Night of Despair

Chapter 304 - 304 The beginning of 302 two

?Chapter 304: The beginning of 302, two Chapter 304: The beginning of 302, two “It’s simple for us, but extremely difficult for others,” Zheng Xia said. “The fee is quite reasonable. We are actually offering a transparent and affordable price.”

“I understand.” Yu Hong walked to the window of the room, looking out.

Below was a square swimming pool, where a few young men and women in swimwear were sitting, seemingly the younger members of the owner’s family.

The sea breeze was blowing, the temperature was warming up, it must be around twenty degrees.

Suddenly, Yu Hong recognized someone sitting by the pool, someone who looked familiar.

On closer inspection, it was Song Siyu whom he had encountered on Huangsong Island. He recognized her, but this time she did not recognize him.

Because his appearance had changed quite a bit, dressed in a white Daoist robe, hair cascading over his shoulders, most of his muscular physique concealed, his temperament had shifted from that of a fitness coach to a slightly conspicuous, sturdy Taoist.

The change was significant, and coupled with his rather ordinary facial features, a common face with no distinguishing characteristics, it was normal not to be recognized.

“Let’s go, it’s time to head back,” said Zheng Xia. “Just received a text, there’s a case at Baishong Street, number 122. It’s a big one.”

“A big one?” Yu Hong had followed some cases and naturally knew what ‘big’ implied.

Minor cases generally involved exposure to resentful or Yin energy, whereas a ‘big one’ indicated a homicide.

“Let’s go, take a look,” Zheng Ming let out a breath. “When the Yin Qi Sky Pillar appears, the number of cases surges.”

The three quickly left the villa, leaving follow-up work to the regular staff of Qingchen Temple.

Yu Hong did not greet Song Siyu; after all, they really belonged to two different worlds.

After a ten-minute drive, led by a guiding Taoist, they arrived at the entrance of a nighttime bar decorated with a black butterfly pattern.

The bar was already cordoned off with police tape, with the police maintaining order.

Zheng Ming led the way, but as he was about to enter the bar, his steps halted at the sight of a terra-cotta colored stone mask hanging by the door frame.

“When did this mask appear? It wasn’t here before, right?” he asked a police officer beside him.

“No. Huh? It wasn’t there when we put up the tape. Who sneaked in and hung it up?” said the officer, slightly puzzled as he looked at the terra-cotta colored mask.

Zheng Ming’s expression darkened, he held back Yu Hong who was about to go in and take a look.

“We can’t take this case… Sorry, but could you please pass a message to Director Xie.”

“?? This….” The officer was somewhat baffled.

But before he could speak, Zheng Ming pulled Zheng Xia and Yu Hong away and returned to the car.

“Let’s leave, I’ll explain later,” he whispered.

Suppressing his own questions, Yu Hong remained silent, quietly waiting.

They drove back to Qingchen Temple, and once inside the Taoist Temple gates, Zheng Ming took them to a room on the right, flipping a small switch on the wall.

Immediately, a faint humming sound began to spread.

“Now we can talk,” he said, catching his breath.

“What’s the matter, Senior Brother? Don’t tell me there’s some powerful resentful mark we can’t resolve?” Yu Hong, who had been holding back for a while, quickly asked.

“No,” Zheng Ming shook his head.

He glanced at Zheng Xia, who also seemed to have realized something.

“Zheng Rou, do you know, besides my Qingchen Temple, are there similar powers in Taizhou?” Zheng Ming asked.

“I’m not sure…” Yu Hong shook his head.

“Then I’ll tell you now,” Zheng Ming said with a solemn look. “In the areas surrounding Taizhou, besides Qingchen Temple, there is another very formidable special organization – the Mud Doll Sect.”

The Mud Doll Sect?

Yu Hong seemed to have heard the name before.

“Very strong? Strong enough to make you, Senior Brother, retreat?”

“Very strong. After many conflicts, we and the Mud Doll Sect have formed an unspoken truce: as long as they do not cross the line, we also step back when we encounter a case they have marked,” Zheng Ming explained.

“This was the decision of our masters?” Yu Hong asked, frowning.

“It’s a decision made by all our senior masters. Although there have been minor conflicts in the past, we’ve discovered that the Mud Doll Sect’s strength is much greater than what our intelligence suggested,” Zheng Xia added.

“Understood. I’ll take note. The marker is that terra-cotta colored mask, right?” Yu Hong didn’t really care; the growth and strengthening of an organization naturally cannot be fearless from the start, confronting whoever they disagree with.

“Besides that, my Qingchen Temple has enough prestige in Taizhou and the surrounding areas, so there’s no need to worry,” added Zheng Xia.

Yu Hong glanced at Zheng Ming and seeing that he didn’t look too pleased, also excused himself to rest and bid farewell.

He left the Taoist Temple.

Driving home, he was more concerned about the strength enhancement ending at his camp today than Zheng Ming’s displeasure with the Mud Doll Sect.

After today, the Black Mark could begin the next enhancement project.

But before returning, he had one thing to do.

An hour later.

At the villa of Taoist Yu Mo.

Wrapped in clothing, Yu Mo was surprised to see Yu Hong, who had shown up unexpectedly for a visit.

“Why have you finished so early today? Weren’t you dealing with cases with Zheng Ming and the others?”

He looked up at the sky; it was only early afternoon. The sun was just turning red, not yet set.

“That’s the thing…” Yu Hong described the situation with the Mud Doll Sect and what Zheng Ming had said.

“Oh, that. It’s normal. We’ve coexisted peacefully with the Mud Doll Sect for many years, always keeping to our own waters. Just give them face on this one, and we’ll steer clear,” said Yu Mo, who didn’t regard it as anything serious.

“That’s good. There’s another matter, Disciple hopes to consult with his master,” said Yu Hong, who didn’t see a big issue either. He hadn’t been here long and without full understanding, of course, wouldn’t mind these things.

“Hmm, go ahead,” said Yu Mo, who had been outwardly vacationing and partying with people like Temple Master Yu Hen for the past few days, but in reality, everyone was secretly keeping an eye on Yu Hong’s performance.

Upon finding his performance very normal and his use of strength quite impressive, the Yu Generation in Qingchen Temple all breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that Yu Hong had taken the initiative to meet and make a request, Yu Mo felt not only unbothered but pleased.

Due to the life assistant sent over, Yu Hong doesn’t touch. On ordinary days, he also doesn’t care about food and delicacies. Every day he is either following study cases or staying at home, diligently practicing ascetic cultivation.

This kind of ascetic life was initially somewhat pleasing to Yu Mo and the others; after all, what mentor wouldn’t want to see their disciple diligently and earnestly cultivating?

But as time passed, everyone started to feel somewhat disheartened.

A person without any hobbies aside from cultivation must be pressed by an even greater power, urging him to carry out the monotonous cultivation each day, forcing him to give up all entertainment and relaxation, to endlessly suffer in his practice.

So, what was this formidable power?

They were not clear on that.

But now that Yu Hong had opened his mouth to make requests, it somewhat allowed everyone to relax.

A person who still has desires ultimately won’t have thoughts so profound.

“It’s like this, Disciple would like to ask if I encounter someone outside who is very suitable for the Daoist Skills of Qingchen Temple, could I transmit the Daoist Skills to them and take them under my wing?” Yu Hong asked solemnly.

“That depends on whether you’ve already completed your apprenticeship.” Yu Mo smiled, “Actually, our Temple’s Daoist Skills aren’t guarded for our own sake but are kept confidential for the sake of ordinary people outside. As for the reason, you know it well, so there’s no need to say more.”

He paused a moment.

“There’s another method,” without asking whether Yu Hong could bring somebody into the Taoist Temple, he continued speaking.

“That is to take them as your lineage, that is, to take them as your own disciples. With your strength, this is feasible. In theory, anyone can take on a disciple; we have no restrictions on this. After transmitting the Daoist Skills, the disciple you take on naturally counts as a registered name in a branch lineage of our Qingchen Temple. But while the Daoist Skills may be transmitted, the techniques may not. They must be formally registered in the Taoist Temple and become an Official Disciple to be bestowed with the techniques.”

“Understood…” Yu Hong comprehended; he was inquiring about the situation for the other world’s Hope City.

“So you’re thinking of taking disciples?” Yu Mo asked with a bit of amusement.

“Somewhat; after all, seeing good talent, it’s somewhat irresistible.” Yu Hong feigned ignorance with a laugh.

“With what you’re capable of… it’s just a matter of time, but remember not to affect your own cultivation,” Yu Mo chuckled in caution.

“Understood, definitely not.” Yu Hong nodded.

*
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Black Wind Camp.

The cold wind howled, white snow covered the entire camp, nearly obliterating any traces of the original stone castle ruins.

Surrounding the safe house cave, a blue light shone, continuously transforming into smog rushing into the sky.

In front of the safe house door.

A slender figure in a white protective suit quietly observed the interior through the viewing window.

The blue light shone on the snowy ground, reflecting an even more uniform scattered light, illuminating the surroundings.

The figure stretched out a hand, gently touching the material of the door.

Then retracted her hand and turned to look at the Ultimate Gate.

After watching for a while, she slowly walked towards the Dragon Lizard Nest’s cave. But before she could get there, she was stopped in her tracks by a set of bright crimson eyes, not going forward any further.

Standing at the entrance of the Dragon Lizard cave for a long time, the figure still did not enter; instead, she turned and walked out of the camp.

Soon, she exited the inner and outer courtyard and entered the mixed area where blue light and black fog intermingled.

Various shadowy figures appeared beside her but strangely did not attack her at all.

As she drew further away from the camp, the figure suddenly stopped, looked up, and gazed ahead.

In the distance, an unclear silhouette of an Insect man appeared right in front of her.

The Insect man, being a Level Eight high-risk Black Disaster, completely ignored her presence and brushed past her, lunging towards the Ultimate Gate.

Soon, it was met by a blue-robed hooded person, both incredibly swift; one with a wave of a hand could coat the area in frost. They fought fiercely back and forth.

The figure watched for a while, seemingly finding it boring, and then continued forward.

Suddenly she paused in her steps, as if sensing something, turned, and headed back toward the camp.

Ten minutes later…

Crash.

Yu Hong pushed away the rocks blocking the cave entrance and looked inside at Zhang Kajing, who was sitting obediently and hugging his knees.

“It seems you’re doing alright, good that you’re not sick.”

The extreme sub-zero temperatures outside had damaged many things.

It would be uncomfortable for the other party to go out as well.

Yu Hong glanced at the supplies put inside, originally thinking the place would be dirty after not visiting for a few days.

But unexpectedly…

It was quite clean.

“Come with me, I’ll take you somewhere,” he said to Zhang Kajing in a deep voice.

“Where to?” Zhang Kajing slowly stood up, eyes calmly fixed on Yu Hong.

“Just follow me,” Yu Hong exhaled, the Black Mark there still had about ten minutes until the enhancement would be finished. To avoid being discovered by this little one, he planned to take the person out first.

For some reason, he always felt that Zhang Kajing faced everything too calmly and composedly.

Soon, the two of them left the cave.

As they passed by the safe house cave, Yu Hong suddenly glanced and saw two footprints by the door of his safe house that had not yet disappeared.

His gaze sharpened, knowing someone had been here.

Judging from the size of the footprints, the person wasn’t very tall or large, and the only one nearby with that possibility was Zhang Kajing.

But the rock he used to block the door weighed three to four hundred pounds… and was frozen to the ground along with the ice and snow…

How did she get out, and how did she go back as if nothing happened, restoring everything to its original state?