Chapter 435 - 432: Making Contact
Chapter 435: Chapter 432: Making Contact
"I understand."
Fang Han’s expression was unchanged, his voice calm as he spoke.
He offered no excuses, just a simple acknowledgment.
’Whether I have the strength or not will be clear when the time comes. A war of words is meaningless right now.’
Jin Han glanced at Fang Han and said no more, but her placid eyes, like a still well, clearly held a hint of doubt.
Chen Tianyuan took in both their reactions. He didn’t offer any further explanation, simply stating faintly:
"This matter is settled. Elder Jin, you will come to know Fang Han’s strength in due time."
His gaze swept over the two of them.
"To prevent any information from leaking, you will depart tonight. Change into plain clothes and act discreetly."
"Yes."
Fang Han and Jin Han rose at the same time, cupping their fists in acknowledgment.
After leaving the Sect Leader’s Hall, the cool evening breeze rushed to meet them, carrying the unique chill of the mountains.
Fang Han and Jin Han walked out of the hall. They were not well acquainted to begin with, and after the events inside, the atmosphere between them was stiff and silent.
When they reached a fork in the path, Jin Han finally stopped. She glanced sideways at Fang Han, her voice still rigid.
"Meet at the main gate in two hours."
With that, she took the fork in the road leading toward the Elder Courtyard.
Fang Han, meanwhile, took the other path toward the True Inheritance Courtyard.
「Two hours later, at the Qingxuan Sect’s main gate.」
The moonlight was like water, casting a cold, clear light before the main gate.
Dozens of figures stood solemnly, all having changed out of their Qingxuan Sect robes and into various sets of plain clothes.
At their head,
Jin Han wore a gray cloth robe, her salt-and-pepper hair tied up with a Wooden Hairpin. She looked like a seasoned old rover who had traveled far and wide.
Fang Han was dressed in a blue-gray robe. His Cloud Splitting Sword was carefully wrapped in cloth strips and carried on his back, making him look like an ordinary traveling scholar.
Jin Han’s gaze rested on Fang Han for a moment. She said nothing, then looked away and announced in a low voice:
"Move out."
Dozens of figures simultaneously executed their Body Techniques, silently melting into the night and soon disappearing at the end of the mountain path.
...
The night was black as ink, the mountain path glowing a ghostly white under the moon.
Fang Han’s group rested by day and traveled by night, avoiding towns and sticking to remote mountain trails.
At dawn two days later, the party stopped in a mountain hollow.
"We’ll rest and wait here."
Jin Han said, having chosen a spot with high ground and a wide field of view.
This place was just over ten li from the border of Qingyang County. Beyond the mountain ridge ahead lay the territory of Donglu County.
The group dispersed to rest. Fang Han sat down, leaning against a moss-covered boulder, and took some rations from his robes, chewing slowly.
The morning light filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
Birdsong in the forest was sparse, and the occasional chirp of an insect from the grass only emphasized the mountain’s silence.
As he chewed his rations, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
A question had been lingering in his mind for two days, refusing to go away.
’How did the Sect learn that the Netherworld Pavilion was secretly procuring precious resources in another county?’
There was an unspoken rule among the top-level powers of each county.
Any top-level power extending its reach into another county would be seen as a grave provocation, leading to conflict at best and suppression by a coalition of that county’s powers at worst.
’So, the Qingxuan Sect shouldn’t have any influence outside its own territory.’
’But if the Sect has no power outside the county, how did it find out that the Netherworld Pavilion was secretly procuring resources there?’
’Does the Sect have secret agents planted outside the county?’
Fang Han stuffed the last piece of his rations into his mouth, washing it down with some water as his thoughts turned.
The thought had barely surfaced before he suppressed it.
’Even if the Sect had a few secret agents, their intelligence-gathering capabilities would likely be insufficient to uncover the Netherworld Pavilion’s clandestine procurement of valuable resources.’
’Given the Netherworld Pavilion’s cautious nature, they would surely be buying things in extreme secrecy, not allowing themselves to be discovered so easily.’
’I shouldn’t overthink this.’
Fang Han shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside.
’For something like this, the Sect must have its own channels. It’s not something a mere True Disciple like me should be questioning.’
As the sun rose higher, the hollow grew hot and stuffy.
Everyone found a shady spot to rest. No one spoke, and only the noisy chirping of cicadas filled the woods.
Fang Han leaned against the boulder, closing his eyes to rest and meditate.
He kept *Thousand-Mile Soul Lock* operating at a minimal level, allowing him to perceive all auras within a radius of several li.
The auras of birds and beasts, of grass and trees, the water vapor from a distant stream—everything was normal. No unfamiliar auras were approaching.
In the evening, the setting sun stained the mountain ridge a dark gold.
A Sect Mail Eagle circled in the sky. A male Steward used a whistle to call the eagle down, untied the letter from its leg, and handed it to Jin Han.
"Elder Jin, a letter from the Sect."
Jin Han took it and opened it.
As her eyes swept over the writing, her impassive gaze wavered slightly.
She said nothing, simply handing the letter to Fang Han.
Fang Han took it and glanced over it.
The message was concise, but it made him pause.
"Have Fang Han infiltrate Pinggu City after dark and proceed to the east side... to retrieve important intelligence. This matter must remain secret."
His brow furrowed slightly.
Pinggu City. It was the same small border town where he had rested on his way back from Donglu County, just a few dozen li from their current location.
’What he couldn’t understand was why the Sect had specifically named him to retrieve the intelligence.’
He looked up, his gaze falling on Jin Han’s face.
The old woman’s expression was normal, betraying no emotion. She simply said faintly:
"Since the Sect Leader has arranged it this way, he must have his reasons. True Inheritor Fang, you should go."
Fang Han was silent for a moment, then nodded. With a jolt of Inner Qi, he completely disintegrated the letter.
He stood up and checked the Cloud Splitting Sword on his back.
"SWOOSH!"
After confirming everything was in order, his figure blurred and shot forward several zhang.
With a few leaps, he disappeared into the twilight at the end of the mountain path.
...
The night was black as ink, and the walls of Pinggu City cast a massive shadow under the moonlight.
Fang Han stood on a branch of an ancient tree outside the city, his gaze sweeping over the towering wall.
A height of over ten zhang would be an insurmountable chasm for an ordinary Martial Artist, but to him, it was nothing.
He didn’t rush to scale the wall. Instead, he first activated *Thousand-Mile Soul Lock* to carefully sense the auras both inside and outside the city.
The auras of the guards on duty were sparse. The closest one was over a hundred zhang away, and their breathing was long and steady, a clear sign they were dozing off.
"SWOOSH!"
Once he confirmed there was no danger, his figure moved.
After reaching Perfection in the Wind and Cloud Escape, his Body Technique had already reached the Mastery Realm.
With this leap, there was no sound of cutting wind, no rustle of clothes; his entire being seemed to have transformed into a wisp of invisible night breeze.
He leaped high, his toes tapping lightly on a brick halfway up the wall to propel himself again, and his body sailed over the wall, landing silently inside the city.
On the inner side of the wall was an area of low-built houses, their black roof tiles gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
"SWOOSH!"
Fang Han landed as lightly as a feather on a rooftop. After sweeping his gaze around to get his bearings, he flitted across the roofs toward the east side of the city.
Pinggu City wasn’t large, and its east side was even more remote.
The streets were narrow, the shops on both sides long since closed. Only a few wind lanterns swayed in the night breeze, casting a dim, yellow light.
Fang Han stopped at the mouth of an alley, his gaze fixed on its depths.
There stood an inconspicuous courtyard with green bricks and dark tiles, its walls covered in vines.
It was the exact place mentioned in the Sect’s letter for the intelligence rendezvous.
"Hm?"
As Fang Han used *Thousand-Mile Soul Lock* to sense the courtyard, a look of surprise appeared on his face.
Suppressing his surprise, he walked toward the courtyard, his steps light and soundless.
Arriving at the gate, he raised his hand and knocked gently three times.
"KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK."
The knocking sound was exceptionally clear in the silent alley.
A moment later, the gate opened silently, just a crack, and a young woman’s face peeked out from behind it.
By the moonlight, Fang Han could see her face clearly.
Her skin was fairer than snow, her features as if from a painting. A pair of bright eyes shone with a gentle light in the darkness.
Her black hair was done up in a simple bun, with a Jade Hairpin stuck in it at an angle. She wore a moon-white dress, covered by a light blue outer shirt.
It was none other than his acquaintance, Lan Yuexin.
The reason for his surprise earlier when sensing the aura within the courtyard was that he had detected Lan Yuexin’s presence.
"Young Master Fang Han, please come in."
Lan Yuexin seemed to have expected him. She stepped aside to let him pass, her voice as soft and gentle as always.
Fang Han nodded slightly and stepped inside.
The courtyard was not large, paved with green bricks. A few clumps of green bamboo grew in a corner, rustling in the night wind.
Opposite the gate was a main hall, currently lit, its light casting a dim yellow glow through the paper windows.
Lan Yuexin led him into the hall, closing the door behind her.
Inside, there was a table and two chairs. In the corner stood a small incense burner, from which wisps of green smoke curled upward.
On the table sat a pot of tea and two cups. The tea was warm, clearly having been kept so.
"Miss Yuexin, why is it you?"
Fang Han sat down, his eyes on Lan Yuexin’s face, his mind filled with confusion.
"Because it was my Hundred Treasures Pavilion that provided the intelligence to the Qingxuan Sect."
Lan Yuexin sat down opposite Fang Han. She lifted the teapot and poured him a cup, her movements graceful and unhurried.
"As you know, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion also does business outside the county."
"The merchants who handled the batch of resources procured by the Netherworld Pavilion have many dealings with my Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Although they acted in secret, they could not hide it from us."
The question that had been lingering in Fang Han’s mind for the past two days was finally answered.
The Hundred Treasures Pavilion was one of the three great merchant associations in Qingyang County. Its business spanned every city within the county, and it had numerous channels outside it as well.
It was perfectly normal that they could uncover intelligence about the Netherworld Pavilion secretly procuring resources in another county.
"I see."
He lifted his teacup and took a small sip. The tea was refreshing, with a faint scent of orchid.
"It seems the Qingxuan Sect made a deal with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion."
"The Hundred Treasures Pavilion and the Qingxuan Sect did indeed make a deal."
Lan Yuexin smiled faintly. It was a gentle, captivating smile, made all the more soft and beautiful by the dim yellow light.
She paused, her bright eyes resting on Fang Han’s face for a moment, and her voice took on a note of sincere joy.
"I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you on reaching number one on the Celestial Pride List. A twenty-year-old at the top of the Celestial Pride List... that hasn’t happened in Qingyang County for hundreds of years."
"You flatter me, Miss Yuexin."
Fang Han’s expression was calm as he set down his teacup.
"It was just a fluke."
"You are always so modest."
Lan Yuexin shook her head gently but didn’t press the matter.
She rose and walked to an inconspicuous wooden cabinet in the corner. Opening its door, she took out a letter sealed with wax and handed it to him.
"This contains the detailed intelligence on the Netherworld Pavilion’s caravan, including their route, personnel, and the cultivation level and martial arts characteristics of the accompanying Elder."