“Wang Chen, you’re in trouble!”

The burly cultivator’s fierce yell shook Wang Chen, causing a slight change in his complexion.

What trouble? Was it the exposure of Lu Zhisen’s identity or the revelation of his murder of a Purple Mansion disciple?

But this sudden challenge did not throw Wang Chen into disarray.

With a rapid thought process, he asked with a stern voice, “Who are you, and why are you spouting nonsense in my home?”

Just moments before, Wang Chen was nearly taken in by the other party.

After all, he had a guilty conscience.

However, Wang Chen’s intelligence was not offline; he immediately sensed something fishy.

Regardless of whether it was impersonating Lu Zhisen or killing a Purple Mansion disciple, if either were traced back to him, the people from the Punishment Hall could not possibly be waiting casually inside his home.

They would have already apprehended him through the Soul Tablet!

Moreover, when they came in, the two individuals were feasting.

“Punishment Hall!”

The burly cultivator saw that he couldn’t fool Wang Chen and immediately darkened his face, displaying a mysterious iron Identity Plaque, “There’s a case that requires your assistance in the investigation. Please come with me.”

With a stimulation of mana, the Identity Plaque emitted a chilling glow.

Wang Chen took a half step back, “Sorry, I’m not free.”

The origins of the other party were beyond doubt.

The attire and the Identity Plaque clearly indicated the identity of disciples from the Outer Sect’s Punishment Hall.

However, this was not a reason for Wang Chen to comply with their demands.

Their malicious intent was completely unmasked!

Wang Chen did not know the burly cultivator, nor did he understand why they sought to trouble him.

But regardless of the reason, he absolutely could not allow himself to be taken to the Punishment Hall.

What kind of place was the Punishment Hall?

For the lower echelons of the Outer Sect cultivators, it was akin to Yama’s Hall and the Gate of Hell.

Even if one were innocent, a trip there would result in the loss of a layer of skin!

Although the Outer Sect’s Punishment and Defense Halls had been reorganized a while ago, with new Hall Masters and Deputy Hall Masters installed,

how could Wang Chen entrust his life to their sense of justice and conscience!

And he seriously doubted that this Punishment Hall disciple was up to private business!

“How daring!”

The burly cultivator erupted in rage, “You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, Wu, lock him up for me!”

As soon as his words fell, the thin, dark cultivator beside him immediately pulled out a pair of Spirit-sealing Locks.

He strode aggressively towards Wang Chen.

Seeing the bad turn of events, Wang Chen immediately leaped backwards, “You’re going too far—I’ll report this to the main hall!”

Starting a fight was not an option.

It was likely exactly what they were waiting for, to then rightfully arrest him.

As for killing to silence them.

Wang Chen certainly had the confidence to slay the two on the spot.

But these two Punishment Hall disciples were clearly just pawns; the identity of the true mastermind behind the scenes was still unknown.

Therefore, killing them would not only fail to solve the problem but would also make the situation completely irredeemable.

Hence, Wang Chen had no choice but to flee and talk later.

He betted that they would not escalate the matter!

“Don’t run!”

The burly cultivator chased after him for a few steps outside the door, but then stopped.

Watching Wang Chen flee, he spat out resentfully, “The little beast is pretty fast on his feet!”

The thin, dark cultivator beside him asked, “Brother Yong, aren’t we going to chase him?”

“Chase what?”

The burly cultivator smacked him on the back of the head, “We’re on a private job here. If we really bring the kid back, that’s when the trouble starts. It’s best that he’s scared off now—it’s no longer our concern.”

The thin, dark cultivator scratched his head awkwardly, “Oh.”

“You’re new to the Punishment Hall; there are many things you don’t understand.”

The burly cultivator said with an air of smug confidence, “Follow my lead more, and I guarantee you won’t suffer a loss!”

The thin, dark cultivator hesitated, “Brother Yong, are we okay doing this?”

“What could be wrong?”

The burly cultivator sneered, “We’re just asking him to assist in an investigation. He ran because he’s guilty. If anyone asks, we’ve done nothing wrong. What’s there to fear?”

Pausing, he continued earnestly, “Wu, outsiders might think we disciples of the Punishment Hall look glorious, but in reality, we’re the downtrodden doing the dirty and tiring work. If you don’t find a way to grab some benefits for yourself, you’ll only have the northwest wind to drink!”

The lean cultivator hesitated, “But now, above us…”

The burly cultivator frowned, “With each new emperor, a new set of servants, whoever becomes the emperor can’t do without us grunts!”

“To be honest, if it weren’t for your sister, I wouldn’t bother dragging you into this job.”

“Do you understand?”

There was a hint of threat in his tone.

The burly cultivator was getting impatient.

If it weren’t for Wu’s sister being so good and gentle, how could he possibly team up with a rookie!

The lean cultivator immediately nodded like a pecking chicken, “Brother Yong, I’ll listen to you!”

“That’s more like it.”

The burly cultivator patted his shoulder with satisfaction, “You go back first, I’ll come over for a drink tonight.”

After the lean cultivator left, the burly cultivator took out a Messenger Crane from his Storage Bag and released it.

He chuckled and turned back to Wang Chen’s home.

The chicken meat smelled good.

The last fat hen in the chicken coop had to be taken, another good meal for tonight!

Rumble~

Right at that moment, peals of thunder rumbled through the cloud-covered sky.

One after another.

The wind was picking up.

And as raindrops the size of beans began to fall and settle the dust, Wang Chen sneakily returned home through a secret passage.

Since the two Punishment Hall disciples didn’t chase after him, he hadn’t run far before.

Out of caution.

Entering the secret chamber took quite an effort on Wang Chen’s part.

He found that the underground fortress he had dug had not been invaded at all.

Then, with the help of a sound-transmitting tube, Wang Chen verified that the other party had left.

Only then did he return to the surface.

The condition of the rooms in the house was fine.

The bed, cabinet, and other furniture were all intact, the Punishment Hall disciples apparently weren’t so devoid of decency.

That was why the entrance to the underground passage was not discovered.

It was just that the courtyard outside was made a complete mess.

Wang Chen had no immediate desire to tidy up, sitting down to contemplate this inexplicable trouble.

Who wanted to target him?

A figure flashed through Wang Chen’s mind instantly.

Lv Defang!

It had been a while since Wang Chen turned eighteen, and this cultivator with Complete Qi Cultivation had been silent all this time, Wang Chen wasn’t even sure if the man was still within the mountain gates.

But his wariness towards this cheap uncle had never waned!

Now Wang Chen put himself in the shoes of the original owner, facing the situation at hand, what would he do?

Wang Chen instantly had his answer!

The fog in his mind was instantly dispelled, and his mind had never been so piercingly clear.

The inevitable was finally coming.

Let it come then!

All questions must have a moment when the water clears and the stones emerge.

Wang Chen was prepared.

With the cultivation of the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation, a row of Grandmaster-level spells, a bag of talismans he had personally crafted…

He feared nothing!

Unwittingly, Wang Chen walked out of the main house into the courtyard outside.

His expression suddenly changed.

He saw that the door to the chicken coop in the corner of the yard was wide open, and all the hens inside had vanished.

Damn it!

A nameless anger surged from the bottom of Wang Chen’s heart.

This was intolerable!

Rumble~

The thunder grew louder, the rain became heavier.

——–

The first update is here.