Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 160 - 160 159 Patrol Guide Extra for Alliance Hierarch Crooked Neck Eagle

160: Chapter 159: Patrol Guide [Extra for Alliance Hierarch Crooked Neck Eagle] 160: Chapter 159: Patrol Guide [Extra for Alliance Hierarch Crooked Neck Eagle] “Among the three perilous places in Da Feng Plain, they chose Yinling.

Not for any other reason, but because the Soul Ghosts of West Mang Mountain are the best test subjects—endless and yet not leading to disturbances in Yinling’s situation,” Xiang Zhiwen explained.

Hou Niao’s mind was struck by a thought; looking at it from the perspective of those significant figures in Jin City, this might have been a very reasonable arrangement.

Just like how he and Tideng Monk had caused trouble on West Mang Mountain for over two months, vanquishing countless souls, and only at the end did powerful Wandering Souls and demonic spirits emerge.

But the problem was that he and Tideng Monk had already harvested a wave.

Now, with these people coming for training and targeting the Soul Ghosts, how much patience would others have left?

It would surely be much lower than when they initially went!

But he couldn’t explain this outright, so he could only hint indirectly,

“That, isn’t it bad?

Whether Soul Ghosts are considered life forms in the Cultivation World is debatable, but numerically, they are definitely far more numerous than the Demon Clan.

That’s also why this place is called Yinling and not Demon Tomb.

If they kill too many, once things get out of control, could it impact the balance of the entire Yinling?

There are still many ordinary people here.”

Xiang Zhiwen found it odd, “Since when did you, Hou Patrol, start caring about the living environment of Soul Ghosts?

Have you attained enlightenment overnight and started practicing vegetarianism and chanting?”

Hou Niao gave an awkward laugh, “Isn’t this learning from experience?

I acted recklessly in the past, and now I understand the need to balance the various situations in Yinling, all thanks to your excellent guidance, brother.”

Xiang Zhiwen did not think much of it, “This isn’t something you or I can decide.

It’s decided from above, and we just need to follow it.

Anhe Daoist Sect and Huncheng Sect will have a trial competition on West Mang Mountain.

We just need to be good hosts and arbitrators; leave the rest alone.

The personnel arrangements are already managed by the offices of Jin City’s Mu Shuai and the Central Military.

Our duty in Yinling is simply to assign a guide to help them find the suitable spots; the rest is not our concern and will be decided by them.

Considering our fellow disciples, you are the only free one.

Why don’t you take up the task of being the guide?”

Hou Niao felt rather troubled, “Can someone else be switched in?”

Xiang Zhiwen looked at him, “What do you think?”

Hou Niao had no choice but to give in, as he had no solid reason he could articulate.

Could he tell Xiang Zhiwen that he was worried the Soul Ghosts of West Mang Mountain might revolt?

And then Xiang Zhiwen would ask why he thought so?

And then he would have to reveal that he had already harvested a large number there?

He wasn’t so naive; though the events had taken place nearly a year ago, the higher-ups would still deem him a source of calamity, settling both new and old scores!

It was better to feign ignorance, “When are they arriving?”

Xiang Zhiwen replied, “In five days.

They still have some exchange activities in Jin City.

Once that ends, they’ll come to Yinling.

You can choose to wait in Fang Family’s Castle or go back and take care of the orphans for a couple more days.”

Hou Niao turned and left, “I’ll go back and take care of the orphans.

See you in five days.”

Xiang Zhiwen found it somewhat unreasonable.

He really hadn’t seen it coming; was this guy really a scoundrel beneath his veneer?

… Hou Niao sped off at a gallop, dispatching a sword letter to notify two underlings.

This type of sword letter wasn’t instantaneous, but it was much faster than searching for them one by one.

Limited to a not-so-large regional scope, it barely covered half of Yinling but was barely sufficient.

A day later, the three met at a small outpost.

Wang Mian, fully clad in military gear, was unexplainably excited; Fang Yazi, dressed in hunting attire, remained expressionless, yet a faint hint of bloodlust flickered deep within his eyes.

Hou Niao cursed, “What are you thinking?

I, your senior brother, have turned over a new leaf and won’t recklessly fight and kill anymore.

I must consider the bigger picture and win people over with virtue!”

However, the two of them didn’t believe him.

Although they had only been in contact for just over a year, they understood this senior brother very well—he didn’t bark when biting; he even smiled as he bit…

“Senior brother, what’s the situation?

Just spit it out.

Who are we going to kill this time?” Wang Mian asked excitedly, rubbing his hands together.

He had been feeling quite stifled these days because the Demon Clan of Yinling had been very quiet for the last few months, scared stiff by the ordeal of the giant rat clan.

Hou Niao said sternly, “It’s not about killing demons, it might be more dangerous than that!

You two need to quickly notify all the human fortresses near West Mang Mountain, count every one of them, to prepare as much wood or shrubbery as possible within five days.

Five days later, we will burn it nonstop on the fortress walls until it is safe!”

Fang Yazi immediately understood something, “Senior brother, are you preparing for the Soul Ghosts roaming the wild plains?

Is that possible?

Why hasn’t the Town Government issued any decrees?”

Hou Niao sneered, “This is a calamity caused by the Mu Shuai’s Mansion!

It’s like this…”

He recounted the experience once, “I’m worried that we will lose control when exterminating the Soul Ghosts.

I went to that region near West Mang Mountain last year; the Soul Ghosts were extremely agitated.

I highly doubt they can endure being intentionally exterminated.

No one knows their limit, but we can’t just do nothing.”

Wang Mian frowned, “The best solution is to change locations, even if it means killing demons…”

Fang Yazi scoffed, “Save those words for when you rule the Three Mansions, Venerable One.

Once the Soul Ghosts riot, they will immediately spread across the plains.

Even if we call for help from Jin City immediately, there might not be enough time;

There are dozens of human fortresses around West Mang Mountain.

If we expand the range a bit more, dozens of fortresses will be within the affected area.

If it’s really possible, we should try to inform as many as we can, at least to be mentally prepared.”

Wang Mian also got into character, “Actually, the best way is to gather the villagers of these human fortresses near West Mang Mountain into a few large fortresses.

This would be safer, and there would be more firewood, but we don’t have the authority to do that, and actually, we can’t be sure either?”

Hou Niao was very satisfied with the two’s attitude; they were doers, not useless people who just made excuses.

He wasn’t wrong about them.

“I can’t be sure.

It’s just a guess.

I’ve talked about this with Master Xiang too.

He thinks my head got kicked by a giant rat when I entered Ksitigarbha Palace…

Do you believe it?”

Both of them shook their heads together.

Fang Yazi spoke realistically, “If it’s good news, it might not come true; if it’s a disaster, it’s practically a certainty.”

Wang Mian chuckled, “What big truths you speak, making senior brother sound like a harbinger of doom.

It’s not a certainty, at most it’s very likely…”

Hou Niao was somewhat helpless, too undisciplined, “Gathering villagers in a few fortresses is unrealistic.

Not to mention we don’t have such authority, even if we did, thousands of people, dragging their families and belongings, crying all the way, walking tens or hundreds of miles…

five days are simply not enough, not to mention the resettlement issues after the move.

Even if all the Patrolling Masters assisted, it wouldn’t work.

Let’s just arrange for firewood.

These fortresses always have these materials ready over the years, though they can’t burn for too long.

With five days to gather wood plus some oil, burning all night will deter the Soul Ghosts from entering.

As long as we hold out for one or two days, once support from Jin City arrives, the crisis will naturally be resolved.

We’ll divide the work, each take care of a sector, and let’s not miss a single fortress.

Scare them a bit; take this seriously!”

Fang Yazi grinned, “We just need to say it’s a warning from Lord Hou, and they’ll listen.”