Chapter 104: Waiting for the Hare by the Tree Stump

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Tongren County, Great Mountain Sect.
A woman dressed in white sat on a chair, her expression cold and indifferent as she stared at Wen Lianggong, the sect leader of Great Mountain Sect.
At this moment, Wen Lianggong looked miserable—more than half of his once plump body had wasted away, and one of his arms was gone.
Bloodstains covered the ground around him.
“So, his name is Gu Changqing?” the woman in white said with a hint of amusement.
“Yes...” Wen Lianggong struggled to utter the words. He never imagined that this cultivator would come seeking him out, slaughter nearly half of the sect disciples, torment him, all just to track down that previous cultivator.
“He went to Lotus Ridge among the Nine Mountains and Twelve Ranges?”
“Yes...”
“You deserve to die!” The woman in white sneered coldly. A streak of azure light shot out from her sleeve, circled Wen Lianggong once, and his head fell to the ground.
The azure light then swept through the Great Mountain Sect, leaving no one alive—those remaining didn’t even have a chance to flee.
This woman’s surname was You. She had waited at Huiyong for over ten days with no news of Gu Changqing.
Then she came to Tongren, made some inquiries, and learned that a few martial arts halls here had seen a cultivator. She tracked him to Great Mountain Sect.
After wiping out everyone there, the woman vanished from the spot and shortly reappeared atop Niushou Mountain outside the city.
At the Erniu Temple on Niushou Mountain, seven or eight young men and women were sipping tea and chatting leisurely. Upon seeing Sister You appear, they all stood up:
“Sister You!”
“Miss You!”
“I’ve found out where that demon is!” A smile flickered across Miss You’s cool and reserved face, lighting up the eyes of those present.
“Miss You, where is that demon? He’s responsible for so many deaths. Exorcising demons and suppressing evil is our duty!” someone said indignantly.
“Then let me, on behalf of Daoist Yu and those villagers, thank all of you, fellow disciples and Daoist friends!” Miss You addressed the group.
“But that demon is currently on Lotus Ridge within the Nine Mountains and Twelve Ranges. As you all know, our Qingyun Sect has always had a tense relationship with the Nine Mountains and Twelve Ranges. We cannot just storm in.”
“Why not inform Lotus Ridge of this news?” someone asked.
“No. Lotus Ridge is known to harbor corruption. Informing them won’t necessarily help catch the demon. It might even alert him.”
“That’s easy to handle. I have two acquaintances within Lotus Ridge. I’ll write them letters to help gather intelligence!” a young man in black said with a smile.
“I know a bit about Lotus Ridge. Although it harbors corruption, the cultivators there often go out to gather resources. If we can track the demon’s movements and strike when he ventures out, he won’t escape! Or we can find a way to lure him out!”
Everyone agreed this was an excellent plan.
The group immediately set out for Youxian City.
However, along the way, they showed no sense of urgency, as if they were on a leisurely outing.
In their minds, the demon was just an ordinary evil cultivator. No matter how strong he was, he couldn’t withstand their combined assault.

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It was Youxian City that intrigued them more.
Miss You knew other things as well. That man was plainly a wild mountain villager, yet in such a short time, he had slain Daoist Xu.
He must have inherited the Blood Sovereign’s legacy, and his rapid growth made her heart race.
Still, she did not warn them, only sending another letter home to summon a master at Qi Refinement Stage Nine.
...
Gu Changqing descended the mountain with few encounters. The Spirit Vulture Peak had few cultivators, making it the least populated of the Nine Peaks.
There were about a hundred cultivators on the mountain in total, many either working outside Lotus Ridge or cultivating in their caves. It wasn’t until Lantai Mountain that things became lively.
Gu Changqing headed straight to the Hall of Rewards, where dozens of people gathered.
Two cultivators, one old and one young, blocked his way, speaking amongst themselves.
Gu Changqing pushed them aside with a hand.
The two cultivators glared angrily, wanting to see who dared act so arrogantly, only to find a fierce-looking stranger.
“Standing in the middle of the path, do you think you’re the center of the world? Not a bit of awareness. Move aside or I’ll knock you down!” Gu Changqing sneered.
The two, uncertain of his background, sulked and stepped aside.
Gu Changqing bulldozed through, brushing aside anyone blocking his path.
Many wore angry expressions.
“Who is this guy?”
“Never seen him before. Doesn’t look easy to mess with.”
An informed cultivator whispered, “I heard a newcomer arrived on Spirit Vulture Peak a few days ago and injured many on his first day. Must be him.”
Those nearby understood immediately. Cultivators on Spirit Vulture Peak were known for their fighting spirit.
Seeing the fierce aura on him, it had to be true.
Gu Changqing stood before a three-meter-tall jade stele, on which various tasks continually appeared, half relating to gathering rare materials, herbs, ores, and monster parts.
Collect 100 stalks of Jadeflower Grass near Tianmen Peak, sect contribution: 50.
Collect a bag of Tianyuan Sand from Tianyuan River, sect contribution: 150.
Other tasks involved planting spiritual rice, tending the herb garden, and some assistance missions, though the latter were vague and required private negotiation.
Gu Changqing scanned the list, not even knowing where these places were, but it didn’t matter.
He turned and beckoned to a pretty female cultivator nearby.
She frowned, puzzled by his sudden attention.
“Yes, you. I have a question!”
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“Which of the tasks above is the closest?” Gu Changqing asked her.
Other cultivators thought this was amusing. Usually, before taking a task, one would investigate, perhaps find companions to reduce danger.
Many shook their heads, thinking this arrogant fellow would have a bad end.
The female cultivator thought for a moment and pointed at the jade stele: “The nearest are planting spiritual rice and tending the herb garden.”
“Besides that, there’s the snake cave at Tide Cliff to collect shadow snake skins. Tide Cliff is only a day’s journey from here.”
She was kind enough to warn, “But shadow snakes are tough to handle, and the snake cave at Tide Cliff is winding and complex. It’s easy to get lost!”
Gu Changqing laughed heartily, “If you ever need help, find me!”
“At home, rely on parents; outside, rely on friends. I love making friends most of all!”
“Autumn Words greets you, Daoist!” The female cultivator suddenly thought that although he seemed fierce, he wasn’t a bad person.
Gu Changqing took the task to collect shadow snake skins and swaggered away.
After he left, some whispered mockingly, “People like him used to be bullies in small places. He won’t change in Lotus Ridge and will surely suffer for it!”
“No need to say surely. He might not even survive the snake cave!” someone added.
The snake cave at Tide Cliff twisted deep underground. It used to be more accessible, but now shadow snake sightings are rare near the surface, and the depths are extremely dangerous.
Usually, five or six cultivators go together, well-prepared.
If he goes alone, whether he returns is anyone’s guess.
Gu Changqing left the Hall of Rewards and went straight to the Treasure Pavilion: “Give me a map of Ancient Barbarian Mountain!”
In reality, such maps were sold cheaply by cultivators at street stalls.
Few would be like Gu Changqing, going to the Treasure Pavilion to buy one.
A moment later, he received the map, studied it briefly, found the location of Tide Cliff, and descended the mountain.
But after two hours, he stopped in the mountains, took out a fog pouch—a disaster-grade fog pouch usable three times, each covering an area of 1,500 meters.
“Let’s see who’s following me now!” Gu Changqing sat on a stone ledge halfway up the mountain, eager.
He had given those few people chances.
They hadn’t come to find him all this time. It seemed they were determined to die.
According to those people, they were more than ten in number, bold because of their strength in numbers.
Maybe even that old fellow whose cave he had stolen!
(The chapter ends)