22: Chapter 22 Search

"What did you say?" Lin Hao's expression was extremely ugly. "All the Spirit Sand is gone? Those twenty-three thousand grains of Spirit Sand, and all that essence blood, all gone?"

Zhao Hu's body shuddered violently. He kowtowed like a pestle grinding garlic, his voice carrying a sob as he defended himself incoherently: "Bi—Big Senior Brother, it's this Junior Brother's incompetence! It's because I didn't see through him! I was tricked by a utility worker!"

Zhao Hu didn't dare hide a single thing. He reported the sequence of events from beginning to end, from his chance encounter with Junior Brother Wang Wu and inviting him to fish, to Junior Brother Wang Wu using an excuse to touch the Storage Pouch and jumping into the lake with it. He detailed every single point, hoping only for a sliver of forgiveness from Lin Hao.

But as soon as he finished speaking, the atmospheric pressure in the hall dropped even further. The Spiritual Qi around Lin Hao suddenly surged, and with a "clatter," a teacup on the table smashed heavily against Zhao Hu's forehead.

It smashed Zhao Hu's head until it bled, but Zhao Hu didn't dare dodge, nor did he dare wipe the blood from his forehead.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" Lin Hao slammed the table and stood up, furious beyond measure. The Killing Intent in his eyes was almost tangible.

At the beginning of this year, he had been swindled out of a Talisman Brush worth over a hundred Spirit Stones by someone named Zhang Yuan.

And now, at the end of the year, he had been swindled out of another two hundred plus Spirit Stones.

Zhao Hu's Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering in fear. He hurriedly increased the intensity of his kowtowing, his forehead slamming heavily against the bluestone floor with a dull thud. Before long, it was a bloody mess, and blood flowed down his forehead, staining the ground in front of him.

"Big Senior Brother, have mercy! Big Senior Brother, have mercy! This Junior Brother knows his mistake! I only ask that Big Senior Brother gives me a chance to make up for my failure!"

The wound on his forehead grew deeper and deeper, yet he didn't dare stop for even a second.

Seeing this, Wu Feng, who was standing to the side, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Big Senior Brother, please calm your anger. Although Zhao Hu made a mistake and lost the Spirit Sand, his loyalty is clear; he has earned many Spirit Stones for you!"

Lin Hao's brow furrowed. The Killing Intent in his eyes diminished slightly, but he still stared coldly at Zhao Hu: "Then tell me, what use is there in keeping him?"

"This Junior Brother is willing to redeem myself through service! This Junior Brother is willing to redeem myself through service!" Zhao Hu hurriedly grabbed the lifeline, lifting his blood-covered head, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. "Big Senior Brother, that person is a Spirit Farmer from Servant Peak! I recognize him! As long as we can find him, we can definitely get the Storage Pouch back and make up for my mistake!"

Wu Feng added at the right time, "Big Senior Brother, since Zhao Hu recognizes that Utility Disciple, he is useful. Why not let him redeem himself? Tomorrow morning, I will gather all the Junior Brothers from Servant Peak and take Zhao Hu there to identify the person. As long as we find him, we can not only recover the Spirit Sand but perhaps even find Zhang Yuan's whereabouts."

Lin Hao fell silent for a moment. He knew that what Wu Feng said made sense. Executing Zhao Hu now would be of no benefit; finding that person and recovering the Spirit Sand was the top priority.

Furthermore, by keeping Zhao Hu, Zhao Hu could continue helping him rob others and sell essence blood.

He would also be able to continuously harvest Spirit Sand.

"Fine," Lin Hao spoke coldly, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority. "I will give you one chance to redeem yourself through service."

He looked at Zhao Hu, the Killing Intent in his eyes making Zhao Hu's whole body stiffen. "Tomorrow morning, have Wu Feng take you to Servant Peak to identify the person. If you can't find that Utility Disciple or recover the Spirit Sand, I will hold you solely responsible!"

"Thank you, Big Senior Brother! Thank you, Big Senior Brother!" Zhao Hu wept with joy and hurriedly kowtowed again in gratitude. Blood was smeared all over his face, but he didn't care at all.

Lin Hao waved his hand, his tone annoyed: "Get out and tend to your wounds. Assemble on time tomorrow morning."

Zhao Hu hurriedly stood up and stumbled out of the hall, his back still trembling.

Wu Feng watched his back, a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes. He then turned to Lin Hao, bowed, and said, "Big Senior Brother, I will make the arrangements tomorrow morning. I will definitely gather all the Junior Brothers from Servant Peak to assist Zhao Hu in identifying the person."

Lin Hao nodded slightly, his gaze fixed solemnly on the dark night outside the window, a cold light flashing in the depths of his eyes.

At the same time, he completely failed to understand why those Spirit Farmers from Servant Peak were so bold.

They actually dared to swindle even his Spirit Sand.

...

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten.

"Clang— Clang— Clang—"

A series of rapid bell tolls rang out across Servant Peak.

According to Sect rules, after the Spirit Rice harvest is finished, it is the rest period for the Spirit Farmers.

During this rest period, these Spirit Farmers are free to move about; they can go to Qingyun Lake to fish or to the Spirit Stone Mine to dig.

There was no need to gather for work every day, so the sound of the assembly bell in the early morning made many Disciples feel suspicious.

"What's going on? Isn't it the rest period?"

"Why are we assembling out of the blue?"

"Could something have happened?"

"Let's go take a look!"

Many Utility Disciples whispered among themselves while hurriedly changing clothes and running toward the Servant Peak plaza.

Qin Changsheng also went along with the crowd, pretending to be just like any other ordinary Utility Disciple.

Before long, all the Utility Disciples had gathered on the plaza, lining up in neat rows as per custom. Whispers rose and fell, and curious gazes were cast toward the high platform at the front of the plaza.

Qin Changsheng stood in the middle of the line, calmly looking up. He saw that on the high platform, Outer Sect Disciple Wu Feng was standing in the center, dressed in martial attire.

Manager Liu Cheng and Zhao Hu were standing beside him.

Seeing Wu Feng and Zhao Hu, Qin Changsheng instantly knew why they had been assembled.

It was inevitably because of Zhao Hu's lost Storage Pouch and the tens of thousands of grains of Spirit Sand.

Manager Liu Cheng stepped forward and raised his hand to signal for silence. The whispering on the plaza instantly died down.

His gaze swept over the Disciples below as he said, "Gathering you all today is for no major matter!"

"Junior Brother Zhao Hu lost an important treasure yesterday!"

"That person is among you!"

"All of you, stand where you are and wait for Junior Brother Zhao Hu to identify you!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted. Disciples whispered to one another, their faces full of shock.

Manager Liu Cheng's face darkened, and he shouted sternly, "Silence!"

The plaza instantly returned to silence. The Disciples hurriedly shut their mouths, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Manager Liu Cheng walked up to Wu Feng with a smile.

Wu Feng turned to look at Zhao Hu and said in a heavy voice, "You may begin."

Zhao Hu nodded, slowly walked down from the high platform, and moved toward the lines of Disciples with a sinister gaze.

His gaze was like a venomous snake, sweeping across the face of every Utility Disciple one by one, identifying them carefully for fear of missing any similar figure.

The impression Junior Brother Wang Wu had left on him yesterday was extremely deep. He would never mistake that cowardly and honest appearance. At this moment, his mind was filled with thoughts of recovering the Spirit Sand and redeeming himself, his eyes showing a hint of madness.

The Disciples in the lines felt uncomfortable being watched by him, and they all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

Zhao Hu walked through the lines step by step, from the first row to the last, his gaze scanning repeatedly. Whenever he encountered a Disciple with a similar build, he would stop and look closely, but he still hadn't found that familiar figure.

His expression grew worse and worse. Because of his agitation, the wound on his forehead began to bleed, staining the bandage red.

"Impossible... how can he not be here?" Zhao Hu muttered to himself, his tone filled with disbelief and panic.

He clearly remembered that Junior Brother Wang Wu was a Spirit Farmer from Servant Peak and must be among these Disciples. However, after searching back and forth, he couldn't find even a trace.

Qin Changsheng stood in the line, watching Zhao Hu's panicked state with total composure.

He had calculated everything long ago. The Incarnation of Junior Brother Wang Wu was merely a body he had temporarily condensed. Now that the body was destroyed and its aura hidden, let alone Zhao Hu, even if Lin Hao came in person, he might not be able to find any clues.