As Chen Ren’s carriage rolled through the streets toward the gates of Cloud Mist City—Tang Clan’s carriage following behind—soone watched the entire scene from afar.
It was Chen Eain.
He had arrived in Cloud Mist City two weeks earlier and taken residence in the tallest inn the city had, choosing it specifically so he could monitor the Tang Clan from above. Ever since then, he had been quietly gathering information about their connection to Chen Ren. Before doing anything reckless, he needed to know the truth. Were they allies? Were they involved in Chen Ren’s demonic activities? If they were… then stepping into Cloud Mist City openly would only put him in danger.
The information he had collected over the past week had been nothing short of shocking.
Apparently, Chen Ren had beco famous in Cloud Mist City. People now called him Dragonheart. The story behind the na was that he had killed a demonic cultivator during a tournant, which made Chen Eain almost laugh out loud the first ti he heard it. In his mind, the whole thing sounded like a ridiculous lie, probably a staged act. After all, how could a demonic cultivator kill another demonic cultivator and be praised for it?
He wouldn’t put it past Chen Ren to orchestrate sothing like that.
And that wasn’t all.
The man had also opened a food stall—selling sothing called noodles. One of Chen Eain’s n had brought a bowl to him, and after checking it thoroughly for demonic qi, curses, poisons, or any type of corruption… he found nothing. It was clean. Frustratingly clean.
Worse, it tasted good.
Chen Eain had ended up eating it every day since.
But even that, he told himself, it could all be part of a deeper sche. Sothing subtle. Sothing dangerous. Sothing he, Chen Eain, had to uncover and put an end to.
Except… there were bigger problems.
First of all, Chen Ren had apparently started a sect near the city. To Chen Eain, that could only an one thing: more demonic cultivators gathering in one place. And secondly, it seed like Chen Ren had already trapped the Tang Clan’s young miss in his sches.
That part annoyed him more than anything.
He knew Chen Ren was a hedonist, but he had at least expected better from Tang Yuqui. She had rejected his advances three years ago when they t, acting like she was above such things, yet now she was apparently doing business with Chen Ren. In Chen Eain’s mind, the only explanation was that she had fallen into Chen Ren’s trap. And if Tang Yuqui was involved, then the Tang Clan had to be aware of Chen Ren’s true nature as well.
That alone made it impossible for Chen Eain to show his face at the Tang estate or ask them for help.
So he stayed in his inn, relying on the Chen Clan’s far-seeing artifact—the Eagle Eye Lens—to watch the estate from his window and co up with a plan to kill Chen Ren.
But then, sothing strange happened.
One day, a large group of carriages arrived at the Tang estate, and while watching them, he saw Chen Ren himself step out. Chen Eain had been so shocked that he almost dropped the lens. He watched closely as Chen Ren spoke with Tang Jihao and Tang Yuqui, the interaction lasting only a short while.
Then, in a surprising turn, Chen Ren and so people from the Tang clan left the city together.
Chen Eain had no idea what this ant, but one thing was clear: Tang Jihao, Yuqui or anyone important from the clan wasn’t following after them.
He debated following imdiately, but preparing the carriages and n would take ti, and he knew the Tang Clan would definitely know where Chen Ren was headed. So instead, he sent a few trusted n down to speak with lesser Tang Clan mbers—those willing to spill information for a handful of coins.
He waited in his room in anticipation.
After two hours, two of his n finally returned. Chen Eain imdiately turned toward them as they entered his room and bowed. He didn’t even let them fully straighten before asking,
“Did you find anything?”
One of the n nodded. “We managed to get a stable boy to talk. It seems they’re leaving for so sort of expedition together.”
Chen Eain frowned. “What kind of expedition needs that many carriages? There are no secret ruins around this part of the empire.”
“I don’t know, young master,” the man replied quickly. “The only other thing I got is that they’re heading toward the Corpse Lands. The stable boy overheard Tang Yuqui saying sothing about zombies.”
At that, Chen Eain’s eyebrows rose. “Corpse Lands?”
He obviously knew the place—everyone in the empire did. It was one of the cursed zones, a dead land filled with walking corpses and dangerous remnants of an ancient sect. But what bothered him wasn’t the location. It was the timing. Tang Clan mbers and Chen Ren heading to the Corpse Lands together? Right now?
It lined up a little too perfectly with sothing he’d heard on his very first day in Cloud Mist City.
As the young master of the Chen Clan, he had connections everywhere. The mont he entered the city, he had sent a letter up to the Soaring Sword Sect, hoping one of his old friends there could find out whether Chen Ren had ever made contact with the sect. If Chen Ren had ford ties with them, then the threat level would be much higher.
The reply he received had been short and rude.
His forr friend had dismissed him outright, saying he didn’t have ti to track such things because he was busy trying to get a spot on an expedition to the Corpse Lands.
Apparently, his old friend had beco “too important” after earning an entry into the sect, but the single line about the Corpse Lands stuck inside Chen Eain’s mind. What was there that both the Soaring Sword Sect and Chen Ren wanted?
A treasure?
If so, was Chen Ren really confident enough to fight the Soaring Sword Sect for it? Even if Chen Ren had the Tang Clan with him, there was no way they could stand against a Guardian sect. They weren't even close to their level of strength.
So then… What was it?
No matter how long Chen Eain thought, he couldn’t co up with anything. But then a thought struck him, and he looked at his two guards.
“Are there any Soaring Sword Sect disciples in the city?” Chen Eain asked.
One of the guards nodded quickly. “Outer disciples co down sotis, especially the ones who take random jobs. They usually hang around the expensive taverns and restaurants before going back. What do you want us to do, young master?”
Chen Eain smiled. “Give them a feast from my side. In exchange, get information. I’m sure they will fill in the gaps.”
Both guards bowed and left imdiately.
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Chen Eain genuinely felt relieved he brought competent people with him. By the evening, they had already arranged a eting with an old man in one of Cloud Mist City’s more affluent restaurants.
It wasn’t hard to convince him. A hearty al and five low-grade spirit stones had done the job. Clearly, the spirit stones were what sealed the deal, considering the man was already over a hundred years old yet still stuck as an outer disciple of the Soaring Sword Sect.
It clearly showed the old man’s lack of talent, and Chen Eain wondered how soone like him even got into a Guardian sect. But he wasn’t here to judge—he was here for information. After ordering enough food to feed the man for a week, he didn’t waste ti in bringing up what he wanted.
“So,” Chen Eain said, “tell what's going on in the Corpse Lands and why is your sect sending an expedition there?.”
The old disciple looked genuinely surprised, fingers brushing through his long beard. “I actually thought you wanted to know how to get into the sect,” he said. “Most young masters ask to recomnd them. But this is far simpler than I expected.”
“So you do know what’s going on in the Corpse Lands,” Chen Eain pressed.
The old man snorted. “Of course. I may be an outer disciple, but I have plenty of connections. The current core disciples used to call senior brother. I know everything about this expedition.”
“Then tell .”
The old man leaned forward, eyes glinting. “Five spirit stones aren’t enough for that information.”
Chen Eain’s jaw tightened. For a mont, he almost wanted to slam the old man’s skull onto the table—the bastard had already taken five spirit stones and ordered the most expensive als on the nu. But Chen Eain forced himself to stay calm and said, “Then tell only what the current price covers.”
The man nodded, satisfied. “Very well. I’ll give you three words.”
He raised three fingers dramatically.
“Pagoda of Eternity,” he said, tasting so of the wine. “That’s what’s gotten the Soaring Sword Sect all riled up.”
Chen Eain blinked. “What’s that?”
Another snort. “That will take more spirit stones.”
“Spirit stones don’t grow on trees,” Chen Eain snapped. “You’re already chewing through the ones I gave you.”
The old disciple simply wiped his greasy fingers on his robe, took another huge bite of chicken, and said, “But information has a cost, boy.” He chewed loudly, swallowed, then added, “But I can tell you one thing. If you’re interested in this Pagoda of Eternity, give up. You’re young. You look rich. You’ll die a dog’s death there.”
Chen Eain raised an eyebrow. “Is it that dangerous?”
“Of course it is,” the old disciple said imdiately. “All the Guardian sects are going crazy because of it. That’s all anyone in the Soaring Sword Sect talks about now. I don’t even know who leaked the information about it, but the elders were furious.”
Chen Eain paused, thinking it over before asking, “But it’s important enough for them to send their core disciples, right?”
The old man shook his head. “I never said they were sending core disciples.”
“But,” Chen Eain countered quietly, “you never denied it either.”
The old disciple smiled slyly. “Very well. You can take whatever you want from my silence. But I can’t tell you more.”
Chen Eain sighed. He wasn’t sure if he had just wasted spirit stones, food, and half a day, but at least now he knew where Chen Ren and the Tang clan were headed in the Corpse Lands. The Pagoda of Eternity… definitely sothing he needed to investigate.
For the next hour, while the old disciple happily stuffed himself with at, desserts, and wine, Chen Eain tried everything he could to squeeze more information out of him. He even ordered expensive alcohol hoping the man would loosen up, but the old disciple remained frustratingly tight-lipped.
The only extra thing he revealed was that all four Guardian sects and even noble families were sending soone to the pagoda.
Nothing else. There were no hints, details or maps that spilled out of him. He had said just enough to make Chen Eain’s mind spin with new questions.
It all made the pagoda’s importance settle even deeper in Chen Eain’s mind. If every Guardian sect and even noble families were sending people… then this Pagoda of Eternity wasn’t just so random ruin. It was sothing far bigger.
He didn’t waste any more ti. The mont he realised he wouldn’t get another word out of the old disciple, he stood up and said, “Thank you for your ti.”
The old disciple nodded, stuffing the last piece of at into his mouth. “Not a problem. But I’ll say it again—Don’t go near that place. You’ll be chewed alive and spit out.”
Chen Eain smirked. “I’ll see.”
He left the restaurant without looking back.
The mont he stepped outside, the evening wind hit his face, and his expression hardened. He imdiately turned toward his inn. There was no point staying in Cloud Mist City anymore if Chen Ren was heading toward the Corpse Lands.
By the ti he entered his room, his n were already alert. He didn’t even sit before saying, “Pack everything. We’re leaving.”
As they moved around to collect their equipnt and supplies, he continued, “We’re heading into dangerous waters, so listen carefully. We are going to be following Chen Ren. Until we reach the Corpse Lands, our only goal is to gather as much information as possible about sothing called Pagoda of Eternity. People closer to that region will be easier to bribe and easier to talk to, so we will find everything there.”
One of his guards nodded quickly and rushed out to secure a carriage for travel.
Chen Eain walked to the window, watching the city lights flicker as if the whole place was mocking him. He spoke without turning around.
“And once we get there… we’re going to hunt Chen Ren.”
His lips curled into a cold smile as he imagined the mont they crossed paths. By the ti he reached the Corpse Lands, his dantian would be mostly recovered. His strength would return.
And when that happened?
No one would be able to stop him from taking revenge.
***
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