiaojun was quite happy about this. Although he did not know Qin Zhui well, judging by what he had heard, Xiang Liu was an ancient, unlucky thing. Most magic users, whether from the right path or the evil path, resented this nine-headed monster. That was why he did not question Qin Zhui’s identity or motives. Also, Qin Zhui’s magic roots were not bad. If it was not for his rigid mind, he might have readily allowed him to sneak in with his men.
Wen Leyang jumped back in shock. He did not know whether to cry or laugh as he asked Qin Zhui, “Do you know why we’re making this trip?”
Qin Zhui proudly smiled. A terrifying smile appeared on his face, one that made people’s hairs stand on end. “To beat up the foreigners!” Sometimes, Qin Zhui was too simple-minded, but he was not as stupid as the Rainbow Brothers. He had directly pointed out the ultimate goal of Wen Leyang’s current venture. If they could find out the real reason for their movements, that would be the best, if they could not, then they would rather be safe than sorry. After all, those who believed in Xiang Liu were not good people.
After Qin Zhui was finished, he reached out and patted Wen Leyang on the shoulder. “Worry not, I am a man of honor. I guarantee that I will listen to all your commands throughout this operation. I have thought about it and we can have our duel after all this excitement is behind us. To learn the next move, I must keep on fighting. Rather than fighting the Great Mercy Temple, the Eyang Sect, or the Kunlun Sect, I’d rather be off fighting foreigners by your side!”
Wen Leyang asked him with a giggle, “Why don’t you fight One Word Palace?”
Qin Zhui laughed. “I can’t possibly take on One Word Palace! Not only will I not fight them, I will beat up anyone who goes against the One Word Palace. If I can’t defeat the intruders, I will call on you for help.”
Wen Leyang grunted. He silently said in his heart, ‘Do you really take me for an outsider…’
Initially, the small team who were to pose as the Eastern nine-headed snake believers were a group of people with unique skill sets. However, due to the addition of Qin Zhui, there was now a strange atmosphere around them.
His marriage has been postponed to early summer next year. Grand Master Chang Li’s wounds would need a few months to heal. Capturing the teller hiding in the Place of Birth, Life Sickness, and Death, would have to wait until Wei Mo have finished his calculations. Wen Leyang could not do anything to help with the research of the Dark Arts, which Grand Master Tuo Xie had left behind. This matter did not required strength of one’s magical powers, but in the firm foundation of the house’s teaching. The coming months would pass too slowly for Wen Leyang, he would have nothing to do. Especially due to the customs of Nine Peaks Mountain, the couple which is to be married cannot see each other from the day they set their wedding date until the day of the wedding itself. Nevertheless, Gu Xiaojun’s matter involved the nine-headed snake Xiang Liu and he had made his promise at Leyang Tian’s deathbed, hence, he could not refuse out of honor.
Wen Leyang told First Uncle of what he and little Chi Maojiu had realized back in the witchcraft dimension, that everybody had distorted the original teachings of the Grand Master. He was worried that his family members would not be able to contain their excitement and gather together to execute the instructions. The other two families would be alright but the Wen family would lose a life the moment they shattered their Qi points. Wen Tunhai carefully kept away the dead cellphone. He chuckled and nodded. “Don’t you worry boy! If anything happens, I will be in touch.”
Wen Leyang did not waste anymore time. He went off with Qin Zhui, Gu XIaojun, and the siblings, Fei Fei and Xiao Sha.
The minor rogue sect follower, who worshipped the nine-headed snake, were called ‘Jiugui’. They had already been captured by Gu Xiaojun. Upon leaving the Miao stockade village, Wen Leyang and the group went directly to the Jiugui Sect located on Lantau’s Peak in Wuhan City and underwent a few days of intense preparation.
Although Gu Xiaojun had not obtained any useful information from the Jiugui disciples, they had found many rituals and records regarding the worship of Xiang Liu. Wen Leyang had only flipped a few pages before his expression changed. Qin Zhui was mad with rage and cursed loudly, “They deserve to be killed!”