bookbashuk Chapter 840 Formation
Chapter 840 Formation
He Yuzhu shook his head, his tone tinged with helplessness yet firm: "It's nothing. I've probably been a bit tired lately, and my mind isn't working as smoothly. But right now is a crucial time to meet the deadline. The batch of cooking utensils we're making for the military camp has strict requirements; if the kiln temperature isn't just a little off, the ironware is prone to cracking. It'll be fine after this period. Once this batch is finished, I'll treat you to two poached eggs at that wonton shop at the street corner."
Xiao Li noticed the weariness etched in his eyes, and the suspicion that "he seems a little different today" resurfaced in her mind—when he turned around just now, the curve of his shoulders seemed heavier than usual, and his tone of voice carried a subtle tension she couldn't quite pinpoint. But the coded message had matched perfectly, and his tone and expression were no different from usual, so she ultimately suppressed her suspicions. Perhaps she was just overthinking things; he was simply too tired. So she didn't say anything more, only nodded, and pulled the bamboo basket closer to her: "Then don't push yourself too hard. If you're really tired, come back early. I picked some mint; I'll make you a cup of tea later to help you relax."
He Yuzhu replied with "I understand," then turned and walked out, his steps steady and firm, heading straight for the workshop—he had to make sure he looked the part, and he couldn't afford to reveal any flaws, not even the slightest one.
On the other side, the fourth brother practically ran back to Elder Qingyi's courtyard. His blue robes billowed in the wind, and the gust of wind he stirred up almost overturned the bamboo curtain hanging under the eaves, startling the copper bells under the eaves into a jingling cacophony. Elder Qingyi was sitting at a stone table grinding medicine. The blue stone millstone spun steadily in his hands, grinding the dried Atractylodes lancea into a fine powder. Seeing his hurried appearance, he couldn't help but put down the millstone and looked up to ask, "Why are you in such a hurry? You're covered in sweat. Has something happened at the workshop?"
The fourth brother wiped the sweat from his forehead, beads of sweat trickling down his cheeks and staining his clothes with dark marks. He replied breathlessly, "Elder Qingyi, it's not about the workshop; it's an order from the sect leader." He composed himself and repeated He Yuzhu's instructions verbatim, "The sect leader wants us to send more men to investigate the Jiaolong clan's current situation, especially the whereabouts of their patriarch, Long Si. He said we must report back immediately with no delay. But… I don't know why the sect leader suddenly wants to investigate this; we have no dealings with the Jiaolong clan."
Elder Qingyi paused, stroking his white beard, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. The Flood Dragon Clan resided on the shores of the East Sea, known for their solitary and violent nature. They had always kept to themselves, avoiding any conflict with the workshops in the Central Plains. The Sect Master had always maintained a "no provocation, no interference" attitude towards the affairs of the demon race, so this sudden attention was somewhat unusual. However, upon further reflection, he realized that the Sect Master was meticulous and acted with careful consideration; there were some matters his subordinates didn't need to inquire about in too much detail.
He nodded, his tone as steady as a rock: "Alright, I understand. Although I don't know why the sect leader suddenly wants to investigate the Flood Dragon Clan, since the order has been given, I will do as instructed." He stood up, his figure slightly hunched, but his voice carried an undeniable authority: "Go and mobilize the secret guards now, and send three groups to investigate—one group to keep an eye on the Flood Dragon Clan's settlement, Black Stone Beach; another group to search for their usual trading post, Misty Island; and the third group to question those rogue cultivators who have dealings with the demon race, especially the old ghost living at Broken Soul Cliff, who is well-informed. Make sure you get information as soon as possible, and don't slack off."
"Yes!" The fourth brother accepted the order and hurriedly turned to leave, his footsteps echoing rapidly through the corridor and the entire courtyard, carrying a sense of urgency. Beside the stone table, Elder Qingyi watched his retreating figure, his brow furrowed, his fingers stroking his beard and lightly tapping the tabletop. He had a feeling that this matter was probably not so simple; the sect leader's sudden interest in the Flood Dragon Clan must have a deeper reason behind it, but that reason was still unclear.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. The mountain mist, like cotton wool that had been wrung out and soaked again, thickened and thinned repeatedly. A thick layer of fallen leaves had accumulated in the forest, rustling underfoot and reaching above the ankles. The smell of decaying leaves mixed with dampness permeated the air. Little Fox's mother had long ago set up a concealment array around the mountain. A pale blue halo, like a thin veil, appeared and disappeared among the trees, swaying gently in the wind. This array was extremely ingenious, perfectly concealing demonic energy and dragon breath. Ordinary human cultivators couldn't even touch the edge of the array, let alone approach the cave, so they naturally couldn't discover Long Si and Little Shuai hiding deep within.
In the open space of the Ye family camp, the campfire had long since died down, leaving only a pile of black ashes. Ye Zhen paced back and forth, his hands behind his back, the hem of his black robe sweeping across the ground, the dry branches beneath his feet cracking loudly in the silent forest. He suddenly stopped, turned to face his dejected underlings, his face so dark it could drip water, his eyes like ice: "What happened? Ten days! A full ten days! You haven't even caught a glimpse of the demon race? Two wounded demons, did they grow wings and fly away?"
He took a step forward, his spiritual energy surging around him, causing several disciples with lower cultivation levels to shiver involuntarily. "Back then, even the Ye brothers were able to find their tracks and chase them down in a sorry state. Are all of you, carrying compasses and tracking talismans, just sitting around doing nothing?" These words lashed at everyone's faces like a whip, and no one dared to respond.
The Ye family members, reprimanded so harshly they didn't dare raise their heads, standing rooted to the spot with their hands at their sides, shoulders slightly hunched, barely daring to breathe. For the past ten days, they had practically turned the entire mountain upside down: by day, they searched every canyon under the scorching sun, probing every inch of the land with compasses; by night, they searched every cave with torches, plastering every suspicious tree hollow and rock crevices with talismans. But they hadn't found a trace of demons, not even a flicker of unusual spiritual energy; it was as if the two demons had vanished into thin air. The facts were undeniable; there was no room for argument, they could only listen obediently.
Ye Zhen cursed for a long time, his throat becoming dry. He bent down, picked up a stone, and smashed it hard against a nearby tree trunk. The stone shattered, and the flying fragments bounced to everyone's feet. Looking at this bunch of useless good-for-nothings, his anger hadn't subsided at all. He knew he couldn't waste any more time in these mountains—the elders of the clan were still watching the outcome of this mission to exterminate the demon race. If he had searched for so long without any progress, he would inevitably be criticized by the collateral branches for his incompetence, and it might even threaten his position as the clan's heir.