Returning from the abyss

Chapter 1289: Danger

Ning Ke withdrew his gaze and his eyes regained their sharpness.

"The first one." She carried the four people out of the house, took out the compass and looked at them, and said, "The remaining two are not so easy to find... Is there anyone nearby?"

A maid walked in tremblingly from outside the door and bowed slightly to Ning Ke: "Sir Demon Suppression Officer, I am here..."

"I'm late. Two people have died. Please follow your rules for the burial. I won't leave for now. If you need anything, please come to me as soon as possible."

"I'll go and notify them!" The maid ran away in a hurry.

  =

Lu Ning listened to everyone discussing the future alliance of the martial arts world, but in her heart she was concerned about the unusual purple air. After all, she had no say, and the ones who would discuss this were all the major sects present. Since it was Luan Tianyin who proposed it, the other major sects also expressed their support, and they quickly set a date. Tomorrow in April, on Tianyue, a martial arts leader will be elected to lead the martial arts world until the world is stable.

At this time, Lu Ning noticed that someone quietly found Peng Yujian, leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Peng Yujian's face changed slightly, and he immediately said something, then got up and followed the man away.

"It seems that some unexpected situations have occurred. But since only Brother Peng is handling it, it must not be a major matter that requires alarming others." Lu Qingxu said.

"I don't know." Lu Ning whispered, "If anything unexpected happens, please stand by my side and don't get separated."

Lu Qingxu also laughed after hearing this: "Don't worry, An Ning, nothing will happen, at least not this time."

"In this case, we need the assistance of the branches of the four major gangs to spread this resolution to all corners of the world. On the seventh day of April next year, at the top of Tianyue Peak, we will elect a leader of the martial arts world. Anyone who is interested in serving the country and the world is eligible to participate."

After Luan Tianyin said this, the people from the four major gangs who came to attend the birthday banquet also stood up and responded.

However, in Lu Ning's opinion, this so-called martial arts alliance that was formed on a whim is no different from a makeshift team. It might be okay for such loose forces to form an alliance of mutual assistance, but if they need to unite as Luan Tianyin said, or even fight against something like a demon star, then such a loose organizational form is unlikely to play much of a role.

After all, people in the martial arts world are not soldiers. When they face a battle between one-on-one duels, which they are good at, and a battle between troops, the role that individual force can play will be further weakened.

"Now that the important matter has been settled, we cannot neglect the guests. It is noon now, so let's set up the banquet and thank you all for coming."

"Huh? I thought someone presented a gift in person." Lu Ning said.

"Then wait until the dinner time." Lu Qingxu said.

"Dinner party? Is there more to it than just..."

"Such a grand banquet usually has one at noon and one at night, and the time in between is reserved for fellow martial artists. If there are other reasons, and the host family is rich and powerful enough, the banquet may last for three or even seven days." Lu Qingxu said, "You were so nervous just now, why?"

Lu Ning glanced at the backyard again and found that the purple air had begun to fade and gradually dissipated.

“…Don’t worry about it.”

The birthday banquet prepared by Zhenjian Villa was naturally not bad, but Lu Ning could also see that what the old man in the teahouse said in Feng Town before was just a rumor spread by word of mouth. No one at the table looked like a cultivator.

After the banquet, as Luan Tianyin told everyone that he needed to take a rest, everyone dispersed tacitly. The sects that had good relations with each other had already started chatting, and some young talents also bowed to each other under the guidance of the elders of each sect and made friends with each other.

"Mr. Lu."

Suddenly, a man came to the table. Lu Ning looked up and found that it was Han Younian, whom she had met once in Fengzhen.

"Your Excellency is..."

"My name is Han Younian, and I'm from Fengzhen. I heard from my uncle that Mr. Lu only went to the scene and helped them find the real murderer who killed the Salt Gang's leader. Solving a case depends on time. If you really go looking for the murderer like I did, I'm afraid it will be delayed."

"No, there is nothing wrong with Mr. Han's method of identifying the murderer. It's just that the murderer is cunning and hiding behind a murder case that is widely circulated in the underworld, which led to Mr. Han's misjudgment."

"If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I still need to learn more."

"Mr. Han claims his surname is Han, but what is his relationship with Baimei Valley?" Lu Qingxu asked.

"Han Qianyin is my father." Han Younian cupped his hands.

"Disrespectful, disrespectful."

Lu Ning also followed Lu Qingxu and saluted Han Younian.

"Aning, Han Qianyin was one of the top masters who besieged the Demon Cult back then. He was a handsome young man in Baimei Valley and watched the plum blossoms on Lingxiao Peak. But Brother Han was not a sword lover and he left after the battle." Lu Qingxu introduced, "Now Brother Han's son has become so handsome."

"Mr. Lu, you are too kind. My father's whereabouts are erratic, but he has made many friends. I am now traveling around relying on my father's name, but I have not yet made any achievements of my own."

"Why do you have to be so modest, Mr. Han?"

"Mr. Lu, I am not being modest. I just know that I am young and inexperienced. I am afraid that I need to ask seniors for advice on many things. I have heard about Mr. Lu's ability. This time, I hope that Mr. Lu can help me."

"Help you?" Lu Qingxu instantly put away his polite expression, "I wonder what you need my help with here?"

Han Younian took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Qingxu. Lu Qingxu unfolded the paper and took a look at it. His expression changed slightly: "Is this true?"

"My mother asked me to come here because this matter had to be handled secretly. However, my father disappeared three years ago. I had no choice but to let me handle this matter. This note was sent to me by my mother via a white-browed bird. In this case, I hope Mr. Lu can help me."

"A Ning." Lu Qingxu handed the note to Lu Ning. Lu Ning took it and glanced at it. It said: The bandits from the Twelve Villages of Miaojiang and the Seven Miasma Mountains, with the help of external forces, have secretly sent people to sneak into Zhenjian Villa, intending to create chaos and destroy the martial arts alliance. The external forces are not clear yet, and the nine masters sent by the two places must be caught. The bandits in these two places are good at using poison. If the news spreads, it may alert the enemy. And among the martial arts people present, it is hard to say whether there is an insider.

After reading the words on it, a chill instantly rushed over the note, turning it into a piece of ice.

"This is a difficult matter." Lu Qingxu said, "Mr. Han will not just look for me." "Mr. Lu is right. Because I am worried that there is a spy inside this villa, the helpers I have found along the way are all good friends I have known for a while. As for Mr. Lu, it is because you come from the officialdom. Although you have some connections with people in the underworld, you are not on the same path. I don't think you will be used by bad people."

"So, Master Han, what do you think we should do now?"

"For people coming from a smoky and miasmatic place, the first choice is naturally poison. I don't know whether Zhenjian Villa has carefully supervised the ingredients for the banquet, but at least this meal was safe." Han Younian said.

"Safe? What's safe?"

Suddenly, a person came over from the table next to her. Lu Ning turned her head and found that it was a young woman in luxurious clothes. She had no weapons on her and looked quite relaxed. She had obvious makeup on her face. With such exquisite dress, she did not look like a gangster, but rather like someone from a wealthy family.

Han Younian didn't care much about it. Instead, he bowed and said, "Miss Wen, it's the thing I told you on the way."

"Oh..." Miss Wen stretched out her expectation for a little while, then smiled, "Master Han, are you still looking for help? Can you introduce these two to me?"

"There are too many people here, why not find a secluded place?" Lu Qingxu said.

"Go out from here, there is a garden a few dozen steps away, you can go and see if there is anyone there." Lu Ning said.

The four of them left immediately. Fortunately, most people were still chatting and making friends, so not many left. Those who left were because they were tired in the afternoon and went to rest. No one was using the garden. Han Younian carefully checked the surroundings again before letting the few people sit down.

"Let me introduce you. This is Lu Qingxu, Mr. Lu. When Mr. Lu was an official, he was a capable official who solved numerous cases, big and small, and he was well-known. This one is Mr. Lu's daughter, Lu Ning. You two, this Miss Wen is called Wen Rong, she is from Luzhong Road in Jiangnan, and I met her on the way here."

"Since Miss Wen can sit next to us, she must be an honored guest. Forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of the Wen family in Lu Zhongdao?" Lu Qingxu asked.

"Because I am not from a noble family." Wen Rong said with a smile, "Don't be afraid that Mr. Lu will look down on me. I am a small thief who has learned skills from many masters. From this face to this dress, I stole them."

"Miss Wen is quite accomplished in the art of disguise. I invited her here because she can identify whether someone has disguised themselves to sneak in. The assassin from the smoky land looks quite different from the one from the Central Plains. I need Miss Wen's help." Han Younian said, "Therefore, I gave my qualification to attend the meeting to her."

"No wonder Mr. Han, with his status, was unable to enter the main courtyard and only came to find us after the banquet." Lu Qingxu nodded.

Han Younian asked Wen Rong again: "Miss Wen, is there anything unusual happening among the guests at the table?"

"Those sitting at the main table haven't been replaced by someone." Wen Rong smiled softly, "The dishes are also normal. I'm afraid the assassin hasn't found a chance to poison them yet."

"if it is like this……"

"Don't worry, I haven't finished talking yet." Wen Rong stretched out his hand and tapped the stone table lightly. "Although the people sitting at the main table have not changed, it is because the people sitting at the main table are the top masters of various sects. It is not easy to take action. Even if they succeed, it is easy to be discovered. But it is not the case here where we are."

Han Younian and Lu Qingxu immediately became alert.

"The person sitting opposite me remained silent throughout the banquet. Although he looked like a Central Plains person, some of his small gestures were not like those of Central Plains people. For example... when the roasted lamb was served, his first reaction was to move his hands instead of picking up chopsticks."

"It sounds like this person is pretending?" Lu Qingxu asked.

"That's right. He later realized that this was inappropriate, so he ate meat with chopsticks. If he liked to eat meat with his hands, he wouldn't have to make such a change. The martial artists present would not be so rigid about this etiquette. There are many unnatural things in this way, and to those who are interested, it is full of doubts." Wen Rong said with a smile.

"So who is this person?" Han Younian asked.

"...I don't know them." Wen Rong shrugged. "I'm just a small thief. How can I recognize so many people in the martial arts world? Even the big names from the big sects sitting at the main table, I don't recognize many of them. I have to identify them by their clothes!"

"Describe that person's appearance." Lu Ning suddenly said.

Ever since she felt something was wrong, she paid close attention to the situation of everyone present. Although she was not as conscious as Wen Rong in catching people who might be disguised, she also memorized their faces.

Wen Rong took out a piece of straw paper and a small piece of charcoal from his bag and quickly drew a vivid portrait.

"After the banquet was over, he left immediately." Lu Ning closed her eyes slightly and concentrated her mind on the Demon Eyes. All the auras around her fell into her field of vision. At this time, there were many people in Zhenjian Villa, and it was not very convenient to search with the Demon Eyes. She just looked at some human auras left nearby.

"Yes, in the blink of an eye, he disappeared." Wen Rong felt a little regretful, "Otherwise I could try to catch him and interrogate him for Master Han."

"No, it would be bad to catch him." Han Younian said quickly.

"Since the people who came here are not fighting alone, but in groups, they should have their own division of labor. This person left, perhaps to meet his companions. If he doesn't show up for a long time, they will think that he has been discovered, and they will fight to the death." Lu Qingxu said.

"It's okay, I'll go take a look." Lu Ning opened her eyes, "You guys wait here now, don't move."

"Wait, Miss Lu..." Han Younian spoke hurriedly, but Lu Ning left the garden after saying "I know my limits".

She has found a clue.

With Zhenjian Villa now hosting guests from all over the world, it is certainly difficult to find a person, but finding a demon is not.

The pale traces, representing the demon belonging to the metal element, appeared here. Lu Ning followed the disappearing traces and soon entered the area behind the Zhenjian Villa. Except for some chores who came to cut trees or disciples who needed to go into the mountains to practice, this place was usually deserted. The demon chose this place as a hiding place, which was quite wise.

Lu Ning was not prepared to deal with demons, but she needed to confirm whether there were demons behind these assassins. In the final analysis, her mission was to protect Lu Qingxu and ensure that he could safely complete his trip to Zhenjian Villa. Compared with passive defense, Lu Ning preferred to proactively resolve all unstable factors.

There was indeed someone in the woods.

Lu Ning jumped onto a tree and hid her body. If all demons had the ability of her demon eyes, ordinary hiding would be useless. But Ning Ke said that the demon eyes were a gift, so Lu Ning guessed that not every demon had this radar-like ability.

There was one demon and three people, one of whom was the man drawn by Wen Rong and whom Lu Ning also had an impression of.