Chapter 640: Zhuang Yuechan’s Whereabouts
Chapter 640 -100: Zhuang Yuechan’s Whereabouts
“Her name is Zhuang Yuechan, a Direct Disciple of the Great City Lord of Luoxia City. Her Cultivation is likely somewhere between Late-stage Foundation Establishment and Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. She was probably training in this area about three months ago.”
Song Changsheng answered Peng Siying’s question quickly and clearly, then produced a full-body portrait of Zhuang Yuechan. The portrait, commissioned by Luoxia City from a professional artist, was breathtakingly lifelike and vivid, with astonishingly fine details. Her face, however, was obscured by a veil, her features hidden from view.
He did have another portrait of her without the veil, but Zhuang Yuechan always presented herself this way to outsiders, and he was afraid showing the other would be overdoing it.
Peng Siying picked up the portrait and examined it carefully, saying softly, “Luoxia City… Zhuang Yuechan?”
“I’m familiar with the Great City Lord’s reputation, but I can’t say I’ve heard this name before. Still… with her status, even if something did happen, it shouldn’t be you going to all this trouble, right?
Has Luoxia City become so domineering that they’d commandeer their vassal powers just to find one person?” Peng Siying asked, setting the portrait down in confusion.
“You’ve misunderstood. I came of my own volition.”
“Voluntarily?” Peng Siying glanced at the portrait, then back at Song Changsheng. As if she’d suddenly understood everything, a knowing smile spread across her face. “Alright,” she said briskly. “I’ll help you.”
“Thank you. I’m staying at the Lucky Inn in the northern district. If you find anything, please send someone to let me know.” A smile broke across Song Changsheng’s face. ‘This went much more smoothly than I expected. Peng Siying is still the same as ever.’
“Don’t worry, I’ll have an answer for you within three days,” Peng Siying said with complete confidence. She was well aware of her organization’s intelligence capabilities.
Finding a complete unknown might be impossible, but someone of Zhuang Yuechan’s status would certainly leave a trail.
“Then I’ll take my leave.” Song Changsheng drained his tea in one gulp and bid farewell to Peng Siying.
‘Even though Cultivators don’t fuss over formalities, this is still Peng Siying’s private chamber. It’s never a good idea for a man and a woman to be alone in a room together for too long.’
“I won’t see you out, then. Please, feel free.”
After Song Changsheng left, Peng Siying called Red Simurgh in and handed her the portrait. “Her name is Zhuang Yuechan, a disciple of the Great City Lord of Luoxia City. Centering your search on Chixiao City, find out what happened to her. I want results within three days.”
“So that’s why that man wanted to see you. Seems like he’s making a mountain out of a molehill,” Red Simurgh said, her expression cold.
“He is a friend I’ve known for many years. Do you think I help just anyone?
Now, now, off you go. I’ll be waiting for good news.”
As she spoke, Peng Siying had already pushed Red Simurgh out the door.
Staring at the closed door, a flicker of exasperation crossed Red Simurgh’s face. She shot a grumpy look at Cyan Simurgh, who was covering her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Keep laughing and your face will freeze like that. I’m heading to the intelligence division. The Young Master’s safety is up to you now. Don’t let your guard down.”
“Don’t worry, sister,” Cyan Simurgh said, her expression turning serious. “As long as I’m here, no one will lay a single finger on the Young Master.”
Red Simurgh nodded, left through the back door with the portrait, and slipped into an inconspicuous alley…
Back at the Lucky Inn, Niu Dazhuang immediately hurried over when he saw Song Changsheng return. “Where’d you go?” he asked in his booming voice. “Any news? I’ve searched all over the city and haven’t found a single useful clue.”
It wasn’t really Niu Dazhuang’s fault. Information peddling has always been a shady business, and it was perfectly normal to come up empty-handed without the right connections. After all, no one was going to just approach you on the street asking if you wanted to buy intel. You’d have to be a real fool to trust someone like that.
“Calm down, Senior Brother. I’ve already asked someone for help. We should have news in a few days.”
Niu Dazhuang looked at Song Changsheng suspiciously. “Isn’t this your first time in Gusu? Where did you find an acquaintance? Are they reliable?”
It wasn’t that Niu Dazhuang was being overly suspicious; anyone would have had the same question. With Zhuang Yuechan’s life on the line, he couldn’t afford to be careless.
“It’s the Young Master of the Wanlong Commerce Association. I managed to strike up an acquaintance with her by chance on a past occasion. As it happens, she’s in Chixiao City right now. She’s already agreed to help and will give us an answer within three days.”
“The Young Master of the Wanlong Commerce Association?” Hearing this, the way Niu Dazhuang looked at Song Changsheng immediately changed.
‘The Wanlong Commerce Association! Who hadn’t heard of them? Even someone as thick-skinned as Niu Dazhuang knew what a terrifying power they represented.’
‘It had long been rumored that a Nascent Soul True Monarch backed the Wanlong Commerce Association. No one knew where the rumor started or if it was true, but in Niu Dazhuang’s eyes, the rumor itself was a testament to their power. Why else weren’t there similar rumors about his own Golden Crow Sect?’
A delighted look spread across Niu Dazhuang’s face. His hand, bigger than a cattail fan, clapped Song Changsheng’s shoulder with a series of loud THWACKS. “Attaboy!” he boomed. “Well done! It was worth bringing you along on this trip. When we get back to Luoxia City, I’ll personally put in a word for you.”
Subtly shifting his shoulder away, Song Changsheng shook his head. “Alright, Senior Brother, now’s not the time for that. Even though we’re waiting for news, we can’t just sit around. We need to rest and conserve our energy. We might have a major fight on our hands later.”
“Don’t you worry. If anyone dares to harm Junior Sister Yuechan, I’ll personally crush them with my bare hands!” Niu Dazhuang grinned, revealing a sinister smile…
And so, Song Changsheng and Niu Dazhuang spent two days waiting on pins and needles at the inn. Then, in the pre-dawn hours of the third day, a sudden knock came at Song Changsheng’s door.
Song Changsheng, who had been meditating, was instantly alert. He rose, opened the door, and saw Cyan Simurgh—the young woman who had greeted him downstairs the other day.
Cyan Simurgh silently held out a jade tube. “The information you wanted is inside,” she stated flatly.
With that said, she turned and left before Song Changsheng could even open his mouth.
Song Changsheng didn’t mind. He hurried to the next room and woke Niu Dazhuang, who was cultivating.
He held up the tube. “We’ve got news.”
Hearing this, Niu Dazhuang eagerly snatched the Jade Tube and tipped out a slip of paper. It stated that several months ago, a person matching the description had indeed appeared in Chixiao City. She stayed in the city for several months before leaving.
After disappearing for a month, she resurfaced at the location where a Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object had emerged and acquired a wisp of [Geng Metal Qi]. When news of this leaked, she was hunted by Cultivators from all corners. After a long pursuit, she vanished into the Meteorite Mountain Range.
Furthermore, the report emphasized that this person was a Tier Two Top-grade Music Master who was skilled with the Jade Zither.
The timeline and the description both matched Zhuang Yuechan perfectly. Song Changsheng and Niu Dazhuang were instantly excited.
“Let’s head to the Meteorite Mountain Range right now!” Niu Dazhuang shot to his feet with a WHOOSH, his voice full of fiery urgency.
‘Song Changsheng was also burning with anxiety. When he read that Zhuang Yuechan was being hunted, he almost lost control of his aura. At his level of Cultivation, a full outburst would have instantly razed the small inn to the ground.’
Hearing Niu Dazhuang, Song Changsheng couldn’t restrain himself either. After calling over an attendant to ask for the location of the Meteorite Mountain Range, the two of them rushed off in a great hurry.
The Meteorite Mountain Range was not far from Chixiao City. With the help of a Flying Shuttle, the two arrived in just half a day. But after arriving, he discovered that something was not quite right. This place was obviously remote, yet many people were gathered there.
Most of them were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and there were even some Purple Mansion Cultivators. Some appeared to be mere spectators, while others seemed to be searching for something. Arguments would break out from time to time.
But the two of them listened for a while and couldn’t make sense of it. Song Changsheng had no choice but to blend into the crowd and find a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to ask for information.
The man gave Song Changsheng a strange look, but after sensing his aura, he knew better than to refuse and recounted the entire sequence of events.
After Song Changsheng finished listening, rage surged in his chest…