Chapter 301: Escape

"I understand. Make sure to keep him calm and don't let him get suspicious," Wang Ruyan solemnly instructed. Securing this traitor would grant the Wang family a coveted spot to enter the Taiyi Immortal Sect, so this matter could not be taken lightly.

"Who got suspicious?"

A somewhat heavy male voice suddenly rang out.

Just as the words fell, Wang Changsheng and four others walked in.

"Husband, you've finally arrived."

Wang Changsheng nodded, then gravely asked, "Who were you just saying got suspicious? Was it that Foundation Establishment cultivator suspected of being a traitor?"

Wang Qingyuan recounted the entire incident truthfully, not missing a single detail.

"If this person lingers in the market, we won't be able to act against him. We need to force him out."

Wang Changyue's beautiful eyes flickered as she suggested, "Why don't we smear some spirit honey on the Houttuynia cordata? Its strong fishy smell would surely mask it. If he leaves the market, we might not be able to track him. But with spirit honey, I can use my Fire Cloud Bees to pinpoint his location."

"No, that won't work. He's buying Houttuynia cordata; he's definitely not consuming it raw. He's probably using it for alchemy, which means he could be an alchemist. Your method could easily backfire. With the Twin-Pupil Rat, he won't escape. The current problem is how to force him out of the market without the Five Sects of Wei finding out."

Wang Changsheng had no intention of informing the Hundred Spirit Sect about this. A spot in the Taiyi Immortal Sect was too precious to give up. If he reported it to Guang Dongren, they could easily apprehend the person, but then the spot would no longer be associated with the Wang family. At most, Guang Dongren would reward them with a single Foundation Establishment Pill.

If Wang Mingren were to join the Hundred Spirit Sect, he might at most reach the Core Formation stage. However, with only one Core Formation cultivator in the Hundred Spirit Sect, Guang Dongren might not fully support Wang Mingren, to prevent him from usurping power. The Taiyi Immortal Sect, on the other hand, was vastly more powerful. If Wang Mingren entered the Taiyi Immortal Sect, he could achieve better development and progress much further on his immortal path.

"Oh, right! I ran into Fourteenth Brother on the street the day before yesterday. He's currently in the market."

Wang Ruyan suddenly remembered something and spoke up.

"Fourteenth Brother is here too? That's wonderful; it will make things much easier for us."

They deliberated for several hours, formulating several plans, before finally dispersing.

Three days quickly passed.

Chen Qingshu returned to Wang's General Store, where Wang Qingyuan greeted him warmly.

"Senior, these are the ten century-old Houttuynia cordata plants you requested."

Wang Qingyuan took out ten black wooden boxes and handed them to Chen Qingshu.

Chen Qingshu opened a wooden box, took out the Houttuynia cordata, and examined it carefully.

Just then, Wang Qingshan walked in, holding a green scroll in his hand.

"Seventh Brother, what brings you here?"

Wang Qingyuan said with a smile.

Wang Qingshan carefully observed Chen Qingshu, then handed the green scroll to Wang Qingyuan.

"I came to buy a few things and also brought you a portrait. This person is a traitor from the Taiyi Immortal Sect who harmed fellow disciples. Take a good look. If you see him, contact me immediately. I'll report it to Senior Li, who is stationed in the market. The reward is very generous — fifty thousand spirit stones!"

Wang Qingyuan curiously opened the green scroll, glanced at it casually, then nodded and said, "Chen Qingshu, Foundation Establishment eighth layer. I've noted it down. If I spot this person, I'll let you know."

"This person definitely won't show his true face. If you detect a foreign accent, report that too. It's better to kill the wrong person than to let him escape. We're currently scrutinizing all foreign cultivators! After all, he killed the descendant of a Nascent Soul cultivator!"

"A foreign accent?" Wang Qingyuan looked Chen Qingshu up and down, a hesitant expression on his face.

Witnessing this, Wang Qingshan turned his gaze towards Chen Qingshu.

Chen Qingshu's heart jolted. An angry expression appeared on his face as he said, "What? You suspect me? I am a disciple of the Yang family from Purple Moon Villa in Yue Country. Our Yang family also has Core Formation cultivators. Are you going to arrest and interrogate me just because of my accent?"

Wang Qingshan's face showed surprise, and he said with a fawning smile, "Fellow Daoist, please don't misunderstand; we mean no harm. That person is at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment, while you are only at the second. You shouldn't be the same person. However, by custom, I must ask why you are here in Qingyue Market."

"I am under orders to procure Houttuynia cordata. What? Is this also your concern? Besides, it's not your place to investigate. You're not a disciple of the market management office, are you?"

"Seventh Brother, this senior is a distinguished guest at our store. Watch what you say. There are countless people with foreign accents; we can't investigate them all. If you insist on questioning this senior, how are we going to do business in the future? It's hard enough to attract a big client like this; do you think it's easy for me?"

Wang Qingyuan's brows furrowed slightly as he complained.

Wang Qingshan gave an awkward smile and said in an apologetic tone, "My apologies, Fellow Daoist. I've been quite offensive just now. Please don't take it to heart."

"I conduct myself with integrity and am not afraid of being investigated. However, you are not from the management office, so you have no right to question me."

Wang Qingshan apologized with a fawning smile, then turned and left.

Chen Qingshu carefully examined all ten Houttuynia cordata plants and nodded with satisfaction. "Excellent. I'll take all ten. Do you have any more? Our Yang family is willing to establish a regular supply with you."

"No, that's all. Just these ten. Houttuynia cordata is not easy to cultivate."

Chen Qingshu showed a hint of regret, paid the spirit stones, and left Wang's General Store.

As he passed a nearby inn, he noticed several Hundred Spirit Sect disciples questioning the innkeeper. The Foundation Establishment cultivators among them were holding green scrolls.

He approached and overheard a few sentences, realizing they were looking for Foundation Establishment cultivators with foreign accents.

Chen Qingshu's heart immediately sank. He no longer dared to stay in the market.

He found a teahouse and requested a private room.

Early the next morning, just as dawn broke, the streets were still largely empty.

Chen Qingyun walked out of the inn and headed towards his residence.

At a teahouse near the market exit, in a private room on the second floor.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were drinking tea and chatting, with the Twin-Pupil Rat perched on Wang Changsheng's shoulder.

Suddenly, it grew excited, letting out strange "chirping" sounds.

Wang Changsheng quickly stood up and looked towards the market exit through the open window.

He didn't see anyone, but the Twin-Pupil Rat kept chirping.

Someone who had handled the Houttuynia cordata must have appeared nearby for the Twin-Pupil Rat to give Wang Changsheng an alert.

Wang Changsheng took out his communication disk and contacted Wang Mingjiang: "Uncle Twenty-one, where is this person now?"

"He just returned to his residence. Do you have any anomalies on your end?"

"Oh no! He definitely has some kind of body-concealing talisman. He might have already left the market! Uncle Twenty-one, you and Elder Brother quickly rendezvous with us. Prepare to leave the market to pursue him. Qingshan and Changyue should stay in the market and continue monitoring."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan went downstairs. The Twin-Pupil Rat jumped off Wang Changsheng's shoulder and scurried towards the market exit.

"Just as I expected, what Qingshan and the others were monitoring must have been a decoy. His true body has already left the market. If it weren't for the Twin-Pupil Rat's alert, he probably would have escaped."