Chapter 650: Unexpected Storm (High Energy)

Kong Fang asked He Jiaqing to kill Ma Wu. To show his sincerity, he also sent He Jiaqing a considerable amount of cultivation herbs.

He Jiaqing hesitated to accept them, saying, "I cannot accept unearned rewards. I have noted down your instructions, Senior, and once the task is complete, I will seek my compensation from you."

Kong Fang waved his hand. "These few herbs are nothing. How could I visit your home empty-handed? We'll discuss your true compensation once the task is accomplished."

He Jiaqing still looked troubled. "Senior, Ma Wu is protected by formidable individuals. Killing him won't be easy."

"You're referring to Feng Daiku, aren't you?" Kong Fang fiddled with the copper coins under his straw hat and offered his assessment of Feng Daiku. "Among the Earth Gods of Zhengdi, Feng Daiku's cultivation isn't exceptionally high, but his techniques are truly impressive. His combat prowess is certainly top-tier."

He Jiaqing added, "Especially his 'Love Threads Entanglement' ability, which is a considerable counter to my Daoist sect."

Kong Fang nodded slightly. "In that case, it truly does make things difficult for you."

He Jiaqing breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that this assignment was finally off his hands.

Kong Fang sat silently for a moment. "I will find you a helper. He will meet you here tomorrow at noon. Today is the twenty-third; you should complete the task on the twenty-fifth."

"The twenty-fifth..." He Jiaqing's brows furrowed.

Kong Fang smiled. "Don't dwell on how difficult this task is. Once you meet the helper I've found for you, you'll certainly save a lot of effort."

He Jiaqing said nothing more; he had no choice but to accept.

Kong Fang finished his tea and departed.

The following day at noon, a man who appeared to be in his early twenties arrived at He Jiaqing's residence.

The man had shoulder-length hair tied in a ponytail, very fair and delicate skin, slender eyebrows, and large eyes. He was strikingly handsome, especially his eyes, which sparkled so alluringly that they made one's heart tremble. Even He Jiaqing barely dared to meet his gaze.

"Young Master He, I've heard much about you!" The man lit a cigarette, holding it delicately between his index finger and thumb, and took a light puff.

"I wouldn't dare," He Jiaqing replied, bowing respectfully. "May I ask how I should address you, Senior?"

"Don't call me Senior; that makes one sound old," the man chuckled. "My name is Shang Rongchu; you can just call me A'Chu."

He Jiaqing felt a flush of heat on his face, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

Shang Rongchu offered He Jiaqing a handkerchief. "Young Master He, spring has just arrived, and the snow hasn't fully melted. Why are you so warm?"

He Jiaqing wiped his sweat. "Last night, I met a confidante and, for a moment, forgot to exercise restraint, expending too much energy. My body feels a bit weak."

"Then that confidante is truly fortunate!" Shang Rongchu smiled, then asked, "Young Master He, why are you telling me this?"

Indeed, why was he telling him this?

Was it to prove that he liked women?

Did such a thing need to be proven in his presence?

He Jiaqing calmed himself, trying to suppress the perspiration. He then turned to Shang Rongchu and asked, "Forgive my presumptuousness, as a junior, but are you a Joy Cultivator?"

"That's not presumptuous at all. I am indeed a Joy Cultivator." Shang Rongchu exhaled a puff of smoke; the swirling mist made his appearance even more captivating.

He Jiaqing struggled to maintain his composure and brought up the main topic. "When a Joy Cultivator faces a Love Cultivator, it's likely difficult to gain the upper hand."

Shang Rongchu smiled. "Who says one cannot gain the upper hand? If there is no joy, how can there be love?

If a confidante spends all day speaking of love with Young Master He but never mentions intimacy, is that true love? To speak only of love and not of joy is clearly to toy with a gentleman using the cunning of a deceitful person!

Given Young Master He's status, he must have many confidantes. True love only comes with true joy. Doesn't Young Master He clearly understand this principle?"

Having said this, Shang Rongchu exhaled a puff of smoke towards He Jiaqing.

The smoke drifted onto He Jiaqing's face, and the sweat that had just receded from his skin reappeared.

He Jiaqing wiped his sweat, thinking to himself, "I'm discussing combat, why is he talking about this?"

"Brother Rongchu, let's stick to the main topic."

Shang Rongchu smoothed his hair and smiled calmly. "It seems I've overstepped and delayed Young Master He's important business. So, tell me, should we deal with Ma Wu today, or wait until tomorrow to make our move?"

He Jiaqing pondered for a moment. "I believe we shouldn't act hastily. First, we need to ascertain Ma Wu's whereabouts and also understand the situation of those around him.

If Ma Wu only has Feng Daiku by his side, our chances of success are relatively high. But if other powerful individuals are assisting him, we shouldn't act rashly."

Shang Rongchu blinked and looked at He Jiaqing. "I know Ma Wu's whereabouts; he's on his new territory. He has many subordinates, but besides Feng Daiku, everyone else's cultivation is at the Ground level.

As for Ma Wu's other friends, there are indeed Cloud-level cultivators, but they are not currently with him. When the time comes, I will distract Feng Daiku. As long as you act decisively, you can kill Ma Junyang.

We promised Mr. Kong to complete the task by the twenty-fifth. This date absolutely cannot be changed."

As he spoke, Shang Rongchu lit another cigarette and offered it to He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing didn't take his cigarette; he lit one himself and returned the handkerchief to Shang Rongchu.

The sweat on his body receded.

"Since Brother Rongchu has made up his mind, let's depart tomorrow."

He Jiaqing arranged accommodation for Shang Rongchu. Throughout the entire night, He Jiaqing did not contact him.

Shang Rongchu sat alone in his room, nodding slightly. "This young man can actually withstand temptation; that's truly unusual."

The following day at noon, Shang Rongchu and He Jiaqing arrived at the edge of Ma Wu's territory.

Shang Rongchu disguised himself as a hunter from the new lands, dressed in ragged clothes, with his face smeared with mud and a thick felt beard pasted on.

The purpose of this disguise was to counter Feng Daiku's 'Love Threads Entanglement' technique.

Feng Daiku would leave 'love threads' in his usual dwelling places, threads as fine and dense as spider silk. These threads served to detect powerful enemies entering the territory.

The essence of the 'Love Threads Entanglement' technique lay in discernment. Countless people might touch the love threads, so one had to judge who could be considered a formidable enemy.

Cultivation levels are invisible, but emotions are perceivable. If a woman walking on the street encounters a stranger and immediately feels an urge to embrace him, that man is certainly unusual.

Therefore, Shang Rongchu had to maintain his disguise; otherwise, he would be exposed as soon as he entered Ma Wu's territory.

He Jiaqing also took precautions, disguising himself as a porter.

He had successively taken control of the Azure Cloud Society and the Hundred Flowers Sect, acting both ruthlessly and ostentatiously. His reputation in Pu Luo Prefecture was now very prominent; ordinary people, if they recognized him, would wish to avoid him by two streets. Feng Daiku would surely detect such a formidable person through his love threads.

Ma Wu's new territory was bustling. The Three-Headed People's speed in developing the wilderness was astonishing; nearly half of the territory had already been cultivated.

The sky glowed with light, reflecting off the vast, thick fog. The entire territory exuded a unique morning vibrancy.

Ma Wu was strolling with Feng