Chapter 432: Unexpected (2)

Chapter 432: Chapter 324: Unexpected (2)

Han Yuan’s entire arm instantly erupted in raging flames, lashing out with terrifying speed as it hurtled toward his opponent like a meteor.

The Du Family’s eldest son’s expression flickered as he abruptly opened his mouth.

COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!!!

A sound like a rooster’s crow, yet incredibly sharp and bizarre, suddenly erupted!

The cry formed a bizarre sonic wave that made blood seep from Han Yuan’s nose and ears.

But he paid it no mind, still driving his fist forward.

BOOM!

A violent, fiery explosion erupted, blasting the Du Family’s eldest son to the ground.

‘That was a close call…’

Han Yuan drew his Heaven-Defying Saber and walked step-by-step toward the Du Family’s eldest son.

The moment he’d sensed danger, he had not only activated his Second Stage transformation but also circulated the Divine Power of the Nine Mountains Heart Guarding True Skill: Unmoving as a Mountain.

And yet, he was still sent flying by a single palm strike.

Of course, the injury wasn’t severe; it couldn’t even be considered a serious wound.

At this moment, the Du Family’s eldest son also stood up, a bizarre smile on his face. “I never thought I’d fall into your hands.”

“I’m curious. Which High Priest are you?” Han Yuan asked coolly.

He could sense from the man’s aura that this wasn’t the Wooden Snake he had been looking for.

“I am Soul Chicken,” the Du Family’s eldest son replied with a smile.

Just then, a glittering golden rope suddenly descended from the sky, landing on the Du Family’s eldest son and binding him completely.

It was clearly the work of the National Preceptor, Ling Yunzi, who had been lying in wait.

Young Master Du, however, seemed to have guessed who was responsible. He showed no intention of resisting, simply allowing the golden rope to bind him.

Han Yuan was surprised to see this.

At that moment, Cheng Xuan, Zhou Mingwu, and a crowd of Divine Sea Experts rushed over.

When Zhou Mingwu saw the bound figure of the Du Family’s eldest son, he said with shock and suspicion, “Du Xiang, I never expected it would be you.”

He clearly knew the Du Family’s eldest son.

“Heh, Du Xiang died long ago.”

Soul Chicken sneered as his features rapidly shifted, transforming into those of a gaunt-cheeked, middle-aged man.

“Du Xiang died long ago?”

Zhou Mingwu frowned.

He couldn’t immediately grasp the implications.

“First, let’s get him back to the Celestial Net Department’s dungeons,” Cheng Xuan said, his expression grave.

This was one of the Immortal Sect’s Twelve High Priests.

Getting him from the Du Family to the Celestial Net Department would not be easy.

Other Immortal Sect High Priests would very likely try to intervene along the way.

However, with Ling Yunzi secretly escorting them, they weren’t afraid—they just had to be cautious.

Following that, Cheng Xuan personally escorted Soul Chicken to the Celestial Net Department.

Han Yuan and the others provided protection along the route.

They eventually delivered Soul Chicken to the Celestial Net Department headquarters without any major incidents.

“Palace Master Han, we were lucky to have you this time. If it had been me, I’m afraid I would have fallen for Soul Chicken’s sneak attack.”

After seeing to the prisoner, Cheng Xuan returned to the main hall. He broke out in a cold sweat after Han Yuan recounted what had happened.

Truly, no one could have imagined that an Immortal Sect High Priest was none other than the Du Family’s eldest son.

It was only thanks to Han Yuan’s incredible reaction time and his formidable Horizontal Training that he could block the sneak attack, creating an opportunity for Ling Yunzi to make a move.

Otherwise, Soul Chicken might have actually escaped.

“Daoist Master Ling Yunzi is the formidable one; he captured Soul Chicken with a single move,” Han Yuan said, deflecting the praise.

“Haha, but Palace Master Han was the most critical person in this,” Cheng Xuan said with a laugh. “I wonder, what does Palace Master Han require this time?”

Since they had asked for Han Yuan’s help, they naturally had to offer something in return.

Especially since Han Yuan had played such a crucial role in stopping Soul Chicken.

“I need a Cultivation Technique for Refining the Divine Soul… and it must be of the highest quality,” Han Yuan asked. “Does the Celestial Net Department have such a technique?”

“Refining the Divine Soul…”

Cheng Xuan didn’t ask why. Instead, he said seriously, “We at the Celestial Net Department do indeed have several Cultivation Techniques for Refining the Divine Soul. I’ll have someone select the best and have Dong Fangqu deliver it to you.”

Han Yuan nodded. “Then my thanks to Director Cheng.”

Cheng Xuan then added, “Ah, yes… we also captured Du Honghao alive.”

“We’re about to interrogate them both. Is Palace Master Han interested in observing?”

Han Yuan shook his head. “I’ll pass… Just let me know what you find out.”

With that, he tactfully took his leave.

He knew Cheng Xuan’s mind was now completely focused on how to interrogate Soul Chicken and Du Honghao.

“Very well.” Cheng Xuan didn’t try to detain him.

By the time Han Yuan walked out of the Celestial Net Department, the sky was just beginning to brighten, the morning sun slowly rising in the east.

Han Yuan wasn’t in a hurry to return, so he simply strolled through the streets.

As dawn broke, the once dead-silent Great Li Capital quickly came alive with noise.

The streets were already filling with people.

Butchers were carving pork, farmers were hawking their vegetables, and all sorts of breakfast stalls had been set up along the roads.

Han Yuan found an empty seat at a bun stall and ordered a bowl of soy milk, two steamers of thin-skinned meat buns, and a fried dough stick.

Slowly sipping his soy milk and eating the fried dough stick, Han Yuan replayed the events of the previous night at the Du Mansion in his mind.

Despite a few unexpected turns, Du Honghao and Soul Chicken were captured alive.

The mission was, for all intents and purposes, a complete success.

Now it was just a matter of seeing what they could pry from the two captives.

But something still felt off to Han Yuan.

‘It all went too smoothly… But I can’t put my finger on what’s wrong.’

Han Yuan frowned.

‘The main issue was how unexpectedly things had unfolded.’

‘He had expected that Soul Chicken, as an Immortal Sect High Priest, would at least put up a major fight.’

‘But he was just bound by Ling Yunzi’s Dharma Artifact without any real struggle.’

‘Of course, that could just be because Ling Yunzi is overwhelmingly powerful.’

‘After all, for someone to become the National Preceptor, their strength must be beyond question.’

‘Perhaps Soul Chicken isn’t skilled in combat, only in disguise and manipulation…’

‘If anyone else had been guarding the back door last night, they probably wouldn’t have been able to stop him… but it just so happened to be me.’

‘My assignment was only confirmed after I met with Zhou Mingwu and Cheng Xuan.’

‘In other words, there shouldn’t have been any risk of the information being leaked.’

‘So it must just be that Soul Chicken was incredibly unlucky. His sneak attack failed to kill me, which led to his capture.’

Han Yuan felt that reasoning was plausible enough.

After all, Soul Chicken couldn’t have known in advance that he would be the one guarding the back door.

In any case, something felt wrong about the whole affair, even if he couldn’t put his finger on it.

‘Whatever… The Celestial Net Department and the Great Li Royal Family have plenty of people… If there’s really a problem, they should be able to spot it.’

‘We’ll just have to see what Du Honghao and Soul Chicken say, and how the Immortal Sect Organization reacts to one of their own being captured.’

After finishing off the last of the thin-skinned buns, Han Yuan headed back to the inn.

When he pushed open his door, however, he froze.

Fat Thief was awake.

“Meow~ You’re finally back.”

“I was about to fall asleep again,” Fat Thief said, his voice weak.

He had clearly forced himself to stay awake, waiting for Han Yuan to return.

“Fat Thief, you can’t go to sleep… If you do… it might be a very long time before you wake up again,” Han Yuan said seriously.

“Meow~ I know…”

“But Lord Meow’s soul can’t hold on much longer.”

“Han Yuan, you must not go to that place…”

“That place… no one who goes there comes out alive,” Fat Thief said earnestly.

He had apparently learned something during his slumber.

“Don’t worry… I’m not going to that place for the time being,” Han Yuan nodded. “Besides, you’re just falling asleep. It’s not like you’re going to die.”

“Good… Also, about the Immortal Sect Organization…”

“You should go to Glazed Island in the Storm Sea… That’s where the Immortal Sect Organization began.”

“You might be able to find some clues there.”

Fat Thief’s voice grew increasingly faint.

“Glazed Island… I’ll remember.”

Han Yuan nodded.

“Meow~ Han Yuan, I want some dried fish,” said Fat Thief.

“I’ll go buy some for you right now.”

Han Yuan hurried out of the room.

When he returned to the room with the dried fish, he let out a soft sigh.

Fat Thief, lying on the desk, had once again turned into a stone statue.

“You little guy… Sleep well.”

“I’ll wake you up.”

Han Yuan said softly, gently stroking Fat Thief’s head.