A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 470 Fatty Xu

In the dark night, the red crane turned into a black light in the sky where the stars and the moon were hanging low. In the dim light, it disappeared towards the direction of Changliu Mountain.

Although Zhu He did not stay in the dense forest for a long time, Yang Sixuan, Pei Du and Jiang Zhe had already disappeared, far beyond the range he could detect.

Yang Sixuan is only in his fifties this year. He is the youngest Cave Netherworld Realm expert in the Elders' Council. During the Yougu test that year, he was just half a step away from stepping onto the altar, just like Duan Rong.

Over the past few decades, he has been relying on Chu Qiushan, and has had all the resources he needs for cultivation. He has also been in charge of the Judgment and Clan Affairs Office for many years.

In terms of seniority, he is naturally still young, but it is hard to say what his future achievements will be!
Zhu He felt that after he became the sect leader, he might be the next sect leader.

Of course there are other possibilities...

Zhu He frowned slightly at this thought. Duan Rong's growth was clearly even more terrifying than Yang Sixian's. At least it was impossible for Yang Sixian to achieve the fourth level of Yuan Qi Realm in just over half a year, let alone comprehend the artistic conception while still in the Yuan Qi Realm.

Zhu He thought so and felt that his thoughts were too far away, so he pulled himself back. He saw faint fog surging in the dark mountains below. He still had important things to deal with.

Ge Rusong painstakingly built the Taihe Tower, a place hidden from the secular world, where he could monitor officials and control the government. However, this was completely exposed by Duan Rong.

Moreover, Duan Rong was a secretive, quick and ruthless person. We didn't even have time to withdraw many of the ambushes set up outside Taihe Building, so he almost caught them all in one fell swoop.

Not only did he uncover Ge Rusong's roots, but he also found evidence of the intricate connection between the Tongzhengshisi and Taihelou. Duan Rong accomplished this task better than he had initially expected.

This kid is not only talented in cultivation, but also meticulous and methodical in doing things.

"I was right in my judgment." Zhu He couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Zhu He had been thinking about this chess game for a long time, and had put a lot of thought into it. He had laid out all the arrangements and spies a long time ago. But in the end, he still chose Duan Rong as the core of the whole chess game. He made this decision after repeated consideration and investigation.

Looking back along the way, many of Duan Rong's actions actually exceeded his expectations.

This kid is somewhat similar to my junior brother Gu Daoling in cultivation, but in his behavior and scheming, he is quite similar to me!
A promising boy!

"Such a good disciple just happened to fall into the hands of Zhu He. What a pity!" Zhu He could hardly hide his ecstasy, but his figure did not slow down at all, and he roared in the sky...

Now, Ge Rushong has been convicted of two major crimes!

First, in the secular world, monitoring all officials and controlling the government and the people is suspected of usurpation and treason.

The second charge was that he instigated Pei Du and Jiang Zhe to surround and kill the sect's disciples. This crime was far greater than the previous one.

These two serious crimes, combined together, can crush him to death.

However, Chu Qiushan and Ge Rusong still had some friendship. Even so, the lightest punishment for Ge Rusong was expulsion from the Council of Elders and stripping him of all his status. Despite his cultivation reaching the Cave Netherworld Realm, he would remain a marginal figure and forever confined to the mountains, forbidden from leaving without permission. A seed character would be planted in his body by the sect's ancestor.

But Zhu He felt that this was not enough. His consistent principle was to cut the grass at its roots. If you don't kill the snake, it will bite you back when it gets the chance.

At the very least, he would have to destroy Ge Rushong's cultivation before he could feel at ease.

Ge Rushong must have known about the destruction of Taihe Tower.

But he may not know that Pei Du and Jiang Zhe were taken back to the Judgment and Adjudication Department by Yang Sixun. He must let Ge Rushong's spies who are hiding there know about this as soon as possible through the people in the Judgment and Adjudication Department. Zhu He thought with a flickering look in his eyes.

In the dense forest, Duan Rong dug a big hole next to the campfire and buried Ruyi. Next to the grave, he inserted a tombstone. In the light of the fire, one could see the words: Tomb of Yan Yueru.

Duan Rong stood there for a while, then leaped up and floated into the dense forest like a fallen leaf, disappearing in an instant.

It was the darkest hour before dawn. Zhu Zhengfu was sleeping soundly on the bed in one of his concubine's rooms. He was snoring softly. Beside him was a petite woman, lying on his shoulder, revealing a small portion of her fair, smooth shoulder, as smooth as silk.

Not far from the bed with gauze curtains, a dark shadow suddenly stood there.

The black shadow suddenly appeared there and stood there motionless, like a ghost in the dark night.

After a few breaths, the dark shadow sighed softly, as if deliberately.

In the quiet inner room, the sigh was a bit harsh.

Although Zhu Zhengfu has been accustomed to a life of luxury in recent years, he is, after all, a warrior at the fourth level of the True Qi Realm, and his six senses are far sharper than those of ordinary people.

In the quiet room, when the sigh was heard, he immediately jumped up, grabbed the sword on the bedside, and shouted, "Who is it?"

"it's me!"

Unexpectedly, a familiar voice came.

"Sir?" Zhu Zhengfu's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

The voice in the darkness was clearly Duan Rong's.

Duan Rong sneaked into Zhu's mansion in the dark night. Using his spiritual sense to explore, he quickly locked onto Zhu Zhengfu's location and sneaked in.

"Master Zhu, Duan is waiting for you outside!"

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he walked out of the inner room, walked around the screen, and in the darkness, walked to a chair in the front hall and sat down.

Zhu Zhengfu put down the sword in his hand, a trace of suspicion arose in his heart. Why did Lord Duan sneak into someone else's room for no reason? Fortunately, it was not the time when I was making love with my concubine, otherwise it would be so embarrassing!

Zhu Zhengfu actually liked to do that thing before dawn, but he was a little tired these days, so he slept more deeply. Otherwise, if it were in the past, he might be in bed at this moment, making love...

Zhu Zhengfu had already opened the quilt with his movements, waking up the concubine sleeping beside him. She yelled incoherently, "Master, what are you doing in the middle of the night?"

He pulled the quilt over the beautiful concubine and said soothingly, "It's okay, go to sleep."

Zhu Zhengfu said, patting her shoulder, and the concubine, who was already very sleepy, fell asleep again. He then got off the bed, put on his pajamas, put on his boots, walked to the cupboard in the dark, picked up the tinderbox, lit the lantern, and walked out.

Duan Rong was sitting in the dark. When he saw Zhu Zhengfu coming out in his pajamas, holding a lantern, he said, "Master Zhu, I am sorry to disturb you so late at night."

Zhu Zhengfu stood with a lantern in hand and said respectfully, "Where? Your Excellency must have something to ask for if you come here at this time."

Duan Rong nodded and said, "There is indeed something I need to trouble you with, sir."

Duan Rong said, and extended his hand to an empty seat not far away, saying, "Master Zhu, please sit down and chat."

"Thank you, sir." Zhu Zhengfu walked over, placed the lantern on the table, and sat down.

Duan Rong said, "Master Zhu, let me ask you something. Is that Ruyi beside me the skinny horse you bought from the courtyard a few days ago?"

Zhu Zhengfu's face was slightly embarrassed. This kind of thing was fine if he just knew it in his heart. Why bother to explain it so clearly? However, since Duan Rong had asked, he still replied, "Yes. I've already had someone check it out, and the person is clean."

Duan Rong said: "This woman is a spy planted by Ge Rushong next to me." "What?!"

Zhu Zhengfu had barely sat down when he suddenly stood up, a look of astonishment on his face. Duan Rong's tone was calm, but to Zhu Zhengfu it was like thunder.

He clasped his fists in panic and shouted, "I really don't know anything about this!"

Zhu Zhengfu did not doubt Duan Rong's judgment at all. After all, Duan Rong had wiped out all the hidden strongholds such as Taihe Tower. What about a spy nearby?

Duan Rong pressed his hand, motioned him to sit down, and said in a gentle voice, "Don't be startled. I know this matter has nothing to do with you."

Zhu Zhengfu felt a little relieved after hearing this. He sat down again, rolled his eyes, and said, "I was tricked by that agent. I will take people to raid his yard right now."

Duan Rong said, "I ran away a long time ago. Why am I still waiting for you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhengfu's face froze and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.

That broker was a distant relative of his. If it weren't for this relationship, he wouldn't have gotten a skinny horse from that guy to serve Duan Rong.

Unexpectedly, this flattery hit the horse's hoof and messed up the matter.

Duan Rong ignored Zhu Zhengfu's thoughts at the moment and said, "Although Ruyi was sold to you by that broker, this woman passed the message to the outside world through the cook in your house."

"Cook?" Zhu Zhengfu's face was shocked. "Is it Fatty Xu!?"

Duan Rong said, "That cook has been in your house for a few years, right?"

Zhu Zhengfu felt a wave of fear. "Fatty Xu was recruited from the big restaurant by me. He's actually a spy too?!"

Duan Rong said: "He may not have been originally. But once he entered your house, Ge Rushong would try every possible means to capture him. If he had some weaknesses, it would be easier to capture him."

Zhu Zhengfu nodded upon hearing this. He felt that Duan Rong's conclusion was probably the truth of the matter. His identity was indeed sensitive, not to mention that it was a turbulent time as the next sect leader was about to be appointed.

The people around him were indeed the targets of Ge Rushong's rebellion. It seemed that after this incident, he would have to thoroughly investigate the people in the mansion.

Thinking that the cook at home was actually a spy, he felt terrified. He also had to take care of the three meals a day for his concubines, but that fat man Xu was in charge of it. If he poisoned them casually, his whole family would be wiped out.

Duan Rong suddenly stood up, looked at Zhu Zhengfu, and said, "Where does Fatty Xu live? Take me there."

Zhu Zhengfu was just thinking about the scary things to come when Duan Rong interrupted his thoughts. He stood up in a hurry, holding a lantern, and led Duan Rong to the courtyard of the servants.

Fatty Xu is treated well and lives in a separate yard.

The two walked to the gate and shone the lantern. They saw that the gate was locked. Fatty Xu was not in the yard.

Duan Rong's eyes focused, and his spiritual sense suddenly spread out, scanning the yard inside and out.

After taking a quick look, he felt a little relieved. Looking inside the room, it didn't look like anyone had fled in a hurry.

Duan Rong then asked in a deep voice, "Is Fatty Xu not here?"

Zhu Zhengfu said, "This old fellow likes to visit prostitutes in brothels. He goes there twice a month. I'm afraid he went to a brothel again last night."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered when he heard this. As long as he didn't escape, it would be fine. He looked at Zhu Zhengfu and said, "Master Zhu, you should go back first. Don't reveal a single word of what I talked about with you. If the news leaks out, don't blame Duan Rong for not remembering our friendship."

Zhu Zhengfu's heart trembled, and he said quickly: "Don't worry, sir, I dare not do that." After he said that, he bowed to Duan Rong and left.

Duan Rong waited until Zhu Zhengfu walked a little further away before he suddenly leaped up and floated into the courtyard like a falling leaf, landing lightly.

He stood at the entrance of the main room. The door was also locked, but the door was a little deformed. Even though it was locked, the gap was quite large, and a smaller child could probably get in.

In the darkness, a crackling sound of bones suddenly rang out around Duan Rong, and with this sound, his figure shrank in circles.

After a few breaths, Duan Rong squeezed in through the crack in the door.

At daybreak, Fatty Xu walked out of the alley leading to the brothel. He walked unsteadily as his legs were weak after a night of activity.

Fatty Xu entered the Zhu Mansion and went to the kitchen first.

Over in the kitchen, steam was already rising, and Xiao Guo was busy working among the firelight and white steam.

Breakfast was relatively simple. Fatty Xu prepared everything he needed the night before, and Xiao Guo could prepare the rest the next morning. This way, he could get a good night's sleep.

Fat Xu walked into the kitchen, took a look at all the breakfasts, gave Xiao Guo a few words, then left the kitchen and went to the courtyard where he lived.

This time, he could sleep until lunch time.

Fat Xu hummed a little tune as he came to the gate of the courtyard, took out his key, opened the gate, stepped in, then turned around to close the door, bolted it, and then walked across the yard while turning the key in his hand.

He came to the door of the main room. In the darkness, he felt around and grabbed the key to the main room. He opened the creaking door and hummed a little tune as he stepped into the room. Just as he was about to turn around and close the door, he heard a ghostly voice suddenly ring out from the darkness behind him. "Are you back?"

Fatty Xu's heart trembled and his scalp felt like it was electrocuted.

At that moment, he staggered and almost peed himself. He held the door with his hand, turned his head and looked at the thick darkness behind him, and asked timidly: "Who? Who's there?"

He suspected that he had heard it wrongly. What he feared most now was that something would really answer him.

After a few breaths, there was silence in the darkness, and there seemed to be no response.

Fatty Xu sighed deeply and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was sure he had misheard. He was scaring himself.

At this moment, a dark figure suddenly walked out from the depths of the thick darkness. The moonlight shining through the door shone on the dark figure, and it was clearly a person.

Fatty Xu's breathing stagnated and he froze there. His whole body felt cold and his scalp was numb. Just as he was about to shout, the figure suddenly appeared, as fast as a ghost, and grabbed his throat.

Fatty Xu had never seen anyone so fast before! He even doubted whether the person who came out of the darkness was really a human.
Duan Rong came over, and with one hand, he grasped Fatty Xu's neck tightly, lifted him up, and asked intently, "Tell me! How did you pass on the message that Ruyi gave you?"

Fatty Xu was pinched by Duan Rong so hard that he had difficulty breathing and couldn't speak at all.

Duan Rong just held him there, and when he saw his face flush purple, he suddenly dropped his hand, letting him land on his feet, and the hand that was gripping his neck loosened a little.

Fatty Xu gasped for breath, and there was a sound like wind pulling at his throat. He glanced at the person in front of him.

Under the faint moonlight, all I could see was a guy with a stern face.

"If you don't want to die, answer my question."

(End of this chapter)