Chapter 90: The Layout

Feng Tingliu recalled the young Yu Ji and sighed in his heart after a while.

He had no intention of telling Yu Lin about Yu Ji's secret. After all, Yu Lin had always regarded Yu Ji as a tool to escape.

Feng Tingliu sneered and said, "So? Do you think this is all my fault?"

"Otherwise?" Yu Lin sinisterly curled the corner of his mouth. "For so many years, I have been looking forward to taking your life to sacrifice for the sufferings I have endured over the years."

"Oh - I thought the root of all this should be the deeds of your scumbag father." Feng Tingliu's red eyes were cold, without concealing his contempt and ridicule.

Yu Lin's face changed slightly, snorted coldly, and put the mask back on his face. "He deserves to die, but you must not live either."

Yu Lin got up, and the dungeon returned to silence.

Only then did Feng Tingliu relax his strength, allowing his knees to touch the ground and obtaining a short rest. His legs were somewhat numb, and the pain and numbness stimulated his nerves together. He could only sweat coldly and slowly let his body return to calm.

In the following few days, neither the Cold Dragon Hall nor the Flame Dragon Hall managed to catch Wei Chifeng'sHandle. Instead, they often had disputes, causing unrest in the North Dragon Hall. The people in the North Dragon Hall privately had opinions about them, but due to the status of the two halls, they did not dare to say much.

On this day's routine patrol, Wei Chifeng planned to lead the team himself.

He selected a group of people. Among this group, there were subordinates who were extremely loyal to him, some who remained observing, and even some who had once worked for the Cold Dragon Hall. The team composition was complex, but it just could achieve his purpose.

The layout began.

Wei Chifeng led the team towards the northwest. Coincidentally, they discovered the traces of the Evil Cult. Without Wei Chifeng deliberately guiding, someone immediately associated it with the previous attack by the Evil Cult and the camp in the northwest.

"Have those Evil Cult members returned? Should we go and investigate?" someone asked.

Wei Chifeng frowned and pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Let's go and take a look first, but don't go too deep."

The group headed northwest and walked for half a day before reaching the temporary stronghold of the Evil Cult that they had previously discovered.

"No one." Wei Chifeng looked around and then at the woodpile that had been there for a long time, with no signs of burning.

"It seems they haven't come back..."

The group moved forward a few steps to investigate and found several brand-new footprints in the corner that the wind and sand had not yet had time to cover.

They immediately became vigilant and carefully examined every part of the camp.

Suddenly, a suspicious rustling sound came from behind the dilapidated houses.

Wei Chifeng immediately shifted his gaze, made a gesture, and asked the subordinate closest to the house to go and investigate. The subordinate nodded, carrying the weapon, and tiptoed over.

"Who's there!"

With a furious shout, the sound of fighting came from behind the house, and several people rushed forward. Finally, a painful "Ouch!" was heard from that place, along with the heavy sound of a body falling to the ground.

Someone had been caught.

Soon, the person was caught and brought to Wei Chifeng by several people.

The person was wearing a black cloak, which had become tattered during the fight, revealing his face. Several people looked closely and gasped. The demonic mark on this person's neck was like a noose!

"The Evil Cult?" Wei Chifeng narrowed his eyes.

"Ouch, it hurts so much... Who are you? Why are you catching me?" The Evil Cult member struggled with his legs, looking somewhat comical.

"Why are we catching you? We are from the Exorcist Association!"

The subordinate who caught the Evil Cult was somewhat impatient and kicked the back of his knee. He immediately lost his balance and knelt on the ground with a "plop".

The Evil Cult member was still somewhat confused. He looked around at the people surrounding him and asked in puzzlement, "The Exorcist Association? Why are the people from the Exorcist Association catching me?"

The subordinate was shocked by his thick skin and angrily scolded, "Damn Evil Cult! Who else would we catch if not you!"

"But we are in a cooperative relationship! Why are you catching me!"

As soon as the Evil Cult member said this, the surrounding area instantly became so quiet that even the sound of the wind could be heard clearly.

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief at what he said.

Wei Chifeng raised his hand, interrupting everyone's astonishment.

"What the Evil Cult says is always bewitching and cannot be trusted." Wei Chifeng said in a deep voice, which made everyone come to their senses.

"Why would I lie to you! How come your Exorcist Association is not unified internally?" The Evil Cult member also looked very surprised. He looked at several people, straightened his back, and boldly said, "If you want to attack me, you have to go back and ask your leader!"

"Nonsense! How could the Exorcist Association cooperate with the Evil Cult? This Evil Cult is deliberately sowing discord." Wei Chifeng frowned tightly, looking angry. He raised his foot and kicked the Evil Cult member in the chest, making him wail and fall to the ground. "Say, what is your purpose for camping in the northwest? And why are you here?"

"Purpose? Your Exorcist Association knows better than me!" The Evil Cult member said angrily, but when he looked up and saw Wei Chifeng's gloomy expression, he shuddered in fear.

"Oh, you're talking nonsense." Wei Chifeng sneered and waved his hand. Immediately, someone came forward and tied him up with a rope.

However, although the people looked at the Evil Cult member and the angry Wei Chifeng, they did not dare to openly question but still whispered among themselves privately.

The content was nothing more than doubts about what the Evil Cult said and, also, doubts about the Exorcist Association.

"What the Evil Cult says cannot be trusted."

"But I think it makes sense. Otherwise, why did the Evil Cult attack as soon as the people from the Flame Dragon Hall left?"

"I also always feel that those people from the Exorcist Association are hiding something... Especially those from the Cold Dragon Hall. They are sneaky and haven't done any good in the North Dragon Hall..."

"It's better not to doubt our comrades..."

"Hey, I've long thought that the people from the Cold Dragon Hall are abnormal. They must have colluded with the Evil Cult to bewitch people!"

"Fortunately, our hall master is different from those people. Our North Dragon Hall has always been clean..."

A group of people whispered and discussed. Wei Chifeng did not fly into a rage butCondoned their behavior (I'm not sure what this phrase means. Maybe it should be "tacitly allowed their behavior").

At this point, it was already getting late. Wei Chifeng did not want to return to Beiji City overnight, so he asked everyone to set up a simple camp in place and take turns to guard the Evil Cult.

Late at night, in the desolate northwest, not even a bird's call could be heard, only the howling of the wind, leaving a sound like the wailing of a wild animal.

The person guarding the Evil Cult stared wide-eyed at the campfire, holding the rope tied to the Evil Cult, not daring to slacken in the slightest.

On the contrary, the Evil Cult leisurely crossed his legs and sized up the guard from top to bottom. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and said, "Hey, why don't you know about the cooperation between the Exorcist Association and the Evil Cult?"

The guard glanced at him and was unwilling to respond.

The Evil Cult suddenly laughed and was not discouraged. He continued to pester, "Come on, come on. Are there factions within your Exorcist Association?"

"... The Exorcist Association has seven sub-halls. We are different from the other sub-halls and will not cooperate with your Evil Cult that harms the common people."

"Oh, I see." The Evil Cult crossed his legs and sneered, "Then the Exorcist Association doesn't treat you well. They enjoy the good life but don't tell you. They said they would give us gold and silver treasures, but they kept it all for themselves and didn't leave any for us. How much money do you think that is..."

"What gold and silver treasures...?" The guard was also somewhat confused after hearing this.

Although they received a monthly stipend, these people in the martial arts world usually earned some silver by accepting bounties, helping the common people, and assisting the yamen. Finally, the earnings were pooled together and distributed to each brother.

The main altar could receive more money. They always had some large-scale tasks or additional income. The money from the main altar would also be distributed to each sub-altar as an additional monthly stipend.

In any case, they were not like the Huashan Sect, which was supported by the court, nor like the Beggar's Sect, which had a large scale, nor like the Panfeng Villa, which had family support. They had never seen any gold and silver treasures. They only saw the monthly stipend and were used to living this kind of life.

People in the martial arts world, having experienced ups and downs, are content to be alive. How can they expect power and money?

Even their hall master was like this. The most valuable thing on the hall master might be the precious sword "given by a noble person".

But now, the Evil Cult in front of them said that the others in the Exorcist Association could get gold and silver jewels, and even snatched the part that should have belonged to the Evil Cult. How many months' stipend of the North Dragon Hall could that amount to!

The guard immediately felt resentful in his heart. He did not understand why the North Dragon Hall had always been law-abiding but lived worse than those treacherous villains and hypocrites!

But on second thought, he felt it was strange and angrily asked, "Where did all that gold and silver come from?!"

The Evil Cult's eyes rolled, and he shifted his gaze away: "I can't say. If I do, I'll be beheaded."

"You're not far from death in our hands!"

"What are you arguing about!"

Wei Chifeng's voice suddenly appeared from behind, startling both the guard and the Evil Cult. The guard quickly stood up to admit his mistake, afraid that Wei Chifeng had heard his previous words.

Wei Chifeng did not blame him too much but reminded him again that the words of the Evil Cult members should not be fully believed.

The guard nodded in agreement, but he could not stop his wild thoughts.

Seeing that he was in a bad state, Wei Chifeng offered to take over the guard duty and let him rest.

The guard felt guilty and was also touched by Wei Chifeng's consideration for his subordinates. He repeatedly thanked Wei Chifeng and went to rest.

The night returned to silence, with only the howling wind and the cracking of the firewood remaining.

The others had fallen into dreams, but even in their dreams, they were still recalling the events of the day and still had doubts about the Exorcist Association. The dreams were not the same. Some were recalling the past when they were oppressed by other sub-halls of the Exorcist Association, and some were imagining themselves killing all the Evil Cult members to gain fame and achievement. But they unconsciously converged the hidden currents into one, laying the path that Wei Chifeng wanted to set.

Just as everyone was immersed in their dreams, a loud shout suddenly came from a distance.

"Don't even think about escaping!"

Immediately, the sound of swords and knives clashing arose, and finally, aMiserable howling (I'm not sure how to translate this. Maybe "amiserable (miserable/horrible) wail") was heard.