Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 1726 – A Case of Theft

Trouble had come knocking on his door.

Hearing these knocks, Qin Yu could only frown and his face was full of helplessness.

He just wanted to arrive at Sky Falling Mountain peacefully and steadily. It was such a simple wish, but in the end, he was still subject to so many twists and turns.

Life was too hard!

Raising his head to look at the door where the persistent knocking was still going on, Qin Yu sighed.

Wasn’t it good to be alive?

Then, the knocking stopped.

The next moment, a soft ‘ka-cha’ sound rang out. The latch broke and fell to the ground and the light rays that were surging were instantly extinguished.

The door was pushed open from the outside. “Fellow daoist, why are you refusing to meet someone who has come from thousands of miles away? I have come today to make a deal with you.” Whilst speaking, this person stepped into the room. It was precisely that person dressed in a dark green robe who he saw from the corner of his eye on the deck yesterday.

A smile appeared on this person’s handsome face as he cupped his hands, “I am Sun Changqing. Sorry to intrude; please be understanding.”

Qin Yu was expressionless as he said, “Fellow daoist Sun, you have to pay for damaging the ferry’s property.”

Sun Changqing’s smile did not waver as he looked at the door latch that had fallen to the ground, “Of course, fellow daoist, please rest assured. I will take responsibility for that.”

He walked closer to Qin Yu, took out a wooden staff, and said, “This is an item that I received from a ten-thousand-year-old divine tree in my early years. It looks like this now after having undergone refining by an expert.

“After you activate this treasure with your cultivation, it will become a giant tree that can hold up and cover the entire sky. Its power is immeasurable. I can assure you that this wooden staff is the most precious thing I have. As long as you are willing to make a deal with me, this staff is yours.”

Qin Yu looked at the wooden staff that had light coursing through it. With one look, he could tell that it was indeed extraordinary.

This method of convincing him was rather sincere.

“Fellow daoist Sun, what do you want?”

Sun Changqing’s eyes brightened and he replied, “To tell you the truth, I am not sure if you have what I need.”

He coughed lightly, putting the wooden staff on the table and stretching out his arm. “However, I just need to shake your hand to find out.”

Calmly, Qin Yu leaned back on his chair and said, “I did not agree to make a deal with you yet.”

Sun Changqing said, “The wooden staff is right here. Fellow daoist, please consider this carefully. After all…Sky Falling Mountain is not a safe place. Having one more treasure could give you more confidence.” He leaned forward, still smiling, but his eyes were filled with calmness, without even a slight fluctuation in emotion.

The sound of footsteps could be heard, and two ferry cultivators appeared outside Qin Yu’s door. They asked him, “Excuse me, what happened here?”

Qin Yu replied, “Fellow daoist Sun Changqing barged into my room for no reason; could you please escort him out?”

Sun Changqing frowned, “Fellow daoist Zhou, by doing this, don’t you think you’re being a little unreasonable?”

Qin Yu picked up his tea cup and took a sip.

Sun Changqing pushed his chair to stand up, took the wooden staff, and turned around to leave. Behind him, Qin Yu suddenly said, “Don’t forget about paying for that door latch you broke, fellow daoist Sun.”

Sun Changqing smiled and replied, “Of course I won’t forget.”

After the two ferry cultivators apologized to Qin Yu, they left too.

Closing the door and sitting by the table once again, Qin Yu rubbed his temples as he looked at the place where Sun Changqing was sitting earlier.

Even though this matter was over just like that today, intuition told him that the other party would not back off so easily. Make a deal? Shake my hand to find out? Stop joking around!

Qin Yu had too many secrets and he definitely could not agree to such a request. He lowered his hand and knocked his fingers lightly against the table. He was starting to consider whether he should take the initiative to kill that man.

However, very quickly, he suppressed the thought. There were two Half-Kings on the ferry and they were not blind.

It would not be difficult to kill Sun Changqing, but if he caught their attention – especially of that Bull Demon in the Half-King realm who was staying by Bull Bean’s side – they would only become suspicious of him and then there would be even more trouble for him to deal with.

Forget it, I shall not care about this for the time being. It would be best if Sun Changqing backs off by himself. If he dares to do anything, I’ll just deal with it accordingly.

If all else fails, I will just scare him a bit so that he leaves.

……

“Fellow daoist Sun, please walk slowly, please walk slowly.” Manager Shi Liang raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and his face paled.

Sweeping Clouds Peak!

He did not dare to ask any more questions. The moment the other party revealed his identity, Shi Liang was instantly terrified.

How could he not be?

What kind of place was Sweeping Clouds Peak?

That sage was an extremely powerful person and word had it that he was only one step away from entering the True King realm, and he could break through any time!

“Elder, how are you going to explain this matter to that guest from Area D?” A disciple asked, looking slightly stressed.

Shi Liang waved his hand with annoyance, “What is there to explain? If he continues to question us, just say that this matter is not within the scope of things that the ferry handles. If there is any dispute between the both of them, they can resolve it elsewhere.”

Just as he finished speaking, he frowned once again, “Wait! That guest from Area D…go and check which one it is.”

Very quickly, when he received the information he wanted, Shi Liang tensed up. He thought to himself, ‘Thankfully I was more cautious, otherwise I’m going to end up in trouble.’

This person turned out to be the one that Mister Bull was looking for back then.

Even though nothing happened, Mister Bull did give them orders not to keep an eye on this person anymore.

However, Shi Liang did not dare to take Mister Bull’s words seriously.

This was because even someone from Sweeping Clouds Peak was approaching this person. He did not believe that these two matters were simply coincidental or unrelated to each other.

There’s something wrong about this, there’s definitely something wrong about this!

Shi Liang paced back and forth before taking a deep breath, “Personally go over and apologize to that guest surnamed Zhou. Be nicer to him and let him know our difficulties.”

When immortals fought each other, mortals lost their lives. Cloud Sea Sect could not afford to provoke either one of them.

Just as he sent someone away, another disciple from his sect came to report to him, “Elder, an important guest from the Thirteenth Floor is requesting to meet with you.”

Whoosh –

Shi Liang instantly jumped, “Where is he now? You fool! When an important guest comes to our door, you just welcome him in straight away – how could you let him wait outside?”

As he said this, he went straight for the door in a hurried manner.

The disciple who was being reprimanded looked helpless as he thought to himself, ‘It was you who told us to watch the door and not let anyone else come in.’ However, there was no use in explaining himself, and even if he did, there was no one to listen to it.

Shi Liang rushed out and respectfully greeted, “Our sect’s disciple was being impolite; I hope you are not offended by it.”f𝘳𝒆ℯ𝑤𝚎𝚋𝗻𝚘𝘷el. c𝗼m

Opposite him, Li Ruhua was calm as she replied blandly, “It doesn’t matter.”

She swept her gaze over the place.

Shi Liang hurriedly added, “If you are free, please come in to talk.”

After entering, Shi Liang dismissed all the disciples by waving his hand. Then, he personally poured some tea for her and said in a respectful tone, “Esteemed guest, if you have something to say, please go ahead and say it. If there is something that I can do for you, Cloud Sea Sect will not reject it.”

Li Ruhua nodded and went straight to the point, “I came to ask for your help. I need to find someone on this ferry.”

Find someone. Once again, find someone.

It can’t be…

Shi Liang’s heart skipped a beat and he swallowed his saliva, trying not to let his voice tremble, “May I know who you are looking for?”

Li Ruhua raised her hand and the space in front of her twisted, showing a person’s face.

It was really him!

This time, Shi Liang tried to hold it in, but the bewilderment still showed on his face.

Li Ruhua frowned, “Manager, you know this person?”

Shi Liang took a deep breath and cupped his hands, “Yes, this guest is staying in Area D.”

Li Ruhua said, “There are many people on the ferry and Area D is just a normal area. Do you have the ability to remember everything you see, such that you can remember this person?”

She was implying something.

Shi Liang tensed up immediately and he laughed bitterly, “Esteemed guest, you must be kidding. I do not have the ability to remember everything I see…” Gritting his teeth, he continued in a low voice, “I have an impression of this person because two things have happened previously.”

Then, he told Li Ruhua about the matters concerning the Bull Family and Sun Changqing. His eyes were full of pleading as he begged, “Esteemed guest, you have to keep this a secret. If the other guests blame me for spreading this, my Cloud Sea Sect will not be able to bear the consequences!”

Li Ruhua got up and said, “Thank you, Manager. I will keep this a secret, but I also hope that you will not let anyone know about the conversation we have had today.”

Cold sweat immediately formed on Shi Liang’s forehead as he quickly nodded his head repeatedly.

……

Ming Zhe knocked on the door, which was opened a few moments later. Chen Sanglue greeted him respectfully, “Greetings, disciple brother Ming.”

“Is junior sister here?”

Chen Sanglue replied, “No, she just went out. If senior brother Ming has something to tell her, I can help you relay it to her.”

Ming Zhe smiled slightly, “It’s nothing much. Since junior sister is not here, I will take my leave first.”

He cupped his hands and Cheng Sanglue quickly lowered his head to return the greeting.

“Senior brother Ming,” a voice called out from behind.

Ming Zhe smiled as he turned around, “Junior sister, you’re back.”

Chen Sanglue greeted her as well and took the initiative to dismiss himself, returning into his own room.

Li Ruhua said, “Senior brother Ming, please come in.”

The two of them sat down and Ming Zhe did not beat around the bush as he said, “Regarding Sky Falling Mountain, I have already researched it years ago. Previously, I was rushing somewhere, so it was not a good time to speak with you. If you do not mind, I will tell you what to take note of after entering that place.”

Li Ruhua greeted him respectfully, “Thank you, senior brother.”

Half an hour later, after reciting what he had found during his research in detail, he did not stay any longer. He got up and said, “Junior sister, I will not disrupt your peace further. I’ll take my leave now.”

Li Ruhua got up too and replied, “I will escort senior brother out.”

Ming Zhe smiled and nodded his head.

After escorting him out, Ming Zhe waved his hand to tell her not to walk him out any further, before turning to leave.

“Did you manage to check?”

“Yes, sir. Li Ruhua left the cabin earlier to meet with Cloud Sea Sect’s elder, who is the current manager of the ferry, Shi Liang.”

Behind him, his servant caught up to him and after a slight hesitation, continued, “As for the reason why she was meeting him, to prevent being found out, I did not dare to act on my own.”

Ming Zhe replied blandly, “Okay. Let’s stop here, do not pursue this matter any further.”

A bright light flashed in his eyes.

……

Sun Changqing returned to his quarters, and even though he was smiling, there was an undeniable coldness in his eyes.

Whatever he said just now was true. He truly did not know whether Qin Yu had what he wanted. However, he was certain about one thing…this object was extremely important to him!

If that was not the case, Sun Changqing would not deliberately complicate an issue and be so impatient to find Qin Yu before Sky Falling Mountain descended. Today’s failure was quite unexpected, but still within reason. The things he desired were naturally extraordinary.

It seemed that Zhou Huan had already foreseen that something like this would happen.

However, as long as it was something that he had his eye on, it would not be able to run away from him…at most, he would need to use a little more effort to get it. Lowering his head and thinking for a few moments, the corners of Sun Changqing’s lips turned up and he raised his hand to retrieve the wooden staff.

He raised his hand a little bit more, and the wooden staff landed on the ground. After trembling slightly, a fire started to burn inside it, making it come to life. Some roots and branches emerged from it, slithering out like snakes. They slipped into the interior structure of the ferry and disappeared.

……

Two days later, Shi Liang, who had finally managed to catch his breath, received a report from his one of his sect’s disciples. For a moment, he was unable to breathe and almost collapsed to the ground.

There was a case of theft, and the one who had lost his property was that disciple from Sweeping Clouds Peak – Sun Changqing!

“Elder. Elder! Are you okay?”

A few disciples rushed over to hold him steadily.

Shi Liang gasped for breath and asked, “Where is he? Where is Sun Changqing?”

“Manager Shi, I am right here, waiting for the Cloud Sea Sect to give me an explanation!” With a cold laugh, Sun Changqing walked into the room.

At this moment, his face was gloomy and there was a cold gaze in his eyes. “This time, I was ordered by the Peak Master to go down the mountain to cultivate. Before I left on this journey, he gave me a treasure, but now, it has been stolen by someone on this ferry!”

Shi Liang’s face paled, “Sun…fellow daoist Sun, you should have stored your treasure properly…our Cloud Sea Sect’s ferry…”

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted. Sun Changqing was expressionless as he said, “Manager Shi is trying to say that I am unlucky for losing my treasure and that it has nothing to do with your ferry?”

He walked forward and looked down at Shi Liang condescendingly, “Today, I will make it clear to you that this treasure was specially bestowed to me by Peak Master to ensure that I could gain some benefits at Sky Falling Mountain. If I cannot find this treasure, I will be punished severely by the Peak Master, and the Cloud Sea Sect will definitely be implicated too!”

Thump –

This time, it was no use having people holding Shi Liang up. Like a limp noodle, he softly fell to the ground.

“Elder, Elder!”

The Cloud Sea Sect’s disciples fell into a state of severe anxiety.

Sweeping Clouds Peak’s Peak Master was that legendary cultivator who was one step away from becoming a True King. He was one of the peak existences in this world.

If he was angered, he would not be satisfied until he killed all of us from the Cloud Sea Sect.

“Fellow daoist Sun, please be magnanimous…yes, your treasure must still be on the boat. As long as we do a thorough search, we can definitely find it!” Shi Liang, who was holding onto his consciousness for dear life, suddenly regained his composure and got up to scream.

Sun Changqing scoffed, “Manager Shi, are you sure that the thief is still on the boat?”

Shi Liang nodded his head aggressively, “I am sure! My Cloud Sea Sect’s ferry is surrounded by a powerful array. No one will be able to leave without making a sound. In these two days, the ferry has not stopped at any ports, so the thief must still be on the boat!”

To this, Sun Changqing replied, “Good. As long as we can find the treasure, the Cloud Sea Sect will not only be pronounced to be innocent, I will even report this to Peak Master so that we will owe you a favor!”