Chapter 27: Seeking Out Guo Qi and Ye Tian

This mid-stage Qi Refining practitioner was called Fu Li, and he was the leader of this operation to ambush the prefectural troops.

After spilling everything he knew, he looked at Qin Anyu with a listless expression. "Can you give me a quick death now?"

Qin nodded. "I can."

He swung his plain, unassuming sword in a clean arc, granting him a swift end.

Looking up at the sky, Qin muttered to himself, "Manipulated by the Putian Sect, with involvement from the prefectural city and the province—this situation has become complicated."

He turned his gaze toward the courtyard ahead. "Then I shall kill everyone involved."

He let out a bitter laugh. "How can a single obsession influence me, a dignified Immortal Emperor? I never expected that someone so honest, simple, and devoted to cultivation could harbor such a fierce obsession. Perhaps this is what happens when you push an honest man too far."

"But then again, there is a time and place for everything. I have been detached from the lower levels for too long... No matter. If they come for us again, I will kill them."

He checked Fu Li’s storage ring, but found no magnetic stone. He took Hu Li’s ring to inspect, but still, there was nothing.

"Are magnetic stones really that rare? That shouldn't be the case."

After clearing the battlefield, he entered the courtyard to finish his sweep.

The harvest was substantial.

Setting aside the vast amounts of gold, silver, and medicinal herbs, he found over a hundred jars of aged wine, which delighted him immensely. The wine he had been drinking previously, bought from the prefectural city, had a mediocre taste—to him, it was merely better than nothing. He drank it only because his stomach had adapted to it, and because he needed the energy it provided. It was a necessity.

Habits formed over millions of years could not be discarded so easily; that was the subjective side. He needed energy during combat, and with no other way to replenish it, drinking was his only objective option. These jars, however, were different. The taste was acceptable; they could almost pass for fine wine.

"Looking at these empty jars and the remaining stock, this liaison point must have been established for quite some time, and it has seen quite a few late-stage Qi Refining practitioners."

Fortunately, he had acquired several five-foot storage rings, otherwise, he would not have been able to carry it all.

After scouring the courtyard, he climbed up to search the caves above. He discovered that the cave system was vast, filled with smaller chambers, most of which showed signs of recent habitation.

Currently, some of these small caves were still occupied by those who were severely wounded—practitioners at the Qi Refining or Qi Cultivation stages. Those who were still mobile had either joined the battle or fled; these were the ones unable to move.

Qin Anyu woke up everyone he could. He questioned them about the Putian Sect and cross-referenced the information with what he had already gathered; there were no significant discrepancies.

Aside from this, there was no new information.

As he exited the cave, he saw twenty or thirty torches flickering around the courtyard below. Looking closely, he realized they were troops from the Tanzhou Prefecture. They were not alone; Ye Tian and several others were with them.

His eyes narrowed slightly. He turned and headed toward the ridge, muttering to himself, "The Ye family’s influence is truly significant. But I hope you do not provoke me."

By the time he returned to the prefectural city, the night was deep. Qin Anyu walked through the streets and alleys with his plain sword on his back, finally stopping in front of a small house in a narrow lane.

He knocked.

A prefectural guard opened the door. Upon seeing Qin Anyu, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, but he immediately feigned surprise. "Who are you? Who are you looking for?"

Qin Anyu reached out his hand. "You answered incorrectly."

The guard was only at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation. Seeing Qin Anyu grab for him, he scrambled backward. But it was too late; his neck was already in the other's grip. He felt his breath hitch, a suffocating sensation taking hold.

Qin Anyu kicked the door shut behind him, dragged the guard into the courtyard by his neck, and barked, "Guo Qi, I’ve come for you. Get out here!"

A weak voice drifted from the main room. "Young Master Qin, I am severely injured. Please forgive my lack of proper etiquette."

As the words were spoken, the doors to the main room and the two side rooms opened. A Qi Cultivation guard stepped out from each. Seeing him, and seeing their comrade held by the neck with a purple face, their expressions were filled with rage, yet they still clasped their hands in a salute. "Greetings, Young Master Qin."

Qin Anyu ignored them, his eyes fixed on the main room. "Guo Qi, are you sure you won't come out to meet me?"

Without waiting for a response, he flicked his hand, sending the guard in his grasp flying toward the main room. He then pulled out a jar of wine, popped the cork, and took two gulps.

The guard at the door of the main room saw his comrade flying toward him and reached out to catch him, but both men collided and crashed into the room.

Seeing this, the guards from the two side rooms stepped into the courtyard and walked toward him.

"Young Master Qin, our captain is seriously wounded and cannot come out to see you."

"Qin Anyu, the Prefect has been captured; you are no longer the Young Master of the Prefecture."

"It seems you know something."

With that, Qin Anyu lunged forward in a flash. He grabbed the other guard by the neck, pulled him back, and slammed him violently onto the ground. He stepped on the man’s chest and leaned down, saying, "Speak. Tell me everything you know."

The other guard was furious. "Qin Anyu, we only respect you as 'Young Master' because we respect Prefect Qin Tuo. Without that, you are nothing but a fool!"

Qin Anyu suddenly blurred, and the man scrambled back in alarm.

*Snap!*

The man spun into the air like a top, spraying blood and teeth as he rotated.

The guard on the ground tried to sit up, but a foot appeared, pinning his chest and forcing him flat again. He couldn't draw a full breath, feeling utterly humiliated.

The guard spinning through the air flew across the courtyard, through the corridor, and into the main room, crashing into the two guards who were just trying to stand up, sending all three to the floor once more.

Seeing that Guo Qi still would not appear, Qin Anyu lifted his foot and stomped down heavily.

A harrowing scream erupted from beneath his foot, and the source of the sound quickly retreated further into the main room.

*Bang!*

The four guards piled on top of one another, all collapsing to the floor.

"It seems I must personally invite you out."

Qin Anyu said coldly, walking toward the main room with steady, deliberate steps.

Just then, a violent pounding echoed at the front gate, and two figures appeared in the courtyard.

"Qin Anyu, why are you here?"

Qin Anyu gave Ye Tian and Ji Cong a cold look. "My parents were ambushed, and it has to do with Guo Qi. Why are you here?"

Ji Cong shouted angrily, "Qin Anyu, since when do you have the authority to enforce the law in place of the prefectural troops?"

Qin Anyu retorted with a furious roar, "When have I ever replaced the prefectural troops? He is involved in the ambush on my parents; am I not even allowed to ask him a question? Tell me, who are you? What is your purpose here? What collusion do you have with the Great Dali Kingdom?"

Ye Tian immediately spoke up, "Brother Anyu, one cannot speak so recklessly."

Qin Anyu ignored him entirely. He strode up to Ji Cong, pointed a finger at his nose, and demanded, "Why aren't you answering me?"

Seeing that he was on the verge of losing control, Ye Tian pulled Ji Cong behind him and clasped his hands apologetically. "Brother Anyu, Ji Cong often speaks without thinking. Please, forgive him."

Qin Anyu glanced at him. "Setting your dog on someone and then offering a fake, hypocritical apology—your behavior is truly disgusting."

With that, he continued toward the main room, leaving the two men standing there, their faces livid and veins bulging.

The Ye family was a prestigious and renowned clan in the province, and even a significant power within the Song Kingdom. Relying on the prestige of the Ye family, Ye Tian was himself a mid-stage Qi Refining practitioner and had brought another Qi Refining expert with him—yet they had been humiliated by a Qi Cultivation practitioner from a remote backwater.