White frost suddenly spread across the ground, and footprints continued appearing one after another.

A chill rose in the hearts of Yuan Qu and the others.

The surroundings grew darker and darker. Even the moonlight in the sky seemed to vanish completely, while the temperature plummeted to the chill of an ice cellar, numbing their minds.

In their dazed state, they seemed to see countless shadowy figures. Various banners fluttered above them, resembling an army marching from the underworld itself. At the same time, faint sounds of chanting scriptures and prayers echoed in their ears. The bizarre scene had completely surpassed their understanding.

Fortunately, they remembered Chen Fakui’s instructions and did not dare make a sound. The circle drawn with white ash truly seemed effective as well. Neither the spreading frost nor the countless footprints entered the circle. Everything simply passed around them as though ignoring their existence.

No one knew how much time passed before everything returned to normal. The frost, the footprints, and the eerie sounds vanished without a trace. Everything from moments ago felt like nothing more than a nightmare.

Yuan Qu’s throat felt dry as he barely managed to croak, “W-what... what was that?”

The instant he spoke, his whole body turned cold. Turning his head, he discovered Chen Fakui staring at him icily, killing intent flickering in his eyes.

Yuan Qu gulped nervously. “Master Chen, you...”

“That was the City God Temple’s Enforcement Yin Soldiers.” Chen Fakui seemed to think of something. The killing intent in his eyes faded as he said calmly, “That old fogey in the City God Temple deliberately came for me. It seems he’s already discovered something. I’ve never performed sorcery within the city itself. One of your men must have exposed us.”

Yuan Qu immediately denied. “Impossible!”

Then, gritting his teeth, he cupped his fists and said, “Please rest assured, Master Chen. If someone truly betrayed us, I’ll eliminate everyone involved!”

“Heh...” Chen Fakui laughed softly as he continued packing away his belongings without even raising his head. “You still think you’re the White Ape Gang leader? By now, people are likely already searching all over Xianyang for us. Forget you, even your master is in serious trouble this time. If you don’t believe me, go back and see for yourself. I’ll wait here for one quarter of an hour. Once the time is up, I’m leaving.”

His tone remained calm and detached, as though he cared nothing for the danger approaching.

Yuan Qu gritted his teeth, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. Finally, he clasped his fists. “Please wait a moment, Master Chen. I’ll return shortly. Move out!”

With that, he mounted his horse, snapped the reins, and galloped toward Xianyang with several subordinates. Meanwhile, Chen Fakui slowly finished packing away his ritual tools. Then he kicked the surrounding fire basins inward, igniting the altar itself in roaring flames.

Only after everything was burned did he sit cross-legged and gaze toward the southeast night sky.

Cough cough!

Suddenly, he covered his mouth and coughed violently. When he lowered his hand, bright red blood stained his palm.

A pained mutter echoed in the darkness. “How has Heaven treated me so unjustly? I refuse to accept it... I refuse...”

***

“Here! Open it!”

Yuan Qu brushed away loose soil, revealing two iron rings attached to chains beside a dirt mound outside the walls of Xianyang. He gestured for his men to pull them open.

Though confused, none of the men dared ask questions.

Yuan Qu treated his followers generously, especially his trusted subordinates. Not only were food and drink fully provided, even their families had jobs arranged for them.

However, the White Ape Gang’s rules were also brutally strict. The most important rule was that Yuan Qu’s orders could never be questioned. More than one person had already died because of that rule.

Now, who would dare speak out even if they were doubtful?

“Heave!”

Several men pulled on the iron rings together, revealing a thick wooden hatch. As the chains tightened, dirt and gravel scattered away, revealing a pitch-black tunnel entrance.

The men exchanged uneasy glances.

“This tunnel was dug during the Maitreya Sect rebellion,” Yuan Qu explained calmly. “I discovered it first, which is why I bought that residence. If anything goes wrong, we can escape through here.”

“Boss is brilliant!”

Yuan Qu snapped, “Hurry up and move!”

The men nodded and entered the tunnel one after another. The entrance resembled a vertical shaft, with wooden supports lining the dirt walls. After descending and lighting torches, they realized the tunnel was unexpectedly spacious. It was nearly one zhang wide and tall, enough even for the tallest thug to stand upright.

At that moment, a vicious glint flashed through Yuan Qu’s eyes.

Two daggers suddenly appeared in his hands. Lowering his body, he unleashed his footwork while crossing both blades.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Before the men could react, their throats had already been slit.

Clutching their spraying necks, they collapsed to the ground, legs twitching wildly as bloody foam bubbled from their mouths. Yuan Qu merely glanced at them coldly, completely ignoring their hateful stares. Grabbing a torch, he sprinted deeper into the tunnel.

The tunnel had always been his carefully prepared escape route. Whether trouble came or not, these men could never be allowed to live. The tunnel was dark and the air suffocatingly stale, but Yuan Qu ignored it, running faster and faster.

He understood exactly what Chen Fakui meant. He wasn’t waiting for Yuan Qu out of loyalty. It was because he would need helpers later when going to seize the treasure at the mass grave.

If Yuan Qu returned too late, Chen Fakui would disappear without hesitation.

***

Yuan Qu’s residence was not far from the northern city wall. Before long, he arrived at a hidden chamber. He then peered through a narrow viewing slit into his family’s main hall. The slit had been cleverly hidden beneath the offering table.

That was where Yuan Qu’s cunning truly showed. Most people built escape tunnels leading to side rooms or studies. Who would imagine he had hidden beneath the main hall itself?

The moment he looked outside, Yuan Qu’s heart sank. The hall was blazing brightly with candlelight. All the maids and servants in his household knelt on the floor. The gang members left behind in the residence were battered, bruised, and tightly bound. Nearby, he could see a pair of cowhide boots resting atop a chair.

Chaotic footsteps echoed as yamen constables moved back and forth.

“Chief Constable, we found nothing in the side chambers!”

“Chief Constable, an ambush has already been set at the city gates! The moment Yuan Qu returns, he’ll be captured immediately!”

“What about the Zhou Family?”

“Official Hu has already led men there.”

Chief Constable, Guan Wanche!

Yuan Qu silently retreated back into the tunnel and immediately fled. At the same time, regret flooded his heart. They had abducted countless children over the years without issue. After all, children disappeared from Xianyang every day! Everything could simply be blamed on traffickers. Who would have expected the final few to expose everything?

It had to be Zhou Peide’s fault. The idiots he hired had to have failed!

That damned fool. I should never have gotten involved with him!

Bitter regret filled Yuan Qu’s heart. Backed by Zhou Pan, his life had gone smoothly for years. Combined with constant flattery from his followers, he had begun believing himself a master strategist without equal. He never realized many people simply dared not offend Zhou Pan and thus pretended ignorance while suffering in silence.

Of course, Yuan Qu himself would never admit that.

***

Exiting the tunnel, Yuan Qu mounted his horse, and prepared to flee.

As he started to make his way back, hesitation flickered in his eyes. Following Chen Fakui meant living forever on the run. Worse still, all the wealth he had spent his life accumulating had been left behind.

He would lose everything. Yet fleeing alone carried equally great risks. When he thought of all the jianghu figures he had offended over the years, fear began rising uncontrollably in his heart.

Only then did he realize the truth.

Without Xianyang, without Zhou Pan, without the White Ape Gang, he was nothing.

Letting out a miserable sigh, Yuan Qu urged his horse into the darkness. Not long afterward, he returned to the hillside.

When he found Chen Fakui still seated cross-legged, Yuan Qu finally relaxed.

He hurried forward and fell to his knees. “Master Chen truly foresaw everything. From now on, I’ll follow you faithfully.”

Chen Fakui nodded calmly, neither joy nor sorrow visible in his eyes. He already knew Yuan Qu would return. Men like Yuan Qu had no path except clinging to stronger figures.

“Let’s go. I anticipated this day long ago. But if they think that old fool alone can capture me, they’re dreaming...”

***

Along the dark official road, one disciple finally could not help asking, “Third Master, why hasn’t he arrived yet?”

They had waited a long time, yet there was no sign of Li Yan at all. Even Zhou Peide himself had begun growing suspicious.

Zhou Peide said grimly, “Go ask what’s happening!”

“Yes, Third Master!”

The disciple immediately mounted up and vanished into the darkness. But less than half an incense stick later, he returned hurriedly with a puzzled expression.

“Third Master, everyone’s gone. No one knows where they went.”

“Gone?” Rage instantly surged into Zhou Peide’s head. Blinded completely by hatred, he no longer had the patience to think things through. “That bastard Yuan Qu really is unreliable! Forget it. We’ll return first. Tomorrow, I’ll demand an explanation from him personally!”

With that, he led the group back toward Xianyang.

The city gates remained closed at night, but the Zhou Family held considerable influence within the city. As usual, after a simple greeting, someone lowered a hanging basket from the walls.

Yet the moment Zhou Peide climbed up, he realized something was wrong. He was greeted by rows of soldiers and officers of the courthouse with drawn bows and crossbows. Sharp arrows were pointed at everyone who returned.

At the same time, torches flared to life all around.

“Zhou Peide, your crimes have been exposed!”

***

At dawn, the skies had barely begun to brighten. Outside the Mountain God Temple, the campfire had long since died out.

Li Yan lay asleep hugging a wine jar, using a log as his pillow. Nearby, Zhao Luzi snored loudly as well.

The two had talked throughout the entire night, and after downing several jars of wine, even trained martial artists could no longer endure it and collapsed into deep sleep.

Suddenly, Li Yan’s nose crinkled. At the same moment, Zhao Luzi’s ears twitched. Both men abruptly sat upright and looked toward the mountain path.

Sha Lifei was rushing up the trail alongside a villager, panic written all over his face. The moment he saw Li Yan, he shouted loudly, “Little Yan, hurry back! Wang Daoxuan has been ambushed!”