Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 161 - 161 160 Old Acquaintances Meet Extra for Alliance Hierarch VariabilityZ

161: Chapter 160: Old Acquaintances Meet [Extra for Alliance Hierarch VariabilityZ] 161: Chapter 160: Old Acquaintances Meet [Extra for Alliance Hierarch VariabilityZ] The three immediately sprang into action, using West Mang Mountain as the center and radiating out to all surrounding human fortresses, intimidating and cajoling, convincing and reprimanding—fortunately, no one raised objections; the prestige that Quanzhen Patrol had accumulated over hundreds and thousands of years in this area was still effective.

The villagers scattered across the mountains and fields during daylight, not sparing any tree branch or shrub, loading everything onto ox carts to bring back.

Along with the already existing stockpile, these were the essential materials for defending the fortress, effective barriers against Soul Ghosts and demons, especially against Soul Ghosts.

When the flames on the wall linked together, soul creatures below Tongxuan couldn’t get through.

After three days of busyness, Hou Niao was ready to set off.

Before leaving, he warned the other two,

“The message from Xiang Shi says they will arrive tomorrow.

I don’t know if they’ll spend the night at Fang Family’s Castle, but it will take at least a day from there to reach West Mang Mountain.

Once we get to West Mang Mountain and choose a hunting ground, then start exterminating Soul Ghosts, all this will take time,

so when to light the fire is very important.

Light it too early, and you waste firewood for nothing; light it too late, and it delays the defense.

You must watch for my signal.

As soon as I send the message, you must act immediately!”

Wang Mian smiled, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother, haven’t we all tested it already?

It’s foolproof!

We’ll keep watch all night and won’t miss the message!”

He patted the shoulders of the two brothers, confident in their reliability, “We are working in Yinling, our hands won’t be short of bloodshed, and this is just the beginning with the giant rat clan; it’s far from the end!

Cultivators need to respect heaven and fear the gods, at the very least when you’re not yet capable of contending with them.

Daoists speak of causality, Buddhists of karmic retribution, demons of reincarnation; to kill with pleasure, you must save with generosity.

Think of it this way, for every extra person you save now, you can take one more life in the future, and that way, you’re not in debt to the heavens.”

“Then we should save more!”

The three burst into laughter, bidding each other to take care, they each turned their horses and departed.

Some things didn’t need to be said; if Soul Ghosts caused an outbreak at West Mang Mountain, how Hou Niao would extract himself was his problem—Wang Mian and Fang Yazi wouldn’t ask; if Soul Ghosts besieged a fortress, how Wang Mian and Fang Yazi would defend the walls was their trial, and Hou Niao wouldn’t be overly concerned.

Cultivators, when the grand situation is set, what’s left is how to break through on their own.

No one can help another.

No one brought up the need for requesting reinforcements.

Why share the merit that three people could earn with a crowd?

Besides, Xiang Shi and his people didn’t trust it anyway.

…Hou Niao spurred his horse and rode back to Fang Family’s Castle the same day, arriving before dusk and found the members of the Town Government and his senior Patrol brothers eagerly awaiting, plainly aware that they were not waiting for him but for the Upper Envoy and guests.

Xiang Zhiwen shouted, “Aren’t you joining the ranks yet?

Only you carry such an attitude—everyone’s almost here, and you arrive at the last moment.

Those who know think we’re waiting for guests, those who don’t would think we’re waiting for the master himself!”

Hou Niao replied with an embarrassed smile and hurriedly joined the ranks of the Patrol queue, to which his senior brothers playfully saluted in unison, “Welcome, Lord Hou!”

Hou Niao posed dramatically and waved his hand dismissively, “Enough of that.”

Li Jingxi glared at him, “So full of airs, if you dare say ‘dismissed’, I’ll really turn and leave!”

Hou Niao chuckled, “Senior Brother, you really shouldn’t set traps for your Junior Brother here.

I’ve had no income for five years, been spending without earning, I can’t withstand the likes of your tossing and turning.”

A group of people laughed and joked, a stark contrast to the seriousness and decorum of the Town Government’s side, subtly reflecting the deep-rooted contradictions between the sects that washed away their sins and those that fell into devilry.

Just as the officials from the Town Government saw these people as frivolous and lacking in proper form, with not a hint of the dignity of a cultivator; the patrollers viewed those wooden puppets with disdain as well, so neatly lined up that even monsters wouldn’t bite them for an extra half second.

Hou Niao still preferred the atmosphere on the patrollers’ side.

Sometimes he wondered if one day he actually returned to the Daoist Sect and had to maintain such a stiff cultivator’s demeanor every day, would he miss these tumultuous years?

He dared not think too deeply!

“Fellow Senior Brothers, how can it be that our guests still have to travel at night?

As dusk approaches, we should be setting up camp, bathing and changing clothes, burning incense, and playing the zither, toasting with wine and singing.

Who planned this itinerary?

It’s highly inappropriate!”

Yao He picked up the conversation, “I heard that the two groups of guests both mainly consist of women, and it’s inconvenient for them to travel at night.

Bathing and changing clothes would also be troublesome.

Just wondering if they lack someone to hammer their backs and pinch their feet?

I, your brother, am still up to the task.”

Dou Gong cursed, “You’re no good man, ruining the image of our Quanzhen Sect.

Let me do it.

A single war drum would perfectly complement the fairy’s zither, golden armor and horses, beauties, and heroes…”

“Ahem, ahem…”

Listening to the patrollers’ increasingly unsuitable talk, Xiang Zhiwen couldn’t help but interrupt.

These coarse fellows couldn’t be taken anywhere decent.

He initially thought the arrival of a new person would be good, but it turned out to be even more troublesome; Yinling seemed to have a strange attraction, pulling all the misfits and rejects to it.

An hour later, from afar, a cloud of dust rose as dozens of spirited horses galloped forward, their riders urging them on with whips; it was clear to see they were divided into three groups.

The center group, smaller in number, seemed to be the Upper Envoys from the Quanzhen Sect of Jin City; the two flanking teams, each with more than ten people, more than half of them had their faces obscured by light veils, indistinctly visible.

From a distance, Hou Niao was very curious, “Really, a good number of them are women cultivators!

What’s going on here?

Why does everyone I see in our Quanzhen Sect look like monks?

There’s not even one female among the whole gang in Yinling!

The cultivation environment here is really harsh.

Had I known it’d be like this, I wouldn’t have joined the Quanzhen Sect.”

Feng Yaochen laughed on the side, “Junior Brother, you are unaware.

In the cultivation world, the ratio of male to female cultivators is actually quite balanced, usually fifty-fifty.

Our Quanzhen Sect focuses on combat, so the ratio is skewed, but we still have about thirty to seventy.

However, those ladies all live in places with beautiful mountains and clear waters, like Jin City or our neighbor, Miao Gao Town.

Who would want to come to this godforsaken place?

Only those like you with rusty brains.”

Dou Gong added, “Female cultivators in Daoist Sects are quite balanced, and there are some sects that only recruit women; it’s quite the strange phenomenon.

There are no sects that only recruit men, yet there are plenty who cater specifically to women cultivators, which is indeed odd and marvelous.”

Li Jingxi winked, “Why are there mostly women among those who have come?

Of course, there’s a reason for that.

What’s the most direct, simplest, and most steadfast method of forging good relationships between two countries historically?

Isn’t it through marriage alliances?

The same principle applies to both mortal life and cultivation.

Since these sects want to get in good with the Quanzhen Sect, of course they would send over pretty and charming young ladies.

That’s far more effective than bringing a bunch of men.

We don’t have to spell it out; everyone understands what’s going on here.

However, Junior Brother Hou, you might as well forget it, huh?

Can your three carriages handle it?

Don’t end up coveting a mountain only to find a higher one beyond it!”

Hou Niao was unconvinced, “How can I not handle it?

I’m even thinking of starting a whole caravan!”

Xiang Zhiwen saw that the guests were drawing near, turned around, and glared at them fiercely.

“Shut up!

You’ve all completely disgraced me!”