Chapter 87: The Blood Child Rebellion
Shi Hao considered this, then looked at Xu Xiaoyan, “I thought Undying Children of the demonic sects were at most eighth-rank, mostly used as servants and guards. What was that about?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “That’s ancient history. Since the Blood Child Rebellion seventy years ago, no one trains Undying Children anymore.”
Shi Hao asked, “Why?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “You know about obscure demonic techniques, but you don’t know about the Blood Child Rebellion? Make up your mind.”
“That incident was a major blow to the demonic sects. I won’t go into the details, but basically, the Undying Children created using the Blood Erosion Technique and Blood Vine were secretly controlled by an old demonic cultivator called the Blood Vine Patriarch using a special drug.
“Since training Undying Children was so easy and convenient, almost every demonic sect had them. The Blood Vine Patriarch infiltrated numerous sects, planning to use them to unify the demonic path under his rule. But he ultimately failed.”
“After that incident, the demonic sects stopped training Undying Children. Until thirty years ago, the Ghost Extreme Sect developed a new method, training a new generation of Undying Children. But in the end, only one survived, reaching the sixth rank and obtaining a unique demonic essence. He’s the ‘Blood Shadow Undying Child.’
“He’s a highly skilled assassin of the Ghost Extreme Sect. I’m surprised you survived his attack. It’s practically impossible.”
Shi Hao smiled wryly, “Just lucky, I guess.” If this had happened a few days earlier, he would be dead.
Yue Ya’er crossed her arms, “So, the Ghost Extreme Sect was trying to kill me?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Yes, and secretly training courtesans, concubines, and prostitutes to infiltrate prominent families is their trademark. They even have a special term for them: ‘female ghosts.’”
“‘Ghosts’ are formless and intangible, elusive. These demonic spies, infiltrating other sects and families, are like ‘female ghosts.’ The three Evil Lotus factions, however, value women more highly. They would never stoop to training women as concubines or prostitutes. It goes against their principles.”
Shi Hao said, surprised, “The demonic sects have principles?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, exasperated, “Sects that have survived for centuries must have principles. Without shared beliefs, they would have fallen apart long ago. Even the Ghost Extreme Sect has their own demonic principles.”
“But their principles and beliefs are often twisted and perverse in the eyes of normal people.”
Shi Hao thought about it. She had a point.
He and Xu Xiaoyan exchanged glances, remembering how they had been targeted by the Ghost Extreme Sect after just a brief visit to “The Dregs.”
It seemed there was indeed a gang in Dàxīng City deeply connected to the Ghost Extreme Sect, acting as their “pawns.”
Yue Ya’er said, “Your injuries aren’t fully healed yet. Rest here.” She pointed at Xu Xiaoyan, “She’ll help me analyze the information.”
Shi Hao started to get up, “I’m fine…”
Yue Ya’er pushed him back down onto the bed, “How can you be fine? The physician said you have serious internal injuries. Stay here and rest. Don’t worry, this is my room. No one will disturb you.”
Shi Hao said, “But I…”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Just rest. I’ll handle the information. You’ll only be in the way.”
Shi Hao lay back down. When it came to analyzing information, Xu Xiaoyan was far more skilled than he was.
The gathered intelligence was downstairs. Yue Ya’er and Xu Xiaoyan left the room.
Although his internal injuries had healed, his body still ached.
He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
He was awakened by a rustling sound and opened his eyes, turning his head.
He saw Xu Xiaoyan, her back to him, removing her wool coat, revealing her smooth back and the straps of her undergarment.
She glanced back at him, and he quickly closed his eyes.
She changed into a different outfit and left.
Shi Hao, now wide awake and feeling much better, wasn’t sure whether to get up or not.
He lay there for another half an hour before finally getting up.
He stretched, put on his shoes, and went downstairs. Besides Yue Ya’er, now in a pink dress, and Xu Xiaoyan, Zhao Wencheng and Li Jingya were also there.
Seeing him, Xu Xiaoyan said cheerfully, “The Brocade Dragon Gate has been cleared of suspicion. They did bring a group of girls to Dàxīng City recently, but it was for the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern parade.
“Those girls are all from poor families, and the Brocade Dragon Gate made arrangements with their parents. They’re being trained to scatter flower petals and perform on the floats.”
She glanced at Yue Ya’er, “But someone deliberately misled you, directing your investigation towards the Brocade Dragon Gate.”
Yue Ya’er bowed to Zhao Wencheng and Li Jingya, “It was all a misunderstanding. My apologies.”
The couple, flustered, hurriedly returned the gesture.
Shi Hao knew that although it was a misunderstanding, if he hadn’t intervened, Zhao Wencheng would likely be crippled, if not dead, by the Thunderclap Eighteen Riders’ interrogation methods.
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Vice Leader Shen Haixiong of the Brocade Dragon Gate was here earlier. He didn’t know what happened and came here with his men. We discussed the information we have, and we believe the most likely suspect is the Leopard Gate, one of the three gangs and six societies.”
Shi Hao said, “Leopard Gate?”
Zhao Wencheng explained, “The Leopard Gate has been rapidly expanding in Dàxīng City these past few years. Their leader, Jiao Han, is a fifth-rank expert, but his background is unclear.
“They run brothels. Many of the brothels in Dàxīng City are either owned by them or were acquired by them. We’ve investigated their methods, but many of their business dealings seem reckless and unprofitable, as if they’re not even trying to make money.”
Shi Hao said, “Perhaps they’re willing to invest heavily in the short term to establish a monopoly and reap greater profits later.”
Zhao Wencheng said, “That’s the strange part. Establishing a monopoly requires significant resources and backing. But the Leopard Gate didn’t have much influence in Dàxīng City before, and they don’t seem to have any powerful connections outside the city either. Yet, they have so much money for expansion.”
“Of course, only accountants like us would notice such discrepancies. Most people only see their glamorous brothels and their seemingly endless wealth, unaware of the risks involved in such reckless expansion.”
“And besides Jiao Han, their leader, they also have several sixth and seventh-rank martial artists, none of whom were particularly well-known before suddenly appearing in Dàxīng City.”
Shi Hao said thoughtfully, “It seems highly likely that the Ghost Extreme Sect is behind the Leopard Gate. Running brothels provides a convenient cover for transporting and training girls, and such establishments also facilitate connections with wealthy and powerful families.
“And only a large organization like the Ghost Extreme Sect could afford their initial investment. And the Ghost Extreme Sect, being a demonic sect, is skilled at hiding their tracks, which explains why the Leopard Gate’s backing has been so difficult to trace.”
Yue Ya’er, her arms crossed, said, “If it were just one or two clues, it could be a coincidence, but with all this evidence, there’s little doubt.”
Zhao Wencheng lowered his voice, “I’ve heard the Leopard Gate also has a very exclusive establishment called the Leopard Palace. It’s not widely known, but even nobles and officials from outside Dàxīng City frequent it.”
Yue Ya’er asked, “Who’s their accountant?”
Shi Hao thought, You’re planning to use the same tactic again?
Zhao Wencheng shook his head, “A large gang like that definitely has a chief accountant, but it’s impossible for outsiders to know who it is. We have some business dealings with the Leopard Gate, but it’s mostly for their brothel openings, hiring us to design and build stages and create fireworks. We don’t interact with them much beyond that.
“We don’t have any significant business dealings with them, so we don’t know who their accountant is.”
Shi Hao pondered for a moment, then asked, “Where is this Leopard Palace?”
Zhao Wencheng said, “I know that…”
Li Jingya looked at him.
Zhao Wencheng quickly explained, “I’ve never been inside. A couple of times, while discussing business with the Yuan Rong Merchant Guild, they insisted on going there. I just accompanied them to the entrance and waited outside.”
Li Jingya said, “Really?”
Zhao Wencheng said quickly, “That’s the truth…”
Yue Ya’er chuckled, “That’s what all men say.”
Zhao Wencheng, flustered, said to Li Jingya, “Wife, I really didn’t go inside. Our driver, Liu San, and our escorts, Chen Da and Chen Er, were with me. They can all testify…”
Yue Ya’er said, “They’re all men. They’ll just lie for you.”
Zhao Wencheng almost knelt before Yue Ya’er, “Please, Miss, don’t say any more. I really didn’t go inside.”
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