Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 430 - 430 429 Making Amends for Past Mistakes

430: Chapter 429: Making Amends for Past Mistakes 430: Chapter 429: Making Amends for Past Mistakes The gardener Hou Niao had been busy all night, full of vigor and spirit.

This was a trade after all; working for the E Huang family in this business, one need not imagine her to be spotless and pure as ice and jade—it was nothing more than a mutual exchange of needs.

If you dare to drag him into trouble, you must pay the price.

After finishing his morning lesson the next day, he left the house, refreshed.

He wasn’t someone used to clocking in, but no matter how much he disliked it, he had just started his new job.

He had to put on an act, at least to some extent.

Being an aide to Rong was considered an idle job in the eyes of his superiors, and if he thought so too, sooner or later, he would be kicked out.

The Sikong Mansion was not a lifetime career.

Poor performance or incompetence would lead to dismissal just the same.

Only by climbing up a level, reaching the Golden Core Realm, and taking a position like an Assistant Judge in the Sikong Mansion, and then delving deep into the various dark secrets of the mansion, could one not ever withdraw.

He was still quite far from such an iron rice bowl.

Inside the Sikong Mansion, he didn’t have his own room.

Generally, they would check the task room to see if there were any tasks, and then disperse; if there was something urgent, the direct supervisor would notify in person.

Such easy days wouldn’t last long; one might be kept here or might be sent out, and this ‘out’ was not limited to within the boundaries of Shan Country—it spanned the entire Jinxiu Continent.

Therefore, within the three manors, the most dangerous group of people tasked with carrying out missions was them.

If you were too high-ranked, Sikong Mansion might not let you go; if you were too low, there was no point in letting you go.

He made a cursory visit to the task room, feigning diligence.

Of course, there was no task for him—he had only been employed for one day, and the Sikong Mansion wasn’t short-handed to that extent yet.

Then, he received Divine Sense from Li Chuping.

Still with that same calm expression, “I’m looking for you because I have a task for you to carry out.”

Hou Niao was somewhat surprised.

According to the tacit agreement between him and Li Chuping, he would eventually return to the Lizhi Sea to deal with his pile of debts.

Before that, exploring skills in Yujing should have been the vacation benefit for newcomers in the Sikong Mansion, but now…

“Assistant, in such a hurry?

So urgent that you need a newbie like me to rush into duty?

I haven’t even figured out the way around here yet,” he said.

Li Chuping was uncompromising, “You need to figure it out?

Isn’t it more straightforward to cut through directly?

How long have you been in Yujing, and you’ve already killed someone?

A guest from Prince Manor at that?

Broke all the bones of their young master?

Stirring up Mortal Cultivation conflicts in Yujing?”

Hou Niao chuckled dryly to the side, his misdeeds uncovered; no wonder, all being in Yujing City, how could the Sikong Mansion be oblivious to such matters with its vast intelligence network?

In fact, it was only because Hou Niao was quick on his feet, running to offer himself at the Sikong Mansion before the Hongxi troupe’s performance, that he avoided the worst.

If he had been even one day later, Li Chuping would not have let him off with anything less than a brutal drilling!

Watching the man’s pretense of trembling fear and repentance, Li Chuping felt an inexplicable irritation—this guy was too sly.

He’d said before that the man had wasted nearly two decades within the Sect, always putting on airs and not taking the initiative to pledge loyalty, so why the sudden change of attitude?

It turned out he had offended the Duan Family and feared he might get tripped up, so he’d come looking for a fallback.

The guy was truly cunning as a fox, knowing what could be offended without care and what would be truly life-threatening.

Unfortunately, he had still overestimated the limits of this creature, falling for his wicked schemes; as a result, the Sikong Mansion had been forced to join the cleanup between Mortal Cultivation factions.

Outsiders might think this was of little consequence, but only Cultivators who had truly climbed to a certain position knew how this seemingly minor conflict, if mishandled, could overturn the very foundation of Quanzhen Cultivation.

“Shanyin Ghost Festival, find out the inside scoop yourself.

I’ll just say this—if you do well, Sikong Mansion will take the fall for the Duan Family incident for you.

If you do poorly, you can suffer the consequences yourself.”

Hou Niao knew his clever tricks had been seen through, and he had known there would come a day of reckoning; he just hadn’t expected it to arrive this fast.

Given such circumstances, it was inappropriate to ask for access to the library.

It was a lot of trouble for a good cause, but there was nothing he could do.

“In that case, I will do my best,” he said.

Watching Hou Niao’s figure disappear from sight, Li Chuping shook his head with a wry smile.

To tell the truth, this creature really was difficult to control and quite a handful.

A Divine Sense appeared in his mind, the voice of Master Zong,

“Letting him go, do you have confidence?”

Li Chuping said gravely, “This disciple has always found it hard to see through him.

He never participates in the sect’s skill demonstrations or reveals his capabilities while sparring with fellow disciples.

Yet since his enlightenment, he has fought countless battles, seemingly never losing.

One doesn’t even know how many cultivators have died at his hands,

Especially after going to the Lizhi Sea, with its vast waters perfect for disposing of bodies and covering up traces, he was in his element.

To my knowledge, these past years, vicious crimes on the Lizhi Sea have increased by thirty percent compared to previous years.

Not to say they were all his doing, but he certainly played no small part.”

“You suspect him?

That’s why you want to keep him close?”

“No, I had my suspicions before but later realized I was wrong.

At least half of the victims of the criminal cases he’s implicated in are members of the Wu Sect.

If he were really sent by the Daoist Sect, it would be preposterous.”

“You mean to use him like a knife?

Be careful.

A knife can kill with ease, but it’s also easy to cut oneself with it.

Moreover, the mission this time involves Soul Ghosts; I’m afraid that might be difficult for him at his realm.”

“Master Uncle should know, this individual has been skilled at dealing with Soul Ghosts even before his enlightenment.

He once slaughtered ghosts to collect pearls on the Da Feng Plain and West Mang Mountain, without rest for months!

According to covert reports, he has either opened his Heavenly Eye or possesses a Yin Ming Dao Body, so sending him is indeed appropriate.”

Master Zong laughed, “He possesses such a talent?

That’s good, just hopefully he won’t embarrass us.”

Li Chuping was sure, “I’m not worried about him disgracing Quanzhen.

It seems that in recent years, whenever he makes an appearance, he’s been able to hold his own.

The only thing I’m concerned about is his talent for stirring up trouble, just like with this incident at Prince Manor.”

Master Zong snorted coldly, “Prince Manor itself acted improperly and deserved to lose face.

What do you think they control opera troupes for?

Isn’t it to stir up public opinion at the grassroots level, to create momentum for Shan Sect’s integration into the Daoist Sect?

Starting from the Mortal World, setting the stage with plays—they indeed dare to dream!

If not for Hou Niao, we wouldn’t even have discovered they were playing such a hand!”

Li Chuping was clearly not surprised; at his realm, he had access to certain information as well.

“Master Uncle, what shall we do?”

“In the current situation, it’s unwise to uncover the strife among the sects.

It would be laughing stock to the Daoist Sect and allow others to take advantage of the situation.

We won’t reveal the truth, but we need to tackle it from another angle!”

Li Chuping got the hint, “The iron rules of Mortal Cultivation?”

The voice of Master Zong began to grow fuzzy, “Exactly.

The current cultivation circles really need to be disciplined.

Many people have lived in peace for too long and have forgotten the traditions of Quanzhen.

Incidents of cultivators infringing on mortals’ interests occur from time to time and are not isolated cases.

We’ll seize on this point and elevate the issue with Prince Manor!

I heard that the recovery of the Duan family’s son’s limbs is going quite well, which shouldn’t be allowed.

If we break it, it must be broken thoroughly, so he never recovers fully and learns his lesson.

Chuping, you will be in charge of this cleansing.

Do you dare?”

Li Chuping sighed inwardly; he didn’t quite understand why he was back to cleaning up someone else’s mess?

But he couldn’t show weakness verbally, “Why wouldn’t I dare?”