Chapter 4381 — The Fall
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Brother Ling, did you know that Cheng Haonan and Cheng Qitian, father and son, have also been practicing a kind of yin-plundering cultivation method?" Qi Wenmo asked.
"Of course." Wei Zhao nodded. The very first person he and Huang Xiaotao had met upon arriving in the Weihu Sea Region had been Cheng Qitian—and the man had tried to snatch Huang Xiaotao away the moment he laid eyes on her. How could he possibly forget a thing like that?
"In fact, in earlier years the two of them did not practice this yin-plundering method at all. It was only after the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps gained a new strategist that father and son began to cultivate it. This method shares the same root and origin as the evil art you spoke of, Brother Ling—the one that specifically poisons and harms women. I used to wonder how those two suddenly took up something so close to an evil art. Now I understand: their yin-plundering method was taught to them outright by that newly arrived strategist," Qi Wenmo explained.
"In that case, this new strategist of the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps—could he be...?" Wei Zhao's heart stirred.
"Exactly. None other than the very man you seek, Brother Ling—Wu Baoliang!" Qi Wenmo nodded emphatically. "Not long after he arrived in the Weihu Sea Region, he latched onto the Cheng father and son, and he has kept himself tucked away deep inside the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps ever since, rarely venturing out. His movements are extremely secretive; he seldom appears in public, so very few even know of him, and those who do meet him pay him no particular mind. One could say not a whisper of rumor has leaked out."
"If that is so, then how does he continue to cultivate his evil method without poisoning women in great numbers?" Wei Zhao asked, puzzled.
"I had my informants make discreet inquiries. The exact reason is still unknown, but ever since Wu Baoliang joined the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps he has been constantly in the company of the Cheng father and son. My guess is that the three of them are studying the method together—that they have improved it, so he no longer slaughters virgin girls in great numbers as before." As he spoke, Qi Wenmo let slip a bit of gossip as well: "Wu Baoliang's standing in the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps is extraordinarily exalted these days. The women he uses for his cultivation are in fact shared with the Cheng father and son, which is why outsiders find it so hard to notice!"
Pfft! Wei Zhao nearly burst out laughing at that. The Cheng father and son really were a piece of work—carrying on a foursome day in and day out with an outsider like Wu Baoliang. Weren't they afraid of catching something?
"I see. But if his movements are so secretive, how did you find out?" Wei Zhao asked then.
"Heh heh. If the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps had not entered into partnership with the Dragon Boat Escort Agency, we might have investigated another year and still never have discovered Wu Baoliang!" Qi Wenmo said with a laugh.
"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Wei Zhao was somewhat baffled. Announcing a partnership was one thing, but the two houses could hardly have published a full roster of all their personnel over it—unless their brains had gone soft.
"The reason is simple. The Dragon Boat Escort Agency will also be taking part in this Nanzhou Escort Gathering, and by the rules of the assembly, every agency that registers must submit a list of the escorts competing. It was on the roster the Dragon Boat Escort Agency submitted that we spotted a new name—none other than the very Wu Baoliang you are looking for, Brother Ling!" Qi Wenmo said with a smile.