17: The killing intent was locked onto five teams.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these three days, the Su Residence appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging beneath.
Chief Steward Su Fu had his pinky finger rot away due to a "sudden illness" and was hiding in the Inner Courtyard frantically seeking medical attention; that usually arrogant and overbearing servant, Su An, had silently frozen into an ice sculpture in his sleep the night before last, dying an inexplicable death.
Meanwhile, the culprit, Lin Que, was currently standing in the faint light of dawn, packing his gear.
The hour of the Rabbit was approaching, and the sky wasn't fully bright yet; the air held a chilling, murderous edge.
Lin Que pulled Erniu to a blind spot in the side courtyard and pulled a heavy cloth bundle from his chest, stuffing it into Erniu's hands. Inside were the silver scraps he had scavenged and several jade pendants he had looted from the dead Su An, totaling over ten taels.
“Brother Lin, you're doing this...”
Erniu held the cloth bundle, his hands trembling slightly.
“Listen.”
Lin Que's voice was kept very low, and he spoke extremely fast.
“After I leave, find an excuse to get out of the residence immediately. Whether it's asking for leave or running away, leave Qingzhou City at once.”
“Take this money and go to Liujia Village, three hundred miles south of the city. Find a place where no one knows you and hide.”
“If I haven't come looking for you after a month... take this money to marry a wife, live a good life, and never return to the Su Family.”
“Brother Lin! I'm not leaving! I'm going to wait for you...”
Erniu's eyes instantly turned red.
“Idiot!”
Lin Que gave a low shout, his gaze stern.
“Su An is dead and the Chief Steward lost a finger; this matter will be traced back to us sooner or later. While I'm here, they won't dare move against you; but once I enter Guanglin Mountain, you'll be meat on the chopping block!”
“If you want to live, listen to me! Go, now!”
Erniu looked into Lin Que's unquestionable eyes, gritted his teeth, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Finally, he gave a heavy nod, clutched the cloth bundle, and turned to run into the darkness.
Watching Erniu's disappearing figure, Lin Que took a deep breath. The last trace of warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a coldness as sharp as a blade's edge.
His worries for the future were resolved.
Next, it was time to carve out a bloody path in that man-eating mountain... In front of the Su Residence's main gate.
Thirty elite Guards were ready to set out, each carrying a cowhide rucksack and holding sharp weapons, their expressions solemn.
At the very front of the team, the Su Family Head, Su Tianhe, was dressed in martial attire, mounted on a majestic black-scaled horse, flanked by two Gray-robed Enshrined Elders with gloomy auras.
Lin Que blended into the crowd, the sleeping Little Snow Ferret tucked in his chest (its scent masked by a special herbal pouch), and his Refined Iron Staff on his back, trying his best to lower his presence.
“Father.”
A lazy voice sounded.
Inside the main gate, Su Lang, draped in a bright red scarlet-felt cloak, walked out surrounded by a group of servants.
He looked somewhat listless, seemingly irritable because he lacked a suitable "medicinal catalyst."
“I'm leaving the home in your hands.”
Su Tianhe looked down at his son from his horse.
“Guard the house well and don't cause trouble.”
“Don't worry, Father, I understand.”
Su Lang bowed, then straightened up, his gaze carelessly sweeping over the team ready for departure.
When his gaze passed over Lin Que, it paused for a moment, and the corners of his mouth curled into a playful smile: “Guard Lin, on this trip to Guanglin Mountain, you must block disasters well for my father. If you return alive, this Eldest Young Master will reward you heavily.”
Lin Que lowered his head and cupped his fists: “This subordinate will certainly do his best.”
Su Lang smiled, preparing to turn back and catch up on some sleep.
Suddenly, his footsteps came to a dead stop.
His originally lazy nostrils twitched twice without warning.
In the air, besides the rank smell of horses and the sweaty stench of the Guards, there seemed to be a trace of an extremely faint, extremely subtle... exotic fragrance.
That scent was very special, cool and elegant with a hint of ethereal aura.
It was a scent only possessed by creatures that long breathed in the essence of the moon.
Su Lang's expression changed instantly.
He whipped around, his gloomy eyes locking onto Lin Que in the crowd, and he walked over step by step.
“Eldest Young Master?”
The surrounding Guards were startled and moved out of the way.
Su Lang ignored everyone. He walked up to Lin Que's horse and looked up, his bloodshot eyes filled with a hair-raising chill.
He sniffed again.
This time, even with the cover of the herbal scent, he confirmed it.
It was the scent of the Heavenly Demon Ferret!
It was the scent of that "blood bag" he had paid a high price for to suppress his fire poison, which had vanished into thin air a few days ago!
“Lin Que...”
Su Lang's voice sounded as if it were squeezed through his teeth, carrying an extreme, suppressed rage.
“What are you... hiding on your person?”
Lin Que's heart jolted.
What a sharp dog nose! Is this little beast part dog?
But he showed nothing on his face, looking bewildered: “Reporting to Eldest Young Master, this subordinate only has dry rations and golden sore medicine. I don't know what the Eldest Young Master is referring to?”
“Acting? You're still acting with me?!”
The killing intent in Su Lang's eyes erupted instantly. His right hand shot up, his palm swirling with red light, his Blazing Sun Qi held in reserve, looking as if he would crush Lin Que's skull in the next second!
Stealing his ferret!
Ruining his cultivation!
Forcing him to end his seclusion early and nearly causing him to suffer Qi Deviation!
It turned out that damned little thief was right under his nose! On this seemingly honest Guard!
【Warning! Lethal killing intent detected!】
【Target: Su Lang (Rage/Relentless).】
【Malice Value: 95%.】
【Judgment: New and old grudges, killing intent determined.】
【Target Lock Successful: Su Lang (Bone Transformation Realm).】
【Current Transferable Targets: Su Lang (New), Su Fu, Qian the Second, Sun the Third.】
The System's notification sounded urgently.
Lin Que tightened his grip on the reins, the Qi of his Seven Absolute Saber Technique circulating frantically within him, ready to strike and fight for his life at any moment.
“Lang'er! What are you doing?!”
At this critical moment, a majestic and stern shout came.
Su Tianhe's brow was furrowed as he pointed his horsewhip at Su Lang: “The auspicious hour has arrived, the army is about to set out. Why are you acting crazy toward a Guard?!”
Su Lang's hand froze in mid-air.
He glanced at his father's stern eyes, then back at Lin Que.
His remaining logic told him he couldn't strike now.
The trip to Guanglin Mountain was related to the Su Family's century-long plan, and Lin Que was a "candidate" personally selected by his father. If he killed him now, his father would be absolutely furious and might even strip him of his inheritance rights.
“Huff... huff...”
Su Lang panted heavily, forcibly suppressing the urge to kill.
He stared fixedly at Lin Que, his gaze so poisonous it seemed it would drip water.
“It's nothing, Father.”
Su Lang slowly withdrew his hand, his mouth twisting into a grotesque smile.
“I just smelled... a nice scent on Guard Lin. I thought he might be carrying some extraordinary treasure.”
He leaned close to Lin Que and said in a sinister tone only the two of them could hear.
“Kid, you've hidden yourself quite well.”
“But it doesn't matter. Once you enter Guanglin Mountain, you'd better pray you die inside. Otherwise... when you return, I'll let you know what it means to wish for life but not get it, and wish for death but not find it.”
After speaking, Su Lang whipped around and shouted to his confidants in a low voice.
“Go! Turn Lin Que's room upside down! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find the evidence for me!”
“And that idiot named Erniu... capture him! I want to skin him alive!”
Lin Que looked at Su Lang's back, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.
Search the room? Capture Erniu?
A pity, Eldest Young Master, you're a step too late.
“Depart!”
With Su Tianhe's command, the team set off in a grand manner, charging into the vast wind and snow... One hour later.
At the foot of Guanglin Mountain.
When the Su Family team passed through a dense pine forest and arrived at the clearing at the mountain entrance, Lin Que realized that this so-called "secret operation" didn't seem so secret after all.
On the massive clearing, flags were already fluttering, and the air was buzzing with the noise of a large crowd.
Besides the Su Family's "Su" flag, four other large flags of different colors were flapping loudly in the cold wind.
The Zhao Family, the Li Family, the Wang Family, and... the City Lord's Mansion!
The five great powers of Qingzhou City had actually gathered here!
“Hahaha! Brother Su, you're late!”
A hearty but hypocritical laugh rang out. From the Zhao Family camp, a burly man with a full beard rode out, followed by dozens of elites in black armor.
“The snow was heavy on the road, so we were delayed a moment.”
Su Tianhe cupped his fists with a fake smile.
“Why, is Brother Zhao in such a hurry because he's rushing to be reincarnated?”
“Ai, Brother Su, look at what you're saying.”
On the other side, a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar (the Li Family Head) holding a folding fan walked over and said sarcastically.
“Since our five families agreed to jointly develop this 'Nine Nether Ruins,' we naturally must advance and retreat together. If Brother Su isn't here, how would we dare take a step first? If we get stabbed in the back later, that would be quite a grievance.”
“Hmph.”
The commander of the City Lord's Mansion, the only official power, gave a cold snort, his hand resting on the long saber at his waist.
“Enough nonsense. Since everyone is here, then follow the previous agreement.”
“Each family provides twenty pathfinding death-sworn soldiers to go in first and clear the mines. Whoever's people find the entrance first gets thirty percent of the profits. The rest depends on individual ability.”
“Death-sworn soldiers...”
Lin Que stood in the team, listening to these big shots decide their life and death while talking and laughing, his heart turning cold.
It turned out that the so-called "Guards" and "elites" were, in the eyes of these people, merely numbers used to exhaust the stamina of the Mutated Ghosts and to trigger traps.
Five powers, over a hundred pieces of cannon fodder.
And the legendary Monsters... Lin Que touched the slightly trembling Little Snow Ferret in his chest, his gaze looking toward the towering mountain ahead, shrouded in thick fog and emitting an ominous aura.
This was no Guanglin Mountain.
This was clearly a... flesh and blood hunting ground that had already opened its massive mouth, waiting to devour flesh!