Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 423 - 423 422 Disaster of the Pool Fish Monthly Request for Guarantee

423: Chapter 422: Disaster of the Pool Fish [Monthly Request for Guarantee] 423: Chapter 422: Disaster of the Pool Fish [Monthly Request for Guarantee] PS: The month has begun anew, and I humbly ask for everyone’s support, with an added update tonight, earnestly seeking your monthly ticket.

………

Hou Niao finally determined the direction of his swordsmanship, which took him twenty years since he began practicing the Sword Dao to roughly clarify.

He did not know what his future would hold after making such a choice, but given his current situation, there was no turning back.

He could not, like the other Shan Sect sword cultivators, follow their step by step progression and then maintain a level comparable to the elite magic cultivators of the Great Dao Sect.

That was not what he wanted.

After experiencing the true Body Sword Skill, he could never forget that exhilarating feeling.

Once having tasted the vastness of the sea, all other waters seem insignificant; without the Body Sword, there is no sword!

He enjoyed that sensation beneath the sword’s edge, where blood spattered before his eyes; if too far away, would it not feel as satisfying?

He hadn’t fallen into the way of demons, had he?

Although the Shan Sect was dubbed demonic by others, these sword cultivators scarcely believed themselves to be real demons.

This demon is not that demon.

Having made his decision, his mood cleared up; now, the only thing that still troubled him was how to obtain the Body Sword Fragment from the underground treasury.

Pouring himself a cup of wine, he lay on the artificial hill in the garden, basking in the warmth of the sunlight, pondering how to break the inexplicable thin ice between him and Li Chuping?

It seems that proud people are all like that, aren’t they?

Perhaps he had pursued too aggressively, giving the old man a sense of crisis?

A malicious smile curled at the corner of Hou Niao’s mouth as he thought.

………

While Hou Niao was ruminating about his superior, his superior had no time to ruminate about him.

In the grand hall of Sikong Mansion, over a dozen high-ranking officials were in a routine meeting; such meetings occurred once every three months to provide comprehensive oversight for the Shan Sect, delve into the situation on the Continent, handle emergencies, and plan tasks for the next quarter.

The meeting was chaired by Xu Kezhuang, the Mansion Master of Sikong Mansion and Master Xu, and Master Zongyuan, the deputy Mansion Master; the only two Masters in Sikong Mansion.

The ten or so individuals below them were all Golden Core Cultivators, heading various functional departments across the regions, including Li Chuping.

Li Chuping had risen to the position of Assistant in Sikong Mansion through the standard promotion path of the Capital Commandant of Jin City; possessing true ability, sufficient Realm, and strong backing in Yujing, his ascent was all very natural.

However, five years was not enough time for him to occupy a very significant position in Sikong Mansion.

Instead, he handled miscellaneous and emergency affairs.

As a semi-governmental entity, seniority would naturally dictate promotion and progress.

Meetings followed a procedure, dealing with internal and external affairs, disciplinary secret reports…

Everyone present was an old hand, each with abundant experience, which meant the progress of the meeting was swift.

Trivial matters need not be mentioned; those of moderate importance were resolved on the spot, and only significant issues were brought to the table, otherwise the two Masters would become impatient.

Among the matters discussed was the bloody conflict that had occurred between Mirage City and the Wu Sect.

“Wu Zhengming’s handling was quite proper; let him deal with it entirely.

The dead were not Wu Sect cultivators, so the incident isn’t too serious.

I believe it will settle down after a while, no need for excessive concern,” Master Xu gestured dismissively, indicating that such conflicts were common, as long as both parties kept them under control.

A Golden Core Cultivator responsible for the Wu Sect area spoke softly, “It’s not necessarily true that no Wu Sect cultivators were harmed.

We just received news that a Golden Core Cultivator from the Wu Sect was killed while active in Linhai, and it seems to be related to the Mirage incident…”

“Who did it?”

The Golden Core was very cautious, “I don’t know, and it seems the Wu Sect hasn’t been making a big fuss about it either?”

Master Zong sneered, “So they admit their own fault?

They can bear it, so should we pretend we don’t know, or do you know who did it?

One of our own?”

Everyone shook their heads, the death of a Sect’s Golden Core was no small matter, and without confidence, no one dared to say more.

Especially Li Chuping, who had suspects in mind but found it inappropriate to say.

Master Yu added with an extra word, “Which Mansion’s disciple caused the trouble?

Acting thoughtlessly, if this continues, who knows what trouble it will bring to our Sect?

Has there been any punishment?”

All the Golden Core cultivators looked at Li Chuping.

This was a random incident that involved Jin City cultivators, so it fell onto him.

There had been no movement these past months, and it was unclear how the matter had been dealt with.

Li Chuping was inwardly annoyed; he thought that the Masters wouldn’t take such a minor incident to heart, but it had ended up being brought up now, leaving him unable to save face.

As for dealing with this issue, he had his own interests and had suppressed it with his power.

This damn thing, nothing good comes from getting involved with it!

He spoke carefully, “This person’s name is Hou Niao.

The situation is quite special, so there’s no fixed affiliation for him.

Currently, he’s among the candidates under review at Mu Shuai Mansion.

Due to the change of terms in Jin City, we haven’t been able to arrange a position for him temporarily.

Later, he went to the Lizhi Sea, temporarily under the administration of Lihai Jiedu Mansion, so even fewer people paid attention.

This person is indeed the primary culprit, but the act of robbing under the guise of pirates couldn’t be sustained by him alone.

The sword cultivators of Lihai, including Duanmu Chai, were nearly all involved, and several had personally participated in the plundering of Lv Teng.

So, it is a collective case, not an individual one.”

By increasing the number of participants, he was diluting the crime, and with countless excuses at hand, Li Chuping, who had been in this business for a long time, knew what to say.

Of course, everyone present also understood.

But since it was the truth, there was no room for blame.

Li Chuping didn’t want to help this fellow now; what he was thinking about was how to extricate himself and lessen the fact of his own dereliction of duty.

One incidence of favoritism and injustice wasn’t a big deal, but if it happened too often, he would lose the trust of the Masters, which was something he didn’t want.

Master Zong was very sharp, “A Second Realm Tongtian cultivator can already be considered a pillar on the local level.

Since when has the Da Feng Plain become so generous that it can turn a blind eye to such disciples?

Or is there another reason?”

Li Chuping had no choice but to tell the truth, as these things could be easily discovered with a bit of inquiry, and one couldn’t hide them,

“This person, this person is inherently unruly, prone to causing trouble, and not easy to control once admitted into the Mansion.

Thus, it has been dragged on and on…”

“And your opinion?”

Li Chuping knew that shifting this trouble onto someone else was pointless, as it would only prove his prior selfishness, leaving a bad impression on the Masters for not being brave enough to shoulder responsibility.

He could only persist, “Chuping thinks there’s no need to make a fuss over nothing.

The Wu Sect’s movements in the Lizhi Sea are numerous.

They have subtle or direct connections with many pirate forces.

Over the years, we’ve hardly done any less in terms of eliminating adversaries and retaliating.

If they can do it, why can’t we?

If we can’t openly break with them, then why not fight back using their own methods, and having a pirate force as a counter is a good idea.”

Master Zong still didn’t let him off, “Though this approach is feasible, and there’s no doubt about that, it requires a certain wisdom to manage.

How come the pirates have started to come ashore?

This makes it difficult for us to explain to the Wo Sect in Linhai!

I’m talking about this man, what’s his name?

Just letting him cause harm and leave without any supervision, not bothering at all?

No form of reprimand or punishment?”

Li Chuping clenched his teeth, “Rather than reprimanding, it’s better to take him under control.”