Demon Sword Sect's Undercover-Chapter 500 - 499: Meeting Secret Code

Hou Niao did not change his appearance but merely adjusted it slightly using the skills he had acquired as a public officer; he was well aware that any deliberate disguise could arouse suspicion if someone was paying close attention.

It was entirely unnecessary; did he even have any acquaintances in Qi Country?

Naturally, blending in was the best cover, as such endeavors were never entirely safe.

Like all cultivators visiting from afar, he toured the famous historical architectures of Jianye City within a few days and perused the bustling cultivation markets, even splurging on a few artifacts; however, as he walked around, he also noted the general ambiance and environment of the city — where it was spacious, where it was bustling, where there were many or few people, and where cultivators gathered.

This was no secret; any interested person could find out.

Though anxious, he could not show it; the method of contact was the most common mortal method, with fixed meeting points on the 1st, 11th, and 21st of every month; although everyone involved was a cultivator, in a mixed and densely populated city like Jianye, where Great Cultivation was abundant, it was foolish to use Divine Sense to communicate.

Among the techniques of the Daoist Sect, there were many that could intercept Divine Sense, so it was safer to use the simplest mortal methods instead.

He had arrived in Jianye on the fourth, which meant there were still six days until the meeting — there was no use in rushing.

Sometimes he wondered, if You Chaoen’s injuries had healed enough for him to speak, could he then simply return home?

He wanted to act according to his own will, not follow someone else’s plan; it was the best way to complete the mission and ensure his own safety, and it was the preferred approach of every confident cultivator; however, the unfamiliar environment made it difficult for him to move freely.

With no one to rely on and not knowing whom to trust, any slight overstepping in his inquiries might draw the attention of those with intentions; one thing was clear, the law enforcement Daoists of the Qi Sect’s Six-Ear Palace were surely waiting in the wings, which was beyond doubt.

Having to depend on others for the success of his mission made Hou Niao uncomfortable; he liked to be in control, not passively accepting circumstances.

In Jianye, the only potential contacts he could have were just two, Xu Shanren and that internal pawn of the Qi Sect; Xu Shanren had already been thrown into the Dao Prison, with his life or death unknown, and for the sake of his own safety, the internal pawn would not easily contact him, leading to a deadlock.

Three days later, unwilling to sit back and wait for death, he took matters into his own hands and initiated his own actions.

In the bustling cultivation market of Jianye, he entered one of the unassuming elixir shops named Lan Gui Fang, which was quaint and filled with the fragrance of herbs.

At Lan Gui Fang, he transformed into a picky customer, hesitating among countless types of elixirs, and finally, after a couple of hours, drew the attention of the shopkeeper.

"Daoist, please say, what type of efficacy are you seeking in the elixir, or just discuss it outright, which is better than this indecision?"

Hou Niao smiled, "Physical pain can be treated, but heartaches are hard to cure. I’m afraid the elixirs in your esteemed shop can’t remedy my unspeakable woes."

The old shopkeeper remained unperturbed, "Here, there is no illness that cannot be cured; it just depends on whether the Daoist is willing to pay the price."

Hou Niao ventured, "May I hear more?"

The old shopkeeper turned and walked towards the back hall; Hou Niao followed nonchalantly.

In the Jinxiu Continent, there is an organization that no one can control—the merchants’ guild; merchants move based on profit, and nothing but the level of benefit can influence their direction, which no Daoist authority can govern.

Nor can any Daoist authority claim to sever clear ties with the merchants’ guild; it’s a double-edged sword that, while bringing prosperity to the Cultivation World, inevitably also brings some dregs.

The guild is not merely about buying and selling goods; such a perception is very limited; in reality, as long as you find the right place, there is nothing the guild wouldn’t dare to sell—information, secrets, even people.

Such services exist that, if you are willing to pay the price, the guild could even help you contact someone to commit murder or arson; Hou Niao, being in Sikong Mansion, was familiar with these affairs; in the Mortal World, many businesses are linked with bandits and even tend to have murky origins with inseparable blood ties.

Of course, not every business enterprise engages in such activities, but Hou Niao found Lan Gui Fang thanks to Sikong Mansion’s grasp of various forces across the Continent. Not only were there such places in Jianye, but also in Anhe, Divine City, and even their traces were not infrequent in Yujing.

These people had no allegiance to any Daoist devotion; if they had a faith, it was in profit.

The old shopkeeper led him to the back hall and served tea before stepping away, indicating that he was merely a facilitator, not actually involved in the dealings; this was also a way for some businesses to make extra money, by using their shops to attract clients and sharing in the profits afterward.

This benefited both parties; the shop could have a little extra on the side, and those conducting underground transactions saved themselves the effort of setting up numerous shops, making them accomplices in each other’s endeavors.

After a short wait, an ordinary-looking Daoist walked in; neither party made any moves to identify each other, and the Daoist got straight to the point,

"What does the guest need?"

Hou Niao didn’t hold back, "Save one person, kill another."

"Whom? Our price depends on the difficulty of the task, including the opponent and the location."

Hou Niao was straightforward; he knew that situations like his were far from rare in Jianye, the dirt and ugliness hidden under the city’s flourish; at least for now, he was safe, but a second contact might not be as secure, as backlash from such organizations against their clients was not unheard of.

"Two months ago, Xu Shanren in the eastern city was captured by the Six-Ear Palace; I want to rescue him. That Shan Sect’s Quanzhen, You Chaoen—I want to silence him. What say you?"

The Daoist inhaled sharply, instantly understanding the current Daoist’s identity; he was not a Sword Cultivator from the Shan Sect, but someone closely related to Shan Sect Quanzhen.

During this time, news about the Secret Detective of the Shan Sect being captured in Jianye had been widely discussed, at least among their circles; an organization that could survive in a place like Jianye would inevitably have intricate connections with the Qi Sect.

Knowing the identity of the Daoist before him, yet he made no inappropriate gesture, showing professionalism.

"Cannot be saved! Xu Shanren is held in the Dao Prison, and trying to break him out is no different from declaring war on the Qi Sect. If I were you, I’d prefer to offer an exchange; this is not something that can be forced."

"What about murder?" Hou Niao was reluctant to let go.

The Daoist hesitated for a long time, his mind spinning with countless thoughts, eventually deciding not to boast,

"Are you aware this could possibly be a trap?"