The Peerless Beauty Stuck With Me

"Valley Master, we have searched everywhere we could, but there is no trace to be found."

"Valley Master, what should we do now?"

"As long as Chu Xiong is alive, our Yin Yang Valley will not have peace for a single day."

Everyone started talking at once; Chu Xiong was an expert at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, so they had to take him seriously.

"Xiao Rao, what do you think?" Fang Rujing looked at Tang Rao, who he now fully regarded as one of their own.

It was precisely because of Tang Rao that Yin Yang Valley had been able to kill eighty people from Wangu Sect with zero casualties.

Such a feat would sooner or later become known, and at that time, the prestige of Yin Yang Valley among the sects would greatly increase.

"Gather everyone in Yin Yang Valley and then conduct a carpet search. You must realize, if there is a traitor in Yin Yang Valley who intends to help Chu Xiong hide, it could very well take half a year to find him." Tang Rao spoke calmly.

All the people of Yin Yang Valley were stunned.

Indeed, sometimes, disasters caused by humans can be even more frightening.

No one can guarantee that there are no Wangu Sect's lapdogs within Yin Yang Valley.

"Good, we'll do as you suggest. Everyone heed my command: Concentrate all registered personnel of Yin Yang Valley to the Inheritance Hall square, not one less," Fang Rujing shouted.

"Yes!" Everyone roared in response and immediately dispersed in all directions.

"Xiao Rao, can we really find Chu Xiong this way?" After everyone had left, Fang Rujing looked over at Tang Rao and asked.

To be honest, he wasn't very optimistic about this method.

"We cannot," Tang Rao narrowed his eyes and replied directly.

"Then why?" Fang Rujing was a bit surprised.

If it was not possible, why gather everyone? He didn't quite understand this point.

"Do you think Chu Xiong is stupid?" Tang Rao suddenly asked.

Fang Rujing furrowed his brows and slowly shook his head.

Chu Xiong was the Great Elder of Wangu Sect, only second to the Sect Leader in rank. Climbing to such a position required not only strength but also cunning.

Therefore, Chu Xiong was definitely not stupid.

"Hmm, let me ask you then, if you were trapped within Wangu Sect, in a situation where escaping meant death, what would you choose?" Tang Rao continued to inquire.

Fang Rujing did not reply immediately but began to think rapidly.

"I might choose to fight to the death," Fang Rujing replied after a while.

"Wrong," Tang Rao shook his head. "When you've fallen into a den of wolves and cannot escape, the best choice is to disguise yourself as a wolf."

Fang Rujing, with his mouth agape, looked incredulously at Tang Rao.

His implication was that Chu Xiong would disguise himself as a disciple of Yin Yang Valley?

"But... what if the disguise is unsuccessful?" Fang Rujing asked.

"Now you're getting to the crux of it," Tang Rao snapped his fingers, his lips curling into a slight smile.

"What do you mean?" Fang Rujing asked.

"I can't be certain for now, we'll see when the time comes," Tang Rao was keeping secrets.

Seeing that Tang Rao did not wish to divulge more, Fang Rujing nodded and did not press further. Instead, he took a deep look at Tang Rao and slowly exhaled.

Fortunately, he had chosen to stand up for Tang Rao. Had he severed ties with Tang Rao when Wangu Sect came knocking, he couldn't even dare to imagine the consequences.

This Tang Rao, he was like a demon.

His strength was so formidable it was beyond understanding, his intelligence chilling to the core.

It seemed as if everything was under his control.

It seemed he had an aura of superiority that made people unconsciously want to follow him, to bow down to him.

Having such a monster as an enemy would be nothing short of a disaster.

...

An hour later, Tang Rao and Fang Rujing arrived in front of Inheritance Hall at the plaza.

Densely packed, the crowd surged.

Worry filled every face.

The news had spread without direction; the people of Yin Yang Valley all knew that an expert of Wangu Sect at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment had infiltrated their midst.

The scene was somewhat chaotic as it seemed everyone was talking.

Groups of three or five huddled together, causing a raucous din.

"Everyone..."

"No need, let them discuss," Fang Rujing was about to chastise when Tang Rao stopped him.

Fang Rujing nodded; he had no leads right now, so he would leave it to Tang Rao.

Tang Rao, with a grin, waded into the crowd, constantly moving, listening to their discussions, and scrutinizing everyone's expressions.

Especially those who stood alone; they were of particular interest to Tang Rao.

Once he had observed for almost half an hour, Tang Rao returned to Fang Rujing's side.

"How is it? Any clues?" Fang Rujing immediately asked.

"Not bad," Tang Rao shrugged and replied with a smile.

Fang Rujing was at a loss for words...

Not bad, what kind of answer is that, what does 'not bad' mean?

Tang Rao, no matter what, I am the Valley Master of Yin Yang Valley, it's alright for you to let me in on some knowledge, right?

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, just that there's no conclusive evidence. To speak of uncertainties is as good as saying nothing," Tang Rao said, seemingly reading Fang Rujing's mind.

Fang Rujing had no words to respond; fine, whatever you say is right.

"But there are a few things I can tell you," Tang Rao continued.

Fang Rujing looked at Tang Rao, not even bothering to ask.

"First: From the time Chu Xiong entered until now, a total of four people have died—two in the mid-stage of Qi Gathering, and two servants," Tang Rao said.

"Ah..." Fang Rujing sighed faintly; it was an inevitable situation.

"Here is a simple diagram I drew." Tang Rao handed over a piece of paper with several lines and dots.

"Those four dots represent the locations where the four victims were found. I connected them with lines. Using the last servant's place of death as the center, I made a scattered plot," Tang Rao continued.

Fang Rujing was speechless...

It was as if he completely couldn't understand.

"You see, it's pretty scary not having culture, isn't it?" Tang Rao quipped, nudging his lip.

Fang Rujing felt so embarrassed, for the first time in his life.

"Fine, I'll go straight to the second point. There are a total of eight hundred and sixty-six people on Yin Yang Valley's records. Minus the four that were killed, there should be eight hundred and sixty-two left. But in reality, only eight hundred and sixty-one turned up here today; one person didn't come," Tang Rao said, his eyes flashing with a strange brilliance.

"These useless things, didn't I tell them to bring everyone here? Didn't I say no one should be missing?!" Fang Rujing became a little enraged, how dare they treat the order of him, the Valley Master, as if it were wind past ears.

"Tang Rao, wait here, I'll have them bring the last person here immediately," Fang Rujing said.

"No need," Tang Rao stopped Fang Rujing, "I know who that person is."

"Who is it?"

"Your senior apprentice: Long Jianchuan," Tang Rao declared with a beaming smile.

Fang Rujing was slightly stunned.

"If it's Jian Chuan, that lad was beaten quite badly by you; he probably can't move," Fang Rujing said.

Tang Rao remained silent, just looking at Fang Rujing.

"Do you suspect Jian Chuan?" Fang Rujing, seeing Tang Rao's expression, was utterly shocked.

"He didn't show up, and his room is exactly at the spot on the scattered plot I drew. Counting everything, as of now, he is the biggest suspect," Tang Rao casually stated, very objectively.

PPPPS: Later today, expect some explosive updates.