Chapter 345: Two Blood Letters

The letter mainly discussed two things.

Firstly, the family of Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhou Bida was imprisoned by the cult in Shenwu Hall, Leiling City. If they couldn't be rescued today, their reputation would be ruined, and their lives would be in peril.

Secondly, Jiang Xin, the Chief Administrator of the Attendant Hall at Nanyan Pass, was an Elder in charge of all cult affairs within the prefecture.

Each revelation was like a bolt from the blue, threatening to unleash an unpredictable storm.

Taishibai had already heard about the morning's events at Nanyan Pass on his way back to the city, but he never imagined such hidden complexities behind them.

Inside the carriage, Mrs. Long asked, "What's your take on this?"

"It might be a trap," Taishibai replied, "but with lives at stake, it's better to believe it than to dismiss it."

Mrs. Long inquired, "Which matter do you consider more important?"

"Both are important!" Taishibai stated. "Rescuing the hostages is urgent, and Jiang Xin must also be immediately apprehended. It won't be too late to apologize to him after the situation is clarified. Given his position, any incident involving him could have unimaginable consequences."

Silence fell within the carriage for a long while.

Taishibai's brow furrowed. He knew this meant his mother was dissatisfied with his answer. "Mother, do you see something amiss?" he asked.

Mrs. Long replied, "Jiang Xin is, first and foremost, a member of the Jiang family, and only secondly, a member of the Attendant Hall. What right do you have to apprehend him? You certainly have no right to investigate him!"

Taishibai did not rush to argue. After a moment of careful thought, he understood, realizing, "Mother, you mean that rescuing the people is more important."

Mrs. Long explained, "Zhou Bida joined your father as a personal guard at the age of twenty-five. He participated in at least hundreds of battles, large and small, and only attained the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief after he was over a hundred years old. His prestige in the military is exceptionally high."

Taishibai said coldly, "But Luan Platform and the Attendant Hall directly bypassed us, entering a Deputy Commander-in-Chief's residence on our territory at Nanyan Pass without a word and killing someone outright! Regardless of whether they have irrefutable evidence, acting this way shows a complete disregard for the Taishi family. It's equivalent to slapping Father in the face."

"Now, with someone reporting Jiang Xin as a cult Elder, it's the perfect opportunity to regain our honor."

"I'll contact the Jiang family and Yao Shaoqing, who is still at Nanyan Pass. The three parties can investigate together. If we genuinely uncover something, then we'll see how Luan Platform explains themselves."

Ordinarily, it would, of course, be impossible to launch a grand investigation into a Chief Administrator based on an inexplicable letter.

But today was different; the Commander's Mansion had suffered a major loss.

Silence once again settled in the carriage.

"Mother, you want me to go to Leiling City to rescue the people?"

A thought clicked in Taishibai's mind: "That's right, rescuing them is far more urgent. We can easily dispatch a group of people from the Commander's Mansion here at Nanyan Pass to investigate."

Mrs. Long said, "With your cultivation and experience, can you contend with Yao Qian? You probably aren't even a match for that old man Jiang Xin. Let Deputy Commander-in-Chief Qiu and Taishi Zhang handle the investigation into Jiang Xin."

"You, immediately – right now – gather a group of military experts and hurry to Leiling City to rescue the people. You must bring them back unharmed, escort them to Nanyan Pass, and ensure they are well settled."

"It's crucial for the old guard in the military to see the Taishi family's stance."

"If this matter is botched and word gets out from the person who delivered the letter, you can forget about establishing yourself in the military. Who would genuinely risk their lives for the Taishi family then?"

"I understand. Mother, your considerations are more thorough. I'll go at once!"

Taishibai finally understood why his mother believed that rescuing the people was more important!

Rescuing them was more critical for him, and for the Taishi family.

Firstly, the greatest concern for those in the military was always their families.

If even the family of a Deputy Commander-in-Chief couldn't be protected, how would the rank-and-file soldiers view the Taishi family?

Secondly, since the cult resorted to the extreme measure of detaining a Deputy Commander-in-Chief's family, it precisely indicated that Zhou Bida likely had not yet yielded. As long as Luan Platform couldn't produce concrete evidence, the Commander's Mansion could take the case directly to Lingxiao City.

Thump-thump!

Taishibai mounted his exotic beast and galloped like the wind towards the city gate.

Inside the carriage, Mrs. Long's voice echoed, "Someone is using the Taishi family to achieve their own aims. Investigate! Dig three feet deep; you must find out who sent that letter."

***

The *Register of Hidden Individuals* not only contained information on all hidden individuals of this sixty-year cycle but also included some hidden sect strongholds and assets.

Many of these assets were left by various hidden individuals throughout history, scattered across the Lingxiao Living Realm.

Within the third urban layer of Nanyan Pass, there were three such properties.

Since the letter became known, the third urban layer had been under strict scrutiny. Soldiers were visible on every street, and many defensive formations had been activated.

Even with his masterful disguise technique, Li Weiyi dared not wander aimlessly on the streets now, constantly moving and evading detection.

He inspected all three properties one by one and finally chose the relatively quieter Old Zhou's Coffin Shop as his temporary hiding place.

As the sun set, the sky gradually darkened.

Scattered snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

Old Zhou, with a limping leg and leaning on his staff, his eyes red and swollen with grief and indignation, returned to his coffin shop. He unlatched the wooden door panels one by one, then slumped despondently at the entrance.

He remained motionless, his heart filled with sorrow.

It wasn't until darkness fully enveloped the sky that he seemed to regain some strength, lighting a bone lamp.

Suddenly.

By the light of the lamp, Old Zhou saw a young man in green robes sitting in the shop. He hadn't noticed him arrive. The young man was flipping through something, and eerily, there was no aura emanating from him.

Old Zhou, who had spent years among the dead and considered himself fearless of anything in the world, felt a chill run down his spine at that moment.

His demeanor instantly changed, his eyes sharp as knives.

Using his spiritual energy, he telekinetically drew the knife hidden behind the door into his hand.

Pointing the knife at the young man seated inside, he said, "Tell me, who are you and what is your purpose here?"

Li Weiyi was studying an account book he had found in Madam Xu's interspatial pouch. He discovered that the Dao Cult had three other strongholds and over a dozen businesses in Nanyan Pass, operating a wide range of enterprises.

Additionally, the book listed two strongholds and numerous properties in Lingxiao City.

A power on the scale of tens of millions would inevitably have a worldwide presence, with extensive roots reaching into every corner.

Closing the account book, Li Weiyi looked at Old Zhou.

Old Zhou's hair was white and disheveled, his clothes grayish-white, and a long scar marked his neck. His left leg was disabled, giving him an air of fading vitality, like a lamp flickering in the wind.

However, once he held the knife, a murderous aura, reminiscent of clashing weapons and charging steeds, instantly filled the entire coffin shop.

Li Weiyi said, "You must be a military veteran, Senior?"

Old Zhou limped forward, his gaze sharp and his hatred soaring. "Someone from the Attendant Hall? Haha, quite capable indeed..."

Whoosh!

His combat knife slashed down, its blade light resembling a bright crescent moon.

He possessed cultivation at the third stage of the Five Seas Realm!

Thud!

Li Weiyi remained seated, using protective spiritual energy to block the strike with his forehead. His body was like an indestructible diamond, impervious to the blade.

After repelling Old Zhou, he took out the Divine Hidden Person Token of the Jiuli Hidden Gate.

Seeing the hidden sect's special mark on the token, the knife in Old Zhou's hand clattered to the ground. He dropped to one knee, tears streaming down his face. "Greetings, Divine Hidden Person! The Jiuli Hidden Gate... we must avenge Deputy Commander-in-Chief! He died so terribly. I wanted to retrieve his body, but I couldn't even get close to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief's residence."

Li Weiyi helped him up. "What was your relationship with Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhou?"

Old Zhou replied, "Deputy Commander-in-Chief raised me. I followed him for decades. Nine years ago, I crippled my leg on the battlefield, so I was assigned here to open a coffin shop and be responsible for delivering messages."

"You're being too reckless! Going to the Zhou residence at a time like this makes you easily suspicious and susceptible to being followed."

Li Weiyi looked outside the door.

In the lamplight, the night was profound, and the snow was falling harder.

A cold wind continuously streamed inside.

Old Zhou shook his head. "Innumerable soldiers went to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief's residence today, both active and retired. The Deputy Commander-in-Chief served in the military for eighty years; how many people followed him? How many lives did he save? He also frequently aided us, the wounded and retired soldiers. If the Attendant Hall wants to be suspicious or investigate, half of Nanyan Pass would likely be paralyzed."

Li Weiyi felt a slight sense of relief. "Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhou's death pains me deeply, and I will certainly avenge him. But right now, I have something extremely important that must be delivered immediately. Do you have a way?"

Old Zhou pressed the door panels back into place one by one and whispered, "Divine Hidden Person, you are the one Luan Platform, the Attendant Hall, and the Commander's Mansion are looking for today, aren't you?"

Li Weiyi nodded.

Old Zhou said, "The entire city is under martial law now, and the city gates are closed. Any living creature trying to leave the city will be detected; even hiding in an interspatial pouch won't work. But if it's just about sending an object, I still have a way."

Li Weiyi asked, "Is that true? This item of mine is crucial for avenging Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhou; there can be no mistakes."

Old Zhou thumped his chest, assuring him, "I've spent my entire life at Nanyan Pass, and everyone in the military is familiar to me. The Deputy Commander-in-Chief tasked me with message delivery, so naturally, I have the ability to send messages out during any extraordinary period."

Li Weiyi was short on time and had no choice but to trust the arrangements Zhou Bida had made before his death.

Jiang Xin's blood letter alone wasn't enough; he also needed to write one himself.

Rip!

He tore off a piece of his robe, slit his wrist, and first sprinkled his blood onto it.

Then, biting his finger, he wrote:

"EXTREMELY URGENT, FOR HALL MASTER AN'S EYES ONLY.

I, Weiyi, am unable to leave Nanyan Pass. I am being hunted relentlessly by Luan Platform, the Attendant Hall, and the Commander's Mansion, and there are internal traitors eager to kill me. I likely won't be returning!

I was ordered by my master to bring a valuable treasure out of the main altar, but I was pursued by members of the Divine Cult every step of the way. After countless dangers and severe injuries, I finally reached Nanyan Pass. Unexpectedly, Nanyan Pass seems to already know that the Divine Cult intends to attack Lingxiao City, and they have begun large-scale recruitment.

I know there's a traitor in our sect. Entering the city was a near-certain death, but with my mission, I had no choice but to proceed.

I, Weiyi, have no father, no mother, no siblings, no other attachments, and no regrets. My only concern is for those four little ones. I hope the Hall Master will guide them well and ensure they do not stray onto the wrong path.

In my heart, as long as Hall Master An remains, the Dao Cult is not an evil cult. I can serve it with my life and die without regret. That's all for now. Please tell my master thank you for her protection this past year. I spent my most carefree year at Nanqing Palace. All kindness will be repaid in the next life!"

There was no need for exaggeration; just stating his true thoughts was enough.

After writing, Li Weiyi carefully wrapped both blood letters and sealed them with the special runes of the Spirit Valley Hall.