Chapter 405: Intervening Unexpectedly

With Xuan Zhen taking over, Meng Qi had no concerns and left directly, returning to Xingyun Manor.

Is this considered doing good without seeking recognition?… He mused to himself humorously as he stepped into the manor.

Dong dong dong. As Meng Qi passed the screen wall, he heard someone knocking at the gate. Instinctively, he paused and turned around, just in time to see the gatekeeper opening the side door, revealing a familiar figure.

A warm smile instantly spread across his face as he turned toward the entrance: “I thought you wouldn’t arrive until a couple of days later, never expecting you to come so quickly.”

The visitor was indeed Jiang Zhiwei, her raven-black hair casually tied up, wearing her favorite yellow dress, a long sword in hand, radiant and poised, graceful and unrestrained.

After their last mission, she had already opened all nine orifices. Seeing her again, Meng Qi sensed she had become more reserved, the sharpness and tension that had often been present before now completely gone. She appeared relaxed and carefree, no longer immediately identifiable as a swordsman at a glance. Yet Meng Qi could imagine how dazzling her sword would be when drawn.

“You know my personality. After challenging the ‘Invisible Sword,’ how could I not hurry here?” Jiang Zhiwei smiled at Meng Qi. “You also headed south quite quickly.”

“Who told you to be idle with nothing to do?” Meng Qi teased.

Seeing the two were familiar with each other, and noticing Jiang Zhiwei’s distinguished bearing, the gatekeeper vaguely guessed her identity and promptly went inside to report, leaving the two to catch up.

“Are you also staying at Xingyun Manor?” Meng Qi asked half-jokingly.

Jiang Zhiwei shook her head: “Ying City is Ling Prefecture’s capital, and our sect has a sword pavilion here. No need to bother the Invisible Sword again.”

She wasn’t avoiding He Jiu’s pressure; rather, she simply preferred staying at her own sect rather than relying on someone else’s hospitality.

After chatting about their experiences over the past month or so, Meng Qi whispered secretly, informing Jiang Zhiwei about the Mythical Cult targeting him and Senior Brother Qi.

He did not mention the matter of the cycle of vengeance or Gu Yaonü, deliberately emphasizing the Dongyang Branch Manor to avoid exposing the secret if the Donghai External Scene guardian of Xingyun Manor happened to sense something and retaliate, leading to their elimination. He would have to explain the details later in a more secure setting.

Jiang Zhiwei sensed Meng Qi was holding something back, as Qi Zhengyan likely couldn’t have escaped on his own. Yet she understood Meng Qi’s caution and replied seriously: “I’ll report this to our sect and see if we can request assistance from the senior master responsible for Jiangdong. You should also be careful when going out.”

“Right,” Meng Qi nodded. “By the way, I also found traces of the Wolf King.”

He then recounted the recent events with the Beggar Sect to Jiang Zhiwei.

“The Wolf King…” Jiang Zhiwei’s eyes lit up briefly, before she sighed. “Too bad he’s injured.”

She had hoped to face the Wolf King in a fair and open duel, but he obviously wouldn’t oblige her. He preferred to lurk in the shadows, patiently waiting for the right moment to deliver a fatal blow.

“I’ll have the local disciples help track him down. Once we confirm his movements, we’ll strike together.” Jiang Zhiwei, aware of the Wolf King’s attempt to assassinate Meng Qi, didn’t hesitate in deciding to hunt him down. This was a case of tit for tat.

Meng Qi nodded first, then quickly reminded her: “To prevent an ambush, it would be best to invite another helper. Hmm, Wang Zai from the Zhou Prefecture Wang Clan would be suitable.”

Wang Zai’s father was the youngest Grandmaster of the Wang Clan and currently the Minister of Revenue, a position of great importance. Anyone planning a trap would have to think twice before acting. Moreover, Wang Zai himself was quite formidable. His “Unyielding in Might” ability was essential for “breaking limits,” and combined with “Unshaken in Poverty” and the “Nine Swords of the Sage,” he could potentially endure even more than Meng Qi in a confrontation.

If not for the “Immovable Golden Lotus,” derived from the “Wuji Seal,” Meng Qi’s main strength would be in “Protection,” while Wang Zai excelled in “Defense,” with a different focus altogether.

The two swiftly concluded their discussion and shifted to casual conversation. After a while, the gatekeeper came out from inside, inviting Jiang Zhiwei to meet He Jiu. Meng Qi naturally accompanied her.

He Jiu’s neck wound had mostly healed, no longer bandaged, leaving behind a grotesque scar.

With just a glance, Meng Qi understood that the actual injury was far worse than He Jiu had previously described as a mere flesh wound. If it had been slightly deeper, it would have severed half his neck.

Of course, the Wolf King must have been injured far more severely. At least He Jiu showed no signs of impairment in his movements, his external wounds healing rapidly with minimal signs of weakness. In contrast, the Wolf King had already been forced to reveal some traces of his presence, seeking medicinal herbs through the Beggar Sect, indicating that mere rest wouldn’t suffice for his recovery.

Meng Qi speculated that the medicine he had taken was likely ineffective, making even walking somewhat difficult…

Seated with an air of confidence, He Jiu watched Jiang Zhiwei and Meng Qi enter, his eyes gradually brightening, his eyebrows slightly lifting: “Miss Jiang, having opened all nine orifices, this is truly a cause for celebration.”

There was no trace of surprise or fear in his tone—only eager anticipation.

Jiang Zhiwei did not hide her cultivation level, smiling as she replied: “Compared to the Young Master’s realm, I still fall short. I can only rely on my sword to strive for a fleeting chance at victory.”

“Having opened all nine orifices with the ‘Taishang Sword Sutra’ and having grasped the ‘Sword Without Self,’ your mastery of the sword path is established. In terms of pure combat strength, you surpass even the Wolf King.” He Jiu used the Wolf King only as a comparison, not mentioning himself. Clearly, he believed Jiang Zhiwei was still slightly inferior. After all, both were disciples of martial sects, and the ranks of their divine techniques wouldn’t differ greatly. Even though Jiang Zhiwei was a genius comparable to Su Wuming of old, He Jiu himself was no slouch either, with the advantage of a higher cultivation level and the benefit of years of experience.

“I have yet to face the Wolf King in battle; I dare not make bold claims,” Jiang Zhiwei replied modestly.

He Jiu laughed heartily: “Miss Jiang, having opened all nine orifices, adds even more excitement to this Xingyun Banquet. I won’t test my luck against you now—the more eagerly anticipated the opponent, the more they should be saved for last.”

Watching from the side, Meng Qi felt deeply that He Jiu’s demeanor was bold and confident, a formidable rival on his path to becoming a distinguished martial artist…

…

The next day, Meng Qi did not go out for leisure but instead intensified his cultivation of the *Yi Jin Jing*, the *Eight Trigrams Profound Art*, and the *Golden Bell Cover*, hoping to open his innate ninth acupoint as soon as possible.

By evening, Jiang Zhiwei suddenly visited, transmitting her voice secretly: “I followed the Beggar Sect’s captain and discovered where the Wolf King is hiding.”

“Really?” Meng Qi instinctively asked, his eyes lighting up as he gripped his saber’s hilt. The Wolf King had mysteriously ambushed him twice already; it was time to repay the favor.

The two left Xingyun Manor, strolling side by side as Meng Qi seized the opportunity to recount how Gu Xiaosang had rescued Senior Brother Qi. Naturally, he omitted the embarrassing incident where the little girl had called him “Dad.”

Jiang Zhiwei finally understood, sharing Meng Qi’s suspicions about Gu Xiaosang’s intentions.

Before long, they arrived at the Mi household and found Wang Zai.

“Encircling the Wolf King?” Wang Zai’s usually calm expression showed a flicker of excitement as he spoke.

He adhered to orthodox Confucian principles, being honest and upright with a strong sense of justice. Naturally, he held no favorable view of the Wolf King. Though inherently composed, he was still a young man in his early twenties—how could he be entirely devoid of youthful vigor? The mere thought of “hunting down the fifth-ranked assassin on the Human List” was enough to set his blood racing.

“That’s right, Brother Wang. Want to join us?” Meng Qi grinned like a mischievous child tempting a child with sweets.

Wang Zai took a deep breath and firmly replied: “Yes!”

Guided by Jiang Zhiwei, Meng Qi and Wang Zai crossed the stone arch bridge over the Hui River, weaving through alleys until they reached the upper reaches of Tianxiu River, near the Yanyu Mountains.

This location offered both the prosperity extending from Tianxiu River and the seclusion of being far from the city center. It was quiet enough to maintain secrecy without being so deserted that it would draw attention.

Hiding behind trees, Jiang Zhiwei pointed toward the riverside courtyard across from them: “That’s the place.”

Meng Qi nodded, observing the courtyard quickly blending into the darkness: “The location isn’t obvious, yet it’s well-connected, making escape easy. We’ll approach from the bridge first, then slowly move closer.”

The Wolf King excelled at ambushes and moving through darkness. Their hunt for him must be approached with utmost caution. Such a figure possessed a highly sensitive danger perception; the slightest anomaly would cause him to flee immediately, rendering their efforts futile.

Meng Qi employed the Illusory Demon Body Technique, his spirit enveloping his body as he stealthily approached the courtyard. Though Jiang Zhiwei and Wang Zai weren’t as adept at stealth, they maintained a slight distance behind him to avoid alerting the Wolf King. However, having opened all nine orifices and gained preliminary insight into the mysteries of the forehead’s ancestral cavity, they could now better conceal their presence than before. Especially Jiang Zhiwei, who had previously practiced the Phantom Transformation Art, now blended into the darkness like an ethereal fairy shadow, elusive and hard to detect.

The courtyard was cold and desolate. In the bitter winter chill, not even the chirping of insects could be heard, making the silence all the more oppressive, as if questioning whether anyone was inside at all.

Meng Qi circled around to the side wall, gently pressing his right palm against it. His body soared like a cloud in silence, then drifted down like a falling leaf to a concealed spot.

Approaching the room, he knew that at this distance, it would be extremely difficult to evade the Wolf King’s detection. Without further hesitation, he suddenly accelerated, nearly leaving afterimages, and forcefully kicked open the door. At the same time, he drew his saber, ready for any ambush.

Jiang Zhiwei and Wang Zai also quickened their pace, approaching the side room from two other angles, deliberately lagging slightly to prevent the Wolf King from hiding in places like the kitchen.

Meng Qi stood in the room, his expression turning serious as he realized it was completely empty.

There were discarded cloth strips inside, stained with pus and blood. The Wolf King’s lingering aura was still detectable within Meng Qi’s perception.

Wang Zai touched the bedding: “Still warm. He must have left no more than an incense stick’s time ago.”

The three split up to search but found no trace. After regrouping, Jiang Zhiwei mused: “It seems the Wolf King somehow knew we were coming…”

“But only the three of us knew about this…” Meng Qi didn’t mean to imply suspicion, just found it strange. “Perhaps he moved out of habit…”

Inside a dimly lit side room, the tall, cold Wolf King sat upright in a chair. His left hand was spread open, holding a blood-red pill. In a hoarse voice, he asked: “Why did you save me and give me a medicinal pill to heal the Invisible Sword Qi?”

Facing him stood a woman, regal and dignified, wearing a black robe embroidered with golden thread patterns, her face hidden behind a “Xi Wangmu” mask commonly seen in theatrical performances.

“I need your help to deal with someone,” the “Xi Wangmu” replied in a calm tone.