Chapter 163: Night Reconnaissance of Vulture Palace

At noon on Matchmaker Mountain, the overcast weather made Wei Zhongxian, standing on the mountain path, feel a bit more comfortable.

Even so, Wei Zhongxian cursed everyone from the Xiaoyao Sect in his heart every single second, harboring a deep and bitter hatred for them.

For two days, not a single person had checked on him, nor had anyone given him water, let alone food. If Wei Zhongxian hadn’t brought some dry rations and water of his own, he probably would have died right here on Matchmaker Mountain before ever getting to see Wang Zhi.

Now, it could be considered that suffering had finally come to an end and sweetness had begun. That morning, Wei Zhongxian had seen Su Xinghe welcome Wang Zhi into the wooden hut. Presumably, no matter how tedious the subsequent matters might be, they should all be concluded today.

Sure enough, before Wei Zhongxian could finish his inner muttering, Wang Zhi's figure gradually drew near.

"Grand Eunuch Wei, you've had a hard time. Let's go find the Emperor now."

"It's no hardship at all, it's only right and proper. You—did you really obtain the true Qi of a veteran grandmaster?"

"What else? Are you questioning the Emperor?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Having not seen each other for just two days, Wang Zhi's attitude toward him had completely changed, leaving Wei Zhongxian boiling with anger inside. Yet, there was nothing he could be done; the man had stepped up to the heavens in a single bound. As a grandmaster, treating him this way was entirely normal.

The two of them walked down the mountain one after the other, in reverse order of their ascent. Wei Zhongxian followed behind Wang Zhi while quietly relaying the Emperor's commands.

By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, Wei Zhongxian had finished saying everything he needed to say.

"In that case, let's act swiftly. The sooner we seize the position of the Vulture Palace's master, the sooner we can return to the palace to report back. By the way, do you know where Mount Meru is located?"

"This... I don't know yet."

"Then why are you still standing there? Why aren't you hurrying off to make inquiries?"

These reprimanding words did not faze Wei Zhongxian in the least; his chrysanthemum-like smiling face remained in full bloom.

"Yes, yes, I'll go gather information right away."

The moment he turned around, that smile vanished completely, the sharpness in Wei Zhongxian's eyes as piercing as the wind of the twelfth lunar month.

Originally, he had wanted to warn him about the martial arts of Childish Elder Tianshan and Li Qiushui, but now it seemed unnecessary. It would be best if he just died! He had originally intended to latch onto him as a backer, but looking at it now—bah!

Knowing the place name, the route was still quite easy to inquire about. Less than two days later, the two of them had already arrived in the vicinity of Mount Meru.

Thanks to Zhu Yu's detailed intelligence, the two of them used various covert methods to blend into the ranks of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands.

The first two days were fine, but by the third day, Wang Zhi grew somewhat impatient.

Having already obtained Wuyazi's lifelong cultivation, though he could not yet unleash its full power, it was more than enough to deal with someone who had just stepped into the grandmaster realm. Why should he still fear Childish Elder Tianshan, whose cultivation had already been dissipated?

He could simply charge straight up, capture Childish Elder Tianshan, and coerce her. Where was the need for so much trouble?

When Wang Zhi voiced his thoughts, what he received was Wang Zhi's total opposition from Wei Zhongxian. Wei Zhongxian didn't argue other points; he stubbornly clung to a single phrase: they must follow the Emperor's orders.

To be honest, Wang Zhi had grown arrogant, but ask yourself: which sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth wouldn't become arrogant upon suddenly acquiring the lifelong cultivation of a veteran grandmaster? He was no Xuzhu.

Therefore, after meeting with Wei Zhongxian's opposition, Wang Zhi did not alter his mind in the slightest, leaving behind a cold retort:

"Does the process matter? The Emperor wants results."

With that, Wang Zhi seized an opportunity to completely break away from the faction of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands.

Watching Wang Zhi's receding figure, a cold sneer gradually surfaced on Wei Zhongxian's face.

Good words are hard to persuade a doomed ghost; go ahead and meet your fate. Even if you don't die, when we return to the Emperor, I have plenty of ways to spin the tale!

Of course, Wei Zhongxian still hoped it wouldn't come to that—it would be better if Wang Zhi simply died. After all, there were some things he truly hadn't explained fully, such as the fact that Childish Elder Tianshan was a dwarf...

As night fell, Wang Zhi hypocritically donned a set of night-travel garments and quietly slipped onto Mount Meru.

For someone familiar with the paths, half an hour would be enough to reach the Vulture Palace. But Wang Zhi fumbled around for routes, taking a full two hours. By the time he reached the gates of the Vulture Palace, it was already late into the night.

Seeing the pitch-black entrance, Wang Zhi felt as though victory was right before his eyes. Drawing a breath to steady his mind, he borrowed the cover of the night and stepped into the man-devouring Vulture Palace.

Because it was inside a cave, the paths twisted and turned, but Wang Zhi was mentally prepared and felt no trace of anxiety.

After a short while, although people were still nowhere in sight, a sense of anticipation grew in Wang Zhi's heart because the path he was walking on was becoming increasingly broad.

The passage ahead led either to the quarters of the Vulture Palace's upper echelon or to some other crucial location. As long as he laid eyes on a living person, everything else would be easy to handle.

After taking another couple of steps, the alert Wang Zhi heard footsteps echoing from ahead and hurriedly searched for a hiding spot.

The footsteps grew closer and closer until their owner came into view: a little girl, dressed in festive, bright red robes.

At the sight, Wang Zhi could not help but mentally exclaim: Heaven is aiding me!

Instantly, Wang Zhi channeled his Qi and lunged straight at the young girl. Because he had never studied any profound martial arts or learned corresponding techniques, his moves, though crude, were direct and fast.

As for the young girl, though she was suddenly seized by the throat, she did not show the slightest trace of panic. However, when she raised her head and looked into Wang Zhi's face, a flash of confusion crossed her eyes.

Wang Zhi, lacking in life experience, mistook this confusion for the bewilderment of someone falling into an enemy's trap.

"Don't worry, child. As long as you answer my questions, I guarantee I won't harm you in the slightest."

Hearing this, the young girl nodded hesitatingly.

Seeing this, Wang Zhi wore a triumphant smile as if victory was already in his grasp, and said to the girl:

"Judging by how familiar you are with these caves, you must be a member of this Vulture Palace. Where is Childish Elder Tianshan? Take me to her, and I'll spare your life."

"Great Hero, I'm just a servant, it's useless for you to find me."

"Speak quickly! If you don't, I'll kill you right now."

"Alright, alright, I'll speak, I'll speak! The place where the Elder lives requires going straight ahead, then taking a left and..."

The young girl dragged out her directions for a good half-minute, making Wang Zhi's head spin from listening.

"What kind of messy directions are these? Building a cave like a maze and not even afraid of getting lost? Forget it, lead the way yourself. When we get to the place, I will definitely let you go."

Seeing that Wang Zhi harbored not a shred of suspicion toward her words, a glimmer of knowing comprehension flashed in the young girl's eyes.

"Alright, I'll take you there. Stay close behind me."

With that, the young girl actively shook off Wang Zhi's hand and walked ahead to lead the way.

Seeing the girl's cooperation, Wang Zhi was quite pleased inside and immediately followed closely behind her pace.

Guided by the young girl, the two rounded several more intersections until the girl finally stopped at a cave entrance and said:

"This is the entrance. Walk through this passage, and you'll reach the Elder's dwelling."

"Are you certain?" As he asked, Wang Zhi could not help the murderous intent leaking from his eyes.

"This... I am certain. If you're still worried, how about I accompany you through the rest of this path? Right outside the Elder's door, you can let me go, alright?"

"Very well... That works too. Lead on, then."